Jesus Christmas | Reason for Celebration (12/15/24)
Jesus Christmas |
Reason for Celebration
By Rev. Nicholas Sybrowsky
Invocation:
Pray for discernment as you listen or observe the Live Steam for prayer.
Opening Word & Reading for Worship:
Observe Live Stream.
Keeping the cause & reasons for Christmas celebration front & center; Keeping Christ Jesus in Christmas. Clarifying the Cause for Celebration.
Intro:
Christmas is NOT the capitalistic Sensationalism commonly observable to us here in America. Syn: Exaggeration, Scandal, Overstatement, Luridness, Melodrama. Our society, sometimes through the market & culture, overstates or even understates what Christmas is, clouding the real Cause for Celebration. Jesus’ birth, life, miracles, death, resurrection & seating at the right hand of God, is not an overstatement nor an exaggeration. In the story of Christmas each year there is a disgrace. The scandal is the world suggesting that the devil didn’t lure Eve and Adam to disobey the Creator in the Garden. At times sin is understated and ignored. The fact that sin entered into Creation and altered humankind’s spiritual nature isn’t a show to entertain us.
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| Style of Bicycle Christmas Gift later stolen from the Public Library |
The luxury I witnessed as a child was the results of many years of hard work by American society and my Ancestry. Fortunately, yes, fortunately I didn’t get the gift I asked for once upon a time. The mountain bike was fancy and fine! A White Heat Huffy! What I hoped for was reconciliation and I got a new and improved version of my desire, yet I missed the point. Terrible twos returned to me at age 9 or 10.
Another title for this sermon or the thesis to this sermon could be "don’t miss the point of Christmas!" In the midst of all the various forms of celebrations and games don’t miss the point. And don’t get me wrong today. I’m not a Scrooge nor am I the Grinch attempting to steal Christmas. I really do enjoy the festivities around Christmas, but this bike gift really continues to impact me. Yes, all these many years later. And that’s because I was missing the main cause for celebration. Instead of stealing Christmas since accepting Christ and choosing to follow Him and His way. I’ve been led to put the Reason for the Season at the center of my Cause for Celebration.
Main Texts Are:
1. Celebrate the Ministry of Reconciliation.
2 Cor. 5:18 RECONCILIATION Syn. Settlement, Ceasefire, Reunion, pacification & appeasement…A noun meaning the restoration of friendly relations. Also, defined as the action of making financial accounts consistent; harmonization. Remember,
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (MEV).”
We celebrate the virgin conception year after year, day in and day out because our debt as humankind, our debt to God has been paid in full by the Lord’s substitutionary work upon the cross.
Before financial ledgers, Equifax, Free Credit Report and other credit systems. Within the town square when a debt had been paid it was nailed upon a bulletin board for all to witness that accounts had been settled. The nails represent this debt being paid in full. The Nails upon Christ represent the “wages” of debt being settled. No longer cursed and awaiting the wrath of God. Now that’s cause for celebration! I think maybe we don’t celebrate because we lack knowledge of God’s wrath.
Reconciled us to himself.
2 Cor 5:18 "18 All this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you in Christ’s stead: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.(MEV)”
“ALL THIS”…What does Paul mean by “all this”?
2 Cor 5:11 “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. But we are revealed to God, and I trust we are also revealed in your consciences. 12 For we are not commending ourselves again to you. Instead, we give you occasion to boast on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 If we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ constrains us, because we thus judge: that if one died for all, then all have died. 15 And He died for all, that those who live should not from now on live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”
"16 So from now on we do not regard anyone according to the flesh. Yes, though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet we do not regard Him as such from now on. 17 Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new. 18 All this is from God who has reconciled us to Himself…(MEV)”
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| Not the one from the 80's that was desired to be replaced by Santa but the Handle was similar to the joy stick style of a jet pilot. Santa failed me 😆 |
Back on the bicycle. When I asked for a bicycle I explained or at least I thought I was specific. I asked for the bike that had been taken from me. Describe the bicycle. Describe who stole it. Describe how Daryl had sold off the parts quickly on a later date I chased him. There was so much excitement in the chase. I was looking to recover my stolen goods. I was hoping for redemption from a loss that had occurred years earlier, yet it took me many years to recognize my reason for upset. Is it not strange & amazing how reconciliation with God leads to healing wounds deep within your soul?
2. Celebrate the Treasure in Earthen Vessels.
Personally, it seems I had to struggle with injustice for many years of life before EVER recognizing my grief caused by loss. Am I the only one here that struggles to surrender and let go of the past? A Veil was removed from between my conscience & subconscious when I accepted Christ and now, I’m equipped to endure greater hardship and no longer a lost soul, nor am I lost within my soul spiritually.
I love this idea of “treasure in earthen vessels” shared by God through Paul in 2 Corinthians 4. The Treasure of Jesus’ work! Paul say’s in
2 Co. 3:16 "Nevertheless when anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, seeing the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, as in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. (MEV)“
For too many years I was held hostage by my past. Accept this treasure and gift from God! God wants to mend your heart and heal each of you from the pains & woes that cause us all grief (cf. Ro. 8;22, 1Co. 12:26). The Spirit of Christmas is the promise of death’s destruction finally coming to fruition. It’s also promise of the coming remission of sins & regeneration.
Paul describes the treasure well in 2 Cor 4:7 very well…and verse 7 read alone isn’t enough. I have to read from the top of chapter 4:
4:1 “Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy we have received, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the secret things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by expressing the truth and commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost. 4 The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of god, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hask shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, the excellency of the power being from God and not ourselves. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 and always carrying around in the body the death of the Lord Jesus, that also the life of Jesus might be expressed in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that also the life of Jesus might be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death works in us, but life in you.” (MEV Cite 1)
You may recall I shared last week that according to Zondervan resources 117 OT Prophecies were fulfilled in Christ. We touched on two: Satan against Jesus & Jesus’ Victory over Satan. I’d like to touch on 1 more; THE MESSIAH TO BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM
Turn to the Prophet Micah 5:2
The Theme of Micah is Justice & Judgment / Mercy & Salvation. There are 5 major features that characterize the book of Micah, of which I’ll share one. It holds up the cause of the humble & helpless who are taken advantage of and mistreated by the rich & proud. This is similar to James’ message in the NT (cf. 6:6-8 & Jas 1:27). In the challenge that Micah presents in Ch. 6, the prophet gives the highest requirement possible for the people of God in reference to their conduct:
“to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God…” (Mic. 6:8).
This is a key verse in Micah. That statement basically summarizes what God expects of his followers (Cite 2). What does God require of you?
In Micah 5:2 God inspires him to share Hope for Israel & Judah (at that time the Kingdom was divided as such) Micah shares about The Coming King:
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah [(EFF ruh thuh)], although you are small among the tribes of Judah, from you will come forth for me one who will be ruler over Israel. His origins are from of old, from ancient days. .” ~Micah 5:2
(Ancient days in Hebrew meaning: the days of eternity). BUT YOU, BETHLEHEM. Micah Prophecies that a godly ruler would come out of Bethlehem who would fulfill God’s promises to his people. This verse refers to Jesus the Messiah (Champion), who is “from ancient days”; yet he would be born as a human and live among people.”(MEV) (Cite 1) (See Note 3).
Again, God used Micah to prophecy THE MESSIAH TO BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM
Let’s turn to Matthew 2:1-6. The Theme of Matthew is Jesus Christ—the Promised Messiah (Champion). One of the Bible’s 4 Gospels. One reason Matthew wrote this Gospel was to provide his readers with an eyewitness account ([JAM Kids! i.e., a story written by someone who was present at the time the events took place]) of Jesus’ life.
Here we have The Visit of the Wise Men
Mt. 2:1 “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who was born King of the Jews” For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are no longer least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a Governor, who will shepherd My people Israel’.”
THE MESSIAH TO BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM (Mic.5:2; Mt. 2:1 MEV)
3. Celebrate The privilege “To worship Him”
Mt. 2:2 The Magi said, “Where is He who was born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
The Magi were probably members of a highly educated religious class from the region of Persia or southern Arabia, now called Iran. They likely specialized in natural science, medicine and astrology (the study of the positions of objects in the heavens with the belief that their motions influence and affect people). Since they were looking for the “King of the Jews”, they naturally came to the Jewish capital city of Jerusalem first. Their visit occurred when Jesus was between 40 days (cf. Lk2:22) and 2 years old (cf.v.16) (Cite 4).
The importance of the virgin birth cannot be stressed enough. It could be understated this time of year with the various distractions. This detail of deity isn’t an exaggeration of what happened. In order for Jesus to qualify as the only One who could pay the price for our sins & restore our broken relationship with God, he must be fully human, totally sinless and yet fully God (Paul’s letter to the Heb. 7:25-26). In order for Christ’s sacrifice to be able to cover sin once and for all, his life had to be perfect—undeserving of death—and only God himself could provide such a perfect sacrifice. The Deity of Christ. His physical expression of Divinity manifest on earth.
4. Next Week: Jesus Christmas | Reason for Hope
Conclusion:
The Cause of Christ is to redeem the fallen nature of Mankind and restore creation back to a more perfect condition. Before the adversary corrupted creation Man was good.
Gen. 1:26”Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them…”
Exhortation:
Seven times in the account of Creation God declares His creation as good. With Jesus Christ as Savior we have Cause to Celebrate!
Altar Call to Action/Suggested Response:
Inviting the opening of the Miracle Altar. (See Live Stream)
Prayer & song.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus in the morning. Praise Him. Thank Him. Serve Him. Love Him, love him.
Further Exhortation & Suggestion:
Place Jesus on the throne of your heart for He is seated at the right hand of God. With Jesus on the throne of your heart you can see God as He is. His image isn’t tarnished by the adversary. With Jesus on the throne of our hearts we are empowered to be good again! We who are in Christ are: reconciled with God. Redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Restored and Empowered to become Beacon’s & Lighthouses of love, hope, guidance, warning, wisdom, security, power, restoration, redemption & rescue for the sinner & saint, the strong & the weary, for the lost, the forgotten, bankrupt, burdened, blind, broken, bruised, bound, imprisoned, orphaned, the widowed & the backsliding. We are empowered to be God’s chosen children! Peacemakers! Praise God Almighty for His rescue! Praise God our Lord & Savior for sending Jesus on the rescue mission to reconcile us unto Him. Not only have we been born into sin, we have been born into a time and place after the victory of Jesus’ overcoming death. The devil is disempowered and shall be destroyed. Hallelujah!
Benediction:
See Live Stream.
Next Week:
Sources, Credits, Citations & Notes:
- Fire Bible; Donald C. Stamps (DCS) MEV
- Cite 1 pg. 1221 Special Features (1)
- Note Cite 2 “Special Feature 5 [Micah] “It has three important prophecies that are quoted in other parts of the Bible: one that saved Jeremiah’s life (3:12; Jer 26:18), one about the Messiah’s (i.e. Christ’s) birthplace (5:2; Mt 2:5-6) and one used by Jesus himself as he taught on the cost of discipleship (7:6; Mt 10:35-36).
- Cite 1 pg. 1290 Portion of DCS 2:1 WISE MEN. Commentary.
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