Jesus Christmas | Reason for the Season (12/8/24)

Jesus Christmas | Reason for Season
By Rev. Nicholas Sybrowsky

 Invocation:

Luke’s Gospel;

 “Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover [lamb] must be killed. [Luk 22:7 KJV]"

 The blood of Jesus Christ; the Lamb of God is available to all of humanity.  Oh Lord, let us prepare our hearts for the taking of open Communion with you at each appointed time.  Almighty Creator.  May the space in between appointments be filled with the Comforter (Holy Spirit Lk 11:13); providing communion with you & with our local community unto You throughout the four-corners of the World.

Hallelujah!    

Opening Word & Reading for Worship:

Here at DCAG we practice open communion.  Of which we took last week.  Observing Communion as a community church we take Communion monthly.  It’s commemoration of the Lord’s crucifixion.  In this we lament with contrite heart.  Each of us drives our own flesh suit and we must prepare our hearts to receive the Lord’s Supper.  Other words for “contrition” are regret, remorse, shame & sorrow.  Reflecting upon your need for atonement.  Upon recognition in this sense of contrition & need;  we then move to repentance, change & recovery from sin by meditating upon Jesus’ substitutionary labor upon the cross.  Jesus is our Passover, Amen?  As children of God grafted into the family of God’s chosen people, Jesus is our Passover.  On this note.  This practice is available upon request as well.  If you know of any shut-in folks inside or outside the Church that would like this service, please assist me to coordinate this connection.  This worship practice honor’s our God.  Let’s GO Dove Creek!

Six Biblical Reasons for the Season of Jesus Christ-mass.

Intro:

Every year believers in Jesus Christ concentrate on December 25th in the Gregorian calendar year.  The season happens to be near the darkest time of winter season.  The longest night & shortest light of the solstice year within our habitat in a great expanse within an even larger vastness of the Universe.  What’s all the fuss?  What are some reasons to observe this event from very long ago?  What are we celebrating?  What is the reason for hope in this longest night of the winter solstice year?  How and why did God send Jesus to Earth?  In short form one fair answer according to the Bible account is that Mankind in their supernatural state sinned, causing a fall from grace & perfection.

In this sermon series we will examine Jesus Christmas the reason for the season, celebration & hope of Emmanuel.  Today I’ll attempt to provide & encourage you with six reasons for the season of observing Jesus’ birth date.  

 Main Theme & Texts:  Virgin Birth with the date of the “bright & morning star” (tracked by Astrologists of Antiquity Num 24:17, Mat 2:2, 7, 9-10, Luk 1:32-33, Rev 22:16).   

1/7 “oracles of destiny” & two OT Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ: (3:15 & Lk 22:53) Satan against Jesus & Jesus’ victory over Satan  (3:15, Heb 2:14; 1Jn 3:8) (Cite 4 & 5)(See Note 6).

Various other addresses visited in this message. Rom. 6:23; Gen. 1:26, 2:16-17, 3:6, (Also see Rom. 5:12-19) 3:15 (cf. Isa 7:14) & Lk 22:53 Gen 3:15(x2), Heb 2:14; 1Jn 3:8;  Ro. 1:16-17 & Hab. 2:4 

1. To save us from His wrath, because He is merciful and just.

Why do we deserve the wrath of God?  (Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.)  The wages of sin are death!  God is just & without sin.

The Fall of Mankind (Gen. 1:26, 2:16-17, 3:6 Rom. 5:12-19).

Since the Genesis of mankind, we have needed a savior.  We believe that Humankind fell from grace as a result of sin.  Humankind was created “very good”(Ge. 1:31) & upright; for God said   

[The Creation Account…]Gen. 1:26

"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 31 God saw everything He had made , and indeed it was very good.  So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (MEV)

However, humankind by willful choice, ignored God’s instructions… 

"Gen. 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” 

Permissive will; choosing to engage in what they knew was wrong & evil…

Gen. 3:6 "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasing to the eyes and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave to her husband with her, and he ate. " 

As result, humankind fell from innocence and goodness, and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death (See Note 2), which is separation from God (“That’s hard to accept Pastor.” See Note 3). 

2. To defend mankind from the evil one and the schemes of darkness.

When Satan came against mankind, he came against God.  

God pronounced hope within the consequence and punishment description regarding Eve’s offspring & Satan’s Offspring.  This is the earliest declared “oracle of destiny” if you will, with poetic double meaning (Cite 4). 

“Throughout the book of [Genesis] there are a number of “oracles of destiny” which often contain verbal subtleties.” ~Derek Kidner, Genesis  “Seven scriptures succinctly describe the future of an individual and the blessing or conflict in store for him or her.”~ Herbert Wolf Today we’ll touch on 1/7 “oracles of destiny” & two OT Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ: (3:15 & Lk 22:53) Satan against Jesus & Jesus’ victory over Satan  (3:15, Heb 2:14; 1Jn 3:8) (Cite 4 & 5)(See Note 6).

Gen. 3:15”I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.” (See Note 7)

An “oracle of destiny”, 

"this verse also is the first hope of God’s plan to defeat evil and restore his relationship with people.  It predicts the full victory of God over Satan.  It is the prophecy of a spiritual conflict between the woman’s offspring (i.e., the Lord Jesus Christ) and Satan’s evil forces.  God promised that Christ would be born of a woman (cf. Isa 7:14) and would be “bruised” by his unjust death on the cross. Yet, he would rise from the dead to completely “crush” Satan, sin and death in order to save the human race. (Cite 8, See Note 9)"

During the Betrayal & Arrest of Jesus to the “chief” High Priest’s Servants in Lk 22:53 

"Jesus said “Have you come out with swords and clubs as against a rebel?  Daily, while I was with you in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me.  *But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!”   

God planned your; victory over the enemy! {Tell your neighbor; Look them in the eye} (See Note 10)

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is

        the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew 

        first, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is 

        revealed from faith to faith. As it is written, “The just shall live by

        faith.”(Ro. 1:16 (MEV) cf. Hab. 2:4)

3. To destroy the devil and the power of death.

One hundred seventeen OT prophecies fulfilled in Christ! (Cite 5)  In, The Basis of Christian Faith, Floyd Hamilton writes, 

“Canon Liddon is authority for the statement that there are in the OT 332 distinct predictions which were literally fulfilled in Christ (Cite 11).” 

 The first OT Prophecy fulfilled in Christ:  Satan against Jesus. We see this in the arrest of Jesus (Read*).  The 2/117:  Jesus’ victory over Satan.

Synonyms of “Enmity”:  Hostility, Hate, Antagonism, Hatred & Animosity.    Repeat Gen. 3:15.  

Heb. 2:14 "So then, as the children share in flesh and blood, He likewise took part in these, so that through death He might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil," 

The Blood of the Lamb of God atones or amend the wages, IF we accept, believe and follow through with confessing Jesus as Lord and savior.  Propitiation to the wrath of God or appeasement to the wrath of God.  Or in other words, Sooths the wrath of God.

4. To share in the flesh and blood as a man.  Immanuel means “God with us”.  (Heb. 2:14)

Why did Jesus come in the flesh?  

”Share in the flesh and blood” Because those whom Jesus came to save are flesh and blood (i.e., human), Jesus also had to become a human being.  Only as a true human being could he qualify to rescue the human race from Satan’s power and restore people to a right relationship with God.  As fully man and fully God, Jesus was the only one capable of bridging the gap that sin had created between God and humanity.  Christ died to destroy Satan’s power over those who accept Jesus’ sacrifice for themselves (cf. 1Jn 3:8), and Jesus frees his followers from the fear of death (Rev 1:18) by promising eternal life with God (Jn 17:3; Rev 21-22).  Keep in mind that Satan holds the power of death only in the sense that he entices people to go their own God-defying way and to come under sin’s penalty, which is death and separation from God (cf. Eze 18:4; Ro 5:12; 6:23).  But Jesus Christ takes away that power in that he has already taken sin’s death penalty on himself, canceling the debt of sin for all who receive him.  Jesus then empowers them to continually overcome temptation and sin (see Ro 8:1-16)(Cite 12).”

5. To destroy the offspring of Satan.

1Jn 3:8 "Whoever practices sin is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.  For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, that He might destroy the works of the devil."

“THE DEVIL.  Many people in the world, even some in the church, refuse to accept the fact of a real devil who wars against God and seeks to destroy people spiritually and in every other way (See 1Pe 5:8), note FB). But John, one of Jesus’ closest followers, has much to say about “the devil.”  He calls him “the wicked one” (v.12; 2:13-14; 5:18-19), who “has been sinning from the beginning” (i.e., from the time he first rebelled against God, before the temptation of Adam and Eve, Jn 8:44).  He is the instigator of sin, and those who continue to live in sin are “of the devil” (v. 8), are his children (v. 10) and belonging to him (v. 12). He is behind “the spirit of the antichrist” that is in the world (4:3), and he has “the whole world”—those who do not follow God—under his control (see 5:19, note (FB).  But the devil cannot permanently harm God’s children (5:18). In fact, the follower of Christ will “overcome the evil one” (2:13-14; 4:4), and Christ will “destroy the works of the devil” (v. 8; see the other 115 OT Prophesies fulfilled in Christ). (Cite 13)

6. To offer Salvation through His Son Jesus

“The fact that humankind fell from its original innocence and moral goodness is ignored by humanistic philosophies which teach that the human race can be improved, and moral imperfection removed through education.  The truth is that humankind apart from God is fallen or morally defective.  The Bible teaches that humankind is destined to remain fallen, until their tendency toward evil thoughts and deeds is reversed through accepting the salvation provided in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s Son.  Education can improve a person intellectually and socially, but belief in the saving work of Jesus Christ is the only lasting means that can improve a person morally.  Salvation restores the relationship with God that was broken with the fall of humankind (Cite 14 {AG What We Believe Doctrine 5 Pg. 6}).”

7. Next week: Jesus Christmas | The Reason for Celebration

Conclusion:

The Reason for the season of Christmas is to remind us of the hope during the darkest of times & the longest night of solstice year.  A hope that is divine & only available in Jesus Christ.  To keep The One True God, front and center year after year up to & through His second coming.

As believers & followers of Jesus Christ we observe Christ-mass annually to commemorate this promise of rescue by God & to remind ourselves of detail in the Lord’s deity; His Virgin Birth.  In addition to observing the divine conception, we also practice communion to keep the Lord’s saving power front and center throughout the year.  Hence forth each month and as often as is necessary we celebrate the Lord’s supper as a family of believers here at DCAG.  Monthly and on special occasions such as Resurrection Sunday near the polytheistic Easter celebration.  As the Bride of Christ, we wait patiently & eagerly for the Groom Jesus Christ to bring us home where He’s prepared a New Heaven & New Earth.

Exhortation:

“[Gen 1:14 KJV] [14] And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:”

“…let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.” These stars & planets in the “firmament” are indicators.  To draw our attention to the Creator’s magnificent power not our horoscope reading for the day(See Note 15).

  Jesus is known as the bright & morning star; outshining all the others to draw mankind unto their Creator.  Let Jesus be your reason for the season of Christmas and discover the true gift therein.  Santa is not the reason for the season.  Elf on the shelf is not the reason for the season.  We’re a very distracted people, aren’t we?  Keep Jesus front and center and receive the gift of eternal life.  We know that Satan is against Jesus.  But we also know that Jesus has the victory over Satan.  We also know that because Immanuel is with us, God is for us and we too have the victory!

Altar Call to Action/Suggested Response:

Do you accept Jesus as He is?  Do you believe Jesus is the reason for the season?  Are you ready to confess Jesus to be your Lord and Savior?

Prayer & Song:

However, it is that you celebrate during this various holidays during winter season.  From my house to yours, Merry Christmas & happy holidays (See Note 16).  

Benediction:

Holy Father, thank you for sending Jesus to sooth your wrath, granting us victory over the adversary.  Thank you, LORD, for granting us the Hope of our salvation and ticket to eternal life with You, our blessed Creator.  We declare and decree that the God of Abraham and Adam is our God.  Continue to empower us to come out from among the heathen and be separate.  Fulfill your wonderful promises with in us all this winter season.  Allow us to concentrate upon that which is most important to you.  We love you Lord.  Please continue to have mercy upon us and our neighbors. 

Next Week:

Sources, Credits, Citations & Notes: 

1. Translations:  KJV, MEV

2. Note: See Ge.3:15 & compare this in the Revelation to John Rev. 20:10 “crushing of Satan and Remission of sin & spiritual regeneration.  Thoughts?  Share in the comments online.

3. Note: “Hard to accept…” Born into sin is hard to accept.  One reason for advent.  Advent is the beginning or arrival of a notable person or thing.  We’re celebrating the arrival of the Messiah Jesus.

4.“oracle of destiny” according to Derek Kidner, Genesis, TOTC Chicago: InterVarsity, 1967, 71 of Herbert Wolf’s Introduction to the Old Testament Pentateuch, Chicago: Moody Publishers pg. 50 & 97.

5. Zondervan resources of Donald C. Stamps scholarship Fire Bible (117 OT Fulfilled in Christ Jesus).

6. Other “Oracles of Destiny” per Cite 4.  Cf. Gen. 16:11-12 Hagar; 24:60 Rebekah; 27:27-29 Jacob; 39-40 & 40:13 Joseph; 40:19 Pharaoh & Baker

7. Note: There’s hope right after the consequence Ge. 3:15.

8. Donald C. Stamps Full Life Study Bible & Fire Bible 3:15 Note and more notes available in FireBible link here GO.  Are you an Evangelist? Check out FireBible goal Map on the site.

9. Note: (cf. Isa 53:5; Mt 1:20-23; Jn 12:31; Ac 26:18; Ro 5:18-19; 16:20 1Jn 3:8; Rev 20:10; see chart on OT prophecies fulfilled in Christ by Zondervan in Fire Bible pg. 815.) (Cite 8)

10. Note:  Does that feel good?  It can cause a sense of exultation in your feet.  Exalting God can and will cause exult within you.  Do you feel light in the feet in your exaltations?  Wearing tennis shoes are not the way to feel this sense.  Although tennis shoes do feel nice; comfy & cozy.  To exult in the Lord means to walk on the clouds with Him; we are victor’s not victim’s, amen?

11. Evidence that Demands a Verdict pg. 229 By McDowell & Son PhD.

12. Donald C. Stamps Fire Bible pg. 1814 Heb. 2:14.

13. Donald C. Stamps Fire Bible pg. 1882 1 Jn 3;8 THE DEVIL

14. Assemblies of God what We Believe Doctrine 5 pg. 6

15. Note DCS Note LET THEM BE SIGNS. God intended for the sun, moon and stars to serve as signs drawing humankinds’ attention to him.  They also marked days, seasons and years.  Astrology, the study of stars and things in heaven and their influence on human activity, has twisted these intended purposes with the false theory that the stars and planets guide individuals’ lives.” Also see cf. Isa 40:26; Jer 10:2 

16. Learn more about other holiday celebrations in the environment.  The following links were some top articles as a result of a Microsoft “smart look up” powered by Bing.  Remember Alice and return home!  Cultural Diversity | Holiday Trad.  |  Around the World, | Unusual Winter Trad., | Most Widely Celebrated,  | Global Winter Trad., | Holidays Around the World 

Soli Deo Gloria | “Glory to God Alone”