What If There Were No Christmas

"Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord." Neh. 8:10

With all the talk of "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas" it got me to thinking. What if there were no Christmas? Regardless of the reasons for the choice of dates to celebrate, ultimately Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ. It is the advent of Eternity taking on human flesh. So what if Jesus had never come?

What if God chose not to reveal Himself? What if the Bible ended with the book of Malachi?Allow yourself to take a few moments today in the midst of all the bustle of family and gifts and all that you do on this special day to think about what would be different in our world if Jesus Christ had never come into the world. If God had not chosen to enter into time by taking on human flesh and being born as a baby, then just consider the difference in the world.

Now as you realize how different the world would be, consider how different it is in some places where people have still not heard the Good News that the angels brought to the shepherds. Countless billion remain in the darkness of never having heard the message of Christmas.

I know that Nehemiah's words were about something entirely different, but do they not challenge us? Enjoy what Christmas means. Celebrate the coming of Christ. But consider also your responsibility to help to take the message of peace and hope and joy to those who have nothing prepared today. Merry Christmas, and God bless you.

The Heart of Worship

"This people draws near to me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." (Matt. 15:8)

Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah here to denote that true worship is a matter of the heart and not a matter of words. It is not how loud or enthusiastically we sing on Sunday in church that denotes truth in worship. It is our surrender in obedience on a daily basis.

In I Samuel 15 God tells King Saul to go and destroy King Agag and the Amalekites. The Amalekites had ruthlessly attacked the Israelites as they were wandering in the wilderness. So God had devoted them to destruction. But rather than kill the king and thoroughly destroy all they had, Saul took some trophies. One of his excuses was that he needed sheep to offer in worship. And through the prophet Samuel we have these words, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."

As Christmas day approaches, let me ask this question again. What will you offer as a gift to this baby born to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. God desires your gift of your heart. He desires you worship him in truth, which means in obedience. This Christmas give to Christ your heart in full surrender to Him. Purpose to obey Him in all things.

WOW! Defeat the Enemies Within.

"Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan." (Judges 3:1)

The book of Joshua was a book of Victories. Much of the book of Judges is a book about defeat. God instructed Israel as they entered Canaan to completely destroy their enemies. But they did not obey. In Judges 2:2 God tells Israel that what they were not willing to do in obedience to Him, He would not do for them.The enemies they failed to destroy absolutely became a constant thorn in their sides and continual snares to their living in Victory.

God has provided for those who are Christians everything that we need for living a Victorious life. Sin is our great enemy, and it conspires against us through the flesh. Whatever we fail to conquer by full surrender to Christ becomes the stronghold in our life from which Satan wages continual war on us. That is why Paul admonishes us in Eph. 4:27 not to give the devil any opportunity in our life.
That is why God has provided for us weapons that are mighty to pull down strongholds. (2 Cor. 10:4).

As we end the year 2009 let me challenge you to take inventory in your life. What enemies remain to be conquered and are thorns in your flesh? Sin addictions. Some little compromise here or there. It could be subtle in form, and we hold on to it. Like the Israelites we will discover those unconquered enemies lead us to spiritual adulteries.

Get alone with God and let Him lead you to deal with the areas of your life that are thorns in your flesh and keeping you from Victorious living. Determine that in 2010 you will live surrendered fully to Christ as Lord of all.

The Wile E Coyote Principle

"Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling." (Prov. 26:27)

As I consider this text, I cannot help but think of Wile E. Coyote. Do you remember him from the Road Runner cartoons, one of my favorites growing up. He was always trying to catch the Road Runner, and yet every evil plan he concocted backfired on him. That coyote was flattened by falling rocks, run over by trucks, and had more dynamite blow up on him that anyone could endure. He was one indestructible coyote, but everything failed.

God's Word says that when we plan for evil toward others, it always catches us instead. I was reading the book of Esther again this morning. A man by the name of Haman was angered because Mordecai the Jew did not show him the honor and respect that he wanted. So he concocted a plan to destroy all of the Jews. But in the providence of God, Esther whom Mordecai had raised had become Queen. She had gained the King's favor, and she brought about a reversal of fortune for Haman. The gallows that Haman had built to hang Mordecai became his own death instrument.

We need to remember to always do good and to please the Lord. God said, "Vengeance is mine." I think one of the reasons we are hesitant to leave things in God's hands is that we think God will treat those whom we are upset with the same way that He has treated us. We are afraid that He will show them mercy. Aren't you glad that God did not give you what you deserved?

Merry Christmas

"The people who walk in darkness will see a great light - a light that wil shine on all sho live in the land where death casts its shadow. " (Isaiah 9:2)

These words are spoken through Isaiah the prophet about 750 years before Jesus Christ would be born. It is a promise that God is going to bring light to people who have lived in the darkness of death because of sin. It is the promise that God is going to bring life and peace and hope where there has been none. And we discover in v. 6 that this light is going to come in the form of a "son" to be given.

The promise is that this "son" will establish the Kingdom of God and that there will ultimately be no end to His rule. It is an incredible promise. This one along with many others were prophecies that were fulfilled when a baby was born of a virgin named Mary in the city of Bethlehem, now nearly 2000 years ago.

It doesn't matter if they change the name to "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings". Ultimately Christmas is all about the Christ who came and dwellt among us, as John tells us in the first chapter of His Gospel. We don't have records in a courthouse of the exact date that Jesus was born, but we know that He came in the humblest of ways. He came to save us from our sins. He came to save us from death. He came to be our Savior. "And His name will be called Jesus."

The Invitation of Christmas

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (Ps. 37:5)

When we talk about the matter of faith, there are all kinds of words that we use. We talk about believing which is an act of the mind, I believe. (A little play on the words, lol.) This verse in psalms refers to making a commitment, which is an act of our will. It is a choice that we make. Indeed life is all about choices. We can make our choices, we are free to do so. What we cannot do is choose the consequences of those choices. The choice to commit to Christ, is an act of faith with eternal benefits.

"Trust in Him" is the language of the heart. It is deeper than the mind and intellect. We ultimately determine in our will because the truth has made its way into our heart, not the blood pumping organ, but the control center of our life. The writer of Proverbs challenges us to "Trust in the Lord" with all of our heart.

Christmas is all about God's incredible love. He chose to send His Son into the world to be born of the flesh, a little baby humbling entering the world in Bethlehem some 2000 years or so ago. God invites us to believe that story. But He also invites us to allow the truth of that story to get into our hearts and lead us to make a choice. A choice to trust in God through Jesus Christ with all of our being. Christmas is an invitation by God to faith. And listen to this awesome promise. "Whoever calls on the Lord, will be saved." (Rom. 10:13)

Overcoming Sin

"I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Ps. 119:11)

The Bible calls us to live lives that are blameless. We are not ever sinless while we remain in our flesh, but we should sin less. God is at work in the life of every true believer to transform them into the image of Christ. Although Jesus Christ was tempted in every way that we are, He never sinned.

One of the disciplines of the life of a maturing believer that gives help in overcoming sin is "storing up" God's Word in our heart. The King James Version calls it "Hiding" God's Word in our hearts. How do we do that? We must memorize the scripture. We memorize it and we meditate on it. We study it and seek to comprehend its truth. As we have memorized it, the Holy Spirit will use it in our lives to overcome temptation. So when the psalmist asked, "How can a young man cleanse his ways?" in Ps. 119:9, he answers his own question in v. 11.
"I have stored up Your Word in my heart."

Heb. 4:12 tells us that God's Word is a living Word, sharper than even a two edged sword. The Word really comes to life in us when we have committed it to memory. Start with important verses to your life. Write them on 3 x 5 cards that you can carry everywhere you go. Review the verses on coffee breaks, or at red lights. Commit God's Word to Your heart today.

Is Heaven a Quiet Place?

"saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb'". (Rev. 5:12)

It is amazing to me that everyone says they want to go to heaven when they die. I haven't met anyone that genuinely said, "I prefer the alternative." But what is heaven really like? The old Christmas classic, "It's a Wonderful Life" says that every time we hear a bell ring, some angel has gotten their wings. The implication is that people who die and go to heaven eventually can become angels. But the Bible teaches that angels are created beings separate from humans, and that people never become gods or angels, or anything other than human.

Heaven must be a loud place. When John opened the windows of heaven in the Revelation and let us look in, he described the activity of heaven in Rev. 4 and 5. All around the throne of God are gathered the myriads of angels, which means huge numbers that are staggering. And all of the elders and saints, being the redeemed of all ages. So multitudes of angels and people, and they are all praising God. The sheer volume of people would create a loud chorus of praise, but our scripture above says they say with a "loud voice."

That is interesting to me because of what I sometimes hear in church. On one Sunday, one person came up and said the music was too loud today. And yet another asked, "Why have you turned the volume down, it seems we lost some energy." How can both be true on the same day? Have we forgotten it is not about us anyway? One person who complained of it being too loud one day was wearing hearing aids. Couldn't you just turn them down?

So if heaven is not a quiet place, are you going to put in for a transfer?

Give Him Your Heart

"present your bodies a living sacrifice,...which is your spiritual worship." (Rom 12:1-2)

The psalmist reminds us that "the earth is the Lord's and all it contains." (Ps. 24:1) We often speak of what to give someone who has everything. That is really true when it comes to God. We read that God loved us so much that He gave His one and only unique Son, Jesus Christ to be our Savior. When we sense the gratitude that comes from comprehending that, we want to give Him something as a love offering. But God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Every inch of this ever expanding universe is all His. So what can we give to God?

For 11 chapters in the book of Romans, the apostle Paul has described the incredible mercies and grace that God has shown to us. He turns a corner, so to speak, in 12:1 with the word "therefore". And He emphatically declares, "present your bodies a living sacrifice." A modern way to say that would be, Give yourself completely to God, once for all. Would you examine your life this Christmas season? Have you surrendered yourself to God completely? If not, why not? If not before, how about right now? Give Him Your heart.

What Will You Give?

"Therefore, because of God's incredible mercy, I urge you to give to Him..."

These words mark the turning point in one of Paul's great writings in the New Testament. Some of you recognize them and know exactly where they are. The rest will have to wait until tomorrow. But have you considered what gift you will give to Jesus Christ this Christmas?

This Sunday I will preach the second message in our new series, "The Cradle that Rocked the World." The message is entitled, "Christmas is For-giving." The drummer boy raised the question in the song, what gift can I give that is fit for a king. The magi brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. But in reality, God owns everything in this universe, so what do you give someone who has everything? There really is one appropriate gift. Will you give it?

You Are Invited

"invite to the wedding feast as many as you can find." (Matt. 22:9)

Jesus came into the world that first Christmas when He took on human flesh and was born of the virgin Mary. We often speak of the Incarnation, which is a theological word for "clothed in flesh". Jesus Christ who is God became a man. Often the Bible speaks of Jesus as the bridegroom and the people of Christ, the church, as the Bride.

When Jesus comes again the second time and gathers His children home, Matt. 22 tells us that there is a great wedding feast. It is a great celebration; a party. Everyone is invited. In this story in Matt. 22, the groom walks through the wedding hall and finds one who is not properly clothed, and he has to leave. All are invited, but only those clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ will attend. Only those who have by faith received God's gift of eternal life.

Christmas is an invitation by God to the wedding feast. In order to go, however, you must have the proper wedding attire. As John wrote in his Gospel, "He came unto His own, but His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God." You have been invited. Have you received God's gift of the proper attire for the party by receiving Jesus Christ as Your Lord?

Must We Suffer?

"Perfect through suffering" (Heb. 2:10)

Austin Phelps wrote, "Suffering is a wonderful fertilizer to the roots of character. The great object of this life is character. This is the only thing we can carry with us into eternity...To gain the most of it and the best of it is the object of probation."

We are often reminded that God is far more concerned with our holiness than with our happiness. The moment that we said "Yes" to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God went to work through the Holy Spirit to transform us into His image. Just as diamonds are forged from coal by pressure, so also much of our transformation comes from the suffering that we encounter in this world which is hostile to God. So we are told in the Bible not to be surprised by the "fiery trials' that we encounter. We are told to rejoice when we face tests. God is up to something purposeful.

Today, why not seek His face, and allow Him to change you by determining to obey His Word. If we say "yes" each time God speaks to us, it is a much easier process.

Do you Seek great things?

"And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go." (Jer. 5:25)

The Bible teaches that the closer we get to the end of time, the more difficult it will become to live the Christian life. There is no promise of safety and deliverance from trouble given with the call to follow Christ. So what is the promise that is given to Jeremiah when God says, "I will give you your life as a prize of war...?" It means, I believe, that God will deliver us from the destroyer. Nothing can happen in our lives that is not a part of the will of God. Sometimes God's will leads us into a lion's den. Sometimes it leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. Sometimes it leads us into a fiery furnace. Because of who are enemy is (the false god of this world, satan), we will always find ourselves in the presence of the enemy and of conflict in spiritual warfare.

When you study the heroes of the faith through the Bible, you discover that they dwellt in the presence of the enemy because they dwellt in the presence of God. As long as we seek to follow Christ, we will be going in the opposite direction from the enemy, which means we are going to run headlong into him. That is why the scripture says we should not be surprised at the fiery trial. All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer, we are assured by God's Word. So do not seek great things for yourself. Seek God's Kingdom first and foremost in your life.