Sermon Nuggets Week of Dec 20th Christmas Through the Eyes of God
Sermon Nuggets Mon Dec 20- Christmas
Verses-Gal 4:4-7
4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Christmas Through the Eyes of God
A couple of years ago on America’s Funniest Home Videos, a young boy was shown on Christmas morning. He came down to see a large present beside the tree and ran over to tear it open to see what was inside. The paper went flying and suddenly he broke into a dance and jumped around the room saying, “Wow Just what I wanted I really love it. Wow ” After awhile he went over to look at it again and said with a puzzled look on his face, “What is it?”
On that first Christmas the angels announced the birth of a new child. The heavens were opened and all broke into praise. Shepherds went racing to Bethlehem to see what it was all about. And for two thousand years we have been jumping up and down saying, “Just what I wanted exactly what I needed. I love it ” But in the next breath we look again inside the stable and ask, “What is it?” Maybe there is more than the world thinks.
“Do you see what I see?” Certainly, we know how much the world focuses its attention on spending money to stimulate our economy, music, TV specials, movies, glitter and glamour as well as enjoying time with friends and family. Many churches gather for special services. That’s what Christmas looks like through our eyes.
This morning I read an unsettling report from US Today how Christmas is an officially secular holiday. Most people do not care about Jesus. Most homes celebrate Christmas as coming home, sharing gifts, and partying. Even families from religious homes no longer come to church as the adult church have given up the faith and it isn’t worthy the family hassle to make them come to church.
Atheist are happy to celebrate Christmas without Christ. Many young adults resent the fact that some Christians are making a campaign that stores say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holiday. In fact that gives them a sour taste against Christianity because of no one should force their religious belief upon another.
Some Christians recognize the events of December 25th were rooted in paganism and refuse to celebrate at all.
As we approach Christmas this week it is good to reflect on Christmas through the eyes of God. The passage I am choosing to use is Galatians 2:4-7 It begins with 4,5 “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
This is a redemption mission. The more I see our society and nation rejecting things of the Lord, the more I see us walking in darkness. God wants us to share this message not just in the church but in the world. We are the ones who have been enlightened to shine.
Pray with me this week that God will give us opportunities to discuss Christmas and our personal beliefs that it is more than presents and family.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues Dec 21 – Sovereignty
Verses- Gal 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
(Some of the thoughts I want to share this Christmas week came from a sermon I read from John MacArthur, Grace Church in California.)
Christmas is not About the Sensational, It’s about His Sovereignty
I remember when our German foreign exchange student was here at Christmas. He had seen all the houses decorated and lit up, he comment was, “Why do you do this?” It is rather gaudy, isn’t it?” He was looking at Christmas through different eyes.
The decorations in neighborhoods seems to grow every year. Many on a street will compete and give prizes to the one with the most impressive lighted decorations. It is the American way to wow people with the spectacular. I put up lights again this year. It is our way of making things look festive. But to compete as to who has the most sensational decorations is a goal to impress others.
But through God’s eyes it’s not about the sensationalism of the season, it’s simply about coming to gripes with who He is. It is recognizing His sovereignty. If we cannot understand that He rules over all things we don’t understand why Jesus came.
Christ’s coming to earth is well planned and timed, but it seems to lack in the publicity of getting the crowd out. The attendance was pathetic. But this was when it was suppose to start, “In the fullness of time.” The fulfillment of time is an important concept, because it shows God's sovereign control of time in order to bring His promises to pass. Only the Lord knows the times and seasons for fulfillment. Everything that needed to be completed was now ready
Why the world should have remained in darkness for four thousand years, why it should have taken that length of time for the church to attain her full age, we cannot tell; but this we are told, that Jesus was sent forth when the fullness of time was come. Our Lord did not come before his time nor behind his time: he was punctual to his hour, We see this timing of God throughout the Bible and especially in Jesus life on earth. Jesus continually stated that His hour, or time, had not yet come; it was to be fulfilled when He was crucified. In fact, when Jesus came into Jerusalem in His triumphal entry, He stated that Israel should have known the time of the visitation of the Messiah Jesus' death was prophesied in the Old Testament and the fulfillment of this was seen in His death at the appointed time
Solomon wrote an insightful passage Eccl 3:1-11, which declares, "There is...a time for every purpose under heaven." This passage goes on to note that there is a time for birth and death, mourning and dancing, keeping and throwing away, silence and speaking, and war and peace. Man’s times are in the Lord's hands (Ps 31:15).
Jesus told a parable of a man who was into the sensational of his houses and barns and buildings and making a fortune, and he was called a fool. Do you know why? Because tonight his soul was required of him before the sovereign God. His time ended.
It was the sovereignty of God that realized we cannot move toward him. So he moved toward us and sought to save us. Everything that Christ did was done by commission and authority of his Father.
John’s Gospel makes it very clear that Jesus existed from the beginning. He had a part in Creation. Jesus had to be pre-existent in order to be sent from heaven to earth. He was sent from his glorious and sovereign form to humble Himself into a vulnerable baby.
Christianity is not first about teachings or principles or religious rituals, though all of those things may have a place. Our faith stands or falls on who Jesus Christ is. He is the Son of God. He is divine. What he said mattered, because of who he was. John 1:14 said. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” 14, he announces, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Just like his birth, crucifixion, burial and resurrection were all at the appointed times so will be His coming again. That time is known only by the Sovereign Lord, who will once again send Jesus from Heaven with a host of others joining Him.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds Dec 22 Simplicity
Christmas is not about the Superstars, It's about Simplicity
I had seen a TV report of Christians in the market place selling music, books, movies and religion. Mel Gibson was turned down by all the Hollywood producers when they found he was doing the “The Passion of Christ movie’. You know he financed it by himself and it end up being among the top 10 best selling movies in history. Now what do you think the merchants of this world started doing? Sell religion. What do you think Hollywood started doing? Making religious movies. What do you think the stores did? Sold Christian merchandise. And like the blessed sheep in the temple the moneychangers galore will become religious and think of creative ways to market the gospel, fashions and music and we are in a dilemma. How do we sell Jesus?
We not only make things sensational, but develop superstars in all areas of Christianity. We love celebrity status. Christian athletes and musicians sell well. As I was channel surfing last night I came upon a Christian TV show where the “star” was in perfect lighting, gyrating to the Christmas song and dressed with most expensive clothing. My mind went to the ungodly stars who do religious songs this time of years because it makes them money and has nothing to do with their testimony or faith.
If someone becomes popular there are marketers and agents who want to make them superstars. The book industry knows that popular ministers sell books and they continue to publish even trite because it makes them money. The financial charges from Christian superstars are unbelievable. I have commented before on the importance of proper support of those for whom this is their life income, but once again our focus is on that first Christmas and the God of the universe world is contrasted with the god of this world- materialism and super status.
It isn’t about the hype, it is about the heart. And that is only what God looks at this Christmas. He does not give a rip about sales, or crowds, or what is popular or what isn’t. He is only desires of truth and the carrying out of his plan.
Steve Brown tells of a famous painting by Brueghel entitled “The Census.” It is a picture of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve two thousand years ago. The painting captures the scene of a busy village filled to overflowing with visitors called to town for the Roman Census. In the center of the painting is a government booth and flowing from it a long line of tired travelers waiting their turn to fill out the imperial papers commanded by Augustus Caesar. If you look close you can see all kinds of people, rich and poor, young and old, powerful leaders and minor servants. They have all returned to the City of David to be counted. But down in the lower right corner of the picture almost out of site and sure to be overlooked by the casual viewer, just barely visible is a man tugging on a donkey and on top of the donkey a very pregnant woman.
It was God’s design to display His sovereignty in a baby born of a woman. It was His plan to send an angelic choir to a few humble and anonymous sheepherders. That Christmas God came to the humble, and the simple. It was in quiet Bethlehem not popular Jerusalem; it was to the rural area in the outskirts, not to palaces and nobility.
Why a stable? Why was there no room in the inn? Why to a carpenter? Why to foreigners? It was the simplicity of the sovereign that makes this Christmas thing confusing. It’s not in the sensational, but in the simple that God chooses often to carry out his work and his ways.
God sent forth his Son born of a woman and in so doing it was the most defenseless of creatures a baby that requires everything at the hands of humans. Human babies take the longest to develop and care for in the animal kingdom. Yet here is how God came, not with superstar status which He deserved but unassuming carpenter’s home
The Spirit of Christmas is in humility, in simplicity, in meekness when the Master over all came for those who have been given eyes to see.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs Dec 23 Spirit
Gal 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
Christmas is not about self its about the Spirit
A pastor had met a parishioner in a store following Christmas and asked her "Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?"
She answered, "No, I did not. But then, it wasn't my birthday, now was it?"
Good response.
I recalled the time years ago when the church staff was going to put on a surprise birthday party for me. They had it all planned out. Unfortunately, I had gotten called away on a chaplaincy call from the hospital. Back at the church the staff wondered what they should do without my not being there. Ron Gullman got a video camera and began to film the party for me as if I was there. People came out of their hiding places and said surprise. They went through the food line and gave me cards via the video and afterward sang Happy Birthday and blew out the candles and read a poem.
While they were watching the video I came upon them and “surprised them”. We laughed and watched their creativity of putting on a party without my presence.
I thought of how often we are surrounded at Christmas time with things that concern us and forget the party is for HIM. Many Christmas celebrations exclude Christ. Even those who sing and participate in religious activities are filming without His presence. There is something missing.
We see in the life of Jesus that the Son glorifies the Father, the Spirit glorifies the Son, the Father sends the Spirit into us to glorify Himself with a personal relationship that is so intimate we can call Him “Da-da” “Abba”, the first sounds a young child makes trying to say Daddy. As a child we recognize our father and delight in him. When the Spirit comes into our lives it is for the purpose of changing everything from God’s perspective.
Earlier in this letter Paul writes, ”I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20
Certainly Christmas is the time to think of others. Salvation Army receives millions of dollars in donations to help those in need. Toys for Tots has a successful campaign of collections for kids who might not otherwise receive gifts at Christmas. There are mittens made for the homeless, Christmas meals passed out, and cards and money distributed to folks we seldom connect with the rest of the year.
But statistics show increasingly people without any faith celebrate Christmas and in order to do so without any guilty conscience the courts now have officially declared Christmas to be a secular holiday. Our neighbors do not need Jesus to celebrate, have parties, and even concern themselves with those less fortunately in charitable ways.
But the guest of honor is left outside. The Spirit is given for a personal relationship whereby we not sing about the babe of Bethlehem, but cry Abba Father made possible by His coming into our world. The heart of God is to love us into his kingdom but can be done no other way that break that barrier of sin and pride and we receive the Spirit by grace through faith. We become Christ followers for the long haul. Then something is suppose to happen. Our outlook begins to change. To love God and love others isn’t from us, it is through us by the Spirit. Will we trust and obey?
Our culture is bombarded with adult toys so we can have everything our own way. I-pads and i-phones want to so personalize all our wants in music, friends on Facebook, news stories, sports teams, hobbies and interests. The multitude of choices is overwhelming as our tastes and interest not only change but are changed by those who influence us, including the Christmas marketers.
Let’s face it, we like people with whom we are compatible because we like people who are like us. We may think we love others when we are simply feeling good about them loving us. For the sake of a real relationship Christ came to live among us into our sinful and selfish world to give us His Spirit. It is to see the larger pictures of the kingdom of God. He infinite became finite, the sinless among sinners; the lover among the resentful. He became a servant and wants to serve others through us. That is the spirit at work.
To do so requires us to become more interested in what interests Jesus. That might include contacts with people who love Jesus but not love our style of music. Folks who do not love Jesus but need to- the immoral, idolaters, rebels, and so forth. It means making friends with people who don't seem very useful to him: the severely disabled, those wasting away in as shut ins or in nursing homes. It means joining with others who are not just like ourselves who together under the spirit’s leading become the hands and feet and truth of the reason we celebrate. That is the church Christ loves. We are the people to whom the Spirit is given for His glory and honor.
What interests Jesus? After all, its His party.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri Dec 24 – Salvation
Verses- Gal 4: 7 Gal 4:4-7 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Christmas is not about the Stuff, It’s about Salvation.
The context of the book of Galatians is that we need saving from sin and we need saving from slavery and bondage. When the law came through Moses it was set up not only to keep us form sin, but to show our hearts are in need of change. The law was unable to save us. It became a symbol of the immature children who come to a time of growing up in their lives when they no longer need the law, because the love of God is in their hearts. That is only possible because the Son of God. He was the only one righteous enough to live a life without sin and acceptable to take our punishment to satisfy the law. Justice required sin to be paid by death. Mercy motivated God to make that sacrifice on the cross for our salvation. This Christmas thing through the eyes of God is bringing us salvation so anyone can come to know God in a personal way.
He created mankind as an object of his love, but from the very start that love has been spurned. From the beginning of his attempt to have fellowship with his creation he has met with rejection.
Pastor Rodney Buchanan in one of his sermon reminds us it was not easy for God to give us Christmas. It was not easy to keep loving and coming after a creation that had continually rejected him and his love. It was not easy when he realized what his Son would have to go through, especially the cross. The Christmas story is not as cute as it is profound. A child born to die. A child destined for suffering, abuse and misunderstanding. A child whose life was in danger shortly after his birth. It is a story of a God who gave until it hurt. Christ gave up his position and place in glory that we might have Christmas. It began in a dirty manger and ended on a dirty wooden cross. He was born in a borrowed stable and was buried in a borrowed tomb.
God had one thing in mind from the beginning of the world: to rescue and save his creation; to redeem the human race; to save us and bring us into his eternal kingdom; to put an end to evil and rule the universe. And by so doing he would establish his rightful place on the throne over all creation. God sends a baby who seems to be so vulnerable, but turns out to be the King of the universe.
The Son of God has come under the law. He was the Law-maker and the Law-giver, and he is both the Judge of the law and the Executioner of the law, and yet he himself came under the law. No sooner was he born of a woman than he came under the law: this voluntarily and yet necessarily. He willed to be a man, and being a man he accepted the position, and stood in the place of man as subject to the law of the race. When they took him and circumcised him according to the law, it was publicly declared that he was under the law. During the rest of his life you will observe how reverently he observed the commands of God. Even to the ceremonial law as it was given by Moses he had scrupulous regard. He despises the traditions and superstitions of men, but for the rule of the dispensation he had a high respect.
Now the law is no more. We are blessed to experience grace. He met the requirements. Now instead of the stuff we need Him. Instead of the stuff of what we buy and what we provide we come to understand that Christian isn’t about what we have to offer, it is what he has to offer. Even now, as believers he wants to give us more of himself. In so receiving Jesus to follow Him and accept Him as the complete authority in our lives we are given not only His Spirit and Salvation but the right to become His children, his sons and daughters. We are family.
At the right time Jesus came to reveal His Glory to you and all who will believe. It's not about what we have to give, but what we need to receive.
Merry Christmas
Pastor Dale
