~ December 14, 2014 ~
I’M DREAMING OF A CHRIST-FILLED CHRISTMAS
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
INTRO:
1. This is not a traditional Christmas text; it’s not about angels, shepherds, Mary & Joseph, or a baby in a manger.
2. However, John did take Baby Jesus, and put him in the right context of who He is!
Illustration: At Christmas our emphasis is usually put on the following: We want Christmas to be white and bright. We want the tree, the decorations, the lights, the eggnog and the presents. We want everyone to be happy. We want to be able to get and give plenty. We want peace and joy to abound. But, in reality, Christmas often turns into a real hassle. You are rushed and pushed for time. You spend money you don’t have for people you don’t even like to acquire things they don’t even want or need. In our struggle to get it right, we often get it dead wrong and end up making ourselves and others miserable.
3. I do not believe that God is concerned about us having the perfect white Christmas as much as He wants us to have the perfect Christ-filled Christmas.
4. So let us look at the ingredients that our text reveals that will help us to have a Christ-filled Christmas.
BODY- A CHRIST-FILLED CHRISTMAS
I. CONSIDER THE PERSON OF CHRISTMAS
** The modern Christmas is filled with many distractions such as the Personalities, the Presents and the Practices.
** Society makes it easy to forget the real reason for this season. They even try to make us to forget it! Merchants are afraid to say, “Merry Christmas” anymore.
** But John 1:14 tells us the real essence of Christmas.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
A. He Is Eternally God
**“In the beginning was the Word.” – This means that the Word has always existed.
**The word “was” is in the “imperfect tense” it signifies “an action of the past that continues into the present.”
1. Jesus Existed Before the Birth!
2. Jesus Existed Before the Beginning!
* Illustration: A couple of months before Christmas, the wife of a mail carrier was killed in a car accident. The husband was overcome with grief and was trying to work through his sorrow, and he had stayed late at his post office sorting through the mountain of mail that always comes through at Christmas time. His job that day was to go through the mail that had been lost and to find out where it should be re-routed.
He came across a letter that was addressed to "Santa Claus" and he noticed that the address at the top of the letter was his own address. So, he opened the letter. Looking down at the bottom of the page he saw that it was his only daughter's signature, and he read:
Dear Santa:
My Mommy died two months ago and since then my Daddy has been crying himself to sleep every night. He says only eternity will heal him. Would you please send a little bit of eternity to my Dad this Christmas?
**God not only sent us a little bit of eternity, He sent us the very heart of heaven. Jesus is the eternal God!
I John 4:14 “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world,”
B. He Is Equally God
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
** Jesus is the Word because a word is a visible expression of an invisible thought.
** No one has seen the face of God, but Jesus is the visible expression of the invisible God!
** Jesus is everything God has ever said or will say.
** The word “with” means “face to face, or toward”. This tells us that Jesus was “face to face” with God, and He is God’s equal.
**Equal in His Person, in His Position, and in His Power!
C. He Is Essentially God
** “and the Word was God”, is the clearest statement of the deity of Jesus in the Bible.
** He is Co-Eternal, Co-Equal, and Co-existent as ONE with God!
**In other words, when the angels said, “unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord”, Luke 2:11, they were announcing the birth of God in human flesh!
**Make Him the person of your Christmas to have a Christ-filled Christmas!
II. CONSIDER THE POWER OF CHRISTMAS
John 1:3 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
**Without Christ there would not be any such thing as Christmas, but the world wants Christmas without Christ!
**He made Christmas, and He made the power of Christmas!
**The Power of Christmas is found in the Manger
A. There was a Miracle in that Manger!
Philippians 2:7 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
** The Creator of creation humbled Himself and became a creature in creation!
1. The Expecting Spouse was a Miracle.
2. The Exceptional Son was a Miracle.
3. The Exalting Seraphim was a Miracle.
4. The Extraordinary Star was a Miracle.
5. The Escaping Survival was a Miracle.
B. There was a Messiah in that Manger!
1. The Only Savior to be Human!
2. The Only Son to be Holy!
C. There was a Meaning in that Manger!
** That Miracle Baby in that Manger meant . . .
1. God With Us
2. Grace With Us
**Simeon saw salvation when he held Him.
3. Glory With Us
**The Power of Christmas is not Santa, Rudolph, Snowmen, Elves, presents, parties, meals, or family!
**The Power of Christmas is Jesus making Himself a Son so that He could be Salvation for a sinner like me!
III. CONSIDER THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS
**Why did He come into this world to live and to die? What is the purpose of Christmas?
A. He Came To Bring Life Into the Spiritually Dead
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Illustration: A farmer years ago was trying to teach his son the ways of life on a farm. So, he took his son out to the hen house, grabbed a chicken and said, "Son, your Mama wants a chicken for dinner, so you know what we have to do." With that he cut the chicken's head off, and the chicken began to flop around and run on the ground. Well, the little boy's eyes got wide with amazement, and he said, "Well look at that Daddy. That there chicken is dead and don’t even know it!" That is exactly the way lost people are.
** Jesus came so that spiritually dead lost men could live!
1. Jesus is the Strength of Earthly Life
**Jesus is the Spiritual Breath of Life to Spiritual Living!
2. Jesus is the Secret of Effective Life
** “three things make life worth living: a self fit to live with; a faith fit to live by; and a purpose fit to live for.”
**Jesus gives life abundantly! The word “abundantly” means “superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon”.
**That is the kind of life He came to give! He gives life purpose!
3. Jesus is the Source of Eternal Life
**Those who know Jesus by faith will live eternally which makes real living permanent!
B. He Came To Bring Light Into the Soul’s Darkness
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
** John 8:12 “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life,”
Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
1. Christmas isn’t about an Electrical Christmas Light that is activated through a grounded switch!
2. Christmas is about an Eternal Christ Light that is acquired through a great salvation!
a. His light shattered a dark world through His delivery.
b. His light shatters a dark wickedness through His deliverance.
**The Purpose of Christmas isn’t so you could get a temporary gift that won’t last!
**The Purpose of Christmas is so you can get a permanent gift that will last!
CLOSE
1. Everybody wants a perfect Christmas and give and get a perfect gift.
2. But the only perfect gift that’s been given and that all can get was given the very first Christmas.
3. The very first Christmas was all about Christ, and nothing else! (Not lights, sales, food, gripes, or greed –it was just about Christ!)
4. What kind of Christmas are you dreaming about?
a. Some will have a White Christmas – that fairy tale commercialized Christmas
b. Some will have a Blue Christmas – that Christmas where they look at the sad past and what used to be instead of the Father and the future and what is to come.
c. Some will have a Red Christmas – that Christmas where everybody gets together and sees nothing but red and fights and fusses!
d. Some will have a Green Christmas – that Christmas where everybody concentrates on the expensive gifts and what they have gained.
5. Oh, but I’m dreaming of a Christ-filled Christmas that is all about Jesus!
6. Ask yourself – How can I have a Christ-filled Christmas?
a. Be sure that you are saved; that you know Him; that you have accepted His perfect gift of salvation!
b. Be sure to read Luke 2 on Christmas Day and make Christ first.
c. Be sure to give Him the glory and honor on Christmas!
7. Will you come and pray and commit to having a Christ-filled Christmas?
