Christmas In July

7.19.2009.Sermon.Christmas_in_July. Celebrating the Birth of Christ

By William Akehurst, BA

HSWC

Christmas is the time that we celebrate the birth of Jesus

That first Christmas was actually about 2 years after his birth, when the wisemen came to his home bearing gifts.

In actuality, according to the timeline, it is believed that Jesus was born sometime around or between June 16th and July 16th. So today, we celebrate Jesus’ Birth, its Christmas in July!

Our 4 year old daughter, Jillian, was playing quietly, when it was realized that she had an important piece of one of our nativity sets from this past Christmas…

After finding a ‘baby Jesus’ figurine in the floor at our home, we pondered the thought…

How is it that "Baby Jesus" has come to visit us in the summer?

(Shouldn’t this figurine, from one of our many nativity sets, be packed in one of those red Christmas boxes in our basement?)

Could it be that God is reminding us to acknowledge Jesus as resident - everyday - not just when we ritualistically choose to celebrate His birthday or have dire need of Him to rescue us from our bigger troubles?

In a sense, After the Christmas holiday is over, How many of us put Christ back in the shoe box?!

At Christmastime, we unpack all the decorations, the lights, the bulbs, the nativity sets, and place them around for all to see. But once this holiday event is over, all the decorations, lights, bulbs, nativity sets and remnants of the festivities get packed away until the next season.

So many times, we choose when to celebrate Christ for a time, and then, simply pack him away until a future need.

We need Jesus, everyday. Jesus, God’s only son, didn’t come down to earth as an adult, he was born, raised, and grew up living among the people of that time. His life’s story has been written to show us of the great wonders of the Only Son of God. The one prophesied about, the one foretold of long before he came.

Let us not forget who this baby was, and is, and is to come!

This is our deliverance, our rescue, our freedom, our salvation

It’s a choice we must make. Anything less than YES is a NO!

So we celebrate his life, from the womb to the tomb

We celebrate his birth, life, guidance and direction, healings, teachings, lessons in faith, believing and eternity,

We celebrate sins forgiven, because we can not keep the law, and to miss one law is to miss them all.

As I contemplated this message, I began to write this poem, reflecting what our Savior has done for us. It is in a way, a prayer.

* * * * *

Guilty we are apart from thee, blessed savior you are my plea.

From this guilty life of shame, mold me, make me in your name. Guide me gently through the strife, looking beyond this travelled life.

Use me to your own glory, this will be my life’s story.

With purpose only you may know, let my life to others show

Your love to us is ever near, to our hearts make your word so dear.

As we traverse this life so brief, carry us up from underneath

Comforted by your rod and staff, this is only the first half

When at last you call us home, let all remember you alone.

Safely carry me to life with you eternally.

* * * * *

Acts 4:10-12; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:10; Jude 1:25

Acts 4

10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The LORD hath made known his salvation Psalm 98:2

Romans 1:16-17

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Micah 5:2 (King James Version)

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Micah 5:2 (New Century Version) “The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem”