Don't Let The Grinch Steal Your Christmas

12.23.07 AM Smyrna Assembly of God Pastor Shell Osbon

“Don’t Let The Grinch Steal Your Christmas”

Matthew 2:11-16 says, 11“When the wise men had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. 13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.’ 14When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son.’ 16Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.”

King Herod wanted to rob the world of Christmas so badly that he was willing to kill Jesus. And in the process, he didn’t hesitate to kill thousands of other children. Herod wasn’t successful but he was the first Grinch of many Grinches that would try to steal Christmas from God’s people.

Intro

The Grinch is a crotchety character with a heart two sizes too small who lives on top of Mount Crumpit overlooking Whoville which is home to the merry-hearted Whos.

The Grinch wants the Whos to be as miserable as he is so he makes plans to go into Whoville, steal all of the decorations and presents and prevent Christmas from coming.

The Grinch soon discovers that Christmas still comes to Whoville because Christmas is more than just gifts and trees. In the end, the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes larger ,he returns all of the decorations and presents that he has stolen and he is welcomed into Whoville by all of the Whos!

There are some real Grinches that would love to steal your Christmas that you need to look out for.

1. The Grinch Of Depression

Depression is “severe despondency especially when long-lasting and accompanied by physical symptoms.”

The Grinch of Depression would love to overwhelm you to the point that you lose the ability to enjoy Christmas or any other day, for that matter.

Depression affects nearly 20 million Americans each year. Up to 25% of American women and 12% of American men will experience serious depression in their lifetime. America leads the world in the number of anti-depressant medications taken.

Psalm 38:6 David says, “I am depressed; I am bowed down beyond measure; I go mourning all the day.”

Isaiah 61:1-3 says, 1“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. 2To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God. To comfort all who mourn, 3to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”Job 10:1 Contemporary English Version Job says, “I am sick of life and from my deep despair I complain unto You, my God!”

Ezra 1:3 Contemporary English Version says, “The Lord God will watch over and encourage His people.”

2. The Grinch Of Disappointment

Disappointment is “when something or someone fails to fulfill the hopes or expectations you had.”

The Grinch of Disappointment tries to focus your attention on what you don’t have rather than on what you do have.

Genesis 29:16-20 says, 16“Laban had two daughters, the name of the older was Leah and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17Leah’s eyes were delicate but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. 18Jacob loved Rachel so he said, ‘I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.’ 19Laban said, ‘It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.’ 20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.” Jacob works 7 years in exchange for marrying his daughter Rachel. But those 7 years seemed like only a few days to Jacob!