I’ll Be Glad When It’s Over

I’ll Be Glad When It’s Over

December 7, 2014

Chester’s FBC, Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson

Introduction:

A It’s not uncommon to hear in the weeks leading up to Christmas the phrase, “I’ll be glad when it’s over.”

1 That phrase is typically said while standing in line at a store, waiting for a group of party-goers to leave a restaurant or while balancing a checkbook.

a This is a wonderful time of year but it can also be . . .

aa expensive, frantic, rushed.

bb Sad, melancholy, depressing.

b The negative feelings associated with Christmas are not at all what Christmas was ever about.

2 Christmas was not given to be a burden, but a blessing; break us, restore us.

a Christmas is us remembering . . .

aa . . .a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. (Is. 9.6-7, NASB)

bb 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." Luke 2:10-14 (NASB)

b IL. A few weeks ago the boys and I put up Ms. Pam’s Christmas tree while she helped her mom after a surgical procedure.

aa A Christmas tree is just a tree if there aren’t any ornaments, tinsel, lights.

bb After about 500 ornaments, 2,000 lights . . . the Christmas tree is completed.

cc The devil has done his absolute best to hide the true meaning of Christmas from us with busyness, wrapping paper, materialization, coverings . . . but underneath it all is the real meaning of Christmas.

B We often make Christmas something it was never intended to be.

1 We’ve made about receiving, not giving.

a Playing, not praying.

b Holiday, not holy day.

2 We’ve got distracted by money, family, pleasure.

a The food will run out, tree will dry out, the candles will burn out . . .

b The presents will wear out, lights will fade out and money will run out . . .when these things happen, if we look back, we may be able to see the real Christmas.

c Wouldn’t we be shocked if we still said, “I’ll be glad when it’s over.”

I Christmas Reminds Us that God Gave Humanity a Gift When He Sent Us Jesus.

A Jn. 3.16

1 He came to fulfill the Law (Matt. 5.17).

Matthew 5:17 (NASB) 17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

a We couldn’t . . . He did.

b Everything we were supposed to do, He did.

2 By failing to keep the Law (sin), we separated ourselves from God.

a Sin cannot be in the presence of a holy God.

aa Romans 6:22-23 (NASB) 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

bb God fixed what we broke!

b We broke covenant, fellowship.

B Sin always brings death (Separation from God).

1 1 Corinthians 15:25-27 (NASB) 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.

a Christmas is depressing for many because they are missing their loved ones who have passed away.

b There is a day coming when sin, death will be no more.

aa Soon and very soon our Savior is returning to make the last enemy pay.