Knowing the Christmas Spirit
Main Luke 2:22 (support John 16:7, 8, 13)
Go ahead and turn in your bible to Luke 2:22
A little boy and a little girl were singing their favorite Christmas carol in church the Sunday before Christmas. The boy concluded “Silent Night” with the words, “sleep in heavenly beans.” His sister elbowed him, and said, “No. Not beans, peas!”
The way many of us feel by the time we are ready for Christmas; the song might just well end with beans or peas instead of peace,
I have to tell you that I really do love this time of year, the decorations, and the anticipation of giving and receiving gifts, the food and the family get-togethers. It seems that people get all wrapped up in the spirit of Christmas.
We smile at each other, show a little more patience than usual, unless we are shopping, and get along better in general.
We could say that it is God’s love that is on display in everyone,
We could, but we won’t!
To prove that all we have to do is drive around in our cars. What do you see the most of?
Inflatable Snowmen and Santa’s, even inflatable penguins, we see reindeer, candy canes, giant wreathes, and thousands f strings of lights on trees and in bushes.
Only occasionally do you see a cross, or manger scene.
IF that isn’t enough try spotting a Christian image in any print or TV ads for a major store chain. There just are not any!
It seems that most people do not care that we are celebrating the birth of the savior. They don’t want to hear that the season isn’t about gifts, or food, or even family.
But we in the Church know that Christmas is about John 3:16.
It is about God stepping out of heaven, and entering into humanity so that His plan for Salvation could be accomplished! AMEN???
I have to tell you, in preparing for this message; I was faced with a big problem. What could I possible talk about that you haven’t already heard a dozen times?
Think about it for a moment. What do we hear at Christmas in Church?
We hear about the Shepherds
We hear about the census and how Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem
We hear about the angels who visited them
We hear about how there was no room for them and how Jesus was born in the manger
We hear about the wise men, and the gifts they brought
We hear about how Jesus was the greatest gift ever given and how our hearts are the greatest gift he has ever received
We hear about how God the father sent Jesus and why
So I was trying to find something I hadn’t heard discussed in a message.
It seems to me that we hear about Jesus and God the Father, and while that is great, I have to wonder why we leave the Holy Spirit out.
Do we assume he was sitting on the bench waiting for Pentecost?
Was he off somewhere in the outer space correcting comet flight paths?
Or do we just take for granted his part in that first Christmas?
I happen to think it is the last one.
So let’s look at the Spirit’s role that first Christmas, and how He affects this Christmas.
Read with me:
Luke 2:22-32
The first role of the Holy Spirit we want to look at is:
“He points to Christ”
Listen again to vs 25-26
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
So here we are. It has been 400 years since God last spoke. The Old Testament came to a close with Malachi telling the people that the messiah is coming! It is time to turn our hearts to worshiping God.
And then out of the silence God starts to move and to be heard.
Enter Simeon.
We are not told a whole lot about Simeon. So let me ask you:
How many think of Simeon as an old man?
How many think of him as a younger man?
Me I don’t know. I like to think that maybe he was middle age.
Luke doesn’t say how long he was waiting or how old he was.
He does tell us that he was a believer in God!
That He was a man who worshiped God and who knew god’s word.
As a matter of fact he was anticipating the arrival of the messiah as promised in the scriptures.
Could you imagine being this man?
Not having the New Testament,
not knowing that Jesus was already born,
or how he would live and then die and rise again,
and having the Holy Spirit tell you:
The time has come!
The one you are waiting for is on his way here!
You’re going to meet him!
Can you feel the excitement he must have felt?
He had read the scripture, he believed in God’s promise to send a messiah, and now he is told “He comes”.
And so we see the Holy Spirit leading Simeon to a place where he can find the Savior!
Today we have the rest of the story that Simeon never got to read, or to hear!
We can read about the life of Christ from a historically accurate standpoint. We can look back at history and see how all the pieces fit.
Yeah I envy Simeon for being able to actually see Jesus, but I am thankful that we have the full scriptures to guide us, and teach us.
And that is how today the Holy Spirit points us to Christ. Jesus told us that after he ascended to heaven, He would send a helper to those who chose to follow him..
Listen to what Jesus said in
John Chapter 16 vs. 7,8 said:
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
And then in the same chapter vs 13+14:
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
Doesn’t the Holy Spirit today convict us of the truth of the bible and our need for Christ today?
Doesn’t the Holy Spirit say:
Look you have heard that the messiah has been born,
You have heard about how he lived and died and rose again!
You know that he died for you,
You know that he promised to come again!
Just as God’s Holy Spirit moved Old Testament men and women,
Just as God’s Holy Spirit Spoke to Simeon about Christ that first Christmas,
Just as God’s Holy Spirit led the new Testament Church,
HE LEADS US!
You see the Holy Spirit is alive and active today, not just on Christmas, but all year long.
He points us toward Christ
He shows us when we are in sin,
He gives us the power to live a righteous life,
He convicts us when we are in the wrong,
And he testifies to the truth, and faithfulness of God’s promises.
Whether we like it or not, all of us need to be reminded occasionally that we are wrong, and that something is interfering with our relationship with God, And that job falls to the Holy Spirit.
When he speaks to us, we must listen! It isn’t open for debate. Only God knows what he wants from us, or has for us to do.
If we don’t respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we risk missing all that God has for us, or someone else may miss all God has for them because of our disobedience.
The second role the Holy Spirit plays in Christmas;
“He Provides Peace”
Look again at VS 29
29 “ Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
Remember I said we don’t know how old Simeon is. He could be 19 or 90. but once he encounters Jesus, There is no fear of death, no thought of hopelessness, no doubt as to his future!
Oh how we need that today!
It is so easy to give into depression and despair this time of year.
We see others that are gathered with their families while we may be alone.
We feel pressure to spend more than we can afford and dig ourselves deeper into debt,
Illness strikes us down when we least expect it,
the negativity of others wears our resolve away.
There is any number of reasons. You probably thought of a couple that I didn’t mention.
But take heart!
For the saved, there is hope,
for those who have placed their trust in Jesus, There is peace!
It is promised to us.
Jesus speaking from John 16 vs. 33 said:
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
It is interesting to note here that in just a very short time from when he said these things, Jesus would be arrested in the garden, and his trials would begin.
He knew this and was telling his disciples “look a time of hardship is coming, don’t be discouraged, don’t lose hope, remember all that I have taught you!”
Then very boldly he says “ I have overcame the world!”
Can You believe Jesus?
Is he trustworthy?
You can be certain that He is.
The Holy Spirit is described as a comforter, and a helper, and he is able to stir our hearts and give us the comfort we need, if we seek it from God.
He doesn’t have arms, he doesn’t manifest as a “ghost” and try to hug you, at least he hasn’t with me....
That would be scary!
But he does have us, the church.
That is why it is important to belong to a family of believers.
They can wrap an arm around your shoulder,
They can provide you with sound advice (from the Bible) and cry with you if that is what you need.
And in reality, that is the Holy Spirit doing those things through them.
You never have to face these trials alone; YOU simply have to trust that what Jesus said is true.
The third role of the Holy Spirit in Christmas that I want to look at is
“He prompts Praise”
Notice what Simeon did when he encountered Jesus VS 27+28
27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God...
He took the baby into his arms and blessed God!
Imagine with me if you can:
You’re in the temple praying and studying the scripture. You know that the Holy Spirit has told you that you will see the messiah before you die.
Then in walks Joseph and Mary carrying a baby
And the Spirit whispers to you:
It is Him! The messiah has arrived!!!!!!
How do you react?
Do you run over to him shoving people out of your way?
Do you calmly wait for them to announce him?
Do you fall on your face weeping for joy?
Or like some, do you ask:
How can a baby be the King we are waiting for?
How can a baby possibly save Israel?
Or me?
Or you?
Those are the choices right?
Either take him into your arms, and your heart, and your life as Simeon did:
or
reject him!
I cannot stand here today and tell you how I will react when I finally get to see Jesus face to face. I want to think that I would rush to embrace him, but I probably will fall to my knees in awe!
What I can tell you is that while I live, I will praise him with all my heart.
I know what he has done for me, and you know what he has done for you. I know the things he has freed me of, and you know what he has freed you of.
And I can’t help but praise him for that.
He is worthy of our praise and adoration! Amen!
Let me share with you a couple examples of people answering the Holy Spirits call to worship:
Luke 2:20
20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them
Acts 2:25, 26
25 For David says concerning Him:
‘ I foresaw the LORD always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;
Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
Simeon and the shepherds and David had it right.
The answer to meeting our savior is worship.
And worship isn’t simply singing a few songs in church on Sunday morning is it?
True worship is living for Jesus all the time. Doing all for His glory and not our own, it is giving God the very best we have to give. And so much more!
Well, the baby grew up right! He is no longer the babe that we celebrate as coming on Christmas.
Now he is sitting at the right hand of God the father making pleas on our behalf. And one day soon he will be coming back to claim all that is rightfully his.
The Bible is clear, on that day; every knee will bow and know that he is God!
We have a choice today;
Listen to the Holy Spirit when he shows us our lord and savior, or not.
If you have not responded to the Holy Spirit and accepted Jesus as Lord, time is running out. Is there any reason why you haven’t responded?
The Bible tells us that all who call on the name of the lord shall be saved. There are no restrictions on who can be saved, no need to give up our vices and habits first. Christ accepts us as we are, and then helps us to overcome those things that we cannot on our own through his holy spirit.
I’ll close with this:
In order to know the true spirit of Christmas, you have to know God’s Holy Spirit!
We have to submit when the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus, whether for salvation or correction.
We have to accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit when we seek peace, and comfort. Because it can only truly be found in Jesus.
And we have to live a life of worship to God.
When we do these things, we will discover that God’s Spirit isn’t available just one month a year, he is available all year long and 24 hours a day to all who will respond to him, and to all who call Jesus Lord.
So please, don’t box him up with your Christmas decorations this year. The world needs him too much for us to hide him away.
May God Bless each of you this Christmas season, and may the Holy Spirit draw you closer to God each day.
Amen.
