Tonight, we are going to think about the Real Spirit of Christmas.
There are many different ideas about what the Spirit of Christmas is.
Perhaps that phrase makes your mind immediately travel to the story of Ebernezzer Scrooge and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future.
But they are not the Real Spirit of Christmas...
For some people, the Spirit of Christmas is embodied in the shopping, trawling the shops trying to find the right gift for the right person, fighting through the crowds of crazed shoppers, enthusiastic kids, determined mothers and fed-up dads, dashing from shop to shop, joining endless queues to pay for things that will probably be returned unwanted on Boxing Day, and probably ten times cheaper in the Post Christmas Sales.
But that is not the Real Spirit of Christmas...
For some people, the Spirit of Christmas is the need to spend money they don’t have on things they really don’t need.
Everything from the Life-size electric Santa Claus on the roof that waves as people go by to the Cinnamon Scented Yankee Candle that would smell sooooo good... if you actually lit it - but it cost so much, maybe you will save it till next year, or the year after.
But they are not the Real Spirit of Christmas...
For some people, the Spirit of Christmas is an excuse to go out with the people from the office, or with friends, to get drunk and do all the things that they would never dream of doing the rest of the year.
But that is not the Real Spirit of Christmas...
For some The Spirit of Christmas is tradition, the lights, decorations, tinsel, presents, Turkey, Brussel Sprouts, Christmas Crackers, Christmas Pudding, Christmas Cake, the Queen’s Christmas Speech, and an afternoon nap.
But none of them are the Real Spirit of Christmas...
At Christmas most of the the world is so busy with celebration that they ignore why we have Christmas at all.
So many are busy with the holiday they don’t even stop to consider the real meaning of what Christmas is actually for.
So many focus on the presents they will give and get and they ignore Jesus - the greatest gift of all.
Christmas, should be a celebration of the birth of of Jesus.
And there is the preparation, the decorating,the presents, the food, but somehow the world has chosen to forget whose birthday it really is.
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Imagine you decide to hold a birthday party for a friend.
You send out invitations, decorate the room, ask Alison to do the catering.
Everyone accepts the invitation.
And they are all there in the right place at the right time presents in hand.
But the person the part is for is not there - because no one invited them.
....
Or, what if they did turn up, and everyone shouts “Happy Birthday”
then ignores them and gives the presents they have brought to each other....
Christmas is when Christians are meant to celebrate the Birth of Christ!
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Jesus is not meant to be forgotten.
He is not meant to be ignored.
Friends, if I asked you what are your real priorities for Christmas this year - where would remembering and celebrating the birth of Jesus be on your list?
Do you go through all the decorating, present buying, wrapping, card writing, feasting, drinking, parties, visits, lights, trees, tinsel, turkeys and Brussel sprouts ...
Yet somehow, somehow forget the Real Reason for the Season.
Do you ignore the One whose birthday it is?
The one whose celebration it really is.
Where is Jesus on your list of Christmas Priorities?
How does celebrating Jesus and worshipping God fit into your Christmas Schedule...
Next Sunday Morning we have our Kids Christmas Service - do you plan to be in church for that or are you planning on doing last minute Christmas Shopping.
Where is Jesus on your list of Christmas Priorities?
Next Sunday Evening we have our Carols by Candle Light Service - do you plan to be here - Or is there somewhere you consider more important to be?
Where is Jesus on your list of Christmas Priorities?
On Christmas Eve will you be here for the Communion Service - or will you be too busy stuffing your turkey to give a stuff about your Saviour?
Where is Jesus on your list of Christmas Priorities?
On Christmas Day, what are you going to do to show that God is important in your life?
Will you be in church to celebrate the birth of the one who came to give you the greatest gift you could ever receive.
Will you be here to worship the one who paid the price for your Sin - Or will your actions speak louder than your words?
What does Christmas really mean to you?
Where is Jesus on your list of Christmas Priorities?
What is the Real Spirit of your Christmas? -------
Friends, this year are you willing to focus on the real meaning of Christmas?
Are you willing to celebrate the real reason for the Season?
Are you willing to focus on the Real Spirit of Christmas?
Christmas should be more than enjoying ourselves, or visiting family and friends, eating and having a good time.
Christmas is more than an excuse for a holiday.
Let me share with you three thoughts about what the Real Spirit of Christmas is, and what Christmas Celebrations should contain for those of who love the Lord.
Praise and worship.
Speaking and living.
Giving and Serving.
1st point PRAISE AND WORSHIP
Matthew 2 records the birth of Jesus, and the Wise men, the Magi searching for Jesus, in Matthew 2:11 it says “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.”
Long ago the wise men worshiped Jesus and today wise people still worship Jesus!
People of God, during the year, it is easy for us to make excuses about not coming to church on a Sunday, or finding other things to do instead of coming to the mid-week meetings - but at Christmas we have no excuse for not taking the time to praise and worship God.
All year long, God has blessed us, we have been touched by His mercy, grace and love.
Don’t ignore Him at Christmas.
Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate the Real Reason for the Season.
Let the Holy Spirit help you to experience the Real Spirit of Christmas.
Your Christmas must contain time for praising and worshiping your Lord.
Part of the Real Spirit of Christmas is praising and worshiping Jesus - not just for His birth - for His Life, His Death, His Resurrection and His Return...
Philippians 2:8-11 reminds us:
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even the death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Friends, The baby of Bethlehem grew up.
Jesus is not still in the manger.
Jesus is not still on the Cross.
Jesus is not still in the tomb.
Jesus is the risen and glorified Christ and HE deserves our praise and worship all year long.
But at Christmas, at Christmas we of all people, should delight in worshiping God!
To praise Him and worship Him because of who He is and what He has out of love, grace and mercy done for us.
1st point - Praise and worship...
2nd point - Speaking and living
Luke 2:17 tells us That after the shepherds had seen Jesus, they told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
Those shepherds had the privilege of being the first people to spread the word about the birth of the Saviour.
Acts 8:4 says of the early Christians,that they shared the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.
The early Christians spread the good news about Jesus wherever they went and we need to do the same.
And what better time is there to share the Good News of Jesus than at Christmas?
Sharing the truth about Jesus is not just something for us to do at Christmas.
We should be sharing the Good News that Christ is the Saviour every day - by our words and by the way we live.
We need to share the truth that God is Real and wants to be in a Real relationship with us.
Just hoping that one day your friend might come to church and listen to a sermon is not enough.
1 Peter 3:15 tells us: you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
The Real Spirit of Christmas includes telling others about Jesus. The Messiah who is willing to save them from their sins and guarantee them a home in heaven!
It does not matter who you are, how young or old you are, what your career is or was, you are meant to tell others about Jesus.
Your life is meant to be a witness of your belief in Someone bigger than you.
Your life is meant to be a witness that you believe in God and that God is not you!
Speaking about God and living for Him is part of the Real Spirit of Christmas.
1st point - Praise and worship...
2nd point - Speaking and living
Last point - Giving and Serving.
Giving and Serving is part of the Real Spirit of Christmas.
Did you make a list of the people you needed to give gifts to this year?
Is Jesus on your list? Is giving to God’s work on your list?
When the Wise Men came to see Jesus and they brought gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh.
They gave the gifts to Jesus - they didn’t give them to each other.
You know the saying about giving gifts - it’s the thought that counts -
maybe at Christmas you think a lot about giving gifts to family, to friends, perhaps your neighbours, or your children’s teachers, or office colleagues.
At Christmas, do you ever think about giving a special gift to God’s work?
I’m not talking about your regular weekly giving or your usual monthly tithe.
All year long we have the opportunity for regularly giving to God’s work here.
What I’m talking about is a specific gift, a special offering.
Out of everything you have planned to spend or give this Christmas, Is Jesus on your list? Is giving to God’s work on your list?
We should give gifts out of love - not out of duty.
Friends think back over the year, think of everything that God has done for you, think of everything He has given you.
His gifts, His giving is beyond anything we could ever give - but that does not mean we should not give a portion of what He has given us back to Him.
We should give to God, we are also meant to give to others.
Hebrews 13:16 tells us “don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.”
That’s the Real spirit of Christmas isn’t it?
The spirit of giving - being thoughtful of others needs.
Giving and serving others not just ourselves.
Maybe a shoe box filled with stuff for a kid in a far away country.
Maybe financial assistance for one of the women in the Women’s refuge.
Maybe inviting the neighbour that you know will be alone this Christmas to join your family for dinner.
Doing something good for someone who always expects the World to do the worst to them.
Let me close with the words of Philippians 2:4-5 and an illustration
Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
(Philippians 2:4-5)
It was Christmas Eve, 1910.
William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army was nearing the end of his life. His health was bad, his eyesight was failing, and there was no way he would be able to attend the Army’s annual conference.
No one knew that he would not live to see another Christmas.
Someone suggested that Booth send a telegram or a message that could be read at the opening of the conference. A message of encouragement to everyone that would be there.
Booth agreed to write a message but funds were limited and he did not want to spend money that could be used to help people in need, on sending a long message.
William Booth decided to send a one word message. One word of encouragement.
He thought back over his life, his years of ministry, and wondered what one word could summarise his life, the mission of the Salvation Army and encourage people to continue on.
The time of the Conference came - thousands of people were there.
The announcement was made that William Booth would not be able to be there but he had sent a message to be read with the opening of the first session.
The telegram was opened and the one word message was read out:
Others!
Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
(Philippians 2:4-5)
Friends Christmas is coming. You have the opportunity to share the Real Meaning of Christmas.
You have the opportunity to Praise and Worship
You have the opportunity to Speak and Live
You have the opportunity to Give and Serve
Let me encourage you to take every opportunity to share the Real Spirit, the Real Meaning of Christmas.
