(This is not an original sermon, as I have gleaned from various writers and Pastors. I have adapted to my style and points in light of this Pandemic during this Advent Season)
TITLE: WHAT IF CHRISTMAS DOESN’T COME
SCRIPTURE: GALATIANS 4:19
We are a little under three weeks to the celebration of the birth of Christ. I look forward each year to the Advent Season and begin a series of presenting the Christmas message, and attempting to challenge us to think about God loving us so much that He would come into our world, become a part of our lives. I want us to consider this morning the thought - "What If Christmas Doesn’t Come." I know what you are thinking, because this should ‘naturally prompt the question’ -- "Do You Mean That It Is Possible For Christmas Not To Come?"
My answer is simply - YES, it is possible, for even with all the activities of the season, too often and for too many, when Christmas is over, we are no different than we were before. When Christmas really comes, it changes us - it makes a difference in our life. So, every year, for millions of people, Christmas never really comes.
• I'm not saying that DECEMBER. 25th doesn't come
• It comes, but Christmas doesn't really come into their hearts and their lives
• This will especially be true during this time of COVID-19
My prayer is somehow, this Christmas, god's spirit will come upon us and change us, and Christmas will really happen. I believe God has been moving us in this direction as we have lost so much of our freedom to move around - travel - visit, and others have dealt with severe health issues during this pandemic. God has challenged us not to be so spoiled and return to what is really important in this life. With that in mind, I have noted some things I want to share with you as we celebrate this Christmas season together and will continue this Advent Season and Preaching through Christmas Sunday. Ready or not - the Christmas season has come -- "The Christmas season is upon us."
• I believe because of this Pandemic many around the world needed a shot of Joy
• Because of the Pandemic and foolishness during this Presidential Election season, we needed something to turn our attention
• Therefore, Christmas decorations went up well before Thanksgiving
• Many on Social Media, including myself stated this is the earliest they have ever put up their Christmas Tree and Decorations because we needed some Joy
• Santa Claus started making his appearance at the malls earlier than usual, although behind Plexiglass and other protective Pandemic Barriers
• Newspapers nearly doubled in size because of all the advertisements they contained
In fact, it seems more attention is being given to the shopping habits of Americans on the day after Thanksgiving - we now call it "Black Friday" - than ever before. Both on TV and in our newspapers, there were pictures of people returning to the malls and shopping locally and downtown. During Thanksgiving week travel picked up but still less than previous years -
• 1.8 Million travelled by Air
• 40 Million travelled by Car
During this season, we are encouraged to buy things we can't afford - with money we don't have - to give to people we're not even sure we like. The commercial side of Christmas has really arrived. The social side of Christmas has begun, too. It's a festive time, a time for dressing up, going to parties, maybe not so many or at all this year as we are still attempting to be careful with our health and health of those we may encounter. We will still be enjoying ourselves with family and friends although much smaller scale this year. And as the Day approaches, many will travel, finding a way to get -- over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go. And for those who can't get there physically, we will be there if only in our dreams.
Christmas season has arrived in the Church, too. In the next few days, we will begin to see the beautiful decorations, and our windows decorated by families as well and we will lift our voices in song.
• Stockings will be filled
• Food baskets prepared
• Carolers singing
• A few special services celebrating the "Reason for the Season"
But will Christmas really come? -- oh, the earth will make its 359th revolution of the year and December 25th will come right on schedule. But will --
• Christmas really come?
• That's the question
• There are several things that have to happen before Christmas really does come in our hearts and in our lives
Let’s consider this through our scripture text this morning as found in GALATIANS 4:19. I realize this verse is not usually considered a Christmas text, but listen to what Paul says - "MY DEAR CHILDREN, FOR WHOM I AM AGAIN IN THE PAINS OF CHILDBIRTH UNTIL CHRIST IS FORMED IN YOU..."
• We often talk about being "born again" when we become a Christian
• But may I suggest that Christmas is also a good time to remind us of our need for Jesus to be born again in OUR LIVES - OUR FAMILIES - OUR RELATIONSHIPS
That is what the Apostle Paul is praying for, that somehow in a wonderful way Christ will be formed inside the hearts and lives of each of us. we sing about it in our songs.
--"O holy child of Bethlehem, descend on us, we pray
--Cast out our sins and enter in - Be born in us today"
And another beautiful Hymn we like to sing:
--His Name Is Wonderful; His Name Is Wonderful
--His Name Is Wonderful; Jesus My Lord
--He Is The Mighty King; Master Of Everything
--His Name Is Wonderful; Jesus My Lord
--He’s The Great Shepherd;
--The Rock Of All Ages
--Almighty God Is He
--Bow Down Before Him; Love And Adore Him
--His Name Is Wonderful; Jesus My Lord
And lest we forget - He is also called "EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US!"
The Lord has been kind to us, and we have adapted fairly well to all the Lord has given us.
• We have learned how to clean the air we breathe
• We have learned how to purify the water we drink
• We have learned how to enrich the food we eat
We have adapted ourselves to technology.
• We have learned how to program our Computers
• We have learned how to operate our Smart Phones
• We have learned how to maneuver our Smart TV’s
• We have even figured out the GPS system in our vehicle
Overall, we have adapted pretty well to our modern world.
• But one thing we have still not learned
• We have still not learned how to get along with each other
• Even though more than 2000 years have passed by since that first Christmas
• Even though we are reminded every year of the angel's message, "PEACE ON EARTH..."
• We still haven't learned to live in peace with each other
• When loved ones and friends die, we are quick to respond – REST IN PEACE
• We say that because we have not learned how to LIVE IN PEACE
So, our greatest need this Christmas is –
• To have Jesus formed in us
• To live with us
• To show us how to accept and forgive each other
• How to get rid of the tensions that divide us
• How to overcome our fear and prejudice
Let me raise another question -- "how will Christmas come?" When you read the Christmas accounts in the GOSPELS OF MATTHEW AND LUKE, you read about MARY and JOSEPH making their way from NAZARETH TO BETHLEHEM. You read about crowds, and people who have come to pay their taxes. Luke takes us through the whole narrative of –
• Shepherds and Angels
• Jesus being born
• Then being wrapped in swaddling clothes
• Placed in a Manger
Then he adds something we could easily miss. And I think he adds it because he knows someone will ask, "why was he born in a stable?" Almost as an afterthought, Luke says, "BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ROOM IN THE INN." There it is, it bothers us.
• Luke doesn't condemn the innkeeper
• He doesn't even comment about him
• He doesn't say, "He was bad," or "He was good"
• He doesn't say, "He was right," or "He was wrong"
• He just leaves it right there
But forever this crowded inn that shut out Jesus stands as a symbol of crowded, cluttered lives that still have no room for Him today.
• It's not that we are bad people
• It's just that we are busy people
• Our schedules are so full
But if you don't have time for Him, then your schedules are just too cluttered. You need to allot some quiet time to be still and to acknowledge that he is God. Before Christmas really comes, we must Acknowledge that He is God and then - desire him to come and to come into our lives. There is a part of each of us that wants Him to come.
• We want His Blessings - but not sure we want His Cross
• We want His Forgiveness - but not His Judgment
• We want His Salvation - but I'm not sure we want to Serve
• We want a Savior - but I'm not sure we want a Lord to direct what we do
If Christmas is really going to be Christmas for us, then I think we must approach Christmas with - a feeling of humility. When I think of Bethlehem - Stable - Animals, can’t help but wonder what that must have really looked like, felt like.
• That stable must have had a very unpleasant smell
• Mary and Joseph entering that stable tired and perhaps confused
• Inside her womb is God in the flesh
• I marvel that God would come down that far, and sacrifice that much to enter our world
Yet, it was for a reason. God was stripping everything away and saying –
• Now there is nothing that stands between us
• There's no place for Arrogance or Pride
• You can't come here if you're looking down your nose at someone else
Through the doors of that stable come Cows - Sheep - Livestock - Mary - Joseph - Each Of Us.
• We come to worship Him, God born in the flesh
• Without anything to brag about we come humbly before Him and say, "HERE AM I LORD, USE ME"
• I think that is what it will take for Christmas really to come
• It will take some broken hearts and broken wills for Christ to be born again in us
I believe during this horrific Pandemic, God is breaking us. Like the Songwriter said – the potter wants to put you back together again. I have heard so many say they will not celebrate Christmas this year because this Pandemic has caused so much Disruption – Sickness – Death. Can I tell you this morning, Christmas was never about a feeling. Christmas this year may not feel as festive as it generally does. Especially with the isolation and restrictions that people are grappling with. We are being reminded this season, although we like to shout it year after year that “JESUS IS REASON FOR THE SEASON” - But I can’t help but wonder – Did We Really Mean It?
• If Jesus is the Reason for the Season – Why are we so gloom?
• If Jesus is the Reason for the Season – Why don’t we want to celebrate this year?
• If Jesus is the Reason for the Season – Why aren’t we thankful He has spared our lives for this season?
I can’t help but wonder again – WHAT IF CHRISTMAS DIDN’T COME.
--If Christ had not come - all the churches and their good works would be erased from the earth
-- If Christ had not come - No Christian radio, no Christian TV, no Christian books, no Christian magazines, no Christian music of any kind
-- If Christ had not come - No great hymns, no choruses, no gospel songs
-- If Christ had not come - No Christmas carols
? No children singing “Away in the Manger”
? No “Sweet Little Jesus Boy”
? No “I’ll be home for Christmas”
? No Christmas Eve services or Candlelight Services for there is no Christmas to celebrate
--No churches anywhere if He did not come
-- If Christ had not come -- No First Baptist Church
? No building
? No people
? No staff
? No choir
? No sanctuary
? No worship
? No sermon because we would have nothing to preach
? No Sunday School
? None of the things we take for granted
? All would be gone, vanished into the mist if Christ had not come
--But the news is much worse than that…
--If Christ had not come - the promises of God would be unfulfilled
--If Christ had not come - the world would still be in darkness
--If Christ had not come - there would be no bridge across the gulf of sin
--If Christ had not come - we would not know that God is love
--If Christ had not come - there would be no Gospel to believe
--If Christ had not come - there would be no Christmas and no Easter
--If Christ had not come - there would be no hope beyond the grave
--If Christ had not come - we would still be lost for there would be no Savior for our sin
--If Christ had not come - there would be no Good News to preach to the nations
--Thank God that Christ and Christmas did come. Listen to the words of the angel and think of what it means for us.
“FEAR NOT: FOR , BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE. FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR, WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD” -- ST. LUKE 2:10-11
Open your heart this season and let’s make sure that Christmas does come.
