Tis the Season
If you have your bible, please open it to Ecclesiastes 3. We`re going to use a lot of scripture today, but that's where we'll start. One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The plaque was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The seven-year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside him, and said quietly, “Good morning, Alex.”
Good morning, Pastor,” replied the young man, still focused on the plaque. “Pastor McGhee, what is this?” Alex asked.
“Well, son, it’s a memorial to all the men and women who have died in the service.”
Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Little Alex’s voice was barely audible when he finally managed to ask, “Which one, the 9:00 or 10:30 service?
So, we`re in this Christmas season and if you look on the screen behind me, you`ll see that the title of my message today is Tis the Season. Today, we`re going to look at some of the key themes of Christmas. Let's start with verse 1.
READ ECCLESIASTES 3:1
We`re going to stop right there for now. Here, the bible says that there is a season for everything. Verses 2-8 give some examples of that phrase. When we get into the month of December and we start talking about Christmas, the phrase “Tis the Season” comes up a lot and that's where the title of my message today comes from. Today we`re going to look at 5 ideas that are commonly tied to Christmas.
Tis the Season for Giving
If you would, turn your Bible to John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever shall believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
Look closer at what that verse says. “For God so loved the world that He GAVE.” This is what Christmas is all about. God loved us so much that He sent His only son Jesus Christ to die a horrible death at Mt. Calvary on the cross. The crucifixion and resurrection start right here at Christmas. If you don't have the virgin birth, you don't have the crucifixion. Without the crucifixion, you don't have the resurrection and without the resurrection, we don't have salvation. It took all three. Virgin birth, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. God loves us so, He gave. Likewise, if we love him and if we love others as we should, we should also give. Now, I`m not saying we should all go and give up our children to be beaten and nailed to a cross to die, but we should be tithing and giving to the church. Genesis 28:20-22 says:
“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
I am going to give you a little knowledge of what is happening here. Jacob departs from Beersheba and begins to travel towards Haran. They estimated that this trip was about 550 miles, and they did not have these nice cars and vehicles like we have today. He likely walked the whole journey. That would be like walking from here to Shreveport, Louisiana. So, Jacob begins his journey to Haran, and he comes to this place where he prepares to make camp for the night. He goes to sleep, and he has this dream. In this dream, he sees a ladder that stretches from Earth all the way to Heaven that had angels going up and down it. Then, God speaks to Jacob. God speaks to Jacob, and He tells him that the land that he sleeps on will be his and his families and this family will stretch out across the land and through his family, the world will be blessed. In case you didn`t know, God is referring to Jesus there. And then God makes a promise to Jacob by telling him that He will always be with him no matter where he is or where he goes. In response to this dream, Jacob immediately wakes up and the first thing he does is praise God and make an altar to the Lord. That is where we are when we get to verse 20. Let us read it again now that we have this background knowledge to the situation.
“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
Jacob made this vow and he said Hey if God can do all that. If He can bless me and my family. If He can give me this land and occupy this land with my family. If He can bless the entire world with my family. If He will always be with me no matter what happens or where I am, then the least that I can do is give a little back of what he has given me to Him. Folks, that should be the same mindset of everyone here today. The least that we can do is give back to Him after all He has given us.
Christmas is known as the season of giving. Giving presents to others. Helping others out and so on. This rings true in every situation except for giving to the church. Year after year when we get into the months of December, January, and February, tithing in most churches is nearly cut in half. During these three months is the time when most churches close for good. It is also a time where most smaller churches begin to worry about the money the church has and if they will make it through and yes, Central falls under that category. Christmas is the season of giving and instead of giving to the church, we give to everything and everyone else instead. Listen, giving to others is important don`t get me wrong, but so is giving to the church and giving to God. If that wasn`t true, we wouldn`t see it in the Bible. Proverbs 11:24-26 says:
“One gives freely yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters himself be watered. The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.”
The simple message from that scripture is that those who give will be blessed. That`s a promise that we have from God. We serve a God that keeps His promises. He promised Jacob that He would give that land to him and his offspring and that they would stretch in all directions. Jacob later had 12 children which set up the 12 tribes of Israel. Israel still stands as a nation today. He promised Jacob that through his family and his offspring, the entire world would be blessed. A couple thousand years later, we have the virgin birth of Jesus. He promised Jacob that He would be with him and his offspring always until the promise was complete. God is still carrying out that promise to Jacob. The Babylonians tried to destroy them, but God was still there. The Assyrians tried to destroy them, but God was still there. The Romans tried to destroy them, but God was still there. The Nazis tried to destroy them, but God was still there. God promised Jacob and God is still carrying out that promise. God has made a promise to us, and He fully tends on keeping it. We just read it in Proverbs. Those who give will be blessed. God has blessed us with a lot more than we need and what we deserve. There are a lot of people today who would love to have just a small portion of what we have. If you do not believe me, take a trip to places like Africa, South America, or the Middle East. Of all of God`s blessings, the least we can do is give back a little.
Tis the Season for Joy
Turn your Bible to John 16:22.
“So also, you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
If we`re being honest, Christmas is known for joy and happiness, but for a lot of people it comes with sorrow and sadness also. We have family members that we wish were still here. We have loved ones we wish we could visit. I did not know it at the time, but Christmas Day last year would be the last time I saw my grandfather and it has been difficult knowing I will not be able to see him this year. So, the question is, why is this season that is often filled with sadness and sorrow known as the season of joy? The key is to do the same thing that we`re supposed to do throughout the rest of the year... turn your eyes towards Jesus. Turn your eyes towards Jesus. Later in John 16:33, Jesus says:
“I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But, take heart; I have overcome the world.”
During Christmas, we tend to sometimes focus on those who are not here. It causes the sorrow, sadness, and depression that we just talked about. All three of those things are things of the world. In Jesus, there is no sadness. In Jesus, there is no sorrow. In Jesus, there is no depression. John 16:33 just told us that in Jesus, there is peace. Psalm 16:11 says:
“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
In Jesus, we have peace, and we have joy. Around Christmas, I believe a lot of us make the same mistake that Peter did in Matthew 14. Jesus calls Peter to walk out on the water and Peter begins to walk towards Jesus. Everything starts well because he has his eyes on Jesus, but everything quickly begins to fall apart. Like many of us do today when the storms start raging around us, Peter took his eyes and his focus off Jesus, and he immediately started to sink. It`s easy to get confused by Peter`s actions here. Jesus is right in front of him, and Peter chooses to focus on the storm. Don`t we do the same thing today though? In Genesis 28, God promised to always be with Jacob and his offspring. In Matthew 28 at the end of the Great Commission, Jesus makes us that same promise. Jesus says:
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus is always with us, and we still tend to focus on the storm. To focus on these worldly things. In Jesus, we have joy. Back in John 16 that we read earlier, Jesus was telling the disciples of what was soon to come. To give you some perspective, in John 16 Jesus warns them and then in John 18, we see the betrayal and arrest of Jesus. That is how close these two events are. Jesus was telling them that there`s coming a day when He will leave. He`ll eventually come back, but He will leave. As you can imagine, the disciples became confused and worried and filled with sadness. Jesus was their best friend. They gave up everything to follow Him. They fully believed that He was the Son of God and here Jesus is telling them that very soon, He`s going to be leaving them. Who wouldn't be sad right here? Jesus in return looks at them says what we see in verse 22. Let us read it again.
“So also, you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
Jesus tells them that they may be sad now, but there`s coming a day when you`ll see me again and on that day, nobody nor nothing will ever be able to take that joy from you again. I want y`all to listen to this next part very closely and you do not hear anything else out this message today, I want you to hear this. There is coming a day when the pain, suffering, and sorrow of this world will fade away and when that day comes, you will experience peace and a joy that you have never experienced before. Back in Ecclesiastes 3, it says there`s a season for everything. Verses 3-4 says this:
“A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance”
In this time of Christmas, you may be experiencing some sadness and sorrow. Turn your eyes and focus on Jesus. In this season of joy, do not let the devil win. Instead of a season of breaking down, let it be a season of building up. Instead of a season of weeping, let it be a season of laughing. Instead of a season of mourning, let it be a season of dancing. Choose Jesus. Choose joy.
Tis the Season for Family
Let`s look at Hebrews 10: 24-25
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Christmas is a season of giving, joy, and it is also a season to be with family. In our case today, it is a season to spend with your church family. A big issue we see in America today is people neglecting to meet or in other words, people neglecting to go to church. This has become especially popular since the outbreak of covid. People have either quit coming to church or they only come when they have nothing better to do. Listen folks, going to church is essential. One of my favorite sayings is
“You don`t have to go to church to be a Christian... but you also don`t have to get gas to drive a car, but it certainly helps!”
Church is a time where we come together to encourage and love one another. It`s a time where we come together to lift our voices of prayer to God and worship and hear the message that He has for us that day. It is a time when we come together to serve the King. Listen folks, you cannot get that at home. That is also why it aggravates me when people come to church and just mope through the service and go through the motions. How many times has Johnny had to stop while leading the music just to tell us to smile? Think about that. We sing songs like Amazing Grace, Oh How I Love Jesus, and Power in the Blood and we can`t even smile. Songs that talk about the amazing grace of Jesus that came down and saved a wretch like me. Songs that talk about how much I love Jesus and songs that about the power of the blood of Jesus. As Brother Larry would say, if that does not crank your engine then I do not know what will.
Now, this next part may offend some people, but if it offends then that means you need to hear it. “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some”
This includes coming to church on Christmas Day. Ever since me and Johnny have begun planning the Christmas Day service, all we`ve heard from people is “Well that doesn`t fit my schedule or that isn`t convenient for me.” Folks, I hate to burst your bubble, but I`m quite sure it wasn`t convenient for Jesus to get beat nearly to death and then have to carry a 300-pound cross to Mt. Calvary to suffocate to death to save us from Hell. I do not think that was too convenient for Him, but He did it anyway. His love for us drove Him to do it no matter how much of an inconvenience it was for Him, but the love of many Christians today can`t even drive them to get to church on Christmas Day to celebrate the very reason that we have Christmas. Don`t get me wrong, spending time with your family is important, but so is spending time with your church family and so is spending time with Jesus.
One more quick note and we will jump down to the fourth point. Look at the end of that verse 25.
“...and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
When it says, “the Day,” it`s referring to the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. I fully believe that we`re living in the end times. I believe the rapture is right around the corner. In fact, me and another coach at Beulah were talking about today`s events and how it`s lining up with the Bible, and I told him that I believe we`ll see the rapture in my lifetime. I believe everything happening in the world today points toward that. I will not talk a whole lot about this mainly because on Wednesday nights, we have this amazing class that covers end-time events and is taught by Ms. Lynda. So, if you want to hear and learn more, you will have to come on Wednesdays. The closer and closer that we approach the rapture and second coming of Christ, the more important it becomes that we do meet as a church body. Christmas is a season for being with family. This Christmas season do not make the mistake of neglecting your church family.
Tis the Season for Celebrating
Let`s look at Zechariah 9:9.
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Christmas is a time for celebration. A time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Despite what this world may try to tell you, Christmas is about Jesus. It is not about Santa Claus. It is not about presents. Christmas is about the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. The coming king mentioned there in Zechariah was Jesus. Jesus is righteous and with Him comes salvation. We see it later in Matthew 21 of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey. That event started the week known as Holy Week that ended with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. I preached on this a few weeks ago, but we see in Luke 1 exactly why Jesus came to be born of a virgin here on Earth. We won`t take the time to read the verses, but in verses 69-74 we see that God sent Jesus for 4 reasons.
To give us salvation
To deliver us from the enemy
To keep a sworn promise
To help us serve Him without fear
See, Luke 1 mentions that promise made to Jacob that we read earlier. God promised Jacob to bless the nations through his family and that promise began to be fulfilled the moment that Jesus was born. I said this earlier, but I`m going to say it again because that`s how important it is. Without the virgin birth, you do not have the betrayal and crucifixion and without the crucifixion, you cannot have the resurrection. Without the resurrection, we cannot have salvation. The message of salvation starts at Christmas, and it starts with the birth of Jesus. Yes, Christmas is a time for giving, joy, and family, but do not get distracted and miss the true meaning of Christmas.
Tis the Season for Reflecting
Let us look at 1 Corinthians 15 starting in verse 1.
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures”
Now, let us skip down to verse 54.
“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Christmas and that week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day is known as a time of reflecting. A time of reflecting over the year's events that is ending. Christmas is a time of celebrating the birth of Christ and reflecting on the death of Christ. This quote by John MacArthur says this:
“The shadow of the cross looms over the manger. When you understand that, you understand Christmas.”
The birth of Christ started the promised covenant made by God to Jacob and the crucifixion and resurrection fulfilled the promised covenant made by God to Jacob. Christmas is seen as a time of beauty, but to truly understand Christmas is to see the ugliness of Christmas. Jesus came to Earth to be born of a virgin and to die a horrible death all because of this three-letter word that we call sin. The true meaning of Christmas is that Jesus came to save all of humanity from sin. The real beauty of Christmas is to understand the ugliness that it cures. Without sin, we wouldn`t have Christmas, because without sin there would`ve been no reason for Jesus to come. Christmas is a time of celebrating the birth of Christ and reflecting on the death of Christ. Christmas and the birth of Jesus point straight towards Easter and death of Jesus. Yes, Christmas is a time for giving, joy, and family. Yes, Christmas is a time for celebrating the birth of Christ, but don`t miss the ugliness of Christmas.
As we end this morning, I want you to reflect on this Christmas season. Are you spending this season focusing on Jesus or being distracted by the world? I`m going to read this last scripture and as I do, I`m going to ask the praise team to come on up for the invitation. This is Luke 2:15-16.
“When the angels went away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger.”
Immediately after learning about Jesus, the shepherds deliberately and quickly went to the presence of the King. In all that you do this Christmas season, deliberately and quickly seek the presence of Jesus.
Let us pray.
