The Ghost Of Christmas Past

The Ghost of Christmas Past

Matthew 1:18-24 (King James Version) Pastor Ken Crow

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

This morning as we move into the Christmas season let’s allow ourselves to reflect on the real reasons for the celebration that we so enjoy. I invite you this morning to get excited about Christmas. On that first Christmas the Word of God says that even the Heavenly Host were excited. The shepherds, the wise men , the three kings Mary and Joseph , oh I love it all! But the main reason for our excitement can be found in verse 21of our text.

21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

The Christmas season many times brings out the best in people. The first Christmas brought out the best in God as he sent his only begotten Son to save all who will call upon his name and receive him into their heart.

This morning if some of us have lost the excitement, the feeling, the special spirit this time of year then I invite those to listen closely as over the next three Sunday mornings, God willing, as we look into three areas of our heart, The past, the present and the future. Like in Charles Dickens story The Christmas Carol a man named Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Christmas past and that is where we are going to start this morning.

Unlike the fictional character of Ebenezer Scrooge if we have been saved by the grace of Jesus Christ and are walking in his ways our past does not have a right to trespass on our mind and soul.

1. What does God think considering my past?

Micah 7:19 (King James Version)

19He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Corinthians 5:17-18 (King James Version)

17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Jesus Christ came to save us from our past. Our past is wiped out in the sight of God when we confess our sins to him. To think that God is dealing with us because of something we done before salvation or before we confessed it to him is just simply wrong. There may be natural consequences that occur because of our actions or some chastisement from the Lord but God is not holding our past against us. God don’t hold grudges against his people.

God is not punishing us today because of something that we did in our past if we have put it under the blood of Jesus.

If we have not confessed it to him and ask for forgiveness then we need to do that today and move on in our spiritual life.

Psalm 103:10-12 (King James Version)

10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Thessalonians 5:9 (King James Version)

9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

I am not saying there is no consequences to sin, I am saying this: