The Light Of Christmas

THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

LUKE 2:21-32 & JOHN 1:1-12

I. PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE MESSIAH

A. There are many prophecies concerning Christ and what His presence would bring to earth

-redeemer, devil destroyer, healer, bondage breaker, heart mender, counselor, etc

B. Scripture clearly states He would be the Light of the World

-Isa 42:6-7 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

C. John identified Jesus as that light (John 1:1-12)

D. On that morning in Bethlehem God sent His light into the world to shine upon the darkness of man’s heart

E. There are some things that we learn about the light

II. THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS SHINES FOR ALL MEN

A. God’s light shines for everyone (7,9)

B. God is no respecter of persons, He gives his light for all to see

C. We put out Christmas lights for everybody to see

D. John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

E. Eph 5:14 ...Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

III. THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS GIVES LIFE

A. Man is born spiritually dead, without the eternal life of God

-the light of God gives the life of God (4)

B. People wonder what salvation is all about

-not changing our ways, doing the right things, stop sinning, going to church

-salvation is a new way of life

C. When people come to the light, they receive the life of God

-Life - gk, ZOE

D. How can a person walk in the light of God?

-I Jn 1:7 ...if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

III. THE POWER OF DARKNESS CANNOT PUT OUT THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

A. satan has worked hard at trying to keep God’s light from shining in the world

-satan and his angels are called “Rulers of the darkness of this world”

-raised up people to destroy the Bible, raised up people to teach humanism, tried to discredit the ministry, attempted to pass laws to put out the light, tried to extinguish the light through persecution and death, etc

B. satan cannot put out God’s light (5)

-comprehend (gk, apprehend) - overpower, overtake, overcome, seize, capture

-shineth - the light continually shines and satan can do nothing to stop it

-not only does it shine continually but it keeps getting brighter

-Prov 4:18-19 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like complete darkness. Those who follow it have no idea what they are stumbling over.(NLT)

C. “God is light”, satan would have to destroy God to put out the light and that is not possible

-he thought he accomplished that at the cross but that caused the light to shine brighter than ever

D. What does satan do instead?

1-he covers the hearts and minds of people with a blanket of darkness to prevent them from seeing the light

-2 Cor 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2-he presents a false light that is appealing to people

-2 Cor 11:14 ...for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

IV. THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS SHINES THROUGH US

A. We are “Children of the Light”

B. God has placed us here to let the light of Christmas shine though us

-Matt 5:14,16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.16 Let your light so shine before men, ...

-Phil 2:13-16 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life;

C. A good illustration

-John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches:...

-The fiber optic Christmas Tree is one of the newest, neatest looking Christmas Tree’s that has been produced. Rather than lights being hung on the tree’s branches, the light source is inside the tree. The light illuminates the fiber optics from within the branches which produces light at their ends in a vatiety of rotating colors.The first time I saw one of those I couldn’t help but think how beautifully that illustrates the words of Jesus, "Ye are the light of the world." Jesus is our light source and he lives within us. Our life servse as a means for the light of Christ to shine through us so that all may see the beauty of Christ.