The Spirit Of Christmas

The Christmas Spirit

Text: Mt. 1:20, 2:3-5, Luke 1:35, 2:11-18,

Date: Dec 12, 2021

Big Idea: The “spirit of Christmas” is a phrase we’ve all heard referenced but how exactly do you define it? It’s been well documented that Americans are generally a bit more kind, joyful and even a bit more generous during Christmas. Is it possible or just idealistic to have the Christmas spirit throughout the year?

INTRO

There are several places throughout the world, including the US that celebrate Christmas year-round. North Pole, Alaska, Bethlehem, PA, and Pigeon Forge, TN (Dollywood), are a few places in the USA that no matter what time of year you go, they’re celebrating Christmas with lights, music, and decor. There’s a house up on Palomino like that as well, jk.

I’m a fan of Christmas. I love the décor, ugly sweaters, festivities, the food, the movies, and the music. When else are you going to hear people as diverse as Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing Little Drummer boy. It’s as if everyone has the Christmas spirit.

The “spirit of Christmas” is a phrase we’ve all heard but how exactly do you define it? It’s been well documented that Americans are generally a bit more kind, joyful and even a bit more generous during Christmas. There are parties, get-togethers, gift exchanges, etc. It’s a time of catching up with friends and family and many of us get a few days off. It’s a great time and it’s why we look forward to it.

In the Dicken’s classic, A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge famously encounters three “spirits” of Christmas resulting in a transformation in which afterwards he’s described as celebrating Christmas in his heart every day of the year.

So, is that possible or is it just a novel? Can you celebrate Christmas in your heart every day throughout the year? Not to sound sappy, but the answer is yes. The real spirit of Christmas is the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is perhaps most famous for Pentecost and while He’s not included in the typical nativity set that you’d purchase at Costco, He too was most certainly involved, in the first Christmas.

SLIDE 1

Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

(Lk. 1:35)

Joseph: “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Mt. 1:20)

ILLUS: Masked Singer is a television program in which a panel of judges strives to discover the identity of a completely disguised celebrity.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christmas.

The Holy Spirit has come to testify about Jesus. (Acts 1:8)

He has come to equip and empower the church (1 For 12-14) and

He has come to empower to live in the Spirit.

SLIDE 2

“To the great gift of forgiveness God adds also the great gift of the Holy Spirit. He is the source of power who meets our need to escape from the miserable weakness that grips us. He gives us the power that we do not have in and of ourselves to live godly lives. He gives us the power to be good.” – Billy Graham

In addition to empowering us to testify about Jesus, He’s provided us with spiritual giftings for doing this, and He empowers us to live the Christian life.

So, exactly how do we have this Christmas spirit year round? How can live a more purposeful, joyful life, that’s reflective of what Christmas is all about? The answer is cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit.

SLIDE 3

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22-25)

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control are all ingredients of the Christmas spirit. The opposite of these would be hate, anxiety, unkind/rude, rashness, impatience, etc. None of which we’d use to describe the Christmas spirit because none have anything to do with the Holy Spirit.

4 Biblical Insights for Cultivating a Relationship with the Holy Spirit…Year Round

SLIDE 4

1-Follow Through on whatever God has already revealed to you.

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (Mt. 1:21 NIV)

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” (Lk. 2:11-12)