The Meaning of Christmas to Us

Luke 2:8-18

     When Jesus was born people from all walks of life came to see Him.  The keenest minds of all of the ages have been those who have humbly bowed at the manger of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

     The shepherds came and they represent the simple, common, ordinary people who are drawn to this baby Jesus who is born in Bethlehem's manger.

     Life for a shepherd was a difficult kind of life.  They were low on the social scale.  Most people didn't even regard them with a great deal of respect.

     When Jesus was born on a hillside a group of shepherds had gathered, tending their sheep and the Bible says these shepherds had an experience which brings the wonder and the beauty of the meaning of Christmas to us.

     (Luke 2:15 KJV)  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

     The shepherds were saying, "Let's go find out about it.”

     Think about it.  When those shepherds looked into the face of that little baby Jesus.   They saw Jesus; the Son of God is now the son of Mary.  They saw Jesus, the One who fills this universe is now confined to a little manger.

     (John 1:14 KJV)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

Victory over Death

By: Pastor Mike Sanders

     The story is told of a dad who took his son on a fishing trip.  A window was rolled down slightly and a bee buzzed his way into the car.  The little boy was frightened and grew more agitated as the bee flew around the interior of the car.

    
     Moments later the dad stopped the car and quickly grabbed the bee in his hand.  He gripped the bee tightly until it penetrated the flesh of his palm. Leaving the stinger embedded in the flesh. Then he let it go.

     The dad then explained, “Son, his stinger is in my hand. He will fly around a bit but just remember that he cannot hurt you.  The stinger is gone.”

     Today you and I don’t have to fear death even though its presence may be near in our life.  For Christians death has no more power, because God has taken away our sin.  Jesus said, “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.” John 14:19 (NKJV)

     Jesus has removed the sting of death through His resurrection.  If we have faith in Christ then for the believer death is simply a transition from this earthly life to our heavenly life with Christ forever.  Therefore, we agree with the Apostle Paul when he said, “Oh death where is your victory, oh death, where is your sting?” 

     How we live and how prepared we are to die are both extremely important. It’s important to understand, however, that only those who are prepared to die are really ready to live!  And to be prepared to die we must know Jesus.

 

IS PRAYER IMPORTANT?
LUKE 18:1-8

By: Pastor Mike Sanders, The Open Door Church

 

    In a Houston church, desperate parents recently fell on the altar to pray for their son, who had bolted out of the house in a fit of rebellion more than two months prior.

    They did not have a clue as to the where-about of their wayward son. They asked for prayer during the service. Many began to ask God to prick the heart of the young man immediately and cause him to return home.

    As they prayed, the young man quietly pushed open the front door of the church and walked in, still wearing beads and other trinkets from his recent trip to the Mardi Gras. An usher recognized him and yelled to his parents and to the spellbound congregation, “Look, the prodigal has come home!”

    Later, the young man explained that he was driving past the church and felt a sudden motivation to pull into the parking lot and walk in. Who says God doesn’t answer prayer?

    Our faith is a source of strength in Christ, through the act of praying.  Prayer should be our first choice, not our last resort.

 

Prayer Is Important Because...

                                   A Prayless Heart Leads To A Faint Heart.

    (Luke 18:1 ESV)  "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart."

    Prayer brings hope to our hearts.  (Jeremiah 33:3 KJV)  "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.  Our prayers on earth activate God’s power in heaven."

A Loving Father Will Respond To The Crys Of His Children.

     (Luke 18:5 ESV)  "Yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming."

     If a judge who does not fear God or respect man will hear the cries of this strange woman how much more will our heavenly Father respond to the prayers of His children.

    (Luke 18:7 ESV)  "And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?"

 When I pray it helps me be patient when I am wronged.

 

God Chooses To Work Through The Prayers Of His People.

    (Luke 18:8 ESV)  "I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

    Appeal to His nature when you pray.  Our faith is in who He is and His faithfulness.  He is a loving Father; He is attentive to every cry; He is generous in His gifts; He is ready to answer when we call.

 

Why I Can Depend On God’s Promises

By: Pastor Mike Sanders

 

(Philippians 4:19 KJV)  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

A young man from a wealthy family was about to graduate from high school. It was the custom in that affluent neighborhood for the parents to give the graduate an automobile. “Bill” and his father had spent months looking at cars, and the week before graduation, they found the perfect car.

 

On the eve of his graduation, his father handed him a gift wrapped Bible. Bill was so angry that he threw the Bible down and stormed out of the house. He and his father never saw each other again. It was the news of his father’s death that brought Bill home again. As he sat one night going through his father’s possessions that he was to inherit, he came across the Bible his father had given him. He brushed away the dust and opened it to find a cashier’s check, dated the day of his graduation-in the exact amount of the car they had chosen together.

 

Bill realized that the promise of his father was in the Bible, so it is today for us.  We will find the promises of our Heavenly Father in the Bible.  The promises of God are fulfilled in Christ.

 

What is so wonderful is that God keeps His promises.  Some of us live as if we do not realize it.  Keeping promises is not a very popular activity in our society today. Promises are made and broken all the time, in all areas of our lives.  But you can depend on the promises of God.

How To Be An Effective Witness For God

ACTS 1:6-8

    Several years ago, all of America and the world were appalled over newspaper reports regarding public apathy and indifference toward people in trouble.  For instance, there was the case of 28 year old Kitty Genovese, who was stalked by a man in Kew Gardens, New York and stabbed to death. 

 

    The victim was attacked 3 different times before she died, twice the villain left the scene, once driving off in his car, but no one raised a finger to help or even notify the proper authorities.  Miss Genovese did not die until stabbed the third time, nearly a half hour after the first attack.  Investigating officials reported that at least 38 persons saw the slaying or heard her screams without notifying police!  One witness was quoted as saying, “I didn’t want to get involved.” Another said, “I was tired; I went back to bed.’

 

    Too often that is our excuse for not sharing our faith.  We become apathetic towards lost people and make excuses for not caring.  Yet God wants us to be effective.  To be effective it requires that I prioritize my witnessing.  Witnessing for Christ should be a major priority in my life. 

 

    One of the highest callings for a Christian is to be a witness for Jesus. The Bible says in (Daniel 12:3 NKJV) “Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.”  The greatest work which we can do is to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

    The central function of the church on earth is to reach the lost.  Christ taught us in (Acts 1:8) “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  Our life is to be a witness to those we come in contact with, because evangelism is a priority with God.  The Apostle Peter stated in (2 Peter 3:9)  “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

 

    Are we thankful the Gospel message is extended to all and for our privilege of sharing it?  Have we made it a priority in our schedule?

How To Demonstrate Humility In Your Life

1 Corinthians 4:6-13

 

 

    The Corinthian Christians had not learned the virtue of humility in their life.  This is why the Apostle stressed in (1 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV)  “…that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.”

    I think Christianity would benefit greatly if there were more humble individuals in both pulpits and pews. I also have a feeling that many of us could use a bit more humility as well. So let's pause and pray that God would use His Word to build true humility in our lives today.

    We must begin by addressing conceit in our life.  We do this by keeping perspective of our role in God’s kingdom.  We are all servants and stewards for Christ.  (Acts 20:19 KJV)  “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind…”  Mark Twain said, “It is amazing what can be done if no one minds who gets the credit.”

    Never see yourself as better than others.  Unity in our relationships can come only from an attitude of genuine humility.  (1 Peter 5:5 ESV) "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

    A pastor at Peninsula Bible Church in northern California tells the story of when he was working on staff at Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center. He was only twenty-two years old, and he went to the executive director and asked the director to pray for him. He asked the director to pray that he would stay humble. Do you know how the director responded? He chuckled, and then asked him, “What do you have to be proud about?”  That is the point that the Apostle Paul wanted to make to the Corinthians.  (1 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV)  "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?"

    We learn that there are three great questions to ask ourselves.  Who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive? Why do you boast as if you did not receive?

    A very prosperous farmer was asked about the secret of his success. He replied, "I learned from an old rooster on my father's farm. He could peck harder, jump faster, fly higher, and fight better than any other rooster we had. But he lost most of his fights, even against tiny roosters. The trouble was that just as he was winning a fight, he would stop to crow. I learned a key to success is to not crow when you think you are doing well."

    I heard of a preacher who preached a message to a congregation on a special occasion. God richly blessed the message and it hit with great impact. The young man enjoyed the obvious appearances of success, and afterwards, going home with his wife, evidently thinking over and enjoying the results of that powerful ministry in his own heart, he said to her, "I wonder how many great preachers there are in the world?" His wife replied, "One less than you think!" What a foolish thing it is to view our gifts as though we were responsible for them.

    (1 Peter 5:6 KJV)  "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time."  Christ humbled Himself when He came into this world, as is clearly taught in Phil 2:6-8.  May He be our example.

 

Utilizing What You Have

(Luke 12:48 ESV)  Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

It’s not what we have that counts. It’s how we use what we have that is the issue. We are in a position of trust.  Therefore we must use our resources to advance the cause of Christ.  We are to make the most of the ability, the talents, the opportunities, the resources that God has given to us. 

The world of science immediately recognizes the name of Stephen Hocking.  This intellectual genius holds a prestigious office at Oxford University.  One of his most notable accomplishments is the development of “THE BLACK HOLE” theory.

Years ago, Stephen Hocking was stricken with the feared Lou Gehrig’s Disease which causes a deteriorating of bodily function.  It is a debilitating neuromuscular disease which is harsh and cruel in its effect upon the body.  Hocking’s condition is so severe that he is practically motionless.  Only his eyes glance about. Yet Hocking is not to be dejected. He continues to work – by using one finger on a computer – his last remaining motor function. Hocking utilizes what he has.  How about you?