Gtcotr/ss121910
In recent years we have seen a few, loud, obnoxious, demonically inspired people who want to remove the word Christmas from our vocabularies and from the reason why we celebrate this season. One subtle attempt was aimed at replacing the term Christmas with the abbreviated substitution, Xmas.
Most people just didn’t realize that this was a demonically inspired conspiracy to remove Christ from Christmas. I was often amazed to see banners in front of Churches, announcements printed in Church bulletins, and advertisements for Christian sponsored events which included the term Xmas instead of Christmas. In some respects the campaign worked because Xmas is not only an accepted substitute now but it will even pass the muster of spell check on computer generated word documents.
However, getting Christ removed from Christmas was a little harder than
the vocal minority imagined. The general acceptance of the change in the
spelling of Christmas did nothing to stop the people from saying
Christmas. When people saw the word Xmas, they still thought and said
Christmas. Also, there is the added fact that the Greek letter which most resembles the English alphabet letter X, is actually the first Greek letter in
the Greek spelling of Christos. So, Xmas places the memory of Jesus at the
very head of the day. Not much of a victory for the demons – but they aren’t too sharp anyway and they are also pretty used to losing.
Having failed in the subtle approach however, these demons found new strength and fresh boldness and decided to make a more obvious frontal assault on Christmas. Of course they did not want to hurt their world system’s economy and the opportunities they imagined they possessed to control money, greed, envy, jealously, pride and such, so they could not just do away with Christmas altogether … rather they only wanted to remove any connection with or celebration of Christ in this season.
So, they came up with the bright idea to claim the high ground of political
correctness and religious discrimination by demanding that the use of the phrase, “Merry Christmas” be replaced with “Happy Holidays”. That was Stupid idea number two!
These simple minded, demonically inspired opponents of Christ once again
could not see beyond their own dark hearts of hatred for Jesus to the simple truth. Fact is the word Holiday describes exactly what Christians are celebrating – Holiday originates from Holy Day and Christmas is just that … a Holy Day - the day of the birth of Christ … anyway you cut it, it’s still Christmas.
Well, like it or not Christmas is here and Christmas is here to stay!
However feeble the attempts of the enemies of Christ are to remove Him from the world’s view, they still go to show that the enemies of Christ are evidently convinced and very afraid of the man called Jesus and His power to change lives … sometimes I think they may be more aware of Jesus’ affect on the world than are His followers. Many followers of Jesus do not fully grasps what the term Christmas really means and why that term is so threatening to this world and its prince. Let’s investigate this for a moment.
The word Christ refers to the Messiah, the Anointed One. It is the Greek
rendering of the term applied to the Messiah. So, to be called a Christian
is to be called a follower of the Messiah. No matter how you say it, that
is a complimentary label which presumes godliness.
The Bible says that they were first called Christians at Antioch. These
men and women were recognized to be people who acted like children
of the Most High God. Please, call me a Christian!
When we or those of the world talk about Christ, we are talking about Jesus. Christ is not Jesus’ last name, it is His title. He is the Messiah and
the term Christ delineates Him from all others named Jesus, Yeshua, Isus, Yesu, or however else a language may call His name.
The demonically inspired and controlled world and those who love it want Christ disassociated with Christmas because they have a problem with Jesus, not the concept, the real person and His power and destiny to change and to rule the world and ultimately judge all life.
Well, Christ is the first part of Christmas, but where does the second
part, “mas”, come from? I used to think that it simply meant “day” …
however, I was wrong:
Mas is derived from the late Latin word, “missa” which means “dismissal”. It is used in the concluding formula of the Latin Mass to encourage people to “Go – It is the dismissal”. The strict meaning of missa is dismissal while
the Christianization of this term contains the direct connection as to why
we are dismissed: it is to be sent on a mission. Hence, the “mas” in
Christmas refers to being dismissed or sent to begin a mission.
Christmas means the Day in which Jesus, the Christ, Messiah of the Jews
and Savior of the World, was sent to earth to begin His mission … the Day
of the Birth of Christ and the beginning of His mission.
This coming Wednesday evening we are going to read the Bible account of
that day and hear Christmas Story together as we set our hearts to
celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus of Nazareth. However,
for this morning’s message, let’s go a bit farther with what Christmas
means for us.
For much of the world, December 25th each year is Christmas; the day our
spiritual forefathers have set aside to commemorate the beginning of the
mission of Jesus on earth. For as long as we keep Jesus as the central focus of Christmas, this day will speak to us, our children and the whole world and confirm three central truths:
First: God’s love and forgiveness
John 3
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Second: God’s mission plan
Jesus came with a mission, to show us the Father God
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word became 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.
John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
And then there is the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 - We might as well call this the great dismissal, for in this issuance of the mandate upon us all to go and accomplish the mission for which Christ came and gave His life is contained the reality of our continuing mission.
If the demons of this world cannot take Christ out of Christmas then they will do everything within their power to take Christ out of you.
Do not allow this world to rob you of the fact that you are sent with the same mission as was Christ. You are dismissed to declare the Father to a lost and hurting world. You are sent to show them Christmas!
Not only does Christmas speak to us of:
· The love and the forgiveness of God, and
· God’s mission plan
But Thirdly: Christmas also speaks to us of:
* God’s hope of a better tomorrow
For those who have accepted Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, Son of God
and Savior of the World, there is always a better tomorrow.
People often sink into despair when they feel there is no hope for better tomorrow. Some even consider committing suicide when they believe that they will never have a good tomorrow – when they can’t imagine how they will face tomorrow – when they feel that life is not worth living.
When we celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus our Lord and Savior, we
celebrate the promise of a better tomorrow.
Don’t allow the world to take Christ out of Christmas and don’t allow
yourself to forget:
1. The love and forgiveness of God
2. The mission God has for you
3. There is always hope for a better tomorrow
What does your tomorrow look like to you?
Can you truly say that your trust in God through faith in Jesus Christ has brought you to the place where you are experiencing:
1. The love and forgiveness He has for you?
2. A personal connection with Christ and the calling God has on your life?
3. Hope for your tomorrows?
If not, why not and why not today? You don’t have to wait until December 25th to make Christmas real in your life. The greatest Christmas present ever given was Jesus and God gave Him hoping you would receive this gift into your life. Accept Him now and be born again.
Perhaps you have been saved in the past but have allowed the world or circumstances of life to rob you of the true meaning of Christmas. Maybe you no longer feel loved or forgiven, called or connected, hopeful for your tomorrows. All of this can change because Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving. God will renew your life and reinstate your hope if you will only call upon His name, repent of your sins and get back into the spirit of Christmas. You can do this right now! Won’t you pray with me …
