Should Christians get involved in supporting or celebrating Christmas? Have you ever heard that argument? Why in the world would Christians want to get involved in something that was really a “pagan holiday,” that we the Church co-opted? So for those critics, I have three points.
Number one: Do you give your kids birthday gifts? You celebrate your kids birthdays, why not celebrate the birth of the Savior? If we’re not going to do it now, when would you decide to do it? That would be a question.
Secondly, in 1st Corinthians 9:22, Paul says, “I became all things to all men, that by all means I may win some.” I can’t think of a time, and I doubt that you could think of a time in the year when there is more focus on the birth of Jesus Christ. Once a year, the world is confronted with the reality of His coming. And I think that’s great!
The third point is in Matthew 16:18,where Jesus said, “On this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The idea is not that we are holding out against the world. The idea is that we are assaulting a world and they cannot overwhelm us. They cannot withstand the assault of the Church. The very fact that you and I are here, 2000 years after the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, is evidence of that. The world has done everything it can to squash the message, destroy the Word, and intimidate believers. Yet, all around the world today there are those who are singing praise, spreading the Word and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, if we co-opt or take over Christmas, that’s what we’re supposed to do. We’re supposed to seize the gates of the enemy. This is why we’re here and why this season is so important.
Gene Cunningham - May 23, 2000
Living Sacrifice 21
As a priest, Isaiah's pen was a weapon in the arsenal of God (Isa 49:1-3, Heb 4:12). Isaiah went through private testings from God to work the reflection of Christ - "polished shaft" (Isa 49:2, 1Pe 1:5-7). Isaiah called himself a "Sharp sword" as God's short-range weapon, and a "polished arrow" as the long-distance impact. God vindicates Isaiah's faithfulness (Isa 49:4). God has selected us as weapons of righteousness in His arsenal; He wants to use us in the spiritual conflict (Rom 6:16). "Righteousness or Rightness" means right relation to God. Two distortions of the Grace of God: (1) "you can live in the power of the sin nature" (Rom 5:20; Rom 6:1-14); we've died to the sin nature (2) "shall we sin sporadically?" (Rom 6:15-23). Counters to the distortions of Grace -- three stages: (1) we have to begin with accurate knowledge of Christ (Rom 6:3, Rom 6:6, Rom 6:9); we've died with Christ, been buried and raised with Him (Rom 6:6-12); (2) We have to make a decision of commitment (Rom 6:11) - "reckon" (Rom 4:3); (3) we need to present ourselves (Rom 6:13-16, Rom 12:1) -- be obedience to the faith; keys: consistency, spirituality, weaponry, freedom (Rom 6:14, Gal 5:1). To "present ourselves", we become slaves to the will of God (Rom 6:19). Examples of those who "presented themselves": Abraham (Gen 22:1); Moses (Exo 3:4); Samuel (1Sa 3:9-10), and Mary (Luk 1:38). Presenting ourselves requires the desire to do the will of God (Joh 7:17). Doing the will of God is the key to effectiveness or success in God's plan (Joh 9:1-41). Pursuit of God's will is the key to wisdom (Eph 5:10) -- we need to seek to learn the will of God (Jer 29:13) then we'll understand and walk in wisdom (Eph 5:17; Eph 5:15). The desire for God's will is the key to effective prayer (Joh 9:31, 1Jo 5:14-15). Example of desire (Mat 26:29-42); self-presentation is pictured by taking up your cross; this is like picking up your compass.
Scripture References: John 5:14-15, Romans 6:14, Isaiah 49:4, John 7:17, Romans 6:6, John 9:31, Romans 12:1, Isaiah 49:2, Luke 1:38, Romans 6:3, Ephesians 5:15, Romans 6:13-16, Hebrews 4:12, Exodus 3:4, Romans 6:15-23, Ephesians 5:17, Romans 4:3, Isaiah 49:1-3, Genesis 22:1, Romans 6:1-14, Jeremiah 29:13, Romans 6:11, Romans 6:19, Romans 5:20, Ephesians 5:10, Romans 6:6-12, Matthew 26:29-42, Galatians 5:1, Romans 6:16, John 9:1-41, Romans 6:9
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