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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 36

The purifying hope comes from the love of God -- the power of being His child(1Jo 3:1-3, Joh 1:12). The Spirit has been given to produce the character and presence of Jesus Christ. The attitude God the Father has toward us is the same He has toward His Son Jesus Christ (1Jo 3:2). We don't know what we'll be in heaven (1Co 2:9). We must abide in Him by faith to understand what we are.. and "not shrink away from Him at His coming" (1Jo 2:28-29). If we live expectantly, we purify ourselves (1Jo 3:3). "Purify" is not the same Greek word for cleansing by washing (1Jo 1:9, Eph 5:6). Hagnizo is in the active voice (we need to make a decision) and means to "keep on keeping on"; indicative mood is the mood of reality -- we have the hope of Christ's return which dominates our perspective and attitudes. Paul's life illustrates this (2Ti 4:8). (1) Central teaching of Old and New Testament is hope (Act 26:6). (2) Hope is illustrated by life of Abraham -- his hope was the belief that the promise would happen (Rom 4:13-20, Gal 3:16). (3) Hope increases the longer you have it (Mat 5:16). Hope is unique to the Christian faith (Rom 5:2-5). We start with the hope of glory in salvation (Rom 5:2) and progress to a hope that is visible (1Pe 3:15). (4) Hope is focused on the unseen (Rom 8:24-25, Heb 6:19, Act 14:21). (5) The word of God was written to give us hope (Rom 15:4, Rom 15:13); giving us hope is one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit. (6) Hope is the bridge to love (1Co 13:13). (7) Call of the believer is the call to hope (Eph 1:18). (8) Hope is the "helmet" of our soul (1Th 5:8). (9) Hope is the bridge from your present trials to your future glory (Heb 11:1-40). Their faith was living; they had hope and lived expectantly(2Co 5:7).

Scripture References: Romans 4:13-20, Hebrews 6:19, John 1:12, Acts 26:6, Romans 8:24-25, John 3:1-3, Hebrews 11:1-40, Ephesians 5:6, Romans 5:2, Ephesians 1:18, John 1:9, Romans 5:2-5, Romans 15:13, John 3:3, Matthew 5:16, Romans 15:4, John 2:28-29, Galatians 3:16, Acts 14:21, John 3:2

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