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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 - July 23, 2000

In, but not of #4

In but not of

Upper room discourse has bookends: Joh 13:1 Jesus loved the disciples to the "uttermost"; Joh 17:24-26 "that the love which You have love Me may be in them". Criteria for fellowship is cleansing (Joh 13:10, Joh 15:2-3, 1Jo 1:7-9, 1Jo 2:1-2). Power for fellowship rests in the Holy Spirit (Joh 14:17, Joh 14:26, Joh 15:26). Promise: if you take advantage of moment-by-moment fellowship with Jesus Christ, He will disclose Himself to you (Joh 14:21, Joh 14:23, 1Jo 3:16). Jesus lived His life from the basis of who He was (Joh 13:1-3, Joh 13:31-32, Joh 17:4). Position is not practice; we are clean, but we need to be cleansed; we are His friends, but if we obey Him (Joh 13:10-1, Joh 15:1-3, Joh 13:17, Joh 15:14-15). The world can know because it sees the evidence in us (Joh 17:14-19, Joh 17:21-23). Experiencing our position is the goal. Our birth in Christ we forget (Jam 1:18). Scripture shows us who we are. We need to reflect Christ (Jam 1:21-25). Because are "beloved" we should love on another (1Jo 3:16-23, 1Jo 4:7-21). "If you know these things you are blessed if you do them".

Scripture References: John 13:1-3, John 15:14-15, John 2:1-2, John 4:7-21, John 3:16, John 13:17, John 1:7-9, John 3:16-23, John 14:23, John 15:1-3, John 15:2-3, James 1:21-25, John 14:21, John 13:10-1, John 13:10, James 1:18, John 15:26, John 17:4, John 17:24-26, John 17:21-23, John 14:26, John 13:31-32, John 13:1, John 17:14-19, John 14:17

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