How has Christmas changed you? How does Christmas changed our world?
Sermon Title: LIVING IN THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS
Sermon Text: LUKE 2:10-14 (NIV)
Sermon Series: EMMANUEL: ANTICIPATING, CELEBRATING, TRANSFORMING
By: BRO JEREMY LEONES
Sermon Notes:
Luke 2:10-14 NIV
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
I. BY ALLOWING US TO EXPERIENCE GENUINE LOVE
1 JOHN 4:7-10 NLT
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
God became a man so that he could free all men from the power and penalty of sin.
John 1:1 NIV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 NIV
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
In Christmas, God became man so we get to experience His genuine love.
John 3:16-17 NIV
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Romans 5:5 NIV
5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
“The Holy Spirit takes the historical facts of the Christ’s death and opens the eyes of our heart to see the all-satidfying divine beauty of the love of God in it. And thus by the spiritual sight of God’s lovein the work of Christ, he pours that love into our hearts.”
John Piper
Christmas changes our world when we allow the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with God’s love then believe and surrender our lives to Jesus.
II. BY PROVIDING US WITH LASTING PEACE.
If we truly accept in faith that God gave us His Son, then we can experience peace… a peace that only God can give…
Peace with GOD.
Romans 5:1 NLT
1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Hebrews 8:12 NLT
12 And I will forgive their wickedness,
and I will never again remember their sins.”
Peace with OTHERS.
Hebrews 12:18 NIV
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;
Romans 14:19 NIV
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
If God can be at peace with us, then we should also choose to be at peace with others.
Peace with OURSELVES.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
III. BY GIVING US PURPOSE IN LIFE.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
1 Corinthians 10:31, 33 NLT
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.
5 Practical ways to Regain God’s Purpose For Your Life:
1. Go to God in prayer.
James 1:5 ESV
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
2. Dig into God’s word.
Psalm 119:105 ESV
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
3. Determine your gifts and strengths.
1 Peter 4:10 NLT
10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
4. Ask others for counsel.
Proverbs 11:14 ESV
14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
5. Take a solitude retreat.
Hebrews 11:6 ESV
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
We can trust God to lead us where He wants us to go.
Psalm 23:2-3 ESV
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’