Rev. David Holwick ZP
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
December 21, 1997
Luke 2:1-7
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I. Good times call for great parties.
A. Examples of happy occasions.
1) Birthdays have cakes.
2) New Years blast in Times Square.
3) Superbowls have victory rallies (for winners, anyway).
4) And of course Christmas is loaded with festivities.
a) Parties - (10,000 lose jobs due to Christmas parties?)
b) Caroling, family visits, candlelighting services...
B. How has your celebrating been going this Christmas season?
1) Perhaps it depends on how your life is going.
a) The employees of Microsoft are probably VERY MERRY.
1> The bonuses for 24,000 workers there average $1,000,000.
2> I got an office air conditioner, so I am happy too.
b) It is always easy to celebrate when times are good.
2) For others this is a very hard time of year.
a) Difficult to celebrate when things are falling apart.
b) Christmas can bring sad memories for many people.
c) Will our circumstances make it hard for us to celebrate?
II. Mary and Joseph did not have much to be thrilled with.
A. Jews were good at celebrating.
1) Passover brought the whole nation together for a party.
2) Purim was much like Christmas - filled with joy.
B. They also had a lot to weigh them down.
1) The Romans oppressed them.
a) They controlled politics of Israel.
b) They flooded the country with paganism and idolatry.
2) Rome built an extravagant capital at foreigners' expense.
a) The key was taxes.
1> From foreigners, not citizens.
b) Caesar Augustus was a big builder, so a big taxer.
1> Rationale behind worldwide census and taxation.
C. For Joseph and Mary in particular, circumstances were tough.
1) Not married.
2) Far from Mary's home.
3) No place to stay at critical moment.
4) Yes they rejoiced in God's work.
III. What about our circumstances?
A. America is on a roll.
1) Prosperous, powerful, complacent.
a) We party bigtime, like Rome.
b) (New Years celebrations are already sold out.)
2) Could it change overnight?
B. Christians on the fringe.
1) Despised by those in power.
a) Promise Keepers shook them up.
2) Broad religion, but shallow faith.
a) ("New York Times" Sunday magazine article.)
b) Similar to religious malaise in ancient Israel.
3) Nevertheless, we still have much to celebrate.
a) Don't get caught up in negativism and "poor us" syndrome.
IV. Circumstances are true test of our faith and character.
A. What are you like when your world is caving in?
If you really want to see what people are like, you have to put
them in extreme situations.
Such a situation occurred during World War II.
As the Japanese conquered country after country in Asia,
hundreds of foreign missionaries and businessmen were
captured, along with their families.
Many of them were Americans.
All of these civilians were herded into concentration camps,
mostly in China.
The current video, "Paradise Road" tells about one camp.
In another camp was a little boy named David Storey, who is now
a pastor I know in Ohio.
Another prisoner was Eric Liddell, the Christian athlete the
movie "Chariots of Fire" was based on.
In these concentration camps the civilians were not tortured
or killed.
But they never knew what was going to happen to them.
Living space, food and security were all in short supply.
Since many of these civilians were Christians, how did they
measure up?
Some of the evidence is pretty discouraging.
As more people were crammed into the camp, families were asked
to give up the extra rooms in their living quarters.
In this way the others would have a place to live.
Nobody disagreed with this - as long as their rooms weren't
taken away.
One missionary offered this excuse:
He said the other missionaries often asked him to preach in
the camp's church services.
Then he said, "It is for their sakes, and for that of the
camp as a whole, that my family needs a little extra space.
This way I can have quiet to think out these sermons."
This sounds very religious.
But actually, he's just being selfish.
The non-Christians were equally selfish, but believers had an
advantage - they could wrap their selfishness in God's will.
The missionary's excuse was not an isolated incident.
Many of the most devout Christians ended up cheating, lying and
grovelling to get their daily necessities.
Would you have been any different?
When times are tough, are you a consistent Christian?
Do you have joy in the Lord? #2191
B. Half-a-loaf Christmases.
1) Examples.
a) Death of husband.
b) Wife with Alzheimer's.
c) Bankruptcy, cancer, accidents, kids lose faith.
d) Alcoholism, house problems, falling out of love.
2) But we can still celebrate Christmas.
a) Mary celebrated in spite of circumstances.
b) She does not appear to be upset and doesn't complain,
even about the accommodations.
V. What to do when things aren't perfect.
A. Stop the impulse to concentrate on the negative.
1) Philip Johnson, went to Assembly of God church but was
angry with God and everyone else.
Robbed Loomis Security truck of $18.8 million, biggest
robbery in American history.
Neighbors: he did it more to settle scores than because
he wanted money.
(People Magazine)
2) Intentionally focus on God's promises.
B. Reject the "Ten Commandments of Misery."
1) I must be liked by everybody for everything I do.
2) I cannot be happy unless everything is exactly the way
I want it to be.
3) All the unhappiness I suffer is always caused by outside
events or other people. I am just a victim.
4) It is wiser for me to avoid life's difficulties than to
face them and deal with them.
5) I must succeed in all situations or I am a failure in life.
6) Because a negative experience happened to me once, I shall
forever be defeated by it.
7) I must have certain and complete control over all people
and events in my life, or chaos will result.
8) I must put my happiness and comfort at the top of my
priority list in order to live a fulfilled life.
9) I must compare and contrast myself with other people in order
to know if I'm successful or not.
10) I must have certainty of success before I ever attempt
anything.
#98
C. Go on a Christmas trip.
1) Visit a certain place or person. (jail...)
2) My visit to the Morristown Mission.
a) Impressive testimonies and results.
1> After 5 years, 78% were sober and held jobs.
b) Testimony of worker there...
c) Reminded me of God's power to change people.
D. Focus on what Jesus has done for you.
1) Write out a prayer of thanks.
2) How proud are you of Christ?
3) What kind of difference has he made in your life?
VI. Jesus makes a difference.
A. Can people rise above their circumstances?
1) Liberal ABC pastor (regarding homosexuals): nobody can
really change in life.
a) Pessimistic, conditioned by many people who failed.
2) But Jesus says it's a narrow gate.
3) He says you MUST be changed to enter Kingdom of Heaven.
a) Everybody. Period.
b) No change, no salvation.
B. If Jesus is who he says, those who mourn can find comfort.
1) If a virgin can give birth, God can do anything for you.
2) Meek and powerless inherit the earth.
C. Song - "Sweet little Jesus boy, we didn't know who you was."
1) Maybe you don't know who Jesus is, either.
2) Accept him now.
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Adapted from Advent Spiritual Adventure 1997, Sermon 4, by David Mains
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Mains' sermon:
I. Theme: Even less than ideal circumstances shouldn't keep us from
celebrating the miracle birth of God's newborn King.
II. What makes a celebration special?
A. Birthdays have cakes.
B. Superbowls have victory rallies.
C. New Years...
D. Passover in Jesus' day, ...Purim...
E. Victory parades in ancient Rome.
1) Parrot tongue pies - talking tongues, if for emperor.
III. Four kings.
A. Emperor (Caesar) Augustus got Jesus to Bethlehem.
1) Origination of "Caesar" title.
2) Taxation policy.
a) Census, summons to Bethlehem.
B. King David, another great king.
1) A man of many victories.
2) Bethlehem was his hometown.
C. Herod, the third.
D. Jesus was the fourth king.
1) His birth a secret.
2) Not the best of times nor circumstances.
IV. Mary celebrated in spite of circumstances.
A. She does not appear to be upset and doesn't complain.
1) Doesn't complain about accommodations.
B. She was celebrating.
1) To observe or commemorate an event.
2) She was delighted with events.
V. A less-than-ideal Christmas.
A. Examples.
1) Wife died.
2) Husband with Alzheimer's.
3) Bankruptcy, cancer, accidents, kids apostatize.
4) Alcoholism, house problems, falling out of love, suicide.
B. But we can still celebrate Christmas.
1) If Jesus is who he says, those who mourn can find comfort.
2) Meek and powerless inherit the earth.
VI. How do we celebrate in these conditions?
A. Check the impulse to concentrate on the negative.
1) Intentionally focus on God's promises.
B. Choose the songs you listen to.
1) They can lift you up or drag you down.
C. Quality quiet time, devotions.
D. "Well, anyway, it never came to that..." prayers.
1) Things could be worse.
E. Focus on what Jesus has done for you.
1) Write out a prayer of thanks.
2) Christmas pardon.
F. Go on a Christmas trip.
1) Visit a certain place or person. (jail...)
G. Think about how unique Jesus and his birth are.
1) How proud are you of Christ?
2) What kind of difference has he made in your life?
VII. Take off bad times mask and put on one that revels in joy of Lord.
A. If Mary and Joseph could celebrate, so could you.
B. Song - "Sweet little Jesus boy, we didn't know who you was."
1) Maybe you don't know who Jesus is, either.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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