Jesus, the Reason for the Season

(CFRA broadcast date: December 11^th, 2011 - #656)

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Listen to Radio Podcast Here - (and follow the notes, below):
http://proxy.autopod.ca/podcasts/chum/6/5367/good.news%20in.the.morning.no.656.mp3

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Broadcast Notes:

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Jesus, the Reason for the Season

Do you agree, or would you say that the reason for the Christmas Season is: 

·         Family

·         Love

·         Giving

·         Receiving

These answers all sound good but we must keep the main thing the main thing…..  Here’s a news alert!

Yes, as families we all love Christmas as a time to renew our love for each other and participate in giving and receiving ….

all that is great…. but if that’s the goal we could get caught up with what many are doing…..

that is, focusing on:

·         Commercialism

·         Materialism

·         Me-ism

Again, let me be very clear….  We need to focus on the primary reason for the Christmas Season and that is

·         The celebration of the birth of the Christ-Child

·         His coming to planet earth

This is a primary focus on His ‘first Advent’

I say this because now, as we are to focus on His Second Advent or the Return of Christ.

I love it when people say:  ‘Happy Holiday’….

When they say that I respond by saying:  ‘Yes indeed it is’

What are you doing to celebrate His birthday?

That question opens up great conversations and really gets people to thinking……

Yes, Jesus is the Reason for the Season

John 18:37

Jesus said:  ‘for this reason I was born

And for this I came into the world to testify to the truth.

Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’

The truth is Jesus is the Christ of Christmas.  And when we celebrate Christmas we are celebrating His birthday and His arrival.

Today, I want to share the real meaning of Christmas.

Let’s begin by talking about:

1   The Joy of Giving

Many today are suffering from Cirrhosis of the Giver

I’m told it is an acute condition which renders the patient’s

hand immobile when he/she is called upon to move it in

the direction of the wallet or Purse and then to the offering

Plate.

It is clinically observable that this condition does not occur

Ii other places such as a hockey game, or while shopping or restaurants.

One minister stood in front of his Congregation one Sunday morning at the time of the Offering. 

This is what he instructed his people to do.

Reach forward to the person standing in front of you and reach for their wallet or purse and open them. And this is what he said:

‘In the name of Jesus, I challenge you to now give as you always wanted to but felt you could never afford.’

Alright now, let’s get back to the message.

First of all we need to remember that Christmas is about the joy of giving……  do you realize what joy our Heavenly Father must have had by giving His very own son to the world.

Listen to John 3:16

‘For God (the Father) so loved the world that He gave His very own son, that whoever believed in Him, would have eternal life’

Wow!  What a gift!

God the Father made this promise about giving His own son years before Jesus was born of Mary.

Listen to God’s Word:

‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.’                          Isaiah 9:6

‘Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign.

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel’.  - Isaiah 7:14

‘This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:

His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

Then the angel said to Joseph, Mary will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet.  The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel which means, ‘God with us’.

Matthew 1:18, 21, 22, 23

Christmas is a time of celebrating the Birthday and Arrival of God the Father’s only begotten Son.

Who was he?           -  Immanuel   -    meaning:  God with us!

What is His name?  -  Jesus         -    Savior

Listen, this is the Christmas truth.

Christmas is about God Giving us:

·         His very own Love

·         His complete and constant Forgiveness

·         His eternal Hope

Christmas is about our Father giving us:

·         His very own Son

Christmas is about our Savior giving us

·         His life resulting in our freedom from the bondage or debt of sin…..

Remember…. Jesus paid the debt that He did not owe

                         To cancel the debt that we could not pay.

2 Corinthians 9:15:

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

Christmas is about each of us giving God

·         Our hearts

·         Our love

·         Our lives

·         Our time

Christmas is about each of us giving each other the gift of:

·         Friendship

·         Forgiveness

·         Faith

·         Affirmation

·         encouragement

2   The Joy of Receiving

American Express did a survey recently and found that 31% of people said that receiving a “fruitcake” would be the worst gift of all. In fact, more people indicated that given a choice between a fruitcake and receiving nothing at all, they would choose “nothing.”

The survey then went on to find out how people get rid of a gift that they don’t want.

·         30% hide it in a closet

·         21% return it

·         19% give it to someone else

·         One of the best ways to get rid of a gift you don’t want is to  have a white elephant exchange.

The most important gift that God the Father has ever given you is the gift of His very own Son.

The most important gift that God the Son has ever given you

is the gift of His life and love as He went to the Cross for you and me.  And rose again on that third day to guarantee that He has the power over death and He and He alone holds our future.

Now allow me to ask you these very important questions:

Do you know that the gift of Salvation is being offered to you?

Do you know that gift comes from the heart of our Heavenly Father and is guaranteed because of the Cross of Jesus Christ?

Have you received God the Father’s Love gift?

Have you opened your heart in order to receive His gift?

This is the very best gift you will ever receive.

John 1:12

‘yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God…. children born not of natural descent nor of human decision or a husband’s will but born of God.’

1   The Joy of Giving

2   The Joy of Receiving

3   The Joy of Belonging

Belonging is one of the ‘basic needs’ of humanity.

Here’s the good news……  you are invited to be part of the Family of God…..

Can you say today?….

I’m so glad to be part of the Family of God

I’ve been washed in the fountain

Cleansed by His blood.

Join heirs with Jesus,

As I travel this sod

I’m so glad I’m apart of, the Family of God.

This happens when you receive the given gift from the Father…

His Son Jesus Christ.

Have you received Him…… 

why  not give God the gift of your heart this Christmas…

4   The Joy of Knowing

John 17:3

‘Now this is eternal life:

that they may know you, the only true God

and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’

Three types of people close themselves off from the Christ of Christmas:

·         The Proud

·         The Powerful

·         The Pacified

One day the Proud will be humbled

One day the Powerful will be helpless….

Remember you can’t take your pride or power or money to Heaven……

You can’t buy your way in… nor can you take those things with you.

One day the Pacified will come to realize the ‘void’ in their live.

This happens when

·         Family leaves

·         Friends die

·         Finances are depleted

We truly need to focus on the Real Reason for the Season…..

Jesus Christ!

Happy Birthday Jesus…..

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To listen to the above broadcast, click on the following link:

http://proxy.autopod.ca/podcasts/chum/6/5367/good.news%20in.the.morning.no.656.mp3