JAMES 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Pastor Rick
Jackson
Christmas
Day is a monumental day commemorating a monumental event. It is one of the
three most important days in all of history [the other two being Good Wednesday
and Resurrection Sunday]. Any time you have an event or series of events that
have monumental consequences you also have the potential for:
I.
MONUMENTAL MISTAKES – internet article
“Several
metro churches are not holding services on Sunday in order to let their
members, staffers and volunteers spend time with their families.”
another
church said “With a church as large as
ours, we have thousands of volunteers, and we feel that as a church it’s more
important for them to spend time with their families on Christmas”
Well, what
could be wrong with that?
1. It’s the
Lord’s Day”, not “family Day” [Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2, Rev. 1:10] most people
are off Sat. and/or Mon. anyway- make one of them family day, or take your
family to church
-And upon
the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his
speech until midnight.
-Upon the
first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath
prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
- I was in
the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a
trumpet,
2. That is a
worldly decision, not a spiritual decision [Titus 2:11-15, Eph. 5:10-11]
Another
church said, “On Christmas Day, there will be a pre-recorded sermon by Lead
Pastor… that members can watch on the church’s website… the day away from a
physical building is a way to show appreciation for volunteers and staff, “who
really work every Sunday.”
-For the
grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly , righteously,
and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave
himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and
exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
- Proving
what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
3. It misses
the point of the church’s gathering and the church’s mission [Heb. 10:25, Mt.
28:18-20]
- Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
- And Jesus
came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway , even
unto the end of the world. Amen.
It
seems the inn was not the only place with no room for Jesus on the day of His
birth. But though mankind has made mistakes since God is involved there is
also:
II.
MONUMENTAL MERCY
1. The World
didn’t know Him, but He knows the World [Jn. 1:10-12, 2:24-25]
- He was in
the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came
unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to
them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his
name:
- But Jesus
did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that
any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
2. The World
has no place for Him but He prepares a Place for Us [Luke 2:7, Mt. 8:34, Jn. 14:1-6]
- And she
brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid
him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
- And,
behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they
besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
-Let not
your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's
house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And
whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know
not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am
the way , the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
3. The World
has no real Peace, He gives True Peace [Jeremiah 6:14, Luke 2:14, Jn. 14:27,
16:33, 20:19-21, Acts 10:36]
- They have
healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace,
peace; when there is no peace.
- Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
- Peace I
leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
- These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
-Then the
same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut
where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood
in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said,
he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when
they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my
Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
- The word
which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ:
(he is Lord of all:)
III.
MONUMENTAL MANIFESTATION
1.
Monumental Delivery [1 Tm. 3:16]
And without
controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the
flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles,
believed on in the world, received up into glory.
2.
Monumental Purpose [2 Tm. 1:8-10, 1 Jn. 3:8]
Be not thou
therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be
thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the
appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
--He that
committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the
works of the devil.
3.
Monumental Love and Truth [1 Jn. 4:9, Titus 1:2-3]
-In this was
manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten
Son into the world, that we might live through him.
-In hope of
eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But
hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is
committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
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