The Battle Of Christmas | Rediscovering Christmas, Part 4

The Battle Of Christmas | Rediscovering Christmas, Part 4 (Christmas Eve)

“We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.”

“How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas.”

Arrival

Finish line

Christmas is not just the end of a promise

Christmas is also the beginning of a battle.

“I’m still searching for a Christmas card with a red dragon in the nativity, lurking amidst the cows and lambs, waiting to devour the baby in the manger. None of the Gospels mention this unwelcome visitor to Bethlehem, but the Apocalypse does. John paints a seven-headed, ten-horned red dragon onto the peaceful Christmas canvas (Revelation 12). It’s the nativity story we don’t talk about. A dragon trying to eat baby Jesus.” – Chris Bird

The Battle of Christmas

1. The Mighty

2. The Meek

Luke 2:1-3

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

Caesar Augustus

A census

The purpose of the census was two-fold:

1. Military Power

2. Tax Base

Micah 5:2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

Caesar’s Might | Mighty Hand of God

Luke 2:4-7

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city ofDavid, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Joseph and Mary

Poor, not rich

Country folks, not city leaders

Powerless, not powerful

Teenagers from a small town

Luke 2:7

…there was no place for them in the inn.

God’s divine rescue mission kicks off NOT in a mansion but in a manger!

We take a census and rely on our own might.

The invitation of Christmas is NOT to flex our might but to willingly embrace our weakness and let Jesus heal our brokenness.

Luke 2:-8-9

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

Luke 2:10-11

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

A Savior has come and he is exactly what we needed.

The Christmas story is offensive because it’s God’s response to what we need most.

“What you need, you can’t provide on your own. Not only are you not the answer to your biggest problems, you’re the cause of it! I love you and I’ve come to help” – God

Meekness

He did it because he loves YOU.

The primary message of Christmas is NOT that you need to start living for God, but that God came to live for you.

How to respond to this Christmas message:

1. Stop relying on your own might

2. Start pursuing him in meekness (worship)