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December 16, 2007 |
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Sermon
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Reverend David S. HufferWestwood Baptist
Church - 2124 Davis Road
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John 1
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The Christmas Crazies: Jesus On Our Lawns John 1:4-5
This time of year there are phenomena’s of all sorts that show up. · From presents showing up under the tree to some man dressed in red to the lighted and glowing presence of Jesus dressed in plastic. Luke 2:12 – “And this will be a sign to you: you will find a plastic Babe lighted and glowing and wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a plastic manger on the lawn”
But such phenomena’s do not come without trouble. · In Novi, Michigan a neighborhood association has ordered a family to remove the seven piece plastic nativity scene located in their front yard. · They face possible fines of $25 to $100 dollars per week · The family isn’t budging and neither are their three wise men · The family has vowed not only to keep the display, but is threatening to enhance it. · “If you take this out, it is not Christmas anymore” said one of the family members as he reached down and scooped up the baby Jesus on the front lawn. FRIENDS – There is a battle going on to keep Jesus on our front lawns – BUT WHAT ABOUT IN OUR LIVES?
This time of year Jesus does a good job of lighting up our lawns – but not so good lighting up our lives.
FRIENDS – God sending His Son into the world came to be more than a lawn ornament that shines once a year. · He came to be The Light and The Way to God John 1:4-5 – “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
This hallmark passage speaks of revealed truth:
PERPETUAL LIGHT – LIGHT OF MEN The light of Christ has shined (past), is shining (present), and will continue to shine (future) into the dark hearts of men
Jesus is the source of our understanding · In a world of confusion where battles over the nativity scenes on our lawns and where the term “happy holidays” has infuriated some · Jesus shines to help us understand what really is the way, truth, and life found in Him
HOW IS THE LIGHT SHINING? Jesus did not come to light up our lawns or to enhance our verbal expressions about the holiday of Christmas. · Jesus came to instill LIFE and LIGHT into the hearts and lives of sinful man – our hearts – our lives John 8:12 – “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” FRIENDS – We need to walk in the light of Christ. · Let Him be the light of your life. · Come confessing your need of Him · Come confessing the sin of darkness you walk in · Come to Christ – the Light of the world! We need to become a “light holder” to help perpetuate the Light of Christ.
PERPETUATION OF LIGHT – LIGHT SHINES IN DARKNESS It should not surprise us that the world attacks Christ the Man and His Message. · Their aim is to “put out” the light · They do not comprehend it FRIENDS – The darkness can never extinguish this light! · The world in all its darkness met Christ at the Cross thinking it would extinguish the light · But there He prayed so as to intensify the light “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!”
DEAR FRIENDS – Our aim as “light holders” is not to cover up the light with trivial pursuits of a comfortable life for ourselves · But to take the light of Jesus out into the dark for the lost souls of the world to see. The very nature of light is that it shines! · 2 Corinthians 4:6 – “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
CLOSE DEAR FRIENDS – Don’t relegate Jesus to being light on our lawns. · If we are going to do battle, · let us battle for Him to be the light in our life and heart that He came to be
Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”
AMEN AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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