Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Message

Good evening

What a joy to be together this evening

I think each of you for putting God first this evening

I know there is a lot going on but Jesus is the reason for the season and thank you for putting Him first tonight

This evening is not a sermon but more of a devotional or charge/challenge even

God laid this section of scripture on me early in the week as what He wanted me to bring to you this evening

This is such a busy time filled with family and friends but also stress and pressure and greed and materialism

Shame on us for getting to that point

This evening’s scripture is a reminder....a call to be like Jesus in all things including Christmas

Philippians 2:1–8

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“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

When you look at verse 1-2 Paul is reminding the Philippians and us what we have in Christ

Encouragement comes from a Greek word that means “to come alongside and help, counsel, exhort”

Jesus does that for each of us who Christians here tonight.

He does that for each of us each and every day

Comfort from love again the Greek means the Lord coming close and whispering gentle words of cheer or counsel in one’s ear

How wonderful is it when God whispers in your ear

Participation in the Spirit .....participation is translated from Greek meaning partnership of common eternal life

We participate with the Holy Spirit in growing closer to Christ and becoming more spiritually mature as we apply scripture through the power of the Holy Spirit

Affection and sympathy....Jesus displayed this on the cross. He fully displayed God’s affection and sympathy for us when HE provided a way where there was no way God continues to show us each and every day his affection and sympathy toward us

Because of all of that

You and I as Christians are to be unified

Full accord…one-souled

We are by the way....one-souled as we share the same Holy Spirit as Christians

If you are a Christian here this evening you have all of these things plus so much more in your life.....be one-souled

Then Paul challenges us to live one-souled

This is what God laid on my heart

We as Americans have turned Christmas into something commercial and ugly

All about presents

People even go into debt to buy presents

That has nothing to do with Christmas

Jesus is the reason for the season because He gave His life to pay your and my sin debt and to give us eternal life and forgiveness of sin

Then we get encouragement and comfort and affection and sympathy.......Relationship

How wonderful is that?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Because of all of that verse 3-5 challenge us and I challenge you this season to live this out

Philippians 2:3–5

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“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit

Selfish ambition in the Greek speaks to pride that prompts people to push for their own way

You can do what you want but I would do this........

Conceit…Greek means empty glory

You seeking your glory......conceit is usually the motivation for selfish ambition by the way.

Do nothing from....Nothing.....It is tempting this holiday season to do lots of things form conceit and selfish ambition

Take these thoughts captive when they come and make them obey God’s Word

Instead in humility count others more significant than yourselves

That is a beautiful definition of humility.....count others more significant than yourself

Jesus counted you so significant He went to the cross

But even more

Philippians 2:6–8

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“who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

He was God but because of His great love for you and God he refused to be treated as God here on earth.....He chose the form of a servant

Humility.......counting others more significant than Himself

GOD HImself in the flesh yet was a servant

Humbling himself to be obedient even to death on a cross

That is why we are here

That is why we took communion

That is the reason for the season

His name is JESUS and if you are saved you are to have His mind through the Holy Spirit

As you leave here this evening I pray it is with a servants heart

I pray you are truly humble

Counting others more significant than yourself and shining the light of Jesus into the darkness this Christmas season

Lets pray

It is our tradition to gather in a circle as we light the candles so if at this time you would please gather around the pews in a circle as we pray and reflect on the great things Jesus has done for each of us

Play Mary did you know