Celebrate the Christian Life

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Introduction: Have you noticed that some see Christ and the Church as enemies of celebration…a kind of killyou? Nothing could be further from the truth. The Kingdom of God is a Party...it’s a Fiesta...it’s a Celebration!

Introduction: Many see Christ and the Church as enemies of celebration and killjoys...nothing could be further from the truth. The Kingdom of God is a Party...it’s a Fiesta...it’s a Celebration!

Have you ever noticed that when God's people get together...it's fun? People outside of Jesus Christ do not know what they're missing. Life in Jesus Christ is just as He promised it is abundant...it is life with a captial "L"! Levi certainly experienced that. One minute he was a hated, grumbling old tax-collector...probably dreading every day's work...The next minute he's planning a party...inviting his buddies to meet the man that changed his life. Do you remember how excited you were when you were drying off after your baptism into Jesus Christ? Do you remember the lightness in your heart when it sunk in that all of your past sins were forgiven in Jesus Christ? That experience for Levi meant Party Time! When rightly understood the whole experience of the Christian Life should be seen in terms of a Celebration...a wonderful Party.

God loves a party. Have you ever considered that?

1. In the Old Testament, the Bible says that when God created the world that the Morning Stars sang together. God said that all things were very Good and He rested on the Seventh Day--It was a time of celebration.

2. Satan entered in a sought to take the joy out of life for the world that God had created. Satan brought sin and disobedience and shattered the Harmony that God had begun. But in spite of Satan's efforts God kept bringing news of blessing and joy and harmony and life.

3. When He called Abraham to become the father of a multitude, He said that in his seed all the nations would be blessed--that sounds like celebration! It is not by accident that the child of promise that was born to Abraham and Sarah was named Isaac which means "Laughter.” Could this have been a veiled indication of the Good News of Great Joy--the Celebration that a future “son of Abraham” was going to be bringing to the World?

3. When He called Abraham to become the father of a multitude, He said that in his seed all the nations would be blessed--that sounds like celebration! In is not by accident that the child of promise that was born to Abraham and Sarah was named Isaac which means "Laughter". Could this have been a veiled indication of the Good News of Great Joy--the Celebration that God was going to be bringing to the World?

4. In the Old Testament God instructed His people to come together at certain times of the years for Festivals--another term for Celebration. They were to assemble and rejoice about God's provision for them. They were to celebrate the deliverance that God had given them from Egypt. They were to praise Him at special Feast Days. God loved a celebration. He did not want them just to go through the motions. He wanted genuine joyful attitudes of praise and worship and celebration.

4. In the Old Testament God instructed His people to come together at certain times of the years for Festivals--another term for Celebration. The were to assemble to rejoice about God's provision for them. They were to celebrate the deliverance that God had given them from Egypt. They were to praise His at special Feast Days. God loved a celebration. He did not want them just to go through the motions. He wanted genuine joyful attitudes of praise and worship and celebration.

5. Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Weeping prophet, God prophesied of the New Covenant that was to come and that joy would be the main ingredient of that covenant to be written on the heart instead of on stone!

6. Is it any wonder then that when Jesus was born...

... the angels sang

... a new star was made to decorate the occasion

... the message to Judean Shepherds was Good News of a great joy.

... that upon seeing all the things that took place the shepherds returned with wonder!

7. Is it any wonder that when Jesus began his ministry that His first recorded sermon that was delivered in his hometown used as his text a passage from Isaiah which said,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He anointed Me to preach to Good News to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set free those who are downtrodden,

To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."

It was the word of Jubilee--Celebration. Good News. Freedom Day for the Captives. Blind people getting to See. Downtrodden and burden people getting the greatest lift in all the world!

8. Is it any wonder that another of Jesus' sermons begins with Nine statements that begin with the word Blessed or A Beatitude--A word of happiness and joy. The tenth statement begins with, Rejoice!? Is is any wonder that the first of Jesus' miracles was performed at a Wedding Party? At Cana of Galilee Jesus was the life of the party. The glory of His presence made water blush!

8. Is it any wonder that another of Jesus' sermons begins with Nine statements that begin with the word Blessed or A Beatitude--A word of happiness and joy. The tenth statement begins with, Rejoice!? Is is any wonder that the first of Jesus' miracles was performed at a Wedding Party! At Cana of Galilee Jesus was the life of the party. The glory of His presence made water blush!

9. Is it any wonder that this Master of Ceremonies was criticized by the stuffed shirts of the religious community for having to much fun?

10. Jesus talked about Joy. He preached Good News. When he told stories--time and again they included celebration. Remember the climax of the parable of the prodigal son? When he came home, the Father, who is a God-figure, through a party and celebrated. Do you remember Jesus and Zaccheus, "Zaccheus, you come down, for I'm going to your house today!" And He did and they celebrated.

11. Do you remember Jesus' story about the great banquet and the invitations that were given. Some offered excuses and would not come and the Master said to his servants,"Go into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." God invites us to His party!

Yes, there was much that qualified Jesus to be called “A Man of Sorrow” but only that the sorrows he experienced for to bring Joy and Celebration for eternity.

11. Do you remember Jesus' story about the great banquet and the invitations that were given. Some offered excuses and would not come and the Master said to his servants,"Go into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." God invites us to His party!

Now I told you all of that so that I could say this...

We need to celebrate the Christian Life! When Jesus called people to follow Him He was calling them to the Abundant Life! He was calling them to a brand new life. He was calling them to a life that could deal with any difficulty. He was calling them to a life that had direction and purpose and fulfillment. He was calling them to the Life that only He can give.

, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

, "I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly!"

, "Jesus said therefore to the twelve, 'You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal Life."

This life that Jesus gives to those who follow Him is a celebration!

Celebration marks the Christian Life because...

I. It is Happier than any other life.

1. Jesus came to give men the life that they were created to live. Since He is the Creator and Source of Life, He knows what we are made of and what we need. To ignore Him or reject Him is to make the grave mistake of cheating ourselves out of the abundant, meaningful Life.

2. Jesus said to the woman at the well who was enslaved by sin and caught up in the humdrum of life, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." ()

3. This life is what made it possible for the Apostle Paul from Prison to write, "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I will say, Rejoice." You see, the Party or the Celebration is not simply an event. It is an attitude. It is a disposition that should be carried by Christians wherever they go. Christians create a party atmosphere...a celebrative spirit wherever they are placed. I think of Paul and Silas thrown into the Jail at Philippi and at midnight who were heard singing hymns to God. That kind of approach to life made early Christianity infectious. Jews and Gentiles alike were attracted to a movement that enabled people to sing and praise, no matter what the circumstances. (Tony Compolo, p. 114) It can happen again...if the church would once again get excited about their faith and their relationship with Christ.

3. This life is what made it possible for the Apostle Paul from Prison to write, "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I will say, Rejoice." You see, the Party or the Celebration is not simply an event. It is an attitude. It is a disposition that should be carried by Christians wherever they go. Christians create a party atmosphere...a celebrative spirit wherever they are placed. I think of Paul and Silas thrown into the Jail at Philippi and at midnight are heard singing hymns to God. That kind of approach to life made early Christianity infectious. Jews and Gentiles alike were attracted to a movement that enabled people to sing and praise, no matter what the circumstances. (Tony Compolo, p. 114) It can happen again...if the church would once again get excited about their faith and their relationship with Christ.

4. After Philip baptized the Ethiopian Eunuch the Bible says that he went on his way rejoicing.

5. There are those who say that the Christian life is not happy at all. Look at so and so. He's a worthy Christian, but did you ever see anything so dull and somber and insipid? And you say that's the happiest life in the world! Come on Now!

Or take for instance, the line of one who candidly shared with me the reason for not being a part of the assembly of the church. So and so is so negative and critical about everything that goes on in the church. I just can't see becoming a part of that kind of Christianity.

Don't judge the validity of Christianity by those who give a distorted picture of true life in Christ. Those whose attitude is negative and always critical; those who are sour on life; those who say one thing and do another; those whose attitudes damage the growth of the church.

For God's sake, don't judge Jesus, the King of Joy, by them! Try the real thing--not that miserable parody of the reality--try the real thing, make friends with Jesus, stand where Peter and John and Andrew stood and look into His eyes, listen to the music of His Voice, answer His challenge, rise and follow and you will find the happiest life on earth!

Look at the three enemies of happiness:

a. Worry--nothing to hold onto, no real faith.

b. Boredom--No song, no joy.

c. Self Centeredness--The person who is locked in on himself.

Christianity slays every one of the enemies of happiness!

a. Worry--The life of Christ finishes that. How? God is on the throne. God is in charge. You are in the Father's hand. And that's a wonderful place to be. ILLUS. Jim Godwin's statement: What ever happens; if I get well or if I don't it's a big deal! Only a Christian can have that kind of confidence in the face of crisis!

b. Boredom--Christianity finishes that. How? By filling your life full with the glory of a friendship whose wonders are unending. Do you think for a minute that the first disciples were ever bored in the company of Jesus? They were ashamed of themselves often, mystified and puzzled frequently, sometimes furiously excited, occasionally even frightened--but they were never bored! And when you and I really understand the matter of walking daily with Christ and living for Him completely then there will never, ever be any room for boredom.

c. What about self-centeredness? Christianity removes that. How? By putting Christ on the throne of your life. By causing you to look at life and others with His eyes and seeing opportunities to bring joy into others lives by sharing Christ with them.

The Christian’s life is marked by Celebration because...

II. It is Harder than any other life

II. It is Harder than any other life.

1. Jesus said that there are two ways. One is the broad way with a wide gate and that many would that way. This is the way of least resistance. This is the pull of the world. This is the illusion of Satan. Just go along with the crowd. No discipline. No effort. No rules. No repentance. No submission. Just go--and if you listen to that kind of reasoning you will just go--to Hell.

2. Jesus said that there was another way. It is through a straight gate and it is a narrow way. Few find it. But those who do find life. This is the way of Jesus. This is following Him. Listening to Him. Changing our values to line up with His.

This is the way of repentance. It is the way of discipleship. It is the way of being obedient to Him. It is not the easiest way, but it is by far the best way and the only way to real life.

3. This is a life to celebrate for while we journey there may truly be some rough spots but He is there to give us the victory. There will be some tears along this journey, but through and beyond the tears are joys abundant. There will be problems along this way, and there will be guidance through those problems. Like the chorus we used to sing, "God any rivers you think are un-crossable, God any mountains you can't tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible--He does the things others cannot do!"

3. This is a life to celebrate for while we journey there may truly be some rough spots but He is there to give us the victory. There will be some tears along this journey, but through and beyond the tears are joys abundant. There will be problems along this way, and there will be guidance through those problems. Like the chorus we used to sing, "God any rivers you think are uncrossable, God any mountains you can't tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible--He does the things others cannot do!"

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not preaching that Christians should be artificially smiling all the time. Christians cry. Christians can be hurt. Christians are often disappointed. All of us know what the shortest Bible verse is, "Jesus Wept." Our Lord cried on more than one occasion. But the thing about Christians is that our sorrow does not lead to despair. We do not wring our hands as those who have no hope. Even in the midst of our times of sorrow we can find assurance that there is a better day coming. We can encouarge each other "that the sting of tragedy will one day be swallowed up in a great victory party with King Jesus as the Host." (Tony Compolo, p. 127)

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not preaching that Christians should be artificially smiling all the time. Christians cry. Christians can be hurt. Christians are often disappointed. All of us know what the shortest Bible verse is, "Jesus Wept." Our Lord cried on more than one occasion. But the thing about Christians is that our sorrow does not lead to despair. We do not wring our hands as those who have no hope. Even in the midst of our times of sorrow we can find assurance that there is a better day coming. We can encouarge each other "that the sting of tragedy will one day be swallowed up in a great victory party with King Jesus as the Host."

(Tony Compolo, p. 127)

4. There are times even in the service of Christ when our hearts may break because people fail to respond to God's Love and grace--they reject their invitation to God's Party--it hurts. Not only does it hurt us but most importantly it hurts God.

Jesus Understood: The way the story goes is that Jesus was walking along one day when he came upon a man crying and he said, "My friend, what's wrong?" The man replied, "I'm blind, can you help me?" Jesus healed the man and he went on his way. Jesus continued along and came upon another man sitting and crying. "Good friend, what's wrong?" He answered, "I'm lame and can't walk, can you help me?" Jesus healed the man and they both went down the road. As Jesus continued on he came upon the third man crying. Jesus said, "Good friend, what's wrong?" He said, "I'm a minister." And Jesus sat down and wept with him.

Yes, there are hurts along the way but through it all it is the greatest life in the world--because it's the life that God gives and ultimately it is a life of Victory!

The life of the Christian is marked by Celebration because...

III. It is Holier than any other life.

1. Do you know what the basic idea of the biblical concept of holiness is? It means wholesome, healthy. Holiness means inward health that comes from letting Jesus by His Spirit come in and make our lives new and clean and healthy. It means a healthy outlook, healthy values, healthy emotions, healthy personalities, healthy thoughts and healthy actions.

2. There is so much in our world that is unholy and unwholesome. Why do you think Jesus is called the Great Physician? Because He alone can bring the remedy that is needed to a sick society. He alone can bring healing to broken lives. He alone can mend hearts and lives torn by sin. He alone can provide any of us with the ability to sing a song in our kind of world!

3. We need to celebrate the fact that, because of Christ we can be whole--Holy unto Him!

Celebration marks the life of the Christian because...

IV. It is more Hopeful than any other life.

1. The life that Jesus gives is a life that is able to see beyond the veil of death. It is able to yearn for the future because we know that God is already there. This life is able to Hope in a world that has lost it's hope. A world that is suffering from burn-out because it continues to look for answers in all the wrong places.

2. The Christian Life is Hopeful because Christ is our Hope and we live in Expectation of what He can do with us and through us!

3. People go to the grave every day in sorrow and grief and sadness because they have no hope. But the Christian can face suffering with confidence; crisis with strength; disappointment with trust; even death with the ability to see the joy that is beyond.

4. The Life that is in Christ is a life of Hope!

Conclusion: We began with the word of Celebration. Tony Compolo titles one of his books, The Kingdom of God is a Party. That's true God's calls us to a party. Christians have more real fun that any body in the world. It's fun that you don't have to be ashamed of. It's the kind of fun that goes deep into one's soul. Christians love to get together--to fellowship--to rejoice--and to Praise a Wonderful God who makes it possible for us to enjoy the abundant Life. And the best party is yet to come! It's called in Scripture the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. And Jesus says, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" In Christ we have our invitation. It's signed in Blood that was shed on Calvary. God is calling us to a party--Won't you come with me--I'm going to the Party!!

Celebrate the Christian Life

The Christian Life is a Celebration