The Christmas Spirit
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'Tips for Jesus' big spender unmasked? 2013
Scripture:
'Tips for Jesus' big spender unmasked? 2013
Reports say the generous benefactor behind the huge gratuities is a former PayPal executive.
By Madeline Stone, Business Insider
The New York Post is reporting that "Tips for Jesus," the mysterious person leaving thousands of dollars in tips at restaurants across the country, is Jack Selby, a venture capitalist and former vice president at PayPal.
According to The Post, Aruj Dhawan, a waiter at Bo's Kitchen, confirmed that Selby and another man and woman had visited the restaurant in New York's Chelsea neighborhood late on Saturday night and left a $1,000 tip on a $111 bill.
"As I was about to drop the check off, one of the men said they would 'make my night.' They called me over, gave me the check -- I was amazed," Dhawan told the Post. "They took a picture (with me) and literally, just like that, they walked out."
The mysterious tipper has previously taken credit for tips worth thousands of dollars at restaurants in Los Angeles; Ann Arbor, Mich.; and South Bend, Ind.
Sam Biddle of Valleywag reported last week that Selby was responsible for the extravagantly generous tips, though he didn't cite any specific sources.
It would make sense if it turns out Selby is behind the project. As one of the original PayPal executives, he's known to have made a good deal of money when the online payment company was sold to eBay in 2002. Selby hasn't officially revealed himself, though in November he took to Facebook to share a South Bend Tribune article about the "Tips for Jesus" Instagram account.
It is still unclear whether there are more people involved, though it seems likely, given the variety of locations where the tips have appeared.
Introduction: Don’t overlook the role of the Holy Spirit in the Christmas story. He was responsible for:
1. The CONCEPTION of Christ in the Virgin’s Womb (v. 35).
1. The CONCEPTION of Christ in the Virgin’s Womb (v. 35).
“28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”” (, NASB95) – “Rejoice, one endowed with grace.”
34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
34 “Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”” (, NASB95) – ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω
ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω
35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
“35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.” (, NASB95)
– What we have got to do is just wait for the overshadowing as Mary did. It comes to the waiting and expectant souls.
– What we have got to do is just wait for the overshadowing as Mary did. It comes to the waiting and expectant souls.
37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
37 ὅτι οὐκ ἀδυνατήσει παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ πᾶν ῥῆμα. 38 εἶπεν δὲ Μαριάμ· ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη κυρίου· γένοιτό μοι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου. καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἀπʼ αὐτῆς ὁ ἄγγελος.
37 ὅτι οὐκ ἀδυνατήσει παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ πᾶν ῥῆμα. 38 εἶπεν δὲ Μαριάμ· ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη κυρίου· γένοιτό μοι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου. καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἀπʼ αὐτῆς ὁ ἄγγελος.
38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
“38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” (, NASB95)
– A “handmaid” was the lowest kind of female servant, which shows how much Mary trusted God. She belonged totally to the Lord, body, soul (), and spirit (). What an example for us to follow.
– A “handmaid” was the lowest kind of female servant, which shows how much Mary trusted God. She belonged totally to the Lord, body, soul (), and spirit (). What an example for us to follow.
How would you have reacted if you were Mary? How do you react now when the Scriptures speak to your soul and tells you to do things that you don't understand like love your enemies, and forgive one another, or give your money as a first fruit rather than a leftover? Can you say “I am the Lord's servant let His word be done!?”
How would you have reacted if you were Mary? How do you react now when the Scriptures speak to your soul and tells you to do things that you don't understand like love your enemies, and forgive one another, or give your money as a first fruit rather than a leftover? Can you say “I am the Lord's servant let His word be done!?”
2. The PERCEPTION of Christ in the Eyes of Unbelievers.
2. The PERCEPTION of Christ in the Eyes of Unbelievers.
The people on the scene only understood the significance of what was happening as the Holy Spirit explained and revealed it to them.
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
,\
How do you perceive this child born in Bethlehem? Is He a prophet, a political non-conformist as most TV shows portray Him, just a nice man who got killed, or is He what the Bible says, the Son of God born of a virgin by means of the Holy Spirit?
NASB95) “25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.””
How do you perceive this child born in Bethlehem? Is He a prophet, a political non-conformist as most TV shows portray Him as, just a nice man who got killed, or is He what the Bible says, the Son of God born of a virgin by means of the Holy Spirit?
13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
, NASB95) “13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
NASB95) “13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
3. The RECEPTION of Christ in the Human Heart.
3. The RECEPTION of Christ in the Human Heart.
There were those ready to receive Christ. Zechariah’s family, for example. Every member of this family was said to be filled with the Holy Spirit:
Zechariah in
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
; Elizabeth in ; and John in .
Elizabeth in
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
; and John in .
and John in
15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.
.
Have you received Jesus this Christmas? Is there no room for Him in your celebration this year or is He the focus of the holiday for you? Receiving Christ means more than just saying a prayer, it means a new way of life, a spiritual life.
Have you received Jesus this Christmas? Is there no room for Him in your celebration this year or is He the focus of the holiday for you? Receiving Christ means more than just saying a prayer, it means a new way of life, a spiritual life.
There was an illiterate man who became a follower of Jesus through the work of the Salvation Army. He consistently went to the Salvation Army worship services. Then one day he came home dejected. His wife said, “What's the matter?”
He said, “I just noticed that all the people in the Salvation Army wear red sweaters, and I don't have a red sweater.”
She said, “I'll knit one.” So, she knitted him a red sweater.
The next Sunday after he went to the service, he still wasn't happy. His wife said, “what's wrong this time?”
He said, “I just noticed all their red sweaters have yellow writing. “
Neither one of them could read, but she said, “Don't worry about it. I'll embroider some writing on the sweater for you.”
She had no idea what the yellow writing on the red sweater of a Salvation Army man said. Do you know what it is? They have a yellow circle, and in it, the words blood and fire. That's their motto. Salvation Army flag with motto
The man's wife had no idea what the letters said, so she copied a sign from a store window opposite their home, she embroidered the words of that store sign onto his red sweater.
When he came back the next Sunday, she said, “Did they like your sweater?”
“They loved my sweater. Some of them said they liked my sweater better than their sweaters.”
What neither of them knew was that the sign on the store window she had copied read, “This Business Under New Management.”
Are you under new management?
4. The PRESENCE of Christ our hearts.
4. The PRESENCE of Christ our hearts.
A. The Presence Explained
A. The Presence Explained
5 “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. 12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
“5 “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. 12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.” (, NASB95)
B. The Presence Experienced
B. The Presence Experienced
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
An old German soldier of WWI told about how on one cold, moonlit Christmas Eve in 1914, he huddled in the bottom of a trench. In those days, battles were fought in hand to hand trench warfare. Soldiers lived, fought, and died in trenches full of mud and blood and pests. In this trench dug in the fields of France he huddled. The annual Christmas truce had begun and the fighting had stopped. Suddenly, from the trenches, a loud, sweet tenor voice began to sing “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” and the sound floated up into the clear, moonlit air.
“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (, NASB95)
An old German soldier of WWI told about how on one cold, moonlit Christmas Eve in 1914, he huddled in the bottom of a trench. In those days, battles were fought in hand to hand trench warfare. Soldiers lived, fought, and died in trenches full of mud and blood and pests. In this trench dug in the fields of France he huddled. The annual Christmas truce had begun and the fighting had stopped. Suddenly, from the trenches, a loud, sweet tenor voice began to sing “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” and the sound floated up into the clear, moonlit air.
Then he said something surprising happened from the German trenches, a rich baritone voice tuned in, singing the same song in his native language. For a few moments, everybody in both trenches concentrated on the sound of these two invisible singers and the beautiful music and the harmony. The British soldier and the German soldier sang praise to the Lord who was their shepherd. The singing stopped, and the sound slowly died away.
“We huddled in the bottom of our trenches and tried to keep warm until Christmas Day Dawned,” he said. “Early on Christmas morning, some of the British soldiers climbed out of their trenches into the no man's land, carrying a soccer ball.” These English soldiers started kicking around a football, in a pickup game in no man's land, between the trenches.
Then the old man said, “Some of the German soldiers climbed out, and England played Germany at soccer in no man's land on Christmas Day in the middle of the battlefield in France in the First World War.”
This is what the world would call, “having the Christmas spirit” and it is heart warming and nice but it doesn't compare to the true Christmas Spirit because the next morning, the carnage began again, with machine guns and bayonet fighting. Everything was back to normal. The worlds version of “the Christmas spirit” can produce a truce but not peace. The Holy Spirit produces everlasting peace with God and with each other.
Are you experiencing the abiding presence of Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit? Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Do you love His people and have a desire to be with them not just at precious seasons like this one? Does your heart yearn for people to know God as Jesus did when He said “Jerusalem, Jerusalem how I have longed to gather you together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings but you would not?”
Conclusion: The same Holy Spirit who conceived the Christ, gave perception to sinners, helped them receive the Christ properly is pleading with you. What better time than Christmas to come to Christ by faith? Will you do that today?
If you have done that already, may the Christmas Spirit or Better yet, the Holy Spirit of Christmas” be revived in your heart today and forevermore!
Morgan, R. J. (2002). Nelson's annual preacher's sourcebook : 2003 edition (electronic ed.) (378). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.