Just drop the blanket!!

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning, Southpointe!! It is so nice to see you this morning!

Well, it is that time of year again, the most favorite time of the year!

Christmas at Southpointe!!

I love Christmas, it is a big birthday party for Jesus and what great celebration we are having around here at Southpointe.

Now if you know me any at all on some type of personal level, than you will know this: I love Charlie Brown and I really love Charlie Brown Christmas.

You know this is our old fashion Christmas series and nothing could be sweeter than to talk about Charlie Brown Christmas.

The Character’s list was Charlie Brown, snoopy, Sally, Linus, dirty guy. etc.

Did you know that A Charlie Brown Christmas has been coming on for around 55 years now on national prime time television.

In a world where the latest greatest technology is outdated in a matter of months, and social media trends come and go in a matter of days, 50 plus years of anything becomes quite meaningful.

In a world where the latest greatest technology is outdated in a matter of months, and social media trends come and go in a matter of days, 50 years of anything becomes quite meaningful.

I am a fan of old things and I am a bigger fan of all things dealing with Christmas, and so when these two are combined I am hooked, and the Charlie Brown Christmas special falls right in the middle of that category.

So since we are doing the old fashion Christmas, I was thinking this fit really good.

I have watch this show since I was a kid and yes they had television back in those days. (black and white, and three channels)

Charlie Brown is best known for his uniquely striped shirt, and Linus is most associated with his ever-present security blanket.

Throughout the story of Peanuts, Lucy, Snoopy, Sally and others all work to no avail to separate Linus from his blanket.

And even though his security blanket remains a major source of ridicule for Linus, he simply refuses to give it up.

(Can you show a video some of the other shows, Great Pumpkin, thanksgiving, where Linus is getting ridicule about his blanket)

But in a climactic scene when Linus shares "what Christmas is all about," he drops his security blanket, and I am convinced that this is intentional.

If you will notice: Linus drops it: when he utters the words, "fear not"!

(show the clip of Linus quoting Luke 2:8-14)

Right in the middle of speaking, Linus drops the blanket.

Right in the middle of speaking, Linus drops the blanket.

Looking at it now, it is pretty clear what Charles Schultz was saying, and it's so simple it's brilliant.

In that climactic scene when Linus shares "what Christmas is all about," he drops his security blanket, and I am now convinced that this is intentional. Most telling is the specific moment he drops it: when he utters the words, "fear not" (at :39 seconds).

Looking at it now, it is pretty clear what Charles Schultz was saying, and it's so simple it's brilliant.

The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears.

The birth of Jesus frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves.

The birth of Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to trust and cling to Him instead.

Our world today is a very scary place, and most of us find ourselves grasping to something temporal for security, whatever that thing may be.

As we headed into 2020, this is a world in which it is very difficult for us to "fear not."

But in the midst of fear and insecurity, this simple cartoon image from 1965 continues to live on as an inspiration for us to seek true peace and true security in the one place it has always been and can always still be found.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Linus dropping his blanket and this was a beautiful moment that has been hidden in plain sight for 50 plus years in A Charlie Brown Christmas.

a beautiful moment that has been hidden in plain sight for 50 years in A Charlie Brown Christmas.

And that gives us encouragement and a reminder of:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

But let me also remind you that when Linus was walking off the stage he pick up that security blanket.

Why would Linus pick that old security back up after so boldly proclaiming an end to fear? Why does he leave the stage with that security blanket still in his hand?

But then we walk out of the safe, security place and into the world and fear will rise it ugly head.

Why would Linus pick that old security back up after so boldly proclaiming an end to fear? Why does he leave the stage with that security blanket still in his hand?

We first must realize that we all carry that same blanket.

Just like Linus, we may stand tall in a moment of faith and conviction, a moment when Scripture hidden in our heart comes to life, and all else is thrown aside as we experience and proclaim the true freedom and security that only Jesus can give.

But at some point, out of habit, we reach down and pick that thing right back up. Faith is powerful, but it is also delicate.

Linus clearly knows the truth, and clearly proclaims the truth. The knowledge is there and the wisdom is there and the passion is there.

So why does he pick it back up?

I think the answer is strikingly clear. It is because we all do the same thing.

We know. We feel. We proclaim.

Yet we gaze in the mirror one morning to find that tattered old blanket draped over our shoulder yet again. And we realize that we have become so used to it being there that we hardly even noticed it.

Like many of us today, we get encouraged, we hear the Word of God, or read the Word, or the Holy Spirit drop something down in our souls.

But then we walk out of the safe, security place and into the world and fear will rise it ugly head

Could you imagine how Mary must have been feeling?

In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,

to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.

Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! [Blessed are you among women.]"

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

"Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God!

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name Him Jesus.

He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David.

And He will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will never end!"

Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin."

Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God.

What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.

For nothing is impossible with God. "

Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her.

Mary showed how a believer reacts to the unexpected. Life’s unexpected curves do not have to be one that bring fear into our lives.

Life’s unexpected curves do not have to be catastrophic to the Christian.

How do you approach life when it turns out different than what you expected?

P.Q.: How do you approach life when it turns out different than what you expected?

Let’s look at three approaches that Mary used when her life took an unexpected turn:

1. Mary approached her unexpected turn with favor.

The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.

Mary was given favor which is grace. By no work, merit, act, on Mary’s part.

a. By no work, merit, act, on Mary’s part.

God gave Mary grace as a gift (Jesus, the whole treasure of God’s grace, was being bore in Mary’s womb.)

Before we can approach life’s unexpected turns, we must be highly favored! God’s grace are fear will rule in our lives.

Highly favored (Kecharitomene is mentioned only 2 x’s in the whole N.T.)

In ,

So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son.

The same favor, grace that God showed Mary is the same favor, grace He has freely given us.

b. The same favor, grace that God showed Mary is the same favor, grace He has freely given us.

You’ve got to be saved by grace to approach life’s unexpected turns.

(Mary found her grace in God....that’s where you’ve going to find your grace, too!).

2. Mary approached her unexpected turn with faith.

Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin."

Mary knew what would happen, but she did not know how it would happen (the question was actually an expression of faith.

The promise she faithfully understood, the performance she did not understand.

Mary never doubted that God could do what God said He would do-He is FAITHFUL!!

* v. 18 (18) Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

* Mary never doubted that God could do what God said He would do-FAITHFUL!!

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

I don’t know when or how He’s going to do it...I do believe He will!

3. Mary approached her unexpected turn without fear.

b. I don’t know when or how He’s going to do it...I do believe He will! Why? (v. 35) (35) The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

T.S. This next point determines whether we will successfully negotiate life’s unexpected turns.

3. Mary approached her unexpected turn with......flexibility (v. 38).

Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her.

Mary was not married, but she was pregnant (not a good thing). But Mary doesn’t complain or let fear overcome her.

A. Mary was not married, but she was pregnant (not a good thing).

a. She doesn’t complain or cringe at the shame a premarital pregnancy could bring her.

When life turn unexpectedly, isn’t our first move to complain, criticize, and become fearful.

b. God said, "Mary, this is what I’m going to do...."

* Big wedding, bachelorette party, booking a band....no more!

*v. 38-FLEXIBILITY

B. When life turn unexpectedly, isn’t our first move to complain, criticize, and cringe (not the approach that Mary showed).

The reason Mary could handle this unexpected turn in her life is who she is serving-the Lord!

b. The reason Mary could handle this unexpected turn in her life is who she is serving-the Lord!

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Now back to Charlie Brown Christmas and Linus.

That is not where this blanket story ends with Linus just pick the blanket up.

After the epic, blanket-dropping recitation of Scripture given by Linus in response to Charlie Brown's quest for meaning, he picks the blanket back up.

Isn't that anti-climactic?

Why would Linus pick that old security back up after so boldly proclaiming an end to fear? Why does he leave the stage with that security blanket still in his hand?

Just like Linus, we may stand tall in a moment of faith and conviction, a moment when Scripture hidden in our heart comes to life, and all else is flung aside as we experience and proclaim the true freedom and security that only Jesus can give.

But at some point, out of habit, we reach down and pick that thing right back up. Faith, while powerful, is also delicate.

Linus clearly knows the truth, and clearly proclaims the truth. The knowledge is there and the wisdom is there and the passion is there. So why does he pick it back up?

I think the answer is strikingly clear. It is because we all do the same thing.

We know. We feel. We proclaim.

Yet we gaze in the mirror one morning to find that tattered old blanket draped over our shoulder yet again. And we realize that we have become so used to it being there that we hardly even noticed it.

But that is not where this blanket story ends.

The show ends with the Peanuts gang not just singing, but clearly and unquestionably singing in worship.

Even the musical style at this point is different from anything else heard previously.

The obvious song choice here could have been "O Christmas Tree," the notes of which have already been playing softly in the background.

But the focus is no longer the tree. The focus has become bigger than the tree. The focus is Jesus.

show the clip of them singing around the tree and Linus put his blanket around the tree.

Look Linus get rid of that blanket yet again, and lays it down for good at the base of that beautiful Christmas tree.

But before any of this happens, Linus parts with that blanket yet again, and lays it down for good at the base of that beautiful Christmas tree, just as we should strive to not just lay our blanket down just anywhere, but leave it forever behind us at the foot of that cross, for our own good and the good of others.

We too should strive to not just lay our blanket down just anywhere, but leave it forever behind us at the foot of that cross, for our own good and the good of others.

Linus and friends have moved from speaking truth and hearing truth into a deeper place of worship, where they finally respond to that truth.

Remember those shepherds who were instructed to "fear not" years ago.

It is here at the end of the show that Linus lays that blanket down yet again, and this time? He doesn't look back.