The Creator of Christmas

Introduction: Defining the Pain

We are full on into the Christmas season at this point. Presents are being purchased. People are getting excited about seeing their loved ones. Plans have all been made and times set for the Family get togethers.

It might even be time that some are focusing on the meaning of Christmas and bringing Christ back into the picture. “With all the brokenness it’s hard not to focus on the Christ of Christmas.”

Last week we learned about Christ before Christmas.

This week we see Jesus as the Creator of Christmas. He’s not just the reason for the season. He created all the seasons to start with.

Why would this be so important to understand. Because we are not celebrating a baby in a manger born 2000 years ago but the creator God that had the power to take on the form of a baby, resurrect from the dead, ascended back into heaven, and is just as active in our lives today.

We don’t need to story of the manger, but the Creator of the universe working in our lives. We don’t serve a man but the creator God.

So, who is the

Passage: Defining the Passage

Jesus is the God of Imagination

Colossians 1:15–16 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Col 1:

The expressed Image of God

Hebrews 1:1–3 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus has revealed the nature of God to the entire world.

Jesus has expressed God’s divine nature through creation

Romans 1:20 ESV

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Rom

The expression of God’s imagination

Imagination: the creative power of new thoughts and ideas.

Isaiah 14:24 ESV

24 The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,

Is 14:24

As God has “planned” (thought or imagined) so shall it be.

The imagination of God rests in you.

Jesus, the creator, has “plans” for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jesus, the creator, has the ability to make you into whatever he imagines you to be.

We must not limit what Jesus is doing in our lives by who we are now.

We are limited by our insecurities

We are limited by our surroundings or our upbringing.

We are limited by the vision of other speaking into our lives.

We must live in the imagination of what Jesus, the creator, wants to make us.

1 John 3:2 ESV

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

1 John 3:

By faith, we live in the imagination and plans that God has for our lives as he molds us into his image.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the God of Illumination

The lights of Christmas remind us the the true light of Jesus in us. And though they be small you put a string of them together and they will light of a room, a house, or even a city.

Colossians 1:17 ESV

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Now that we know Jesus is the creator we read little different. it was Jesus that spoke the light into the darkness.

Jesus, the creator God, took this void, lifeless, dark rock and transformed it into something that would reflect His image, glory, and light.

Jesus illuminates the darkness.

John 1:1–2 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

John 1:

John 1:3–5 KJV 1900

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:

Jesus illuminates the hearts of Mankind.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 ESV

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

There are forces at work to hide the light of Christ from the world.

These forces keep the world from seeing the light of the gospel and glory of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

“Jesus, the creator God, has the power to take your void, lifeless, and dark existence and transform it into something that will reflect His image, glory, and light.”

2 Cor 4:3-4

Jesus illuminates the world through us

2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 4:6

Matt 5:14-15

Matthew 5:14–15 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

Matthew 5:14 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

As Jesus molds us into his image, our light gets brighter and brighter in the world.

Jesus choses to shine in his glory in our hearts so that we can then shine to the world.

2 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

There are some here this morning that have been blinded by the forces of evil.

You have not experienced the light of Jesus shining in your heart.

You don’t know what it’s like for Jesus to whisper in your ear, “I’m doing a work in you and I will complete it.”

Today is the day of salvation for your soul and your life.

Don’t be blinded by the Devil any longer. Open the door of your heart and let the light come in.

Jesus will bring you out of the darkness into his marvelous light.

Conclusion: Defining the Process

Next Steps: Start and Stops

Stop thinking of yourself as a broken sinner. Start thinking of yourself as a masterpiece of God’s redemptive creation.

There are some here this mor

Quit making excuses for the change wants to make in your life.

Renew your mind with the ways of God and walk in them.

Stop saying Jesus can never use you. Start trusting that Jesus is changing you for his glory, purpose, and plans.

There are no damaged goods in the hands of the creator. Just vessels to be used for his glory.

Let him be the potter and you be the clay. Let him make you into whatever He desires and you will always please him.

Stop making decision based on your brokenness. Start making decision based on God’s redemptive work in you.

Let the trials of life work out the light of Jesus in you.

Walk by faith in what God has said and not what the world has told you.