What We Got for Christmas

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Explanation

Joy

An attitude of gladness and well-being.

A Christian’s joy is based on God (Jesus) and come from him.

Galatians 5:22 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Luke 2:10 NKJV

10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

Psalm 105:43 NIV

43 He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy;

Isaiah 51:11 NIV

11 Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Matthew 5:12 NKJV

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Philippians 1:25 NKJV

25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,

Philippians 3:1 NKJV

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

2 Corinthians 6:10 NKJV

10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Hope

Luke 2:11 NKJV

11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Not optimism which is believing things will work out

Israil had been hoping for a messiah.

Biblical hope is in a person.

Biblical hope avoids this subjectivity by being founded on something that provides a sufficient basis for confidence in its fulfillment: God and His redemptive acts as they culminate in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

A choice to wait for God to bring about our blessed future.

Psalm 33:22 NKJV

22 Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.

Hosea 2:15 NKJV

15 I will give her her vineyards from there, And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; She shall sing there, As in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.

1 Peter 1:3 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Titus 2:13 NKJV

13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Peace

The absence of war

In the Bible also but it also means something better - complete or whole in Hebrew (Shalom)

1 Kings 9:25 NKJV

25 Now three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he had built for the Lord, and he burned incense with them on the altar that was before the Lord. So he finished the temple.

Proverbs 16:7 NKJV

7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Exodus 22:4 NKJV

4 If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double.

John 14:27 NKJV

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Romans 5:1 NKJV

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 2:14–15 NKJV

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

We aren’t just given peace but called to make peace

Colossians 1:19–20 NKJV

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Colossians 2:10 NKJV

10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

True peace isn’t just the absence of conflict but means to restore broken things to wholeness

Love

Love your mom and you can love pizza in English

If you mean exactly the same thing Mom’s gonna be hurt

Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV

5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Mark 12:31 NKJV

31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

your Love for God is expressed by your love for people

Love is an action a choice to seek the well-being of others

Do unto others

Love your enemies

We can’t do this stuff humanly

1 John 4:9–11 NLT

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.

John 3:16 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Application

Here’s the main thing I want you to leave here today:

Jesus is our gift!

AND He is the source of our joy, hope, peace and love.

So if you want to enjoy these gifts you have to learn to go deeper with him, get closer to him, walk with him.

WE do that by following the Holy Spirit, by spending time with him. How can I experience Loree’s love if I don’t spend time with her. Or she me? I mean I’ve got all this love for her just sitting here waiting for her to have.

On Monday, Gallup Poll reported that the only group of Americans whose state of mental health remained the same despite the pandemic were those who attend church frequently.

Why? because:

2020 is a year of fear, despair, conflict and hate but Jesus is the joy, hope, peace and love of His people.

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