You may now put up your christmas lights
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I like Holidays. I enjoy most of the major ones. And I love celebrating Christmas…at the appropriate time. Meaning I believe the christmas lights, the christmas music, the christmas decorations have to wait until after Thanksgiving. Sorry to be a Skruge, I just hate when i see Thanksgiving get ignored.
Reason being,
You can’t beat a good thanksgiving meal.
more importantly its a reminder to reflect and be thankful and grateful for the blessings in your life.
Often even if we aren’t feeling grateful, when we have the opportunity to be with family or friends, we suddenly discover the reasons for thanksgiving, or a joy in our hearts we had buried.
I probably need to get over my issues with the early Christmas lights, though, Christmas of course is a great season to be thankful also! It is a reminder to each of what is important. Its not the christmas trees, wreaths, the lights, reindeer, or santa blowups in peoples yards. Its a reminder for us that Jesus had born himself into a sinful world, leaving Heaven in order to do so. He became like you and I. He came to a suffering existence, while leaving behind paradise. And how easy it is to lose sight of this.
How do we lose sight?
-during the stress of christmas shopping
-the stress of travel and family get togethers
-the plan making
-the festivities themselves.
And yet during the Christmas season, and its holiday cousin Easter, Pew research tells us that church attendance soars. In fact google searches for local Christian churches soars during these times as well. Coincidentally, worship services following thanksgiving and also during the summer months are some of the lowest.
Its as if when the lights and decorations go up, the people see them and they come in droves.
Is that how it is. Are the christmas lights and Easter sunrise programs serving as a lighthouse to the people walking in darkness?
What if we left our lights up year round? Would that keep people’s attention?
Today we are going to examine scripture and see if we can identify how we can let our lights shine for Christ year round, and not just on the holidays.
Before we go further, lets take a moment to pray.
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“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
When I was in academy, I remember I was walked into vespers expecting to go and sit with one of my best friends, but I didn’t see him anywhere. So I went in and sat with some other friends, and waited for things to start. Low and behold when I looked on the stage, I saw my friend up front with a guitar in hand and he was up there about to lead us in singing.
I was a little speechless because this was literally my best friend and I had no idea the guy could sing! Or that He had any interest in leading worship.
One clue should have tipped me off when I saw him because the girl he had a crush on was also up there. Still he displayed he had a real talent. We’d been best friends for close to a decade at this point and I had had no idea of his talents. Because he had kept them hidden.
If we are going to discuss how to shine our lights for Jesus year round. We need to discover what those lights are.
I have 3 suggestions.
The first lights to shine is our God given gifts and talents.
Is there anyone here who believes they are untalented? Meaning you feel you don’t possess in worthwhile abilities?
Maybe you don’t consider yourself special because your not famous, or a world class actor, or athlete. Or for the younger generation here, maybe you think your not special like your social media influencer friends.
Sometimes we wish we would have the same or similar gifts and be more than just “ordinary” people. But we have also received talents and gifts. Although they may not appear to be important, these gifts may sometimes be more crucial than the spectacular ones.
Hey listen it happens to pastors to. Sometimes I wish I was a better communicator. I can listen to other preachers, and think…why can’t I do that? I’ll come back to that shortly.
Something we should all understand is, all gifts and talents are entrusted to us by God. He has given us time, material posessions, and our bodies, but also our talents and gifts.
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Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
The thing is, they are not our own but should be used according to the principals of being a good steward. Sometimes Pastor Don and I will talk about being good stewards in our financial lives. It works the same with our gifts and talents.
In the Bible there are two kinds of gifts given to us that are distinguished, Natural gifts and Spiritual gifts, both can and are to be used for the Lord.
Natural gifts:
People have received natural gifts. They possess these gifts whether they are believers or unbelievers. The Bible mentions as examples, craftsmen, musicians, and poets. (Acts 17:28)
Obviously there is so many more than that. Some are naturally good with their hands. Some have skill for quick wit and speaking. Some excel at academia. Some have a talent and gift in leadership.
What good is a natural gift, if not applied.R
Are there any parents here wishing for your children to use their natural gifts more, and for the Lord!
Spiritual gift
There are also spiritual gifts.
Gifts given by the Holy Spirit
The New Testament contains 3 major lists of spiritual gifts:
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To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
These verses contain the most comprehensive list, mentioning many spiritual gifts, such as wisdom, prophecy and even speaking in tongues and healing and miracles. Obviously we don’t all possess these gifts. But I would also suggest the same God who empowered the apostles is capable of empowering you to do things beyond human power and will.
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Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Paul is writing, regardless of the amazingness of the gift, the way in which we share our given gifts is just as important. This is how they become a torch of light to be seen as something Godly rather than simply promoting self.
We can’t all have the profession pastors or teachers---or doctors, lawyers, or first responders. Yet God desires all of you! Whatever you are! change slide
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
These lists are not exhaustive by any means. Some of these spiritual gifts seem more spectacular (healing and miracle working, or prophesying etc.) than others like wisdom, or teaching, or service, or showing discernment. Some look similar to natural gifts while others are clearly supernatural. Yet all come from God. Each and every gift is vitally important to be used.
I was once watching a medical drama tv show. The premise of the episode is a patient comes to the hospital suffering from a condition that could not be diagnosed. The patient was a middle aged culinary student, but after the doctors got to know her more, they discovered she had previously been a world renown medical researcher who had had actually made the closest thing to a break through in curing cancer in decades. When asked why she no longer was actively practicing her research. She said she simply didn’t want to anymore and had lost the passion. The doctors pleaded with her once they were able to cure her to go back to her research, but she refused.
Let me ask you a question? If you have a natural gift or a spiritual gift, is it our responsibility to share that unique gift to the world?
What do you think? change slide
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
Part of shining our lights for God is identifying our natural gifts and developing them and then being willing to use our spiritual gifts.
Last time I spoke, I challenged to you to go home and do some self-examination. Today I am challenging you to do the same. I’d like you when you go home today, ask yourself what gifts and talents are going unused in kingdom growth, going unused in blessing others, going unused in serving the church?
Some of you are being asked to serve as elder, or deacon, or deaconness or Sabbath school teacher? Is God calling you to something maybe you have the skillset for but the desire is not there.
I’ll just say this, run from God’s call all you want…just remember God is not above sending a whale out to swallow you ;).
In the world we are living in, another light we can shine more than just simply the holiday season is, coincidentally is also a spiritual gift, faith.
In times like these, this is the light that our world needs to see. It needs to see the fire of faith in our eyes, unwavering faith.
I remember a few years back visiting a woman who, for as long as I had known her, was in very poor health.
One Sabbath in between Sabbath school and church she says to me, Pastor, the Bible tells me the Lord won’t give me more than I can handle, well I think He thinks to highly of me, because I just can’t take much more of this. She had chronic pain and physical issues to many to list.
I was quick to remind her, the Bible doesn’t say we wont receive more than we can handle. She disputed with me for a moment.
Here is the verse people have often suggested here: change slide
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
The passage is about our ability to flee idolatry with God’s help and that God will not allow our us to be tempted beyond his infinite means to help us endure or escape. He’s not asking us to overcome on our own.
Recently I stumbled upon a shared post from another former member of mine. This is the woman I’ve talked previously about. She and her family were in a car accident 2 1/2 years ago where her husband and 2 girls were tragically killed and she and her oldest child son lived. I can’t even describe the grief, and anger, she has had to endure. But she and her son have showed almost a superhuman ability to shine their faith, even in the midst of their grief. She shared something on facebook I wanted to read to you.
"God won't give you more than you can handle..."
Odd, I can't seem to find that verse.
I'm guessing Job would take exception to that cliché.
So would Joseph.
Paul did.
"We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself..." II Corinthians 1:8
Why would God allow him to experience hurt more than he could handle? Read on. "...so that we might not rely on ourselves but on God." II Corinthians 1:9 change slide
Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
Truth? Cancer is more than you can handle.
So is infidelity.
So is caregiving.
So is rejection.
So is death
and loss
and grief
and prodigal children
and 101 other life struggles.
God doesn't expect YOU to handle it.
He expects you to hand it over to HIM.
He doesn't want you relying on your strength, but on His.
If we keep walking around thinking
"God won't give me more than I can handle,"
we're setting ourselves up for
heavenly disappointment.
Good news? He beckons for your burdens,
"Cast your cares upon Me..." I Peter 5:7
You will never know relief until you do.
For this hard place, I have Jesus!
He will not give you more than HE can handle!
Folks this is why we share testimonies. Its not about self glorification. Its about glorifying God for what he has done in you. Your light you give off is one that is refined by fire.
Now let me be clear. I’m not suggesting when you go through something painful that I want you to feel shame when your faith has wavered. I want you to feel the amazement when you realize God’s faith in you even in the dark moments has never wavered even for a second for you. God’s faithfulness is unbreakable.
So far we have identified 2 year round lights we can share to everyone.
Our use of our unique natural and spiritual gifts
Our faith in the midst of uncertainty and challenge.
Love.
Love
It may seem like an obvious one, but I actually think love can be one of the most overlooked lights we can display. And it starts with each of us on the inside, when no one else is looking. What I mean to say is having a loving heart that shines begins when we are alone.
Its easy to be loving to others who are loving. It is not easy to be loving to those who are rude or mean spirited.
I’ve grown up in the Seventh-day Adventist church. For my entire life I have been told our message is special, set a part from the messages. But to so many learning about our faith, they do not see a distinguishing light amongst our people that can’t be found elsewhere.
Meggan and I just got back yesterday from Alabama for Thanksgiving. We had to leave early because well, I was on to preach today, so we missed out on my Nanna’s staple meal, Greek Spaghetti. She’s not greek, and I’m not sure how greek the spaghetti is. But its become a family tradition. Many have tried to replicate her recipe....but each time we are missing something (likely an unhealthy ingredient, like more butter than what is called for). But the fact remains, the Greek Spaghetti queen is and will always be my Nanna.
What is the missing ingredient to the uniqueness of our message? I believe it is as simple as something very healthy. Love. Is our message shining and radiating the light of God’s great love for you and me?
Jesus once said: change slide
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus is saying by this light, people will know you and I are His disciples.
There is a lot of unique doctrines to the Adventist faith. Sanctuary, Sabbath keeping, Spirit of Prophecy, etc… These are beautiful lights for us to shine. However they don’t shine; they don’t twinkle; when we manage to share these messages where God’s great love and his expectation of our love to Him and to each other does not shine out. In a world deprived of true love and filled with counterfeit love. Please understand being loving is a light that should never be dimmed.
If we understand everything about what God wants us to know, except for love…I am unconvinced we have learned anything at all. It is about time we let that light shine.
Conclusion:
Last week in Lower Room Sabbath school we talked about the urgency of our message getting out.
It was pointed out, “well we’ve been preaching for many years Jesus is coming again soon, yet he hasn’t come yet.” So if there is all this time that has passed and could pass, why should I feel called to be urgent about his coming. Why should it matter when we start putting our lights up?
The Bible tells us that Noah preached for 120 years that a rain was coming that would cause a flood. In that time a boat was constructed. I can’r imagine there weren’t moments of discouragement from the peoples disbelief and even mocking that had ensued. Yet Noah soldiered.
You see Noah was not preaching for himself, he was preaching to save the people around him.
You and I get this one life to shine our lights. Jesus may come tomorrow, years or decades from now (By the trends of this world) It sure seems like its getting sooner and sooner. However regardless our urgency must remain high.
Maybe Noah was thinking, for everyday the rain does not come, is another day he can share about it coming and also to prepare the big ark.
Maybe for everyday Jesus hasn’t come is another day we can share the good news of his coming to someone new, and also prepare our hearts. How do we share?
Well for starters shine your Christmas lights year round…I’m sure some of you Christmas season lovers would enjoy that. What I mean though is, share your natural and spiritual gifts, display your faith, practice being loving even to the hardest person to love in your life.
These lights shine far brighter than you know. change slide
As we enter this Christmas season, don’t let your enthusiasm for the saviour be limited to just this season. Let it extend far beyond. And just in case you weren’t aware, You may now put up your Christmas lights!