The Joy of Transformation

Good News of Great Joy

When Jesus was born the bible tells us a group of shepherds were overwhelmed with an angelic announcement:

Luke 2:8–12 CSB

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”

The birt of Jesus is Good news that brings great joy

What is this Good news and how does it bring joy

Because of the birth of Christ we can have a past forgiven, purpose for the present, certainty for a future

The last few weeks we have been using Charles Dickens’ “a Christmas Carol” as a guide as we have moved toward this night.

Ebenezer Scrooge was confronted with 3 ghost that would reveal his life

Hew saws the pain of the past and how choices of the past made him who he was today - We saw we can have freedom from our past

He saw a present life life that was consumed with self and self interest while others suffered around him,like tiny Tim - we saw we can live with purpose and power today and every day by the Grace of Christ

He was faced with a future that was dark and hopeless - we saw through Christ we have every hope and promise of a future

The point of it all - transformation - Watch this VIDEO

I love that it is not a promise to do better, it is not a plan to change over time

It is immediate and complete - Scrooge is a new person

He has joy, is generous, reconciling with his nephew and others

This is Charles Dickens telling the Gospel without using the name Jesus but showing us it is more than a belief - it is a life style and life change.

Jesus came, was born, lived, died, and rose again to transform us not just to makes us nice and better for a few weeks each year.

Tonight I want to take a quick look at who I think is the biblical Scrooge

Luke 19

Let’s pray

Luke 19:1–4 CSB

He entered Jericho and was passing through. There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way.

Take a closer look

Zaccheus - tax collector over other tax collectors - wealth over people

Not a coincidence he could not see - i think the people hated him and he had no choice bu to run ahead - not just being wee little man

He wanted to see - was willing to put himself out there and be vulnerable to know the truth

Are you willing? Zaccheus was rewarded

Luke 19:5–6 CSB

When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.” So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully.

Jesus sees the person not the past

It was not the song some of us learned - Zaccheus you come down

Jesus saw his heart and that i was worth His time and attention

Notice Jesus was just passing through - but He sopped , he noticed, he acknowledged

Jesus changed everything

Luke 19:7–10 CSB

All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Inward transformation shown by outward change

It is not about being better or nicer for few weeks

It is about real change

It is not up to us who gets changed or what others are ding

It is our gift gift from Jesus - it should last past Dec 25th

The Joy of Transformation

The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God. - C.S. Lewis

This is the point.

This the Good news of Great Joy spoken of by the angels

You can wake up the day after Christmas and everything can be the same - or -

you can heed the warning or the past, present and future and allow Christ to do His work

The same Jesus Who turned water into wine can transform your home, your life, your family, and your future. He is still in the miracle-working business, and His business is the business of transformation. - Adrian Rogers

Merry Christmas

Let’s pray