Boxing Day

A Day of Giving

Boxing Day. This Holiday is not celebrated in the USA But is in all the commonwealth countries around the world.

It is also called St Stephens Feast.

The first Martyr of the Christian Church. in modern day terms we could call it Deacons Sunday. As Stephen was one of the first deacons as it shows in Acts Chapter 6 .

We could also call this sermon “the day after.”

We rarely think of the day after.

The disciples did when Christ was Crucified and they felt lost. In fact it didn’t take long for them to just go back fishing.

In Numbers 33:3 the Hebrews boldly started from Rameses out on the 15 day of t he first month - the day after passover, in sight of all the Egyptians.

It is a Day of Action.

It is a day to boldly live out your faith. We speak of Love, Joy,Peace,Hope etc during Christmas. We seem to give and receive but the test of your giving comes the next day. The excitement has worn off, you are stuffed with food. You are surrounded by gifts and family. ( at least some are) It is like Monday after a weekend. Reality sets in and you get back to life.

Lets look at Stephen for a moment.

Stephen is the first named member of the Hellenists in Acts 6:1 who brought cultural diversity to the Church.He was a Greek speaking Jew. This is significant because it was the women from this group of people who were not being treated like the others. We would call it discrimination.

What did the church do - it elevated to leadership those that were being discriminated to , so they could have a voice.

He was called to serve tables and became a powerful evangelist.

He is called the Man with an Angel face. The radiance of God’s glory came upon him , just as it did Moses. WOW

He was stoned to death for elevating the name of Jesus above the temple and the Law. He made Jesus the center point of worship and people didn’t like it. Acts 7:49-51

Acts 7:49–51 ESV

“ ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’ “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

Saul of Tarsus witnessed the unsanctioned stoning and saw with his own eyes, Gods Love poured out.

I don’t know for sure but this was a sermon that started ta chain of events that turns Saul into Paul.

Scripture says Stephen was full of Grace and Power. He performed signs and wonders before the people. He was also full of the Spirit and full of Wisdom. It also says he was a man full of faith.

He was bold and at his death he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He also did not want to hold them is contempt and said Lord, do not hold this against them.

One said the stones broke his head but not his heart.

He received the Martyrs Crown

WOW

Philippians 2:3–11 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Its a Day of Humility

The absence of pride and arrogance.

It is not seeking your glory but the glory of God alone.

When we seek His glory then we turn into a great blessing to others.

It is a virtue to value others more than yourself.

THIS IS HARD TO DO. - I am working on this every day.

it is an act of surrender. it is also an understanding of whom we belong and who we serve.

In the first chapter of Philippians and the first six verses. Paul makes it clear.

Its a Changed Attitude

James 4:1–10 ESV

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

it is a turn from My will to Thy will

When you are changed inwardly it will effect all your outward actions

Those that are outward but no inward are called actors.

That is why scripture says

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

What is your day after going to look like?

CONCLUSION:

This is the last Sunday in 2021 - Someone say Thank You Jesus.

Give Your Life

Give your Talents

Give your Treasures

Give your Time