The Christmas Spirit

1 John 4:1-6 (NIV)

1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

I. Introduction:

II. The Spirit of Christmas Bears Witness To The Incarnation of Christ: Christ In The Flesh

a. Truth Inspected: The Test

b. Truth Accepted: The Requirement

c. Truth Rejected: The Opposition

III. The Spirit of Christmas Bears Witness To The Indwelling of Christ: Christ In The Believer

a. The Greater Power

b. The Worldly Message

c. The Apostolic Witness

IV. Conclusion: