Christmas the Season of Hope

CHRISTMAS THE SEASON OF HOPE

Isaiah 9:2 (NIV) ² The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Christmas is one of the most hopeful times of the year. It is a season of hope.

• We have presents being given and received
• We have happy music playing
• We have some people actually being happier – with the exception of drives and shoppers
• We have decorations – that started in August
• We have SALES!
• We have trees and…
• We have lights…on the tree(s), on the house, in the yard, on buildings, on Mack Trucks, around the office…just about anywhere you can think!

The lights have their greatest effect in the darkness. Driving around at night looking at the lights brings a great sense of warmth and hope as we are reminded of the season upon us.

Unfortunately, even with all the lights around us at Christmas time, many people are still walking in the darkness. They are living lives of hopelessness because they have never discovered the Life that brings light into their dark lives.

Isaiah 9 takes a look at the prophecy of the birth of Jesus Christ and the hope he would bring to the earth when he came.

Isaiah 9:2; 6-7 (NIV) ² The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned… ⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

SETTING:

The Northern Kingdom of Israel had been attacked and destroyed by the Assyrian Army. Ephraim never recovered and later became known as Samaria. It was a gloomy time for Israel.

And in the middle of that gloom and darkness, a word of hope came from the Lord through the prophet Isaiah to the oppressed people – a light was coming to remove the darkness of captivity!

Verse 6 – For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given. This child was to be the “light” who was going to be a rescuer for the people.

This is Good News!

Look how the child was described – he was everything the people needed and wanted.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV) ⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

• Government on His shoulders – He will rule and govern as one from the lineage of King David. God promised David that there would always be a ruler on the throne from his household – Jesus fulfills that promise!

He will be called…

• Wonderful Counselor – He will discharge his office with supernatural wisdom…much greater than Solomon who was the wisest of all the kings of Israel…with more elegance and justice than ever seen

• Mighty God – He will be a powerful warrior always winning every military adventure because of his precise execution of his plans

• Everlasting Father – “Father” means originator… he is the originator of eternity and he will be a father to his people throughout eternity with great care, compassion and discipline

• Prince of Peace – When he comes into power there will be peace among the nations of the world

Ever since those words were spoken, Israel has been looking for the Messiah – the wise warrior who would govern them, and lead them to victory in their battles, and establish peace all around them. They are still looking for him today.

What they missed, and I don’t want you to miss this, was that the Messiah did come. And in the middle of the night, in the deepest darkness, a little cry was heard and the light of the world came to be.

Later in his life Jesus said of himself:

John 8:12 (NIV) ¹² "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

The Apostle John also wrote of him:

John 1:4-5 (NIV) ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

The people that Isaiah wrote about were experiencing hopelessness because of the darkness of their captivity. They were defeated by an enemy who now ruled over them.

The reason the people were in captivity was because of the REAL ruler of their lives – the darkness of the captivity of sin. They had turned away from their God to follow after their own desires and lusts.

What they really needed was not a warrior, but a Savior.

And it’s the same today – the darkness of the captivity of sin has created hopelessness in the lives of people because they have turned their backs on God and followed after their own desires and lusts.

So here comes Christmas as a reminder again each and every year – a reminder of the hope we have through Christ.

He wants to be your…

• Wonderful Counselor – to give you a vibrant life filled with the wisdom you need for your everyday life

• Mighty God – to lead you into defeating sin and the devil who tries to take you captive

• Everlasting Father – to show you great care, compassion and discipline both now and for eternity

• Prince of Peace – but you will never experience peace until the Prince of Peace is in your life

Why is Christmas the season of hope?

• Not because of lights…
• Not because of presents…
• Not because of decorations…

Christmas is the season of hope because “Unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given!”

He came for you because he is what you need.

Make this Christmas the season of hope for your life by inviting the Prince of Peace into your heart to dispel the darkness of captivity created by your sin.

Here’s what you do:

• Realize you need the light of the world in your life

• Repent of the sin that has taken you captive

• Receive Jesus into your heart

• Resolve to live your life for him

Merry Christmas.

Fill 'er Up!

Today I began to reread a fresh copy of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life. This reading is not a substitute for my daily Bible reading, but an addition to my devotion time. I am going to do as the book instructs and read one chapter a day so I can think on the reading throughout the day.

I am at a point in my life where I need some good positive and encouraging words spoken into me. If you know me you know that I am an Encourager. I love building people up. But there comes a time when the Encourager needs encouragement. That time is here. I'm out of "encouraging gas" and need my "encouraging tank" refilled so I can go about continuing the tasks God has given to me.

All of us need to be refilled from time to time. We all need that time where we can relax, reflect, rethink, refocus, repent, regroup, renew... name your "re___"! So I say to God, "Fill 'er up!"

I was reminded today that everything starts with God. Not a book, pastor, leader, concept, program, etc. Everything starts with God! (Colossians 1:16) HE is where the focus must be. So I am at the right filling station. Rick says, "God is not just the starting point of your life, He's the source of it! (p. 20)

Are you needing that renewal that comes from God? Maybe you'll journey with me over these next 40 days and "dwell in the shelter of the Most High and rest in the shadow of the Almighty!" Ps. 91:1

Fill 'er up, LORD!

Timing

I just completed my first Leadership Summit at NorthStar Community Church where I serve as the Lead Pastor. It was some kind of awesome weekend with some of the finest folks in this area!

The Summit challenged us all in many ways and I believe we all came away with the desire to meet more often as leaders. I shared some goals for the Fall that will challenge us to make but they can be reached.

Then our guest speaker yesterday, Jimmy Blanton, came in with a message that was right on time for us! Actually the whole weekend was great timing for a 4-year-old Church. Click here to listen. The title is funny but has great significance!

Now my "spiritual senses" are on ALERT! God is about to do something and it will be on His time. His timing is what is so cool. Have you ever had His timing happen in your life and as you reflected on that moment you realized that the only way the incident could happen would be a "God Thing"?

Post a comment when God's timing was just right for you. I've had many and am expecting even more in the days and years to come.

Cussing Pastors

Ed Young knows exactly what to say when an important issue arises. This is a great word, not only for pastors, but also for all of us who are Christ followers. Click here to see Ed.

Snakes Anybody?

I have had an interesting journey with my yard since moving into our home over seven years ago. When I first moved in my back yard was covered with Wisteria vines up to 30 feet long. The interesting thing about Wisteria is that every so often it decides to run a tap root. Of course that doesn't count the other root system under the surface. But that's another story for a later post.

Because of my fruit trees - fig and apple - and my pecan tree I have seen raccoons, chipmunks, rabbits, deer, squirrels and a red fox, not to mention the many types of birds.

My next door neighbor once had an alligator snapping turtle that bit the fool out of his German Shepherd!

I caught him and gave him to a military friend from Louisiana who knew what to do with turtles. Each spring I generally see a green snake around some bushes and they are good to have around to eat insects.

However today I got a big surprise - I came across a baby rattle snake in my front yard, near the street and next to my neighbor's brick fence! And did he have an attitude! I scooped him up in a bucket and took a few pictures before sending him off for some enhanced interrogation! Sorry to say he didn't make it through the process. Of course when you find one snake this small you wonder where the mom and siblings are! Since that experience this morning I have been more cautious in picking up sticks in the yard!! It's interesting that the snake showed up in the wide-open environment. One minute he was no where to be seen and the next minute he was coiled up and ready to strike! We expect to see snakes in the dark woods or deep weeds but not much where there is no cover.

There could be a life lesson here: You don't have to be in the wrong environment for a snake to show up! The first time the devil is mentioned in the Bible he was called The Serpent. He tempted Eve and Adam in the wide-open. Of course, after God got through with that serpent, he didn't have a leg to stand on! (I know...old, bad joke...sorry)

The devil is stealth and crafty like a snake and he shows up when we least expect it. So put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) so you can stand against and withstand anything the devil throws at you, even in the wide-open.

Finding Real Change We Can Believe In

With all the hype and media frenzy out there over the "change" America's is supposed to believe in I wanted to bring some hope to the hopeless!

First, it is OK to be politically incorrect! Think about it for a moment... If I am politically correct, more than likely I will be biblically incorrect and that's not a place I want to be. How about you?

Second, no matter who "rules" a throne or sits behind the "big desk," GOD is still on HIS throne and nothing has taken Him by surprise!

Third, real "change" comes from the inside! It's a metamorphosis that is generated by a power great than ourselves. It begins by exchanging our Old lives for the New life that Jesus offers.

Real change does not come from a finite and limited plan, program or person. Real change comes from an infinite Person - Jesus Christ, the REAL Messiah. He's ready to give you a change you can believe in!

Think about it.

New Year

I absolutely love New Year's Day! There is just something about this particular day that gets most people to thinking. We regretfully think about the past and with great anticipation we think about the future.

Sure, today is no different than yesterday (Dec. 31) but there's just something about this day that puts great hope in all of us. Do you sense that on this day or is it just me?

The Bible teaches us: "Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to the things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19b HCSB)

"Something new" comes daily. With each morning we see a new day. With each day we see new opportunities. With each opportunity we see new progress!

Start each day with anticipation and remember: The past is past! Let's learn our lessons and move on toward our future. Life is better when you look through the windshield than through the rear-view mirror.