I love Christmas! I love the lights, the songs, the smell of fresh cookies and candies in the cool air. I especially love the glow in a child’s eyes as you begin to talk about opening gifts on Christmas morn. But greater than all these, I love the message of Christmas and I want to share that message with all who will listen!
When you read about the first Christmas in Luke chapter 2, have you ever thought about the joy in which the Angels proclaimed to those unsuspecting shepherds? The Scriptures say that with great joy they proclaimed, “Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth, Peace, Goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14)
This is a most interesting passage, for you see, angels are not sinful creatures who need redemption. They were created holy and in the presence of God. Friend, why then were they so excited? Oh, how wonderful, they were not excited for themselves, they were excited for us! Our sins have separated us from God. It is humans who need redemption, for we are sinful creatures. And the angels proclaimed with great joy that the Savior had been born to save sinners from their sins! Now, if the angels could get that excited the night our Lord came to this earth, then my friend, you and I ought to be ecstatic with excitement to go share our Faith this Christmas!
How can we share the Joy of Christmas?
Psalm 105: 1-5 tells us how to share the joy this Christmas!
1. Be Joyful at Christmas! Vs. 1, 3
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name!...Glory in His Holy Name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!”
To share the joy, we must be joyful. The old Christmas Carol, Joy to the World, should be our theme song.
Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Why should we be joyful? The Psalmist says we should be joyful because of what God has done!
2. Tell People what God has done! Vs. 1,2, 5
“make known His deeds…Talk of all His wondrous works…Remember His marvelous works which He has done…”
Everyone loves to be bragged on. Enter a room where a mother is telling her friends about some funny or cute thing their child said or did and just watch the faces of those listening. Something amazing happens.
Friends faces light up as they hear the stories, they start imagining how the events unrolled. Watch the reaction of men when a father is telling them about their child’s accomplishments. The joy becomes contagious!
The same is true when the followers of Jesus start bragging on Him. The joy becomes contagious. And believe me, Jesus has earned some bragging rights.
The Apostle Paul summed it up well when writing to young Timothy.
“God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16 NKJV)
C.S Lewis said; “If Jesus had never been born, then it would always be winter and never Christmas.”
Larry King has made his living by interviewing famous people. He was asked once, “If you could interview any person throughout history, who would it be?” Larry King said; “Jesus Christ.” “I would ask Him is he indeed really was virgin born. Because the answer to that question would define history for me.”
Jesus was born, lived, died on the cross for our sins, buried and arose from the grave with this promise, that someday He is coming again to receive all those who trust in Him.
Jesus has bragging rights!!!
Bragging on Jesus creates excitement and then we can Sing praises to Him!
3. Sing Praises to God! Vs. 2
“Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him…”
During this season, we can sing Carols of our faith.
For example, the carol, Silent Night
Silent Night was written by a young Austrian priest, Joseph Mohr, in 1818. Listen to the message in the lyrics.
"Silent Night, Holy Night, All is calm, all is bright; Round yon virgin, mother and child; Holy infant so tender and mild; Sleep in heavenly peace; Sleep in heavenly peace."
This carol holds such an amazing anointing of God’s blessing that it has literally stopped fighting in two world wars. In World War I, British and German soldiers temporarily stopped fighting on Christmas Eve and together sang this carol. In War World II, fighting was suspended while people around the world watched Opera singer, Ernestine Schumann-Heink sing Silent Night.
The Temptation is to sing Christmas Carols out of habit, and not pay attention the message. Carols such as; Little Town of Bethlehem, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and O’ Holy Night, tell the Good News of Jesus.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for us to Share our Joy and Faith!
All around the world, groups are trying to take away the true meaning of Christmas. They don’t want people to know that Christmas is about God sending His Son to take away our sin, for to acknowledge that, one would have to acknowledge that they have sinned. It's important for you and I to unashamedly proclaim the message of Christmas and to do so with great joy!
Share the message, share your faith, share it with Joy this Christmas!
