Are you a hypocrite?

Definition of hypocrite:

A person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives.

Hypocrisy is the act of pretending to have beliefs, virtues and feelings that one does not truly possess. The word derives from the Latin hypocrisis and Greek hupokrisis both meaning play-acting or pretence. The word is possibly derived from hypo- meaning small, + krinein meaning to decide/to dispute.

A classic example of a hypocritical act is to criticize another for carrying out some action while carrying out the same action oneself.

A real hypocrite could be an imposter, a fake or fraud. A hypocrite could be a swindler or con artist or a counterfeit person or a pretender. Someone who is pretending to be something or someone they are not.

A person who lives their life by double standards or two-facedness is most likely a hypocrite.

Now take a moment and let what you have read or heard sink in and ask yourself the question—Am I a hypocrite or have I ever been one?

I believe that at some point in our lives we have all been a hypocrite. I know I have. There have been times in my life when I lived with double standards. I was one person with this group and someone else with another group. I may not have been doing it on purpose but just changed standards to go along or fit in with such and such crowd or person.

I know some people are born with mental disorders and their sickness could cause them to be different people at different times. This is not the kind of people I am talking about. I am talking about people who deliberately lie, deceive or other wise, live their lives as a counter-feit person.

Am I a Christian hypocrite?
This could get real deep. What set my mind on this topic, came from listening to a good friend give his testimony last Wednesday night at church. This man is a person I have the highest respect for. I know he is a good man. He is a good friend to me, a good father to his children, and a good husband to his wife, a good teacher and much, much more. He shared his story with a heart felt desire and his goal was not only to confess his faults but to share his knowledge about life’s lessons with the youth and anyone else that was listening with an open mind.

Listening to him brought back memories from my own past. I said earlier that I believe we all have touched in some way the behavior of a hypocrite. As for me, when I really, truly surrendered my life to Jesus, He has helped transform my counter-feit actions into actions directed by His Holy Spirit. I have grown from the person that I was creating to the person that Christ wanted to create in the beginning.

This Christ lead person is certainly still growing and will continue to grow until I meet Jesus face to face. But how is this growth maintained? It is maintained by the Spirit of Truth.

What Jesus promised!

He promised us a Helper who will live with us forever!

John 14: 16-17, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever---the Spirit of Truth, who the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

If you are a Christian, you will still have problems such as have been mentioned thus far, but be of good cheer. God has given us a special helper and He is, The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has many names but in this text, Jesus has given Him the special name of The Spirit of Truth.

At the same time, He warned them that the world would not be able to receive this Helper. For this, the Scripture supplies two reasons. First, from the time that men turned away from God in rebellion, they have been unwilling to accept the truth that exposed their unrighteous deeds. Because of this, they “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

Second, rebellion against God has exposed humanity to the domination of the god of this age, “Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). Deception is the primary weapon that Satan relies on to keep his part of humanity under his control. He deceives people into becoming un-convicted hypocrites who don’t care if they lie, swindle, cheat, steal, or con people. This is his job and he is good at it. He has all the patience in the world. He just sits and the street corner waiting to see who he can deceive next.

On the other hand the Gospel message is going out to the ears that really want to listen. And once a person has heard the call from God and then receives Jesus as Savior and Lord, The Spirit of Truth comes along side as a Helper and guide. This Guide wants to lead us away from deceit and pretense of character. He wants to and will lead us into the light of God’s Word so that The Spirit of Truth will show us our faults (such as being a hypocrite) and then teaches us the better life or way, which comes from God.

Over many centuries, human philosophy has never been able to produce a satisfactory definition of truth. On the other hand, the Bible gives a threefold answer. First, Jesus said, “I am…the truth” (John 14:6). Second, in praying to God the Father, He said, “Your Word is truth,” (John 17:17). Third, John tells us, “The Holy Spirit is truth,” (1st John 5:6).

In the spiritual realm, therefore, there are three forces, of truth: Jesus, the Scripture and the Holy Spirit. When these three are in agreement, we know that we have arrived at truth—absolute truth. Many people say there is no absolute truth but the Bible says different. Think how our nation or world would be better if humanity used God’s Word as absolute truth. I know there are many smart people out there that could give a good argument on this topic but for me, I know if I don’t stand for something I could be convinced to fall for anything. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord and His truth and direction in our lives.

I will do my best to listen to the Voice of Truth because The Spirit of Truth has been promised by Jesus Himself. There is no deceit in Him nor any lies.

Examples in Hypocrisy! A good example of hypocrisy is revealed in Acts 5:3-5. In this Scripture, Ananias and his wife Sapphira lied about the money that they had offered to the church. They claimed that they had brought the full price of the property they had sold, whereas in fact they had kept back part of it.

The Spirit of Truth in Peter was not deceived. He charged Ananias with lying not merely to men, but also to the Holy Spirit Himself—the One who is the very Spirit of truth. ("Why have you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. Then Ananias, hearing these words fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.)

Three hours later Sapphira came in and repeated the same lie. Like her husband, she paid for it with her life. There punishment was truly great for trying to deceive God.

Rightly defined, the sin of which they were guilty was hypocrisy—religious pretense. They were pretending to be more generous and more committed to the Lord than they really were. They were putting on an act that cost them their lives!

As I said earlier, our English word hypocrite and hypocrisy are derived directly from the Greek word hupokrites which means “actor.” This is the real meaning of hypocrisy: putting on a religious act. This is what my friend said the other night when he gave his testimony, so many people in our churches put on a religious mask.

Jesus reserved His strongest words of condemnation for this sin in the religious leaders of His days. Seven times in Matthew 23 He said to them: “Woe to you…hypocrites!” The word “woe” means, anguish, affliction, sadness, despair, misery, wretchedness, suffering, torment, agony, distress, torture, difficulty, burden, hardship, pain, hopelessness, depression, gloom, unhappiness and so forth. I get the message, how about you?

Probably no sin is more common among religious people than hypocrisy. In fact, some forms of religion almost demand it.

When people enter a religious building, their whole demeanor changes. They are no longer natural, free and open. They appear to be gripped by some kind of invisible “cramp.” They feel required to put on a religious mask. Different branches of religion require masks of different kinds, but few of them allow people to be their real selves.

When the preacher condemns definite sins, there are certain people that respond with a dutiful “Amen!” But outside the church they commit those same sins without even a twinge of conscience.

I believe the only time God has for hypocrites are the time it takes for the Spirit of Truth to convict them and then start teaching and guiding them to a path of righteousness. For me, I thank God for His True Light which continues to reveal to me, the corrections that need to be made in my life and heart. I give Him praise, and honor for His Helper.

Another example of hypocrites in the Bible comes out clearly in the story of Job. Job’s three friends poured forth a stream of religious bull. They said, if effect, “God always blesses the righteous; they never suffer unjustly.” And, “God always judges the wicked; they never prosper.” Yet the facts of history demonstrate that this is not true. It is just religious bull or talk.

Job, on the other hand, was completely frank. He said, “God is not treating me fairly. I have done nothing to deserve all this. But even if He kills me, I will still trust Him.”

Here is truth from the Word of God, “The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.’ ”

God wants the truth and nothing less!!

We need to ask ourselves: How does this kind of religious behavior differ from the sin of Ananias and Sapphira, which cost them their lives?

Moment of truth!
Let us recall the fact that King David was guilty of two terrible sins. First, he committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of is neighbor Uriah, (Double standards). Then, to cover up his sin, he secured the murder of Uriah.

It seems at first that David got away with all this. He still went through his regular forms of worship. He still carried out his duties as king. He still lived in the royal palace. Outwardly nothing had changed---until God’s messenger, the prophet Nathan, confronted David with his sin. At that moment David’s eternal destiny hung in the balance. By the grace of God, David made the right response. He offered no excuses, made no attempt to cover up. He acknowledged, “I have sinned.”

Later on, we read in Psalm 51 that David offered up a prayer of confession and then a cry for mercy. Verses 5 and 6 each begin with the word Behold, expressing a sudden revelation of a necessary truth.

Verse 5 says, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” David had come face-to-face with something that only the Spirit of Truth can reveal: not just the sinful acts that he had committed, but the awful, evil power of inherited sinfulness that indwells every descendant of Adam.

Verse 6 reveals the only basis on which God offers deliverance from the power of indwelling sin: “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts.” After his sin, David had continued to go through all the outward forms of behavior appropriate to his role as king. But now there was a vast gap (Sin) between his outward behavior and the inward condition of his heart. For this there was and is only one remedy: honest confession and wholehearted repentance.

Now let’s think about this for a little while! Are you a hypocrite or have you ever been infected with the sin of being one? I believe I know the answer to this question. At least I know my own answer. If I am honest with my self I will have to say that I have been a person who lived a two-faced life. I have lied and then tried to cover it up with another lie.

I have been a pretender, trying to make others believe all was well on the outside but truly knowing that inside a real battle was raging. But when I surrendered to the call of God in my heart, I was confronted by The Spirit of Truth. The Spirit of Truth brought to light the inward condition of my life and heart. Then as I listened to the Voice of Truth in my spirit, I was convicted to make certain changes that were and are directed by the absolute truth from God and His divine grace.

The only remedy for all these things that I had done was honest confession or a declaration of guilt and wholehearted repentance or shameful regret. I had sorrow in my heart for the things that I had done.

From Palm Sunday to Good Friday! This will be my last illustration in this message

This truth runs through the whole Bible: God will never compromise with sin.

This is illustrated dramatically by two days in the life of Jesus: Palm Sunday and Good Friday.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem as a popular hero—“The prophet from Naxareth of Galilee” (Matthew 21:11). The whole city was open to Him. He could easily have moved aside His bitter enemies, the religious leaders and established Himself as King. That was what the people were longing for.

Yet He chose another way. Five days later He hung rejected and naked on an”Old rugged cruel cross”. Why? Because God will never compromise with sin and the only way to deal with sin was the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Many Christians today are speaking and praying about, “revival." They often overlook the fact that there is one barrier to revival that never can be bypassed. It is sin. Until sin is dealt with, true revival can never come. And there is only one way to deal with sin:

“He who covers his sin will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

This same verse in the NASB puts it this way, “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper. But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion”.

We each need the compassion of Christ in our life. Compassion means, “Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the desire to relieve it”. Jesus sees and knows all things and He know just what each one of us is thinking or doing at any given time. He knows if we are lying or living in a two-faced compartment. He wants to relieve us of these things that pulls us down or destroys our witness. Often He used those same problems as a tool to work in our hearts to bring us in adjustment with His will.

How about you and your church? The truth is that many sections of the Church are full of “covered sin.” Here are some sins that Christians or non-Christians seek to cover.

1. Abuse of a child—physical, emotional, sexual—or a combination-
2. Broken marriage vows—
3. Unethical dealing with money—
4. Addiction to pornography—
5. Gluttony—overindulgence of our physical appetites, (Wow).

6.A preacher telling his church body, over and over, to listen to him, but he doesn’t listen to them when they need to talk or be listened to--
7. Talking about someone behind their back (gossip).
8. Having a heart of unforgiveness—

The list could go on forever but we have to be honest with ourselves! Who are we? What are the sins that we have in our lives that Jesus wants to relieve us of?

I know who I am and I am a long way from perfect, but as I go forward in surrender each minute of my life, I know I am growing to become more like the person, God intended for me in the beginning.

Remedy:
For each of us, God’s remedy is two-fold: first, confess; then forsake. It is seldom easy to confess our sins. Yet there is no other remedy. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us fro all unrighteousness” (1st John 1:9).

God has never committed Himself to forgive sins that we are not willing to confess.

But it is not enough merely to “confess”. We must also “Forsake.” We must make an unyielding determination not to continue to commit the sin we have confessed. We must follow the “to the point advice,” that Daniel gave to King Nebuchadnezzar: “Break off thy sin by righteousness” (Daniel 4: 27, KJV).

Between righteousness and sin there is no middle ground. “All unrighteousness is sin” (1st John 5:17). Whatever is not righteous is sinful.

Conclusion:

Are you faced with a difficult decision? If this message has caused you to question things in your life that you have been accepting, or maybe you have been confronted with some area of disobedience. Open up to the Spirit of Truth! He is ready and willing to help each of us!

After all, Jesus sent Him as a Helper, a Guide, and so much more. Listen to Him and let The Voice of Truth from The Spirit of Truth lead you.

Are you a hypocrite? If you are then you are a sinner. But on the other hand, show me someone who is not and I will show you Jesus Christ Himself.

Christ came to save sinners and that means He came for all of us.

Thanks.
Robert N. Graves, Sr.

Fisherman for Christ.

Proverbs 29:1, He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

In the Beginning! Before Christmas.

John 1:1-14
Here in John's Gospel we learn of Jesus before He came to earth as a baby in a manger – here we learn of what God was doing before the first Christmas day. In the Bible text we are about to examine today Jesus is described as "The Word."

The term translated "Word" is the Greek word Logos. Logos means "word" in the sense that we mean it, but it also means "reason." The basic idea is that Jesus is both the Word of God and the Wisdom of God. Jesus was the Logos before He came to earth, He is still the Logos today, and He will always be the Logos. I thought it important, as we enter into this Christmas, to better understand some of the meaning behind Christ's first coming.

Let's look at four facts concerning this Word, Jesus, today.

1) THE INCREDIBLE WORD
John 1:1-3 In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. –

Jesus is Eternal
John's words purposely echo the words used in the creation account.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. – Gen. 1:1
In the beginning the Word already existed. – John 1:1a

"Beginning" is used in the sense of before all time – while we cannot fully comprehend it or explain it, Jesus has always existed.

One of the best ways to put this is the following Definition: There was never a time when Jesus was not. Jesus did not have His start in the womb of Mary – He has always been and He always will be.

Jesus described Himself this way: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." – Rev. 22:13

He is simply but significantly proclaiming that He is an eternal being.

Jesus is God
Sometimes people ask me what differentiates True Christianity from the Cults.

Here is your answer – every church that believes the Bible, whether Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Church of Christ, Nazarene, or any of a thousand others, all agree on this fact –Jesus is God.

The first sign of a cult is that they downgrade Jesus to something less than God.

They'll say He was a prophet, or a great man, or a wonderful teacher, but every cultic group denies this central fact of Scripture.

...He was with God, and he was God… – John 1:1b
When we sing about that little baby on Christmas Day, we are singing about no one less than God Himself.

Jesus was God before coming to earth, He was God in the 33 years He spent here, and He will always be God. If a person believes anything less than this concerning Jesus, they do not believe in the Jesus of Scripture.

Jesus is Creator
He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. – John 1:2-3

Even many Christians seem to be confused on this fact – Jesus Christ is the Creator of the Universe.

From a full reading of Scripture it would appear that the Father, Son, and Spirit were all involved in the Creation Account, but Jesus took center stage.

Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see…Everything has been created through him and for him. He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together. – Col. 1:16-17

I think it is very important and completely significant to understand these fundamental facts about Who Jesus is--- without them, Christmas means nothing.

2) THE ILLUMINATING WORD
Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent John the Baptist to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world. – John 1:4-9

We are moving from Who Jesus is, to how Jesus wants to make Himself known to us – This great God, this eternal being, this creator of the universe, wants to introduce Himself to each and everyone of us.

Jesus is the Word that brings light to the lives of men/women.

The Purpose
The whole purpose of Christmas is wrapped up in the fact that God wants to know you, to be in relationship with you, to save you from your condition, and to be your companion for all of eternity.

He sent John the Baptist to testify to the people about Him specifically so they might believe in Him.
We can legitimately say that Jesus' purpose in coming to earth is wearing your shoes today – you are the reason that Jesus came to earth

The Power
The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. – John 1:5

Darkness is used here to represent evil and Satan – the power of the light of Jesus Christ can never be thrown down.

Let's not forget that this Word, Jesus, is God, is Creator, is a force that cannot be defeated by anyone at anytime at anyplace and or any reason.
This Word of God that lived among us has the power to withstand each and every attack that is ever made against Him. This is not some helpless infant we're talking about – but the most powerful being that has ever and can ever exist.

The Passion
It is really hard for me to imagine what it must have been like to come down to this world from the glory Jesus had experienced for all of eternity. To have never been in the presence of sin, and then to willingly come into a world infested with it is quite illuminating to me.
The only possible reason He would do this was because of His love.

Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. – Eph. 1:4

God loved you before you even existed – that, to me, is one of the best things that I can know this Christmas season – it tells me that without a doubt, I matter to God

3) THE INCLUSIVE WORD
But although the world was made through him, the world didn't recognize him when he came. Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted. – John 1:10-11

These verses really bother me because they tell me that even though Jesus, God in the flesh, willingly came to earth for our benefit, many refused to acknowledge Him and in fact, rejected Him. And what was true when He came is still true today – some people, for whatever reason, will not accept God's great gift of Himself.

But there is encouragement here – because John adds, But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God. – John 1:12-13

Jesus doesn't force Himself on anybody – we are free to reject Him if that is what we choose to do – but for those who accept His invitation to relationship, great benefits await – let's look at them real quickly.

All who Accept Him are Accepted By Him
Nobody is ever refused entrance into a relationship with Jesus Christ. There are no membership requirements, no dues to pay, no quotas to fill. All you have to do is believe in Him and He'll believe in you.

All who Accept Him are Children of God
Again, there are no hoops to jump through and no steps to climb – placing your faith in Jesus Christ automatically entitles you to become a child of God.

All who Accept Him are Born Again
God is going to change you from the inside out – you will experience a rebirth where you are transformed into the person God has created you to be.

All of your past is behind you, your future is certain, your purpose is now clear.

When you accept Jesus, you might have the same name, wear the same clothes, have the same job and family, but you are not the same person you were before.

God works the miraculous in your life and you are now one of the redeemed.

4) THE INCARNATE WORD
So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. – John 1:14

Jesus Became Human Like Us
There is a story of a prince who was running an errand for his father one day in the local village – As he did so; he passed through a very poor section of the town.

Looking through the window of his carriage, he saw a beautiful young peasant girl walking along the street – He couldn't get her off his heart.

He continued to come to the town, day after day, just to see her and to feel as though he were near her.

His heart ached for her, but there was a problem – How could he develop a relationship with her?

He could order her to marry him – It was in his power to do so. But he wanted this girl to love him from the heart, willingly.

He could put on his royal garments and impress her with his regal entourage, and drive up to her front door with soldiers and a carriage drawn by six horses.

But if he did that he would never be certain that the girl loved him or was simply overwhelmed with his power, position and wealth.

The prince came up with another solution. As you may have guessed, he gave up his kingly robe and symbols of power and privilege.

He moved into the village dressed only as a peasant.

He lived among the people, shared their interests and concerns, and talked their language.

In time, the young peasant girl grew to know him, and then to love him.]
This is what Jesus has done for us – The Word became flesh.
The King of heaven put aside his heavenly robes and divine prerogatives.

He came to us as one of us – He lived among us; ate with us; drank with us; felt with us — all to win our love.

He could have forced us – He could have overwhelmed us, but he chose to romance us.

He stands here today with the smile of love and arms extended.

He is the God who became real so that we could experience his transforming love.
Jesus is not just a truth to believe in, He is a person to be experienced.

Jesus Revealed God To Us
If People want to know what God is like – all they have to do is look at Jesus.
Jesus came to show us the love and faithfulness of God – He came to reveal to us the glory of God.

Everything about the nature of Jesus is also true about the nature of the Father and the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus' coming to earth that first Christmas day, He was coming to show us the true nature of God.

Jesus Gave Himself For Us
On March 5, 1994, Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Prescott was teaching a class for police officers in the Salt Lake City Library.

During a break he stepped into the hallway, and as he did he saw a gunman forcing 18 hostages into a nearby room.

Prescott, who was dressed in street clothes, fell in line with the group and became the 19th hostage.

The gunman hadn't noticed him, and Prescott followed them into the room, and shut the door.

The gunman announced the order in which hostages would be executed, and then it was that Prescott identified himself as a police officer.

A fight ensued, and Prescott, in self-defense, shot the gunman.
All of the hostages were released unharmed.

The officer placed himself at great risk, but he wasn't thinking of himself, he was thinking about the danger the hostages were in.] Like Lloyd Prescott, God dressed himself as one of us and entered our world.

He joined us because we were held hostage to sin and in danger of spiritual death.

He rescued us from eternal danger.
Imagine it! God, who could have crushed the world because of its sin, came into the world to be crushed for our sin.

The very One who said that everyone who sinned would die, came to the world to die in our place.

He both pronounced the judgment and took the judgment upon himself. We didn't even understand the danger we were in.

We were too ignorant and stubborn to ask for his help, but he came to save us from that danger anyway.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. – Romans 5:6-8

Conclusion:
Can you see what God has done for us? He could have just given up on us and wiped us from the face of this planet – He could have not cared – but He cared enough to come to earth, and not only that, but to come for the purpose of dying in our place and then rising again from the dead.

I say that God could have chosen otherwise, but in reality He couldn't have chosen any other way.

Because if He had done anything else it would have gone against His own nature.

You see, God at His very core, loves you no matter who you are and no matter what you have done.

He has done everything He can to bring you back to Him.
And now, it's up to you – what will you do with Jesus, God in the flesh?

How to Celebrate Christmas

Scripture: Luke 2:1­20, Christ is Born

1) And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2) This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3) So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4) Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5) to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6) So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7) And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Angels Announce Jesus to the Shepherds

8) Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9) And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10) Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11) For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12) And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14)"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

The Shepherds Visit Jesus

15) So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16) And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17) Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18) And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19) But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20) Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Introduction: During this season of shopping and entertaining, let's remember why Christmas is celebrated in the first place. We decorate our homes, send out cards, visit friends, buy presents, and go caroling. Some celebrate a portion of Christmas Day watching football games. For some, it's a time for drinking and partying. But this is a holiday to honor the fact that God sent His Son to be born in a manger and to become our Savior.

As Christians, we should celebrate in a unique way. I'd like to suggest four responses to the birth- day of Christ based on today's passage.

1. By Witnessing About Christ (v. 17). 17) Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

The shepherds "made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child." We're to make Him known to those around us and help them understand that He came as a Savior. There are many opportunities available during Christmas. We can witness through the cards we send out. We witness by how we decorate our homes. We witness through the seasonal music we sing. And we witness by inviting people to attend church services with us. Many will come at this season of the year that would never darken our doors otherwise. Be intentional about sharing Christ this Christmas.

2. By Wondering at Christ (v. 18). 18) And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
Those who heard the shepherds wondered at the things told them. I was reminded this week of a word seldom used today: muse. It means sit back, meditate, and think. The word amuse adds the negative prefix which means "to not muse." Amusements are those things that keep us from thinking seriously about anything. Christmas is a wonderful time for amusement, yet when those in Luke 2 heard about Jesus they mused on Him. Think about it! Here is a story of purity wrapped up in the birth of a Child born to a young mother. Here is joy amidst seeming tragedy. Here is a great announcement to a lowly group of shepherds. Here is a Baby born to die. Here is a King born in stable to poor parents, yet was God manifest in flesh. ,

"In the presence of such a holy miracle, there can be no fitting attitude of the human intellect but that of acceptance of the truth without any attempt to explain the mystery."

3. By Waiting Before Christ (v. 19). 19) But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

We also celebrate Christmas by waiting before Christ, even as Mary pondered all these things in her heart. You say, "Isn't that what you were just saying?" Well, the word ponder is even more intense than wonder. It means to explore beneath the surface and to contemplate, trying to understand. Mary pondered and treasured them up. She committed them to memory. She was a woman who thought deeply about what was happening in her life. It's easy to become so busy between Thanksgiving and Christmas that we don't spend time in personal Bible study and prayer. We can let the outward celebrations of the holiday take us away from the one thing that could mean the most to us as Christians. We have to make time for waiting before God.

4. By Worshiping Christ (v. 20). 20) Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God. I believe Christmas brings tremendous opportunities for glorifying God as we sing our carols, as we pray personally, quietly praise Him, and publicly worship. To celebrate Christmas as Christians, we've got to take a step back from the busyness of the season and the materialism of the world and focus on Him!

Conclusion: Years ago in a European country, a christening took place for a baby who had been born to royalty. As the guests arrived, a servant met them at the door and took their wraps. Eventually someone asked,

"Where's the baby?"

The nurse was sent to fetch him, but she couldn't find him. Finally, a guest recalled having seen the baby in the bed where the coats had been placed. The parents were horrified to find there the lifeless form of their son who had been smothered under the pile of coats. What irony. The real purpose of the gathering had been forgotten and the one to be honored was killed. I wonder if that isn't true for many at this time of year. Jesus is our celebration. He is our Honored One. He is our King. This year let's honor Him by witnessing, wondering, waiting before Him and worshiping Him!

Master in the Manger!

Scripture: Luke 5:5

But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net" (NKJV).

Introduction: It's so easy, during the Christmas season, to visualize Jesus Christ as the lowly child in the manger, surrounded by sheep and cattle, sleeping peacefully on a bed of hay; and to forget that lying there in that rugged feed bin is the King of the Ages, the God of Time and Space, and the Master of the Universe. The word master has fallen out of use, perhaps because of its deplorable connotations from the era of American slavery. But, it is a biblical word that we should use regarding the Christ Child. He bids us call Him Master. "Ye call me Master and Lord," Jesus said in John 13:13 (KJV), "and ye say well; for so I am."

The word Master occurs 54 times in the gospels (NKJV) and was one of Peter's favorite ways of addressing Christ:

Master, we have toiled all night--Luke 5:5
Master, Master, we are perishing!--Luke 8:24
Master, the multitudes throng and press you--Luke 8:45
Master, it is good for us to be here--Luke 9:33

What does this word imply? It calls forth the whole attitude of the soul towards our beloved Lord.

1. Love. For forty-three years, at one minute after midnight on Christmas Eve, Bert Holloway of Cambridge, England has handed his wife, Ethel a love letter. The gift is a tradition that they started when they were married. Mrs. Holloway says she treasures all the love letters from her husband.

During this Christmas season, find new ways of expressing your undying love to the Master. Christmas is a time when we should express our love for God, because He has expressed His love for us in the gift of His Son. We love Him because He first loved us. We are dazzled when we glimpse His love--the love that sent Him from Heaven's doorway to Earth's woes--and we are overwhelmed with our unworthiness of it. Our eyes fill and our heart heave. Sometimes the tide rises too high for verbal prayer or praise and we have to be silent in love—the very silence being an echo of the eternal depth of calmness of His exceeding great love. Only one word does not interrupt the still music of such a moment--Master.

2. Adoration. Breathing of His name is all we can do to express the unexplainable recognition of His glory. Already He is admired in all them that believe with the admiration of astonishment.

"We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, and we give thanks to You for Your great glory."

We are saying all that when we but utter that single word Master.

3. Allegiance. The true utterance of the word Master is the very oath of allegiance. We cannot, must not, dare not; will not henceforth serve two masters nor many masters.

4. Confidence. We have found one whom we can trust implicitly, and rest upon entirely. We have put our lives into His hand. We have burned the bridge behind us, because we are quite sure He is the captain of our salvation. We have entered His service forever. We have given our allegiance unreservedly, because we confide in Him unreservedly. There is no question about it. We know whom we have believed, and therefore we say, "Master!"

5. Obedience. All is a mockery without this. Not only our lips, but our lives must say, "Master!" And by His grace, we shall say it; the name shall be inscribed on every page of our lives. This is the test, the fruit, and the love. But, oh, how sweet to know that as we pledge our obedience to Him, so He enables us to obey by His grace and Spirit in our lives.

Conclusion: Jesus Christ is the Master in the manger. He demands and deserves--and shall have--our love, adoration, allegiance, confidence, and obedience this holiday season and always.

Jesus warned about trying to serve two masters (Matt. 6:24). Come today and say to the Master: "Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee."