christmas 2010 open the presence. extreme makeovers extreme makeovers

Christmas 2010Christmas 2010Open The Open The PresencePresence

Extreme Extreme MakeoversMakeovers

Christmas StoryChristmas Story::

• Angel to young woman: Angel to young woman: "Child!""Child!"

• Joseph- "Say what?!?"Joseph- "Say what?!?"

• Bethlehem, born in a caveBethlehem, born in a cave

Christmas StoryChristmas Story::

• Herod- "Kill the children!"Herod- "Kill the children!"

• Egypt, then back to Egypt, then back to NazarethNazareth

So What?So What?

Christ's Mission: Christ's Mission: PPeaceeace

Do not be afraid. I bring you Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that good news of great joy that will be for all the people. will be for all the people. Today in the Today in the town of David town of David a a Savior has been born to you; Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord… he is Christ the Lord…

Christ's Mission: PeaceChrist's Mission: Peace

This will be a sign to you: You This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, the highest, and on earth and on earth peace to men on whom his peace to men on whom his favor restsfavor rests"- Lk 2:10-14"- Lk 2:10-14


"Peace on earth, goodwill "Peace on earth, goodwill towards men"towards men"

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"Do not suppose that I have "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace... I did come to bring peace... I did not come to bring peace, but not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to a sword. For I have come to turn 'a man against his turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against father, a daughter against her mother…'" - her mother…'" - Matthew 10:34-35Matthew 10:34-35


What does that mean?What does that mean?


Christ has not promised:Christ has not promised:

• Peace of cPeace of circumstancesircumstances

• But…Peace of hBut…Peace of hearteart and and mmindind


If my peace is circumstance-If my peace is circumstance-based, I've set myself up as a based, I've set myself up as a sslavelave to my surroundings to my surroundings

If my peace is Christ-based, If my peace is Christ-based, I've anchored my hope to I've anchored my hope to something that never something that never cchangeshanges

"Peace I leave with you; "Peace I leave with you; my my peace I give youpeace I give you. I do not give . I do not give to you as the world gives. Do to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be not let your hearts be troubled and do not be troubled and do not be afraid…I have told you these afraid…I have told you these things, so that in me you may things, so that in me you may have peace.have peace. In this world you In this world you will have troublewill have trouble. But take . But take heart! I have overcome the heart! I have overcome the world”- John 14:27, 16:33world”- John 14:27, 16:33


……righteousness and peace righteousness and peace kiss each other- Psalm 85:10kiss each other- Psalm 85:10


• Christ is my righteousnessChrist is my righteousness

• Peace is a function of Peace is a function of walking in Christwalking in Christ


Glory to God in the highest, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on and on earth peace to men on whom his favor restswhom his favor rests

Who is it available to?Who is it available to?

Who experiences it?Who experiences it?


Anger and the FluAnger and the Flu

Christ's Mission: PeaceChrist's Mission: PeacePeacePeace::

• The right medsThe right meds• Comfort foodComfort food• MusicMusic• Movies, Books, Media, SportsMovies, Books, Media, Sports• RelationshipsRelationships


• The right medsThe right meds• Comfort foodComfort food• MusicMusic• Movies, Books, Media, SportsMovies, Books, Media, Sports• RelationshipsRelationships

NoneNone of these deal with the of these deal with the inner struggleinner struggle


• The right medsThe right meds• Comfort foodComfort food• MusicMusic• Movies, Books, Media, SportsMovies, Books, Media, Sports• RelationshipsRelationships JesusJesus


"…on earth peace to men on "…on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests"whom his favor rests"


PeacePeace= birthright= birthright

Do I have it? Do I have it?

Christ's Arrival: Christ's Arrival: AAuthorityuthority

The angel answered (to Mary), The angel answered (to Mary), "The Holy Spirit will come "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of born will be called the Son of God- Luke 1:35God- Luke 1:35

Christ's Arrival: AuthorityChrist's Arrival: Authority

A virgin will become pregnant?A virgin will become pregnant?

"…the power of the Most High "…the power of the Most High will overshadow you" will overshadow you"


Problem: 700 year-old Problem: 700 year-old prophecy says the Messiah prophecy says the Messiah will be born in Bethlehemwill be born in Bethlehem

Micah 5:2Micah 5:2

80 miles away80 miles away


In those days Caesar Augustus In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire should be taken of the entire Roman world-Luke 2:1Roman world-Luke 2:1

What a What a coincidence!coincidence!


ProphecyProphecy::

Messiah had to be of the line Messiah had to be of the line of Davidof David

• Bethlehem= City of DavidBethlehem= City of David


ProphecyProphecy::

Called out of Egypt- Hosea Called out of Egypt- Hosea 11:111:1

• Herod's persecutionHerod's persecution


"Dear eight pound, six ounce, "Dear eight pound, six ounce, newborn baby Jesus…"newborn baby Jesus…"


"Dear eight pound, six ounce, "Dear eight pound, six ounce, newborn baby Jesus…"newborn baby Jesus…"

God is absolute control at all God is absolute control at all times:times:

• Nothing escapes his graspNothing escapes his grasp• Nothing takes him by Nothing takes him by surprisesurprise


So what?So what?


For nothing is impossible with For nothing is impossible with God- Luke 1:37 God- Luke 1:37

……with God all things are with God all things are possible- Matt 19:26possible- Matt 19:26


In ChristIn Christ::

• Addicts are set freeAddicts are set free• Wife abusers become real menWife abusers become real men• Racism is challenged and Racism is challenged and overcomeovercome• Religion is finally killedReligion is finally killed• Haters become lovers of Haters become lovers of peoplepeople


If anyone is in Christ, he is a If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation- 2 Cor. 5:17new creation- 2 Cor. 5:17

If Jesus stays in the manger, If Jesus stays in the manger, you and I stay unchanged and you and I stay unchanged and unableunable


"Is he safe?" "Is he safe?"

"Of course he isn't safe. But "Of course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King"he's good. He's the King"

Which Jesus do I wantWhich Jesus do I want??

• The meek and mild baby who The meek and mild baby who evokes feelings of sentimentevokes feelings of sentiment

• Or the God-come-to-earth who Or the God-come-to-earth who orchestrates all events orchestrates all events perfectly in keeping with his perfectly in keeping with his awesome Powerawesome Power

Note: Only 1 changes livesNote: Only 1 changes lives


Don't leave Christ in the Don't leave Christ in the mangermanger

Christ's Gift: Christ's Gift: PPresenceresence

The Whole Message of The Whole Message of ChristmasChristmas::

"The virgin will be with child "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will give birth to a son, and they will call him and they will call him Immanuel"-- which means, Immanuel"-- which means, ""God with usGod with us"- Matthew 1:23"- Matthew 1:23

Christ's Gift: PresenceChrist's Gift: Presence

I tell you the truth: It is for I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him you; but if I go, I will send him to you- John 16:7to you- John 16:7


It is for your good that I am It is for your good that I am going away…going away…

??


"I will not leave you as "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…" orphans; I will come to you…" Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make we will come to him and make our home with him- John our home with him- John 14:18, 23 14:18, 23


Because of Christmas, we get Because of Christmas, we get the fthe fullnessullness of God living in us of God living in us

The very presence of the Holy The very presence of the Holy One, the Creator, our KingOne, the Creator, our King


So what?So what?


I don't have to wait for church I don't have to wait for church to worship, pray, have peace to worship, pray, have peace and God's power working and God's power working through methrough me


I don't have to wait for church I don't have to wait for church to worship, pray, have peace to worship, pray, have peace and God's power working and God's power working through methrough me

I don't have to play hI don't have to play hypocriteypocrite with the errors of sacred with the errors of sacred space and sacred timespace and sacred time


I have blood family I can be I have blood family I can be closer to than biological closer to than biological familyfamily

I even have bI even have bloodlood family I've family I've never met- yet have never met- yet have immediate kinship withimmediate kinship with

The KissThe Kiss

christmas 2010 open the presence. extreme makeovers extreme makeovers

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