December 18 2016 Matthew
1.18-25 “Showing Up for Christ at Christmas” Pastor Jacqueline Hines
Whenever Christmas is on a Sunday, churches
wonder if anyone at all will show up. After all, it’s Christmas, a time to be
tucked away in the privacy of one’s home enjoying family traditions. [slide # 1 stockings
fireplace]
Nevertheless, Christians always show up for Christ
at Christmas as the gospel of Matthew reveals. [slide # 2 Gospel of Matthew] Even if we do not go to church, [slide # 3 Ghanians entering
church]we still need to show up for Christmas. [slide # 4 Three wise men on
camels] For, showing up for Christmas does not necessarily mean showing
up in church. What showing up for Christmas does mean is seeing the newborn
king in every soul we meet. [slide # 5 child looking up] It
means giving and serving as if everyone were royalty. It means living like we
are grateful and loved by God and each other. [slide # 6 love gratitude]
Matthew shows us who showed up for Christ on
Christmas. The Holy Spirit showed up for Christmas. [slide # 7 Holy Spirit] That is a wonder; the Holy
Spirit showed up for Christmas! It was not the spirit of divisiveness,
selfishness, [slide # 8 frowny face] rebelliousness, unkindness or mean spiritedness. It was the
Holy Spirit ready to do God’s will. If we show up for Christmas, we show up
ready to do God’s will and to teach by a holy example. That is why the Holy
Spirit showed up, and that is what we can do if we are going to show up for
Christmas. [slide
# 9 let God]
Mary showed up for Christmas. This young girl,
all grown up was of the age to meet a fine young man. He would be her provider
and she would hold him in high esteem within their community. [slide # 10 Mary and Joseph] They would love, honor, and respect each other
for the rest of their lives, in spite of being two distinct personalities. After
all, their goal was not to think alike, it was to think together. By the grace
of God they could grow to understand that marriage is not 50-50. Divorce is
50-50. Marriage has to be 100 and 100 because you have to give it all. They
could do this only if both of them relied on God’s supernatural power. [slide # 11 wedding rings on
bible]
Mary showed up for Christmas with a romantic dream
in her heart and a baby, though she could not explain where she got it. Everyone
in the world had an idea of where this baby came from, but as is often the
case, some situations are so deep and mystical that they are beyond explanation.
In fact, most things in life are deep and mystical, and some things are deeper
than others.
The bottom line is God knows and God cares.
God never leaves us alone, and never forsakes us, never. [slide # 12 Joseph with Mary on donkey]
Like Mary, we can show up for Christmas with
anything growing inside the womb of our expectations, especially those
situations that are misunderstood and too deep for words. [slide # 13 at the feet of
Jesus]
Joseph also showed up for Christmas. Joseph
was a manly man, [slide # 14 carpenter Joseph and Jesus] but most importantly, Joseph was a Godly man. He had Godly respect
for his fiancé. He had no devilish desire to hurt her. He was not mad at her
when she showed up, apparently having shared her love with another. He did not
know of her love for God who is always the third wheel in every marriage, for
better or for worse. [slide # 15 God’s vision…]
Joseph would grow to honor and hear the heart
of Mary and God which made him a wonderful family man. Like Joseph, when we
show up for Christmas we are being good leaders.
Matthew the gospel writer acted like a
reputable journalist when he showed up for Christmas, telling the story of the
savior of the world born in Bethlehem.
Stories are important. There is the story of a
small community in the Pacific who shared the story from one family to another,
again and again of a day when they heard the sound of rushing waters. [slide # 16 wall of water] It was a tsunami coming their way and they
escaped the floods.
The story was told so many times that it
became well-known among the people. Decades later, when another tsunami
occurred, they knew the sound and the signs and could protect
themselves from danger. They were saved. It is good that Matthew showed up for
Christmas with the story of one who could save them. Surely, we all have
something from time to time from which we need to be saved, and we have a
savior.
Most central to the Christmas season is the angel
that showed up for Christmas in Joseph’s dream. [slide # 17 angel] The angel brought Joseph a message that was special and specific
and personal. He heard God loud and clear. The message gave clarity during this
time when he was doubled over in grief and caught up in Christmas confusion. [slide # 18 drama]
What a gift it is to hear God at any time. [slide # 19 hearing God] It is good to hear God when we are
experiencing chaos. It is also good to hear God when things are going well.
When we are ready to listen, we will surely hear God’s message to us. We will
hear deep truths that will set us free, [slide # 20 dove… truth] calm us down, and illuminate our paths. We
will hear clear help that will hinder the wickedness in our life.
Joseph heard and he listened and instead of
using all the excuses he could come up with not to marry Mary, he obeyed the
angel in his dream and did marry her and their marriage was a blessing to the
world as God intends for all relationships. [slide # 21 …blessings come down]
We are urged to show up for Christ on
Christmas. [slide # 22
cross at church door] We can show up like an angel speaking in a Godly voice. We can
show up with a life-changing, life-saving story like Matthew. We can show up
with a dream and a righteous life like Joseph or with a ready womb like Mary.
For God’s sake, let us show up for Christ at
Christmas ready to be inspired by a spirit that is nothing less than holy! [slide # 23 puppy with earphones] Amen. [slide # 24 made to praise]
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