Life With the King: A Kingdom Christmas - Clash of the Clans (Romans 14:17; Luke 1:35)

Series: Life With the King, A Kingdom Christmas

Sermon: Clash of the Clans

Scripture: Romans 14:17; Luke 1:35

Date: December 23, 2018

 

Last week's Growth Suggestion: Ask Jesus what will make Him happy this Christmas.

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 14:17)

And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."  (Luke 1:35)

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  (Genesis 1:2)

We can't be saved apart from the work of the Holy Spirit:

• The Spirit convicts us of our sin.
• The Spirit reveals to us the truth about Jesus.
• The Spirit enables us to trust in Jesus.

If we want to have a Kingdom Christmas, we need to cooperate with and submit to the Spirit.

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 14:17)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Let's talk about three ways the Holy Spirit was involved in that first Christmas and how he can be involved in ours this week:

1. Kingdom birth
   • Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  (Matthew 1:18)
   • And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."  (Luke 1:35)
   • What is the Holy Spirit trying to birth through you?
   • "Christ grew in Mary until he had to come out. Christ will grow in you until the same occurs.  He will come out in your speech, in your actions, in your decisions.  Every place you live will be a Bethlehem, and every day you live will be a Christmas.  You, like Mary, will deliver Christ into the world."  -Max Lucado
   • WEEKLY GROWTH SUGGESTION: Ask God what He has planted in you that will help bring Jesus' love and message to others.
   • What is God trying to birth through you?
     • A Christ-centered family Christmas?
     • Someone to whom you are considering reaching out?
     • Some type of ministry at school or work?
     • Reading through the Bible in a year?
     • Shopping for OCC all year?
     • Involvement with foster kids or adoption?
     • Sponsoring overseas kids?
2. Kingdom battle
   • There was a spiritual war that tried to stop Jesus from becoming what God intended.
   • But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel fo the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."  (Matthew 1:20)
   • There was an all-out war to stop Jesus from being born and becoming the Savior of the world.
   • Present, hungry children
   • Your own insecurity
   • Interruption to the day
   • Irritable family member
   • Fear of what may happen
   • Fear of what it may cost you
   • Fear of looking silly
   • "God was with Adam and Eve.  God was with Abraham.  God was with Moses and the children of Israel.  God was with the apostles.  But he is in you.  You are a modern-day Mary.  Even more so.  He was a fetus in her, but he is a force in you.  He will do what you cannot."  -Max Lucado
3. Kingdom breaking/blessing
   • How much better was God's plan?
   • The breaking may be in the are of pride, finances, career, friends, plans...
   • Do you want what God can do through you or do you want to do your own thing?