Is Christ in Your Christmas? Reclaiming the True Meaning of the Season

The Gift Under the Tree vs. The Gift That Hung on the Tree

Let me ask you something that might step on your toes a bit: Is Christ actually in your Christmas?

I'm not against gifts. I'm not against Christmas trees. But here's my premise—we spend more time focusing on the gift under the tree than we do on the gift that hung on the tree. We can't lose focus in this season.

Christmas has only been around for about 2,000 years because it's after Christ. It's for us New Testament folk. But here's what amazes me about the world we live in: You'll go to Christmas parties where they say they're celebrating Christmas, but there's no Christ. I haven't seen a Christmas party with prayer. I haven't seen a Christmas party recognizing Christ.

How do we have a birthday celebration without inviting the guest of honor? How are we going to have a birthday party for the King of Kings and never invite the King?

The Commercialization Crisis

It's amazing to me that during the Christmas season, 93% of Americans consider themselves Christians. Come January 1st, it drops to 45%. What happened between Christmas and New Year's? How do they find faith in this season for a gift, but lose it just days later?

Here's the truth about Black Friday and all this commercialism: They call it Black Friday because most businesses are in the red—that's economic terminology meaning they're in debt. Between Black Friday and New Year is where they make their money to be positive.

So here's my word to you: Don't go in the red trying to get them in the black. Don't go in debt trying to get them out of debt.

If you have the money, get a deal. But I've noticed people need benevolence in January because they made poor decisions in December. They're stressed out trying to buy gifts for children who have no understanding of Christ, giving them a list like they're entitled to everything.

Five Truths About Christ in Christmas

If we as believers don't explain Christ in Christmas, who's going to do it? This is your moment. When people ask you questions about this season, you need to know it's not about the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, greeting cards, stockings, sleigh rides, caroling, lights, or decor. It's not about a snowman.

Let me give you five points so you can communicate during this season with somebody who may not know what Christmas really means.

1. Christ Is the Fulfillment of a Promise

Isaiah 7:14 says: "Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Listen carefully. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us."

What God did was rescue us from the pit. Adam blew it. He was in a pit on the way to hell. Jesus says, "Give me your hand." He gets his hand, lifts him out of the pit, and then Jesus jumps in the pit. All of us were in the pit, and Jesus says, "Let me get you out and I'll jump in for you. I'll take your place in the pit."

Adam and Eve were in the garden with God having fellowship. When they sinned, they brought darkness to the garden. God had to separate from them because in God there's perfect light—there's no darkness. Jesus comes to bring us back into fellowship.

2. Why Jesus Came as an Infant

The Bible calls Jesus the last Adam. For Jesus to be called the last Adam means Adam had to be significant. But here's the question: Why did God send Jesus as a baby when Adam came as a man?

Adam had everything he wanted. He had a beautiful wife named Eve. God gave him all the trees to eat from. All God said was "be fruitful and multiply." But Adam couldn't handle it. He blew it.

So God says, "The next time I do it, I'm going to send him as a baby so he can grow into it." Because truth be told, there's some stuff we get where we're too young to handle it and we waste it because we don't know how to handle it.

Jesus came as a baby to grow in wisdom and stature. The devil didn't test Jesus until he was a man in Matthew chapter 4. He came to test him, but by then Jesus had been through some things.

The reason why God allowed Jesus to go through things is so that one day when you're going through your storm, Jesus can say, "Did that." When they lied on you—been there. When someone stole from you—been there. When they rejected you—did that.

3. Jesus Came to Redeem Us

Ephesians 1:7 says: "In him we have redemption."

Let's deal with this. "Deemed" means justified, qualified. So "redeemed" means you've already been deemed. The word redeemed means to purchase back.

Let me tell you a story: A young boy's dad bought him a model boat for Christmas. The boy put it together and took it to the lake with a string on it. As he's playing with the boat, a gust of wind came and took it away. The boat got further and further until he couldn't get it back.

He goes home and tells his daddy. His dad says, "Don't worry about it, baby. Let's work and save up and you'll buy another boat."

While saving up, he walks by the store where he bought the boat and there's his boat in the window. Somebody found it and pawned it. The boy goes in, grabs the boat, and walks out. The man says, "That's my boat—someone brought it in and I paid them for it."

He goes home, tells Daddy, and they go down and buy it back. The little boy grabs the boat and says, "Thank you, Dad. I got the boat back." He looks at the boat and says, "You know what? You're mine twice. I made you and I bought you."

God didn't just buy you. He made you. He made you and He bought you. He's yours twice.

4. The Shedding of Blood Began at Birth

Hebrews 9:22 says: "Under the law, almost everything is cleansed with blood. And without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness."

Now the original shedding of blood was not the cross. It was when Jesus was being birthed. That was the blood that started it. We think it's the blood from the cross, but it began through the birth.

Jesus had to come through the same portal to fix us because we come through birth. So Jesus had to go through the same portal so that He can give us access to receive the promise.

Hebrews 4:15 says: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but one who has been tempted knowing exactly how it feels to be human in every aspect as we are, yet without committing any sin."

Jesus came as a baby so He could go through the process so that He can be the perfect witness for us that we can do it.

5. The Word Became Flesh

John 1:14 says: "And the word became flesh and lived among us. And we actually saw his glory."

The Christmas gift was that He was no longer just on scrolls or tablets. He is in flesh. Merry Christmas.

Out of His fullness, His super abundance of grace and truth, we have all received grace upon grace, spiritual blessing upon blessing, favor upon favor. Christmas gave me grace. It gave me blessings and it gave me favor—a gift heaped upon gift.

The law was given through Moses, but grace came through Christ Jesus. His unearned, undeserved favor.

Cash Your Check

Let me show you something powerful. Imagine I wrote you a check for one million dollars, signed by Jesus, for promises. Now, what are you going to do with this check? Cash it in, right?

Here's the thing—there's something you have to do to cash a check. On the back, there's a line where you've got to put your name on it.

Some of you are walking around with promises and you never put your name on it. You never claimed it for yourself.

God has some stuff for you, but you haven't claimed your stuff yet. Until you put your name on it and take it to God, it has no value.

How many of us are walking around with promises, but you never apply your faith? You never put your name on it. "I know God did it for them, but God can't do it for me." You better put your name on it!

By His stripes, I'm healed. Lord, I thank You. I receive Your promises. Put your name on it.

The Kingdom Is an Invisible Kingdom

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. There's some stuff in the heavenlies you haven't pulled on yet. There are some breakthroughs you've never asked for. There are some things God has for you that you've never touched.

The Bible says, "Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man what God has in store for those who walk uprightly."

Cash that check. There are promises God has for you. Put your name on it.

Stop Living Below Your Calling

Jesus has already given you your gift. Claim it. Receive it. It's already available to you. Don't walk around defeated with a check you haven't cashed yet. Promises you haven't asked for. Things you haven't spoken over your life.

You have it. You've already received it.

The woman came to Jesus and said, "Even the dogs eat at the table." God has a seat at the table for you. You may not feel qualified, but the blood of Jesus qualifies you for your portion.

God has promises. God has things for you, but you have to take it by force. Put your name on it.

Prayer of Surrender

Father God, I thank You for Your son Jesus who died for me and rose for me that I may have life and have it more abundantly. Holy Spirit, come into my life. Guide me, lead me, fill me. Jesus, I surrender my will. I surrender my way and I make You Lord of my life in Jesus' name. Amen.

Put your name on it. Cash that check.

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