LUKE 2:8-11

1. BY DEFEATING FEAR:
1. Christmas is truly a message of "fear not!" The angels heralded it on that night when shepherds quaked in terror.
2. Now, God is to be feared in the sense of reverence, awe and respect. But there is an unholy fear, a dread, a panic, an anxiety, an overwhelming terror that paralyzes, blinds, shackles and destroys us. That kind of fear - that Grinch - Christmas has stolen.
1. God spoke to Abraham, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." Genesis 15:1 (NIV).
2. To Hagar, Sarah's banished maid, the angel of God said, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there." Genesis 21:17 (NIV).
3. God spoke it to Isaac, and to Jacob, and to Moses, and to Joshua, and to Gideon, and to Elijah, and to the apostles, and to you, and to me, "Don't be afraid!"
3. Christmas stole the Grinch of fear and anxiety because it reminds us that Jesus Christ came to defeat fear!
1. "Because God's children are human beings - made of flesh and blood - Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could He deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying." Hebrews 2:14-15 (NLT).
2. "So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" Hebrews 13:6 (NIV).
4. Black Bart was a professional thief whose very name struck fear as he terrorized the Wells Fargo stage line. From San Francisco to New York, his name became synonymous with the danger of the frontier. Between 1875 and 1883 he robbed 29 different stagecoach crews. Because he wore a black hood, no victim ever saw his face. Black Bart used fear to paralyze his victims. His sinister presence was enough to overwhelm the toughest stagecoach guard. So many faceless fears may overwhelm us, but "fear not!"

The faceless, gloomy, grouchy Grinch of anxiety and fear is stolen by Christmas when we fear not! Yet there is more. Here's how Christmas stole the Grinch:

2. BY DELIVERING JOY:
1. "Good news of a great joy for everyone," said the angel!
2. Listen to what the Bible says about joy. There are far too many references to use them all, but we can notice:
1. There is joy in being in the presence of the Lord. So says the Psalmist:"You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever." Psalms 16:11 (NLT).
2. There is joy in seeking the Lord. We have the word of David on that: "All who seek the Lord will praise Him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy." Psalms 22:26 (NLT).
3. Sorrow and grief are always replaced with joy if we trust Him. David also said, "His anger lasts for a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning." Psalms 30:5 (NLT).
4. There is joy in knowing God loves you and understands your problems: "I am overcome with joy because of Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul." Psalms 31:7 (NLT).
5. There is joy in forgiveness: "Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!" Psalms 32:2 (NLT).
6. There is joy in obedience: "When you obey Me, you remain in My love, just as I obey My Father and remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" John 15:10-11 (NLT).
7. There is even joy to be found in trials: "Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. James 1:2-4 (NLT).
3. Christmas stole the Grinch of sadness, sorrow, and remorse by bringing joy to all people! Peter calls it "glorious, inexpressible joy." For David it was "an overcoming joy." Jesus says it is joy that overflows!
4. Men have pursued joy in every avenue imaginable. Some have successfully found it while others have not. Perhaps it would be easier to describe where joy cannot be found:
1. Not in unbelief -- Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: "I wish I had never been born."
2. Not in pleasure -- Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: "The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone."
3. Not in money -- Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth."
4. Not in position and Fame -- Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: "Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret."
5. Not in military glory -- Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, before he said, "There are no more worlds to conquer."
6. Where then is real joy found? -- the answer is simple, in Christ alone.

The disagreeable, dreadful Grinch of sorrow and sadness, grief and mourning is stolen by Christmas Joy. Here's how Christmas stole the Grinch:

3. BY DECLARING SALVATION:
1. The angel declared salvation when he said, "The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born tonight in Bethlehem."
1. Salvation means:
1. Deliverance and rescue from enemies and danger.
2. Preservation from corruption and ruin.
3. Restoration of that which has been marred or broken.
4. Release from penalty due us for wrong doing which we have done.
2. This salvation has 3 facets:
1. We are saved from the power of sin: it will no longer dominate us.
2. We are saved from the pleasure of sin: and though sin has it's pleasure it can no more bewitch, beguile or deceive us.
3. We are saved from the penalty of sin which is eternal death, separation from God in hell.
2. Think about this:
1. If we had merely needed instruction, God would have sent just a teacher.
2. If we had merely needed correction, God would have sent just a disciplinarian.
3. If we had merely needed our minds straightened out, God would have sent just a psychiatrist.
4. If we had merely needed a model to follow, God would have sent just an example.
5. But since we were enemies of God, alienated, separated, and lost, He sent a Savior.
3. The Grinch of condemnation, lostness and an eternity separated from God has been stolen by Christmas because it declares salvation.
4. In 1981, a Minnesota radio station reported a story about a stolen car in California. Police were staging an intense search for the vehicle and the driver. They even placed announcements on local radio stations in an effort to contact the thief. On the front seat of the stolen car was a box of crackers that, unknown to the thief, were laced with poison. The car owner had intended to use the crackers as rat bait. Now the police were more interested in apprehending the thief to save his life than to recover the car. So often when we run from God, we feel it is to escape His punishment. What we are actually doing is eluding His rescue. But God seeks us for our good, not our grief, for our salvation not our destruction.

The deadly, deceitful, damning Grinch of separation from God has been stolen by Christmas because it declares salvation. So, fear not! Experience His joy! Benefit by His salvation. If you have already partaken of those benefits, let them fill your life with His peace. If you have not, then come to Him today. He is ready, willing and able to banish your fears, to give your joy, and to save you. Joy to the word, the Lord is come; Joy to the world, the Savior reigns, Joy to the world - Christmas has stolen the Grinch!

Bart story from "Today In The Word," 8/8/92. Joy from "The Bible Friend" 4/93. Rat poison from sermonillustrations.com

Return To Christmas Sermons


Return To Archive

Return To Home Page

---