Blueprint for Holiday Happiness

December 11, 2005

Introduction

 

            However we describe it, we are in the holiday season.  Christmas is now under attack, not by my conservative brethren that want little or nothing to do with Christmas, but by the liberals who want to appease the Muslims and the atheist who live among us.

 

            In our business, we are in the process of mailing out Christmas cards to those we work with and those to whom we have sold homes.  The front of the card has this caption on a blueprint:  “Blueprint for Holiday Happiness.”  The rooms and hallways have these names:  Joy, Hopes & Dreams, Friends, Smiles, Fun, Laughter, Memories, and Family.  Inside is this message:  “Wishing you the gift of faith, the blessing of hope, and the peace of His love at Christmas and always.”  I like that card.  Jonathan and I picked the card and the phrase, but do those thoughts belong here this morning?

 

Body

 

I.        What about faith, hope, and love?

 

A.     Paul concludes I Corinthians 13 with these words:

 

(1 Cor 13:13 NKJV)  And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

B.     What about “the gift of faith”?

 

1.      Jesus said, “If you can believe. . .”

 

(Mark 9:22-24 NKJV)  "And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." {23} Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." {24} Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

 

2.      The gift of belief.  (Why could the disciples not help the boy)

 

(Mat 17:18-20 NKJV)  And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. {19} Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" {20} So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

 

a.       The gift of belief:  It’s a precious gift.

II.     What about “Joy, Hope & Dreams, etc.”?

 

A.     How do these relate to the fruit of the Spirit?

 

(Gal 5:22-23 NKJV)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

 

B.     Does God want us to have “Joy, & Hopes, & Dreams”?

 

1.      He wants our joy to be full.

 

(1 John 1:3-4 NKJV)  that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. {4} And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

 

2.      He gives us a blessed hope.

 

(Titus 2:11-13 NKJV)  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, {12} teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, {13} looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

 

3.      Our hopes and dreams are made real in Christ Jesus.

 

III.   But does God want us laughing and enjoying our families?

 

1. I believe God wants us to be a happy people.

 

(Prov 17:22 NKJV)  A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

 

1.      Our joy should be expressed in rejoicing.

 

(Phil 4:4 NKJV)  Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

 

2. The home was God’s first institution.

 

(Gen 2:22 NKJV)  Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

 

1.      God intended for couples to have children.

 

(Gen 1:28 NKJV)  Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

 

2.      The Psalmist says children are a heritage of  the Lord.

 

(Psa 127:3-5 NKJV)  Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. {4} Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. {5} Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

 

3. Remember it is God Who blesses our homes.

 

(Psa 127:1-2 NKJV)  Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. {2} It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.

 

1.      God is the One Who gives us our homes.

2.      God is the One Who gives us everything.

 

(James 1:16-17 NKJV)  Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. {17} Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

 

Conclusion

 

God has given us so much!

There is great reason for holiday happiness.

May we thank God for the great gift of His love in sending Christ to die for our sins.

May we thank Him for the hope we have, that in the end, we can dwell with Him eternally.

 

Is your life right with God?

 

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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