Introduction

This Saturday is the day the world knows as Christmas. In Rev 12:12, we read, "Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."

For many years, many of my brethren have been upset about Christmas because we do not know the day of Christ’s birth. I know that’s true, but this year, I must confess that we have a much greater challenge than that. The devil and his angels are everywhere in abundance. The liberal left and all their sympathizers have decided to make war on Christmas, the pledge of allegiance, even the Declaration of Independence because it makes reference to our Creator. The left and their sympathizers want God banned from our country. Our country whose very freedoms were given us by God. That’s why they hate the Declaration of Independence. It says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

So as we assemble today, there are indeed enemies of our country. They are not all terrorists. Terrorists are hard enough to identify, but now we have a new enemy. One who lives among us, and is not only seeking more government, but seeking to eliminate God from our way of life.

Have we come full circle?

Body

I. Hostility toward God is an old problem.

A. While wise men sought Him, Herod sought to kill Him.

(Mat 2:16-18 NKJV) Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. {17} Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: {18} "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more."

B. Today, we face a different problem. The problem of those who would eliminate God from our lives.

C. There is one other hostility toward God. It’s called indifference.

1. He came to His own, but His own received Him not.

(John 1:11-13 NKJV) He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. {12} But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: {13} who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

2. Sometimes those who want to be right with God get sidetracked.

(Mat 13:22 NKJV) "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

3. When he came to earth, there was no room for Him in the inn.

(Luke 2:7 NKJV) And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

a. We can shake our heads. We can wring our hands, but we can’t change that.

b. What we can affect is us. Is there room in our hearts and lives for Jesus Christ.

II. But God is still God. He is in control.

(Psa 2 NKJV) Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? {2} The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, {3} "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." {4} He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. {5} Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: {6} "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." {7} "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. {8} Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. {9} You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'" {10} Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. {11} Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. {12} Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

A. Jesus has come as the only begotten Son.

B. But He’s coming back, and He’s coming back in judgment.

(2 Th 1:7-10 NKJV) and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, {8} in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, {10} when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

III. God is in control, but does He approve?

A. God has been in control since He created the world, but He has given man a free will.

B. The fact that He doesn’t always approve of what is going on is evident in the fact that He destroyed the world by way of the flood.

C. He is in control today.

Psa 2:4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision.

1. He doesn’t approve of much of what goes on.

2. He does look approving on those who seek His face.

D. We don’t know the day that Jesus was born.

1. What matters is that He was born.

2. He lived among us as the Son of Man.

3. He gave His life that we might live.

4. His gift is the greatest gift.

5. He asked that we give back our lives to Him.

(Mark 8:34-35 NKJV) When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. {35} "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.

Conclusion

I. Jesus came to earth to give His life.

II. He’s coming back, not in humility, but to judge the world.

III. His first coming, almost everybody loved.

IV. His second coming will be great only for those who are prepared.

V. Are you ready?

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