Check Your Attitude!

Charles Schultz scored again with one of my favourite Christmas movies: “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Maybe you can relate to good old Chuck.

Charlie Brown says, “I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel like the way I’m suppose to feel. I don’t understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I’m still not happy… I always end up feeling depressed.” Linus answers, “Charlie Brown, you’re the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy’s right. Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you’re the Charlie Browniest.”

I wonder, if we were to take a vote, how many would testify to feeling like Charlie Brown. Christmas is coming, you’re not happy, and you certainly don’t feel like you are supposed to feel, and maybe you are even depressed. As Christmas quickly approaches, let me ask you, “How is your attitude?” In the Gospel of Matthew we read about three different mind-sets. How will you choose to approach Christmas this year?

1) KING HEROD WAS ANGRY MATTHEW 2:1-3

Reportedly, the American Humanistic Association is spending $40,000 on an ad campaign that reads, “No God? No Problem!” The ad is featuring an image of several smiling, Santa hat-clad individuals. The ad will be seen inside 200 buses, 50 rail cars and on the side or back of 20 buses. Reality: if there was no God then there would be no Christmas.
These same people are making it very clear that they want nothing to do with God, but they are also determined to influence others on how they view Christmas. Baby Jesus has already appeared on several police reports. In one, the stolen baby Jesus was replaced with a pumpkin, in another the plastic baby Jesus was stolen along with the chain and cement block that was placed there to keep baby Jesus from being stolen. Now, some churches have actually implanted GPS chips into the body of the baby Jesus to prevent the plastic doll from being stolen. We are living in a time where people don’t want the birth of Christ associated with Christmas, but we would be fooling ourselves, if we think that this the only time that we read about others who stood in opposition to His birth.

It was early in his reign, while attempting to win the favour of the people, that the Roman Senate gave Herod the title “King of the Jews.” So it is no surprise that when the wise men came looking for the new “King of the Jews” his heart was filled with anger.

2) THE SCRIBES AND PRIESTS WERE APATHETIC MATTHEW 2:4-6

The chief priests were the temple hierarchy which mostly consisted of the Sadducees; while the scribes were primarily the Pharisees who were the authority on the Jewish law. They were professional scholars whose specialty was explaining the application of the law.

They knew what Micah 5:2 said, “But as for you Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.”

They knew where the Messiah was going to be born but they did not care- they were five miles away from the very Son of God. The Gentiles came seeking but the Jews could not be bothered with the news of the birth of the “King of Jews.”

2) THE WISE MEN CAME WITH ADORATION MATTHEW 2:7-12

Although, we do not know how many wise men there actually were, you need to understand that they came with the most practical gifts they had.
1) Gold- was symbolic of His deity
2) Frankincense- was symbolic of His purity
3) Myrrh- was symbolic of His death

The wise men were bringing gifts that were fit for a King; but not only did they come with their gifts, they came in the attitude of adoration

This Christmas if you come in the attitude of adoration, like the wise men, you will leave in a new direction! This Christmas give Him those things that He been asking you for, those things that you have been holding back from Him, those things that are the most practical in your life, because if you don’t they will prevent you from coming in the attitude of adoration this Christmas.

WHAT IF JESUS CHRIST NEVER CAME?

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

In 1946, Frank Capra produced and directed, what once was considered to be a financial flop, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The movie was nominated for five Oscars without winning even one. Fast forward to today and the movie is considered to be a classic and a staple of Christmas television all across the world.

The film takes place in the fictional town of Bedford Falls shortly after World War 2. Within the town we are introduced to a man named George Bailey whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve gains the attention of his much needed guardian angel, Clarence Odbody. This angel is sent to help him in hour of need. Much of this movie is a flashback into what this world would be like if George Bailey never existed. Have you ever thought what if Jesus Christ never existed?

1) He came to reveal God to us
“Immanuel-God with us” (John 14:8-9, Col 1:15-19, John 1)

2) He came to forgive us of our sins (Matthew 1:21, Ephesians 1:7)
He became flesh so He could pay the penalty for our sin.

3) He came to provide an effective sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 1:1-10)
Without the incarnation we would have no Savior.

4) He came to be our sympathetic High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Our High Priest can feel our weaknesses because He was tested as we are.
This Christmas if you truly understand Christmas, you will come in the attitude of adoration and leave changed because of it! That is why we can take this one special day, and begin to truly celebrate Christmas.
This week at the church promises to a little slower but nevertheless, a very fun and exciting week!

Friday at 6:00 is Christmas Carolling
Sunday at 10:00 is Sunday School
Sunday at 11:00 we will meet for our morning worship service
Sunday Night t 7:00 is Christmas by Candlelight – Come an join us at the church for an evening of singing and fellowship.

We can be contacted at (780) 657-2284 or (587)280-0789.

We have been given the privilege and opportunity to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in a free country. As the Psalmist said, “Let us worship His name together”. I invite you to come and worship the Lamb of God. This Sunday morning we will be meeting for Sunday School at 10:00, followed by the morning service beginning at 11:00. Come worship our Savior with us! Like never before, the words of the book of Hebrews should be on the minds and hearts of all of those who belong to Jesus Christ: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together; as in the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see that Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24, 25.

Pastor Paul

May God richly bless your life as you continue to serve and remain faithful to Him!