The Spirit of Christmas

This is a sermon that was given on the Sunday after Christmas 2014.

 

The Spirit of Christmas

Philippians 2:1-11

Introduction:

Christmas Day has passed and most of us are looking ahead to the new year that is about to begin. We may be thinking about goals and projects that we would like to see accomplished.

I wanted to take this last Sunday of the year and use it as another opportunity to talk a little more about Christmas. I felt impressed to use the text in Philippians that was read a little earlier in the service to share some thoughts about the true spirit of Christmas.

If someone asked you, “What is the true spirit of Christmas?” What would you say?

Many people would probably mention “giving” as their first or primary answer. That is certainly true.

Christmas celebrations, particularly in America, tend to focus on the giving of gifts, which we believe is patterned after the greatest gift of all – God’s gift of His Son to this world.

Some might answer with the word “love,” while others would answer with the word “joy” or something else.

All of these are certainly correct and they are all part of the spirit of Christmas, but I think that our text in Philippians emphasizes at least two more qualities that should be included in the “spirit” of Christmas.

I. The spirit of humility.

2:3-4 (NKJV) Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

KJV – “strife” or “vain glory;” i.e. faction, maneuvering to get ahead, and empty glory in the appearance of greatness or importance.

Here the Apostle is admonishing his readers to make sure that they do not exhibit an attitude of selfishness and conceit, but to make sure that they look out for the concerns and interests of others more than self.

This is completely contrary to the normal behavior of the world.

Why does he admonish them to exhibit this attitude? Because of the example that was demonstrated by our Lord.

2:5-8 (NKJV) ⁵  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶  who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷  but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Paul illustrates his point by reminding his readers of the great humiliation Christ experienced in order to identify with our humanity.

When Christ came to earth as a baby in a manger, He did so as a result of humbling Himself and accepting a position that was nothing like what He truly deserved.

This kind of humility is a true part of the Christmas spirit.

Let each of us purpose to show the true spirit of humility throughout the whole year as we duplicate the spirit of Christmas that was demonstrated by our Lord.

II. The spirit of sacrifice.

It is true that the spirit of sacrifice is evident even in the humiliation of condescension from glory to this world; from all the privileges and attributes of deity to the limitations of humanity.

But, Paul expresses even more the idea of self sacrifice by describing the extent that Jesus humbled Himself – “…to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (v.8)

Yes, there was great sacrifice in taking on human flesh and identifying with human limitations and weaknesses, but the ultimate sacrifice was going all the way to the cross and willingly sacrificing His life for us.

I believe that Jesus left the glory of heaven and entered this sin-darkened world with the full knowledge that it was going to require His ultimate sacrifice involving excruciating pain and death.

That action required more than humility, it required a spirit of self-sacrifice. It required a desire to save, more than a desire to preserve His own comfort and position.

Surely we ought to seek to imitate this example of our Lord’s in our everyday life.

The world tells us to think of ourselves first and foremost and to do all we can to promote ourselves, but Jesus shows us a different standard to live by – a life of sacrifice for the eternal benefit of others.

It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn't Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn't notice. I could only keep my eyes on you- -the one who was willing to give himself for me." (sermonillustrations.com – “sacrifice”)

This illustrates in a small way how we feel about the sacrifice that Christ not only offered, but He fulfilled on our behalf so we could be redeemed and adopted into the family of God.

Let us purpose to keep the spirit of Christmas all through the year; the spirit of love, joy, giving, as well as humility and sacrifice.