LANGUAGE:
Chapter 1
CHRISTMAS 2023
Christmas Is Meant To Change Us
(Philippians 2:6-8)
Well, in case you are not counting, Christmas is 15 days away!!! The pressure and stress of Christmas is probably close to a 10 for most of us. For some of us, we may be wondering if this is really a great time of the year. But Andy Williams seeks to remind us
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
‘Where there is’ much mistltoeing
hearts glowing and loved ones near
It’s the most wonderful time of the year[i]
If the truth were known, that first Christmas was indeed overflowing with wonder.
Our celebrations and traditions fall so short of that first Christmas. Today Christmas is about abundance, wrappings, ribbons, boxes, and trees, and living rooms bursting with laughter, and a table set for a feast. And hanging over it all is Santa Claus, a giant of a man who can slide down any size chimney while bellowing out “ho-ho-ho” and TVs tracking his journey on a cold Christmas Eve night.[iii] And standing in contrast is the Son of God, the God-man whose words are deeply profound, eternal, and life-giving. No sleigh, no ‘ho-ho-hos.’ No TVs tracking His arrival. Only Wise-men riding stinky belching camels for nine months or more coming somewhere out of the East.
From John gospel, chap 1, vs3–4 (GW) come these words: 3Everything came into existence through Him. Not one thing that exists was made without him. 4He was the source of life . . . 14’And’ He became human and lived among us.
Let’s begin by asking God to help us put Christmas into perspective: Heavenly Father, help us to wrap our minds around this great truth—Christmas is about the Son of God becoming one of us. What a mystery, what wonderment is wrapped up in those words. May we not lose sight of the wonder and mystery of Christmas. Amen.
As we get started this morning, I invite you to open your Bibles to Philippians chap 2, vs6-8. These verses capture for us some of the wonder and mystery of Christmas.
Galatians 4 tells us that Christmas came “when the fullness of time ‘had’ come”[iv] And Hebrews 1, v2 (GW) we read that it was then that the Father spoke to us through his Son. Though it is difficult to pinpoint when the fullness of time exactly came, Bible Scholars believe that Jesus’ birth was sometime between 6BC-4BC, roughly 2027 years ago.[v]
John’s Gospel sets the stage for us in the opening verses. 1In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. V14 The Word became human and lived among us. And then John adds, we saw His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Paul magnifies this truth in Philippians chap 2, v6, telling us that what John and disciples saw was the full embodiment of God in the flesh.[vi] We need to drill that truth into our minds, anchor our thoughts in it, place it firmly between our eyes, and write it down on our hands It is absolutely crucial that we immerse our minds in this great truth.
Let me drill down on this for a moment. On my grandpa’s farm before tractors, we had two horses named Duke and Prince. When we harness them up for work, the harness would include what we called ‘horse blinders’. Horse blinders are cups or shields designed to restrict a horse’s field of vision. They forced the horse to focus on what’s ahead, keeping him from becoming distracted by his surroundings.[vii] That’s what we’re told by the writer of Hebrews in chap 12, v 2 (MSG) Fix your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed. He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.[viii]
So this truth, that Jesus is the full embodiment of God should be like blinders on a horse for us. We need to keep this truth always in the forefront of our thinking: that Jesus was and is absolutely eternally totally God, that is, He possesses the likeness of God, the image of God, the splendor of God, and the glory of God.[ix] Everything that makes God God is in Jesus, our Messiah.[x] That is a binding absolute faith truth that we need to keep foremost in our minds.[xi]
In Philippians 2.6 Paul points out something totally beyond our comprehension. That Jesus, who in His very nature is God, did not think equality with God to be something to hang onto, but chose to set aside His position to become a man. Hebrews 2:14, He became a man that He might die, and in dying render powerless him who had the power of death, that would be Satan.
So let’s get a grip on this, Christmas is about God becoming a man to save sinners, of which I am one.[xii] So the question this morning for us is, Does Christmas change the way we live out our lives?
Christmas has become a strange absurdity.
That brings us to Philippians chap 2, vs6-8 (NASB95) which gives us some insight into the mystery of Christmas. Let’s take a closer look at these thought provoking verses together.
Notice, that in this passage there are three powerful phrases which I have underlined for us on the screen:
Vs7-8 are among the most revealing statements in the Bible as to the ‘in-fleshing’ of the eternal Son of God.[xvi] In-fleshing is another way of saying The Word became flesh, that is He became all that defines personhood—body, mind, emotions, and will.
Let’s drill down on these three verses.
Remember the angelic announcement to the shepherds in Luke’s Gospel, chap 2, v12(ESV)? This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”[xvii] In light of those words, think now on Philippians 2:6, He existed in the form of God[xviii] that captures Jesus’ very identity as God. The Gk word for form has nothing to do with shape. The form of God is a description of one who possessed inwardly and displays outwardly the very nature of God Himself.[xix] To say Jesus existed in the form of God means that He was really and truly, in His own personal and essential nature, God.[xx] So when the angels told the shepherds, you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger,” that baby was God in the fullest sense of the Word. That truth should revolutionize our approach to Christmas.
. . . the next phrase, He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,[xxi] speaks of the glories or prerogatives of God. That means He laid aside His glory, not by lessening it, but by concealing it. Together these two expressions--He existed in the form of God, ‘and’ did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped--are “among the strongest expressions of Christ’s deity in the New Testament.”[xxii]
This is becoming a real problem for us. According to a Barna survey about one-quarter of people surveyed said Jesus was only a religious or spiritual leader like Mohammed or Buddha (16%). Further, roughly one in six say they are not sure that Jesus was divine (18%). Fewer than half of Millennials (those born between 1981-1996) believe Jesus was and is God (48%). And about one-third of young adults (ages 18-30) (35%) believe that Jesus was merely a religious or spiritual leader, and 17% a growing number are not sure what he was God at all.[xxiii]
Because if He is not God, His death would not have been sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the world.[xxiv] A created being, which Jesus would be if He were not God, could not pay the infinite penalty required for sin against an infinite God. Only God could pay such an infinite penalty. Only God could take on the sins of the world, die, and be resurrected, proving His victory over sin and death.[xxv] If he is not God, to borrow from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, our faith is worthless, and we are still in our sins.[xxvi]
First we are told that He existed as God. V7 now tells us that He emptied Himself. King James renders it this way, He made himself of no reputation.
What does that mean? It means that He didn’t arrive as a dignitary, He didn’t arrive in a way that caused people to say, “Oh my goodness, God has arrived!” Isaiah 53:2 (GW) He had no form or majesty that would make us look at him. He had nothing in his appearance that would make us desire him.
Let’s soak up v7 for a moment. He emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.[xxvii] What does it mean that He emptied Himself? It means that He became what He had never been before.
Notice that the phrase emptied Himself is followed by two explanatory clauses.
While v6 tells us He was really truly God, v7 tells us He became a slave. A slave in Greco-Roman society was deprived of the most basic human rights.[xxviii] In Matthew 20:26–28 (ESV) Jesus drills down on this idea of slave with these words, 26. . . whoever would be great among you must be your servant, … 27and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, … 28even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve . . . Notice, His becoming a slave was His choice. His condescension to the status of a slave was made possible because of His attitude toward equality with God: He did not consider it “something to be grasped.”[xxix]
He not only choose to be a slave, He chose to come in the likeness of men, to become in every sense the likeness of what it means to be truly human. He was not a phantom, nor an incomplete copy of humanity. His humanity was His essential identity. In the same way that He gave up the right to exploit the privilege of His deity, Christmas is a clarion call for us to rethink how we celebrate Christmas, and how we live our lives.[xxx] Mark 10:45 (NASB95) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve . . . so Christmas is about our serving.
In v8 Paul fleshes out v7 as to what Jesus’ purpose for becoming a slave and being in the likeness of men. His taking the position of a slave and becoming human opened the way for Him to become obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Hebrews 2:14–15 (NASB95) 14Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Where does that leave us 21st-century followers of Jesus?
Let us allow Philippians 2:6-8 give us a new awareness of the mystery and wonder of Christmas. The verses we have just looked at should cause us to ponder the relevancy of Christmas to our lives today. Treasuring the wonder and mystery of Christmas brings meaning and purpose to our lives. Immersing our lives into the story of that first Christmas will shape how we live and celebrate this Christmas season.
Having looked at Philippians 2:6-8, let me try and lay out three ways Christmas should shape our lives.
First, God’s Christmas is not about self-service, the “what’s-in-it-for-me” attitude that seems to overshadow all our celebrations. What was Jesus’ attitude? 6He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. 7. . . When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! (Philippians 2:6–7 (MSG))[xxxi]
V5 says, Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. Jesus' attitude is given to us in vs3-4(ESV), 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.[xxxii]
In our relationships with others, our emphasis should rest on selfless service and obedience, in imitation of Christ. As Alistair Begg reminds us, Jesus did not approach the incarnation asking, “What’s in it for me?” He did not approach the incarnation asking, “What do I get out of it?” His approached to the incarnation—that is in His coming to earth He came with the attitude , “I don’t matter. I ‘really’ don’t matter.”[xxxiii] Adopting Christ’s attitude here at Christmas time helps us to proclaim the love of God.
Second, Christmas is meant to be about personal presence, not presents. Jesus came in the likeness of men. John tells us in the opening chapter of his Gospel, 4(MSG) The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
Christmas is about God giving of Himself that He might save His people from their sins. Our problem is that we have covered up the mystery and wonder of Christmas with a lot of hype. It is the innocent Christ Child whose name is Immanuel that wants to come to us this Christmas, to restore our corrupted innocence and give us the joy that only he can bring! His personal presence is the ultimate gift to us at Christmas. The great gift of Christmas is God’s presence vs. presents. In Matthew 1:23, you shall call His name Immanuel, meaning God with us. Presents are temporary, but presence brings a lasting impact. The joy of opening a present goes away quickly, while creating an experience together is something we remember for our entire lives. Adopting Christ’s attitude of presence at Christmas time helps us to experience His joy.
Third, Christmas is about humility.[xxxiv] Jesus, the God of heaven, Creator of all things, Sustainer of all things,[xxxv] came to serve and give of Himself. Many are willing to serve others if it doesn’t cost anything. But if there is a price to be payed, interest and commitment suddenly fade.
V8, Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. This was not the death of a martyr, but the death of one who willingly laid down His life for the sins of the world. The humble person does not avoid sacrifices. He/she strives to live flat out for the glory of God and the good of others. The real test of humility shows up in how willing we are to sacrifice.
Adopting Christ’s humbleness at Christmas time paves the way for the glory of God to shine. Matthew 5:16, when we let the mind of Christ shine through our life, this glorifies our Father in heaven. Christmas is all about living out the mind of Christ which gives us purpose. Jesus became one of us so that we could fulfill our purpose, and that purpose is having a love relationship with God.
I close this morning a paragraph from an article entitled How Does Christmas Change Your World?.
How does Christmas change your world?
Let’s close in prayer:
Father, again we are under the weight and the wonder of Your truth. Your Word, so powerful, so divine; has a glory all it’s own. Thank You for showing us Christ. Thank You for Philippians 2:6-8, which unlocks one of the great wonders of Christmas. Those things which were impossible for Old Testament prophets and righteous people to understand are made open to us. We know that You sent Your Son first time as the Lamb; And are clearly told that when Your Son returns, He will come as a lion. He came the first time as Savior; But when He returns He comes as Judge of all. He came the first time as a servant; But when He returns He comes as the great King.
May we see the glory of Christ at this Christmas season, the wonder of how He fulfills all that the Old Testament says, Your great King: the King of kings, Lord of lords, Savior and Redeemer of all people who put their trust in Him. May there be no one here who leaves and does not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. For if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. As the Scriptures say, whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed. Thank You for the gift of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus. Holy Spirit, do Your work in our hearts this we pray in the name of Jesus who lives. Amen.
[i] Music and lyrics by Edward Pola and George Wyle in 1963. Sung by Andy Williams.
https://www.lyricsforchristmas.com/ christmas-songs/its-the-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year/
[ii] https://www.joshhunt.com/2018/11/20/the-wonder-of-christmas/
[iii] Scott Hubbard, The Curious History of Christmas, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-curious-history-of-christmas Christians of old had to guard against Christmas debauchery, we have to guard against Christmas commercialism. Our holidays are not so much in danger of drunkenness as of December sales and the bustle of buying — “the commercial racket,” as C.S. Lewis called it (God in the Dock, 338). Donald Heinz notes the subtle yet deeply deforming effect such a racket, coming at such a time, can have on God’s people. Engaging in mindless, Christmas commercialism “re-trains believers to act like consumers precisely when they are behaving religiously” (Christmas: Festival of Incarnation, 225). Here indeed is our threat: not that we would imagine toys and trinkets as the meaning of Christmas, but that the liturgies of the shopping mall would become enmeshed with the liturgies of worship, shaping us in ways we hardly recognize.
[iv] Galatians 4:4 (NASB95) 4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
[v] https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/when-was-jesus-born. according to Luke 1:24-28, 31 we can approximate the month of Jesus’ birth to be around the time of Tishri (mid to late September). To arrive at this date, start at the conception of John the Baptist, Sivan (June), count forward six months to arrive at Gabriel’s announcement of the conception of Jesus, Kislev (December), then count forward nine more months, the time it takes for human gestation, to reach Tishri (September), when Jesus was born. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_of_birth_of_JesusThe date of birth of Jesus is not stated in the gospels or in any historical sources, but most biblical scholars generally accept a date of birth between 6 BC and 4 BC, the year in which King Herod died.[1][2][3] The historical evidence is too incomplete to allow a definitive dating,[4] but the year is estimated through three different approaches: 1) analysing references to known historical events mentioned in the nativity accounts in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew,2) working backward from the estimation of the start of the ministry of Jesus,[2][5] and 3)astrological or astronomical alignments.
[vi] Philippians 2:6 (NASB95) 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, The Greek word morphe, from which we get our word metamorphosis. The form of God is a description of one who possessed inwardly and displayed outwardly the very nature of God himself. See Alistair Beggs, He Humbled Himself, https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/he-humbled-himself/ The Father and the Son and the Spirit sharing coequally in all that God is, the Son, who is about to become incarnate, was possessed of the glory of God, the likeness of God, the image of God, and the splendor of God. Indeed, everything that makes God God, everything that caused the angels to adore God, was there in the Lord Jesus Christ. John 10:30 (NASB95) 30“I and the Father are one.” John 17:21–24 (NASB95) 21that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
[vii] https://www.deephollowranch.com/why-do-horses-wear-blinders/ They can help horses stay calm, focus on their jobs, and can prevent horses from spooking. Blinders are most often used with racehorses (to stay focused on the race) and carriage horses (to block out) Unlike human eyes, horses’ eyes are on the sides. That gives them a very wide field of vision – about 350 degrees. The only areas they cannot see are directly in front of, and directly behind, their heads. Horses also have the amazing ability to switch between monocular and binocular vision. In other words, they can view both sides of their vision separately, through each eye – that’s monocular vision. Or they can turn towards an object and view it through both eyes together, with binocular vision. Binocular vision gives better depth perception. All this means that horses can receive large amounts of visual data about their environments. And while that might be helpful for avoiding predators, it can cause them to get distracted or anxious. That’s where blinders come in. Their purpose is to reduce the horse’s field of vision and make them focus on what’s in front of them. That can help the horse relax and focus on what it’s doing.
[viii] John 14:9–11 (NASB95) 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
[ix] Luke 9:32 (NASB95) 32Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. John 2:11 (NASB95) 11This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. ; John 17:22–24 (NASB95) 22“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 2 Peter 1:16–18 (NASB95) 16For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— 18and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.; 1 John 1:1 (NASB95) 1What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—
[x] 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NASB95) in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
[xi] Other faith absolutes: The Nature of God, The State of Man, the Authority of Scripture, the Person and Work of Christ, Atonement (Salvation), See Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen, https://reasonabletheology.org/machens-christianity-and-liberalism-100-years-later/ Earlier in John 10, in an argument with the Jewish leaders, Jesus told them straight up, I and the Father are one! They then picked up stones to stone Him. Jesus then asks them, Why are you stoning me? They answered V33, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy and here it is because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
[xii] 1 Timothy 1:15 (NASB95) 15It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
[xiii] https://www.demandsage.com/christmas-spending-statistics/ 1) The total Christmas spending in the United States is forecasted to reach $1.1 trillion in 2023. 2) It is predicted that shoppers are planning to spend an average of $1,652 this holiday season. 3) 95% of consumers plan to shop for the holiday season in 2023. 4) Holiday retail sales are forecasted to reach $960 billion in the country. 5) Many families worldwide are looking forward to spend 156% of their monthly income during the Christmas holiday in 2023. 6.)The total spending on Christmas gifts in the United States is expected to be $184 billion in 2023. 7) According to the National Retail Federation, American consumers spend an average of $997.73 on gifts and other holiday items each Christmas.
[xiv] Alistiar Begg, He Humbled Himself (Philippians 2:6-8), https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/he-humbled-himself/ In Prague there are telephone booths around the city where you can phone up the baby Jesus and put in your request for what you want for your Christmas. So you think it’s bad here with Santa Claus, that’s a step up from where they have it in Prague! Because in Prague, Christianity is a mythology, Jesus is a joke, and if you phone this special number, he may be able to get you something that you would like for your Christmas.
[xv] https://www.preceptaustin.org/philippians_26_commentary. Huparcho denotes the continuance of a previous state or existence. It stresses the essence of a person’s nature, that which is absolutely unalterable, inalienable, and unchangeable. Existed translates a present active participle of the compound verb huparchō, which is formed from hupo (“under”) and archē (“beginning”) and denotes the continuance of a previous state or existence. It stresses the essence of a person’s nature, that which is absolutely unalterable, inalienable, and unchangeable. William Barclay comments that the verb refers to “that part of a [person] which, in any circumstances, remains the same” (Daily Study Bible). Jesus Christ eternally and immutably existed, and will forever continue to exist, in the form of God.
[xvi] Frank Thielman, Philippians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995), 109.
[xvii]https://www.gotquestions.org/swaddling-clothes.html Swaddling clothes are cloths and bands used in the practice of swaddling, or essentially “wrapping” an infant tightly in cloth. The idea behind swaddling is that it helps the baby transition from the womb (a very snug place) to the outside world. Swaddling clothes are still used today, but with some modifications. In general, swaddling has been proved to help infants sleep better, to prevent them from scratching themselves, and to reduce the risk of SIDS. In ancient times, like today, a swaddled infant was safe if wrapped and watched properly. Many cultures still practice swaddling today.
[xviii] Kenneth Wuest on ‘morphe’ https://www.preceptaustin.org/philippians_26_commentarythe Greek word for “form” refers to that outward expression which a person gives of his inmost nature. This expression is not assumed from the outside, but proceeds directly from within.
[xix] Alistair Begg, He Humbled Himself (Philippians 2:6-8), https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/he-humbled-himself/
[xx] J.A. Motyer, The Message of Philippians, (Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press 1984), p. 112
[xxi] Hebrews 1:3 (NASB95)3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
[xxii] Keith Krell, https://www.preceptaustin.org/philippians_26_commentary
[xxiii] What do Americans Believe About Jesus? 5 Popular Beliefs (Apr 1, 2015) https://www.barna.com/research/what-do-americans-believe-about-jesus-5-popular-beliefs/
[xxiv] 1 John 2:2 (NASB95) 2and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
[xxv] 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB95) 21He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
[xxvi] 1 Corinthians 15:19 (NASB95) 19If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. Cf., Lee Strobel, Poll Older Americans Are Most Spiritually Skeptical, https://christianityreport.com/2023/11/02/poll-older-americans-are-most-spiritually-skeptical/ one-third of seniors expressed doubts about God to some degree. In fact, nearly twice as many Elders as Gen Z were adamant about their skepticism. While 10 percent of Gen Z strongly disagree that God is real, that number soars to 18% among Elders. Another 15% of Elders somewhat disagree that God is real. As far as Gen Z is concerned, I believe that skepticism toward God is contributing to their increase in despair and hopelessness, since doubts can rob people of the peace and purpose that can be found in Christ. A 2023 report from the Centers for Disease Control showed that 60% of young females suffered from persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the past year, with a quarter of them making suicide plans.
[xxvii] 2 Corinthians 8:9 (GW) He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.
[xxviii] https://www.gotquestions.org/bondservant.html. Throughout the New Testament, the word bondservant, slave, or servant is applied metaphorically to someone absolutely devoted to Jesus. Paul, Timothy, James, Peter, and Jude all describe themselves as “bondservants of Christ” (Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1, NKJV). Believers today should still consider themselves bondservants or slaves of Christ (1 Corinthians 7:22; Ephesians 6:6; 2 Timothy 2:24). He is our Lord, and our allegiance is due to Him alone. As bondservants, we renounce other masters (Matthew 6:24) and give ourselves totally to Him (Matthew 16:24). Being a bondservant of Christ is not drudgery. His “burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Also, we have this promise: “Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life” (Romans 6:22).
[xxix] Frank Thielman, Philippians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995), 116.
[xxx] Ibid.
[xxxi] Warren Wiersbe, Be JoyFul (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1974), p60. A reporter was interviewing a successful job counselor who had placed hundreds of workers in their vocations. When asked the secret of his success, the man replied: “If you want to find out what a worker is really like, don’t give him responsibilities—give him privileges. Most people can handle responsibilities if you pay them enough, but it takes a real leader to handle privileges. A leaders will use his privileges to help others and build the organization; a lesser man will use privileges to promote himself.” Jesus used His heavenly privileges for the sake of others—for our sake.
[xxxii] See Romans 12:10 prefer one another, 1 Thessalonians 5:11 edify one another, Galatians 6:2 bear each other’s burdens, Romans 14:13 don’[t judge one another, Romans 15:14 admonish one another.
[xxxiii] Alistiar Begg, He Humbled Himself (Philippians 2:6-8), https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/he-humbled-himself/
[xxxiv] https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/is-christmas-good-or-bad-for-our-mental-health-4375551-Dec2018/In the 1930s, US President Calvin Coolidge made the following observation on the annual yuletide festivities: Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. Christmas affects the mind in many ways, capable of stimulating joy, nostalgia, excitement, trepidation, and stress—occasionally all at the same time.
[xxxv] Colossians 1:15–17 (NASB95) 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
[xxxvi] Anne Schultz, How Does Christmas Change Your World? https://www.stepstolife.org/article/how-does-christmas-change-your-world/