It is now December and during this month, many celebrate the Advent season. Advent: derived from Latin means ‘coming’. Lately, Christmas, as a holiday celebrations, has had some controversies. As a reminder, as Christians we don’t worship Christmas but we worship Christ.

Two Christmas Controversies
Mainly there are two issues that have come up about Christmas. First people claim it’s a pagan holiday. They say that the first century Christians were influenced by a winter Roman holiday celebrating a pagan god. Now there’s wreaths and Christmas trees. Also there’s the fact that Christmas is not a biblical mandate, although there are a few recordings of the early churches celebrating Christ’s birth, but it wasn’t many.

Second issue is that Jesus was not born on December 25. Jews had their own calendars. Following the timeline in Luke, Jesus could be born in May or June. Based in the Rosh Hashanah then it could be around December. Ultimately no one knows the exact day Jesus was born since the Bible doesn’t say. But it’s irrelevant what day Jesus was born. It doesn’t even matter if it’s on the same day as a pagan holiday. What matters is that we remember Christ and celebrate why Jesus came. We worship God, not the event.

How do we celebrate Christmas without bias?
What is fact and the fact that matters is, Jesus was here. The account in Luke was historically exact. It has been attacked but Luke is accurate and the Biblical account is totally true. Unfortunately, Christmas has been hijacked. It has been commercialized and transformed into a sentiment. How do we get back the truth of Christmas, the truth that Jesus came to deliver us from our sins? We turn to the Bible and its reality. It is the Holy Spirit who will show us the true Christmas.

Historical Study
One way to establish the veracity of the Bible is historical study. Back then all the actions of the rulers were written down by historians. Luke is also historian. Luke’s purpose told in Luke 1:1-4 shows that he investigates thoroughly and accurately. He states, ‘so that you may know the exact truth’. Luke wants to set the record straight historically. Jesus is not a fairytale or legend.

Caesar Augustus decreed a census.  Augustus was the most powerful Roman emperor. In verse 3, everyone had to go back to their city. This is an example of God working sovereignly for the sake of the believer, so that Jesus could be born in Bethlehem. The census was very well documented. It occurred every 14 years.

Attacks from critics about the historical accuracy of Luke start happening at verse 2. The NASB translation says ‘first census’  so the word first is an adjective, while the NKJV uses the word first as an adverb. When first is an adjective, it means the earlier one, which implies there might have been a later census. This is important in relation to the following statement, that Quirinius was governor. Many historians not Quirinius was not a governor, but a procurator of the Roman government.  This is explained, during the first census Quirinius was not the governor. During the second census Quirinius was governor. Show the importance of the word first as an adjective vs the adverb. Luke’s attention to detail in telling the timeline shows the Bible is accurate, infallible and inerrant.

God’s Christmas
It is important to look at the first Christmas because Christmas has been hijacked. Men have tried to make Christmas their own holiday, while God is the one who started it. Christmas is a historical event, God planned it and it has a purpose. He is behind the events that happened. God even used the emperor and governor to accomplish His plan. It is definitely not man’s but God’s.

The Bible says, ‘it came to pass’ (Luke 2:1 KJV), meaning the time has come. God was now involved in the unfolding of the events. Zacharias had quoted Jeremiah, that the Sunrise will visit (Luke 1:78, Jeremiah 23:5).  The ‘decree went out’. This was God’s decree through Emperor Augustus. ‘Went out’ is a phrase associated with God sending out people for the sake of missions. God knows all things and is all powerful. He is transcendent (above everything) and immanent (in everything). The events of Christmas were not by chance or human planning, it’s not a pagan holiday, it is the sovereign God’s good and perfect plan.

Why did God make Christmas?
Because of sin (Romans 5:12). Everyone is a sinner, even before they were born because we bear Adam’s sin. The history of sin goes all the way back. So God has to be involved. Jesus became like us, He came to earth, became a man but without sin (Hebrews 2:14-17). This is God’s plan of salvation. We can believe the Bible’s telling of Christ’s birth because of Luke’s historical accuracy. We love Christmas because it is made by God for the salvation of sinners. That’s why we celebrate and share with those around us the wonderful news of Christ’s coming.

• Suffering makes you examine yourself.
• It clarifies your need for Christ and urges you to turn to Him.
• It disciplines you, turning you away from sin. It makes you know that you are a child of God.
• It builds up your character to become a man of God.

We might think a great faith will lead to great and mighty deeds, such as miracles or wonders. If we look at what deed is noted in Moses’ faith, we find that it was a self-denial. From this we learn, faith is something practical and real (Eph 1:17). Faith must be real, for it is only through faith Christ exists in your heart (Eph 3:17).

Exodus 2 is the background of Hebrews 11:25. From Moses we learn, Faith is a choice, faith is love and faith is holiness. We will learn about holiness next week.

Faith is an act of choice
Faith has freedom to choose, to say yes or no. Faith is about decisions. We are what we are now because of the choices we make (Phil 1:21-22). Moses chose rather to be with his brothers. We make decisions by faith, because we see who God is (Hebrews 11:1). God is the Creator, the Lord, truly God and we have assurance in His promises (Mark 4:37, Matthew 8:5-10).

When it comes to choice, God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility is often misunderstood. It is a bad doctrine to say God is sovereign and we have no choices. In today’s lesson, because we focus on faith’s choice does not mean we ignore or deny God’s sovereignty. John Frame says “The Bible makes it very clear that we are morally responsible agents. God rewards and punishes our actions according to whether they please or displease Him. There is really no tension or paradox between moral responsibility and divine sovereignty, God’s lordship, includes not only the lordship attribute of control but also the lordship attribute of authority.” It is true that God does not send people to hell. There are many who might blame God but God didn’t send them, it was by their choice of unbelief. They have no desire for Christ.

Jesus decided by faith to enter Jerusalem and die for the sinner. We also must choose based on the will of God. Every choice in our lives is between our will or God’s will. Martyn Lloyd Jones says that faith is not just decent living but being confirmed to the will of God. We must choose to not be influenced by the world (Romans 12:2, 1 John 2:16). We cannot expect to be faithful naturally. Our minds must be trained by the Word of God through reading, meditating and memorizing (Collossians 3:1, Philippians 3:20).

Faith is an act of love
Faith is love of God and love of people. We fail to love God because we lack faith. Instead our love is based on emotions, which is neither faith nor love. Moses didn’t have to love the Israelites yet he did. Faith and love are often mentioned together in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 13:2,13, Galatians 5:6, Ephesians 5:2)

Why is love created by faith? The verse says Moses endured. Love is also patient (enduring) (1 Corinthians 13:4).

Who do we love?
Moses had to endure suffering with his people. They were slaves seemingly not worth loving, yet they were the people of God. By faith we love the people of God (Galatians 6:10). We love sacrificially and practically (1 John 3:16-18). We love those who do the will of God (Luke 8:19-21). Even though we might think they are undeserving of our love, by faith we love. In loving others, we benefit ourselves (Ephesians 5:28).

Why do we fail to love our brothers and sisters? It is because we fail to love God first. The test says ‘the people of God’. They weren’t Moses’ people but God’s, and that is why Moses loved them. We must love God above all else (Psalm 63:1-2). If we love something other than God, our love is sick. Only God can fully satisfy. When we love God first, we have faith despite our changing circumstances. A true love of God leads to a love of God’s word (Psalm 43:1-2). Love is not a sentiment but a virtue is God’s character (1 Corinthians 13).

Conclusion
We have learned from the life of Moses, that faith is choice and faith is an act of love. Pray for the growth of love in your life. If there is little love present in your life, the question we must ask is, where is your faith? Remember, faith and love go together.

You can never be sure how God might use a person. Edward Kimball was a Sunday School teacher in Chicago, Illinois. It was his kindness and patience toward a hopeless boy which God used to train D. L. Moody. It is a  story similar to the Samaritan woman who was one of the worst sinners God used to bring revival to her entire city (John 4:39).

God doesn’t just use the evangelist. Do you want to be used as a husband, father, worker, or mother? God uses people everywhere. His usage is based on your character, your ethics and your morality. We are called to be the salt of the earth, salt that is not salty is useless (Matthew 5:13).

John the Baptist lived in the desert.
The Christian life is sometimes called going through wilderness. For John the Baptist it was an actual wilderness. The wilderness is harsh and tough environment. It’s a biblical pattern that those God uses those who have traveled through a wilderness. Moses, Isaiah, Jesus and Paul were all raised in a wilderness. The wilderness is God’s school where He reforms and molds a person (John 15:2).

Alone with God
John the Baptist was alone with God, spending time alone with God in the wilderness, away from the cities and the crowds. During this time he was in solitude and restraint before beginning his ministry. In contrast, modern society has a great dread of being alone. We have TV and phones which are always connected. Being alone with God is very important.

Just being alone with God is not biblical solitude. We are constantly thinking about other things, planning our day or letting our thoughts wander. Solitude with God is centered around God’s word. Moses was outside the camp with God learning from God face to face. Jesus sought solitude with God to pray. Isaiah was alone in the temple when God showed him a vision. Believers should priorities solitude with God as it has many benefits. We can gain focus and a right perspective on our other priorities. There is also a danger if we neglect solitude. The worries of life and the deceit of the world can choke your fruit (Mark 4:19).  Solitude provides the place to digest the Word with God and internalize God’s truth. The solitude is your wilderness, seek it and prioritize time with the Lord.

Solitude with God’s word
Your time alone with God must be meditation on God’s word. (Psalm 1:2) Meditation is a wrestling and brooding over the Word of God. Thomas White said “Mediation is a holy exercise of the mind whereby we bring the truths of God to remembrance, and do seriously ponder upon them and apply them to ourselves.” Meditation is not a creating your own reality in your head. True reality is in the word of God. Meditation in the Bible deepens our knowing God and understanding God’s mind and will.

Psalm 119 is all about meditation in God’s word. King David’s life was full of turmoil yet He was faithful because his faith was built through meditation. Isaac overcame the loss of his mother through meditation (Gen 24:64) Meditation is so important to the Christian life. Thinking deeply about God, your sin, the Bible. Use the Bible to constantly think over your life and God.

Solitude and prayer
When you meditate on the Scripture, it naturally leads to prayer. John the Baptist was also a man of prayer (Luke 11:1). Prayer is not just important, it is more important than we realize. Without praying we are spiritually dead. Remember the Genesis account, where Adam and Eve lost closeness with God and were deceived by Satan. In words of JC Ryle, “Praying and sinning will never live together in the same heart. Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer.”

Tragically, many Christians don’t pray, because they are satisfied with physical blessings over spiritual blessings. That is until they hit a wall, then they pray. Another reason we lack prayer is because we might be disappointed in the lack of answers. Jeremiah had 46 hard years of ministry with no conversions, yet he never gave up praying (Lam 3:19-26). If we knew God and what loves most, we would commune with Him in prayer. His desire is for our abiding in Him, being sanctified by the Word and prayer (1 Tim 4:5).  When we pray without meditation, we create our own God with little knowledge of who God truly is. That god we create cannot answer prayers. Then we curse God because our wrong prayers go unanswered. Remember it was by prayer that church was started in a small upper room (Acts 2:42) and in prayer it will continue.

Conclusion
We are the creature before the Creator. We need prayer. We don’t pray because we think we are able, but we are not. When we begin to pray, we begin to realize we are not able. John the Baptist loved God more than anyone else. He depended on God and spent time alone with Him in the wilderness. The solitude with God builds obedience which is our proper worship.

When God looks for a person to use, He doesn’t look at their gifts or special talents. Even the man blind from birth is used for His glory (Jn 9:31-33). The Apostles were fishermen, uneducated and unskilled (Ac 4:13). We sometimes confuse men’s giftedness versus their qualification. God wants to use someone who is qualified rather than gifted. He wants to use someone who is transformed rather than informed.

Strong in spirit
To be strong in spirit means your inside life is getting stronger. John the Baptist was the last prophet and lived the life a Nazirite. The text says he was strong in spirit. We too, must be like him. To be strong in spirit, we must have some traits, some evidence of spiritual growth. The following are eight characteristics demonstrated by John the Baptist.

1. Honest: nothing to hide before God. While John the Baptist was gain popularity in His ministry, and people were confused, he clarifies He is not the Christ. (John 2:19-20). Like Daniel’s friends who were truthful before the furnace (Dan 3:16-18), God uses honest men. Believers have the call to be honest (Eph 4:15)

2. Humble: submitting to God and His will. John the Baptist knew his baptism was of water, but Christ’s was the true and greater baptism. God loves the humble because they are willing to be molded, like clay. God humbles His children through suffering and hardship, preparing them for their service before Him. It was the humbleness of Jesus by which God accomplished our salvation (Phil 2:3-5). A humble person trusts in God and understands that hardship is God’s beginning to use them.

3. Courageous: Though it was dangerous and against those in power, John the Baptist called the Pharisees a brood of vipers (Lk 3:7-9). They were the elite and they could have easily found reason to stone him. Jesus did the same thing and they tried to kill him (Lk 4:28-29). God tells Joshua as the new leader of the Israelites to be strong and courageous (Dt 31:23). We have no need to fear, for God is with us. We do not even fear death because Jesus has paid the price for all our sins. Many in the early church, like Prisca and Aquila, risked their lives for the Lord. It’s hard to find Christians who are courageous. We must remember we are at war and Jesus is our Commander in Chief.

4. Faithful: meaning God can depend on you. Even though you’re not perfect, you can be dependable. Jesus depending on John the Baptist to baptize Him (Mt 3:13). You can be faithful by having conviction, commitment and confidence in the truth. Abraham believed God and God reckoned it to him as righteousness. When Abrahams was called to offer his precious son, he was faithful and God used him (Gen 22:10-11). The Lord doesn’t about your ability but your availability.

5. Has faith. John the Baptist believed the message he declared (Mt 3:1-2). Faith is refusal to panic and faith is defined by the object. For the believer, Jesus is the object of faith. We must practice faith in all circumstances. Our church needs biblical faith. If you have faith then you will never fear anything. Instead, we must be like Joshua and Caleb who had faith in what God said concerning the promised land. Everyone else was fearful and fell away. Without faith it is impossible to please God, meaning we cannot be used. It doesn’t matter how much faith you have but that you practice it (Lk 17:6).

6. Pure sexual life. In Luke 7:33 it says John did come eating bread or drinking wine, which shows the John the Baptist refrained from the earthly pleasures. John the Baptist had great influence and popularity, sure there were women who were attracted to him, yet he remained pure. Nowadays, the temptation is pornography and even some pastors and women get hooked. The Bible gives severe warning that the sexually immoral will not inherit the kingdom (1 Cor 6:9-10). Sexual sin is more serious than other sins, it is a crime against our union with Christ.

7. Patient: slow to anger. In Luke 3:1-3, John the Baptist waits until the appropriate time to begin preaching and speaking out against the sins of Israel. In Jesus’ ministry, it’s hard to find times when He is angry. It’s also hard to see Apostle Paul get angry. Christians must also be patient. The Lord commands us to be patient.

8. Full of joy. John the Baptist exclaims his complete joy from knowing Jesus (Jn 3:29-30). John compared Jesus to the groom and himself as a joyful bride. We too, the church, are the bride of Christ. Our joy is complete in Jesus.

These are the characteristics of John the Baptist, who was strong in spirit and used by God. This is our purpose as a Christian. We can either be used by God or be used by Satan.

There’s a wonderful hymn ‘Since Jesus Came Into My Heart’ which sings of the change Jesus brings into a life. Jesus is God who visits you, and when He visits, He changes your heart and continues to change you. Just look at Apostle Paul, how he changed. Even today, Jesus is the same and doing the same thing (Heb 13:8). So where is the change? We fail to change because we add on to Jesus. We have Jesus and our old desires in our heart as well.

Jesus is the sunrise and came to shine light into the darkness and death which men live. To live in the light of Christ means seeing things through the lens of God (2 Cor 12:9-10). Sometimes our heart struggles and unbelief takes over God’s word (Mark 9:23-24). Jesus visits you individually, and the full power of the gospel is given when Jesus comes into your heart.

To guide our feet into the path of peace
Jesus also came to guide. Augustine once said God made us for Himself and our hearts are restless until it finds rest in God. Jesus is the one who guides our hearts to peace. Since the fall of man in Adam’s sin, man has lost his God given attributes such as love, joy and peace. Men even fight in the womb (Gen 25:22-23). There’s no peace between man and because of sin men do not have peace with God. Jesus came to lead us into peace with God.

In Psalm 42:5 the psalmist laments his soul and finds no peace within. As sinners, man cannot have peace with God. In fact, as said in Romans 5:2 without faith, there is no access to God. Access to God is crucial. Martyn Lloyd Jones explains that without access, our prayers cannot be answered (John 9:31).But God is merciful, and in Jesus we obtain peace with God and by His grace and mercy, access to Him (Heb 4:12).

Without peace with God we cannot have any peace of God. Peace with God is the cause, the peace of God is the result (Ro 8:31-34, Phil 4:5-7). With the peace of God, even when times are hard, whatever happens, you can be joyful and confident because you have peace with God. That is true peace of God.

We need peace but we cannot obtain it. Romans 8:7 says we are hostile towards God. Hostility is not atheism or persecuting Christians. Hostility usually takes the form of indifference. When people don’t care at all is when people are hostile, it is unbelief (John 3:18). It is an improper relationship with Jesus the Son of God, where they do not know Him. Those who do know God, God knew them, going back to the beginning, they are His elect. How amazing.

True peace looks like the father embracing his prodigal son and placing the robe, the ring and sandals on him. The father doesn’t hold back but brings forth everything good. In the same way, God gives His son Jesus to those who repent. He doesn’t make us wash up first. Though we are dirty and sinful, if we humble ourselves and repent, God embraces us.

It is Jesus alone who brings down peace with God for us. Man is unable to create peace. How can they, when they are full of self. Any attempt at peace is temporary. History is full of failed attempts at lasting peace. Man has no fear of God and no peace with God. Jesus came to bring true peace (Lk 2:14). God has visited his people and brings peace wherever He visits (Luke 7:16).

Do not resist Jesus Christ in your heart. He must be your Lord for there to be peace. Follow the example of Daniel’s three friends, who had the peace of God when faced with trial, no matter the outcome (Dan 3:17-18). Recognize that God is the Creator and the Lord of everything.

Peace with God is reconciliation, meaning God has forgiven you. Propitiation precedes reconciliation. It is the work of Christ on the cross which propitiated God’s holy wrath, so that we might be reconciled to God (Rom 5:1,9-10, 2 Cor 5:21). The love of God forgives our sins through the propitiation of Jesus Christ, bring peace and reconciling God and man.

How does Jesus guide? He calls His sheep by name, like He called out to Saul on the road to Damascus (John 10:3, Acts 9:4) Jesus calls you by the gospel, which comes in power and the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 1:5). Those whom He calls, must turn from their idols and turn to the true and loving God. This is the response of those who have peace with God. (1 Thess 1:9).

Signs of Peace
There are some signs of a false peace with God. A self-reliance, a skewed focus on forgiveness (antinomian), a light view of sin, and a lack of conviction from God’s word. There are true signs of peace with God. Serious about life because it is a new life in Christ, a humility giving glory to God and growing in faith.

Conclusion
To sustain our peace with God, to continue to walk in the light, there is one thing we must do. Preach the gospel to yourself. Jerry Bridges reminds us to face our sinfulness and then flee to Jesus in faith for the forgiveness of our sins. We must deal with our sin and it is through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we obtain peace with God. Practice the gospel in your life, and there will be peace.

• You have a different authority. Your authority is no longer your emotions or Satan. It is God and His Word alone.
• You love God above anything else, therefore you obey Him. Obedience is the hallmark of salvation. You also love others because of the love of God in your heart.
• You have no addictions or enslavement to sin. You are free to serve Christ alone.