John 1

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He existed in the beginning with God.

3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

 15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

 16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.

 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

 29 One day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about… 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.

Stewards of the Story

The story of Christmas is under attack. The birth day celebration of Jesus Christ has been whittled down to nothing more than a commercial holiday. There are many who know of Christmas but have no idea what it represents. One time we were preparing to perform Christmas music in our town plaza here in Hong Kong. The organizer asked us not to play any overly religious songs or talk about Jesus. We were shocked! We tried to explain to the woman that without Jesus, we do not have Christmas. She finally understood this important fact when we compared Christmas Day to the birthday of Buddha!

Today, as we are “Getting Ready for Christmas”, I want to issue a reminder to us all that WE are the “Stewards of the Story”. A steward is: an official appointed to supervise arrangements or keep order at a large public event, a person employed to manage another’s property, or a person whose responsibility is to take care of something

As our Father sent John the Baptist to reveal Jesus, the Messiah, to his generation, he has also commissioned us to declare to our generation “Look! Here he is. Here is the Lamb of God who takes away your sins! Here is your Messiah! Here is the answer to all of your questions! Here is the solution to all of your problems!”

John the Baptist was a messenger, and so are we. Jesus said in John 20 that as the Father sent him, so he sends us.

We have been learning about prophecy at our church. We want to be a prophetic church. Revelation 19:10 says that you, brothers and sisters, who testify about your faith in Jesus, are servants of God, just like the angels. And it is written there that the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. The very heart of prophecy is to give a clear testimony for Jesus. The story of Christmas is the testimony of Jesus. We are the trustees of this powerful story. We carry the blessings of our Dad. A trustee is: an individual person or member of a board given control or powers of administration of property in trust with a legal obligation to administer it solely for the purposes specified.

We have been commanded, not just encouraged, but commanded, to tell the stories of God’s great miracles to the generations. Our Papa says to us in Psalm 78…

1 O my people, listen to my instruction. Open your ears to what I am saying, 2 for I will speak to you in a parable.

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—3 stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us.

4 We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.

5 For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, 6 so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children.

7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.

8 Then they will not be like their ancestors—stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.

9 The warriors of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned their backs and fled on the day of battle.

10 They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his instructions.

11 They forgot what he had done—the great wonders he had shown them, 12 the miracles he did for their ancestors…

They were defeated when they allowed the story to be forgotten.

The very testimony of Jesus Christ, and your personal story of how he has touched your life, has within it the power to do miracles. The words themselves contain power that is unleashed when they are spoken from your mouth. Our Father says in Isaiah 55 that…

10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

And just like I learned about prophecy recently, you don’t have to make anything happen. Just look for the appropriate moment and deliver the message. Then leave the supernatural stuff to the Holy Spirit and watch what he does. Tell people that he will heal them. Tell them that he will set them free. Make claims that only God can fulfill. 

Traditions

This Christmas season is not about us! It is all about Him. It is not about trees and gifts and food, but it is about what they represent. Yes, let us continue to follow the traditions, but let us do these things with a clear declaration of what they mean.

Put up a Christmas Tree. It is an evergreen tree that gives hope in the cold winter that warm spring is coming again. May it represent the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden and in Heaven. Jesus said in Revelation 22 that you “will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.” May the ornaments you hang on your tree represent the fruit of the Tree of Life.

Our family hangs golden ribbon on our tree to represent that we are waiting for our King to come home.

Put a star on your tree to remember the star that the three wise guys traveled a great distance to follow. Let the star continue to shine through you to all who are seeking a Messiah, the star of David.

Generously give gifts to others as you remember the greatest gift of all, 16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

And finally, have a feast to remember that we all have an invitation to the great feast at our own upcoming wedding, when we as the church will be joined together with the Lamb of God. What a great romance!

Your Witness

When someone asks, “Did you have a good Christmas?” as they often do after Christmas. Don’t just say, “Oh yah, we ate good food and got cool presents.” Use it as an opportunity to say, “It was a fantastic Christmas! The whole church family got together and we worshipped God and thanked him for the wonderful gift that he gave us and we experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit.” And then tell them of the latest miraculous healing that you have heard of in your church. They are asking you to tell them about your experience on the birthday of your beautiful King Jesus. So tell them, they asked! They will probably look at you funny and they might not ask again next year!!

Consider this…You may be the strongest Christian that someone in your office knows. You may even be the only Christian that someone knows. If you do not tell them the story, the correct story, then who will?

The Greatest Story Ever Told

As we are “Getting Ready for Christmas”, let’s get ready to tell this story.

The story of a wonderful King and his Kingdom.

A declaration that this kingdom is within the reach of everyone.

A story of peace on the earth. We sure do need peace right now.

And the wonderful story that our Father’s good will is available to all who will come.