“2 Types of Fruit We Should Be Showing This Christmas Season!”
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 12/17/23 (3rd Sunday Message) (Final Version)
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{All scriptures are “NIV84” unless stated}
{Media notes in red and brackets}
Message Title:
“2 Types of Fruit We Should Be Showing This Christmas Season!”
Christmas is a little over a week away!
As we get ready to celebrate Christmas…
let’s look at something we should be doing this Christmas and always.
Let’s talk about Christmas.
Isaiah tells the future story of a coming savior.
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Immanuel -> God with us.
This was confirmed in Matthew:1 Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ birth.
An angel appeared to Mary to tell her she would have a son. and that son would be God in the flesh.
and he would be “with us.” But Isaiah also talks about his purpose.
Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Jesus was pierced for our transgressions… crushed for OUR wrongdoing.
He paid for our sins.
And by HIS wounds we are healed.
Our sin was wiped away.
We are no longer condemned to death.
Our punishment became his!
Jesus Had A Purpose
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God Gave His Son So We Could Have Life
There was a reason Jesus was here on earth. Just like him…WE have a purpose also.
Jesus himself said WHY we are here:
John 15:15-16
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
Bearing fruit means to “produce.”
We Were Chosen And Given The Tools To Produce Something!
What does this mean?
What type of fruit?
2 Types of Fruit We Should Show This Christmas:
Matthew 22:37
37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The first one may be the most difficult for some of us. It can be hard to love others.
Especially when they don’t show love to you. “Love your neighbor as yourself…”
This is NOT based on how they treat us. The “Golden Rule” is written in Luke 6.
Luke 6:31
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
We tend to read this as:
“Treat Others The WAY They Treat You” - (‘Lie’-amiah 6:31)
That’s not what it says.
Do unto others as you would HAVE them do to you. Regardless to what happens…BE what they SHOULD be.
Our Job As Believers Is To Love Others, Not Return Energy!
Love is important!!
A Christmas song we all probably heard as kids: “Why don't you give love on Christmas Day Oh even the man who has everything Would be so happy if you would bring
Him love on Christmas Day
No greater gift is there than love” “What the world needs is love Yes, the world needs your love”
People are constantly fighting something. Most times it’s NOT you.
Even if it is…
Christ told us to love.
Our example is a God who loved so much…
he died for the very people crucifying him.
Can you show that type of love to people who just give mean looks? “Say hello…”
let them be cold to you. “Speak!”
let them not acknowledge you.
Maybe that’s hard…
But God gives us the ability to do it!
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
You Might Not Be Able To Do It On Your Own, But God Can Give You Strength To Love Others!
Show love!
Be nice!
When it doesn’t make sense! What are you REALLY losing?
2 Types of Fruit We Should Show This Christmas:
Mark 16:15
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
We are to tell others about Christ.
{Know a good restaurant?}
Do You Experience Something Good And Hide It?
Do you watch a good show… a good movie…
hear a good song…
and NOT tell someone about it?
Do You See God Working In Your Favor And NOT Tell Someone About Him?
Go into all the world and preach the good news… Has God not given you any good news?
Do You Have A Testimony? Share It With Someone! That’s How You Bear Fruit!
We are God’s chosen!
2 Corinthians 5:20 (MSG)
We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
We represent Him!
If We Don’t Share About God, Who Will?
If We Don’t Invite People To Church, Who Will?
If We Don’t Support The Ministry Of God, Who Will?
YOU represent God.
YOU represent the church.
This Christmas…we have a responsibility to remember the gift God gave… and WHY!
Don’t give people tons of physical gifts and not give the gift of love.
2 Types of Fruit We Should Show This Christmas:
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Love For Each Other:
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Sharing The Gospel:
