Pastor Wayne Cordeiro, Pastor Jon Burgess
December 23, 2018 - W1851

[Video – Pastor Jon Burgess from London, England]

PASTOR JON: Merry Christmas, New Hope from London, England! I’m so excited being here with our master’s cohort—doing a residency in Oxford, England! God just dropped a word in my heart that I couldn’t wait to share with our New Hope ohana!

Just being in London brought to mind the stories of Charles Dickens (considered the greatest novelist of the Victorian era), who wrote books, such as, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations.

But, of course, at Christmastime, your mind probably goes to the same place mine does, to a well-known story of Ebenezer Scrooge—A Christmas Carol. As I walked the streets of London, the story of Scrooge came alive to me; and I began to understand where Charles Dickens walked, and learned from his life what he was trying to tell us through this story

At the beginning of the book, Dickens describes Ebenezer Scrooge: No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him.  No wind that blew was bitterer than he…The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect:  They often came down handsomely, and Scrooge never did.

When it came to Christmas, Scrooge’s famous response to his family and friends is: Bah! Humbug! Some of us, if we’re honest, are beginning to feel the same way because this is such a stressful time, and we’re reminded of our lack! Scrooge’s lack was that he cared for no one but himself! And the state of his heart was cold, calculating, self-centered, and selfish; and, yet, in the story, we find that God did not give up on Scrooge—He actually sent three spirits to open Scrooge’s eyes: The Past, the Present, and the Future. God will often speak through our past, to heal our present, and change our future!

1. The Reason Jesus Came Was To Redeem Our PAST

Hebrews 13:7 NLT says, “Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.” 

The Spirit of the Past takes Scrooge to happier times when he was a child (before he realized that he had been rejected by his father and had spent the rest of his life trying to earn his father’s favor.) Later, he had fallen in love, but he chose to pursue money and wealth instead—and it broke his heart as he realized that his past had set him up to make up for that the rest of his life. Some of us could say that Christmastime is one of the most difficult times because it brings up things from the past—I believe that’s exactly what God wants to speak to right now!

You might be wondering, “Hey Jon, why are you talking about ghosts from a fictional story?” It’s because, a lot of times, the best fiction will reveal the truth of our lives! Charles Dickens was trying to bring attention to the fact that, no matter how difficult your past, there is always a possibility for redemption—even to somebody as cruel and as hard as Ebenezer Scrooge!

God will use the spirits of the past, the present, and the future to draw us to the fact that we should not give up (no matter how difficult they are) because Hebrews 13:8 NIV, says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

2. The Reason Jesus Came Was To Reveal Love In Our PRESENT

Hebrews 13:1-3 NLT says, “¹Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. ² Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! ³ Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.”

We pick up the story with Ebenezer Scrooge as he overhears conversations of his employees about his greed, stinginess, and bad attitude—that they wouldn’t care if he died! He then realizes how his actions are actually affecting the people around him.

I asked God to give me His heart for those around me; and, sure enough, everywhere I walked, I began to see with God’s eyes—as old things began to fall off! God wants to build a bridge between His heart and ours: so that when we see people the way He does, we won’t miss the Present (His Presence) that is in front of us, and give it to them. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

Do you see that God was building a bridge from us to those around us, when He came, was born, and died for us? We really celebrate Christmas when we love and give outside our comfort zone—noticing those who are right in front of us! This Christmas, let’s be present right where we are and see people the way God sees them! John Wesley wrote: “Giving yourself is the greatest gift of all. Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can!”

I hope you have enjoyed our little jaunt across London today as we've been looking at the story of Charles Dickens and Ebenezer Scrooge. The ghost of Christmas Future shows Scrooge how Tiny Tim dies; how he dies and that no one cares for him; and Scrooge falls on his knees and cries out, "Is there any way I could have a second chance?"

My prayer is that we would have the same cry as Scrooge did, and say, “Is there a second chance for me?” I feel that typifies Christmas better than almost anything else. God has given us a second chance when He sent His Son to be one of us, to walk with us, and to die for us.

[End of Video]

3. The Reason Jesus Came Was To Revive Our FUTURE

Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT says, “⁵ Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” ⁶ So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

PASTOR WAYNE: Jesus is proof that it doesn’t matter what you’ve done in your past, and how difficult your present is. God is saying right now that He can change your future! Cry out to God, just as Scrooge did, “Can you give me a second chance?” And just as Scrooge woke up the next morning and was a new man; through Jesus Christ, we can also be a new creation this Christmas—that’s the best gift ever!

Each of us has a past that must be faced, a present that needs to be lived, and a future that needs to be longed for. Christmas brings our whole life together in one spot—when God took all that heaven had to offer and poured it into One Gift in swaddling cloths and was a vulnerable, susceptible, fragile baby.

Sometimes, God’s greatest gifts come in potential form—weak, susceptible, vulnerable, and frail. And the greatest potential is waiting for you to choose what’s best rather than what’s wrong!

Jesus was a gift that was born to die! It's difficult for us to comprehend, but Jesus was born to die for our sins. He was about to purchase you and me; but we must be willing to give everything we have in exchange for everything He has! The Lord would ask, “What do you have?” You say, “I have nothing but a broken?down life.” “Good,” He says, “because I’m here to purchase you; you're not here to purchase Me.”

Let me finish with a story that I love about a wealthy man and his son who loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection from Picassos, Rafaels, etc. The father and son would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

However, when the Vietnam Conflict broke out, the son was drafted into war, and died in battle rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and he grieved deeply for his son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door, and a young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I'm the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day; and he was carrying me to safety, when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, sir, and about your love for art."

And the young man held out his package, and said, "Sir, I know this isn't very much. I'm not really that good of an artist. But I think your son would have wanted you to have this." The father opened the package, and it was a portrait of his son painted by the young man. The father stared at the portrait in awe.

About a year later, the man died. A great auction of his all his paintings took place. And many influential people gathered excitedly, seeing the great paintings, and having an opportunity to, maybe, purchase one of the collections. On the platform sat the painting of the son.

The auctioneer pounded his gavel, "We will now start the bidding for the picture of the son. The bidding is open. Who will bid for this picture?" And there was silence. Finally, a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We came to see Picasso and Rafael. Skip this one."

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the long?time gardener of the man and his son, and he said, "I will give $10 for the painting." He said, "That's all I can afford."

So the auctioneer hit his gavel again and said, "$10. Who will give me 20? $10. Who will give me 20?" And the room went silent. "$10. Who will give me 20?" Bang, he said, "Sold to this man in the back for $10." And then he hit his gavel again, bang, "The auction has ended."

People looked around and said, "What is this? What is this?” The auctioneer said, "I was given the will of this man with one stipulation (that I was not able to reveal his request until this moment) because the father said, "Auction the picture of my son, and whoever gets the son gets everything."

I was thinking about the gift of Christmas. It's not about the presents; it's about His Son. And this Christmas can be wonderful if you'll say, “All I have is $10. My past is checkered. My present is dubious. And my future is questionable.” The Lord would say to you, "Then you give that $10, because he who gets the Son, gets it all!" Give that to Him and let Him know, “I’ll take the Son.” And when do you, the Son purchases you and everything changes! And you will begin to understand what Christmas is all about!

STUDY QUESTIONS:

1. How have you been an example to follow during this Christmas season?

2. How can you improve your relationship with God?

3. What are ways you can improve your relationship with people in your life?

5. Why is it important to forget about challenges/issues in your past?

6. How will you forgive at least one person in your life?