SLIDE 1: Erwin Home Decorations

First, we set up the tree and the decorations. I have some of them here for you. We also have an Advent wreath set up. On Christmas Eve, we set out cookies, sweets, “smoking man,” and other German-made decorations which have candles. We light them on Christmas Eve and then we have dinner.

After supper, we read the Christmas story and then we open the presents. I know, that is crazy, but in German custom, they open gifts on Christmas Eve, and then celebrate Christ on Christmas.

SLIDE 2: German Christmas Treats

So I want to pass around the cookies, sweets, and other Christmas treats. These traditions bring memories about Christmastime. Here are a couple of pictures of Christmastimes past for me.

We also have to set out the cookies and milk for Santa Claus.

SLIDE 3: Christmastime at the Erwin Home

These traditions are important. We spend time getting ready for Christmas so that we can have these experiences and memories. Just as important though, is how we prepare to celebrate and worship Jesus Christ this Christmas.

SLIDE 4: We can get prepared for Christmas

“clear the way”

““See, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple, the Messenger of the covenant you desire—see, He is coming,” says the Lord of Hosts.” (Malachi 3:1, HCSB)

“He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.” (Luke 1:16–17, HCSB)

“As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.” (Mark 1:2, HCSB)

SLIDE: Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

John Benton writes: ‘John the Baptist was like a herald going before the royal procession to indicate the route that the king would take and to make preparations for his coming.’

During the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, people will line up as the grand marshal and all of the bands, balloons, and floats go before Santa Claus in a procession to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season.

In the same way, we can lead people to celebrate Christ this Christmas season. The decorations and the events are only the procession leading up the star of the Christmas season: Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist came to point people to Jesus. His message was so moving, powerful, Spirit-led, and convicting, that some people repented. They turned from their selfish life to follow Jesus. The first point of preparation is to turn from your sin and turn to follow Jesus Christ.

THREE WAYS TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS

SLIDE: Christmas is a time for self-examination

“refiner’s fire” and “cleansing lye”

“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will be able to stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire and like cleansing lye.” “He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. (Malachi 3:2-3, HCSB)

Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23–24) Let every heart prepare him room… by cleaning house.

It is good to have grace enough to see that trials come from God. He fills the bitter cup as well as the sweet goblet. Trouble does not spring out of the dust, and affliction does not grow from the ground. The Lord Himself kindles the fiery furnace. He is like a refiner’s fire. He will purify and He will purge you as gold and silver (Mal. 3:3).

“A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, and the Lord is the tester of hearts.” (Proverbs 17:3, HCSB)

Malachi makes this point by saying that the Messiah would come ‘like a refiner’s fire’ and ‘like fullers’ soap’ (v. 2). As the refiner removes impurities from silver and the fuller (launderer) removes filth from clothes, so the Messiah would come to cleanse. And this cleansing work would apply to all. Even the religious leaders (‘the sons of Levi’—v. 3) would not be exempt from it. The Messiah would purify them so they would give ‘an offering in righteousness’ (v. 3).

SLIDE: Christmastime is a time for God-centered worship

SLIDE: Three different ways we can worship God. We can:

“Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the child of my body for my own sin? Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:7–8, HCSB)

“present offerings”

“…Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.” (Malachi 3:3, HCSB)

“so that the genuineness of your faith —more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire —may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:7, HCSB)

Malachi called the people to turn from their spiritual apathy and correct their wrong attitudes about worship by trusting God with genuine faith as their living Lord. This included honoring the Lord’s name with pure offerings, being faithful to covenants made with fellow believers, especially marriage covenants, and signifying their repentance with tithes.

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan once said: “God is looking for holy priests who will offer up spiritual sacrifices that will glorify his name. Will you be one of them?”

“please the Lord”

“And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord as in days of old and years gone by.” (Malachi 3:4, HCSB)

“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8, HCSB)

“Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God—as you are doing —do so even more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1, HCSB)

“Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, HCSB)

We give our offerings to God. Yet, our offerings are not the only things that please God. In essence, our worship acted in faith, is what pleases God.

We must experience worship, both corporate and private, to fulfill God’s will for our lives. Worship gives us the spiritual energy we need to be able to serve God. It also keeps us grounded and reminds us that we are living our life for an audience of one and that life really is about pleasing God, not pouring out our souls on temporal pleasures. Don’t neglect to worship with the people of your church. Don’t let other priorities in your life trump your commitment to your church family.

“fear the Lord”

““I will come to you in judgment, and I will be ready to witness against sorcerers and adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who oppress the widow and the fatherless, and cheat the wage earner; and against those who deny justice to the foreigner. They do not fear Me,” says the Lord of Hosts.” (Malachi 3:5, HCSB)

Finally, one is struck in this book by another supporting theme—the majesty of God. He is, indeed, Master, Lord, and King. Add to this theme of God’s majesty the greatness of the name of God (1:5, 11, 14; 2:2), the success of His coming Messiah, and the day of the Lord standing sure despite the people’s lack of respect, and the profundity of the theology found in this book increases. A believing remnant nevertheless remains; they still “fear the Lord” (another theme of the book repeated in 1:6, 11, 14; 2:5; 3:5, 16; 4:2, 5). However, the two pivotal statements in the book are: “I have loved you” (1:2) and “For I am the Lord, I do not change” (3:6). Malachi, then, is the book about the unchanging love of God.

SLIDE: Christmastime is for remembering God’s love

“God has not changed”

““Because I, Yahweh, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.” (Malachi 3:6, HCSB)

““I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you ask: “How have You loved us?” “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” This is the Lord’s declaration. “Even so, I loved Jacob,” (Malachi 1:2, HCSB)

Christmas traditions may change. Lives will change. Yet, Christmas is a reminder that God’s love will remain.

“Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13, HCSB)