THE VISION OF THE CHRISTMAS STAR christmas2020

on the nite Jesus was born, the wise man saw the star

4 power of visions
1. vision give us a purpose for living

if theres no vision, ppl perish

-ability to see how things could develop in the future

-vision is not the same as goals and objectives

   -can't brainstorm to have a vision

-having visions, doesn't mean a bed of rose but a purpose meaning life

-not just a good idea but created in the realm of the Holy Spirit

2. vision provides a route map to guide our next step

-the star shows the wise man which direction

-visions guide our decisions, steps

-when we have a vision, we dont choose our decision, but its our vision.. making decisions based on vision

-we need to stay focus

-we need to commit what is impt

-our visions create our habits

3. a vision will come under attack

every vision will have distraction

-the bigger the vision, the bigger the obstacles, the more distractions

-our faith will be tested

   -God wants us to be clear with our vision.. is tt exactly what we want

   -so tt we can have confidence in God's promises..

-put doubts in our mind, discouragements

-family's desire to protect.. afraid of failure

-rivalry amg siblings

-Satan put temptation along the way..

-fear of failure.. afraid of judgment

-burnt out, worn out.. tired of trying, hoping

4. Our vision always lead us to Jesus

-a good vision will always lead us to God, make good decisions..

-stay focus on the vision

-vision should draw us to Jesus

-if a vision makes us so busy or tired and draw us away from God.. it's a bad vision

   -it's time to renew our vision

-its so tired to lean our ladder on the wrong wall and after much climbing then realized tt its the wrong side

-no matter what, how bad or how dark, focus on the vision.. -dont give up on God!

-God knows our potential, our worth.. we may not understand what we are going through, God is in control!

   -our dream has not turned out as we wanted, but God have something better in His mind

-God sees our value.. 

-we can trust God that He has great plans

-be wise, stay focus on drawing near to Jesus

3 CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM GOD

happiness and peace is what ppl are searching for

whats the point of having wealth and procession where we dont have happiness and peace?

-worries, anger causes anxiety

-ppl are always thinking and living in the future... stress, anxiety, tiredness increases

-happiness is often described as a feeling, a positive quick sensation... to many, happy is a craving for a pleasurable feeling

are these really happiness?

-feel great

-feel appreciated (appreciated and recognition)

-feel in control (in control of things)

-feel safe (enough $$ in the bank account for the future

-feel less tired (solve the problem and get some rest so tt wont feel so tired anymore)

It's just a sensation trigger by something and make us feel good

-problem is they dont last.. only for awhile.. come and go very quickly

   -looking for the next thing to feel good again, but nv satisfied

-being at the top is becoming addictive

Jesus is born to tell us that theres a happiness tt doesnt come and go... this kind of happiness is JOY

-joy comes directly from God

when Jesus is in our life, it doesnt matter how ppl look at us

-happiness is not just a feeling tt comes and go depending on situation

JOY is the 1st Christmas present from God

PEACE is the 2nd Christmas present from God

-peace doesnt mean theres no trouble, but not troubled by troubles

-when we are in a stress out situation, we tend to react negatively

-inner peace overcomes from all the troubles of the world

-take time to sleep, rest, pray

plan for the future, but not over plan... dont dwell in it

   -learn to enjoy today

   -learn to be calm and trust God more

FAVOUR is 3rd Christmas present from God

-favor = demonstrated delight

   -God protect, preserve and heal us

- favor = preferential treatment

   -God's righteous will make us stand out from the crowd (better jobs, increment, healing in the mist of troubles)

-Christmas is abt favor especially in family (relationship with family members)

-Christmas is abt the birth of Jesus

-Jesus maybe born a thousand times, but if He's not born in our hearts, we will still be in our sins

   -all we have to do is just to receive Jesus into our heart

OVERCOMING FEAR AND DOUBT

-with Jesus, we dont have to stay in darkness

   -not we dont have to face darkness

1. act as if its not there... put up a brave front to show tt we are not weak

2. vent all emotions unreservedly, publicly

3. pray through our emotions when we are going through a crisis

   -tell God exactly how we feel.. bring it to God's presence and let God work through our heart

not only the situation David is facing, there is an attack on his faith in God

David prayed through his fear and get to a place of trust and peace in God

-when David is feeling at his lowest, he realized "but God".. meaning God is not finish with him..

-there is another side of it

   -theres a purpose to every situation

   -we and God maybe looking at the same crisis, but we dont see the same perspective as God

perspectives David sees

1. God's shield of protection only works when we face and not run away from danger

-shield is useful only when we go to war

   -God's shield is not for us to get out of a crisis

      -its a protection for us in a crisis

   -protected in God means tt all bad things tt happened will still be used by God

   -God's protection works only when we are ready to face our crisis

2. relocate our glory and see God's salvation plan

-all the things David had built were all taken from him

   -kingdom, son, identity, faith

-not only to face fear but why are we afraid and anxious

   -David put his security on things tt are finite and unstable

    -David realize tt only God's approval is impt... only then he obtained peace

obeying Christ is difficult and uncomfortable but tts how God's protection work

-the opposite of fear is love! not bravery

-crisis is unavoidable in life

BUILDING WHILE WAITING

-God is saying to Israel to stay awhile longer in Babylon, in the situation

   -Babylon is defeat

-dont do nothing when we are in situation.. do life the way we should

-God dont always tell us what we want to hear but what we need to hear

-God knows that there are things tt He promised Israel is in Babylon

   -being at Babylon going through a hard time doesnt mean God has forgotten the promise

-God's power is not limited!

-God's direction may change, but the destination wont change

our situation will not change God's plan

while we are waiting for God's plan to come to pass, He doesnt want us to do nothing but focus on building our family

things to keep building in times of crisis --- dont do nothing!

1. family

2. career

natural family

-building a house is impt! a house without family is just a building

-God initiated the 1st family in Garden of Eden

-Satan came only when theres marriage (Adam and Eve)

1. husbands must help their wives

-women is created to be a helper..

-when a women walks in, help walks in.. shes wired to help

-women could be so obsessed to help others and not properly attend to their own needs

-result in overwork... husbands, help wife!

2. wives must encourage their husbands

-every man thrive on encouragement

-wife to treat man like God treated Adam

   -God breathed life into Adam.. women to speak life

life and death is in the tongue

3. children must honor your parents

   -help, listen to them

-parents are the one who will walk with you through tough times!

   -when we are in trouble, it is our parents who will rescue us

spiritual family

-Jesus is the wise master builder.. He laid the foundation

-we cant build alone! we need co-builders.. 

   -everyone is a co-builder

-when we focus on building family, we will increase and not diminished

-joy, peace, in numbers, fulfillment

natural family

-husband help wife

-wife encourage husband

-children honor parents

spiritual family

co-builders of church