THE DEMANDS OF CHRISTMAS
The Unexpected Brings Change (Part 3 of 3)
David Termer and Gerry White
December 11, 2005

Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose, and we have come to worship him... Then Herod sent a private message to the wise men, asking them to come see him. At this meeting he learned the exact time when they first saw the star. [8] Then he told them, "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!"

Matthew 2:2, 7-8 (NLT)

When something unexpectedly happens in your life, how do you normally handle unexpected demands?

  1. I'm non-flexible
  2. I get anxious
  3. I go to God in prayer
  4. I get mad, yell, cuss, hit things
  5. I take drugs, or drink alcohol
  6. I throw things
  7. I eat my way through it

When you're unable to cope with life stressors, you normally turn to your addictive behavior for escape or comfort. When you're unable to cope with unexpected demands you tend to rely on your addiction to manage the situation.

  • Some people are appraisal-focused
  • Some people are problem-focused
  • Some people are emotion-focused

Once you begin the habit of responding to stressors in an uncontrollable behavior, it's very difficult to suppress or extinguish your behavior.

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:17 (Msg) "Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us."

God's Word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the Devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being, and guarantees our future forever!

You need to settle the issue who will be the ultimate authority in your life.

But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy.

James 1:25 (NCV)

If you want to be happy when the unexpected happens, you need to daily meet with God in His Word. The wise men knew the Old Testament and left immediately to find the savior.

They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.

Matthew 2:11 (Msg)

Mary and Joseph had a lot of unexpected things happen to them after Jesus was born. Like Mary and Joseph, you don't get to choose what influences you, but you do get to choose your character. When you experience a change in plans which are out of your control, how do you normally behave?

Mary and Joseph experienced:

1. Unexpected Company

There are 4 common responses to the unexpected:

A. Many people are driven by guilt

Guilt driven people are manipulated by memories. They allow their past to control their future. They often unconsciously punish themselves by sabotaging their success. When Cain sinned, his guilt disconnected him from God.

God said in Genesis 4:12 (NIV) "You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."

B. Many people are driven by resentment and anger

They hold on to their hurts and never get over them. Instead of releasing their pain through forgiveness, they rehearse it over and over in their minds. Those who hurt you in the past cannot continue to hurt you now unless you hold on to the pain through resentment. Your past is your past. Nothing will change it.

To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do.

Job 5:2 (TEV)

C. Many people are driven by fear

Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love.

Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life - fear of death, fear of judgment - is one not yet fully formed in love.

1 John 4:18 (Msg)

D. Many people are driven by the need for approval

They allow the expectations of parents, spouses, children, teachers or friends to control their lives. Living under the control of the opinions of others leads to a dead end: unused potential, unnecessary stress and an unfulfilled life.

The Point: God provides for me in advance what I need.

Call to me when trouble comes; I will save you, and you will praise me.

Psalm 50:15 (TEV)

2. Unexpected Expenses

After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up and flee to Egypt with the child and his mother," the angel said. "Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to try to kill the child."

Matthew 2:13 (NLT)

Seven Causes of Financial Instability

  • Wickedness [Proverbs 15:6, 10:22, 11:28]
  • Dishonesty [Proverbs 11:1, 21:6, 22:1]
  • Pretense [Proverbs 13:7]
  • Greed [Proverbs 15:27]
  • Neglect [Proverbs 19:15]
  • Pleasure Loving [Proverbs 21:17, 23:20-21]
  • Stinginess [Proverbs 28:20-22]

Your plans grow out of your heart. If you plan your finances with a greedy heart, you will have a greedy budget. A stingy heart results in a stingy budget.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Proverbs 21:5 (NIV)

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it.

James 1:5 (Msg)

The Point: Financial responsibility and willingness to plan your finances God’s way reveals that you are growing spiritually.

3. Unexpected Anxiety

So Joseph got up and left for Egypt during the night with the child and his mother.

Matthew 2:14 (NCV)

  • Traveling with a two year old on foot or on a donkey
  • Holding a two year old for long periods of time
  • Carrying a two year old while he sleeps for miles
  • No 'rest areas' to stop and go to the restroom on the journey
  • They would have walked about 300 mile
  • The Journey to Egypt would have taken at least two weeks
  • Find housing, a job, provide for the family's basic needs

And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.

Philipians 1:6 (Living)

There are no shortcuts to maturity. God is concerned about how strong we grow. He is interested in strength and stability not swiftness. Christ-likeness is your eventual destination but your journey will last a lifetime.

Your journey involves believing (through worship) belonging (through fellowship) and becoming (through discipleship). Every day God wants you to become a little more like him.

The Point: you were created to become like Christ

You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you.

Colossians 3:10 (NCV)

...our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (Msg)

Commitment to Make
Unsaved non-committed: Make a commitment to Christ
Saved non-committed: Commit to trust God and not your own ability

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. [6] Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (TEV)

Saved Committed: Commit to grow spiritually through 101, 201, 301

And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.

Romans 8:28 (Living)