1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Romans 1:21-22 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
When you are ungrateful, you miss Christmas.
FOUR THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE YOU TO MISS CHRISTMAS
Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
1. Frustration
FRUSTRATION often comes from a lack of gratitude.
Psalms 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
FRUSTRATION disturbs you.
FRUSTRATION disturbs others.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
FRUSTRATION can cause you to miss Christmas.
Matthew 2:7-8 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
2. Envy
ENVY loves things.
ENVY uses people.
We should use things and love people, not the other way around.
James 3:14-16 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
ENVY can cause you to miss Christmas.
Matthew 2:16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
3. Anger
A lack of control of things can lead to anger.
A lack of control of people can lead to anger.
Unrighteousness ANGER is ultimately a lack of trust in God.
Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Proverbs 22:24-25 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, 25 or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
ANGER is a destructive trap.
ANGER can cause you to miss Christmas.
Matthew 2:16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
4. Retaliation
RETALIATION leads to loss.
Proverbs 19:11 A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Blessing leads to blessing.
RETALIATION can cause you to miss Christmas.
Matthew 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Herod missed out on Christmas.
You can miss out on Christmas if you have a case of Heroditis.
SYMPTOMS OF HERODITIS
Frustration
Envy
Anger
Retaliation
FEAR is the root cause of Heroditis.
FEAR keeps us from gratitude.
FEAR keeps us from Jesus.
Do not allow FEAR to keep you from Christmas.
1 John 4:18-19 (NLT) Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. 19 We love each other because He loved us first.
Jesus gives us love that expels fear.
Trust Jesus with your fears this Christmas.
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