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12.15.2024 Pastor Kendon

This is How I Fight My Battles (Part 2 Last Week- From Fight the Good Fight Of Faith)

◦Yes, this is the season BUT there is a reason!

✓There’s an overwhelming focus on marketing Christmas without Christ at the center. However, no matter how it’s framed, you can’t separate Christ from Christmas—He is the story!

◦It’s a Biblical FACT- He Showed Up!

◦John 1 Summarized: THIS Is what Christmas is all about! The Word becoming Flesh!

◦The Word and Creation (Verses 1–5)

◦The chapter begins by declaring Jesus (the Word) as eternal, divine, and the Creator.

✓“The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

◦Jesus is the source of life and light, which overcomes darkness.

◦John the Baptist’s Role (Verses 6–8)

◦John the Baptist is introduced as a witness sent by God to testify about the light (Jesus) so people might believe.

◦John himself is not the light but points others to it.

◦The Word in the World (Verses 9–13)

✓Jesus, the true light, came into the world He created, but many did not recognize or receive Him.

✓However, those who believe in Him are given the right to become children of God, born spiritually through God.

◦The Word Became Flesh (Verses 14–18)

◦Jesus is described as God incarnate, “full of grace and truth.”

✓Through Him, God’s glory is revealed, and believers receive grace.

◦He brings a fuller revelation of God than the Law of Moses.

◦John the Baptist’s Testimony (Verses 19–28)

◦Religious leaders question John the Baptist about his identity.

✓He denies being the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet and identifies himself as “the voice crying out in the wilderness” (Isaiah 40:3), preparing the way for the Lord.

◦Jesus as the Lamb of God (Verses 29–34)

✓John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

◦He testifies that he saw the Spirit descend on Jesus like a dove, confirming Him as the Son of God.

◦KNOW ONE THING- Mary Delivered a baby and THAT BABY delivered me and you!

◦The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:1-17 traces Jesus’ lineage through Joseph, His father, to establish His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy as the Messiah. 

◦And when you read through the genealogy of Jesus you find that Jesus comes from a long line of sinners! HOT MESS EXPRESS!

◦If Jesus was born nowadays He would be considered disadvantaged…Lack benefits and opportunities that other children have!

◦Philippians 2:6-7 Verse 6 “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.”

◦Jesus knows what it’s like to fight through family problems and to have set backs! Jesus knows disappointments and the experience of rejection!

◦BUT know He Is: Son of God (Matthew 16:16) Immanuel (God with us) (Matthew 1:23) The Word (John 1:1) Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13) Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16) King of Kings (Revelation 19:16) Lamb of God (John 1:29) The Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6) Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)

◦You will run into people that hurt you and reject you this Holiday season! Luke 23:34- “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing

✓Stop blaming the stuff and the events in your life and start making decisions to move forward or else you will always be a slave to what happened!

◦We say…”But you don’t know what happened to me!” This is the victims mentality.

◦In John 1, it shows the truth that believers are given the right to become children of God. This speaks to the new identity and authority we have as part of God’s family. You have the right as the King’s kid and you are no longer the victim. You have decision to magnify Him so let’s stop looking back on what happened to us.

◦Philippians 2:6-7 (Look at the 2nd part of this scripture). This is the Christmas message and it’s also the salvation message! Verse 7 “Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.”

◦HE TOOK THE HUMBLE POSITION OF A SLAVE!  

◦He lowered Himself. So…How do we need to do that? WE KNEEL!

◦The King is kneeling! He Humbled Himself. He was God, but still lowered Himself!

◦The Hebrew word “Barak” To kneel – The word means to kneel, symbolizing humility, submission, or worship. This meaning is closely tied to the act of blessing because kneeling was often associated with giving honor or receiving blessings.

◦Your power comes from your knees! Sports examples. Basketball, Wrestling….Think about it…the POWER comes from the knees in these sports.

✓THIS IS HOW YOU FIGHT YOUR BATTLES!

✓Bent Knees Breaks Chains!

◦Praying on His Knees: Daniel 6:10: Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

◦Elijah’s Posture in Prayer 1 Kings 18:42-44 (NIV): 42 “So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 43 ‘Go and look toward the sea,’ he told his servant. And he went up and looked.‘There is nothing there,’ he said. Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’ 44 The seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.’”

◦BENT KNEES IS HOW WE FIGHT OUR BATTLES!