HOW GOD FOOLED SATAN AT CHRISTMAS
"... the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." 1 Corinthians 2:8, NAS
First, understand that Satan is a created being. He shares none of the attributes of Almighty God -- not omniscience, omnipresence, nor omnipotence, meaning that he is limited in knowledge and space and power. When it comes to predicting what God is going to do next, Satan is a lot like us, he has to rely on what he can figure out. He has to depend on what he remembers from the timeless past when he resided in heaven as a favorite angel and what he can read and understand from the Holy Scripture. He knew from Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. What he did not know was the timing of the Savior's birth.

SATAN WAS LYING IN WAIT FOR THE MESSIAH.
The first thing God did was to choose a man and woman not from Bethlehem, but from Nazareth, far to the north. Secondly, he saw to it that the woman's purity and morality would not be doubted. The third thing God did was to arrange to move Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in time for the birth, but not so as to draw attention to themselves. Mary and Joseph were among thousands returning to their ancestral homes for the census. With Bethlehem's inns and available homes filled, the young couple took the only thing offered, a stable.(Luke 2:7) One thing Satan knew -- God in heaven would not allow his Son to be born in a barn. but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NASB)
When Jesus was born, God prepared a welcoming committee of the lowliest people on the planet -- shepherds -- primarily to reassure the young parents that all was well. Satan had no way of seeing the angels that appeared to these sheep-herders that night or hearing their clues on how to identify the Baby.(Luke 2:12) Later, a delegation of foreign visitors arrived. These "magi from the east" had created no small stir in Jerusalem as they naively announced their search for the one "born king of the Jews" (Matthew 2). From the gifts they presented, Joseph was able to finance a sudden trip to Egypt made necessary when murderous King Herod sent soldiers on a search-and-destroy mission for the babies of Bethlehem.

SATAN HAD LOST JESUS.
Jesus grew up with a normal Jewish childhood in Nazareth. He was not a "Superboy in Smallville," amazing the hometown folks with his miracles and inspired teaching. The first the devil learned of Jesus' identity was the day the Lord stepped into the waters of the Jordan and waded to John the Baptist. John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (HCSB) And that's how everyone learned that the Messiah was Jesus from Nazareth.
Jesus' baptism was his coming out. The gloves were off. The game was afoot; the battle was being fought. For approximately three years Satan tempted Jesus over and over. Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! Hebrews 4:15 (CEV)
It finally came to a head one day on a hill outside Jerusalem when Jesus was crucified. For three days, Satan reveled in his apparent victory. Then, on that first Easter Sunday morning Jesus arose from the grave!

HOLIDAY ADS ASK, 'WHY BELIEVE IN A GOD'?
You better watch out. There is a new enemy in the Christmas wars. Ads proclaiming, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake," are visible on Washington, D.C., buses. The American Humanist Association is sponsoring the ads that will be running through the end of December. Fred Edwords, spokesman for the Humanist group, said, "We are trying to plant a seed of rational thought and critical thinking and questioning in people's minds." The humanist group’s position is that “many people imagine that the only way to be good in this world is through belief in a god.” Humanists use reason and the tools of science to better understand our world and the best way to live in it. Humanists understand that compassion for fellow human beings, as well as an acknowledgment of their inherent dignity and worth, must form the basis of our interactions with each other. They offer the question, “Does religious faith offer the only lens through which to judge life’s events?”
Several problems in our society exist as a result of a humanist philosophy. The fist problem is foundational to community and order within any community. Humanists ask, “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness sake.” There is no such thing as existence without a god. Voltaire was partially right when he said, “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him.” People who refuse to worship or even acknowledge the One True GOD, always choose to worship a false god, most often themselves. Whatever a person chooses to be their god becomes the basis for their values. Who or what we worship, determines our view of what is right and what is wrong. Without the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, there are no absolutes, therefore each person chooses what is right or wrong based upon their own desires.
A second problem is exposed in the statement, “Just be good for goodness sake.” Why? If there is no god or no heaven, then why should anyone be good? This attitude can be seen in our society in the “just don’t get caught” philosophy of life. The trend is to view our actions not as what is right or what is wrong, but by asking, “What are my chances of getting caught?” Case in point: right now ask yourself, “When I’m driving, do I obey the speed limit because it is the law or do I disobey the speed limit because they never run radar on this road.”
So here are only two problems that result from a humanist philosophy, I assure you there are many more and more still to come. We have a solution. As a Church, we can begin to share God’s love through our actions. We can live out the promise in our lives. It only takes 3 things:

PRAYING
Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16 (NIV)
They [Christians] devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NIV)
GIVING
For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘You must willingly open your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land.’
Deuteronomy 15:11 (HCSB)
So they sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. Acts 2:45 (HCSB)
SERVING
For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. Galatians 5:13 (HCSB)
Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.
1 Peter 4:9-10 (HCSB)
At Deltona Lakes Baptist Church we call this G P S.

LEADING A BIBLE DRIVEN LIFE
(revisited)
The most fundamental question every person will ever wrestle with is "Why am I here?" Unlike past generations, people today are searching for meaning in life, a purpose for living, something that makes their life worth living. For instance, in Colossians we’re told, "… for everything -- absolutely everything -- above and below, visible and invisible, everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him” (Colossians 1:16, Msg).
The problem is almost everyone is driven by their feelings. Even in spiritual matters we often defend our position by stating, “I feel like God is . . .” However, Jesus and ALL of the apostles teach something completely different. They teach that our lives are to be Bible Driven. That is to say that we live according to the boundaries established by God, communicated to us through the Bible.
The Bible teaches that God had five purposes in mind when he made each one of us. Discovering and living these purposes is the single most important thing any of us can ever do. Teaching these five purposes to our children is foundational to truly training them in the ways of the Lord.
The Bible states: People ARE CREATED BY GOD TO FOR HIS PURPOSES.
Number 1: WE are planned for God’s pleasure –WORSHIP
Revelation 4:11 (NLT) says, "You, God, created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.” We need to build into their lives the precious knowledge that they were created as an object of God’s love. The Bible says "God IS love (1 John 4:16).” It doesn’t say "He has love,” it says "He IS love.” In addition, God created us to know and love HIM. Worship is the activity of loving God. It is the way we respond to God for what HE has done.
Number 2: WE are made for telling others about GOD’s Love–OUTREACH
Jesus said in John 17:18 (Msg), “[Father], in the same way you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.” Every believer has a ministry to believers, and a mission to unbelievers. Believers are commanded to encourage each other (Ac 11:23; Col 4:8; 1Th 3:2; 1Th 5:11; 1Th 5:14; Tit 2:4; Heb 3:13) Additionally, we are commanded tell others about God’s love. Studies show people are far more receptive to hearing the gospel from a friend than a stranger.
Number 3: WE are formed to be in God’s family–RELATIONSHIPS
He gave us this longing because his second purpose in creating us was for us to become a member of his family. Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) teaches us, “His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family.” We need to understand that the Christian life is not just a matter of believing; it’s also about belonging. God didn’t create us to be lonely believers; we’re made to belong to the family of God. This is why the author of Hebrews wrote, Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing . . . Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)
Number 4: WE are created to imitate Christ–DISCIPLESHIP
He created each one of us to be like Christ, and we call that discipleship. God made us to transform us into the likeness of his Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible says in Romans 8:29 (Msg), “God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.”
Number 5: WE are shaped to help each other–SERVICE
God created each of us to serve him, and in the church, we call that ministry. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) teaches, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Every Christian is created to serve, and that means each teen is called to ministry, created for ministry, saved for ministry, and uniquely gifted for ministry. The Bible makes it very clear that every Christian is a minister, regardless of age.
Each of us have the power -- today -- to begin building into the lives of people we know a strong sense of how God created each of them for five specific purposes. Teaching people to be Bible driven in their lives will strengthen them against temptations and discouragement and will help them learn early in life to stay focused and disciplined.