We have forgotten. Yes, we have. You ask the average citizen on the street and he or she will tell you Christmas is all about the shopping, and the cooking and the eating ( often eating things you don't have no business eating, but I digress ), it's about office parties, company parties, and house parties, going out to drink ( imbibe ), eat, and party, party, party! But, hardly anyone remembers the real reason for Christmas.
The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 2:1-20 (Amplified Bible) tells the story:
1. IN THOSE days it occurred that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole Roman empire should be registered.
2. This was the first enrollment, and it was made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3. And all the people were going to be registered, each to his own city or town.
4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5. To be enrolled with Mary, his espoused (married) wife, who was about to become a mother.
6. And while they were there, the time came for her delivery,
7. And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn.
8. And in that vicinity there were shepherds living [out under the open sky] in the field, watching [in shifts] over their flock by night.
9. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them, and they were terribly frightened.
10. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people.
11. For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!
12. And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find [after searching] a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. [I Sam. 2:34; II Kings 19:29; Isa. 7:14.]
13. Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven (a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying,
14. Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor].
15. When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing ([f]saying) that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.
16. So they went with haste and [by searching] found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger.
17. And when they saw it, they made known what had been told them concerning this Child,
18. And all who heard it were astounded and marveled at what the shepherds told them.
19. But Mary was keeping within herself all these things (sayings), weighing and pondering them in her heart.
20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
Can you imagine being one of those shepherds and seeing the heavens filled with angels heralding Jesus' arrival? No wonder they said ”Let us go see this thing!”
I don't know about you but no one heralded my birth like that! I know the same probably goes for you, too. This means that Jesus Christ's birth had to be VERY IMPORTANT in order to have a heavenly host announce His arrival!
Why was He born? To save mankind from sin! Not for us to run buck wild and shop till we drop, or get caught up in the “holiday madness”. I'm saying this about my fellow believers! Satan is very BUSY this time of year with various distractions ( "holiday demons" ), while many ministries die due to lack of sorely needed funds and continued financial support.
What am I saying? Instead of buying gifts for everyone in sight and out of sight, consider having a "gift fast" by saving your money and putting it into the offering basket at your local church or assembly. God uses “us” ( believers ) to supply the needs of His Kingdom and ministries. Why? Because the non-believers don't know Him, and are therefore NOT subject to Him, and WILL NOT support God's on the Earth! In fact they will try to tear up and destroy it!
We as believers have a responsibility to see to it that God's ministry on this Earth continues! Why? So that the Word of God will continue to be preached, taught, and His plan of salvation gets out to the lost! The Great Commission MUST continue! We must go out into the hedges and the highways to seek and save the lost! That is the purpose of us being saved, TO TELL THEM!
How can we tell the lost about Jesus if the Pastor is not paid and his needs not taken care of? The bible says: You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the grain or corn
Deuteronomy 25:3-5. The Pastor treads out the grain/corn when he studies, preaches and teaches the word of God!
Like the Old Testament High Priest spent the majority of his life ministering to God in the Holy of Holies and then to the people. God has called the pastor from his mundane life/secular job in order that he may be available to study, preach and teach his flock. Now it is your responsibility as a believer through tithes/offering and special offerings to see to it that his ( and his families ) needs are met.
Also, how can we tell the the lost about Jesus if the church closes down because the rent is not paid? How can we tell the lost about the love of God if the churches lights have been turned off? How can we tell them about The Plan Of Salvation if the water or the gas has been turned off? How can we tell them Jesus was born to die for their sins if we've been locked out of our church building because the mortgage has not been paid? As I said before, the "world system" is NOT going to support God's Ministry. You are!
How can we tell the lost about Jesus if the Pastor is not paid and his needs not taken care of? The bible says: You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the grain or corn
Deuteronomy 25:3-5. The Pastor treads out the grain/corn when he studies, preaches and teaches the word of God!
Like the Old Testament High Priest spent the majority of his life ministering to God in the Holy of Holies and then to the people. God has called the pastor from his mundane life/secular job in order that he may be available to study, preach and teach his flock. Now it is your responsibility as a believer through tithes/offering and special offerings to see to it that his ( and his families ) needs are met.
Also, how can we tell the the lost about Jesus if the church closes down because the rent is not paid? How can we tell the lost about the love of God if the churches lights have been turned off? How can we tell them about The Plan Of Salvation if the water or the gas has been turned off? How can we tell them Jesus was born to die for their sins if we've been locked out of our church building because the mortgage has not been paid? As I said before, the "world system" is NOT going to support God's Ministry. You are!
This may sound absolutely crazy but, your friends, relatives and associates all have their individual birthdays. So, that's the time to give them their gifts.
But, on Jesus' Birthday we who are washed in His Blood and called by His Name, should give HIM a birthday present in appreciation for what He has done on the cross for us! After all, Jesus gave His ALL by giving up His very life! So what's mere money in comparison to that?
But, on Jesus' Birthday we who are washed in His Blood and called by His Name, should give HIM a birthday present in appreciation for what He has done on the cross for us! After all, Jesus gave His ALL by giving up His very life! So what's mere money in comparison to that?
I'll end with a quote:
“He who is truly set free, cannot help but seek out, and free others.”
Most appropo, isn't it?
