Jesus Christ, the reason for the season (Matthew 1: 18 - 25)

Jesus Christ, the reason for the season (Matthew 1: 18 - 25)

Many people celebrate many things. Some celebrations don’t even have a theme. If our team has won a match we celebrate, if we lost, we drink to excess in order to forget. In all of the occasions we think the reason is more important than the means.

As we discussed last week, some people say they don’t celebrate Christmas for so many reasons, so they left one end of the spectrum and went to the other end.

Psalms 137:1

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?

As I view it, they still celebrate, only they do it by abstinence. Christmas has been the talk of the town for weeks . It is always at this season.

Luke 2:13

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

One deeply thought out phrase that caught my eyes was from one of my professors. According to him, there is only one Christmas, the rest are anniversaries. To me this is conclusive for both celebrants by celebration and celebrants by abstinence.

Ecclesiastes 7:2

It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

On a particular day, Christ was born. The rest is history. So to those who celebrate in December, January, March or April, they are just anniversaries. To be on a safer side, I celebrate Christ everyday. By that I cannot miss the birthday.

Galatians 4:4

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

So when you celebrate by celebrating or celebrate by abstinence, remember Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. Be it the virgin birth that caught your attention, or Joseph’s encounter with the angel, or Isaiah’s prophecy that came to pass, Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. The most important though should be his salvic work by which many people are redeemed and their lives and eternity redefined for ever.

1Corinthians 15:1

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Are you redeemed? It calls for a deep thinking as Joseph did may be you will personally rediscover the truth.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. God bless you.

Do you celebrate Christmas? Luke 2: 8-20

Do you celebrate Christmas? Luke 2: 8-20

A lot of people celebrate Christmas and several others don’t. Some people have other things to celebrate on the same date every year. All the same December 25^th is a day of celebration all over the world. Some don’t even bother what is celebrated. They just celebrate. Very few people know what and why they celebrate during Christmas. So do you celebrate Christmas?

Luke 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke’s account of the birth of Christ indicates that shepherds were watching over their flock in the field. This made many scholars argue that Christ was not born in December which happens to be cold. Nobody would stay in the cold to watch over the flock. Arguments on dates, time and season have their own place in getting the facts right. The fact still remains anyway that Christ was born on a date, winter or summer and this for the whole world.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

To me Christmas is for both saints and sinners because saints are actually sinners turned around. How would anyone know whether the sinner, drunkard and whore of today would not be the saints of tomorrow?

Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Moreover, as someone observed, strangers are just friend we never met before. So keeping a very positive attitude we feel that everybody should celebrate Christmas.

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

All the same there should be moderate celebration, not the point of people destroying themselves. Apparently this is the sad aspect of Christmas celebration and in fact many other kinds of celebrations. People just destroy themselves, through excessive drinking and fighting.

Proverbs 23:29

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. 35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

From the first Christmas, many people have been involved in celebrating Christmas, shepherds, angels, kings and commoners. At least some pay lip service to the just born king. Even when he was full grown there still those calling him Lord without doing his bids.

Matthew 7:21

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

So those who know what they are celebrating should do it with a purpose and remind others what celebrating Christmas is all about. God bless you

Christmas is coming (Isaiah 9:1-9)

Christmas is coming (Isaiah 9:1-9)

So what? It always come anyway. Too much ado about Christmas. Really? I think yes but I think not. If you have heard the story of Christmas, then you will appreciate the importance of Christmas. But it comes every year. Truth but not everyone witnesses it. Many people that witnessed Christmas last year are not around to witness this one. Sadly also but real, many other ones witnessing this Christmas will not see the next one. I pray for you that you will see the next Christmas. You will enjoy many more Christmas in good health and in wealth.

Isaiah 9:3

Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

Known facts about Christmas include the fact that Christmas is a time weird things happen. Up till now it hasn’t stopped being weird and I don’t think it is going to stop.

Isaiah 7:10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

There would always be surprises in different forms.

Christmas is a time of fulfilled prophecy. For example the victory over sin and Satan prophesied in Genesis 3 is fulfilled at Christmas.

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

For those who loves Christmas story and who practice the lessons of Christmas, they shall never be subject to sin and Satan anymore.

Hebrews 2:14

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Christmas is a time of love. Real love greater than the love between husband and wife. I mean the kind of love that you practice when you don’t even see anything to gain from it. Take God’s love for an example.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Follow closely is the time of gifts. Even those who don’t appreciate the spiritual significant of Christmas like its social aspect. We give gifts, cards, cash, parole etc. God started that gift giving at Christmas. He gave his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Then Jesus Christ followed suit by giving his life for the remission of human sins including yours and mine, past present and future.

Eph 4:7

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Christmas altered history for ever. The dating system changed for ever by the life of one single man, Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 9:7

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

The future generation is altered for ever. You can now chose eternal life with God.

As you celebrate Christmas this year take a good look at the benefit of Christmas and let God realise its purpose in your life. God bless you