Author: Jim

Consider Christmas

First observed in Rome, 354 A.D.
First observed in Jerusalem 385 A.D.
December 25th was chosen in Rome to coincide with the Pagan Holiday of Sun Worship so that Christians might perform their sacred rites undisturbed, while the Pagans celebrated their Holiday.
In 1647, the Puritans, Baptists, Presbyterians, and Quakers so opposed Christmas that it was outlawed in North America.

CHRISTMAS … formed from the word’s Christ’s Mass.
Occurred in English Language as early as 1038.
ADVENT … the time of preparation, preceding the coming of the Lord.
EPIPHANY … the Festival in the Christian Church honoring the visit of the Magi.
Occurs on January 6th, the 12th day after Christmas.
NOEL … French word – A word shouted or sung as an expression of Joy.
Originally to honor the birth of Christ.
YULE … of pagan Teutonic Origin … the idea of noise or clamor accompanying some feast. In old English it’s used to denote the time of December, January.
CANDLEMAS … the feast celebrating the purification of the Virgin Mary.
Or the presentation of Christ in the Temple. It occurs on February 2nd.

The real reason for Christmas … The birth of the Saviour of the World.
The Old Testament is full of His coming. Consider:
Born of a Woman
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.
Seed of Abraham
Genesis 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
From the Tribe of Judah
Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Born of a Virgin
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Heir to David’s Throne
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.
Time of His birth (fulness of Time)
Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Place of His birth
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

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Spirit of Christmas

The Spirit of Christmas

C – Christian Giving –
   2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let   him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
H – Honoring God for His gift –
   2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
R – Remembering the poor –
   Proverbs 28:27He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
I – Inquiring of Him –
   Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
S – Singing His praises –
   Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
T – Thanks giving –
   Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
M – Making room for Him –
   Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
A – Accepting the gift –
   John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
S – Sacrifice for others –
   Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

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Cradle to Cross

Thoughts on Christmas
The problem with Christmas is the concentration on the celebration,
rather than on the reason for the celebration.
Will there be a Christmas after the Rapture occurs?
Christmas … carried away with the babe in the manger
Easter … hung up with the man on the cross

Let’s consider the life of the Lord Jesus …
The greatest of all teachers … He fulfilled the will of God
Matthew 7:28-29 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Let’s just consider what he did and said … (Just looking into John)
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
John 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
John 10:37-38 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
John 11:45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

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Had Christ Not Come

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Had Christ not come that Christmas Eve
Himself with men to dwell
All would e lost, no hope – no light
He darkness to dispel.
No Saviour and no sacrifice
To pay the price of sin,
No precious blood to cleanse my heart
And keep me pure within,

No righteousness except my own –
No pardon I could claim,
No avenue of prayer to God
Through Jesus’ Mighty Name!
No comfort in my deepest need
No lamp to light my way,
No One to understand and care
To keep me day by day.

No hope, no peace, no Advocate
To intercede for me,
And what of Satan’s subtle snares –
Would I have victory?
No grace of God, no mercy shown
No love to warm my soul,
No Heaven, no crown, no Christ to meet,
No purpose and no goal.

O world of misery and woe
What deep and dark despair –
Had God not sent His Only Son
Our sin and shame to bear.
But Christ HAS come – O Glorious Day,
That Babe in swaddling dress
Grew up to be my Saviour Lord,
My Hope and Righteousness!

By Norma Helgerson

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They Came Seeking

QUESTION? What have you done with Christ since you heard about Him?

Luke 2:8-38
4 groups or types of people in the above text.
All of them had the knowledge that a Christ/Messiah child had been born.
Simeon (vs 25) Anna (vs 38)
Yes, they all knew, but what did they do with their knowledge?
Matthew 2:1-3 Introduces 2 groups or types:
Herod the King and Jerusalem.
Herod was troubled. The puppet Jewish King of Rome.
A tyrant … he was his own god. Nobody would dethrone him!
(many are like him today…they are their own god.)
Jerusalem was troubled. Religion was a way of life. Don’t rock the boat.
Go to temple every Sabbath, Make all the proper sacrifices and offerings.
Be good, God, if he still existed would reward them.
Remember, they hadn’t heard from God for over 400 years.
(Does this sound like anybody you know?).
Matthew 2:4 Introduces a third type. Chief Priests and Scribes … The Religious!
They knew the Scriptures. To be born of a virgin, in Bethlehem.
BUT WHO SAYS IT’S HAPPENED?
(Religious leaders today have the Scripture! Christ Jesus died, was buried and rose again, returned to Heaven and is coming again!). BUT WHEN?
Sure, He’s coming but not in our life time … 2 Peter 3:3-7
Matthew 2:1 The forth group or type … The Wise.
The wise are prepared … remember the parable of the ten virgins
Matthew 25:1-13
The (Magi) Wise men (Probably Jews) came from the east and had knowledge of the Scripture, Seeking the Messiah, the King of the Jews.
Matthew 2:2 They had a sign, ‘seen His star’ they knew something special had occurred. (we Have signs around us today)
They searched, inquired, trying to find Him.
Matthew 2:11 Finally, after a long search they found Him.
They searched, They found, They fell down and worshipped, They gave gifts…
Matthew 2:12 They continued to obey!

Do you remember the Question?
What have you done with Christ since you heard about Him?

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Joseph’s Plan

Christmas is coming and most of us have special plans.
Relatives are coming or we are going to visit them.
Diner plans, shopping plans, what to get for who, plans …
Plans are good, but they must not be short ranged. We must also plan for the future .. what about next year, or 2, 3 or ever 5 five years from now? …..
Consider Joseph:
Joseph had plans … pledged to a young virgin .. marriage … raise a family …train his sons in carpentry … await the coming of the Messiah. Matthew 1:18-20. Yes, he was a just man, righteous, (right with God) walking according to the Laws and Commandments, trusting in the coming of the Messiah, offering in faith the required sacrifices Leviticus 4:27-35. Things were going good for Joseph.
A beautiful young virgin was soon to be his wife and a life of obedience to God….
BUT then a monkey wrench … How did Joseph know about Mary’s Problem? How did he discover her secret? Luke 1:26,39,56, 2:1-5 SHE WAS WITH CHILD! Did she tell him? Perhaps a friend? Or maybe he just noticed! Plans change. ..What should he do? He considered God’s Word! (WE should always consider God’s Word). What to do … PUBLIC EXAMPLE Leviticus 20:10 – PRIVATELY Deuteronomy 24:1
BUT God had extraordinary Plans! Joseph no doubt knew Isaiah 7:14, 9:6.
He just didn’t know about his part in them. Something to remember as we travel life’s road, living for God: God only expects obedience!

God had a special way to communicate His plans to Joseph…
Through a dream an angel reminded Joseph of the prophecy Matthew 1:20-23. Joseph obeys Matthew 1:24.
Notice three things about Joseph… A just man… In the Linage of David… Obedient to God

Today, God speaks to us …
Thru His Word, Matthew 1:21-23
Thru circumstances, Matthew 1:18
Thru our feelings Matthew 1:24

AS we make plans, always remember God has plans for us.

⇛ see Mary’s Problem

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Mary’s Problem

Have you ever had a serious problem? What did you do?
Worry about it or take it to God?
Mary was a young Jewish woman, a virgin who was espoused to a Jewish man named Joseph. Her future looked bright with a wedding on the horizon.
Then she was faced with a problem.
Read Luke 1:26-33
Yes, Mary faced a problem …
vs 28 An Angel’s Greeting …
vs 29 Mary considers what he wants …
vs 31 She is to bare a son …
vs 34 Can’t be, impossible, not married …
vs 37 With God, nothing is impossible …
vs 38 Mary’s response …
Notice what she didn’t do …
She didn’t worry what people would say …
She didn’t worry what her parents would say …
She wasn’t even worried about what Joseph would say …
God called, she responded … in faith!

But what about all the details?
God called … she responded, trusting God.
With God nothing is impossible.

⇛ see Joseph’s Plan

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Our Nation

Our Nation, in fact the whole world, is falling apart…
Spiritually …
Morally …
Socially …
Politically … WHY????
One good answer is WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THE 10 COMANDMENTS!!!
These are not specific, detailed laws BUT principles …. Designed by God!
EXODUS 20:1 And God spoke all these words:
Given by God for the purpose of Life, Liberty and Happiness.
The first 4 give us the way to establish a relationship with the One True God.
The last 6 give us the way to establish a relationship with each other.
The first 4 — spiritual principles.
The last 6 — moral principles.
They cannot, will no save anyone BUT adherence to them will give peace in this life. Look at them:
1) One God 2) No Idols 3) Bad language 4) Sabbath
5) Honor parents 6) Do Not Kill 7) Do Not Commit Adultery 8) Do Not Steal
9) Do Not Lie (false witness) 10) Do Not Covet

As we as Believers ignore them … Our Nation falls apart …
and the world also ignores them … The World falls apart …
Man’s Laws can be changed (and possibly should be)

BUT GOD’s LAWS ARE FOREVER!!!

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Theophany

An appearance of God to a human; a divine manifestation. Theophanies don’t always mean God appears in the form of a man. He can sometimes manifest Himself in fire or a tempest or a still small voice.
A few examples:
Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Genesis 18:1-15 The three visitors visit Abraham and Sarah by the great tree of Mamre.
Genesis 26:2 (Isaac) And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
Genesis 32:24-30 Another example of God appearing on earth is when Jacob wrestles the angel
Exodus 3 Moses and The Burning Bush
Exodus 6:2-3 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Exodus 13:20-22 Pillar of Cloud and Fire
Exodus 24:9-10 Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
Numbers 12:6-8 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
Numbers 22:22-35 Balaam and His Ass
Joshua 5:13-15 Commander of the Lord’s Army Appears to Joshua
Judges 10 Gideon and The angel of the Lord
Judges 13 The Angel of the Lord Visits Manoah and His Wife
1 Kings 19:12 “still small voice” that spoke to Elijah in the cave
Ezekiel 40:3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
Daniel 3:16-28 The Fourth Man in the Fire
Daniel 10–12 Daniel’s Visions
Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Zechariah 1:7-17 Zechariah’s visions
These are but a few examples found in Scripture.
Some could teach that the LAST Theophany would be Jesus of Nazareth, as He was/is God.
Some teach that Theophanies still occur today. But according to Scripture, the way God speaks to Believers today is THROUGH HIS WRITTEN WORD!

Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

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Offense of the Cross

The Gospels only mention it as the form of Death the Lord Jesus suffered.
It’s mentioned in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19

Not mentioned in Acts as the apostle continued preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. Not mentioned in James Peter, John or Jude nor Revelation.

Paul speaks about the Cross 11 times in 6 of his letters.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
Galatians 6:12,14 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. … But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Ephesians 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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