by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Christmas
Santa Keeping Christ in Christmas
A face-book page posted a picture of a painting The Truth of the Season (painted by Gaye Frances Willard) showing Santa kneeling by baby Jesus in a manger. Along with that post:
“My dear precious Jesus, I did not mean to take your place, I only bring toys and things and you bring love and grace. People give me lists of wishes and hope that they came true; But you hear prayers of the heart and promise your will to do. Children try to be good and not to cry when I am coming to town; But you love them unconditionally and that love will abound. I leave only a bag of toys and temporary joy for a season; But you leave a heart of love, full of purpose and reasons. I have a lot of believers and what one might call fame; But I never healed the blind or tried to help the lame. I have rosy cheeks and a voice full of laughter; But no nail—scarred hands or a promise of the hereafter. You may find several of me in town or at a mall; But there is only one omnipotent you, to answer a sinner’s call. And so, my dear precious Jesus, I kneel here to pray; To worship and adore you on this, your holy birthday.” (Author Unknown)
When Christmas celebrations are completed and all the family goes home, the feeling left in the heart is what concerns the Lord. Sadly, for many, the Christmas celebrations full of excessive drinking and drug abuse birth forth only hanger-over’s. Depression controls many who have the wrong concept of Christmas and a world view of Christmas has made merchandise of the Gospel.
It’s what is done with Jesus Christ that matters! The Bible says that Jesus was conceived in Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:35) Jesus said the Holy Spirit will glorify Him. (John 16:14) Christ is to be center stage; that is the desire of both the Father and Spirit. Every Christian wants to proclaim Christ through Christmas cards, wrapping paper, internet post and whatever other resources are available. They want the Christ of Christmas to be born in the heart of every loved one so they may know the joy of having Him be the reason for the season as well as being King, ruling their heart and lives. Christians want love ones to know what it means for the Savior of the world to save them from the dominion of sin, all that breaks the heart of God, keeping them from knowing His will. (Romans 12:1-2)
What is your prayer for the Christmas season? The Santa in the painting prayed a prayer that revealed the understanding of knowing his purpose, while giving true worship to the Christ of Christmas.
What or who do people see you bow the knee too in worship during the Christmas season? Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6) Be like Santa in the painting, keep Christ in Christmas!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Christmas
Conditions God Sent His Son In
Genesis 49:10 in the New American Standard Bible says, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet until Shiloh comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”
This vision of the future was given from the deathbed of Jacob to his sons and to all who become sons of God through adoption by faith in Jesus Christ. In order for Christians to enjoy this promise, they must understand the condition the world was in when birth of Christ fulfilled this prophecy.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Israel was once again in need of a sign that the Great Deliver, the child to be born according to what is written about Him, had arrived. As we come to understand the truth of this passage of Scripture we must grasp its application to the spiritual heart today.
Judah was under the rule of a descendant of Esua, Herod the Great, the hands of a heathen power. The heart of this ruler was not the heart of a king that fit in God’s perfect form of leadership. Even the Temple was no longer cared for by a priest who could grasp the will of God, rather servants who were governed by fear of Roman oppressors. The people at the time of Christ’s birth were purposely rebellious.
The truth that the Holy Spirit wants you to grasp today is, mankind without the inner-work of the Lord will do whatever it takes to remain on the throne of his heart.
The great news is that in the middle of rebellious times overseen by a God hating government and the church overseen by priest who for the most part had no spiritual discernment, God sent His one and only Son to be born in a stable so mankind may know the Lord.
We live in a government who says they know Jesus, but govern this country in disregard for His Word. Too many churches are responsive to government rule and public opinion more than the council of the written Word of God.
God sending His son in such bad conditions reveals to us that no matter what condition we live in, God will send the Holy Spirit of Christ to reveal the Christ of Christmas to our spiritual hearts! In these conditions, enjoy Christ!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Christmas
Birthed from God’s Word
Another truth worth grasping this Christmas season is that the Word of God can lead you to believe in the Christ of Christmas. When the Magi arrived in Jerusalem they asked, “…Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2)
These brilliant men were serious scholars and it would not surprise me if they were led to look for the Lord because of God meeting them right where they were in what they believed and how they sought out truth. They were interested in astrology and they studied everything they could find about the stars. There is no doubt they were very much aware of the Jewish nation and most likely at some time got their hands on some Hebrew writings. If they had they would have read Numbers 24:17, “…A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel…” (Numbers 24:17) This message was spoken by Balaam who came from the Eastern Mountains. (Numbers 23:7) It is also interesting that many Jews around the time of Christ had moved into the Eastern areas taking with them their sacred writings along with their hope of a king whom would once again make Israel free from bondage. A Roman historian (Suetonious) writing of this time period wrote, “An ancient and settled persuasion prevailed throughout the East that the Fates had decreed someone to proceed from Judea who should attain a universal empire.” A second Roman historian (Tacitus) wrote, “Many were persuaded that it was contained in the ancient books of their priest that at that very time the East should prevail, and that someone should proceed from Judah and posses the dominion.”
The diligent seeking of the wise men led them to more guiding of God’s Word. King Herod found insight from priests and teachers of the law, thus the Magi were sent to Bethlehem.” (Matthew 2:4-9) Their obedience to the counsel of God’s Word opened theirs hearts to supernatural leading and they found themselves led to the place where the Christ child was and they worshiped Him. (Matthew 2:9-11) Let God’s Word lead you to Christ!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Christmas
Holy Spirit illuminated Christians live a life that says, “My hope is in Christ” and they affect generations to come. Matthew 2:1 says, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea… Magi from the east came to Jerusalem…” Who were these “Magi?” The Bible does not say much about these worshipers of Christ.
Extra-Biblical evidence found through Christian historians offers us clues that shed some light. These men were “Magi” (magos) and very likely have been Persian priests. By the time of Christ’s birth these Persian priests became almost exactly what the Levites were in Israel. They became teachers and instructors of the Persian kings and at this time period they were good men, who sought truth and great wisdom. These wise men were skilled in philosophy, medicine, and natural science. They were able to combine secular and religious aspects of knowledge and understanding.
The wise men’s interest in the Messiah may have arisen from contact with Jewish travelers in the east and from knowledge of the Old Testament. What we do know is that the Prophet Daniel had been taken to Babylon as a prisoner of war and as the results of his faithfulness to the Lord, God raised him and his friends to high political positions. (Daniel 4:48-49) We do know that Daniel was also raised to a place of political influence under the King of Persia after the Persians conquered Babylon. (Daniel 6:1-3)
The point is, a Godly man like Daniel and his friends were used by God in a place of captivity for 70 plus years to influence kings and other political positions. God still uses the life of Daniel to give guidance to the lives of Bible readers today. It is very possible that Godly influences had carried on down throughout the Eastern world, and their lives along with the Old Testament teachings had a guiding affect on the Magi.
Let the Holy Spirit place this truth in your spiritual hearts this Christmas season. The Magi may be regarded as the representation of the Gentile world.
Christians are like Daniel, they can live out “Christmas Hope,” which will have an affect on generations to come. Let your hope affect generations!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | Christmas
There are eternal gifts for those who grasp the truths of Christmas with their hearts. Understanding those gifts and walking in the free grace by which these gifts come will completely change a person’s attitude toward the season which we now celebrate.
Most people including church attendees quote only part of the angel’s message from the Lord in Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to men…”
However, the Holy Spirit leads the Children of God to understand the rest of the verse, “…on whom His favor rests.” It is Christians with a heart after God who express a life that walk in the grace and mercy of God.
Pastor Rick Warren was 100% correct when he said, “You are going to find what you are looking for this Christmas.”
For those who have the heart of Pharaoh, He is going to give them that hard heart they so want. (Exodus 8:15; 9:15; 10:1,20,27; 11:1; 14:8; Joshua 11:20; 2 Chronicles 36:13) For those who want to believe the lies of those brought forth by the devil, the Lord will cause them to believe those lies. (2 Thessalonians 2:11; 2 Timothy 3:3-4)
However, there is something different for those who have the heart of David, after his sin was exposed by the prophet Nathan, who wrote, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:10-12) To these types of spiritual hearts God will cast His favor in great amounts. Those who have the favor of God upon their lives will live a life that expresses God’s forgiveness, peace of mind, and eternal life found in Christ Jesus.
The Holy Spirit has this question for all today, “What will you find this Christmas? What will be the expression of your life for all to see?”
By surrendering your life over to the Lord and inviting Jesus Christ to be both Savior and Lord of your life, you can find true Christmas joy, peace and fellowship with God. Search and find the truth of Christmas!
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