“ As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.” Luke 2: 15-18
The Shepherds were at their duty post when the angels appeared to them and told them the good news of the birth of the Savior.
They took immediate steps to verify and proclaim what they have heard.
What are you doing with the goodness of the Lord that you daily experience?
Take time to share your testimonies as these shepherds did.
Your encounter may not be spectacular like the angels physically appearing to you. However look around you, and you can see the many ways God has been speaking to you.
It has been said, “Our generation worships our work, works at our play, and plays at our worship.” This possibly explains why we don’t have fulfillment.
Don’t just be busy being busy.
Be purposeful.
Live a fulfilling life.
The characters involved in the Christmas story are people who yielded to God by faith, and they saw the results as well as the rewards.
Spread the Good News of what has happened which the Lord has told you about.
“Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas.
The meaning that nowadays Christians has forgotten.”
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. “Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir the tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man’s thoughts turning towards heaven.”
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. “Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a
Savior for the world and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise.”
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. “Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.”
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. “Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love.
Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.”
He then pulled from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF. “Teach the children that I, Santa Clause symbolize the Generosity and good will we feel during the month of
December.”
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. “Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior.
The red holly represents the blood shed by Him.
Next, he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, “Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave His One and Only Son” “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the holy babe and presented him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We should always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men.”
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. “Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds’ crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s keeper.”
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL.
“Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. The angels sang ‘Glory”
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag, he pulled out a BELL. “Teach the children that as the sound of the bell finds the lost sheep, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.”
‘And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.’ Luke 1:31
Troubles and obstacles to your faith are inevitable.
“… Troubles and obstacles to your faith are inevitable, but great devastation will come to the one guilty of causing others to leave the path of righteousness! …………” Matthew 18: (TPT)
For every God ordained assignment challenges will come.
To successfully carry out your life assignments you must know the truth that life is not always a bed of Roses.
Troubles and obstacles do characterize the path of the child of God.
However with God on your sides all the challenges you face become stepping-stones for you to attain the purpose of God for your life.
Its Christmas season, Pastor why are you talking about challenges.???
The Birth, Death and the Triumphant Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ were with its challenges.
From the Garden of Eden when man fell to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed through and surrendered to the perfect will of God in going to the cross were full of Challenges.
All the principal characters that God used in bringing to fulfillment the Birth of the baby Jesus had their share of challenges.
With God’s help, they overcame.
Mary believed the “impossible” manner of conception.
Joseph summoned the courage to stand by Mary when all did not add up.
Joseph again had to outsmart the Foxy Herod.
The wise men merely trusted their guts to look for the king that was born.
The good news of this season is that all the people on God’s assignment succeeded.
Are you in God’s plan?
Be confident that no matter what comes your way as a child of God you will succeed.
As we again look forward to the celebration of the Birth of Christ, it’s a clear and clean reminder that you are an overcomer.
God is unstoppable.
So also are you walking in His Plans and purpose for your life.
” ..the One who is living in you is far greater than the one who is in the world.”1 John 4:4 (TPT)
“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.” Luke 2: 7
Christmas stories and plays often feature the heavily pregnant Mary and Joseph were turned away by the innkeeper because there was no more room for them in the inn hence Mary had to deliver the baby Jesus in the manger. Maybe he did not realize that it was the Savior of mankind that was to be born.
However, if you were the owner of the inn or the keeper today will you still turn them away?
Is there a room, space, a moment; even a pause in your heart today to consider the real significance of God becoming flesh to dwell amongst us humans.
Do you really comprehend and understand the miracle of God’s birth as a human baby?
Definitely, around that time in Bethlehem, all the descendants in the lineage of David were all around getting registered as was commanded.
Today people are busy too making a living and don’t really have time to behold the miracle of salvation and live a life of total reconciliation back to God which is the true essence of Christmas.
“Then everyone from the town went out to confront Jesus and urged him to go away and leave them alone.” Matthew 8:34 (TPT)
When Jesus Christ visited the Gadarenes the people because of selfish economic reasons asked him to depart.
Don’t get too busy with the shopping, parties, concerts and other activities of the season and have no room in your heart for Him.
From the Innkeeper to the people of Gadarenes there were excuses.
Today do not reject Jesus Christ.
Do not Limit Him to specific areas of your life.
Let Him be your Lord and Savoir in All aspects of your life.
With Him as your Anchor, Christmas would have a Real Meaning.
“And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” Matthew 1: 16
Joseph, the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus, was a man who was faithful to his calling in providing all that was required of him.
After his initial hesitation about what he “discovered” about Mary whom he was just engaged. He embraced in total commitment his responsibility as the father of the child Jesus.
Are you committed to the assignment God has revealed to you like Joseph did or you are still arguing?
He was yielded to God and heard the voice of God distinctly.
From the trip to Bethlehem of Judea, the challenges of finding a birthplace for the Savior which ended in the manger, receiving the shepherds and the wise men and fleeing from Herod he was there for God to use and rely on. Can God depend on you?
With Mary, his wife they provided the equal parenting of husband and wife, father and mother to the child Jesus.
Again how are you carrying out your God-given assignment?
Very soon the world will be celebrating Christmas please remember this season that faithful man Joseph the husband of Mary and challenge yourself to be faithful and committed to your calling.
“And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent around into all the surrounding country and brought to Him all who were sick And begged Him to let them merely touch the fringe of His garment; and as many as touched it were perfectly restored.” Matthew 14:35-36 (AMPC)
Do you recognize who Jesus is really His?
When the people in the community in our text today did they sprung to action,
They mobilized all they had to get others to know Him and be completely and totally healed.
The Samaritan woman after recognizing who Jesus went back to her own town and testified that she had seen the Messiah (John 4:29)
“The first thing Andrew did then was to find his brother Simon. He said, `We have found the Messiah!’ (Messiah means the Christ, the messenger of God.)” John 1:41(WE)
Be like Andrew find members of your family that are yet to know Him and pray that the Holy Spirit will help you to be a faithful witness to them.
In this season of celebrating Christmas find every means possible to share your knowledge of Jesus Christ.
“the people living there quickly recognized who he was. They were quick to spread the news throughout the surrounding region that Jesus had come to them. So they brought him all their sick, begging him to let them touch the fringe of his robe. And everyone who touched it was instantly healed.” Matthew 14:35-36 (TPT)
Do you recognize who He is?
Spread the news of His Goodness throughout your surrounding.
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