The Story of Christmas

PEACE  Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink: but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost”. Luke 2:14, The angels said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”. That peace is here today, and it only comes through Jesus Christ.  That peace in Philippians 4:7 that passeth all understanding is coming from Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Luke 2:14, the angels said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”.  He told us to praise the Lord…”Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice”. 4:5, “Let your moderation be known unto all men.  The Lord is at hand. 6, Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” That peace that passeth all understanding, that is a promise that God give unto us. Saint John the 14th chapter, the 27th verse, he said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” These are the words of Jesus Christ our Savior. He was a sweet baby Jesus who was born and became a man.  There is no need of going through life scared and worried about things because there is hope in Jesus Christ.  There is peace in Jesus Christ. There is joy in Jesus Christ.  It is not in the things that we can obtain in this world.

PLEASURES OF SIN  Normally, there are parties galore where people will celebrate Christmas.  No doubt many people will be intoxicated and doing things that are just ungodly in this world celebrating Christmas.  That is not the celebration of Jesus Christ.  The Bible tells us in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost”. Those things that are out there that people enjoy…the pleasures of sin that they enjoy…they are only for a season.  That is not from God… that is of this wicked world, and they are going to fade away.  1 John 2:16, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”. 17, And the world passeth away.  We need to have this joy that he spoke about.  The joy that is unspeakable. It is a peace that passeth all understanding.

Moses, when he was born, the Bible said he was a proper child.  He was raised in the house of Pharaoh but the Bible said he chose rather to suffer the afflictions with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.  The pleasures of sin people enjoy around Christmas time will fade away. They will take them to hell but if they will come to Jesus Christ, there is a joy that God puts in people’s heart that is beyond anything this world has to offer. In Galatians 5: 22, the Holy Ghost gives you great things that you are looking for.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the spirit.”  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, today.  We don't need to have that type of rejoicing. Be encouraged not to do those things.

TURN YOUR HEART AND LIFE OVER TO JESUS...Let us have the joy that God talked about.  He said those joys that were at his right hand were there forevermore. What you will enjoy in this world, it is going to fade away but if you have the joy of God, it will last forever. There are a lot of temptations that Satan would have to offer, and he would love for you to just reach out there and grab a hold of those things. People fight temptations and then they just give over…they cannot seem to overcome.  But, you just hold on. Do not let Satan tell you that it is okay.  The trouble is there. Some people who are doing these things are doing them believing that it is okay…that it is alright to do these things...that is a dangerous situation to be in. That is a child of bondage.  If you are fighting temptations and these things are about you, just hold onto God's unchanging hand.  He will bring deliverance. 

REST  In Matthew, 11:28 Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.  So, if you will do that and trust in the Lord…if you will come to him, he will bring that peace that you are looking for. He will bring joy that you are looking for.  Do you know how you will have the hope that this world doesn't have?  Those are the things that you find in Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost. Those things come to you. James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love him”. That is a beautiful verse. We want to be able to endure those things.

As you celebrate Christmas and hear of the story about baby Jesus in a manger, no doubt there will be gifts that you will give.  Some folks may not be able to buy gifts.  They may give gifts that are handmade which may be all they can do.  If these gifts are given with love, God loves that, and the one receiving the gift should accept it.  In James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”.  That is beautiful. The gifts of God come from above. 

The gift of Jesus Christ, it came from above.  Nobody loves you as much as God does.  God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son for us to be saved. That is what Christmas is about. Jesus is the reason for the season...Come and Worship with Us this Sunday! 

~ Consider what we say and the Lord will give you understanding in all things.