A MEDIATION ON CHRISTMAS

When I meditate on this time of the year and what we call the Christmas (word not found in the KJV of the Bible) season I must conclude this is the most divisive time of the year just ahead of Easter. I wonder why these two holidays divide so many people in the world. Now I will tell you from the start Karen and I do not celebrate Christmas how can we the word is not in the KJV Bible, but we do celebrate the birth of our precious LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. As Christianity began to spread many were alarmed by the continuing celebration of pagan customs among their converts. We even see this throughout the New Testament Church as Paul constantly battled against pagan and cultural traditions from taking root in the young Church. At first the Church forbade this kind of celebration. But it was to no avail. Bible historians claim that the Christmas celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also to the Persians (Babylonian Chaldeans) whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. Oddly enough it was during this period the three Wise Men (also Magi) (Matthew 2:1) learned of the Star of Bethlehem by reading the prophecies of Daniel the Great Magi (Daniel 1:1-7). Sadly this religious deception continues today, even though the faces and names has been changed the spirit and intent has not. We Christians seem to be good at making up things to satisfy our flesh for fulfillment. Now as I said Karen and I do celebrate the birth of Christ, there is a huge difference. As we watch the news we cannot believe all of the fighting to keep Christ in Christmas. Where in the Bible did Jesus ask us to remember His birth? Now I can find plenty of Scriptures in the Bible where Jesus has asked us to remember His death, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-26) Who wants to remember Jesus’ death when we can remember His birth? Yet few Christians really remember His death (Romans 6:3) while they go crazy in remembering His birth. I wonder why? Yes there is a wonderful story about the birth of Jesus in the Bible, but where are we commanded to make His birth an annual holiday like we in American have made: Independence, Veterans, or Valentine Day even Halloween? And when you merge religious with traditions and customs you have an unbeatable national money maker. Is not Jesus’ birth much more? Yes my friend I am afraid we have gotten off track and the merchants of the day (and for 100s of years) have capitalized on our selfish greed (maybe only in America, but I think not) and great presumption. The same way Hollywood has recently discovered the untapped market for Christian movies. I find it really strange how many Christians today would rather go to a movie then to Church to hear about Jesus. I wonder why? It is not about fighting to keep Christ in Christmas or even about a baby in the manger. You know we really like seeing baby Jesus in the manger, but you know my friend Jesus is not a baby any more, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34) Today Jesus is not a defenseless baby in the manger He is our victorious King of kings, Lord of lords, and someday soon He is coming back to earth not as a baby, but as a judge (to kick butt) and rule (to set righteousness in order) in the earth. Something else we are puzzled about is why Christians want to beat up on the Atheist in Washington State who put a sign beside a manger display in the Capitol building. I thought we were to witness to them and tell them about Jesus? There is not much of a Christian witness when we shake our fist and gnash our teeth at someone over a wooden display. How can this sign destroy the eternal timeless message of our precious savior Jesus Christ? It cannot and will not. Has the love of God been displaced by Christians wanting their traditional religious symbols? I too can speak for God and sadly I must say yes. Jesus did not come so that we could decorate our trees and yard with gold and silver balls or blinking lights. Jesus did not come so Christians could deck the halls with a blow up Santa Claus and reindeer on their roofs and lawn. What do we do with these verses? “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers that it move not.” (Jeremiah 10:2-4) Maybe we should ignore them or maybe the Holy Spirit made a mistake? I think God is very clear in what He is saying, but we continue in the lie with Christmas trees (a German custom) out from our American tradition (now transported to the world) and because we do not want to offend family members. Just look at the Christmas trees in churches today? What do we do with these verses? The answer will be what we do with Jesus. Never forget the Gospel message of Christ is very offensive and at times even divisive to the non-believers, but truth is truth. Either we will stand for truth or compromise for the lie for the sake of peace on earth. The truth is Jesus did not come so we could have songs to sing at our annual Christmas musicals. It is amazing how old Christmas recordings from people long ago come back to life every Christmas. Jesus did not come so we could run ourselves to death, buying presents for people, while going further into debt. It is no wonder support in America for missionaries and humanitarian programs dwindle to almost to nothing this season of the year. I am afraid the true character and nature of man comes out during Christmas. We even plug in a written list to a jolly fat man in a red suit that drives a sleigh of reindeer around the world in one night to make sure we get want we what for Christmas. Why do we think we should get a present on someone else’s birthday? Our selfishness and self-centered nature really comes shining through. Oh Lord please forgive us for the indulgence of our wrong attitudes, greed, and lust. Jesus did not come to give us a Christmas season to feed our passions. The Bible is very clear why Jesus came. Jesus tells us in His own words, “The thief (not the devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Jesus came so that we “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” not to get a bunch of Christmas presents to satisfy our flesh. Jesus came so that we might (our choice not His) have the life of God dwelling within our heart and lives. The creative eternal life of God moving in us and out from us to the world. Also in John Jesus tells us, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) Jesus came so that we might have life eternal (one part of salvation) which is knowing His Father (and ours), so that we too could “know the only true God” as Jesus did. So we too could know the sublime unity of knowing God as Jesus did. I would think that would be worth far more than anything we can buy each other. Did you know, Jesus (even though the Prince of Peace) did not come into the world to bring peace as many of the major denominations and religions of the world tell us. Religious deception always leads us away from Christ into the traditional religious worship of the customs of man (like Christmas and Easter) and into a good works salvation thinking. Oh no Jesus Himself said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance (Strong’s #1639 to cut into two parts, cleave asunder, sever) against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39) Jesus has come to cut our hearts out of the world with His word, the sword. Jesus has “come to set man at variance against” or sever every relationship where we love someone or something more than Him. Jesus came so that we could take up our cross (not Jesus’) and follow Him. Jesus came so we could lose our life so that we could then find our life in Him. We know and are persuaded if we lose our life for His sake we shall find it. We also know many of our friends will disagree (we hope and pray this is not the case) with this article, but that is okay getting the truth of the Gospel message out is more important than our friends getting offended at us. If they get offended at us over this article we know they probably are not our friends anyway. We have learned this truth the hard way. Please do not allow yourself to be deceived (your choice) by any pastor or person that says, “it is not a Heaven or Hell issue or it does not really matter” oh really? This thinking my friend is just spiritually wrong and a very subtle form of deception that has been carried on for 100s maybe 1,000s of years by the religious denominations and merchants both working hand-n-hand to get customers. Sadly at the heart of why we focus on the Christmas story and baby Jesus in the manger is so we do not have to deal with a risen Savior. How much more religious can we (like the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17)) who could not totally sell out be than to bow down and worship the Christmas story and the sweet little baby Jesus in the manger? This satisfies our religious flesh and helps to ease our guilt and feeling of disobedience from rejecting God’s word to us. Who wants to allow God to deal and judge in their hearts exposing areas where we must allow Him to work? It is much easier singing another song about Christmas as we buy presents for our family or even as we buy a present for some poor people who live down the street who we neglect the rest of the year. It is far less painful to go to every church musical and spend all we have than for God to be able to show us who we really are. Who wants to allow God free rein in our heart and lives to conform us into the image (icon) and character of Jesus Christ? Very few people do and the rest continue in this traditional religious lie year after year. I think I will end with a very sobering word; if you need a traditional religious holiday to know God sadly my friend your heart is very far from Him and you will never come to know Him. Let us turn our hearts away from the religious traditions of Christmas and allow God to bring the truth of His character and nature to us. It is our choice whether we desire presents on Christmas morning or the knowledge of God, we cannot have both. Written by David Stahl   

WTFMT 85 9FROM HGM ON 8 DEC 20)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-85

TEXT: "So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba."    (Genesis 21:19)

I.   ENLARGEMENT

      A.  The adjustment is made; the dwelling place is found, after severe testings.  Abraham underwent a severe test in offering Isaac to God.  After this he "returns to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba."

      B.  Enlargement always comes to those who are to be used of God.  Abraham takes up residence in Beersheba after the test, the trial.  It is also after the provision of the ram caught in the ticket (Genesis 22:13).  In the case of Ishmael it is after the provision of the well (Genesis 21:19).

      C.  So, this is the pattern; AFTER testings and trials, AFTER the discovery of provision, AFTER adjustment, contentment, and satisfaction Beersheba is found to be a good dwelling place.  It is not so good at first sight that everybody gas flocked there.  It's crowded.  Those in Beersheba find that they have a lot of elbow room.

       D.  We saw a few weeks ago, Isaac had trouble finding elbow room in other places.

             "And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. ²³ And he went up from thence to Beersheba."  (Genesis 26:22-23)

Rehoboth (strong #7337-7344) means to enlargement or make broad open places.

      E.  The further removed we are from the striving masses, the roomier life becomes.  Isaac moved from Gerar to Beersheba, which becomes his dwelling place.  Beersheba as well as Rehoboth, is a roomy place.  There's nobody there who is going to give him a rough time, nobody to say, "Hey! That well is mine!"  The strivers don't even know the well is there.   

       F.  Maybe he dug this well in secret, where the striver could not see him at work.  

            "But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret."  (John7:10)

There are some things we must keep between us and God.  There are some works that must be secretly done.  Away from the eyes of the strivers, away from the hands of the those who would take advantage and waste our effort.  Like digging a well. 

      G.  We need to be learn by example of Jesus how to shut our mouth.  Be taught when and where to share. A word spoke at the wrong time does nothing, but one word spoken at the right time has changed history.

      H.  Away from eyes even things from the beginning of time was done away from man eyes, all done in secret, but always come into the light.

                 "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."  (Matthew 13:35)

It is amazing how God can keep a secret.  And us? 

      I.  God's real work is done in secret where no man can see.  The changing of or not changing of our hearts is done in secret.  The changing of motives, intentions, and attitudes is first done in secret, then openly manifested to the world to see.

           "For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad."  (Luke 8:17)

Whatever we are the world will see.  God will make sure of that.

 II.  PARTING THOUGHTS

      A.  There is a lot of room in God.  And there is a relationship between roominess and our life with God.   

      B.  Enlargement is what Israel sought and was promised from the time of their deliverance from Egypt.  And Beersheba relates to this enlargement, the inheritance of Israel: "From Dan even to Beersheba,"

           "Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person."                     (II Samuel 17:11)

The was the extent of the Promised Land, as far as Israel possessed.

      C.  In God through Christ Jesus is where our inheritance is found.  Through our relationship, our commune what we have made with God, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of the Old Testament.  Then we can inherit the promised land: from earth even to heaven.

His Will Be Done

In America today we are in the final stages of an election for the Presidency of the United States where much is at stake not only for America, but the entire world. At this point one candidate has declared himself the victor and the other candidate has declared he has been cheated. I hear Christians on both sides say God's will be done. But wait a moment God did not cast a ballot in this election or did He? Often we wrongfully think God is in charge of every little thing in our lives. I remember hearing people say God tells them the color of pants and shirt to wear, really? I will be honest I do not believe God really cares what color pants I wear, the color of my shirt, or even if my favorite college football team Navy wins. Now God does love us very much (He sent His Son to earth to die for the remission of our sins) and I know God is very concerned about us greatly especially with our character and integrity. After all how can we represent a holy and righteous God if our character does not speak of God's character and we lie, cheat, and steal (sounds like I am talking about the Democratic Party in this election), if we support evil and those who shed innocent blood, those that support a lifestyle that is contrary to what the word of God says. Those who are in direct rebellion to God and His word. I will be honest I pity the church in America. I cannot believe how many so called Christians voted for a democratic party that is 180 degrees out from what God wants to see on this earth. My friend for those who voted for the democratic party, your day is coming. Oh you may have won this election (by stealing and cheating), but please know to do it you have sold your soul to the devil and I promise you he will come and collect on earth and then on judgment day standing before God you will have to give account for every vote you made against God and His word while the aborted babies will be screaming guilty, guilty, guilty. Now to be honest the biggest issue here is not really the election for the presidency, oh no the biggest issue here is your soul (blacks, whites, sinners and Saints alike) and its final outcome if not confessed and repented of. So now here is the 64 million dollar question; does God pick winners and losers? Does God put someone in authority over another person so His plan on earth can be accomplished? Well yes and no. One of most important capabilities God gave man (let me say that again) God gave man is man's ability to have free will. Now if I was God I would make everyone love me and do what I want them to do, but we all know our God would cease to be a loving God who is concerned and wants us to come to Him in love in our heart willfully choosing Him over the world, the flesh, and the devil. The angels I believe do not have this ability and is why they can never be saved by grace. And can never have that intimate relationship with God. You know the more we choose God the more we will love Him and the more He will chose and love us. Now again God loves everyone. Yes I love children, but there is something more special in the way of love Karen and I hold in our heart for our kids than we do the kids of other parents. God is no different. God wants all men to saved, but God gave man free will to be lost if they desire. Peter tells us, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) Yes God loves everyone and is "not willing that any should perish," but we know they will. The Bible tells us Hell and some day the Lake of Fire will be full of people (also so called Christians) who have rejected God. John tells us in Revelation, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8) Wow God puts "liars" in this group and we think little white lies are okay? So God wants all to be saved, but He does not force them. As a matter of fact in almost all issues of our lives we decide by what we really want to do. God does not even force me to love the best woman in the world (Karen my wife), but I do it because she loves me and has given herself for me. How can I not love her? Yet in all of man's free will God is still in charge. God gives man a free will to choose everything even their earthly government leaders. God gives us His word and we are to pick the leaders that best supports Him and His word. Our will is held in check by our heart condition before God. In past elections in America the choice of our leaders were made by people who have a fear of God, but today in America that is not the case. God has been removed from the streets and avenues, from minds and hearts of America so the will of the people is easily seen in the lifestyles they keep, what the people do and say, what they say they believe, what they watch on TV and at the movies, habits, and what they think is important in their everyday life. All of this is based not on God's will, but the will of the people. God will not pick our next president, oh no the people will based upon their heart condition. Yet God does have influence in the peoples decision not by making them pull the lever for one over the other, but He will let us see what they say and believe, what their governing platform will be. And if a Believer God gives us a spiritual wherewithal to know the difference between holy and unholy, Godley and ungodly, righteous and unrighteous, and we choose between the candidates and if we choose wrong we and the nation will suffer. We and the nation who chooses unrighteousness like: abortion, homosexuality, LGBGT lifestyle, Black Lives Matter, and socialism will suffer, God's word promises it. In Proverbs we read, "Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. 34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:33-34) God expects, He is counting on us to choose between life and death, righteousness and unrighteousness, it is our choice (our free will) what we want to have. God tells us in His word, "righteousness exalts a nation" so do we want to be "sin" or "righteousness" well, just look at the platforms of the two parties and choose. In 1 Samuel we find a wonderful story to support my thoughts. When we choose wrong we get a leader like Samuel tried to stop in King Saul. The people wanted a king, but God did not want Israel to have a king, especially Saul, but the people wanted what they wanted and God gave it to them. God did not force their will. We read, "Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them." (1 Samuel 4:4-9) God did not want the people to have a king, especially King Saul, but the people wanted what they wanted based on their evil heart condition towards God and His Prophet. So too in America today. If you read the end of the chapter you will discover it does not end well for Israel and my friend the same may go for America. God did not stop them from their desires and He does not stop us from our desires, but He does give us choices, He lets us know if we do this then we will get that and if we do that we will get this. He gives us our will, but notice my friend the end of the chapter four, "And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.? (1 Samuel 4:18) Sadly the same for America. Written by David Stahl