A MEDITATION 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     

BEFDL 11 (From HGM on 21 Dec 21)

BIBLICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING-11 TEXT: 

"The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:" (Deuteronomy 1:6) 

 I. BEING DISTURBED BY GOD 

 A. As shown in Deuteronomy 1:6, God rules in the havens and His government is in absolute control. We cannot measure God's grace. It is overwhelming and beyond our comprehension and understanding. It is all inclusive, so that none are rejected from it unless they choose to be. We can rest in that security even if God the Father does not have us in place of comfort. 

 B. The Lord at times will move us from our place of ease. Just as the Lord lead His children out of Egypt to the mount of blessing, the place where they had it all, and then told them to move on, He will cause us to move out of our comfort zones. 

 C. "Moving on" is a continuing theme in Bible. So too in our lives the Lord will move us out of a place that we enjoy and we find comforting. Yet He has an ultimate purpose, though we may not see it with our natural eyes of understanding. 

 D. In God's government there are three resounding elements. Through these elements, He desires to show us that our destiny is sure in Him and to reassure us that He is working towards that end. This is the certainty upon which we must plant our feet. God love and desires for our lives. 

 E. God will disturb us! He needs to keep us from being settled and attached, and earthly-bound in our thinking and ways. Though in the world we are not of this world. Abram (later Abraham) was told, "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 12:1) 

 F. Not knowing where he was going, but following the LORD's direction he and his family took off and heads out. This today would be a very disturbing thing to do just to pack up and head out on the open road. Yet as Abram followed the LORD in blindness day-by-day he began to see God's beauty and how God was working on his behalf. 

 G. But first though, he had to be disturbed. We are often reminded by God that this earth is not our place to build or castle. If not we will sink roots of dreams, ambitions, and plans deep into the earth and it's systems of life. 

 H. Why did God allow Satan to disturb Job? Maybe because in his heart, Job was saying, "I am at ease." "His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east." (Job 1:3) As God's children we must take in the full scope of things, what we call the good and the bad. In the end are we able, as Job was, to stand on the ash heap when God disturbs us and say, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord." 

 I. Joseph also retained his integrity in the time of trial while God was disturbing him. As with Joab and Absalom (2 Samuel 14) God may set your fields on fire in order to bring you before the King of Kings. J. As God settles us we began to see God's government, point two, is progressive. He will continually call us to those things which are greater, higher, and deeper in Him. We are to be in love with the Man from Galilee to a point of surpassing all understanding no matter what is going on in our lives. 

K. The eagle stirs up her nest to push the baby eaglets out just as our Father must push us. "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:" (Deuteronomy 32:11) Again and again He will take us from the safety of our nest into the buffeting winds. And drop us to see if we have learned to "mount up at thy command." "Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? (Job 39:27) 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS 

A. With time, however, we will learn the flow of the wind currents and be able to soar to the new heights where He calls us. We cannot stay where we are at and attain the glory of the kingdom. 

B. We must be willing to take the initial step of letting God disturb us. Which brings us to our third point, He will never let us fall. Like the mother eagle God will soar down and catch us on His wing keeping us from dashing on the rocks below and He always returns us to the safety of the nest to continue the learning process again and again until, "She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place." (Job 39:28)

STEPS TO HEAVEN

As a Believer one of our chief goals is to make it to the Kingdom of Heaven. Books and songs have been written about it preachers and teachers have taught and preached about it, and it is our hope someday to be with the LORD, yet nowhere in the Bible does it say some one has ever been to Heaven and returned to earth to tell us what it is like. Did you know there are 582 verses in the KJV of the Bible that talk about Heaven, it must be a wonderful place to dwell. Oh, there are plenty of crack pots out there trying to make a fast buck on dimwitted Christians who do not know their Bible and want to believe with all of their heart this person died and went to heaven or hell for that matter and came back, but after time and when the facts truly come out they are exposed as a liar, a rich liar, but a liar none the less. You know if you really think about it for a moment it really does not matter what heaven is like because it is light years ahead of the only alternative home for all of eternally, hell. We have all of these concepts, images, and ideas about Heaven and I guess that is okay for some, but we really do not know for sure. Often when we talk of Heaven we often quote, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9) and think Paul is talking about Heaven, but read the next verse, "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." (1 Corinthians 2:10) Paul is talking about the things that God "by His Spirit" here on earth "hath prepared" for us now so that we can make it to Heaven. I surely hope God has prepared things for me and my family now on earth and we do not have to wait till we get to Heaven. But, again all of that does not matter. I mean, what are we going to do if we do not like what God has prepared for us in Heaven? My Bible Teacher Charles Haun talks about a dream he had about going to Heaven. When he was in the first heaven (you know Paul talks about a man he knew that was caught up into the third heaven 2 Corinthians 12:2) he said he was in a big auditorium standing around talking and drinking coffee. Charles said he was not too impressed. Then suddenly an Angel came walking by and Charles asked him where am I and the Angel replied, Heaven. Then Charles asked the Angel where he was going and the Angel said to the second Heaven. So Charles asked if he could go with him and the Angel said, yes. The Angel stepped up to a wall and then walked through it and Charles followed, suddenly he was in a world of light and music. Charles said he has never, in his entire life, felt so wonderful, every cell in his body was alive and worshiping God. The Angel motioned to a bench and Charles took his place, his clothing was suddenly changed and now he was wearing a robe of white light. The Angel touched him on the shoulder and said, come and go with me to the third Heaven. Charles said no this is Heaven to me I am staying here forever, but the Angel said no come and go with me to the third Heaven. Charles agreed and when he stepped forward from the bench his white, light robe was laying neatly folded on the bench and he followed the Angel to another wall and through they went. The Angel motioned for Charles to take a seat and when he did a screen came down in front of him and he saw himself sitting behind the wheel of his car and a man was yelling and cussing at him. It looked like he just ran into this man's car and he was letting Charles know it. Just then he felt waves of energy scan his body up and down, then he woke up. Charles said he thinks he was being checked out to see if he qualified to enter into the third Heaven. Yes, I am sure Heaven will be an amazing place, but really what matters is not what Heaven is like, oh no, what really matters is do we know how to get there? You can ask 100 people how to get to Heaven and you may get 100 different answers so I guess the only real source for us to use to find out how to get to Heaven is to use the Scriptures. Now before we get going we must understand the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven because they are not the same thing. As a matter of fact the Kingdom of God is not a place at all. Now the Kingdom of Heaven is a place where we shall dwell with the LORD for all eternity, where ever that is, then in the New Jerusalem on earth (see Revelation 21:1-5). But the Kingdom of God is much different. Paul tells us what the Kingdom of God is, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." (Romans 14:17-19) This is what Jesus came preaching after John the Baptist was thrown into prison, see Mark 1:14. As I said it does not matter how wonderful Heaven is going to be and will we earn a mansion and a crown, oh no, what really matters is do we know how to get there? Now, if you closely read the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:1-12) you will find the kind of folks who have overcome things in this world to be able to be God's son and occupy Heaven. John writes, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." (Revelation 21:7) So what are the things we must overcome to be able to make Heaven our home? Well, I am glad you asked. If you notice in the sermon on the mount you will find some things that we must overcome and notice the reward is not the Kingdom of God, but the Kingdom of Heaven. Now I am not saying if you overcome these things you will go to Heaven, but what I am saying is these are some things we will have to be and overcome in our lives to make it to Heaven. I hope you see this point. So for this article let us use the nine things Jesus said we are "blessed" as steps and if we do them we shall make Heaven our home. Matthew writes of Jesus' words, "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:1-12) Now I am not sure if they are in sequence order or set at random, but for sure they are true to heart because Jesus promised us in this world we shall have tribulation, see John 16:33. So the first step to make Heaven our home is to be "poor in spirit" or not to see any value in our earthly self, humble, meek, lowly in spirit like Christ (see Matthew 11:29), spiritually bankrupt. Here we chose do we want the things of the world that rusts and the moth eats or the things of God that are eternal riches, notice in the Kingdom of Heaven, not Kingdom of God. All of the other steps are built on this first step. If we cannot be "poor in spirit" God cannot use us we will disqualify our self for service. The second step is if we mourn we shall be comforted. Now that is not mourning for the dead or even feeling bad about our situation in life, but it is a mourning where we put our mouth in the dust (see Lamentations 3:27-32), we keep our mouth shut until God tells us what to say, then we have something important to say. The third step meek in spirit goes with the first step, but it pertains to our earthly witness before men. When we come from a position of meekness people will listen, but if we come all preachy and as a know-it-all people will tune us out. Karen always reminds me I can say anything as long as I say it nicely. The next, the fourth step is critical, hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Our thirsts and hungers will carry our direction, purpose, and completion in God. Do we hunger for the things of the world, the things to work for God in ministry like most Christians, or God Himself? Now notice it does NOT say we will be filled with righteousness, oh no, it says we shall be filled. Filled with what? I believe whatsoever we need to do that which God wants us to do. Step five, being merciful. Not too many Christians are merciful. We like to get our pound of flesh in an argument or we like to cram that last bit of truth down some poor sinner's throat. Not to mention business dealings. Giving mercy especially to the one who cannot return your mercy is one of the greatest signs of spiritual maturity and development in God. Wow, who wants to see God? Well, step six and the condition to be able to see God that is now on earth and sometime in Heaven is to have a pure heart. David tells us in the Psalm, "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." (Psalm 24:3-4) Well, how do we get a "pure heart?" Only one way my friend and that is through God's dealings and judgments in our lives. His work in our lives is a purifying fire. Not too many Christians want to be purified because if they are there will be nothing left of themselves. The seventh step has a lot to do with to do with our ability to bring peace and strength into situations and circumstance in life through God. Why is the person blessed if they are a peacemaker? Well, he is at peace with God and himself now He can bring peace to others. Unless we are at peace with God AND our self we will never be able to affect peace in our lives and in the lives of others. What is the value to someone who is in gloom, despair, depression, a gnawing anger for themselves and others, and then someone comes with a life line of cheer, sunshine, and hope? And, the eighth and ninth step go together they are the biggest steps to climb to make it into Heaven because they will be the greatest obstacles we will face in our lives. Now notice if we are persecuted for righteousness sake ours is the Kingdom of Heaven, but NOT if we cause the persecution. We cannot escape from persecution my friend, we cannot escape being reviled, we cannot escape being spoken evil against they did all of this and more to Jesus, they even killed Him. Do we think the servant is greater than the Master? Oh no my friend, all the days of our lives we will have to endure persecution. Paul told Timothy and us, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2Timothy 3:12) Persecution use to be normal experience for the Christian in the Bible, they even looked forward to it, but not so today. I am afraid we (now I include myself here) have gotten soft, maybe that is why we do not see a lot of godliness? Heaven is to be our eternal home, but focus not on Heaven, focus your life on doing the things you need to do to make Heaven your home. Written by David Stahl