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Matthew 2:1-12
King James Version (KJV)
2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
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WHAT'S WRONG WITH CHRISTMAS?
By Simon Brown.
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Christmas (Old English: "Christ's Mass") meaning
“Christ’s Mass") is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ
and a widely observed cultural holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 by
billions of people around the world.Crīst (genitive Crīstes) is from Greek
Khrīstos (Χριστός), a translation of Hebrew “Messiah", meaning
"anointed"; Wikipedia.
Commemorating Jesus' birth. Annunciation, Nativity of Jesus,
and Child Jesus. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary as
a fulfillment of the Old Testament's Messianic prophecy. The Bible contains two
accounts which describe the events surrounding Jesus' birth. Depending on one's
perspective, these accounts either differ from each other or tell two versions
of the same story. These biblical accounts are found in the Gospel of Matthew,
namely Matthew 1:18, and the Gospel of Luke, specifically Luke 1:26 and 2:40.
According to these accounts, Jesus was born to Mary, assisted by her husband
Joseph, in the city of Bethlehem. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Most of us do not need to be a scientist to understand that
Christmas is commercially driven and the exact month and day of the birth of
Jesus is debatable and is unknown, and the true meaning of Christmas is
forsaken. But does that mean we should not remember, pray, and celebrate the
Birth of Jesus Christ and thank God for the greatest gift only God Himself has
given, just as we shall read the shepherds or the wise man demonstrated and
were commanded by God.
As born again believers, surely we do not worship the day,
but the fact that Jesus was born, and
the event and purpose of Jesus being born which many undertake, remember and
NOW for some celebrate at Christmas.
As marriage was ordained by God, so was the remembrance and the celebration of the birth of Jesus ordained by God, although on the wrong day, which we now call Christmas day.
THIS IS BIBLICAL AS WE SHALL READ.
Although many do not understand the true meaning of Christmas day. Born again believers should not be turning their backs on the unlearned people at Christmas, and become religious, but should remember what God does by making good out of all situations and using Christmas to glorify God by reminding misinformed and unlearned people of the main and real reason why most of the world ''now'' celebrate Christmas day.
Born again believers should be making good out of Christmas by putting Jesus back into Christmas, by reminding, awakening and making people aware of what God the Father did.
Born again believers should be reminding, awakening and making people aware of the fact that God sent His angels to inform the shepherds working nearby that Christ the Lord." had been born.
Luke 2:4, has them saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
The shepherds or the wise man were told to celebrate the birth of Jesus by following the star that leads them to Bethlehem the town of David to see for themselves and to find Joseph and Mary and the infant Jesus, where the baby boy Jesus is born, who would be the Saviour of the world.
When the shepherds arrive they ask, "Where is the child who has been born King of the Jews, Christ the Lord.
The shepherds then spread the word about the angels and birth of Jesus, who is Christ the Lord the Saviour of the world.
Even though it is said it was pagan, many Christian still make good from Christmas day.
However there seems to be a new generation of Christian Christmas day scoffers, who do not look at the good side of Christmas.
Sadly, these type of Christians bring up the bad and still live in the past instead of the future and do not forgive and go forward, but instead dismiss and forsake the good in the present day of Christmas.
And the ones who miss out the most, are the little children who love the day of Christmas that increases their knowledge and love for Jesus, because they now learn more about the birth of Jesus, more then father Christmas.
I have noticed that there are certain Christians who appear to be anti- Christmas!!!! They have a bah humbug attitude towards anything to do with celebrating Christmas and make their opinions known to anyone who will listen.
The amusing thing is they will still have their Christmas dinner complete with turkey and a Christmas pudding, eat mountains of mince pies, go to the office Christmas party, accept their Christmas bonus from work as well as gift wrapped presents from anyone who does believe in celebrating Christmas in a traditional way.
Live by the courage of your convictions is what I want to say to them because if you really feel that way what are you doing still enjoying the Christmas festivities. It would be like saying I am a vegetarian and then eating a Big Mac!!
Stop being religious, and live for Jesus.
Stop living in the past, and move to the future.Make good out of the bad.
By Sharing Christmas is a great way to help people to discover Jesus. Don’t throw out the Holy Spirit for religion.
GOD is love, Jesus taught us to love, even our enemies.
NO ONE WILL CHANGE THE DAY OF EASTER AND CHRISTMAS, until GOD and His Son return and make all things NEW and perfect, which is what we Christians pray for daily, our Father which art in heaven, let your Kingdom come, and your will be done.
SO LETS MAKE GOOD FROM THE BAD AND TESTIFY OUR KING JESUS.
By Sharing Christ at Christmas is a great way to help people discover the love of God in His son Jesus.
STOP DELETING JESUS, BY KEEPING CHRIST IN EASTER AND CHRISTMAS.
USE JESUS IN CHRISTMAS TO REMIND THE LOST ABOUT THE KING JESUS.
KEEP OUR KING JESUS CHRIST ON THE ''THRONE'' AT CHRISTMAS.
UP DATE 26/12/2013.
The Parables Of Jesus
In (Matthew 25:14-30)The Talents.
Jesus gave us an important lesson to be productive. There is no greater time than Christmas and Easter to eat and drink with the sinners to call them to repentance just as Jesus did in Mark 2:14-17.
There is no greater opportunity to Testify, Witness, Reveal, and Declare to family and friends the meaning of Christ and present the greatest opportunity to share our faith and Jesus.
Turning our backs on the lost and unlearned and acting religious at a time people need us the most is not confessing Jesus and loving our neighbour and being productive. But is wasting a great opportunity.
Lets shine out at Christmas, The New Year, and Easter, and be the Light Of The World.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Matthew 5:14 KJB.
Instead we should be telling and teaching people Jesus is NOW the reason for the seasons, which is being wise and prudent in acting with love, showing care and thought in hope we can open hearts, which is doing as Jesus commanded. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7. KJB. And we are doing as Jesus said, And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
As for believers who decide to not celebrate Christmas and Easter, that is their own choice and I do not condemn them for that.
However when these so called loving Christians judge, condemn and criticize born again believers for testifying and putting Jesus on the throne at Christmas and Easter and send hate mail.
At Christmas my wife Emma and I had the only opportunity in the whole year to be able to sit down with our unbelieving parents while our daughter was able to put Jesus on the throne and say a lovely prayer at the table before our Christmas meal.
Later we sat down and watched the Queens speech and heard her putting Jesus on the throne saying remember the birth of Christ, the joy which we celebrate today. May God bless the Queen, who puts Jesus on the throne at Christmas.
This Christmas I was able to send a Christmas text message to my half brothers and sisters who have not spoken to me for over a year wishing them a Merry Christmas with a message attached saying, remember Jesus is the reason for the season.
1 hour later my phone bleeped, I then read and learnt the whole message was read out to my dad, his wife and my 6 half brothers and sisters who are all unbelievers. I then received the first text ever from my step brother who I have never seen and who was delighted to read my Christmas message, and him saying lets meet for the first time ever.
To day as I write this message it is Boxing day when we will be having Emma's brother and his wife and her aunt and cousin and nieces who are unbelievers who will for the first time ever have the only opportunity to hear a prayer reminding them Jesus is the reason for this season.
That's the power of God who makes good out of Christmas and Easter. That's the point we need to remember. That's my message today. That we do not need to remember, past, pagan, religion, or wrong days, but instead Jesus has now replaced the old things and is now the reason for the seasons. Amen.
Lets look at the FACTS of CHRISTMAS.
FACT.
Convincing people that Christmas is not the day Jesus was born, will never change Christmas day.
But making good out of Christmas, by keeping Christ in Christmas, instead of taking Him out, will lead people to Jesus Christ, who could give them eternal life.
FACT.
Many atheists and agnostics go to church on Christmas day, and very rarely any other day, they watch Christians praise, thank, and worship Jesus, and some feel left out and join in.
FACT.
Christmas is probably the only time in the year where atheists thank God and sing carols about Jesus, even though atheists do not believe in God.
FACT.
Many atheists watch Christian films around Christmas . But very rarely any other day apart from Easter.
FACT.
Many atheists open their hearts and take the time to hear about Jesus at Christmas, and very rarely any other day.
FACT.
There are more films about Jesus at Christmas than any other time in the whole year.
FACT.
Most children are taught evolution as being fact during the year. But thanks to Christmas, 1000's of children praise and learn about Jesus birth and sing carols and re-enact the events of the Nativity of Jesus birth at Christmas.
FACT.
God the Father and Jesus receive more thanks and love from more people on Christmas day, than any other day in the whole year.
FACT.
More people watched the blockbuster film The Ten Commandments, and learn about the Holy Bible stories without ever reading the Bible at Christmas than any other time in the whole year.
FACT.
As a little boy I always watched and loved The Ten Commandments which played a large part of my life in helping me to learn and gain faith in God and to pick up and read the Holy Bible and read and find Jesus and become a born again believer thanks to this blockbuster film always being played at Christmas.
FACT.
Many shops and Shopping centers operate in the red during the year, and only survive because of Christmas and the Christmas sales.
FACT.
More people forgive one another at Christmas than any other day. A very important teaching told by Jesus, that is fulfilled more at Christmas than any other day in the year.
FACT.
Jesus loved and cared for the poor, He stressed about being a good Samaritan and helping the needy and the poor. Because of Christmas there are many charities that do just that.
FACT.
One in particular is a local charity called SURVIVING CHRISTMAS. Just in our small area of Hastings and Rother, last year SURVIVING CHRISTMAS helped 1500 families in local areas with vouchers, hampers, meals and services including 4472 individuals in 2012.
FACT.
Christmas day may not be the day that Jesus was born and may be commercially driven. But Christmas day is the best day of the year to remember and remind people who Jesus was and Is, and why Jesus Christ was born.
FACT.
Christmas day may not be the day that Jesus was born. But Christmas day is the best day of the year to remember and remind people, God has given human beings the greatest gift ever and a treasure available and offered to all races colours and people. His name is Jesus Christ (YESHUA)
FACT.
Christmas day may not be the day that Jesus was born. But Christmas day is the best day of the year to remember, testify and remind people, God sent his son to become the lamb of God, so when we believe and follow Him we receive a gift that no man can give, it is called Everlasting life.
FACT.
Christmas day may not be on the right day, but it is a special day we can help and tell people about the hidden treasure. His name is Jesus Christ (YESHUA)
FACT.
FACT
Christmas is a time when peoples hearts and minds turn towards the meaning of family. Somehow they are more open to reconciliation and putting aside hurts and offences. What greater witness is that, of the love of God being poured out to touch men and women's hearts.
I wonder how many people discover their salvation and give their life to Jesus because of Christmas and become born again?
Lets love and thank God for sending Jesus, which in time created Christmas, whoever created Christmas, which can now be used for the good and lead unbelievers to the knowledge, love and saving power and grace of Jesus.
I find no reason to not promote and celebrate Christmas and I hope that I have opened your eyes through this article to perhaps bring you a positive perspective of Christmas.
I believe when we look at the facts, as I have pointed out, the good side of ''Christmas'' no matter who, why, or how ''Christmas'' was created.
It is clear to me at least, our great God can and does make good out of all situations, as we now see in ''Christmas''.
Pagan or not. Believers of not. Wrong day or not. Jesus is Worshipped, Testified, Witnessed, Revealed, Declared, Remembered, and Blessed more at Christmas by billions of people because of Christmas day then any other day in the year.
Is that a bad thing?
Let us as Christians continue to promote Christ's birth as a time for celebration by old and young, rich and poor alike. The most precious gift that we can offer to anyone is the gift of Jesus Christ and Christmas is a wonderful opportunity to do that I hope you will agree.
So, be blessed this Christmas time as you enjoy being with loved ones and take time to remember the reason for the season, that GOD sent His only Begotten Son, not to condemn us, but to SAVE US. Amen.
A Merry Christmas to you my friends.
Simon Brown.
UPDATE 29/March/2014.
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