Let us Celebrate

Let's Celebrate

They Saw & Celebrated

 Celebration

 Now it came to pass after the child was born, wise men came from the East; seeking whom they knew was the Saviour of the world. They first sought for Him at Herod's Palace. For they saw this great star, coming in the horison. These wise men, were also known as kings from the East. From their vast knowledge and understanding of the stars and heavenly signs, they concluded there would be born a Heavenly King. Whom would rule, reign and bring Peace to the troubled worlds.

Thus they sought the Prince to be born at Herod's Palace. Like today they thought he would be a great ruler, bringing joy to their people and the world. Yet they first sought at a worldly palace. They thought He would be found in Herod's court. Yet the Sovereign of their day would not be aware of such matters. So he asked the courtiers, chief priests of his temple, whether they were aware of this royal birth. 

When going through their archives, the priests came across Micah's words which were recorded many years ago which clearly stated this Truth: -

Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; a state of siege has been placed against us. They shall smite the ruler of Israel with a rod (a scepter) on the cheek.2 But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah; [yet] out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity).3 Therefore shall He give them up until the time that she who travails has brought forth; then what is left of His brethren shall return to the children of Israel. (Micah 5:1-2 & Mt2:1-12 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

Now Herod had become jealous, because he thought he would reign forever. He was not planning to give over his sovereignty to anyone, let alone a new born baby of about two years old. After finding out about the new born prince, he under pretense of sincerity, enquired the time of the star's appearing. He then sent these wise men on their way, toward Bethlehem. 

With another agenda asked them once they've found the child; to inform him where he is to be found, so he would also be able to see and worship him. Immediately the star once more appeared in the heavens, and lead these kings to where the Prince of Peace was with Mary, His mother. After giving their gifts of  frankincense, gold and myrrh! 

After worshipping Him, they passed home another way; being divinely warned the child was in danger. The Creator of the Heavens and Earth, Divinely intervened on behalf of this His Holy Child, instructed them to flee toward Egypt. He had been aware all the time of Herod's unrighteous murderous intentions. 

When the Kings of the East returned passage another way instead of informing Herod, he decreed to put to death all Bethlehem's male children two years and younger. "Ramah lamenting, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children refusing comfort because they were no more;" as recorded, said and seen by Jeremiah the prophet. (See Mt2:1-18 NKJ).  

A Question

What and whom are we celebrating over this festive season? We are aware that this may not necessary be a christian festival. When reading or researching this Celebration; we discover ancient pagan roots are found in its foundation. On Which  or whose foundation are we building? According to the Apostle Paul and our Lord's own Words_  We are either building on a foundation of sand; or on the foundation of the Rock, which is Higher than us.

When our foundation is insecure and our house built on sand, storms come, winds blow and the house will fall. Also which material are we using to build our walls? When our Foundation is Secure and built on the Rock, though winds may blow, storms may come our house shall stand! Yet though we build on the Sure Foundation, Chief Cornerstone we still are to be sure how we build.

Remember the children's story about the three little pigs> The one used straw, the other, wood, and the last one used brick. They all had the same arch enemy (Wolf). He threatened to have them for lunch. He huffed and he puffed and blew all their houses down; except the wiser of the three. He built with walls of brick. His foundation secure. 

When Wolf came to destroy the house of brick,he was unable to do any of them harm, or have lunch. So he tries the chimney only to end in hot soup. That was the end of wolf. Why do I tell this story? Simply, the reason is what foundation are we building on? Are our houses built upon sand or on the Rock? Are we using inferior material? Whom do we celebrate? Are we aware of times and seasons? Do we know the time of our Lord's Visitation? He is and always shall remain God in Flesh as is recorded by John:- 

In the Beginning was the Word

 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim. All came to be through Him,a and without Him not even one came to be that came to be. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from Elohim, whose name was Yohanan. This one came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all might believe through him. He was not that Light, but that he might bear witness of that Light. He was the true Light, which enlightens every man, coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of Elohim, to those believing in His Name, who were born, not of blood nor of the desire of flesh nor of the desire of man, but of Elohim. And the Word became flesh and pitched His tent among us, and we saw His esteem, esteem as of an only brought-forth of a father, complete in favour and truth. Yohanan bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has become before me, because He was before me.’ ” And out of His completeness we all did receive, and favour upon favour, for the Torah was given through Mosheh – the favour and the truth came through YESHUA Messiah. No one has ever seen Elohim. The only brought-forth Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He did declare."(Joh 1:1-18 TS2009) 

He Whom was born that day in Bethlehem; the same is The Lamb of God Whom takes away the sin of the world. He is no longer the babe in the manger. He is still the Saviour of the world. He died at Calvary! On the third day He arose; from the Grave! Neither could Death nor would Hades hold Him! He is our Life Giver! On the Tree He defeated the enemy of our soul! He always causes us to triumph! 

Everything came into existence through His Spoken Word. Nothing came into being (existence)without Him. By Faith we know and understand all the worlds  are framed through God's Word. Those things seen were not made of things which are visible (see Heb 11:1-3). He calls those things which be not as though they were (see Rom 4:16-22).

(See also: - Footnote: a Eph 3:9, Col 1:16, Heb 1:2, Heb 11:3, 2Pet 3:5, Ps 33:6. As also Footnote: b Jn 5:37, Jn 6:46, 1Jn 4:12.TS2009) 

 One Last Thing

Let us celebrate the day of our Lord's birth any way. But remember He does not compare to the pagan feasts, festivals of yore. Even though we celebrate His Birth; remember He grew up and became our Sacrificial Lamb, slain before the Earth's Foundation. He was right at the Beginning of Time. He is and remains the Living Word of God! 

Are we going to Celebrate Him: -

• As the Babe of Bethlehem? 
• As our only Mediator between God and man?
• As the Prince of Peace?
• Our Crucified, Resurrected Saviour of the world?
• Our soon coming King?

Or_ _ _ 

Are we going to celebrate Christmas like the rest of the world. Probably bowing down to the Pagan deities of the Ancient World.

Our Challenge

Our Challenge is similar to that of Joshua and Caleb_ _ _

"Now you must fear the LORD and serve him in faithfulness and truth. Throw away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Instead, serve the LORD. If you think it's the wrong thing for you to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves today whom you will serve—the gods whom your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose territories you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. In response, the people said, "Far be it from us that we should abandon the LORD to serve other gods, since the LORD our God is the One who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, from a life of slavery. He did those great things right in front of us, preserving us along the way that we traveled and among all the peoples through whose territory we passed. The LORD expelled all the people before us, including the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore, we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God." So Joshua told the people, "You will not be able to serve the LORD, because he is a God of Holiness. He is a jealous God, and he will forgive neither your transgressions nor your sins. If you abandon the LORD and serve foreign deities, then he will turn and do you harm, consuming you after all the good he has done for you." "No," the people replied to Joshua. "We will serve the LORD." Joshua responded, "You are giving testimony against yourselves, that you have chosen to serve the LORD." They replied, "We are witnesses!" Joshua said, "Therefore abandon the foreign gods that are among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." The people replied, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey his voice." So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, making statutes and ordinances in Shechem. He wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God, took a large stone, moved it under the shade of the oak tree that was near the sanctuary of the LORD, and then told all of the people, "Look! This stone will testify for us, because it has heard everything that the LORD has spoken to us. So it will stand as a witness against you in the event that you deny your God."(Jos 24:14-27 International Standard Version)

Choose this day whom you will serve_ _ _

Behold I set before you this day; Blessing or Cursing! Death or Life! Therefore Choose Life!
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord! 
Let us Celebrate the Lord our God!