HE CAME DOWN

I began my afternoon praying for China yesterday.

I watched the 700 Club and they reported that Christmas has become a big money making business in China. It is a big money making business all over the world yet so little emphasis is placed in it's true meaning.

It is our job In Christ to preserve it's meaning.
The program showed the many shops and stores in China that are selling wreaths, trees, decorations and Santa faces.
As the TV crew and reporter walked along the streets interviewing the owners, managers and workers they asked the question, "Do you know the meaning of Christmas?", I was thrown back by how many didn't know what it was about.

Some compared it to a Chinese festival, some related it to religion.
Of course many countries take their lead from us in the United States and not many who live here understand it either. I think we began the trend of commercializing it and soon other countries followed.

Many parts of the world have restaurant chains, stores, music, movies and habits in their countries that their culture would never have adopted but the world is influenced by America.

No matter what their opinion is of us, the world remains heavily influenced by what the USA does.

I believe that it is part of our responsibility to not only share our culture and embrace diversity, I believe that it is our call and duty from God the Father to be able to minister the gospel and give an answer to every man as to why we believe what we believe.

Christmas is not just another Holiday that provides a day off.
It's not just a reason to get together with your family on a beach or at a ski resort.
It's not a time to go into debt and hock trying to buy as much as you can.

It is the celebration of the birth of The Lord and Saviour.
The only Lord and Saviour.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Men have began religions, started followings, been deemed prophets, claimed to ascend up into heaven.
None of them ascended first from heaven and descended into the lower parts of the earth defeating death, hell and the eternal grave.

Who has ascended up into heaven, or descended? who has gathered the wind in His fists? who has bound the waters in a garment? who has established all the ends of the earth? what is His name, and what is His son's name, if thou canst tell?

John 1:1-4 tells you who was in the beginning, who was with God in the beginning, it records that all things were made by Him and without Him not any thing was made that was made.
In Him is life.
John 1:14 records that this Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, ( and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

No other prophet was conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Now all of this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, (The prophet Isaiah prophesied and recorded in Isaiah 7:14)saying:

BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BRING FORTH A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME EM-MAN'U-EL, which being interpreted is, God with us.

It marks the season when God descended physically into this earth for you and for me.

He is God but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross.

Wherefore God has highly exalted Him, and given Him an authority which is above every authority.

That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD
(Supreme in Authority) to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus has been exalted by God above every prophet, priest, preacher, pastor, potentate, prime minister, pope, president, physician, penguin, pimp and porcupine.
Because He knew no sin he is able to take the burden and pay the sin debt for you.
Because God loved the world so much He sent His only begotten Son from the throne of grace into this place to redeem your soul.

The 700 Club also thankfully showed the many churches that have been planted in China that are ministering Christ and the true meaning of this season.

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!
JESUS IS THE REASON FOR REJOICING!

GIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Matthew 1:23
Ephesians 4:9,10
Philippians 2:7
Proverbs 30:4