|
| |
|
JESUS
CHRIST
is
the reason
FOR
THE SEASON
By: Pastor Max
Solbrekken
|
On
December 25th, more than one billion people will celebrate
Christmas!
The
birth of Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah and the world's
saviour, is gaining in popularity each year.
The
Gregorian calendar divides history into two sections from the
time of His birth nearly 2000 years ago - BC (Before Christ)
and AD (Anno Domini - which is latin for "In the year of
our Lord".)
Although
there have been, and still are, other calendars, the Gregorian
is used worldwide.
According
to Dr. Ralph Winters, an expert on world religions, the
message of Jesus Christ is a very viable and powerful force in
the world today.
Here
are some of his findings: In the year AD 40, there was only
one Christian to 40,000 pagans. By 1900, there was a dramatic
change - one Christian for every 100 pagans. In 1950, the
ratio was reduced further - 1 to 26. And today, the figure
stands at one Christian for every 9.3 non-believers.
GREAT
REVIVALS OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY ARE CURRENTLY SWEEPING
THE PHILIPPINES, LATIN AMERICA, SOUTH KOREA, AFRICA AND
EASTERN EUROPE.
With
the collapse of communism, it will surely continue to
escalate, garnering in millions more for God's kingdom!
And a growing number of imminent Jewish scholars and rabbis
now believe in Jesus as their Messiah or at least acknowledge
Him as prophet and teacher.
Ellis
Rivkin, professor of Jewish history at Hebrew Union College,
said: "Of these messianic claimants, only one - Jesus of
Nazareth - so impressed his disciples that he became their
Messiah. And he did so after the very crucifixion which should
have refuted his claims decisively. But it was not Jesus' life
which proved beyond question that He was the Messiah, the
Christ. It was His resurrection".
And
even though Muslims do not accept Jesus as the Son of God and
His substitutionary death on the cross for our sins, they
believe in Him as a prophet.
History
has a way of repeating itself and like the middle ages, the
religious race is once again between Mohammed's Islam and the
Gospel of Christ.
And
now with the door open to the former Soviet Union, we can
carry the gospel of Jesus Christ into the many Muslim
republics there!
Muslims
have been taught to sacrifice themselves for their religion -
And when they realize that Jesus Christ is the Very Son of God
(which their Koran teaches, as well as contradicts) they will
be willing to die for Jesus, if necessary!
With
that kind of a mind-set, the gospel will spread quickly among
the masses, as it did in the Early Church period!
But,
with the enormous wealth of the Arab Gulf States - some of
which heavily support Islam's missionary vision - and the
fanaticism of Iran's Shiites, the religion of Mohammed is
gaining ground.
Although
Christianity has made gigantic strides during the last two
millenias, many believers have become lukewarm in their
devotion to Jesus Christ and are Christian in "name
only". And unfortunately, some denominations have
compromised their doctrinal position and denied "the
faith which was once delivered unto the saints". (Jude 3)
St.
Paul warned of those who "have a form of godliness, but
deny the power thereof". His admonition was: "from
such turn away".
THREE
FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH, WHICH HAVE BEEN UNDER
ATTACK BY LIBERAL THEOLOGIANS, ARE THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST,
HIS SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH AND PHYSICAL RESURRECTION!
Let's
go back to the beginning of Christianity and Jesus' birth, in
order to understand the phenomenon surrounding this great
event.
Isaiah
prophesied the Messiah's virgin birth 700 years before it
happened. He also foretold His death on the cross.
"Therefore,
the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name
Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
"For
unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
"But
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and
with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
Numerous
prophets had revealed other aspects of His miraculous birth,
perfect sinlessness, supernatural miracle ministry,
substitutionary death and glorious resurrection from the dead.
Micah
prophesied His birth in Bethlehem. This was fulfilled when
Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, made a decree that all
Palestinians must return to the town of their ancestry for a
general census.
"But
thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the
thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto
me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been
from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2)
Although
Joseph - the husband of Mary - lived in Nazareth, he had to
return with his expectant wife for the enumeration. Jesus was
born in Bethlehem, as the prophet had said.
"And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth,
into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be
taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
"And
so it was, that, while they were there, the days were
accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought
forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes,
and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them
in the inn." (Luke 2:4-7)
Hosea
foretold His flight into Egypt, where He and His parents fled
from King Herod, who sought His life. Jeremiah prophesied the
mourning of children killed by Herod in the "slaughter of
the innocents".
"Then
was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet,
saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and
weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children,
and would not be comforted, because they are not." (Matt.
2:17-18)
Hundreds
of Old Testament prophecies, identifying the Messiah, were
fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth.
The
sad part is that today, multitudes of people celebrate His
birth, but have no vital contact with Him. They've also
forgotten the reason for His coming!
HE
CAME TO GIVE HOPE TO THE WORLD, PEACE TO TROUBLED HEARTS AND
MINDS AND HEALING TO THOSE WHO HURT. JESUS CAME TO PROVIDE
SALVATION FOR THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE!
"He
came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many
as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on His name:" (John
1:11-12)
Jesus
Christ is the real reason for the season!
HAVE A
SAFE, PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS SEASON
by Andale
Max Solbrekken World Missions @copyright 2000
Christmas
>Christmas messages >Christmas articles >Christmas
sermons >Christmas Carols >Christmas sermon
>Christmas message >Christmas article >Christmas
story >Christmas songs >Christmas lycrics >Christmascarols
>Christmas Birth of Christ >Christmas Joy to world
>Christmas proves love God carols~Christmas
carols~Christmas music, Christmas songs words music. Christmas
messages, A time for rejoicing, A time for reflection,
Christmas tides of great joy, Why peace eludes us. The
heavenly visitor, a Savior is born, Jesus the unspeakable
gift, Jesus - the reason for the season, Christmas proves the
love of God.
Christmas carols~ Christmas carols~Christmas music, words,
lyrics, sermons~Christmas messages & articles~Jesus
Christ, birth of Jesus Christ in Bethleham. Christmas Messages
& Christmas Pictures, Bible sermons on birth Savior God's
son Jesus to Virgin Mary and Joseph. Christmas carol,
christmas songs, christmas music, christmas lyrics, words to
christmas carols, christmas carol words. Christmas
messages, Christmas articles & sermons, Christmas carols,
birth Christmas, Christmas carols, Away in a Manger,
Christmas songs, Christmas lyrics, Christmas music, carol,
lyric song, caroles, sermons, messages, articles, sermon,
message, article, carol, bethlehem, bethleham, birth, savior,
Christ, Mary, virgin, Joseph, Jesus Christ, pictures, Bible,
Savior, God, son, greetings, cards, family, joy, peace, love,
prophecy, war, middle east, Jerusalem, Iraq, Al Qaeda,
terrorism, wars Jews, Eternity, Israel, WAR, BIBLE, Middle,
eternal, life, angel, angels, Jesus Christ God's son
Bethlehem virgin Mary Joseph. Joy, peace, glad
tiding peace on earthChristmas messages, Christmas
articles & sermons, Christmas
carols, birth Christmas, Christmas carols, Away in a Manger,
Christmas songs, Christmas lyrics, Christmas music, carol,
lyric song, caroles, sermons, messages, articles, sermon,
message, article, carol, bethlehem, bethleham, birth, savior,
Christ, Mary, virgin, Joseph, Jesus Christ, pictures, Bible,
Savior, God, son, greetings, cards, family, joy, peace, love,
prophecy, war, middle east, Jerusalem, Iraq, Al Qaeda,
terrorism, wars Jews, Eternity, Israel, WAR, BIBLE, Middle,
eternal, life, angel, angels, Jesus Christ God's son
Bethlehem virgin Mary Joseph. Joy, peace, glad
tiding peace on earth, Glorious Christmas music, piano
christmas songs music, lyrics Christmas carols songs music,
Hark the heralds, away in manger, angels we have heard on
high, all i want for christmas, carol of bells, good king
wenselas, i'll be home for christmas, joy to world, jingle
bells, let it snow, little drummer boy, let there be peace on
earth, holly and ivy, i heard bells at christmas time, frosty
the snowman, deck the halls with bows of holly, oh come all ye
faithful, christmas is coming, white christmas, it came upon a
midnight clear, have yourself a merry little christmas, do you
hear what I hear, oh little town of bethleham, o holy night, i
saw mommy kissing santa claus, rocking around the christmas
tree, we three kings, twelve days of christmas, we wish you a
merry christmas, the first noel, still still still, silver
bells, sleigh ride with you, most wonderful day of the
year, words songs, words to carols the year, lyrics and words,
music and songs to christmas carols, caroles
Salvation >Salvation Sermon >Salvation Messages from
Holy Bible scriptures of Christ >Bible scripture sermons on
Salvation message >Salvation through God Jesus Christ
articles, Salvation, saved, message, messages, God, Jesus,
Christ, Salvation >Salvation & Freedom through Christ
>Salvation Articles Sermon >Salvation Messages from Holy
Bible scriptures of Christ >Bible scripture sermons on
Salvation message >Salvation through God Jesus Christ
articles, Salvation messages >Salvation through Jesus
Christ >Bible sermons articles~Jesus Christ salvation
message. Resurrection of Jesus ChristJesus Christ will
return in Rapture of Church. The Rapture, the second coming of
Jesus Christ and God to take his own to heaven. Holy Bible
messages, Holy Bible sermon, Holy Bible articles on AntiChrist,
Heaven & Hell , Satan Devil Worship. Study of Holy
Bible book of Revelation reveals endtime prophecy on Jesus
returning in Rapture, destroying the devil. Holy Bible
Scriptures on Violence & terrorism by Arabs, Muslims,
Islamic people in middle east against Jews, Israelis,
Israel.Eternity - Where will you spend eternity when you die.
Bible sermon on eternal life, death, hell, heaven, Lord Jesus
Savior Saviour. The gospel preached by Max Solbrekken World
Missions. The holy bible articles, messages, sermon, sermons
on Jesus Christ healing, faith, faith healing, bible healing,
help depression, depression help from God, suicide help, help
suicide family victims, suicide prevention. Jesus offers
salvation, miracles, suicide help, help for depression,
help for addictions, addiction help,
|