{"id":93,"date":"2008-12-25T22:18:07","date_gmt":"2008-12-25T22:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.42ndgenerationfoundation.com\/achieversfaithdigest\/?p=93"},"modified":"2011-09-03T15:15:11","modified_gmt":"2011-09-03T15:15:11","slug":"christmas-2008-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.42ndgenerationfoundation.com\/achieversfaithdigest\/christmas-2008-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"CHRISTMAS 2008 EDITION"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Christmas!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Celebrating Christ’s Birth \u2013 Commemorating God\u2019s Love\u2019<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Matt 1:16-25<\/span><\/strong> \u2018\u2019<\/em><\/span>And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary<\/strong>, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ . . . Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise<\/strong>: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost<\/strong> . . .<\/strong> And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins . . .<\/strong> Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child<\/strong>, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel<\/strong>, which being interpreted is, God with us . . .<\/strong> And knew her not<\/strong> till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS<\/strong><\/span><\/em>\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Romans 5:8<\/span><\/strong> \u2018\u2018<\/em><\/span>But God commendeth his LOVE<\/strong> toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us\u2019\u2019 <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Hallelujah! Praise God!! It\u2019s Christmas again!!!<\/span><\/strong> I bring you kingdom greetings in the precious name of our saviour and Lord Jesus Christ in whom we live, we move and we have our being. Amen! It beholds God in His grace to call you His people in which am empowered in this commission of the Gospel to pray and trust that you will find the good will to celebrate Christ and commemorate the love that the season brings \u2013 This Christmas!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Christmas 2008 Edition<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Thanks to God for Christmas, for the smiles it brings on peoples faces during this season. Looking through the happenings in the world today \u2013 a time of mans \u2018great\u2019 invention and discovery, economic empowering of man \u2013 has given us neither peace nor harmony but trauma in all human phases of existence. Today, killings and wars go on our streets, uncertainties in our nations, our world with political and economic instability, family breakdown, relational unfaithfulness, generational decadence, business and career setbacks etc. just to name a few. All this being is in pursuit of answers to human problems. Our world cries with great thirst and hunger, seeking for who will quench her yearnings, desires and aspirations. This is the reason that Christmas<\/strong> \u2013 a yearly celebrating of the birth of Christ<\/em> – is vital to all mankind irrespective of religious beliefs, race or generation. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Christmas may be sectioned in this wise: \u2018CHRIST\u2019<\/strong> \u2013 meaning the anointed One, the Messiah, the Saviour<\/em>. MAS from \u2018MASS\u2019<\/strong> \u2013 is the yearly Celebration of the birth of Christ with a grace or benediction of the triune God<\/em>. 2Cor.13:14 <\/strong>\u201cThe grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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The Christ – Humanity<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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1 John 4:1-3 \u2018\u2019<\/em><\/span><\/strong>Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:<\/strong> and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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John 1:14 \u2018\u2019<\/em><\/span><\/strong>And the Word<\/strong> was made flesh<\/strong>, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth<\/span><\/em>\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/em><\/strong> <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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1 John 5:7-12<\/span><\/strong> \u2018\u2019<\/em><\/span> For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word<\/strong>, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater<\/strong>: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life<\/span><\/em>\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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1Timothy 3:16 \u2018\u2019<\/em><\/span><\/strong>And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh<\/strong>, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory<\/span><\/em>\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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As I skip through the various news channels on TV, radio stations, make and receive phone calls, go through the world wide web, drive though the streets in town \u2013 the jingling one hears is of the Christmas news and events. People of all nations are buying, selling, making or marking an event to make this Christmas worth celebrating.<\/span><\/p>\n

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However there are other opinions about Christmas, Some say that it\u2019s a heathen day, a pagan holiday indicating that December 25th<\/sup> is not the day on which Christ was born but in October, however with no date to it. According to some it is for pagans and satan due to the glamorous events and activities that are now associated to this date. Just because the enemy perverts and distorts the meaning and essence of the celebrating of Christmas, does not mean that we should let go of that which we believe is of God.<\/span><\/p>\n

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For me and every supposed spirit born child of God, what is vital in the whole scenario of indifference is that Christ was born in the flesh \u2013 humanity. The scripture in 1 John 4:1 \u20133 and 1 John 5:7-12<\/strong> says that any person or people who do not acclaim that Christ was born in the flesh are the antichrist. Christ means the Messiah, the Saviour, the anointed one while \u2018anti\u2019 means to be against<\/em><\/strong>. This indicates that such a person does not believe in Christ\u2019s virgin and humanity birth and as such becomes an enemy of JEHOVAH God. It\u2019s also proof that such a person or group of persons have undermined the record and prophesy spoken of God in time prior to Christ\u2019s birth as in the holy write. Such an individual or group, the Holy Scripture calls a fool. (Psalms 14:1; Isaiah 53:1)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Celebrating – The Birth Of Christ<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Isaiah 7:14<\/span><\/strong> \u2018\u2019<\/em><\/span>Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel\u2018<\/span><\/em>\u2019<\/span><\/em> (Matthew 1:23)<\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Micah 5:2<\/span><\/strong> \u2018\u2019<\/em><\/span>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<\/span><\/em>. (M<\/strong><\/span>att 2:6)<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Gen. 49:10<\/span><\/strong> \u2018\u2019<\/span><\/em>The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be\u2019<\/span><\/em>\u2019<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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To celebrate means to observe in a special way, to praise honour solemnise, worship and to make merriments of great joy. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Celebrating the birth of Christ is the most awesome event any creation of God should count a privilege to partake in \u2013 not only in this season of life but a daily experience. When you come to know the significance of His birth and what it has brought to you as an individual you will desire to have Him born in your heart and not just in the world. You will be compelled to seek after Him, to worship, honour and celebrate him like the three wise men from the east according to the scriptures – Matt 2:1\u201312; Luke 2:1-20<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Let us celebrate him for he is born indeed; He is indeed born in our hearts and in our being. His birth is the rebirth of: <\/span><\/p>\n

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