THIS IS THE SEASON TO CELEBRATE! Today we want to remind you of the reason we celebrate this particular month. Regardless of the disputed accuracy of the exact date the first advent of Jesus took place, we should take every opportunity to embrace every good thing we have because He came to us!
1 John 1:1-2 says, “We proclaim to you the One who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This One who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen Him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that He is the One who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then He was revealed to us.” (NLT).
John proclaimed that Jesus is life itself! He existed from the beginning with the Father in heaven and then He came to us, here on earth! He was ‘revealed’ to us! That word revealed means to make something or someone that was previously unknown clearly known! Hallelujah! The NKJ uses the word ‘manifest’, which means to make clear and obvious to the eye. Jesus, the Son of God, who is eternal life and existed with the Father in heaven, was born on this earth and He was made manifest in the flesh. Why? So that we could clearly know, see, hear and touch Him!
1Timothy 3:16 says that without question, the greatest mystery of our faith is this: “God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up (taken to heaven) in glory.”
Jesus came to earth to show us exactly what eternal life with the Father looks like! He demonstrated that glorious truth in a way that we could clearly know, see, hear and touch the Father through Him. Then, He personally made a way for us to live in that reality, just as He did, while we are living here on earth! The finished work of the cross took away the sin barrier that prevented us from personally knowing God and being filled with His Presence in our lives. Jesus destroyed the work of the devil which brought about that separation, and He stripped him of his power and authority over us. In truth, Jesus took that authority and put it right back into our hands!
Matthew 28:18 says, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Then in verse 19 He instructs us to “Go” in that authority! The Word clearly tells us that all the authority of God resides in the NAME of JESUS! (Ephesians 1:21). He said that in HIS NAME we are to cast out devils, live in divine protection, and see the sick healed! (Mark 16:17-18). Glory to God! Because of Jesus we are able to function as He did, and walk out the same calling and purpose He walked in when He was here!
What was that? 1) To demonstrate the real nature of the Father to others by enjoying an inseparable relationship with Him, through His indwelling Holy Spirit. 2) To enforce the devil’s defeat over people’s lives wherever we go! Praise God!
This is why we celebrate Christmas! It represents the day God manifest Himself through His Son, and made it possible for us to always hear His voice, see Him move in our lives, and experience the touch of His glorious Presence. And while we get to live in and through Him, by His Name, we destroy the work of the devil over people’s lives – setting them free to live in the same victory we have in Christ!
As you sow into His kingdom this month, let the glorious truth we have shared with you be the overriding anthem in your heart! We give freely and generously, because we have received so freely and generously from Him!
We love and appreciate you and wish you a very blessed, ‘Merry Christmas’!