I felt a prompting today by the Holy Spirit to write a new blog. As I waited upon the Lord today I heard, "Christmas in living reality." I know during the Holiday season we focus on the birth of our Lord and King Jesus Christ. We are celebrating the great love of God that sent Him into the world to save us from our sins and bring us back to God. I forever will be grateful for this Christmas "gift" JESUS CHRIST that has forever changed my life.
We will in the next few weeks sing our favorite Christmas Carols and pass out gifts to our loved ones and friends. Many of you will be taking care of the needy, homeless and the poor as well. We are grateful to all who will give toys for tots, or adopt a family and other works such as these to bless those in need.
The Holiday season often brings the best out of all of us, Christians and non-Christians. Many feel the spirit of charity during this Holiday time to remember the less fortunate, needy, and destitute, and rightly so.
However with that being said; I want to write about what the Lord has laid upon my heart called, "Christmas in living reality." I have written a little on this topic during this past year, but I believe the Holy Spirit is having me revisit it in a "fresh and new way" before Christmas day comes.
Since I was a young Christian there has been a part of the New Testament that has always spoken and captured my heart in a major way. It is the part that talks about the love demonstrated by the early church found in the Book of Acts chapters 2 and 4. These chapters have demonstrated to me what Christmas was to be in "Living Reality."
In the next couple of blogs, if you are interested and up for the journey, the Holy Spirit will surely impart and work in us this "Christmas in living reality." I wish I could buy each of you the most expensive gift this Christmas if that would reach your heart with His love, but I believe there is a "greater love no man than this," that all of us must truly find to make 2009 a year like never before.
My greatest prayer for myself, my family, all of Flame of Fire partners, and the Body of Christ is not for us to "give" Christmas gifts, but to BECOME ONE for the Glory of God. I think in my heart of hearts and perhaps yours, there is a longing for more than a "season of Christmas."
I believe many of you are looking for more than the "work of the ministry." I believe in those who are hungering after God there is a longing for more than just "nice things to do for people." There is a longing for the "true and genuine" love of God to be manifested in our lives as a family of God.
There is inherent in all of us a longing to be with our "families" over the Christmas season. It is time we "remember" our families like no other time of year. Have you noticed how "family" becomes front and center during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons?
The commercials on television reinforce these family values as we watch families eating together the Christmas meal or opening presents under the tree. The secular movies are about Santa Claus coming and uniting families by some magical gift he brings. The church speaks about Christmas as a time to spend with our families and it's importance and to remember the poor that are in need. Yet with all of this wonderful setting, I am still left very empty on the inside.
What the Spirit of God is prompting me to write, I admit, must still be worked deeper in my heart in reality. I have a long way to go along this path if you really know me, I am far from perfected yet. Beloved reader, yet I want what I am going to write more than the breath that I breath.
I want it so bad I could scream on the inside. My heart longs to see this day come upon us as his Bride. I desire to see this "Christmas in living reality " in my heart and yours more than you can imagine. This longing is in my humble opinion the travail that creation is waiting for found in Romans chapter 8 and spoken by Jesus in one statement found in John 13:34, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you should also love one another."
The Christmas season over the past 2000 years has been our best attempt of trying to do that. Christmas reminds us of our calling by seeing the needs of others. It reminds us to be kind, helping and loving to others as Jesus would Himself. We may preach about this kind of love during the year, but for the most part that is all it is preaching! But when the Christmas season comes then we get to practice in "reality" by doing our good deeds.
Beloved,Christmas was was never supposed to be reduced to a season or even a time of year. Christmas was supposed to be a reflection of our "DAILY LIFE" being lived in and with Jesus Christ as a witness to the world. Jesus told us what this "daily life" should look like in John chapter 15 verse 13: "Greater love has no man than this, that a man gives up his life for his friends."
These two scriptures, John 13:34 and John 15:13 capture my heart in a way that is hard for me to explain. When I look at the present state of the church here in America and in the nations, I see many people trying to do these scriptures in their own strength. I have watched many people try to lay their lives down for others, but when the reality of laying your life down came they fell short. Who hasn't fallen short in this area, I surely have. I admit I failed in it also.
In 2008, as I have traveled to the nations, I even witness this happen in the church more now as I am involved in missionary work. We all want to love like Jesus loves, but I am afraid we are doing it in our strength, and God is not doing it through us in His. It is very difficult to tell the difference in the days we live in. Our efforts look very close like God's! Most of us are doing "the best we can" and "trying to do good things" for God, and I believe we are sincere in our intentions.
But for me, and it might be just me, there is still something fundamentally missing in all the work that the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ is doing for Him particularly here in the USA. We say all the "right words" and even do the "right works," yet there is something void in all that we are doing. Our works are almost to the point where we have a "form of godliness," but we are denying the "power there of" what LOVE really is."
I will probably not make a lot of friends by saying this, but the truth of this GOD KIND OF LOVE being missing in most of the church in the USA is more than we would "EVER" like to admit. I believe the breaking down of the family unit in our country is proof of the "lovelessness" that has invaded the church. This "lovelessness" has really undermined what the church is supposed to be and represent to the world from Christ's perspective as a witness. The bible warned us this would happen. Let us read it:
Mat 24:4-11, "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places. But all these things are the beginning of travail. Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name's sake. And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray."
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity (sin and lawlessness) shall be multiplied, the love of the many (the great body) shall wax (grow) cold.
I don't know about you, but I was involved in a lot of churches over my years in Christ. All of them spoke of being a "loving church," and a "loving family" and tried to be to the best of their ability. Yet, these same "loving churches," experienced church splits, divisions, divorce, affairs, and in some cases worse things then these. What happened to all the "love" we were supposed to have, and why did these things happen in the first place?
If there is one thing I am learning, I can never manufacture love in my own strength. My love stinks! My human love that is. It runs out. It never thinks the best of everyone under all circumstances. Its hope are not fade less. It is rude and unbecoming sometimes. Matter of fact, it is the opposite of 1st Corinthians chapter 13 more than I would like to admit. I am being honest with you. My human love is selfish, self-seeking and has it's root in pleasing myself instead of God. So does yours if you would be truthful with God and me!
That is the best Human love has to offer. It gets tired. It gives up on people to quickly. It is opinionated, critical, judgmental and worse, it murders in the heart those we are called to love if we would tell the truth.
1st Corinthians 13 was written to show us the "most excellent way." Yet, the Baptist don't like Pentecostals and say they are of the devil. The Pentecostals make fun of the Baptist. The Evangelicals don't like the other Christian denominations and it goes on and on. We are in so much competition with each other even hoping others will leave their church to come to yours. The true love given to us at Christmas was supposed to UNITE us not divide us. So what kind of love do we really have, and what kind of love are we truly giving?
Yet Beloved Reader, here we are 2000 years after the resurrection of Christ and there is so little of "Christmas in living reality" or His love seen in the Household of God that demonstrates to the world the UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF LOVE filling our hearts.
As we read what the angels proclaimed on that first Christmas let us reflect to see if we really have "Christmas in living reality" in our hearts as the church of Jesus Christ in America.
Is this what the nations behold in us and from us?
Luk 2:4 And Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he was of the house and family of David, Luk 2:5 To be put on the list with Mary, his future wife, who was about to become a mother.
Luk 2:6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Luk 2:7 And she had her first son; and folding him in linen, she put him to rest in the place where the cattle had their food, because there was no room for them in the house. Luk 2:8 And in the same country there were keepers of sheep in the fields, watching over their flock by night.
Luk 2:9 And an angel of the Lord came to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining round about them: and fear came on them. Luk 2:10 And the angel said, Have no fear; for truly, I give you good news of great joy which will be for all the people: Luk 2:11 For on this day, in the town of David, a Saviour has come to birth, who is Christ the Lord. Luk 2:12 And this is the sign to you: you will see a young child folded in linen, in the place where the cattle have their food.
Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a great band of spirits from heaven, giving praise to God, and saying, Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on the earth peace among men with whom he is well pleased.
This Gospel was proclaimed by angels who came rejoicing saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to all men. That first Christmas morning the angels announced God's plan in "living reality." Yet it could not be revealed until 33 years later as that same JOY born on Christmas Day had to go to Calvary and die for our sins, and then rise again from the dead to set us free. That peace amongst all men that the angels proclaimed could not be truly seen in us as a reality until the "Day of Pentecost had fully come."
It was always the Lord's intention not only to perfect our human life in Jesus sinless body, but to send down that perfected life into our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. This was to fulfill the promise He made to Israel of what Christmas would bring in "living reality." Let us read this closely:
Jer 31:33-34," But this is the agreement(new covenant) which I will make with the people of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my law in their inner parts , writing it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.
And no longer will they be teaching every man his neighbour and every man his brother, saying, Get knowledge of the Lord: for they will all have knowledge of me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord: for they will have my forgiveness for their evil-doing, and their sin will go from my memory for ever."
It was critical for God not only to give us His laws to follow as He did in the first covenant with Israel, but in the new covenant He promises to give us the power (ability) to do them, live them, and follow them as He writes them in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Only the "true Baptism of the Holy Spirit" can accomplish that very word in our lives by writing the law of TRUE CHRISTMAS LOVE in our hearts. The Holy Spirit, this Comforter, Teacher and Guide has come to bring "Christmas in living reality" in our lives.
The Holy Spirit was not given to us to form another powerless dead religion based on doing good deeds which are dead works (of our righteousness) in which we could boast (filthy rags to God), but He came to give us the very same VICTORIOUS life that was born in a manager over 2000 years ago.
Beloved, the Glory of Christmas is not just that Jesus came to save us, but that He came to live in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us read the intention of God our Father through His Son Jesus Christ in bringing "Christmas in living reality" in our lives."
Joh 17:15, "My prayer is not that you will take them out of the world, but that you will keep them from the Evil One. Joh 17:16 They are not of the world any more than I am of the world. Joh 17:17 Make them holy by the true word: your word is the true word.
Joh 17:18 Even as you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. Joh 17:19 And for them I make myself holy, so that they may be made truly holy. Joh 17:20 My prayer is not for them only, but for all who will have faith in me through their word;
Joh 17:21 May they all be one! Even as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, so let them be in us, so that all men (the world may know) may come to have faith that you sent me. Joh 17:22 And the glory which you have given to me I have given to them, so that they may be one even as we are one;
Joh 17:23 I in them, and you in me, so that they may be made completely one, and so that it may become clear to all men that you have sent me and that they are loved by you as I am loved by you. The King James version writes it like this, "so the world may believe you have sent me.."and that you LOVE THEM AS YOU LOVE ME!
Beloved, we can do all the right things this Holiday season and still miss the REALITY OF CHRISTMAS in our lives, and that to me is what makes me yearn for the "more of God." There is so much "more" to this "gift of love" Jesus Christ, that we here in America have truly missed by trying to "build a ministry for God." We are in the same spiritual state found in the church at Galatia here in the United States of America. It can be said of us what as written about them in chapter 3 of Galatians;
Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, by what strange powers have you been tricked (who has bewitched you), to whom it was made clear that Jesus Christ was put to death on the cross? Gal 3:2 Give me an answer to this one question, Did the Spirit come to you through the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? having made a start in the Spirit, will you now be made complete in the flesh? Gal 3:4 Did you undergo such a number of things to no purpose? if it is in fact to no purpose.
Gal 3:5 He who gives you the Spirit, and does works of power among you, is it by the works of law, or by the hearing of faith? Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham had faith in God, and it was put to his account as righteousness. Gal 3:7 Be certain, then, that those who are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham.
The bible tell us in Galatians chapter 5: 6, " Because in Christ Jesus, having circumcision or not having circumcision are equally of no profit; but only faith working through love. True Abrahamic faith can only work through the LOVE which God is! God is love! He is the PERFECT LOVE that cast out all fear!
His love is the "perfect" that was prophesied to come spoken about in 1st Corinthians 13:4-8. The perfect is not the "bible" as some believe so they can teach all the gifts of the Holy Spirit have stopped with the death of the Apostles, but it is the LOVE OF GOD perrfectly manifested in His Bride, His church which we have yet to see revealed.
The books of Acts chapters 2 and 4 demonstrate to us the first fruits or the former rain of what the Love of God looks like in the church. Beloved reader, we are about to see the fullness of that fruit as God gives us the former and latter rains together in this present hour.
Praise God forevermore! This love has yet to be completed in us in 2008, but the beginning of this finishing work of God has now begun and is here! The Omega God has come, and He will finish the work He has begun in us as He has promised to do! You will see this love being made manifest in 2009 like never before. "Christmas in living reality" will be seen as God desired it to be, in those who are listening and preparing their hearts for His coming.
Beloved, it is a hard reality to look at what Christmas is supposed to be, is it not? Brother Henry, can't you write about all the "good things" we are doing? Why do you have to write such dismal things during the Holidays? Beloved, look at verses 1-4 of this same 1st Corinthians 13.
1Co 13:1-3 If I make use of the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am like sounding brass, (clanging bell) or a loud-tongued bell. And if I have a prophet's power, and have knowledge of all secret things; and if I have all faith, by which mountains may be moved from their place, but have not love, I am nothing. 1Co 13:3 And if I give all my goods to the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it is of no profit to me. (I am a useless nobody, a clanging bell just making noise. AMP)
This Christmas season let us not look only to what God did by sending His Son into the world to be born in a manager, but let us look to this same Son of God who came to be born-again truly in our hearts. Born-again is more than praying a sinners prayer so we won't go to hell. Born-again is more than just going to church on Sunday and playing the religious game. But the true meaning of the "new birth" is becoming a "new creation" in Christ. This is "Christmas in living reality."
This new creation is a life totally different than anything we have experienced in our century or any century since the early church days. The life we are living as Christians here in America would be a "joke" to the Disciples of the 1st century. I wonder what they would say about "our Christmas season" in comparison to ones that they experienced every day of their life?
When you reflect on Christmas 2008, please, I beg you, don't look at a manager. Please don't look at the Wise Men or the Shepherds or even the angels who sang on that glorious day. Please look to the Christ who is alive in you by the power of the Holy Spirit. Look to that promised Holy Spirit who came to dwell in you as "dunamus" power to make Christmas real in your hearts, or better yet, the living Jesus Christ real in your heart!
If we don't live, walk, and talk like He did every moment of our life in the power of the Holy Spirit, then all we have left is a holiday. I for one, don't want a holiday, for that means a Holy Day. I want to live in the power of the 3rd day, the Ressurection power that raised Jesus from the dead that is now available to quicken these mortal bodies to be a "Witness" in the world but not of the world.
I don't want to reflect "doing" witnessing as we have done it in the past century, but my deepest desire is to "be" a witness, a true and genuine reflection of the Glory of God. That same Glory we saw fall on the day of Pentecost.
They didn't do everything perfectly after that glorious day of Pentecost, they failed in some areas as we do also, but they had something we have lost in this 21st Century. 1st Corinthians 14:1 in the amplified version says, "Make this love your great aim and your great quest!" This must be our pursuit Beloved Reader. May God RESTORE to us what we have lost, and bring Christmas in us in 2008 as a "living reality."
I am going to continue to writing on this topic during this Christmas season. I pray it will impact all of our lives for the Kingdom of God!
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the Highest!
Shalom!
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