Good Morning Church!
We welcome you all back to the house of one and only living God, and His name is Jesus.
As we are meeting for the final time in the year 2021, we continue to see you every Sunday come 2022. And on that note, today’s topic will be titled, “After Christmas!”
There is a minimal understanding about the celebration of Christians. Not just among non bekievers, but also among many Christians. If someone asked you what exactly is Christmas? Well it is the experience of finding messiah and changing of our life.
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”
John 6:26
Instead of answering the inquiry how he came there, Jesus blamed their asking. The utmost earnestness should be employed in seeking salvation, in the use of appointed means; yet it is to be sought only as the gift of the Son of man. Him the Father has sealed, proved to be God. He declared the Son of man to be the Son of God with power.
And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
Matthew 2:11-13
In our faith journey with Christ, enemy will try to distract and lead us away. However, plan of God’s purpose in our life shouldn’t go unfulfilled.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:14
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5
Here are further exhortations to Christian duties; to like-mindedness and lowly-mindedness, according to the example of the Lord Jesus. Kindness is the law of Christ’s kingdom, the lesson of his school, the livery of his family. Several motives to brotherly love are mentioned. If you expect or experience the benefit of God’s compassions to yourselves, be compassionate one to another. It is the joy of ministers to see people like-minded. Christ came to humble us, let there not be among us a spirit of pride. We must be severe upon our own faults, and quick in observing our own defects, but ready to make favourable allowances for others. We must kindly care for others, but not be busy-bodies in other men’s matters. Neither inward nor outward peace can be enjoyed, without lowliness of mind.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
Draw closer to God and He will come closer to you.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luke 2:8
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:20
Angels were heralds of the new-born Saviour, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, pious, industrious shepherds, who were in the business of their calling, keeping watch over their flock. We are not out of the way of Divine visits, when we are employed in an honest calling, and abide with God in it. Let God have the honour of this work; Glory to God in the highest. God’s good-will to men, manifested in sending the Messiah, redounds to his praise. Other works of God are for his glory, but the redemption of the world is for his glory in the highest. God’s goodwill in sending the Messiah, brought peace into this lower world. Peace is here put for all that good which flows to us from Christ’s taking our nature upon him. This is a faithful saying, attested by an innumerable company of angels, and well worthy of all acceptation, That the good-will of God toward men, is glory to God in the highest, and peace on the earth. The shepherds lost no time, but came with haste to the place. They were satisfied, and made known abroad concerning this child, that he was the Saviour, even Christ the Lord. Mary carefully observed and thought upon all these things, which were so suited to enliven her holy affections. We should be more delivered from errors in judgment and practice, did we more fully ponder these things in our hearts. It is still proclaimed in our ears that to us is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. These should be glad tidings to all.
If someone asks you, how was your Christmas? How would you respond?
And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
Luke 2:17
There has to be proclaiming and witnessing of our own experience of Christ the messiah. And this is the next step after Christmas.
We have seen emperors and rulers come and go, but the word of God stands today and His church is here.
It is God’s desire for us to remain in obedience and bear fruits to proclaim the good news to the world. Today the world needs the light of Christ and this is the only way we can be saved.
Christ has won the victory and set us free by forgiving our sins. And this good news has to be shared. Think about it!
We hope you all are encouraged with today’s word. We will see you next year, in 2023, with a new hope, joy and new energy. God bless!