Fourth Sunday Of Advent– Christmas Eve Morning

    In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
    And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
    And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
   
(Luke 1:26-38 ESV)

Interpretation
Imagine the difficulty of this young couple. Having traveled over a great distance they find themselves out on the street. Exhausted, discouraged, nerves on edge and hope running thin – were they wondering if God was going to pull them through this? But God does, doesn’t he, and probably in a way they never expected – perhaps God will do this for you this Christmas – pull you through that hard time in a way you never expected.

(Pray)

Prayer
Lord God, you know it is hard for us to imagine Mary and Joseph as discouraged parents, but you know discouragement follows us all. We ask, that this Christmas, you give us a full blessing of the hope that Jesus Christ promised us - Amen

From Reformed Baptist Fellowship

“A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a faithful pastor to the people of God in his day.  Part of his faithfulness may be seen in how he stood against the various errors and corruptions of the medieval church.  One of these errors was the adding to the calendar various holidays.  Not even Christmas was exempt from his fiery zeal: “WE have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas.“

But one would be mistaken to think that dear old Spurgeon had no place in the heart and home of a Christian for the joyful celebration of our Lord’s birth.  This can be seen from the fact that he often preached sermons on the incarnation at or on Christmas (the statement above comes to us from a sermon preached Dec. 24th the subject matter was the birth of Christ) and by these statements that are of the stock of Spurgeon’s verbal genus:

“Why all this ringing of bells in the church steeples, as if all London were mad with joy? There is a prince born; therefore, there is this salute, and therefore are the bells ringing. Ah, Christians, ring the bells of your hearts, tire the salute of your most joyous songs, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.” Dance, O my heart, and ring out peals of gladness! Ye drops of blood within my veins dance every one of you! Oh! all my nerves become harp strings, and let gratitude touch you with angelic fingers! And thou, my tongue, shout—shout to his praise who hath said to thee—”Unto thee a child is born, unto thee a Son is given.” Wipe that tear away! Come, stop that sighing! Hush yon murmuring. What matters your poverty? “Unto you a child is born.” What matters your sickness? “Unto you a Son is given.”

Ah! miserable wretch, without a hope, without Christ, without God. Unto thee there is no Christmas mirth, for thee no child is born; to thee no Son is given. Sad is the story of the poor men and women, who during the week before last fell down dead in our streets through cruel hunger and bitter cold. But far more pitiable is thy lot, far more terrible shall be thy condition in the day when thou shalt cry for a drop of water to cool thy burning tongue, and it shall be denied thee; when thou shalt seek for death, for grim cold death—seek for him as for a friend, and yet thou shalt not find him. For the fire of hell shall not consume thee, nor its terrors devour thee.”[1]

And again:

“THIS is the season of the year when, whether we wish it or not, we are compelled to think of the birth of Christ. I hold it to be one of the greatest absurdities under heaven to think that there is any religion in keeping Christmas-day. There are no probabilities whatever that our Savior Jesus Christ was born on that day and the observance of it is purely of Popish origin; doubtless those who are Catholics have a right to hallow it, but I do not see how consistent Protestants can account it in the least sacred. However, I wish there were ten or a dozen Christmas-days in the year; for there is work enough in the world, and a little more rest would not hurt laboring people. Christmas-day is really a boon to us, particularly as it enables us to assemble round the family hearth and meet our friends once more. Still, although we do not fall exactly in the track of other people, I see no harm in thinking of the incarnation and birth of the Lord Jesus.

The old Puritans made a parade of work on Christmas-day, just to show that they protested against the observance of it. But we believe they entered that protest so completely, that we are willing, as their descendants, to take the good accidentally conferred by the day, and leave its superstitions to the superstitious.”[2]

Then in his sermon entitled “The birth of Christ” (from Isaiah 7:14-15), his exuberant words may make even that the most ardent Christmas lover blush:

“Hail thou Immanuel, all divine, In thee thy Father’s glories shine,Thou brightest, sweetest, fairest One, That eyes have seen or angels known.”

Now, a happy Christmas to you all; and it will be a happy Christmas if you have God with you. I shall say nothing to-day against festivities on this great birthday of Christ. I hold that, perhaps, it is not right to have the birthday celebrated, but we will never be amongst those who think it as much a duty to celebrate it the wrong way as others the right. But we will to-morrow think of Christ’s birthday; we shall be obliged to do it, I am sure, however sturdily we may hold to our rough Puritanism. And so, “let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” Do not feast as if you wished to keep the festival of Bacchus; do not live tomorrow as if you adored some heathen divinity. Feast, Christians, feast; you have a right to feast. Go to the house of feasting to-morrow, celebrate your Savior’s birth; do not be ashamed to be glad, you have a right to be happy. Solomon says, “Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.” “Religion never was designed To make our pleasures less.” Recollect that your Master ate butter and honey. Go your way, rejoice tomorrow; but, in your feasting, think of the Man in Bethlehem; let him have a place in your hearts, give him the glory, think of the virgin who conceived him, but think most of all of the Man born, the Child given. I finish by again saying, “A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!”[3]

---

[1] Metropolitan Tabernacle pulpit vol. 6:291 Dec. 25

[2] Park Street pulpit vol. 2:57 Dec. 23

[3] Metropolitan Tabernacle pulpit vol. 40:2392

Law, Gospel & Les Miserables!

Listen today to a theological reflection of Les Mis - Law, Gospel and Les Miserabeles


On this special BONUS edition of the White Horse Inn Michael Horton and David Zahl explore many of the rich themes found in Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Les Miserables. This discussion is especially relevant in light of the highly anticipated release of a film adaptation of Boublil and Schönberg’s musical of the same title which will appear in theaters on Christmas Day. In particular Horton and Zahl discuss the themes of grace and redemption as it unfolds throughout the story, and the way in which the two characters, Javert and Jean Valjean, end up personifying both the unbending nature of the law, and the incredible liberation of the gospel of grace.

No Room For an Inn - Don't fall for the Xmas hype!

You probably recognize this scene:

Bethlehem (around 2,000 years ago): Joseph and Mary arrive at the sleepy town in the middle of the night. Mary, already in labor, remains on the donkey while Joseph frantically searches for a room at the local inns. Desperate, he begs one reluctant innkeeper for any place at all to have this baby. The innkeeper finally relents and makes room for them in a tumbledown stable with the cows.

There’s just one problem. This isn’t what the Bible teaches. The true history has gotten choked out by myth. Stories, plays, and movies have dramatized the event for the sake of entertainment, but the real birth account is a bit different. Here’s what Luke tells us:

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn [kataluma]. (Luke 2:4–7)

Notice what’s missing? First, there’s no urgency. Joseph wouldn’t have taken a ready-to-deliver Mary on such an arduous journey. Instead, “while they were there, the days were completed for” Jesus to be born (in other words, they stayed a while). Also, there’s no begrudging innkeeper (in fact, there was no inn at all, as you’ll see). Now-a-days families might stay at a hotel, but not in Israel at that time. Back then, family stayed with family—especially pregnant family members.

Perhaps most importantly, the Greek word most Bibles render “inn” (kataluma) doesn’t mean what we think in modern English. Tradition has obscured the true meaning here. Instead of “inn,” the word actually means “guest room.” In fact, you’ll find the same exact word used just that way in Luke 22:11 and Mark 14:14. Consistent with this, the 2011 update to the NIV now reads, “because there was no guest room available for them.”

So, rather than being turned away from hotels, Joseph found his relatives’ house filled with guests who were likely there for the census. The couple didn’t face closed doors. They just had to live in the lower level of the house—a place that often housed animals in ancient Israel.

A Gift for You

Even though layers of “extras” have been added to the true meaning of Christmas—from innkeepers to Santa Claus—what really happened 2,000 years ago is nothing short of astounding.
God came down.

Jesus stepped into our world. When He was conceived in Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus willingly took on flesh, fully aware of how His life would turn out. He knew He’d be in danger from childhood on. He knew He’d be mocked and harrassed. He knew He’d be beaten, flogged, and crucified.

Even still, He chose to be born. But why would He? Love.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Love makes humans do some pretty amazing things—you’ve probably got your stories. But God has us all beat. He humbled Himself to become one of us, and then He died on purpose to take away the sin of the world. He died—we live.

So, when Christmas trees sparkle in shop windows and carols fill up the radio airwaves, remember the real reason we celebrate: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

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Check out what a real 1st Century Bethlehem 3 story house looked like on the video at this LINK.
What's the TRUTH -the 1st story was the "stable", 2nd story was the regular family's home, 3rd story was the "guest room". Yep, all together, all under one roof. Why? It was far too expensive to have a separate detached barn, harder to protect those valuable animals from thieves too, plus the rising heat of the animals below would help keep the home level warmer during the winter chill. See it's neat to learn about real history and how it proves the Bible accurate instead of trusting in holiday traditions like an "inn-keeper" turning away the "in labor" Mary and Joseph. 

the mystery of 5 pt TULIP finally solved

X-Mas Tree

Martin Luther’s Christmas Tree Discovery

German theologian Martin Luther was walking in the woods on a cold, Christmas Eve night in 1535.  The sky was full of bright stars, and Luther began to contemplate the wonder and beauty of the evening, wishing he could somehow capture the moment for his children. An image of a tall evergreen tree sparkling with candlelight popped into his mind, and on his way home he found a tree just the right size. He cut it down, carried it home and decorated it with candles. So church history teaches us that Martin Luther is not only to be the presumed writer of “Away in a Manger,” but he also gave us Christmas tree lights in the form of candles.
Luther’s quest to provide his children joy began with his own in worshipping the Lord’s coming to earth. And that is exactly what Christmas at the very root is — worship.

Augustine on Christmas

When the maker of time, the Word of the Father, became flesh,

He gave us His day of birth in time.

Today Christ is born.

And He, without whose bidding no day runs it’s course,
In His incarnation reserved one day for Himself.
God Became man.
For He, Himself, with the Father, precedes all spans of time,

But on this day, issuing from His mother, He stepped into the tide of years.

Glory to God!

Man’s Maker was made man, that He, Ruler of the stars,

Might nurse at His mother’s breast,

That the Bread might be hungry, the Fountain thirst,

The Light sleep, the Way be tired from the journey.

Glory to God, Wonderful circumstance.

The Word was made flesh that the Truth might be accused by false witnesses,

The judge of the living and the dead by judged by a mortal judge.

Justice be sentenced by the unjust, the Teacher be beaten with whips,

The Vine be crowned with thorns, the Foundation be suspended on wood!

That Strength might be made weak, that He who was well might be wounded,

That Life might die.

Alleluia!

St. Augustine (354–430) was a Latin philosopher and theologian and is generally considered as one of the greatest Christian thinkers of all time. His writings were very influential in the development of Western Christianity.

Glory to God in the highest!