BEST CHRISTMAS SONG EVER!!!
A Divine Birth Announcement - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. . . . Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." -Luke 2:8, 10
If you are a parent, then you can remember the first people you called after you became one. You gave them the weight and length of the baby and the actual time when he or she was born. You shared the news with those who were closest to you.
When God announced the birth of His Son, whom did He tell first? It seems likely that He would have started with Caesar Augustus. He could have sent the angel Gabriel to appear in Caesar's court and announce, "Check this out, buddy. You are not God! The Savior of the world has arrived!"
Or He might have had Gabriel appear to the religious leaders and say, "Wake up! The Messiah has been born! The One you talk about, the One you pray for-He is here!"
But that didn't happen. Instead, God first announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds. We tend to romanticize the shepherds along with everyone else in the Christmas story, but we don't understand who they were. In this culture, shepherds lived at the bottom of the social ladder.
Shepherds were so despised that their testimonies were not even allowed in a court of law. Shepherds did the work that no one else wanted to do. They worked hard, but they were perceived as unclean because they could not observe the ceremonial hand washings. They were the outcasts, the nobodies.
The only people less-regarded than shepherds were those who were suffering from leprosy. Yet God decided to announce His news to some shepherds in the fields as they kept watch over their flocks at night. This was the modus operandi of Jesus, from birth to death. He always appealed to the outcast, to the common, to the ordinary. And that should give hope to ordinary people like us.
Just Another Night in Bethlehem - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done marvelous things! -Joel 2:21
On the first Christmas Eve, there were no brightly colored lights on anyone's homes. There were no stockings that had been hung with care or any visions of sugarplums dancing in children's heads. It was just another night in Bethlehem. The census had gone out-that command by Caesar that everyone was to be taxed. But history was about to change in Bethlehem.
All of Israel was living in a very frightening time historically. They lived under the tyrant King Herod who would execute people at will. In addition, the Jews were living in occupied territory. The Romans had taken control of their country. They were no longer free to do what they wanted and live as they wanted. They wondered if Rome would ever leave. Would the violent rule ever cease? Would their world ever change?
Then suddenly angels appeared to the shepherds and told them not to be afraid; the Messiah had been born.
There is a lot to be afraid of in our unstable, volatile world today. It seems that at every turn, we hear about another horrific tragedy happening in our world. It can cause us to be terrified.
Then there are the personal fears: What if I lose my health? What if I lose a member of my family? What if this happens? What if that happens? A lot of things run through our minds.
Here is the message of the first Christmas-and the message for us this Christmas: Don't be afraid. . . . I bring you good tidings of great joy.
Ray Stedman wrote, "The chief mark of the Christian ought to be the absence of fear and the presence of joy."
Does that describe you? Fear is what Christmas came to remove-and now we can have joy in its place.
Good news in a bad world - Greg Laurie -
Greg Laurie notes, 'He saves us from our past, our present and our future'
Like a lot of other elements of the Christmas story, I think we have glamorized the shepherds. We dress up as shepherds for our Christmas plays, and figurines of shepherds are part of our Nativity scenes, but I don't think we understand who and what they were in the culture of their day.
Shepherds were at the very bottom of the social ladder. The testimony of shepherds wasn't even allowed in a court of law because it was assumed they would not tell the truth. They were despised by many people. One reason was they could not observe the ceremonial hand washings that were required to approach God in the temple. These guys were what we might call salt-of-the-earth kind of people. They had dirt under their fingernails. They went out there and got the job done.
These are the people God handpicked to receive the angelic announcement of the Savior's birth. God was saying, in effect, "I'm going to tell the outcasts, the people on the bottom of the social ladder, that unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
This is typical of the way God often works. After all, whom did he choose to be the mother of the Messiah? He chose a peasant girl named Mary, who was living in Nazareth, a town in the middle of nowhere. Throughout his ministry, Jesus always had time for the nobodies, the outcasts. He had time for unloved people like the despised tax collector Zacchaeus, the woman who was caught in the act of adultery, and the immoral woman at the well.
Jesus also had time for hurting people. Whenever there was a hurting person and Jesus was nearby, it was only a matter of time until the two would connect. There was the day he was on his way to see the daughter of Jairus, a very influential, powerful man. Meanwhile, there was a woman who had a medical condition she couldn't get resolved. She had spent all of her money on doctors. She determined that if she could touch the hem of Jesus' garment, she would be healed.
As Jesus weaved his way through the crowd that was almost crushing him, this woman reached through and touched the very edge of his robe. Suddenly Jesus stopped and said, "Who touched me?" In the disciples' minds, it was more a question of who didn't touch him. But when the crowd parted, there stood the woman. Jesus could have said, "I don't have time for you. I'm going to the house of Jairus. His daughter is very ill." But he didn't do that. Instead, Jesus commended her for her faith. He always had time for people like her.
Jesus also had time for little children. On one occasion when mothers were bringing their children to Jesus, the disciples tried to shoo them away. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14 NKJV).
Jesus always had time for the down and outers, for the outcast, for the unloved and for the unknown - people like the shepherds. We know from Luke that the shepherds were living outside, with really no homes to speak of: "There were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:8 NKJV). They didn't get out much - didn't see a lot of things. And suddenly they were watching a heavenly light show:
An angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ... And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (verses 9, 13-14 NKJV)
It's as though God took the veil separating Earth from Heaven, pulled it back, and said, "Check it out, boys!" They were watching angels of the Lord worshiping God. No wonder they were afraid.
But the angel told them, "Don't be afraid! ... I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger" (verses 10-11 NLT).
That's a good thing to think about as we're about to enter a new year. We don't have to be afraid. Why? Because this is good news. The term used here for good news originates from a verb that we translate into the word evangelism. In other words, "Tell the people the good news that Christ the Savior is born!"
It was good news in a bad world. And they were living in a bad world. They were living with uncertainty. They wondered if Rome would ever leave and stop occupying of the homeland of the Jewish people. They wondered if wicked Herod would ever be out of power. They wondered if the Messiah would come. Well, the Messiah had come.
We, too, live in an uncertain world. We hear news of all the threats against our nation, threats from people who wish us ill, from people who want to harm us. It's a scary world we're living in. But God is saying, "Don't be afraid. Instead rejoice, because there is a great event that has happened." We have a Savior: The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! He saves us from our past, our present and our future. He forgives us all the wrongs and the sins we've committed. This is the great hope that we have at Christmas. We have a Savior.
Joseph, the Unsung Hero - By Greg Laurie -
"Joseph, her fianc�, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly." -Matthew 1:19
Joseph is the unsung hero of the Christmas story. For the most part, there are no Christmas songs about Joseph. Yet he really is a hero. The Bible tells us that Joseph was a "good man" (Matthew 1:19). Deeply in love with Mary, he was no doubt jolted by the news that she was pregnant.
Joseph and Mary were engaged, which, in their culture, was like being married. Once a couple entered into this engagement, or espousal, period, it was like being married, although they lived in separate houses. It was during this time that Mary became pregnant.
Yet Joseph loved Mary, and the Bible tells us that he "did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly" (Matthew 1:19). In other words, Joseph was thinking, I'm going to say that I can't marry her now, but I'm certainly not going to publicly shame Mary, either.
While he was pondering this, an angel appeared to Joseph and told him, "Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (verses 20-21).
That was all Joseph needed to hear. He could have walked away, even after he knew the truth. But he stood by Mary. And just as surely as God chose Mary to be the mother of the Messiah, he chose Joseph to be a father figure on earth for Jesus.
When God uses a person, there is a sacrifice to make. It won't be an easy path, but it will be a fruitful one-and you will look back later in life and be glad that you took it.
O Come, Let Us Adore Him - by Holly Spate -
Imagine with me for a minute. What if Christmas had never come? What if God never sent the greatest gift? What if love hadn't come down and bridged the gap? What if hope never happened, grace was never given, and eternity in heaven was never a reality?
What if no way had been given for our sins to be forgiven? What if no promise of a bright future was within our grasp? What would our world look like? What would your life look like?
What if Christmas came and went without a true stirring in our hearts...without any real meaning? What if there was no significance to our existence, no real joy to hold onto?
There are simply no words to describe what Christmas, or life would be like, if God had not reached down and showered His mercy and unconditional love upon us. It was His remarkable love for each of us that compelled Him to give His most precious gift...His only Son. He didn't have to bestow a gift we could never repay. He could have left us in our sin. He could have left us grappling in the darkness, but He didn't. Thankfully, He didn't!
Luke 2:8-11: "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"
Luke 2:13-14: "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'"
A Savior has been born! Hallelujah! The greatest gift ever given was shared with all of humanity. An eternal gift of hope, love, joy, peace, and salvation.
Christmas is Christmas because of Christ. Christmas is Christmas because of God's purity. A purity and love so deep that wouldn't allow Him to abandon His creation. A love so true that couldn't leave His beloved children orphaned without a Father...without Him.
Thank God Almighty for a love that didn't say "No," but "Yes!"
"Yes" to bringing hope. "Yes" to bringing salvation. "Yes" to bringing redemption. "Yes" to a chance... a true life. "Yes" to the promise of eternity in heaven to all who believe.
Because He said "Yes" we are free! Because He said "Yes" we are clean! Because He stepped out of heaven and came to earth, we are forgiven! We have everything we need or could ever need because He said "Yes."
Praise God that He didn't leave us in our fallen state! Praise God for His unimaginable goodness! Fall on your knees and thank Him today and every day for the gift of Christmas!
O Come, Let Us Adore Him! Let us live our lives in constant awe of what He's done for us. Thank Him for what He's done for YOU.
This Christmas many will focus on the presents, the joy of family gatherings and holiday activities. Many will sip hot cocoa by the fire and enjoy the flickering of colored lights. All that will fade. None of those things can compare to the gift wrapped in love that touched the earth over 2,000 years ago. In a humble stable hope was born. A Savior came for us. No other gift given can ever compare. No other gift given could ever fill the hole in a beating heart or make the heart whole. Only the gift of Jesus could do that, and continues to do that for all who believe and receive.
Let's honor Him with our hearts. Let's praise Him with our voices. Let's acknowledge Him before our circles of influence. Let's allow Him to shine through us so He's visible in our actions. Let's keep Christ in Christmas today and every day.
Merry CHRISTmas!
What Christmas Is About - By Greg Laurie -
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
-Isaiah 9:7
As we look at our world today, we realize that part of the promise of Isaiah 9:6-7 has not yet been fulfilled. The Son has been given. The Child has been born. But He has not yet taken the government upon His shoulders.
We do not yet have peace with judgment and justice. But the good news is that there will come a day when Christ will return. He will establish His kingdom on this earth. And it will be the righteous rule of God Himself.
Before Jesus could take the government upon His shoulder, He had to take the cross upon His shoulder. Before He could wear the crown of glory as King of Kings, He had to wear the shameful crown of thorns and give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.
The first time, a star marked His arrival. But the next time He comes, the heavens will roll back like a scroll, all of the stars will fall from the sky, and He himself will light it.
Christ came to this earth. God came near to you so you can come near to Him-to give your life purpose and meaning, to forgive you of your sins, and to give you the hope of Heaven beyond the grave.
Christmas is not about tinsel or shopping or presents. Christmas is not about the gifts under the tree. Rather, Christmas is about the gift that was given on the tree when Christ died there for our sins and gave us the gift of eternal life.
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