Devotional
Taking back Christmas
Isa 9:2, 6&7
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Taking back Christmas - Isa 9:2, 6&7

The People walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the lands of the shadow of death a light has dawned.  (Isa. 9:2 NIV)

 Norman Sawchuck and Rueben P. Job  in “A Guide to Prayer for all who seek God” write,

”Advent marks the beginning of the church year and lays before

us the pathway of faith for the year ahead.  Advent initiates

once again remembering, retelling, and celebrating the whole

drama of God's Revelation.

 
Four weeks is the limit to this season that declares the truth

about a God whose love and resourcefulness have no limits.

"Advent" has its roots in the Latin word "adventus," or

coming. This season proclaims the coming of Christ in the

Birth of Jesus, in the Word and Spirit, and in the final

victory when God's kingdom shall be complete.

 

Our privilege as Christians is to receive the gracious gift

of God's presence in Christ.  Our task is to prepare for His

Coming, so that we will not miss life's greatest gift.”

 
The Advent Season 2005 is upon us.  Already the rush and bustle of the season has begun.  We are busy preparing our gifts for family and friends as an expression of our love.  Christmas is a wonderful time of the year.

.

The Advent Season focus on the gifts that Jesus brings to us.  We take back Christmas by celebrating the spiritual meaning of the event and discover anew the spiritual truth of the coming of Jesus into our world as God’s gift of love to us.  This year accept the gifts that Jesus brings and share His love with others.

 

Taking back Christmas must be intentional on our part.  It challenges us to rewrite our schedules to reflect the true meaning of the event.  As the year draws to a close, family schedules and personal agendas fill with engagements, programs, parties and annual obligations.  The carol “Silent Night” could not have been written at the end of the twentieth century.  The title evokes a peace and stillness we can only imagine.

 

To reclaim Christmas we need to draw close to God who became flesh and lived amongst us.  It is difficult to harmonize meditation and car pooling.  How do we carve out moments of quiet and worship and open ourselves to God’s Presence?  Perhaps we have to lower our sights from hours spent around hearths, Christmas trees, decorated halls and festivities to schedule quiet times when the family can sit together and contemplate what Christmas is all about.

 

The first theme of Advent is Hope.  It is the first gift that Jesus brings to us.  It is a bright light in a dark world. (Isa 9:2, 6&7)  We continue to hope in God’s promise that Christ will come again to fill our world with love, joy and peace.

 

Prayer

 

Heavenly Father, speak to my heart during this season as you spoke to your prophets.  Remind me again of the journey you call me to make and the work you would have me to do.

 

I am your servant, O Lord.  Speak to me in this holy season and turn my eyes to watch for your coming.

  

About the Author
 
Pastor Earl Batstone has pastored for more than forty years.  He retired as General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Nfld in 2002. He and his wife Lily are presently active in Short Term Missionary work. They reside in Paradise, Newfoundland and may be reached at: earlbatstone@nl.rogers.com

 
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False Doctrines
 
Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

 

Mark 13:21-23

And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.  But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

 

Galatians 1:8

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

 

Colossians 2:8

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

 

1 Timothy 4:1-3

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart  from the faith,  giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

 

2 Peter 2:1, 2

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be  false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

 

1 John 4:1-3

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:  Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
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