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.

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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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Healing

Psalms 103:3

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Proverbs 11:21

[Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Isaiah 57:18

I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Matthew 4:24

And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Matthew 8:16, 17

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Matthew 10:1, 7, 8

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease…And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Matthew 13:54-58

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Matthew 17:14-20

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you

Mark 16:17-20

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Luke 9:1, 2, 6

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick…And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

John 14:1

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

1 Peter 2:24

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Additional Scriptures

Healing Ps. 6:2; Isa. 6:10; Acts 9:34; 14:8-10; 1 Cor. 12:9; James 5:16