What Christmas Is

Christmas is not just a holiday.  Nor is Christmas just about a baby being born in a manger.  Yes,  we celebrate Jesus being born--and don't minimize this--if Jesus hadn't been born of a virgin, He would not have been God!  Jesus Christ is God Incarnate, God in the flesh!  And wonder of wonders that God would come to this earth--why? to die for mankind!  How precious, how wonderful that is!  That is the truth of Christmas--Jesus Christ was born so that He might die for us!!  That is the wonder of Christmas-- Jesus coming to earth to provide salvation to lowly sinners like you and I.  But that really is only the beginning.  Christmas is all about Christ and the gospel--His death, burial, and resurrection.  Once you start to tell about God Incarnate, you just must tell the whole story! 

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

John 3:16 is probably the most well-known verse in all the Bible.  What does it tell us?  God loved us so much that He was willing to give His only Son as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.  All we need to do is accept that precious gift, trusting in His finished work upon the cross.  He died for you…won't you trust Him as your personal Savior today?           If you should have further questions, you can look into some of my old postings about salvation…or you can email me.  I would be very happy to answer any questions you might have.  Please do not delay this very important decision.

         May you truly know

         the Christ of Christmas!

        Merle

    

Prayer

• Our relationship with Christ ought to be one of constant dependence and communion.  Prayer is a natural outflow of that dependence and communion.
• Prayer isn't the way to get God to do whatever we want.  Prayer is an expression of our trust in God's power, wisdom and grace.

 

• The Holy Spirit, Our Prayer Partner 24/7

Romans 8:26-27

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

• Prayers of the Saints are Precious

Revelation 5:8

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

• Prayer, Our Strength and Power

     Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

     Luke 18:1

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

     Ephesians 6:18 - part of our armor

 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 HINDRANCES TO ANSWERED PRAYER:

• Disobedience - Deut. 1:45
• Secret Sin - Psalm 66:18
• Indifference - Prov. 1:28
• Neglect of Mercy - Prov. 21:13
• Despising the Law - Prov. 28:9
• Blood-guiltiness - Is. 1:15
• Iniquity - Is. 59:2, Mi. 3:4
• Stubbornness - Zech. 7:13
• Instability - James 1:6-7
• Self-indulgence - James 4:3

 

CONDITIONS TO ANSWERED PRAYER:

• Contrition - 2 Chr. 7:14
• Godly - Psalm 4:3
• Whole-heartedness - Jer. 29:13
• Faith - Mark 11:24
• Righteousness - James 5:16
• Obedience - 1 John 3:22

Think, too, these are the things God is most pleased with.  Why wouldn't He answer a prayer such as  this?!  If you were to look up each of these Bible references, I think you would find an "if" phrase or a "when" clause...in other words, conditional phrases.  God puts forth certain conditions--conditions of which I already listed above--and if we will just follow those conditions God sets forth, He promises to answer our prayers!  I love God's promises.  They are so precious.  Just think for a moment:  God, our Heavenly Father has made us certain promises, and He cannot lie!  He desires a rich, wonderful relationship with us--one which includes answered prayer--all we have to do is trust and obey.  I love that song too!  "Trust and Obey...for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!"   

     

       May we truly learn to

             Trust & Obey!

    

      Merle