"Jesus is the reason and Santa never died for Anybody"
By Frank B. Holmes
It was once said that A true prophet of God must carry the lamp of truth at all cost. He will not be popular with men. He announces, pronounces and denounces. He is a villain of today and a hero of tomorrow.
Every year around Christmas I preach this message to help believers in understanding the true meaning of Christmas and to encourage the brethren to make Christ the center of this Holiday season that we call Christmas.
This message draws a line in the sand. Either you are on one side of it or the other. I have found that at Christmas time a lot of the preachers in the pulpits water down the true meaning of Christmas in order to appease the crowds and to assure year end donations. That should not be so, especially at this time of the year.
The first thing I would like to share with you is that Jesus Himself said; If you love me keep my commandments. 1 John 3:24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
All through the bible their are commandments from God, Jesus Christ on doing His will. If we are to be in His will and show others that we are Christians and that we love God, then we are to obey His commandments. Our greatest act of love to God is obedience to His word. Not because we are under the law, but Grace. Because He says to do it, we should do it!
What this world and our society has done , they have created a lie and a deception. Many Christians have fallen for it because they think it is innocent and doesn't make any difference one way or the other.
The first part of the deception started many years ago with the creation of a fictitious character in a red suit called Santa Clause. And it has escalated to calling this holiday we Christians call Christmas, a winter holiday. Now this world and our society says their is no God, no Saviour, therefore their is no longer Christmas. What they have done is taken Christ out of Christmas and made it Xmas.
May I share something with you. This world still needs a Saviour and Jesus is still the answer and it needs to put Christ back in Christmas. Amen!
Let us get back to following God's commandments in Exodus 20:10 where He said; you shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. Then Jesus said in Matthew 12:36 Men will give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. Giving false testimony means lying in court. God wants us to be honest and truthful in our private dealings as well as our public statements. In either situation we give false testimony when we leave something out of a story. When one tells a half truth and when one twist the facts or invent a falsehood. God warns us against deception even though deception is a way of life for many people.
God's people of all people should not give into it. Truth is the only thing that will set people free.
Christians all over this land has given into deception as a way of life. By telling their children that a little chunky man named Santa in a little red suit brings them gifts on Christmas morning. This is a lie and a deception.
The giver of the greatest gift to all of man kind was Jesus.
Their is no Christmas without Christ. This is the time of the year when we as Christians should be shouting it from the housetops and proclaiming it to the world. Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Then in Matthew 1:21,23 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” v23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
In Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
We as born again believers should be shouting to the glory of God for His great and wonderful gift in celebration, lifting up the name of Jesus and denouncing the world view of Christmas. Because Jesus is the reason for the season and Santa never died for anybody.
Glory Hallelujah!
In Deuteronomy 6:6-8 God commanded the Israelites to tell their children the things of the Lord. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
At Christmas time, does your children hear more about Santa instead of Jesus. Is your house decorated with Santa's, elf's and reindeer or does your house show the evidence of the Lord in your life through whats on your mantel or door post? As for me and my house we serve the Lord and their is not a room that you pass through that does not have a scripture of some sort on the walls.
Jesus said; do not hinder the children to come unto me. Has Santa been a hindrance in your young child's life from knowing the true meaning of Christmas and Jesus?
What words come to mind during this holiday season? Is it of the world and full of fantasy's, lies, fables and magic? Or does your Christmas bring words of love, peace, giving, worship and praise? The blessedness of Christmas is all wrapped up in the person of Jesus Christ. Our relationship with Him determines the measure of the blessing.
Men and women everywhere will sigh on December the 26 and say they are glad that Christmas is over for another year. But to us who truly know the Saviour as Lord, it's just the beginning and it will last forever.
If I could have my way every Christmas parade, like Macy's would begin with the birth of Christ and in the middle would be the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord. And at the end instead of Santa, who never died for a soul; there would be Jesus all dressed in White riding on that white horse in glorious triumph and return.
Brothers and sisters, If the truth were were known, just like me, I never enjoyed Christmas until I received the greatest Gift of all. Jesus! As my Lord and Saviour. One that would never stop giving.
Before I was saved and was lost with out Jesus, Christmas was a time of loneliness and heartache. A time were drunkenness permeated the home. A time where I felt less loved because my neighbors little boy was lavished with toys and gifts and all I got was hand me downs or little of nothing. I thought that Santa loved them more then me.
My first Christmas as a born again, saved, forgiven child of the king made me realize that Jesus was the reason for the season and Santa never died for anybody.
If only those who call themselves Christians would grasp this truth. So many Children would come to know the Lord and so many lives would be set free by the truth and the true meaning of Christmas.
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