What CHILD+ is THIS ? ~ #11 Advent Meditation ~ Revelation 12:5 ~ In Constant COMMUNION With Our Heavenly FATHER

Here is this mysterious TRUTH, spoken by The LORD JESUS CHRIST:

And no man hath ascended up to Heaven,

but HE+ that came down from Heaven,

even the SON+ of MAN which is in Heaven.

John 3:13 

BUILDING SPIRITUAL MUSCLE

BUILDING MUSCLE
 
It is FASCINATING to watch a wise man work out.
He never… I repeat, NEVER… babies himself.

REDEEMING the TIME... In Season and Out

+  +  + A Personal Note to Fellow Christians... 

Courtesy of BiblePictures.NET

+  +  +

CHRISTMAS is not celebrated, as is done in Western Civilization, in The Holy Scriptures. There is no feasting, gift-giving, and other celebrations recorded about the BIRTH of CHRIST JESUS. 

So... what SHOULD we be doing ? 

Although many Christians no longer keep Christmas, we have noticed one thing: 

the worldlings do !

 

We have gone for decades avoiding the Christmas traditions we all were raised with, much to the consternation of our families and some of our Christian friends.  

However, every pagan, heathen, and “good” citizen in our community  --- including the public school children ---  all celebrate Christmas Day with as much festivity as they can find and many, alas, beyond what they can afford.

Scripture instructs us:  “ Walk circumspectly, redeeming the time because the days are evil.” 

We are also instructed:  “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

As our LORD HIMSELF+ has said, “  I+ must work the works of HIM that sent ME+, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

There is simply no better time to witness at large than during the Christmas season. 

A plate of goodies accompanied by JESUS tracts and  a wonderful cd from Voice of the Martys , JESUS, HE+ Lived Among us,  goes into hearts, homes, and businesses of our acquaintances during Christmas …. because they will accept the witness at that time.

Statistics bear out the fact that there are more suicides and depression at this season of the year than at any other time.  Is not it better to issue HOPE to the ones who would be drowning their sorrows in the bottle or drowning their bodies in the sea, out of despair?

Would it not be better to utilize this season of raw emotion to point them how to come OUT of the sea of lies ? 

What better time to issue the Royal Invitation that there IS INDEED ONE+ Who+ loves you, ONE+ Who+ cares that you are lonely and hurting, ONE+ Who+ will make a “home” for you ?

 

We have been able to place JESUS-tracts inside some very dark homes and hearts by this method, all places that would not normally receive an open witness. Children are especially open to the Gospel message at this season and the elderly are always touched by an act of kindness.

One church we know of urges its congregation to do UNEXPECTED acts of kindness during this INCARNATION Season, as they go about their errands. So they do things such as buy lunch for the fellow behind them in the fast-food drive-in, on a work day, IN THE NAME OF CHRIST JESUS.   

How effective that is ! The fast-food worker receives the witness as well as the unknown stranger in the car behind ! 

So, in all this,  do we promote "keeping of Christmas" and its traditions to the un-saved ? 

NO.. by all means, NO !  

We pick JESUS-tracts that talk about repentance, the need to be saved, the dead-end street of following sin, flesh, and the devil. These tracts invite the readers to JESUS. 

Ourselves, we consent to remember only one thing:  His+ Coming, His+ INCARNATION.  

Because...  if our LORD JESUS had not humbled HIMSELF+ to be robed in human flesh and come in the likeness of man, not ONE of us human beings could have been saved. HE+ had to come! 

Even the serious Christmas hymns, like Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and O Come, All ye Faithful, and some others, give the Gospel message in a nutshell. 

This we all know and agree with, I’m sure.

Scripture only gives us a peek at the season in which HE+ came: at the time of Roman taxation after the fall harvest of crops. 

Shepherds were still in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night. It seems reasonable to think SOMETHING happened in the last month of the year, either the Conception of the HOLY BABE+ or HIS+ Birth. 

The exact date, however, is ... ALTHOUGH PRECISE ... is not necessary for us to know.    

We agree that The LORD is precise as to the prophetic timing of His+ breaking into human history as the SON+ of Man, but HE has not deemed it necessary to inform us of that precise time, like HE did with the certainty of PASCHA / Resurrection .

In addition, it certainly is in keeping with Scriptures to offer adoration of the CHRIST at His+ birth: the Holy Angels of GOD did it, proclaiming loudly to the shepherds; the shepherds themselves did, hastening to the stable to look with  awe upon their MESSIAH come in the flesh. 

Even up to child-hood, we see the Wise men from the East who not only came to worship the young child JESUS, KING+ of the Jews …  but also offered HIM+ gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, as we all well know.

Because we --- from a distance of 2,000 years away from HIS+ first Advent ---  are so far removed from the actual event, it can be FRUITFUL in CHRIST to offer HIM+ our adoration in awe of what HE+ did, coming as a helpless Baby into this hurtful world. 

It seems fitting, during this season, to offer HIM+ thanksgiving for descending to take on the robe  of Adamic flesh. There is NO OTHER remembrance of the INCARNATION of CHRIST become flesh in the Christian calendar.

It is a blessed season to use 

our gold, frankincense,and myrrh as GIFTS 

for those who do not know HIM+, 

that they might be drawn 

to this HUMBLE JESUS 

Whom+ we love and serve.

Now, I will not argue with anyone either for or against “keeping” Christmas: let every man walk in his convictions in this matter, for whatsoever is not of faith is SIN.

As it is written:

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike.

Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the LORD; 

and he that regardeth not the day, to the LORD he doth not regard it. 

He that eateth, eateth to the LORD, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the LORD he eateth not, and giveth GOD thanks

This is simply to share with you how we redeem the time, how we share CHRIST and HIM+ crucified, in season and out. 

Yes, the satan has snatched the INCARNATION of CHRIST away from its rightful owners and drowned it in worldliness.  

Are we able to look above

the tawdry and mundane worldly celebrations 

and snatch the MOMENT… 

redeeming the time, 

because the days are evil… 

and darkness is coming, 

in which NO MAN can work? 

Who Came to Visit ?

EYES on the INCARNATION

Christmas Meditation 

Who came to visit 

at your house, today ?

Did ... one, even one ... of the lame, the lost, the meek, the shunned eat at your festive table today  ? 

If not ...  why not ? 

Who received packages, 

to honor The KING+ ? 

Was it ... one, even one ...  of the poor, who could make no return, or the homeless... a bit dirty, perhaps ? 

If not... why not?

Who felt the love of JESUS 

at your house today?

Were the un-loved, the lonely, the sad and sorrowing invited into the warmth of His+ heart .... at your house.... today ?  

If not... why not ? 

Our SAVIOR never commanded a remembrance of His+ birth... as lowly and lovely as it was, recorded in Scriptures. 

HE+ did instruct us to receive HIM+, though, through the lowly ones on the earth. 

JESUS said...  

When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Verily I+ say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My+ brethren, ye have done it unto ME+. 

Did JESUS choose to visit 

at your house today ? 

Yea, LORD, We Greet THEE+ !

O COME, LET US ADORE HIM+ !

NATIVITY AND ST. JEROME'S CAVE

Yea, LORD, we greet THEE+

born this*** happy morning, 

JESUS , to  THEE+ be all glory given. 

WORD+ of The FATHER, 

now in flesh appearing

O COME LET US ADORE HIM+ !

O COME LET US ADORE HIM+ !

O COME LET US ADORE HIM+ ,

CHRIST the LORD !

+  +  +

CHILD+ , for us sinners,

poor and in the manger,

we would embrace THEE+ 

with love and awe. 

Who would not love THEE+ , 

loving us so dearly ?

O COME LET US ADORE HIM+ !

O COME LET US ADORE HIM+ !

O COME LET US ADORE HIM+ ,

CHRIST the LORD !

[*** Please Note: Man does not know the exact date of the birth of The LORD JESUS, although many good guesses and arguments have been established.  We are only given a "season" in the Scriptures and the facts of 1) shepherds were watching in the fields at night , and 2) it was at the time of the Roman taxation. We are given no instructions whatsoever about "celebrating" the birth of JESUS; His+ death is to be remembered, according to Scripture.

So during the INCARNATION season, we remember for WHAT purpose HE+ became INCARNATE:  for the suffering of death. 

Both Western and Eastern branches of Christianity have arbitrarily agreed on Dec. 25 for whatever reasons, only the Eastern Christians follow the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. So it all makes for confusion !  

The IMPORTANT thing is to recognize that Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Eternal WORD+ of The FATHER,  was made INCARNATE at one point in time, about 2000 years ago, and that was for the suffering of death.

HE+ entered into time in order to rescue the Adamic race from the grip of satan, the father of lies. HE+ became our CHRISTUS VICTOR and triumphed over death, hell, and the grave ... crushing the head of satan who had bruised HIS+ heel. 

So we here at the Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+  focus on the FACT of the INCARNATION and join with Christians who rejoice over His+ Coming in the likeness of Adamic flesh ~  regardless of "when" it chronologically occurred. ]

IF JESUS Had Given Them Rest...

 ADVENT MEDITATIONS for 2014

Courtesy of pravoslavie.ru

 Scriptures courtesy of www.biblegateway.com

Isaiah 11: 10 ~  

And in that day there shall be a ROOT+ of Jesse, 

which shall stand for an ENSIGN+ of the people; 

to it shall the Gentiles seek: 

and His+ rest shall be glorious.

Hebrews 4: 6 - 8 ~

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein,

 and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 

 Again, HE limiteth a certain day, saying in David, 

To day, after so long a time; as it is said, 

To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

 For if JESUS had given them rest, 

then would HE not afterward 

have spoken of another day.

If JESUS had given them rest... 

All those rebellious ones ~ 

... of His+ people, in His+ Camp, in the wilderness, baptized in the waters of the RED+ Sea, eating the Manna sent from Heaven,  under the protection of the ROCK+ that followed them ...   

~ had free choice!  

I Corinthians 10:4

And did all drink the same spiritual drink:

 for they drank 

of that spiritual ROCK+ that followed them:

and that ROCK+ was CHRIST.+

They DIED in the wilderness without being allowed to enter the Promised Land. 

Our LORD has so designed man that EVERY HUMAN BEING is able ... i.e., has the power... to choose WHOM+ or what he will serve with his whole heart, as evidenced in life choices.  

Robots need not apply.  CHRIST JESUS wants no robots. Flesh and blood CANNOT ... is not able... to inherit the Kingdom of GOD; each man , woman, and child must choose it for himself. 

If JESUS would have given those rebellious ones rest, then the rebellious and disobedient forsakers of GOD would have been granted a REST without repentance ! GOD FORBID ! 

Rest WITHOUT  REPENTANCE 

is impossible with GOD. 

It is one thing that GOD will not do for us: repent. We must do this ourselves. 

Those who refuse His+ LORDSHIP ( regardless of church membership rolls ) refuse His+ REST at the same time. 

It is impossible  to enter into His+ Promised Land of peace, joy, and rest without a personal repentance.    

O LORD JESUS, Cleanser of the Repentant, Who+ was made INCARNATE to do that very thing,  lead us to Thy+ cleansing fountain once again. 

Help us to heed Thy+ Call of conviction; take away our blindness to our sin. Help us to see who we are with Thine+ Eyes, O LIGHT+ of the world, for in Thy+ Light, we shall see Light. 

O HOLY FATHER, Who sent forth Thy Only-Begotten SON+ to give the repentant rest in HIM+ Who+ knew no sin, we bless and glorify both HIM+ and THEE. 

We thank THEE+ for the Promised Land, wherein doth righteousness dwell and the souls of men made perfect through the Blood of Thy INCARNATED SON+.

Change our in-born rebellion against Thy+ Word, we humbly ask, as we yield our un-docile and self-willed spirits unto THEE+, for Thy+ great glory. 

O HOLY LIGHT+ made INCARNATE in Our LORD JESUS CHRIST for the suffering of death, fill us with Thy+ same Spirit that we may die to self ... in order for the world to see THEE+ , in Truth.  

In the Name of the Only-Begotten SON+ of GOD, the INCARNATE EMMANUEL... we pray. Amen. 

To HIM+ Shall the Gentile Seek...

 ADVENT MEDITATIONS for 2014

Courtesy of pravoslavie.ru

Scriptures courtesy of  www.biblegateway.com

Isaiah 11: 10  ~  

 And in that day there shall be a ROOT+ of Jesse, 

which shall stand for an ENSIGN+ of the people;

to it shall the GENTILES seek:

and His+ rest shall be glorious.

Acts 11: 7-10 ~  And I heard a VOICE saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, LORD: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.  But the VOICE answered me again from heaven, 

What G0D hath cleansed, 

that call not thou common.

.  

And this was done three times: 

and all were drawn up again into heaven.

+  +  +

What GOD hath cleansed !

. 

O Glorious Day of His+ Appearing !   

HE+ became INCARNATE, offering cleansing, peace, and goodwill toward  the Jews and Gentiles, alike.  HE+ is no respecter of persons.  

HE+ became INCARNATE to obliterate the wall that sin, death, and hell had erected between GOD and His highest creation on earth, man... a wall devised by the satan, the hater of mankind.  

Come, LORD JESUS.  Show Thyself+ in Thy+ Kingly power to all whom THOU+ hast cleansed from sin.  

How we long to see Thy+ Day evidenced once again on earth, as Abraham saw Thy+ Glory. 

How we long to see Thy+ Day evidenced on earth as Moses and Elijah witnessed it, foreseeing the CHRISTUS VICTOR over death, hell, and the grave, once and for all time. 

How we long to see Thy+ Day as Peter, James, and John glimpsed Thy+ Glory on the Mount before the glory overwhelmed them. 

How our hearts long to see THEE+, O SAVIOR CHRIST! 

O CHRISTUS VICTOR, JESUS, Who+ alone is SAVIOR of this dead and dying world, our hearts pant after THEE+ as a doe longs for running streams. Hasten, Hasten the Day of Thy+ Coming to us. 

We thank THEE+ for Thy+ gladsome Promise:

I+ will come again and will take you unto Myself+. 

I bind my heart to THEE+ ... and to THEE+ alone, O LORD CHRIST. 

O CHRISTUS VICTOR, rise up and show Thyself+. Let all those who hate THEE+ ... and Thy+ Rule ...  flee before Thy+ Face, O VICTOR CHRIST !  Let GOD arise, let His enemies be scattered. 

Q:  For who may abide the DAY of His+ coming ?

A:  Whomever each day  abideth in HIM+  !