IT IS NOT THE HOLIDAY THAT CREATED CHRISTMAS, IT IS CHRISTMAS THAT CREATED THE HOLIDAY!
‘EMMANUEL- GOD, WITH US’ IS VICTORY OVER SIN!
YOU CUT YOUR LIFE SHORT IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IN MALICE!
CHRISTMAS IS USELESS TO ANYONE CELEBRATING IF THE CELEBRANT IS NOT IN THE LIFE OF THE PERSON!
THE LAST TIME YOU SUFFERED DRYNESS SHALL BE THE LAST FOREVER!
‘DON’T TAKE AWAY THE CELEBRANT OUT OF THE CELEBRATION’!
WE ARE CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS, IT’S NOT FLESH, SIN OR SELF THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING!
WHEN JESUS WAS BORN, GLORY WAS BORN! WHEN YOU ACCEPT JESUS, YOU ACCEPT THAT GLORY!
-Reverend Godwin I. ABBA on “THE BEAUTY OR THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS” || Word Alive Centre International, Abuja || Combined Service
What is Christmas?
1.Christmas means the birth of Christ.
2.Christmas is the service that is conducted for the birth of Jesus as it was done by the three wise men.
3.Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Saviour of the world.
4. Christmas is the presentation of the greatest gift ever known to the world.
5.Christmas is the day that salvation came into the entire earth!
What is the significance or purpose of Christmas?
1.It is the introduction of eternal life into the destiny of anyone that receives Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour.
2.Christmas is the birth of glory and the death of shame and reproach to humanity!
3.Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Saviour of the world.
4.Christmas is the day the gate of eternal life was opened unto mankind!
5.Christmas is the day of the announcement of ‘the abundant life’!
6. It is the introduction of the Light of God.
7.Christmas is the introduction of the glorious hope of redemption
8.The birth of Jesus gave us dominion over sin.
9.Christmas gave us access to everything that we desire from God!
How should Christmas be celebrated?
1.With reverence and honour to the One that we are celebrating!
2.With worship and with a heart of thanksgiving to God for the unquantifiable gift of love He sent to us!
3.We celebrate Christmas with family and friends!
4.To save His people from their sins!
Jam those hands together for our King and our Lord! Let’s celebrate the King of kings! Hallelujah! What a unique Sunday that Christmas fell into! Which one is blessed? Is it Christmas day or Sunday? Both days are blessed! Church Gist. Walk to seven people and tell them, ‘Merry Christmas’ with smiles on your face!
Isn’t God faithful? Father, we give You the glory and praise that you alone deserve! In the Name of Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord!
Quickly, back to Isaiah 9:6 and 7. Church Gist. I wanna welcome everyone of us to this awesome service and those of you watching live online, may the Lord bless you real good in the Name of Jesus!
-Eternal Father we give You the praise and the glory that You alone deserve! We ask this day that You speak to us as You have always done! Church Gist. Give us the ears to hear You and the heart to accept it. Give us the wisdom and the grace to do Your Word. And Lord we thank You because wherever You are, no satan has a place there! Thank You for ruling in our midst in Jesus’ Most Precious Name we prayed! Praise the Lord!
We are gonna be looking at ‘THE BEAUTY OR THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS’.
When we were growing up, one of the things that thrilled people like us on Christmas day or Christmas period was the rice. At our growing up stages, I believe that everybody has certain Christmas expectations. For some, it is the shoes that their dad or mom is supposed to buy for them. For others, it is the new Christmas clothing they are going to be putting on! Church Gist. To some, it is the Christmas rice that they would be eating! And some is how they are going to go out that day to visit families from house to house!
Everybody has their Christmas passion, Christmas connection and Christmas focus! There are those that vowed that in that Christmas period, they will eat until there is no more space in their tummy! So they go knocking from door to door telling people, ‘We are here for Christmas’! Sometimes they ask them, ‘What do you want?’ Church Gist. They say, ‘Food’ and some other times, they can say, ‘Money’!
Now these were our passions, connections, directions and understanding of the purpose of Christmas. But Christmas is beyond that! To others, Christmas is like a time to hook up- A time to meet somewhere and manifest the acts of satan! It is time where they store their passion emotionally- Passion for sexual pursuit or their passion for something nasty! Church Gist. And they see that Christmas period as the time they wish they can exhibit what they have been carrying and saving for all the while!
To some people, Christmas is a business time, a time where they will make money. So they invest more into their purchases towards the Christmas period because they expect there are gonna be higher sales. And at the cost of these investments they are thinking of how to hike the price! Some double the prices because they feel that it is a season where people are compelled to go to the market to buy things for their children, spouses or loved ones! Church Gist. But there are purposes beyond all these! And that’s what we are going to be looking at right now!
Before we get deeply into the purposes of Christmas, let’s simply ask ourselves: What is Christmas?
1.Christmas means the birth of Christ. From the Scripture we read in Isaiah 9:6, Unto us a child is born…So before the civilised world began to celebrate birthdays, the birthday of Jesus Christ was already being celebrated! Church Gist. So Christmas is simply the acknowledgement of the day of the birth of Jesus.
2.Christmas is the service that is conducted for the birth of Jesus as it was done by the three wise men. The three wise men didn’t just go to Jesus in Matthew chapter two to visit Him and drop gifts! Church Gist. They actually conducted a service! They were already told that a king had been born on Christmas day and so they were asked to go and visit this King and as they went, services were conducted! And that is why for eternity, whenever it is Christmas whether the Christmas falls on either Sunday, Monday or Saturday there are services that are held in memory and celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Timothy 1:17.
3.Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Saviour of the world. In life today, there are people who are being celebrated even though they are no longer alive, they are being celebrated because of their legacies upon the face of the earth! They are being celebrated because of their impact! Church Gist. Now, Jesus Christ didn’t just impact the world, He is the Creator and also the Saviour of the world. Somebody with such massive grace, input and impact into the ones He has created should never be forgotten. So we as Christians, we make bold every year to celebrate the Saviour of the world.
The Bible while speaking in the Book of John 1:12, But as many that receive Him, He gave them the power to become the sons of God… We believe in Him! We are convinced about our belief and no devil, tradition, government or civilisation can change that from our Spirit man! There is an agitation today that Christmas should not be celebrated in some part of the world. Church Gist. Why? Because there is this belief that Christianity is not the only religion. The world seems to be a mixed world! So everybody comes in with their own religion. Well! For me and for us, we will serve this God forever and ever in the Name of Jesus Christ.
A time came and they wanted to remove the word ‘Christmas’ from Christmas day. So in seasons like this instead of them saying ‘Merry Christmas’, they say, ‘Happy holidays’! This is not ‘Happy holidays, it is Merry Christmas’. Christmas is not because of the holiday, it is the holiday that is because of Christmas. Did you get that? Church Gist. It is not the holiday that created Christmas, it is Christmas that created the holiday! So Christmas is bigger than the holiday! We cannot be saying, ‘Happy holiday’. You can say, ‘Happy holiday’ during your children’s holidays but not for our Christmas!
4. Christmas is the presentation of the greatest gift ever known to the world Isaiah 9:6. Other religions tried to imitate the birth of Jesus, they tried to produce and project anything that represents their religion but it has never been as effective and powerful as our Saviour Jesus! Church Gist. And it can never be! Praise the Lord!
5.Christmas is the day that salvation came into the entire earth! The coming of Jesus Christ was because of the sins of the world John 3:16.
What is the significance or purpose of Christmas?
1.It is the introduction of eternal life into the destiny of anyone that receives Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour. The journey of eternity begins from the day we either accepted Jesus or rejected Jesus! The day you reject Jesus, the journey to hell began that day! Church Gist. The introduction of Jesus is the introduction of eternal life to everyone that God has given the privilege to accept Him! Matthew 1:21.
2.Christmas is the birth of glory and the death of shame and reproach to humanity! When Jesus was born, glory was born! When you accept Jesus, you accept that glory. Church Gist. The coming of Jesus was not to bring shame and reproach, the coming of Jesus was the termination of shame and reproach Psalms 3:3.
-And so I prophesy into somebody’s life here! Wherever you have suffered shame and reproach, today marks the end of such shame and reproach!
-Father! I shall experience your glory instead of shame and reproach!
3.Christmas is the birth of the love that comes from God and the death of the hatred that came from satan John 3:16, Romans 12:10, Romans 5:5 and 8. The coming of Jesus was the birth of love from God and the death of the hatred that satan projects! Church Gist. This goes to say that if we have the nature of Christ within us, if there is anything to exhibit or manifest, it should be the love of God. It doesn’t need to be convenient. Love from the husband to the wife despite the offence! From parents towards their children and children towards their parents! And then brotherly love as it is expected in the Church and in the faith! You cut your life short if you want to live in malice! Praise the Lord!
You ruin yourself and deny yourself of the blessings that are meant for you if you want to live in unforgiveness! Forgive everybody! Forgive yourself because that is the nature of Christ! And that is the reason for Christmas!
4.Christmas is the day the gate of eternal life was opened unto mankind! 1 Timothy 15-16, John 3:16.
5.Christmas is the day of the announcement of ‘the abundant life’! The coming of Jesus was to bring abundant life to humanity! John 10:10. The life of the believer is that of an abundant life.
-And so I speak into your life today, that the last time you suffered dryness shall be the last forever!
When we are talking about abundant life, it is beyond abundance in finance. Abundant life is also called longlife! Abundant life is also referred to as sound health and abundant life also refers to abundance!
-Whatever abundant life represents, I speak them into your life right now in the Name of Jesus Christ!
Before I became born again, I came from a family that suffered real lack. I know that some of you are looking at me as you were born with a silver spoon but I was born with wood! When I became born again, I started studying my Scriptures and I began to see the blessings that are contained in being born again! What Jesus came with!
-I speak into somebody’s life right now, the last time that you were broke, sick and afflicted shall be the last forever! In the Name of Jesus Christ!
6. It is the introduction of the Light of God. The coming of God’s Light became the end of the darkness of satan John 1:2-5.
-I speak into somebody’s life today that the Light of God will invade into your life! Every sign of darkness over your life and family, we condemn them right now in the Name of Jesus! Whatever Light represents, let it become your portion. I come against the darkness from the pit of hell, marine kingdom and occultic world. I pronounce Light into your life. I speak Light over your family! Church Gist. That Light will shine in your life in the Name of Jesus! And no power shall stop it in Jesus Name, Amen.
7.Christmas is the introduction of the glorious hope of redemption Romans 8:1-2. The law of sin and death is called the law of condemnation, the law of the Spirit of Life and Light is called the law of salvation.
-Today, I decree that the glorious Light that has appeared to you will appear to your family members who are yet to be born again! It will appear to your friends who are yet to be born again! In the Name of Jesus Christ. And I decree that this glorious hope will never disappear from your life in the Name of Jesus Christ!
-I pray for somebody hearing my voice, Whatever it is that you need that you may be lacking right now, I release upon your life! I release that peace, joy, happiness, life, children, spouse, financial breakthrough, promotion, elevation and your appointment- I release them right now! In the Name of Jesus! Romans 8:32.
-I speak into somebody’s life right now, it is in vain for a Beetle car to go on head-on collision with a bulldozer. Anything coming against you is coming against a bulldozer, if God can be for you, no power can resist you Romans 8:31. And so I speak into your life. Church Gist. Any opposition, contention and confrontation that you are facing right now in your life, calling and career, I command them to crash and crumble right now! And whatever it is that is opposing you, we command them to bow!
See! The birth of Jesus is not just that a baby is being born, it’s beyond the baby being born. There is so much significance that is attached to the birth of Jesus Christ!
8.The birth of Jesus gave us dominion over sin. Man was a slave to sin until Jesus showed up! The coming of Jesus brought sin under man! The Presence of God over us is what gives us dominion over sin! Church Gist. Matthew 1:22-23, Romans 6:1 and 6. ‘Emmanuel- God with us’ is victory over sin!
-I see someone having dominion over sin right now! Sin shall not control your appetite and movement in the Name of Jesus! I prophesy over your life that the devil will not detect your action, he will not tell you what to drink, eat or who to be with anymore in the Name of Jesus!
9.Christmas gave us access to everything that we desire from God! Romans 8:32. There is nothing that you desire that God cannot provide! The one that you did not receive was the one that you didn’t ask for! Or the one that is not needed in your life! There is a massive difference between ‘wants and need’! Church Gist. God knows what your life and destiny needs! There is nothing that we desire that God cannot give. If we desire it and it has not yet come, then it means that we desired either something wrong or we desired something that is not a need in our lives!
-May God answer your prayers speedily! May God satisfy you with all that you need in life! Before this year comes to an end, whatever God has packaged for your life and your destiny, receive them now! In the Name of Jesus!
He can through Jesus give us all things not ‘some’! If you desired any and you did not get it, it means that it is not part of what your life needs! Or you didn’t desire the right thing!
How should Christmas be celebrated?
1.With reverence and honour to the One that we are celebrating! The lady with the spoken word made a statement, ‘Don’t take away the celebrant out of the celebration’! We are celebrating Christmas, it’s not flesh that we are celebrating! We’re celebrating Christmas, it’s not sin that we are celebrating! We’re celebrating Christmas, it’s not self that we are celebrating! In the celebration of Christmas, you must celebrate the celebrant! Church Gist. There is no celebration that is complete particularly a birthday celebration where the celebrant is not around or completely ignored! 1 Timothy 1:15-17.
2.With worship and with a heart of thanksgiving to God for the unquantifiable gift of love He sent to us! If we see the significance, purpose or value of Christmas that we just shared then we need to know that God did so much for us by the birth of Jesus! Church Gist. If God has done so much for us by the birth of Jesus, then that same God deserves a worship, thanksgiving and celebration. Don’t take the birth of Jesus for granted if you don’t value or understand the content of the birth of ‘The Person’.
Those who go abroad to give birth to their children particularly the nation of the United States. Before Donald Trump I don’t know if it’s been reinstated, before a woman gives birth to a child in America, that child becomes a citizen. Through that child, the parent of the child or any other sibling of that child may gain access into the United State of America as tiny as the child is. Church Gist. That is how powerful the birth of that child is.
There are certain families that were poor until they gave birth to one or two children or a particular child! And that child grew up to become the deliverer of that family. If you look down on the birth of that child, then you look down on what God has given birth to that child to bring into this world! Church Gist. The birth of Jesus is not what you should ever take for granted! Never take it for granted! So the one who gave us Jesus as a gift should be honoured and be worshiped forever!
3.We celebrate Christmas with family and friends! There is power in the place of unity- That place of oneness and togetherness! There are specific blessings that come in the place of unity! Psalms 133:1-3. The blessings of God maketh rich and adds no sorrow to it!
-I prophesy to you, you shall know no sorrow and curse in the Name of Jesus!
The Bible says that a house that is divided against itself shall not stand! How do you celebrate Christmas? Celebrate with families! It’s not a time of fighting, malice or antagonism! But a time for unity, bonding, togetherness and a time to celebrate with friends that are reasonable and responsible so that you will celebrate it well in a reasonable and responsible way!
-Merry Christmas to you in the Name of Jesus!
4.To save His people from their sins! Matthew 1:21. Christmas is useless to anyone celebrating it if the celebrant is not in the life of the person celebrating! Praise the Lord! It’s more important to be a relative to the celebrant than just being somebody who says, ‘I know the celebrant’! It is possible that the celebrant may not know that person! It is not everyone that attends a birthday party that is known by the celebrant! But the celebrant can never claim ignorance of the family members.
——-ALTAR CALL——–
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