We Have Found the Messiah

Dear Brethren,

We are commanded to observe the death of Jesus Christ each year.  We are nowhere commanded to observe His birth.  The deceived world of religion observes Christmas, which is a blatant Pagan holiday with a supposedly Christian name, and Easter, a blatantly Pagan name, which supposedly venerates Christ’s resurrection.  Those who celebrate Christmas, have not found the Messiah.

Jesus never commanded or approved of the observance of Christmas or Easter, but He did instruct us to observe Passover each year until He returns.  This world, while presuming to worship the baby Jesus, has been betrayed into accepting Pagan mythology instead of looking ahead to the Good News that Jesus, Himself, proclaimed – that He would return as Messiah to set up the Kingdom of His Father over all the earth.

Jesus commanded us to observe His death on Passover, “As often as you observe [eat of unleavened bread]… this is my body… do this in remembrance of me.  And as often as ye drink of the cup [of wine]… the new covenant in my blood…you do this in remembrance of me… For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.”  (1Corinthians 11:24-26)  We are commanded by Jesus Christ to partake of Passover each year on its prescribed date (Leviticus 23:1-5).

Christmas is not a Christian Holy Day - and never has been.  It is widely observed around the world – even in the most heathen of lands.  Why do non-Christian countries celebrate Christmas - even with Christmas trees?  Chinese Children hang stockings and await a visit from Santa Claus.  China celebrates Christmas – even among those who have never heard of Jesus Christ – that is because Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus Christ.  Christmas, as a heathen festival, was being celebrated long before Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  It is a Satan inspired filthy, fertility ritual marking the return of the sun from the darkest day of the year.  Imposing the name of Christ on a Pagan celebration [Christ-mas] is an irreverent violation of God's name, and, in no way, sanctifies the idolatrous ritual.

At Christmas, we hear of "Peace on Earth."  And yet, we find the least peaceful countries on earth celebrating it.  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad got into the Christmas spirit this year when he delivered his Christmas Message at the same time, and as an alternative to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II’s somber Christmas Day message, televised from Buckingham Palace, that reflected on the economic and political crises sweeping the globe.  The queen spoke of how Christmas this year naturally gave rise to feelings of insecurity.  President Ahmadinejad sees Jesus Christ as a prophet, returning  with Muhammad - "the revered Messenger."  Make no mistake about it, Jesus Christ is the only anointed Messiah.

The true story of our world’s coming Messiah is not known by those who hang sparkling lights on their houses and look to the Pope for his Christmas blessing.  Somehow the Pope gets a lot of recognition each Christmas from non-Christians as he leads Christmas Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.  It is not a matter of Christmas being the wrong date - Jesus was not born on December 25th, or anywhere near that date.  The celebration of Christmas is an abomination to God.  Christmas denies the purpose and meaning of the life of Jesus Christ.

The prophet, Jeremiah, wrote this six-hundred years before Jesus walked the earth.  This idol sounds a lot like the modern Christmas tree!  "The traditions of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.  They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it moves not." (Jeremiah 10:3-4) "The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God."  (Deuteronomy 7:25)

Brethren, the Bible speaks a great deal about the coming of Jesus Christ; both of His first coming, and His second coming.  Let’s not be distracted by this world's false practices.  Remember that Moses and the prophets eagerly sought the coming of the Messiah.  The wealth of Scriptural information about the coming Messiah, is given to us to encourage us to eagerly seek that day.  When the truth of God's plan is actually known, the shallowness of the world’s Christmas celebration becomes weak and incredibly lacking in meaning.  Satan has deceived this foolish world in believing that they know the story of Christmas.  They do not know the truth.  Consider the many Old Testament prophesies of the coming of our Lord, and do not shy away from them because of this world’s foolishness.

Unknown to this evil world is the transcendent purpose of the Messiah.  This deceived world, which has as it object of adoration, the babe in a manger, has not found the Messiah.  Inherent in the name/title, "Christ," is the fact that Jesus Christ is the anointed one who is to soon reign and rule over the Kingdom of God - over all the earth at His second coming.  "Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, first found his own brother Simon, and said unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ."  (John 1:40-41)

This world needs to know that Messiah has come, and that He is coming again soon to execute judgment and justice in all the earth.  He will fulfill all the marvelous prophecies that have been given to us - those prophecies that the world has not known.   Jesus Christ is not coming again as a babe in a manger, but as King, all powerful and all glorious, over all the earth - we have found the Messiah!

"The Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)  "Behold, the days [will] come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice on the earth." (Jeremiah 23:5)

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Sermon:  "We Have Found the Messiah"

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