Christmas Message - Rev Benita Francis

Christmas!!! God’s very own Son coming into this world!!!
Darkness defeated!!! Light has come!!! JOY to the world, the
Savior is born!!!

As we celebrate Christmas this year, I would like you to consider some truths we normally don’t connect with Christmas. As we celebrate God Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I would like you to make this Christmas also a special time for that special couple who was hand-picked by your God to bring you into this world. Let us think…

God Father had to take the painful decision to allow His only begotten Son, the Apple of His eye, the Living Word that had been with Him for all eternity, to be squeezed into a small human body and be born as a mere human (Jn.1:1-3,14,18). He had to take the pain of watching His Son being slandered, betrayed, beaten and crucified. And yet, He took that agonizing decision to buy salvation for you and me (Jn.3:16)!!! THANK HIM! BLESS HIM!!! CELEBRATE HIM!!!

Now think about your earthly daddy. He also had to take many painful decisions to give you life. How many things he would have sacrificed - first of all the loving attention of his dear wife which would have definitely shifted from him to you, the baby. Then the time and company of his wife as she had to stay home because of you. Then the money he could have spent on himself instead of having to work extra hours to pay for your toys, your studies, your medical bills, your big and small fancies. So… Will you make this Christmas special both for your heavenly and for your earthly Daddy???

Think  about  it…  God  could  have  easily dropped His Son onto this earth as an adult, some kind of alien, as they show us in science fiction movies. Why did He choose to make His Son Jesus to be born through a woman? Well, there are many reasons - but one main reason is to show to the world the importance of FAMILY! Father and mother together bringing up a child, protecting, nurturing, training, correcting and perfecting that new life into his or her divine calling is God’s beautiful pattern which satan is trying to destroy all over the earth. In the Christmas story, God shows His loving, caring heart toward humanity by introducing even His own Son into the world through one woman and putting one man at her side to ensure a perfect upbringing for His Holy Child Jesus.

Actually, Joseph was not at all necessary since Mary’ YES to God’s Word allowed God’s Holy Spirit to plant the God’s Seed Jesus, the Living Word, into her womb (Jn.1:1; Lk.1:26-38). Why then did God not allow Joseph to silently reject Mary, as he wanted to do when he found out she was pregnant (Mt.1:18-25)? He did so to make a strong statement to the world that both a father and a mother are needed for a child. In today’s world with its sperm banks and online catalogues, surrogate mothers and in-vitro- fertilization, many get tricked into thinking they can raise a child as a single parent or as a same-sex “couple”. This is nothing but another lie of satan, created to destroy humanity. If you find yourself in a single-parent-situation without your fault, don’t despair but cry out to your heavenly Father. God gives grace to the humble. He will help you raise your child by bringing people into your life to provide that missing element; but if your pride and stubbornness makes a healthy marriage and family life impossible, please repent. God resists the proud (Js.4:6; .Pe.5:5)! For your child’s sake, provide both father and mother as per the Creator's wise, eternal design. Let me say it one more time: If even the holy, righteous, perfect Son of God needed both a father and a mother, what on earth makes you think you alone can do the job?!?!?!

Please study your Bible and see the different roles Joseph and Mary fulfilled in the life of our Lord Jesus. Joseph protected the baby Jesus, traveled with the entire family even to different nations to ensure His safety and educated the growing up son Jesus (Lk.2:4-51). Mary kept and pondered the prophecies concerning Him in her heart, accompanied the adult Jesus from the beginning of His ministry all the way to the cross and even beyond, waiting with the disciples for the promise of the Holy Spirit her Son Jesus had announced (Lk.2:19,34-35; Jn.2; 19:26-27; Ac.1:14). How much she sacrificed even her very own life to be with her Son! She bore the pain of watching Him die on that cruel cross and always remained faithful to His vision and mission. Wow!

Think about your own earthly mother. She had to carry you in her womb for nine months, bearing the discomfort of pregnancy and the horrible pain of delivery. She had to feed, cleanse, educate and correct you for so many years. Still today, she is your fiercest defender against anyone who would want to harm you. This is her God-given task and responsibility. Take the time to thank her and bless her for fulfilling this task, no matter how imperfect she may have been at it. So… Will you make this Christmas special for your earthly mom???

Then think about your Lord Jesus. We celebrate His birth at Christmas, but for how many years did He simply live a normal life as an obedient Son to His earthly parents? The Bible even says He was subject to them (Lk.2:51)! No rebellion! No disobedience! Just obedient submission, waiting for His time to come to fulfill His heavenly mission. What an example! Can you be like this? Maybe you brought much pain to your earthly parents by your stubborn rebellion and self-will. This is much more serious than you could ever imagine. Both the Old and the New Testament warn us severely against cursing our parents. Did you know that even despising their counsel and belittling them in other people’s eyes is actually a form of cursing? I tremble at Pr.20:20:

“Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in deep darkness.” If your life seems like deep darkness, now you know why. So repent. Ask their forgiveness. Let Jesus, the Light of the world, dispel all darkness from your heart and attitudes this Christmas (Jn.8:12). Make your Christmas a real festival of light. Tell me… Will you make this Christmas special for your earthly parents???

Next question. Are your children obeying you like this? If not, use this Christmas to teach them about more than just the birth of our Savior, but also His life until His baptism and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Remind them that Jesus came with only one purpose: To fulfill the plan of His heavenly Father! See this Scripture and challenge your children with it: “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of Me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within My heart” (Ps.40:7-8). Remind them that their days are also already written in God’s book, and that His laws, plans and purposes are not grievous but good, acceptable and perfect. Tell them that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Ps.139:16; Ro.12:2; Mt.11:30). Explain to them that you train them in the fear and admonition of the Lord so they can shine in life and fulfill their God-given task and potential to the fullest. If you have angered, discouraged and disheartened them by harsh discipline, ask their forgiveness and assure them of your deep love and concern for them (Eph.6:4). So… Will you make this Christmas special for your children also???

In my spirit, I can see some of you in tears and deep pain right now. You say, “What can I do? It is too late. Already my loved one is dead and gone, or has left and deserted me long before.” Maybe your parents or children failed miserably in their God-given tasks, and you are deeply wounded and find no grip in life. Please don’t despair! I can very well understand what you are going through. In our work-minded, perfectionist society of Germany, I was also deeply wounded by what I perceived as a lack of love from my parents. For years, I used to dread Christmas and mother’s day because they would bring up tremendous pain and tears. The more I delved into God’s Word, however, and the more I chose to forgive and bless my parents, the more healing I could receive from my real Father, the one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all those who made Jesus their personal Savior (Eph.4:6).

This Christmas, make it a point to forgive all those who wronged you. Even if they are already dead or out of your reach, forgive them. Speak it our loud. This act of forgiving is a very powerful spiritual weapon that works far beyond our human understanding. Just this week, a sin-hardened father went to church for the first time in his home town after his daughter had released him from her judgment and forgiven him here in our School of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!!! Forgiveness has no boundaries. It releases both the offender and the offended (Mt.18:21-35; Lk.6:37; Jn.20:23). You may be spiritually bound even to a person who already died, just because you never really forgave that person. Do it now! Don’t stay bound to death and the grave! You can! Your Jesus forgave His cruel murderers (Lk.23:34). You can!

Don’t forget to forgive even yourself for any blunders, sins and mistakes that make you hate and despise yourself. The Blood of your Lord Jesus is powerful enough to cleanse you of any sin and iniquity if you dare confess it to Him (1.Jn.1:7,9). In fact, He came into this world for this one and only purpose: To give His Blood for your redemption and to carry away the sins of the whole world (Eph.1:7; Col.1:14; Heb.9:12; Jn.1:29,36; Rev.6:6; 7:9)! So… Will you honor the purpose of His coming and avail His sacrifice? Will you make this Christmas special for your Savior Jesus???

In case you are angry at God, let me tell you, you fell headlong into satan's best trap. If satan could convince you that God is to blame for your misery, he won a world war against you and is on his way to completely destroy you. Never forget, satan is the master deceiver, more cunning than any beast of the fields (Rev.20:3,8; Ge.3:1). God is never the Source of your problems. Your disobedience to God and His Word, or your forefathers’ sins and resulting curses, have opened the door to satan. Of course, being the master thief he is, he immediately comes in and does his job, which is to kill, steal and destroy (Jn.10:10). Please, in this Christmas, turn your wrath into the right direction - away from your God who is your Helper, and towards satan who is your accuser and destroyer (Ps.10:14; Heb.13:6; Rev.12:10; Ex.12:23).

If you have actively rebelled and accused God of all your troubles, you may even need a deliverance. In my experience, many people find freedom as they “forgive God” - of course, a silly and unnecessary thing to do since God cannot sin and never harms you. Somehow, however, it helps them release their bottled-up emotions of anger, revenge, hatred, guilt and self-condemnation and step out of satan’s trap. Try it! This Christmas, will you “forgive God” and ask His forgiveness for blaming Him unjustly? Will you decide to fulfill His heart desire? Do you know what His heart longs for? King David prayed it out loud in a song:

“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You” (Ps.22:27).

Will you turn to Him and worship Him? Will you make this Christmas special for your Heavenly Daddy???