MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Text:  I Corinthians 11:24-25 - And then, following thanksgiving, He brake bread, saying TAKE, EAT: THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS BROKEN FOR YOU:DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. After that, in the same way He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, THIS CUP IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD: THIS DO YE AS OFT AS YE DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.  

Before the 'body', and before the 'blood', there was the birth and there was the baby! Not being an account to  be imagined, or manufactured, we have the natural sequence summarized, from the womb to the tomb, along with the forecasting of it, generations beforehand as prophecy, and its succession as revelation. Before there could be a Resurrection Sunday, there had to be a Christmas. The fullest remembrance considers both as inseparable truths. Amen! Our well-defined hope requires both. Prophecy anticipates the birth of the Messiah. Christmas anticipates the Life of Christ, which anticipates the Death of Jesus, which anticipates His Resurrection, which anticipates the Ascension of the Lord, which anticipates His Glorious Return.  

Let us look at CHRISTMAS... [and should you be a staunch Decemberist, you can take it up with my BOSS.]

(C )  -    Truest CHRISTMAS CELEBRATES COMPASSION and COMMUNION, how for our sakes God CONDESCENDS, His gift come of Triunion.
 Luke 2:10-14 - And the angel said unto them [the shepherds], Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling  clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, GLORY TO GOD IN THE           HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN.

(H) -  HEAVEN HEARS, and HELPS, and HEALS as HOLINESS MEETS HISTORY, to bring HUMANITY such a HOPE- a blessing born of mystery.
Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,       the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

(R ) - REACHING that REDEMPTION be; His coming sought to free me, come of His heart a nearing love, with perfect gaze to see me.
Our REMEDY of light is Jesus- REFRESHING come of perfect care; 'God with us' our RESURRECTION. RIGHTEOUSNESS our sure REPAIR.
REMEMBRANCE quickened bring REVIVAL, brought to bless and Spirit-sent, all upon His REVELATION: we aroused in Christ REPENT!
 Philippians 2:4-7 - Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in       the form of GOD, thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men...

(I ) - ISAIAH fifty two, thirteen to fifty three at twelve ... ISAIAH fifty two, thirteen to fifty three at twelve ... ISAIAH fifty two, thirteen to fifty three at twelve ... ISAIAH fifty two, thirteen to fifty three at twelve.
Isaiah 53:1-2 - Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For HE shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a  dry ground: HE hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.

(S) - Central is the SAVIOR Christ who brings the SACRED into life, our knowing raised as we are led. Lord be our SABBATH and our bread.
 John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

(T) - Heaven shares with brightest shining, God's own signature of light; the shepherds pause, the same to ponder, as will Mary, Him in sight.
Night is stirred, and darkness stumbles, our salvation born is bared with glory set within a manger, perfect caring now declared. THANKSGIVING lifts us, being lifted, as the Glorious brings our TRUST. O' to know Him, soul rejoice ye, freely choosing upon 'must'.
His faithfulness we celebrate, with TRUTH brought as the open gate. Lord bless, to have our seeing rise, Your own to glorify our eyes!
 Luke 2:26-32 - And it was revealed unto him [Simeon] by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the LORD'S Christ. And he came, by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law,  then took he him up in his arms, and  blessed GOD, and said, LORD lettest now thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast   prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

(M) - Massive MERCY MEETS MANKIND, quite unlike any other, attended to by many, yet uniquely by His mother: who pondered deep within herself yet loved Him beyond measure; to raise the life whose would be ours, His being as our treasure.
John 1:1-4, 14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made, that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men...And the Word was made flesh and dwelt   among us, and we beheld His glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
     
(A ) - AMEN, to all that GOD has done; His bidding that the many come! Sing ALLELUIA and AMEN, to GOD as Saviour, Lord,and Friend!
Matthew 1:23 - Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD with us."                        

(S) - SANCTIFIED, SALVATION SPEAKS throughout the sinner brought to seek. Such is SAVED, yea such is saved; through Jesus only, such is saved!
Matthew 1:20b-21 - Joseph, thou son  of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a  son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save his people from their sins.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank You for Your Christmas card, the gospel -- the gift which keeps on giving, the given we should give. Build and blend within our knowing how, before You bled and died- You came! May the advent of all fifty-one Sundays preceding Christmas from December 26th onward delight us with every biblical Christmas carol we've ever sung or heard- 'Joy to the world'! Amen, and Merry Christmas daily! Joy to the world! Bless You God!

(by Dr. McNeal Brockington)