THE 7 DIMENSIONS OF CHRISTMAS : A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO THE CHURCHES
OUTLINE
1. THE CRISIS OF CHRISTMAS
2. THE COMPASSION OF CHRISTMAS
3. THE CONDESCENSION OF CHRISTMAS
4. THE CONTROVERSY OF CHRISTMAS
5. THE CALL OF CHRISTMAS
6. THE COMMISSION OF CHRISTMAS
7. THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS
THE MESSAGE
1 ) THE CRISIS OF CHRISTMAS
IT WAS OUR SINS AND FAILURES THAT MADE IT NECESSARY FOR CHRIST TO COME TO THIS WORLD.HUMANITY WAS FACING ETERNAL DESTRUCTION.IT WAS THIS CRISIS CREATED BY MAN’S SIN THAT MADE CHRIST TO SHED HIS HEAVENLY COMFORTS AND COME TO THIS WORLD.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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ROMANS 3 ; 23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
ISAIAH 53 ; 6
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
2 ) THE COMPASSION OF CHRISTMAS
THE COMING OF CHRIST TO THIS WORLD TO SAVE US SHOULD PROVE TO US ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT GOD LOVES US. WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES IN OUR LIVES TO MAKE US DOUBT THE LOVE OF GOD.CHRISTMAS IS AN OUTPOURING OF GOD’S LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR US.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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ROMANS 5 ; 8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
JOHN 3 ; 16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
3 ) THE CONDESCENSION OF CHRISTMAS
THE HUMILITY OF CHRIST IS REVEALED IN THE INCARNATION.THE ALMIGHTY GOD HUMBLING HIMSELF TO BECOME A MAN .LET US LEARN FROM CHRIST TO HUMBLE OURSELVES.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PHILIPPIANS 2 ; 4-7
not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
MATTHEW 11 ; 29
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
4 ) THE CONTROVERSY OF CHRISTMAS
THE COMING OF CHRIST INTO THIS WORLD CAUSED CONTROVERSY ESPECIALLY AMONG THOSE WHO WERE NOT PREPARED TO RECEIVE HIM. EVEN TODAY MANY FACE PERSECUTION WHEN THEY DECIDE TO FOLLOW CHRIST. WHEN CHRIST COMES INTO OUR LIVES IT MAY CAUSE CONTROVERSY AND OPPOSITION AS WELL . THOSE WHO HATE CHRIST MAY HATE US ALSO.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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LUKE 2 ;34
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
MATTHEW 10 ; 34 -36
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
MATTHEW 2 ; 16 - 18
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted,because they are no more.”
5 ) THE CALL OF CHRISTMAS
A CALL GOES OUT TO ALL HUMANITY TO COME AND WORSHIP HIM AND TO RECEIVE THE FREE SALVATION THAT HE OFFERS.THE COMING OF CHRIST DEMANDS A RESPONSE FROM THIS WORLD.THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE IS GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY TO ALL PEOPLE THAT A SAVIOUR HAS COME TO SAVE THEM FROM ETERNAL DESTRUCTION.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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MATTHEW 11 ; 28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
REVELATION 3 ;20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
6 ) THE COMMISSION OF CHRISTMAS
THE MESSAGE OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST SHOULD BE PROCLAIMED TO EVERYONE. THIS COMMISSION IS GIVEN TO EVERYONE WHO HAS ACCEPTED CHRIST AND HAS BECOME HIS FOLLOWER. LET US ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF WORLD EVANGELISATION IN OUR GENERATION AND MULTIPLY OUR EFFORTS TO WIN SOULS.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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LUKE 2:15-18
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
MATTHEW 28 ; 19 -20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
EZEKIEL 3 ; 17 -19
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.
When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.
But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
7 ) THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS
THE TRUE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS WILL TAKE PLACE WHEN CHRIST COMES AGAIN TO TAKE HIS BRIDE AWAY . CHRIST HAD COME FOR THE SALVATION OF MANKIND.THEREFORE WHEN HE COMES AGAIN TO TAKE AWAY ALL THOSE WHO HAD RECEIVED THIS SALVATION THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING TO THIS WORLD IS COMPLETELY FULFILLED.THAT WILL BE THE GLORIOUS CELBRATION OF CHRISTMAS.LET US PREPARE OURSELVES TO MEET CHRIST AND JOIN IN THE GREAT CELEBRATION AT THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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EPHESIANS 5 ; 25 -27
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
JOHN 14 ; 1 - 3
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
