"The Reason"
By Sterling Franklin
Let’s open up with a word of Prayer...
Our Mighty Lord, we Praise You for who You are, what you have done, are doing, and WILL do. Father, thank You SO MUCH for sending Your Only Begotten Son to earth, not to condemn the world, but to Save it. Bless us with this study, Lord, thank You for the Freedom that is in You and You Alone. For whosoever the Son sets free is free indeed! Let us remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas - Jesus’ Birth - and not some hoax on the side, which may draw us away from You. Bring us ever closer to You, Lord, by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord, we ask this in agreement in Jesus’ Name, the Name above ALL names, amen.
The Hope for you and the Hope for me,
Came through the Cross at Calvary,
No ordinary man, but the Son of God,
Conquered death and, from sin, set us free.
Revelation 1:18 - I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Many today forget this True Vine,
The miracle worker who turned water to wine,
The one who the publicans named a fraud,
The one who did leave us His Spirit Divine.
John 15:1-3 - 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 14:26 - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
They instead think of Santa, that Satan of Claws,
They forget about Jesus and His Liberating Laws,
His Birth and His Coming, they don’t celebrate,
More concerned about getting the gifts they await.
John 8:36 - If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
The BEST Gift of all was the one of God’s Son,
Jesus Christ, sent to earth, part of the Great Three-in-One,
Infinite and Just, coming not to condemn,
But to Save the whole world, and make fishers of men.
2 Corinthians 9:15 - Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
John 3:17 - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Matthew 4:19-20 - 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
One ’Grinch’ of the time who tried to spoil Jesus’ Birth,
Was one, a king Herod, with a humbleness dearth (lack)...
Herod was king when our Savior was earth-born,
He heard about Him and his sanity was torn,
He sent out three ’Wise Men’ to search for the Child,
To bring back location of the Babe Undefiled.
Matthew 2:1-8 - 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
Herod tried to trick the Wise Men by telling them such,
He would come to Baby Jesus and worship Him much,
But deep in his heart, he wanted Him dead,
Yet the Wise Men followed a Command of God instead!
Matthew 2:9-12 - 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
When the Wise Men saw the star over this God-Given Boy,
They were THRILLED and rejoiced with exceeding great joy,
They bowed at his feet with gifts and with praise,
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh to the Ancient of Days!
We Praise Your Name, O Lord, and we Exalt You this day,
Thank You for Providing this Savior to Provide us the Way!
Matthew 2:13-15 - 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Thank You, Lord, for spoiling the deviousness of Herod,
You watered our soil with Your Spirit, and didn’t leave it arid.
You Granted us a Savior that has brought Eternal Life,
Eternal Purpose, Fulfillment and the Freedom from Strife!
Matthew 2:16-18 - 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Herod tried to ruin the celebration, and end Christmas totally,
But God had a better idea in mind, and that was to Set us Free!
Matthew 2:19-20 - 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.
God had the whole situation in His Holy Hand,
He knew what would happen and brought Jesus to the right land,
And when Herod was dead, He guided them more,
Guided them to Nazareth, to fulfill prophecies from before.
Matthew 2:21-23 - 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
When God writes a Story, He doesn’t leave it plain,
He is always in control, and trust Him with Love,
Remember the Lamb who came and was Slain,
That we might be united with Him in Heaven above.
You can have fun with Santa,
Or just have a ball with opening presents,
But one thing that lacks in both situations,
Is the Power of God and His Wonderful Presence.
GET ON FIRE FOR JESUS, PEOPLE!!!
His Word does not come back void,
He offers Salvation for You and Me,
He died and rose again,
That we would be set free!
2 Corinthians 8:9 - For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
HE DID ALL THAT FOR YOU AND FOR ME! HALLELUJAH! We don’t DESERVE to go to Heaven, But with HIM as our LORD and SAVIOR, He makes us Blameless and Spotless before God the Father’s Throne! THAT’S WORTH GETTING EXCITED OVER!
He died for the payment of your sins, rose again to prove that He is the Son of God. If you want to accept Jesus as your Lord & Savior, pray this out loud w/ me...
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for the payment of my sins and rising again to prove that You are the Son of God. I admit that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I ask that You come into my life to be my Lord & Savior. Let me live a life pleasing to You. Thank You, Lord, In Jesus’ Name, amen!
Glory be to Your Name, our Lord Almighty!
Let Your Kingdom reign forever, let us never incite thee,
Give us Your Wisdom, Fill us with Your Holy Spirit,
Show the world Your Love, that others may endear it.
Psalm 71:8 - Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
Psalm 68:3 - But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
Though the Grinch tried to steal Christmas from Whoville,
Though Herod tried to kill Our Lord,
God Almighty had a MUCH better plan,
And, through Jesus, Great is our Reward!
How will we respond to Jesus this Christmas?
Will we worship Him this Holiday Season?
Concentrate on Jesus - He’s the ONLY Way,
And concerning Christmas, He’s the Reason.
Praise the Lord! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Psalm 99:9 - Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.
Lord, thank You for Your Word and for Your Word made flesh, which was Jesus Christ, Your Son. We ask You to remind us and place in our hearts the true meaning of Christmas and put in our view more of You and less of the world. Help us to grow in You and give us a DEEPER PASSION for Serving You, an unquenchable fire and appetite for Your Word, and a balance in this hectic society. Let us reach out for Your Name’s Sake. Thank You, Lord, for being so Merciful and full of Grace. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
My challenge to you is this: If you are not ON FIRE for JESUS, GET on fire! Praise His Name and Read His Word, and DEFINITELY Pray to Him! You will look back on life before you got on fire and will Praise His Name even more because of how much your life has improved! Remember, Jesus has come to give Life, and Life more ABUNDANTLY! (John 10:10) May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you RICHLY, everyone! Praise the Lord!
- Sterling Franklin, 2001
