The Merry Christmas Message: How Does Jesus Make Himself Known to Unbelievers at Christmas?

Class Outline:

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Christ Messiah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome To

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

 

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…an intimate, local Christian Church with a worldwide impact.My name is Pastor Rory Clark.Thanks for listening to this Bible lesson!

 

Merry Christmas! Today's lesson is…

 

THE MERRY CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

How Does Jesus Make Himself Known to Unbelievers at Christmas?

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

 

Thanks for bringing your eyes and ears to this Christmas Message for the Year of our Lord 2023! It's an absolute pleasure to share the thoughts our Lord is sending directly to you through this message on this day.In First Timothy, Chapter 1, Verses 15 to17, the apostle Paul captures the spirit of Christmas well…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 1:15

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I (Paul) am foremost of all.

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 1:16

Yet for this reason (the fact that I am the foremost of all sinners,) I found mercy from God the Father, so that in me as the foremost sinner, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life (the resurrection life).

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 1:17

Now to the King of kings and Lord of lords…the Lord Jesus Christ…to the eternal, immortal, invisible One, to the One and Only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.Amen.

Jesus Christ is God.Why did He come to earth?Luke, Chapter 19, Verse 10…

 

LUKE 19:10

"For the Son of Man (the Lord Jesus Christ) has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

 

There's only one word to describe such an act…LOVE.Romans, Chapter 5,

Verse 8…

 

ROMANS 5:8

God the Father demonstrates His own unconditional love toward all creatures, in that while we were yet sinners (as ungodly, unrighteous unbelievers…the Father sent His Son)…Jesus…the Christ…to die (for our sins)instead of us.

 

True love.Second Corinthians, Chapter 9, Verse 15 echoes our hearts…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 9:15

Thanks be to God the Father for His indescribable gift!

 

OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let's hear some music!Matthew, Chapter 1, Verse 23 introduces the One we celebrate today…

 

MATTHEW 1:23

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child…and she shall bear a Son…and Joseph and Mary shall call His name Emmanuel," which translated means, "God with us."

 

We celebrate our Almighty God…the Lord… here'sEnja to sing a plea of welcome to the Savior of the world… O COME…O COME…EMMANUEL.

 

MUSIC

OPENING SONG

Let'sSing the Lord's Praises

 

O COME O COME EMMANUEL

Enja

 

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Heavenly Father, we bring before You today a heart filled with gratitude…if for no other reason, we are grateful that You and You alone have seen fit to fill our lungs with air today so that we may have life…thank you for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word ofGod…

 

…help us, Father, to hold this time as special in ourhearts…encourage us not to listen to this lesson on the move…help us to set aside dedicated time to understand the value of this Christmas celebration…and as we listen to and reflect on the fact that You chose to send a Savior into the world for us, help us concentrate…help us to realize that wrong sizes, decorated trees, wrapping paperand ribbon are not why we celebrate today...

 

…instead help us to remember and to feel and to celebrate the immenseness of the unconditional love You have for each member of Your creation…those who believe in You and those who don't…

 

…and let us receive with open arms the gift You sent to us, and the gift You remind us of every year at this time…the Lord…Your Son…the Christ…the Jewish Messiah…the Savior of the world and the Savior of our souls...who volunteered to fulfill Your plan by coming to earth, by dying to make a payment for our sins, and who was raised from the dead to prove His Deity for all the world to see…

 

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit...in Christ's name...Amen.

 

THE MERRY CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

How Does Jesus Make Himself Known to Unbelievers at Christmas?

 

LESSON PART ONE

 

Let these two mystifying, profound, confusing, confounding, and unbelievable facts seep into your consciousness.The Lord we celebrate today created the heavens and the earth…John, Chapter 1, Verse 3…

 

 

 

JOHN 1:3

All things came into being through the Lord…God the Son…and apart from Him, nothing came into being that has come into being.

 

And this Lord who created the heavens and the earth became one of us for your benefit! That's mind-blowing!John, Chapter 1, Verse 14…

 

JOHN 1:14a

And the Word (in Greek,the term ho logos…a reference to the Lord…God the Son) became flesh (entering a newmode of existence…true humanity…as Jesus…the Christ…the Jewish Messiah)…

 

JOHN 1:14b

…and He lived in a physical body among us…and we (the apostles and the writer of this letter…John) saw His glory with our own eyes…the glory of the uniquely born onefrom the source of God the Father…full of grace and full of truth.

 

Why would the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord Jesus Christ, leave the comforts of heaven…humiliating Himself by taking on human form?Philippians, Chapter 2, Verses 5 to 11, tells us…

 

PHILIPPIANS 2:5

Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus…

 

PHILIPPIANS 2:6

…who, although He existed in the exact same essence as God the Father…did not regard equality with God the Father a thing to be seized and held…

 

PHILIPPIANS 2:7

…instead…He emptied Himself (depriving Himself of the rightful functions of Deity)…taking on the form of a bond-servant…and being made in the likeness of men.

 

PHILIPPIANS 2:8

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a Cross.

 

 

 

PHILIPPIANS 2:9

For this reason, God the Father highly exalted Jesus, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name…

 

PHILIPPIANS 2:10

…so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow…the knees of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth…

 

PHILIPPIANS 2:11

…and every tongue will confessthat Jesus is the Christ (the Jewish Messiah)…the Lord (God the Son)…to the glory of God the Father.

 

That's LOVE!

 

Here's something we know for sure…First Corinthians, Chapter 14, Verse 33…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 14:33a

…God is not a God of confusion…

 

The Lord Jesus Christ makes it easy for us…He introduces the human race to two groups…believers in Him and unbelievers.Primarily, Christmas is a holiday for unbelievers.They are the Lord's focus at this time.And since the way is broad that leads to destruction, there are many unbelievers in our periphery who right now are focused on this day called Christmas.They may not know what to make of the day, but every year of their existence, they are brought back to this significant day for inspection.The Lord built curiosity into their souls so they might fully investigate the significance of this day.

 

In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ focuses the attention of unbelievers on two days a year…CHRISTMAS and what the pagan world calls EASTER…which is really Resurrection Day…a celebration of the Lord distinguishing Himself from all the pretender gods by being resurrected from the dead. Let's let June Murphy tell us about these two important days in human history in her song FROM CHRISTMAS TO THE CROSS.

 

 

 

 

 

MUSIC

Let'sSing the Lord's Praises

 

FROM CHRISTMAS TO THE CROSS

June Murphy

 

Having traveled all over the world, I can tell you from experience that Christmas is a holiday known and celebrated throughout most of the world.I have SEEN Christmas celebrated in many countries…I have HEARD the word Christmas come off the lips of many people in many different languages.It would be shocking if there is anyone in the world who is past the age of conscious reason who has not heard of Christmas.

 

This fact may not be your experience or your belief…you may think something totally different, and you are welcome to espouse your own opinion.Yet through actual experience, I know people all over the world, even in the remotest villages of Africa, have heard of Jesus Christ and have heard of Christmas.

 

The world stops at this time of year, EVERY YEAR, all over the world, and everyone notices, even those in countries that do not celebrate Christmas.And the name they hear is Jesus.And we call the birthday of Jesus Christ CHRISTMAS because…

 

CHRISTMAS

 

Jesus CHRISTis the Jewish MASsiah

 

How does the Lord get His message to unbelievers on this holiday?Among other things, He uses the Bible, and he uses songs.

 

There is nowhere in the world where people don't have access to The Holy Bible, translated into their own language, and easily accessible free of charge.Since the beginning of time, there have been missionaries who had the job of evangelizing… the job of spreading the good news concerning the gospel message…the salvation offerof the Lord Jesus Christ…and since 90AD for sure, evangelists have used the written Word to reinforce their messages.This is not a guess.From experience, I know this to be true.Every hotel I've ever stayed in, no matter the country, has a bible in the drawer of the nightstand…EVERY COUNTRY…EVERY HOTEL…EVER. I've looked and seen them…translated into the language of the

country being visited.

 

The God who created every creature who has ever come to earth…the omnipotent Godwho has all the power…the omnipresent God…everywhere simultaneously… has the absolute power and real ability to make Himself known to every person He has created…and He does.

 

Yet there are always people who speculate, "What if some people didn't know about Jesus?" In Romans, Chapter 1, Verses 20 to 25,the Lord says unbelievers know about God, yet many reject Him…

 

ROMANS 1:20a

For since the creation of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ's invisible attributes…His eternal power…and His Deity…have been clearly seen by all mankind…

 

ROMANS 1:20b

…being understood through everything that has been made in the entire created universe…so that all mankind (especially unbelievers…those practicing a lifestyle of ungodliness and unrighteousness) are without excuse in the matter of knowing God.

 

ROMANS 1:21

For even though unbelievers KNEW God…they did not honor Him as God or give Him thanks…instead, they became futile in their speculations…and their foolish heart was darkened.

 

"Yeah, but what if they didn't know?"

 

ROMANS 1:22

Professing to be wise…unbelievers became fools…

 

ROMANS 1:23

…and they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man…in the form of birds…in the form of four-footed animals…in the form of crawling creatures.

 

Idol worship instead of God worship.

 

ROMANS 1:24

Therefore, God the Father gave unbelievers over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity so that their bodies would be dishonored among them, making their sins clearly visible (both to themselves and to everyone else).

 

ROMANS 1:25

For unbelievers exchanged the truth about God for a lie…and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator…He who is blessed forever.Amen.

 

Here's how an unbeliever describes a typical Christmas…

 

Because we didn't believe in God, my family saw Jesus as nothing more than a historical figure.Our Christmas celebrations centered on family, food, and fun.

 

I remember how the holiday season sparked interesting conversations in our home.We never understood why December 25th became the birth date of Jesus.Historical and even Biblical evidence suggest a spring to early fall birth.Because many Christmas traditions mirror early pagan celebrations of the Winter Solstice, we concluded Christians merged the two holidays into our modern Christmas.

 

Still, every year at Christmas, I couldn't help thinking about Jesus.Could there be more to His story thanI understood?

 

By the time the holidays ended, I usually forgot about Jesus.But during my senior year of college, a friend invited me to study the Bible with her over Christmas break.Since the holidays had rekindled my curiosity, I agreed.

 

Beginning with the gospel of John, our studies helped fill in the gaps of my understanding.One key Scripture stood out to me…John, Chapter 8, Verse 12…

 

JOHN 8:12

Then Jesus again spoke to the scribes and the Pharisees, saying, "I am the Light of the world…he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness…but will have the Light of life."

 

I had seen enough of the world to know it can be very dark.This image of Jesus lighting our way out of the darkness resonated with me.

 

As I reflected on this Scripture, another friend shared with me why Christians purposefully chose to celebrate the birth of Christ during the Winter Solstice.It all comes back to Jesus as the light of the world.By definition, the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year.Each successive day is longer because it has more light.What a beautiful analogy for the light of Christ!

 

Over that holiday season, I came to faith in Jesus as the Son of God, the Light, and my personal Savior.

 

Let's take a music break…

 

MUSIC

Let'sSing the Lord's Praises

 

GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN

Pentatonix

 

To save us all from Satan's power…who is Satan?   Satan is the enemy of God.In Revelation, Chapter 12, Verse 9, Satan is called who he is…

 

REVELATION 12:9

And the great dragon was thrown down…the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan…who deceives the whole world…he was thrown down to the earth… and his demon angels were thrown down with him.

 

He is a liar and a deceiver.He has a strategy against the human race, and it is called religion.Think about it.At Christmas, are we celebrating Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-Day Saints?Are we celebrating

The Pope, the so-calledVicar of Christ from the Roman Catholic Church?Are we celebrating Muhammad, the founder of Islam?Are we celebrating Charles Taze Russell, the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses?Are we celebrating John Calvin, the founder of Calvinism?Are we celebrating Martin Luther, the founder of the Lutheran Church?Are we celebrating John Wesley, the founder of The Methodist Movement?Are we celebrating Roger Williams, the founder of the Baptists?Are we celebrating The Church of England bishops, founders of the Episcopal Church?

Are we celebrating Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Bahai Faith?Are we celebratingManu, the founder of the Hindu faith?

 

NO!Acts, Chapter 4, Verse 12 says…

 

ACTS 4:12

"…there is salvation in no one else…for there is no other name under heaven that has been given to mankind by which we must be saved except the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."

 

We're celebrating the Lord…Jesus…the Christ.And why is there such a concerted effort to delete Him from the holiday by abbreviating Christmas as Xmas…by bullying everyone into saying, "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas so we don't offend anyone?You know why.God has an enemy…and he sponsors indifference and antagonism toward the Lord every minute of our existence.

 

Let's take a break and listen to some Christmas music.When we return from the break, we'll inspect some of the key Biblical passages about the Christmas celebration.

 

MUSIC

Let'sSing the Lord's Praises

 

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

Ray Parker Jr.

 

MUSIC

Let'sSing the Lord's Praises

 

LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

Harry Simone Chorale

 

THE MERRY CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

How Does Jesus Make Himself Known to Unbelievers at Christmas?

 

LESSON PART TWO

 

Welcome back!Jesus didn't just drop in on the human race.His coming was predicted in Old Testament Scripture.Isaiah, Chapter 9, Verses 6 and 7…

 

ISAIAH 9:6

For a child will be born to us…a son will be given to us…and the government will rest on His shoulders (He will be a king)…and His name (because of His character) will be called…Wonderful Counselor…Mighty God…Eternal Father…Prince of Peace.

 

ISAIAH 9:7

There will be no end to the increase of His government or His peace…on the throne of David and over His kingdom…to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

 

Micah, Chapter 5, Verse 2…

 

MICAH 5:2

"But as for you…Bethlehem…too little to be among the clans of Judah…from you,One will go forth for Me, the Lord, to be ruler in Israel.His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity."

 

Isaiah, Chapter 7, Verse 14…

 

ISAIAH 7:14

Therefore, God the FatherHimself will give you a sign…behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son…and she will call His name Emmanuel (which means God with us).

 

The world knew what to look for!A virgin, whose name was Mary, would give birth to the Lord.  Mary is not the mother of God, as Roman Catholics believe.Mary is a woman no different than women today. She's like the women sitting right here.She was selected by God to be the mother of Jesus Christ's humanity… selected as a gift to her and to the entire world.

 

Here is Luke's account of the virgin pregnancy…Luke, Chapter 1, Verses 26 to 38.For this passage, we use the Wuest Translation of these New Testament verses…

 

LUKE 1:26 (Wuest Translation)

Now, in the sixth month of the pregnancy of Mary's relative Elizabeth, the angel Gabriel was sent on a mission from God the Father to a city of Galilee named Nazareth…

 

 

 

LUKE 1:27 (Wuest Translation)

…to a virgin promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, of the house of David.And the virgin's name was Mary.

 

LUKE 1:28 (Wuest Translation)

And having come to her, Gabriel said, "Keep on rejoicing, Mary, because

you have been encompassed with favor as a grace gift from God the Father.The Lord is with you."

 

The favor bestowed on Mary is absolutely no different than the favor bestowed on each of us as believers in Christ.Each of us has been saved…and each of us has a job to do for the Lord…with the Lord, there is no partiality.Mary was no more favored than you.Unbelievers have a chance to curry the same favor by choice.Luke, Chapter 1, Verse 29…

 

LUKE 1:29 (Wuest Translation)

But Mary was greatly agitated by the words said by Gabriel, and began reasoning what sort of an exotic greeting this might be.

 

LUKE 1:30 (Wuest Translation)

And the angel said to her, "Stop fearing, Mary…for you have a grace gift of favor in the presence of God."

 

LUKE 1:31 (Wuest Translation)

"And behold…you shall conceive in your womb…and you shall give birth to a Son…and you shall call His name Jesus."

 

Jesus Christ was given five things by God the Father in return for the singular sacrifice of laying down His life for each and every one of us…here is Gabriel's prediction about the Jewish Messiah…

 

LUKE 1:32 (Wuest Translation)

(1) "This One, Jesus Christ, shall be great, and (2) He shall be called the Son of the Most High, and (3) God the Father, our Lord, shall give Jesus the throne of David, His father, during Jesus' Millennial reign…"

 

LUKE 1:33 (Wuest Translation)

"…and (4) Jesus shall reign as King over the House of Jacob (Israel) forever, and (5) of His kingdom there shall not be an end."

The nation Israel and The Jewish Race will never be destroyed.It is an absolute fact that the Lord made promises to Abraham about Israel and The Jewish Race, and the Lord is not going to allow a kingdom He will be running to be destroyed by His enemy…nor will He allow the people He loves to be destroyed…a race that He is a part of…The Jewish Race.

 

LUKE 1:34 (Wuest Translation)

But Mary said to the angel, "How shall this virgin pregnancybe possible since I have not had sexual intercourse with a man?"

 

LUKE 1:35 (Wuest Translation)

Answering…the angel said to Mary, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon you…and the divine power of the Most High shall overshadow you…so the Holy One being conceived shall be called the Son of God."

 

LUKE 1:36 (Wuest Translation)

"And behold…Elizabeth…your relative…also conceived a son in her old age…and this is the sixth month of pregnancy for her who was called sterile…"

 

LUKE 1:37 (Wuest Translation)

"…for in the presence of God, not a thing shall be impossible."

 

LUKE 1:38

And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord…may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel Gabriel departed from her.

 

Mary's virgin pregnancy resulted in the birth of a Savior.Even in science, there is a term that describes this miraculous virgin birth phenomenon… it's called parthenogenesis…

 

PARTHENOGENESIS

The development of an egg without fertilization by a male

 

Here'sCe Lo Green to ask Mary a question in song…MARY DID YOU KNOW?

 

 

 

 

 

MUSIC

Let'sSing the Lord's Praises

 

MARY DID YOU KNOW

Ce Lo Green

 

It's clear, even from songs, that Jesus Christ is not merely a good teacher, a good rabbi, a man like any other man…He is the Sovereign God of the Universe.

 

What does the Lord…God the Son…who became Jesus…the Christ…the Jewish Messiah…say about Himself?John, Chapter 10, Verses 9 and 10…

 

JOHN 10:9

"I (the Lord Jesus Christ) am the door of salvation…if (3) anyone enters the door through receivingMe (maybe you will and maybe you won't…you have a choice)…he will be saved by God…and will go in (to the Plan of God) and will go out to find pasture (through the truth of the Word of God)."

 

JOHN 10:10

"The thief…Satan…comes only to steal and kill and destroy…I (the Lord Jesus Christ) came so that believers in Christmay have the resurrection life (eternal life) and have it abundantly."

 

John, Chapter 1, Verse 12…

 

JOHN 1:12

But as many as received the invitation from Jesus to be saved…to them He gave the right to become children of God the Father…even to those who believe in Jesus' name…

 

Of course, the leaders of the world had a jealous reaction to Jesus' birth…and how could the Lord's story be absent of the machinations of His enemy, Satan, rearing his ugly head to ruin things?Matthew, Chapter 2, Verses 1 to 12…

 

MATTHEW 2:1

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, Magi (astronomers) from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying…

 

 

MATTHEW 2:2

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."

 

MATTHEW 2:3

When Herod the King heard this, he was troubled (meaninghe was insanely jealous), and all of Jerusalem was troubled with him.

 

Jerusalem knew what troubledevil leaders do.

 

MATTHEW 2:4

Gathering together all the chief priests and all the scribes (the teachers of the Law) of the people (Israel), Herod inquired of them where the JewishMessiah (the King of the Jews) was to be born.

 

Isn't it funny?Many unbelievers claim there is no God, yet when issues of God come up, they seem to know everything about Him…Herod knew of the Messiah and knew how to find out where He would be born.

 

The speculators say… "Yeah, but what if they didn't know?" THEY KNEW!Continuing at Matthew, Chapter 2, Verse 5…

 

MATTHEW 2:5

The chief priests and scribes said to Herod, "The Messiah is to be born in

Bethlehem of Judea…for this is what has been written by the prophet Micah…

 

MATTHEW 2:6

'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS

LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH…FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'"

 

The Lord was born in a nothing town…Bethlehem…in a sin city… Nazareth…and He came from a lineage that is almost too embarrassingmention…people who did despicable things! We'll spare you those details.Continuing at Matthew,

Chapter 2, Verse 7…

 

MATTHEW 2:7

Then Herod secretly called the Magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.

 

Why "secretly?" Herod was already hatching a plot to assassinate the Messiah.

 

MATTHEW 2:8

And Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child…and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."

 

MATTHEW 2:9

After hearing the king, the Magi went their way…and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.

 

MATTHEW 2:10

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

 

MATTHEW 2:11a

After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother…and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.

 

MATTHEW 2:11b

Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts fit for a King…gold (for His Deity), frankincense (for His life), and myrrh (for His humanity…a fragrance identifying Him with His death).

 

MATTHEW 2:12

And having been warned by God the Father in a dream not to return to Herod, the Magi left for their own country by another way.

 

Because of God's enemy…the birth of Christ brought with it a negative impact on Satan's kingdom…planet earth…Matthew, Chapter 2, Verses 16 to 18…

 

MATTHEW 2:16

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the Magi, he became very

enraged and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, using the time frame which he had determined from the Magi.

 

 

MATTHEW 2:17

Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled…

 

MATTHEW 2:18

"A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH…WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING… RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN…AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED…BECAUSE HER CHILDREN WERE NOMORE."

 

And so, in this beautiful season…Christmas…we celebrate Christ.He is our King…He is our resurrection life…He is a sacrifice for ALL of us…He is the One who took care of the sin problem in the world.

 

Let's listen to the song about the Magi…WE THREE KINGS.

 

MUSIC

Let'sSing the Lord's Praises

 

WE THREE KINGS

Clamavi De Profundis

 

My sincere hope is that you will share this Christmas message with all that you love.My hope is that you will sit them down and let them hear the wondrous words in this lesson.My hope is that you will email them the Barah Ministries newsletter that contains audio, video, and written notes so they can review these truths again and again, especially during this holiday season…and, perhaps, so they can share these things with those they consider important.

 

If anyone you know wants a copy of the newsletter, contact…

 

THE BARAH MINISTRIES NEWSLETTER

 

denise@barahministries.com

 

How does the Lord make Himself known to unbelievers during Christmas?In supernatural ways using His supernatural power!As we close…remember this…

 

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

The Good News of Jesus Christ's Salvation Offer to the Human Race

 

The closing moments of our lesson today could be a few of the most important minutes of your life.Remember this…

 

GOD WANTS YOU!

He Wants You Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

Here is the truth from the Word of God to contemplate…Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 9 says…

 

SECOND PETER 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise of salvation, as some accuse Him of...instead, He is patient toward unbelievers…NOT WISHING FOR ANYONE TO PERISH IN THE LAKE OF FIRE…but wishing for all to come to repentance (a voluntary change of mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ).

 

So follow the suggestion of Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…

 

ACTS 16:31

"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved by God, you and everyone in your household who also believes."

 

John, Chapter 14, Verse 6…

 

JOHN 14:6

Jesus said to the doubting apostleThomas, "I am the way (to salvation) … and I am the truth (through the gospel message in the Word of God) … and I am the resurrection life (eternal life) …and no one comes to God the Father in heaven but through believing in Me."

 

You don't have to work to be saved…in fact, you can't work to be saved… Romans, Chapter 11, Verse 6 says…

 

ROMANS 11:6

But if salvation is by grace, and of course it is, it is no longer based on your works…otherwise grace is no longer grace.

 

First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4 introduce what makes Jesus Christ different from the pretender gods and what makes Him a special gift to you…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3

For I (the apostle Paul) delivered to you as of primary importance the

gospel message I also received from God…that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the Old Testament Scriptures…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4

…and that He was buried…and that He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Old Testament Scriptures…

 

So heed the warning and accept the invitation of John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…

 

JOHN 3:36

"He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life right at that moment…but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him."

 

Once you have God's salvation, you cannot lose it…in John, Chapter 10, Verses 27 and 28…Jesus Christ Himself says…

 

JOHN 10:27

My sheep hear My voice, and I (the Lord Jesus Christ) know them, and they follow Me…

 

JOHN 10:28

…and I give eternal life to my sheep (believers in Christ)…and they will never perish…and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

 

CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let's close with music!Revelation, Chapter 4, Verse 8 says…

 

REVELATION 4:8

…the four living creatures around the throne of our Lord…each one of them having six wings (the seraphim officer angels), are full of eyes around and within…and day and night they do not cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who WAS and who IS and who IS TO COME."

 

What a thrilling thing to know that our Lord is coming back for us.Our Lord indeed, is holy…and His birth occurred on a most holy night as Josh Groban sings so beautifully…O HOLY NIGHT.

 

MUSIC

CLOSING SONG

Let'sSing the Lord's Praises

 

O HOLY NIGHT

Josh Groban

 

Let us close with words of praise for our Lord…

 

DOXOLOGY

 

EPHESIANS 1:3

Worthy of praise is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us believers in Christ in eternity past with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms (a place of permanence)…through our union with Christ…

 

DOXOLOGY

 

EPHESIANS 1:7-8

In Jesus…we have redemption (deliverance from slavery to sin) through His blood…the forgiveness of our trespasses…according to the glorious wealth provided by His grace…which He lavished on us…including as a gift, wisdom and insight…

 

DOXOLOGY

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 1:17

Now to the King of kings and Lord of lords…the Lord Jesus Christ…to the eternal, immortal, invisible One, to the One and Only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.Amen.

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Almighty God and Father…

 

…thank you for providing a time every year for the whole world to stop to worship Your Son…and thank you for providing us with such a meaningful Person for our benefit, the Lord Jesus Christ…help us to be like He is in relationships to those in our lives with whom we have relationships…help us to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ as the model for every thought, and every action, for all time…

 

…as we spend our time around our unbelieving family and friends this holiday season, encourage us to help them to pray this prayer…

 

God the Father, I am a sinner and I need a Savior…I know I can't do anything to save myself…I thank you for letting the Lord Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, do the work of salvation for me…and right now, Father, I believe in Christ…and I want to live with You and Him forever…

 

…then let us celebrate their "so great" salvation with them…a salvation gifted through the agency of the indescribable Person we celebrate today…the Lord Jesus Christ…

 

…Father, we pray that You continue to shape the messages from this pulpit that are an accurate reflection of Your unconditional love, Your glorious Person, Your lucid thinking, Your impeccable work, Your forgiveness, Your grace, and Your magnificent essence...

 

…we ask this through the convicting power of God the Holy Spirit… in Christ's name…Amen!

 

KEEP ON STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD!

 

Happy New Year!

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

 

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