Christmas Thoughts

We, as Christians, are going to celebrate the coming of our Savior tomorrow.  There are many passages in the Old Testament that refer to the arrival of the Savior.  There are also many passages that refer to the reason WHY He arrived.  The book of Isaiah is full of both of them.  

I do not want, in any way, shape or form, to downplay the importance of the coming of Jesus, the son of God, in a human body.  He had to put on human flesh if He was going to redeem a human remnant for Himself.  But, I know from experience that around this time of year, people's thoughts can sometimes get stuck in the manger, gazing at the baby.

On this, the eve of what is traditionally recognized as the day of our Savior's birth, allow me to share this from Isaiah the prophet, written approximately 700 years before the arrival of our Lord......



"Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
   he shall be high and lifted up,
   and shall be exalted.
As many were astonished at you-
   his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
   and his form beyond that of the children of mankind-
so shall he sprinkle many nations;
   kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
for that which has not been told them they see,
   and that which they have not heard they understand.
Who has believed what he has heard from us?
   and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
   and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
   and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men;
   a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
   he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs
   and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
   smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
   he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
   and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
   we have turned--every one--to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on him
   the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
   yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
   and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
   so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
   and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living, 
   stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
   and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
   and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;
   he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
   he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
   make many to be accounted righteous,
   and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
   and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
   and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
   and makes intercession for the transgressors."

Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 ESV



The baby in a manger became a full grown man.  And that full grown man went to a rugged cross and died a horrid death for the iniquity of many.  That is the reason for the sinless God-baby in the manger; to grow into a sinless, full grown God-man and propitiate the sins of His people.  Keep that truth close to your heart this season.

God bless y'all.....

Update on Bethel

Here is a video posted by Pastor Chris Rosebrough just a little earlier this afternoon with an update on the situation at Bethel Redding.

They've hired a PR guy to start damage control.

Bethel Church in Redding, CA is Demonic.......

This video is roughly 52 minutes long but it is an informative, eye opening 52 minutes.  It is from a guy named Chris Rosebrough.  He is a Lutheran pastor and is in charge of a teaching and discernment ministry called Fighting for the Faith.  He is a dependable source for truth and comparing what is happening in the world of the "church" against the Scripture.

In short, here is the reason for this video from Pastor Chris....

There is a church in Redding, CA called Bethel Church.  If you aren't familiar with this church then you need to familiarize yourself with them.  It is a heretical, demonic cesspool and should be marked and avoided.  Amazingly, because of the lack of any kind of biblical discernment within the church, Bethel is highly influential.  If you are familiar with contemporary Christian music, then I am sure you've heard of Jesus Culture.  They come from this church. 

The church is led by Bill Johnson and Kris Valloton.  Beni Johnson and Jen Johnson are also leaders.  They are Bill's wife and daughter-in-law respectively.

In the past few days, a prominent family in this church had their 2 year old daughter Olive die quite unexpectedly.  Instead of burying this little girl and the family grieving this devastating loss, the little girl is still at the coroner.....being prayed for.....that she will be resurrected.  I'll just leave that right there for a minute to let that sink in.

Pastor Chris takes this video and breaks down what is said and done with Scripture, comparing the 2 side by side.

This is not the only video he has done about Bethel.  But it is the latest in a sad history.

Again, if you do not know who these people are, familiarize yourself with them because they are not even remotely biblical in what they teach but they are influential within "christian" circles.