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Should Christians get involved in supporting or celebrating Christmas? Have you ever heard that argument? Why in the world would Christians want to get involved in something that was really a “pagan holiday,” that we the Church co-opted? So for those critics, I have three points.
Number one: Do you give your kids birthday gifts? You celebrate your kids birthdays, why not celebrate the birth of the Savior? If we’re not going to do it now, when would you decide to do it? That would be a question.
Secondly, in 1st Corinthians 9:22, Paul says, “I became all things to all men, that by all means I may win some.” I can’t think of a time, and I doubt that you could think of a time in the year when there is more focus on the birth of Jesus Christ. Once a year, the world is confronted with the reality of His coming. And I think that’s great!
The third point is in Matthew 16:18,where Jesus said, “On this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The idea is not that we are holding out against the world. The idea is that we are assaulting a world and they cannot overwhelm us. They cannot withstand the assault of the Church. The very fact that you and I are here, 2000 years after the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, is evidence of that. The world has done everything it can to squash the message, destroy the Word, and intimidate believers. Yet, all around the world today there are those who are singing praise, spreading the Word and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, if we co-opt or take over Christmas, that’s what we’re supposed to do. We’re supposed to seize the gates of the enemy. This is why we’re here and why this season is so important.

Gene Cunningham - September 25, 2003

Ezekiel #9

Ezekiel #9

Justice is a characteristic of God. Righteous and Justice comprise Holiness (Det 32:4, Isa 45:21). Mercy is dependent on Justice executed on the cross -- He judged His own Son. Justice is in fact an act of Mercy. If we don't draw near in Grace, He'll draw near in Justice. It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God -- His discipline begins with His own house. Ezekiel 8 Outline  - "the Holy Jealousy of God"; Ezekiel 9 - "the Glory of God Departs". Ezekiel 10 - "Ichabod - the Glory of God departs". God's jealousy with our areas of idolatry (Jam 4:5, Eph 4:30). Gold and faith are refined through fire (1Pe 1:7). The Glory and jealousy of God was provoked by the image of the sex God Ashteroth in the temple (2Ki 21:7, Eze 8:1-6). Israel worshiped animals (Eze 8:7-10). Israel's elders worshiped the idols in their heart (Eze 8:11-12; Rom 1:23). Jaazaniah brother delivered Jeremiah (Jer 26:24) his nephew was a believer (Jer 39:14) - faith doesn't run in families God knows everything in our hearts (Heb 4:12-14). Do I have an image of jealousy in our hearts? The father of Jaazaniah was a Godly man (2Ki 22:8-11). Tammuz was the idol son of Nimrod who was killed -- the fertility god of the Sumerians. Tammuz dies and his sister Ishtar rescues/resurrects him then marries him -- the beginning of easter. The priests were also worshipping the sun. (Eze 8:16, 2Ch 29:6) Violence is a characteristic of a degenerate nation (Eze 8:17). Point of no return had been reached (Eze 8:18). Messiah is referred to "the branch" (Mat 2:22-23). They treated the promised messiah with the utmost of contempt (Eze 8:17). God calls for the angelic executioners as the glory of God departs (Eze 9:1-3). Judgment begins with the house of God (Eze 9:7, 1Pe 4:17). The Glory departs from the throne to the threshold (Eze 10:4); then threshold to the East Gate (Eze 10:18-19); then East Gate to the Mount of Olives (Eze 11:23). Before being arrested, Jesus retraces the steps of the Glory then pronounces judgment (Mat 23:37, Mat 24:3, Joh 17:4)



Scripture References: Ezekiel 9:1-3, Ephesians 4:30, Matthew 24:3, Jeremiah 39:14, Ezekiel 8:17, James 4:5, Matthew 23:37, Jeremiah 26:24, Matthew 2:22-23, Daniel 45:21, Ezekiel 11:23, Romans 1:23, Ezekiel 8:18, Isaiah 45:21, Ezekiel 10:18-19, Ezekiel 8:11-12, Ezekiel 8:17, Deuteronomy 32:4, Ezekiel 10:4, Ezekiel 8:7-10, Ezekiel 8:16, Ezekiel 9:7, Ezekiel 8:1-6, John 17:4, Hebrews 4:12-14

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