Preparing for Christmas

As you prepare for Christmas this year remember that the coming of Christ was in fulfillment of the promises to Abraham and his descendants as Luke 1:55 and Luke 1:73 make crystal clear. Jesus is the fulfillment of the ancient promises and the only way to have relationship with God. Spend time in the Gospels and be content that though the story is Old it can be refreshing. There is no new story to be had. No new story is needed. However, let us hope for fresh revelation and fresh experiences of the living Christ who is God with us, revealing to us the trinitarian life of community which is fulfilled when we love others and give ourselves away to them. The best gift you can give anyone is to die for them by dying to yourself as you are with them.

The Trinity Makes His Home Within You

One of the key truths of the Christian church which is often neglected is that of the Trinity. Though not a biblical word it is beyond doubt that there is but One God existing in three persons who are wrapped up in love for one another. Let us avoid the heresies propagated here which were both ancient and modern. The truth is that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. The biblical evidence is overwhelming. They are not three modes or expressions of God but each one is fully God. The astounding thing to get is not a full comprehension of this mystery but a wonder that He as three in One has come to live within each person who has embraced Christ. Consider the following:

1. The Holy Spirit lives within you as promised in John 1417: "He abides within you and will be in you"
2. If you love Christ you will be loved by the Father. If not, you cannot know Father, Son, or Holy Spirit.
3. If you love Christ you will be loved by the Father and He and the Son will come to make their home with you. John 14:23

So we see that all three dwell within the believer and that knowing Him requires embracing Jesus Christ. Without Christ there is no possible knowledge of God. What an exclusive and offensive message. Stick to it and imitate for God and others the love that exists between each member of the Trinity. Understanding these things is one of the keys to the Christian life.

Key to Spiritual Battle

1 Chronicles 5:20-22 provides us with a key to the battles we face in our daily lives. (It does pay to read through the Genealogies!):

"they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him . . . For many fell slain, because the war was of God."

What we know is that for those who have pledged allegiance to Christ the main war is of God as we fight against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heaven places. Let us be careful lest we choose battles that God Himself has not chosen. This requires a sensitivity to the Spirit under the tutelage of the inspired Scriptures which we must know and cannot be left to our own whims.

Here in this passage is a commentary on much of the Psalms which are the cries of Christ and His Church against persecution and trials within the war of life which is composed of numerous battles. The keys for God's people are:

1. Cry out to Him in the battle
2. Trust Him to hear and answer
3. Count on the falling of the enemy as when Jesus saw Satan falling from heaven like lightning
4. Make sure your battle is of the Lord and not of your own devising

Keep up the good fight!