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This is an annexure to my sermon of 18th Dec. 2022 titled : THE GREATEST PERIOD OF GIFTS ON EARTH.
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FURTHER ABOUT CHRISTMAS :
What is Christmas ?
When I was young my mummy cooked rice once in a while. Our traditional food has been yam, cocoyam or cassava fufu, pounded very well and served with different forms of soup depending on what was preferred.
I am an Igbo man by birth, East of Nigeria and the Igbo people can name over fifteen different types of delicious soups to go with the meals.
Frying of food was not regular in our time then, but during the Christmas festival my mummy must cook rice as a special delicacy.
As children, we ran round with great joy to announce to our friends that mummy was cooking rice.
This was also the case in most homes and the aroma of “Onion fry”, rent the air in every home just like frankincence also perfumes the environment where it has been taken through.
What then is Christmas?
Annual Christmas festival is a reminiscence of the coming of the king on earth, when wise men came with gifts of frankincence, gold and myrrh.
In my 18th December sermon , a week to this day, I spoke on the genesis of Christmas and mentioned this day as time of great gifts.
In all nations, Christmas is honoured. It is a feast which no one can resist to mark the coming of the king of kings, Jesus Christ The Saviour of the World.
The coming of the Saviour was witnessed by heavenly hosts, the Angel announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds by night.
Note this in Luke from Chapter 2:
2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2 : 9 – 14).
Particular catching words and phrases are evidenced in the coming of Jesus:
Note them as follows :
(i) Shepherds
In Luke 2:8 :And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
(ii) – the glory of the Lord
(iii) – good tidings of great joy to all people;
(iv) – born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.
(v) – in heaven glory to the Lord
(vi) – on earth, peace, goodwill toward men.
Shepherds watching by night received the message of the coming of the chief shepherd.
The glory of the Lord filled the heavens.
As the joy of the Lord filled our infant hearts and we ran round through the little foot paths in my village over sixty years ago, announcing that mummy was cooking Christmas rice, the same joy, spreads today across nations of the World.
The coming of the Saviour, witnesses great announcement. No one should pretend to be an atheist.
No birth of any king has been so honoured on earth. Nations declare public holiday across their lands to celebrate the reminder to them, of the birth of a Saviour, who is Christ the king.
This reminder is there, but to serve the king of kings, among all peoples, remains an eluded dream.
Most of our parents in my early years were heathens, but they honoured Christmas festival. We did not know what it really was all about, but we expected the festival, when mummy must cook delicious rice with the aroma of Onion fries and many if us wore new dresses as it is tiday.
LET US WEAR THE NEW DRESSES OF CHRISTMAS OVER A NEW HEART.
We wear new dresses over an old heart, we need to wear new these new dresses over a new heart.
Christmas each year brings good will, as many people, must find avenues for reconciliation, to lay down the hatchet to celebrate and exchange great gifts among themselves.
THE HALLMARK OF CHRISTMAS.
2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2 : 11).
A Saviour is given to deliver the World from sin who made a sacrifice with his blood to cleanse our sins.
No one should miss the opportunity of getting in to heaven.
WE MUST STRUGGLE TO GET TO HEAVEN.
The full joy that follows Christmas must be witnessed eventually, when we get to heaven, which is an eternal home to aspire for. The celebration on earth suddenly ceases as people return to their bases soon, but essentially this joy should remain as we get to know that Christ has built for us an eternal home, where we shall live for ever.
After paying the price of salvation with His blood for the cause of our salvation He said :
14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14 : 1 – 3)
As Christmas feasting soon ends this season, we have to look beyond the euphoria of this celebration, knowing the greatest feast awaits all the righteous in Christ Jesus.
It is called the seven years wedding feast of the lamb.
Christmas sets a race before all men, and let us therefore run the race with fear and trembling, noting that every race has rules and only those who run well, receive the price.
To conclude note these scriptures :
9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
(1 Corinthians 9 : 24 – 26).
PRAISE YE THE LORD AMEN.
Let us pray.
Lord God, may the real meaning of Christmas, rule our lives now and unto eternity Amen.
Thank you for reading and sharing.
Miracle Valley Sermon, 25th December , 2022.
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Visit amazon.com and Bambooks Digital Publishing.com, for books of Rev. Dr. Prof. Paul Chukwukere Nnaocha. May God bless you in this life and may you also prosper in spirit and also in soul winning in Jesus name Amen