Dressed up for Christmas!

Isaiah 58 Ministries                       Christmas 2013

Pastor: Leah Svensson

Scriptures: Jude 1:12-23, John 16:5-15, Titus 1:5-16

                                      Dress up for Christmas

        

      I cannot remember a time in my childhood where Christmas was an enjoyable day. There were those in my family that just had to be the center of attention and they got that attention by complaining about their presents or bossing others, controlling conversations, being drunk, getting angry etc.

 

     I haven’t had a bad Christmas for 15 years now because I dressed up for Christmas.  I put on the Word of God. I stopped having Christmas with hate filled people.

See Jude 1:12-23

   They are spots in your love feasts, only there to serve themselves, grumblers, complainers, mouths full of great swelling words, (about themselves), mock those who try to talk about Jesus Christ on Christmas, they do not have the Holy spirit.

When Jesus died he didn't leave us alone.  He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us and to give us power to overcome these evil people with “good”.  The Holy  Spirit leads us to “convict” these people of sin.

See John 16:5-15

He will convict the world of sin,.. because they do not believe in Me; ……….. He will glorify Me

See Titus1:5-16

 convict those who contradict………..10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain…………. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith…..

convict: declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law.

   

  These people can cause your whole family, your children, to fall away from God and teach you and your children to walk in sin against God and your fellow man!

Get dressed up for Christmas, be strong in the Lord! 

Just tell them:          “you’re in sin!”

Yep, it’s that easy!

It’s not you speaking but Christ speaking through you!

See Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2: 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

     I know you have been taught since you were a baby that it is Christmas, let’s not fight or disturb the peace on Christmas.  But it is only through speaking out, “You’re in sin” that you are able to enjoy the party with your family and friends.  Don’t let a few people upset everyone else.  It is better to ask them to leave. 

Protect yourself and your children with the power that Almighty God has given you. Overcome evil with good!  

Where the Spirit is there is Liberty, freedom, from trouble makers, boastful, proud, arrogant, controlling people.

                                             

                                                        The End

Scriptures references: 

Apostates Depraved and Doomed

Jude 1:12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

Apostates Predicted

16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

Maintain Your Life with God

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;  23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire,  hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

John 16:5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. 

Qualified Elders

Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop  must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

The Elders’ Task

10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.