12.20.22 - ENDTIMES CHAT with GJ and DAN - CHRIST-MISS

So many religious leaders missed the Christmas miracle that was and IS Jesus 2000 years ago.

There is so much you can say about the story of the birth of Jesus. Although I believe at times, we have made much of the story a grand production losing a lot of the significance this actual event holds.
It is part of the foundational beliefs we hold to. It is more than a “Christmas production” or a “light-hearted story” we tell our children. What about the pain Mary went through while giving birth? What of the 9 months did she spend in tiredness, sickness, and her joints loosening to prepare for the birth? What of the fact that she didn’t go to a hospital and one doctor and five nurses to help her give birth? She just had a man – her husband a carpenter – and some animals as her cheering section.
Well, we are not going to focus on the story of Jesus’ birth today. What we are going to focus on is what we are called to do with this story.
In Luke 1:39-45, Mary visits her relative Elizabeth, who is also giving birth to a son, John; or as we know him – John the Baptist. Inside the womb, Elizabeth’s baby leaps for joy when Mary says hello. Why? Jesus is in her womb.
She gives Mary encouragement and ends with this statement, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”
At this moment, for us that statement would read, “Blessed is the one who has believed that what the Lord has said WAS accomplished.”
Many people think that in order to believe in God and go to church, you need to raise your life to a high standard, and if you don’t, God will not accept you, or the church will not invite you in. God will accept you at any stage in your life, but the church, unfortunately, is not as gracious.
So people stay away and come only on the days of the year they feel obligated to come to. I wish for all those around us to understand that we are not exclusive. We are not a club in which you must pass certain tests in order to be a part. You don’t even have to believe in Jesus in order to come here! All we ask you to do is listen to the message and allow God to help you see that He is who He says He is. Jesus is the Son of God who desires to have a friendship and lasting relationship with you.
He wouldn’t have died for you and I if that were not true! You will be blessed for believing without having seen with your own eyes. I urge you to look into your heart today and let God show Himself to you. All you have to do to be part of God’s family is believe and call on the Name of the Lord and you will be saved. That is a confession of Faith in Him.
We are here to help you in your decision and to help you grow in Faith and understanding of God and what He desires of you.
Now, to those of us who believe and have already called on His name. We are called upon to do something I feel we too often do NOT do.
In Luke 1:76-79 it says, “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide or feet into the path of peace.”
Although we are not John the Baptist, we are also called to do the same thing. Even though Jesus has already come once, He is going to come again. This is why our message is a message of Hope. There will be a time when He will come again to take all who believe in Him to be with Him. For us, that is heaven. That is the hope – that our life has a purpose.

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP. POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.