keeping christ in christian
celebrating the anointingBy Terrence Clark From the Journal
Everything, from nativity scenes in public venues to scripture versed carols, played in secular markets, to the politically correct name of the biggest holiday on the western calendar, has been challenged. And it’s not just the icons that have been challenged, but the observance, provoking bible adherents, every year, to declare the mantra----“Keep Christ in Christmas.”
Ironically, despite Saint Nick and the mythological Santa Claus (made popular by writings of a Christian pastor), Christ is the key element in the title of the day. Connectively, without dispute, the Christ that is attributed to is Jesus of Nazareth, biological of 2018 years ago, but is known biblically by believers to be God Almighty equal with the Father and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was different from all that came before and after. He was the Messiah that should come into the world. Not just by name and title, but power. His power was not only proof of His authority and appointment. His miracle power came to love people. It was a love that not only made the souls feel their worth but was able to change lives and make them worth living. Doubters and some disciples, then and still today, challenge Jesus’s godliness. John 7:31, one scripture reference out of many exposes. And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? Interestingly, the point of doubt and belief connected Jesus’s works with His title. The unrepentant, angry, thief missed the real issue, still recognized there was power in the Christ to deliver from even the horror of physical punishment and debt. The other thief |
sharing the same fate received the Christ and was delivered by His eternal power despite his own cross and his own sin.
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.---Luke 23:39-43
The canon book of Hebrew (4:8) distinguishes the Jesus of worship from others with that name (even those in the lineage of faith) from the Virgin Mary’s son. The name is the same as Joshua, Yehoshua, or Yeshua. It says if the Old Testament leader into the Promise Land had given Israel rest there wouldn’t be any need to look for another day. It declares that for God’s covenant children there was another Sabbath and another Promise Land that superseded Canaan.
[This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan.] For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak about another day [of opportunity] after that. ---Hebrews 4:8 Amplified Bible
Jesus in Matthews 11:28-30 declared He was the living Sabbath day-----and with all the amenities that group he declared it to--- had not known.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.---Luke 23:39-43
The canon book of Hebrew (4:8) distinguishes the Jesus of worship from others with that name (even those in the lineage of faith) from the Virgin Mary’s son. The name is the same as Joshua, Yehoshua, or Yeshua. It says if the Old Testament leader into the Promise Land had given Israel rest there wouldn’t be any need to look for another day. It declares that for God’s covenant children there was another Sabbath and another Promise Land that superseded Canaan.
[This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan.] For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak about another day [of opportunity] after that. ---Hebrews 4:8 Amplified Bible
Jesus in Matthews 11:28-30 declared He was the living Sabbath day-----and with all the amenities that group he declared it to--- had not known.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
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The name Christ means the Anointed One or one who is anointed. Anointed by what? How about what and whom? But not just the anointing, but what the anointing came to do. A lot of people know of Jesus and even express faith in Him, but few know the fullness of who He is and what He came to do--- and did. Many may know John 3: 16, from the gospel narrative, but not as many embrace its revelation as written in Colossians 1:13 and the rest of the New Testament. With the everlasting life love He brought---came the fullness of deliverance and peace.
An explanation of what the anointing does shows up in Isaiah 10:27
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.---Isaiah 10:27
Israel, the Northern Kingdom of the Promised Land was under the oppression of the Assyrian army. Assyria conquest would later include the whole Hebrew nation, which included Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom. They were in this situation because of their continual rebellion against God. So God allowed and sent a heathen nation to conquer his people (2 Kings 17-19). At least there He could get their attention. Sin and rebellion would have killed them all.
Nonetheless, God still loves His people and despises those who harm them---still to this day. The day would come when He would deliver His people from their oppressors. He would do it by the anointing. The anointing is described and defined in different ways----the dove, the oil, the fat, an unction, and of course the Holy Ghost and His power.
Whatever the word “anointing” symbolized---it would destroy the yoke, whatever “yoke” symbolized---it would be destroyed, and whatever the adjoining “burden” was---it would be removed. Of course, it included the Assyrian army but the scripture spoke of much, much more.
An explanation of what the anointing does shows up in Isaiah 10:27
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.---Isaiah 10:27
Israel, the Northern Kingdom of the Promised Land was under the oppression of the Assyrian army. Assyria conquest would later include the whole Hebrew nation, which included Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom. They were in this situation because of their continual rebellion against God. So God allowed and sent a heathen nation to conquer his people (2 Kings 17-19). At least there He could get their attention. Sin and rebellion would have killed them all.
Nonetheless, God still loves His people and despises those who harm them---still to this day. The day would come when He would deliver His people from their oppressors. He would do it by the anointing. The anointing is described and defined in different ways----the dove, the oil, the fat, an unction, and of course the Holy Ghost and His power.
Whatever the word “anointing” symbolized---it would destroy the yoke, whatever “yoke” symbolized---it would be destroyed, and whatever the adjoining “burden” was---it would be removed. Of course, it included the Assyrian army but the scripture spoke of much, much more.
Christmas Declarations
Modern day Christmas celebrations may have been secularized to the top of the tree, but the truth remains. And the symbols of the truth, although often fragmented, still decorate lawns and retail lobbies. People of every background try to get their decorations up early. Christians should have deeper priorities---more important to Christmas decorations should be the Christmas declarations. In Luke 4:18, 19---Jesus stands up in His home church, a synagogue in Nazareth (yes, Jesus went to Church), and makes the declaration. He reads from the Prophet Isaiah 61. 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord |
It is a declaration of the anointing. And he marked it for a particular day. It’s a Christmas celebration---one of many in Jesus earthly walk. He celebrated the anointing. The name Christmas literal means “Christ” mass. A gathering to celebrate “the Anointing.”
Jesus goes on to declare that what He had declared was fulfilled in the ears of all those at church that day. It also included all those who would hear and receive in the years to come. He declared that He Jesus, the Christ was in person the Jubilee day---covenant redemption, the Prophet had spoken about. It was a Christmas (anointing) declaration that He was the answer of deliverance from all human bondage----spirit, soul, body, social, economically. Yes, Christmas had come to Nazareth-
Jesus goes on to declare that what He had declared was fulfilled in the ears of all those at church that day. It also included all those who would hear and receive in the years to come. He declared that He Jesus, the Christ was in person the Jubilee day---covenant redemption, the Prophet had spoken about. It was a Christmas (anointing) declaration that He was the answer of deliverance from all human bondage----spirit, soul, body, social, economically. Yes, Christmas had come to Nazareth-
Christmas Lights
I asked this question at the first church I preached this at. It was a third way into the month of December. Are your Christmas lights out? Everybody didn’t get it at first. So I rephrased the question. Are your Christian lights out?
I’ll ask this audience. Are your anointing lights on? The Scripture is clear and bright. Jesus is the light of the world.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 9:5
But the Holy Spirit also says through the Apostle Paul
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Philippians 2:15
In all history, and especially in our day, our anointing lights need to be on. The world needs to not only know we are Christians and know Jesus is our Savior, but they need to know the power of this Christ. Not just Christ in reference, but in tangibleness.
As Christians, we celebrate the Anointed One and His Anointing in our homes, on our lawns, in the market, on our jobs, in our conversation. We are to proclaim this anointing in the city, on the mountains, in the desert, over the hills, and everywhere.
There’s power in the anointing. In all its (His) unfolding and in symbolic declarations--- it is also described as an unction---a word from God---that when declared by faith will destroy the bondage of any oppression---no matter how dark.
While it is important to stand firm and keep Christ in Christmas for the winter holiday season. It’s more important to celebrate, proclaim, and distributed the power and gifts of The Anointing and the Anoint One---Jesus every day of our Christian lives.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10
I asked this question at the first church I preached this at. It was a third way into the month of December. Are your Christmas lights out? Everybody didn’t get it at first. So I rephrased the question. Are your Christian lights out?
I’ll ask this audience. Are your anointing lights on? The Scripture is clear and bright. Jesus is the light of the world.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 9:5
But the Holy Spirit also says through the Apostle Paul
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Philippians 2:15
In all history, and especially in our day, our anointing lights need to be on. The world needs to not only know we are Christians and know Jesus is our Savior, but they need to know the power of this Christ. Not just Christ in reference, but in tangibleness.
As Christians, we celebrate the Anointed One and His Anointing in our homes, on our lawns, in the market, on our jobs, in our conversation. We are to proclaim this anointing in the city, on the mountains, in the desert, over the hills, and everywhere.
There’s power in the anointing. In all its (His) unfolding and in symbolic declarations--- it is also described as an unction---a word from God---that when declared by faith will destroy the bondage of any oppression---no matter how dark.
While it is important to stand firm and keep Christ in Christmas for the winter holiday season. It’s more important to celebrate, proclaim, and distributed the power and gifts of The Anointing and the Anoint One---Jesus every day of our Christian lives.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10
For this message, in full and in audio, look for it an upcoming podcast