Grace Fellowship Church www.gracedoctrine.org

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• Grace Fellowship Church
  www.gracedoctrine.org
• Pastor/TeacherJim Rickard ThursdayDecember
  21, 2006

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Merry Christmas2006
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III. Should Believers Celebrate Christmas?
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Questions rise from misunderstood passages
includingJer 313 102-4Isa 4414-15
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Jer. 313,Only acknowledge your iniquity, That
you have transgressed against the Lord your God
and have scattered your favors to the strangers
under every green tree, and you have not obeyed
My voice, declares the Lord.
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We're so busy figuring out the details of
Christmas that we miss its meaning.
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The satanic world dictates to us what we think,
do, buy, and give so that we miss the meaning of
Christmas.
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If the Cosmic view of Christmas is the meaning
for you then maybe you should reconsider
celebrating it.
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Biblical principles in celebrating Christmas warn
and protect us from the distortions we find in
the world.
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2 Tim 27, Consider what I say, for the Lord
will give you understanding in everything.
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Acts 2035,In everything I showed you that by
working hard in this manner you must help the
weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give
than to receive.
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Acts 322, Moses said, The Lord God will raise
up for you a prophet like me from your brethren
to Him you shall give heed to everything He says
to you.
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Psa 1506,Let everything that has breath praise
the LORD. Praise the LORD.
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1 Cor 923,I do all things for the sake of the
gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of
it.
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Christmas should be the celebration of the birth
of Christ not the going in debt for family and
friends.
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Jer. and Isa. are not a categorical denial of all
the customs of the nations.
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It is only a command to avoid those customs that
are contrary to the revelation of God to Israel.
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They had to do with idolatry warning against
astrological worship the sun, moon, and the
stars, and carved idols in some form of human or
animal worshipped.
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We don't throw things out just because the world
misuses or distorts them.
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Col. 216-17, Therefore let no one act as your
judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to
a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day, things
which are a mere shadow of what is to come but
the substance belongs to Christ.
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Jesus participated in the man made
holiday,Hanukkah. John 1022-23
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Col 217, ...but the substance belongs to
Christ.Rom 141-9, 14-23 1 Cor 84-8
1023-24 Col 216-17 Titus 115
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If our celebration is done out of love, devotion,
and the joy the season gives focusing on the
Savior, and is not a religious duty, we are
justified in celebrating.
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The issue is not the observance, but the reason,
the attitudes and the spirit in which it is done.
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J. Hampton Keathley III, precedent for
commemorating the birth of Christ.
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1) The appearance of the angel of the Lord with
the glory of the Lord to announce the birth of
Christ to the shepherds (Luke 210-12).
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2) The response of the angels at the announcement
of Christ's birth (Luke 213-14).
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3) The actions of the shepherds who left their
flocks to go and see which was nothing short of a
celebration (Luke 215-20).
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4) And the arrival of the men from the east
bearing gifts as much as a year to two years
later, (Matt. 21-12).
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The issue is not the season, it's the attitude
and reason behind it verses the distortion of it.
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Christmas Traditions are from Paganism.
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Christmas Traditions are from Paganism.The
Pagan Associations were Lost Long Ago.
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Satan began these pagan rituals to counterfeit
God's plan, yet God has turn the tables on Satan
and has taken his symbols to represent Christ.
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Gen 5020, As for you, you meant evil against
me, but God meant it for good in order to bring
about this present result, to preserve many
people alive.
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Rom 1416, Therefore do not let what is for you
a good thing be spoken of as evil 17for the
kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit.
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Merry Christmas to you all!
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Grace Fellowship ChurchThursday, December 21,
2006Tape 06-093 Should We Celebrate
Christmas? Christmas Special 2006, Part 3Jer
313 1024 Isa 4414-17 Acts 322 2035 Rom
1416-17 Col 216-17James H. Rickard Bible
Ministries 2006