A Partaker of Christ: Guest Post by Larry Linton

This is post is used by permission.

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;“ Hebrews 3:14

It says we are made the partakers of Christ. We are made, denotes that it is nothing we do, or have done but entirely of God’s grace.

I am baking bread today and not one loaf can say that it made itself. I measured the flour, sugar, salt, water and oil and I pounded it until I was satisfied. The end product passed through the fire but not of it’s own choice and now I have nice brown loaves cooling on racks with no effort of their own at all.

I as someone outside of themselves did all the work and I’ll admit I might have been hard on them a few times but the end product is worth the toil and the pain inflicted upon each and every loaf of bread. There will be no halleluiah dance tomorrow when I put them in the van to sell, and not one will lift up it’s head if pride because of all that they had done to make that oven so hot.

As Christians we have a far too high opinion of ourselves and the things that we have done to make things happen down here on earth.

The passage says for we were made partakers of Christ. The Christ was the name for the long awaited one or the redeemer of Israel, or the man upon the throne from the very beginning. He is the one that picked out the ingredients for His Church and He is the one who designs our trials to fit each one of us.

But then some preachers talk of all the things that they have done, as if God had been nowhere in sight. We are nothing of ourselves but we have been made partakers of the Christ the redeemer, and it is only in him that we live and move and have our being.

This being a partaker of Christ is only possible when we remember who we are and where we came from.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8, 9 & 10

We plainly see here that we are saved by God’s grace and not by our own works, and it gives us a reason for this in verse 10. We are His workmanship and we are created in Christ Jesus for the express purpose of good works, and not works of our own choosing, but, after our salvation by grace, whereby God purchases us, for His own glory. He has chosen works for each one of us to do based upon our “God given” talents.

Both Ephesians and Hebrews tell us the same thing. Hebrews says that we are to hold the beginning of our faith steadfast unto the end and Ephesians says we were chosen to perform good works, which God hath beforehand ordained that we should walk in them.

It is very necessary to remember where God found us,----- on the road to Hell, and He chose us and saved us by His grace, never think more highly than we ought to think, we are nothing without God and God performed everything, all of the way.

Praise His Holy Name.

God Bless!

Larry Linton is a retired widower, a former Pastor and Church planter, who studied Bible Exposition at New Brunswick Bible Institute. He is an avid blogger on Facebook, posting almost daily going through the Bible book by book, verse by verse.

Larry also is a baker, who's fresh breads help a mission in Mistassini, Quebec.

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Video : The Angel That Visited The Shepherds Luke 2:9

This video is an excerpt from the sermon giving by Pastor David Ray Jr at Grace Bible Church, Sangerville Maine on Christmas Day, December 25th, 2016. This was part of his advent series on the visitations of the angels to various people during the amazing incarnation and birth of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The sermon title: "The Angel that Visited the Shepherds" from Luke 2:8-21

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.'
'For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be the sign unto you; You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'
And suddenly there with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill
toward men!"
Luke 2:9-14

(Transcript of the video)

(Angels) They were aware that He’d laid those things aside for a little while, to come to earth to become one of us. To become a sacrifice really for us. You see, they also knew of the fall of man. They had been informed also that God was going to provide a way for the salvation for man. They knew about that. They knew the prophesy had been made that a Savior would come and that a sacrifice would be made. And they understood all of this and they were praising God because they were seeing God’s grace on display. They were thanking God for His indescribable gift. They were looking into the things… our salvation.

Peter talks about that, when he says that angels long to look into our salvation to try to understand. You see they never experienced the kind of salvation we can experience. They haven’t experienced the grace and mercy and forgiveness that we can experience.

You see, angels have never been forgiven. They’ve never been redeemed . And so they long to look into that. They’re interested in how God is working to save us and make salvation available to us.

You know, if the angels glorify God for this wonderful work, how much more should we raise up our voices and praise God for this wonderful work, and honor our Lord and Savior. It’s the greatest thing we can do with our life, is to live for the glory of God. 

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Re-Posting: They Missed Christmas: originally posted 12/14/13

(2015), I expanded this into an hour long Christmas program performed by my home church on Christmas Eve.

They Missed Christmas

The innkeeper missed Christmas. He turned away a woman heavy with child because she and her husband could not pay enough for him to bother to oust another paying guest.

The guests of the inn missed Christmas. Not one of them took pity on the woman to give up their room for her comfort.

The town of Bethlehem missed Christmas. When the shepherds came into the city seeking the wondrous thing proclaimed by the angels, no one ventured to search out why they were excited.

Months later, the Priests and Scribes missed Christmas.An entourage of men, Astrologers from another country, came because of a new star that had appeared. They knew the prophecy that this new star announced the birth of the King of the Jews. When questioned by Herod about what these travelers were talking about, the Priests and Scribes answered correctly that the King would be born in Bethlehem. Nevertheless, they never went to see for themselves.

Herod missed Christmas. He believed the Travelers about the new King and out of jealousy, he tried to kill the baby to get rid of the threat to his reign.

Many people on December 25 will miss Christmas. Millions will have parties; laugh and exchange gifts but they will miss the real gift of Christmas.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and whoever believes on Him will not die but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Let us not miss Christmas.

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Two Kisses

In the popular Christmas song, *Mary Did You Know one line asks, “(did you know), when you kissed your little baby, you kissed the face of God?”

The Bible never recorded Mary kissing Jesus but we can safely assume she performed this act of devotion. She held Him, kissed Him, loved Him, and did all the things a mother does with children. Mary’s kisses were on her beloved Child and maybe sometimes her kisses were worship of her Savior. 

So, we can assume Mary's kiss was for real.

However, the Bible does record a very real kiss with a deeper and definitely more sinister planning. 

Judas kissed the face of God

A chilling scene, as the mob comes in the dark of night, with eerie light from torches flickering through tree branches, making shadows long and creepy. Judas walked up to Jesus and planted a tremendous devotional kiss to His Rabboni’s face so there could be no mistake in the dark the One whom they were to arrest. In an act straight from a horror flick, the betrayer leading the ambush and prominently identifying the betrayed.

That kiss has importance beyond the mere printed words. The fact of its application is so evil in and of itself. The implication is the kiss Judas gave was of love and friendship, of fellowship, comradeship, and companionship. A huge, loud kiss in greeting of a friend and one accepted in trust.

The trust, acceptance and warmth of the relationship he had with Jesus, Judas used for such an evil purpose.

Judas' intention may have been to place Jesus in the position to either defend Himself or die. Judas had no idea what he had done until later, and though he never repented, he did regret his action. But no amount of regret could ever erase that kiss.

“Faithful are the wounds 

of a friend, 

But the kisses of an enemy 

are deceitful”

Proverbs 27:6.

Mary kissed the face of God out of a heart of a loving mother. Judas kissed the face of God as a selfish man with a hateful heart.

The first kiss welcomed the Savior, Son of God; the last kiss had a major part in killing Him. 

Two Kisses--one assumed, one known. Both interesting contemplation.

*"Mary did you know, when you kissed your little Baby, you kissed the face of God?"

"Judas, did you know, when you kissed the face of your Rabbi, you kissed the face of God?"

Someday, all those who’ve trusted in Jesus’ salvation, will look into that glorious face and see the love that kept Him on the cross. 

We will see the love that Judas refused to see
the night he kissed the face of God.

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*Mary Did You Know"original lyrics by Mark Lowry; melody by Buddy Greene

Commissioned to Give Jesus

Jesus came to the lost, unrepentant world, to save us to repentance. "For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10: 35

Jesus hates sin. Sin came into the world through Adam's willful rebellion in the Garden of Eden. Because of sin, no one can be in God's presence. 'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' Romans 3:23

Jesus loves sinners. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' Romans 5: 8

• Christmas celebrates the gift God gave---His Son.

The gift we don't deserve. 'As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.' Romans 3: 10, 11, 12

But the Greatest Gift is: 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life.' John 3: 16

Jesus, God, came to earth, was born of a virgin, died on the cross for the sin of the world, buried in a tomb, rose again the third day from the grave because His sacrifice, in the place of everyone, fulfilled the death penalty required. He ascended back to heaven to sit beside the Father, and He will return one day to take believers to live with Him forever and to judge the unbelievers to separation forever. Without Jesus, there is no hope of salvation. That is the Gospel taught in the Bible from Genesis 1: 1 to Revelation 22: 21

That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He does not want anyone to die and be eternally separate from God in the 'outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth'. He came and died so no one would have to be lost forever. 'In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and gave His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' 1 John 4: 10 

• That is the reason for everyone to celebrate Christmas.

May it be every believing, born again, Christian's desire that no one be eternally separate from God in the 'outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.' May we give Jesus this Christmas.

We attend church services, perform good works, and pray. We sing, fellowship and worship but He desires mercy for the lost from us, not the performance done in His name. He commands that we let others know about the wonderful miracle He gives to the whole world; eternal Salvation. Let us have mercy on the lost and dying world and tell them about the gospel of Jesus.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

• Remember to wrap all your gifts with loving prayers for salvation of everyone you know.

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God's Gift of Love

"Now abide these three, faith, hope,

and love but the greatest of these is love" 

1 Corinthians 13:13.

Amazing!

Ever really thought about LOVE? The greatest emotion, empathy, sympathy, action, or reaction we can have for anything or anyone is love. Love never fails.

Are you giving away love this Christmas or just gifts you bought with money? Is anyone expecting love from you or just materiel gifts? Are you just giving cash?

I'm not in favor of Gift Cards, either giving them or receiving them. As a donation for someone in need, yes, but it's a poor gift in my estimation. To me they say, "You're not worth the effort to learn more about you. I don't want to know your likes and dislikes. Here's money, go buy something you want, I don't want the relationship". If Gift cards are what someone asks for from me, it says to me. "You don't know me and I don't want you to. I don't want what you might buy me."

Neither am I fond of the excuse "I bought my own gift this year because my spouse wouldn't have bought it for me."

Is there something wrong with this picture or is it just me? Is there a disconnect in there somewhere? If you've been married for any length of time, your spouse should be able to buy you anything and you'd love it.

One year my husband gave me a flour sifter, measuring cups and baking dishes. Wonderful! I love them! I love to cook. He actually thought of something I liked and could use. Absolutely wonderful gift.

Love comes in many different packages, big, small, lumpy, soft, hard, smooth, and jiggly. Some make noise, some don't.

Try wrapping love this year, no matter what it is. Make it a surprise!

The greatest love you can give this year is to give Christ Jesus to your unsaved relatives and friends. Pray for them. When you are with them, ask if you may pray for them. Ask them if you can talk about Jesus. Make the Christmas story the main feature in your festivities.
My husband and I send a lot of cards and everyone of them had a handwritten Bible verse and signature. It is something we do every year. We take our time, beginning just after Thanksgiving and do small lots several days a week. Most of the people we send to do not know Jesus in a personal way. It's one way we send love each Christmas.

God's love for us came wrapped in rags on a bed of hay. The greatest gift in a simple package. How will you wrap Jesus to give Him away this year?

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Peace, Peace, & Peace

"My peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, Neither let it be afraid" John 24: 27.

We sing songs about peaceful times at Christmas. Many people say they ask for world peace at Christmas. There have been large gatherings of multicultural groups striving to produce peace in the world. Musical groups have banded in huge members to try and sing peace into existence. Governments attempt to politic peace into existence. It is a very good thing to strive for and we certainly should do all we can to maintain peace everywhere.

We certainly need peace and almost all these reasoning people have a good idea of how this peace should be accomplished. The trouble with the reasoning is they have yet to find a way to endue everyone with a peaceful heart. For there to be peace throughout the world the peace must come first inside a person before peace comes forth in effective presentation.


We need a peace that does not come with conditions.

"My peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 24: 27.

The supernatural peace of God provides that peace. Accepting Jesus brings that inner peace. Born again into the family of God helps us have that peace. It is nothing we produced. It is something Jesus gives.

Yes, yes, yes---may there be peace on earth this year! May many people come to know Jesus as their personal Savior this year!

Amen.

"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.

Re-Post: They Missed Christmas. originally posted 12/14/13

They Missed Christmas

   The innkeeper missed Christmas. He turned away a woman heavy with child because she and her husband could not pay enough for him to bother to oust another paying guest.

   The guests of the inn missed Christmas. Not one of them took pity on the woman to give up their room for her comfort.

   The town of Bethlehem missed Christmas. When the shepherds came into the city seeking the wondrous thing proclaimed by the angels, no one ventured to search out why they were excited.

   Months later, the Priests and Scribes missed Christmas.

An entourage of men, Astrologers from another country, came because of a new star that had appeared. They knew the prophecy that this new star announced the birth of the King of the Jews. When questioned by Herod about what these travelers were talking about, the Priests and Scribes answered correctly that the King would be born in Bethlehem. Nevertheless, they never went to see for themselves.

   Herod missed Christmas. He believed the Travelers about the new King and out of jealousy, he tried to kill the baby to get rid of the threat to his reign.

   Many people on December 25 will miss Christmas. Millions will have parties; laugh and exchange gifts but they will miss the real gift of Christmas.

  

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and whoever believes on Him will not die but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Let us not miss Christmas.

The Best Man for the Job

"I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" 1 Timothy 2:8.

Ever consider how much God knew and trusted Joseph to be the step-father of His Son on earth?

In the account of how Joseph became aware of his betroth's pregnancy, it says he thought about these things. At one point he even contemplated a private divorce. This man was hurting.

While their marriage was likely arranged, at some point, he must have loved this girl, even now pregnant with someone else's child. We can assume the situation estranged them from their families. It is possible they didn't have a big wedding party or feast among family and friends. Even though they hadn't been sexually intimate, with the exception of her cousin Elizabeth, it would be normal that no one else believed them.

God knew something about Joseph that no one else knew and He chose the man who would provide the early home for the baby Jesus. As Jesus grew into a young man, Mary and Joseph loved Him as their son. So much so, there came a day when Jesus had to remind them both of who He was and why He came. (Luke 2:41-49)

As little as we're told about him, though with a major roll to play, Joseph is easily overlooked in the Christmas story. There was no way around it, Mary needed a Husband. And with the most important infant to be born into the world on the way, she needed a strong Spiritual leader, and he had to be a man who would trust in God through the tough times. And here we see God's knowledge of men's hearts as He Mary Joseph. God knew Joesph's heart as well as He knew Mary's heart.

Matthew 1:20 says Joseph was thinking about the problem of the pregnancy and certainly his meditation included prayers for help, asking God what he's to do about Mary. His answer came through the dream appearance of the angel sent to tell him not to fear marriage to Mary.

The Scriptures says Joseph when he found out about the baby, he thought about quietly separating from Mary but the angel confirmed Mary's words of how she is pregnant. Joseph's response is a beautiful picture of a godly man trusting his God. He must have been looking for the Messiah and now he learns he's to be part of the fulfillment of prophecy.

And as Mary was obedient, Joseph also believed God and did all he was told.

God knew Joesph was the Best Man for the job

What an example of trust and obedience in times when a stand against the norm is needed.

Hosting Parties is Biblical

"...Prepare a guest room for me, for I trust, 

through your prayers I shall be granted to you" 

Philemon 22

Even before Mother gave the responsibility to me in my early twenties, I had hosted many of the holiday cooking at her house and sometimes at my sibling’s houses. Since I liked it so much, Mother finally gave the family holidays to me.

Today, my home is a large farmhouse, built in the 1820s. It’s nice but it needs much help. It has odd smells, stains, and is very static in the arrangement of furniture. While many people have visited, entertaining has limits.

In the winter, with the woodstove cranking out the heat, guests are elbow to elbow on the opposite side of the room, far enough so as not to be charred. To watch the sports on the television causes a major shift and someone inevitably, from the next room, looks through or over the semi-circle of the fortunate facing the screen. In the summer, the decay of the fallen down barn invades through the open windows.

 

Without a proper dining room, it takes imaginative rearranging. To accommodate more than six, a sheet of plywood lays atop my table. This means shifting the refrigerator against the cupboards by the kitchen sink, thus rendering four useless and causing a shortened counter top. While the stove is in use, no one can sit on that side of the table until all the cooking is complete.

 For all of this, hosting is wonderful and I would do it more often.

My hosting imagination has designed a specific Dream House. It has the normal master bedroom with full bath, kitchen, guestroom, home office, and household bath with washer and dryer.

However, my fantasy has yards of floor space, set with easily rearranged furniture. To accommodate crowds, there’s a custom kitchen with at least two ovens, a six-burner range, a grill, separate freezer and refrigerator, an island with food-prep sink, and long reaches of counter space. There’s casual serving dining bar with stools but the capstone is comfortable dinner seating for a dozen with addition to serve more. To have such a venue sounds wonderful.

I love cooking. I love hosting. I love the gathering of all the hundreds of paraphernalia my guests may never notice. I like searching for new and exciting recipes. I love giving gifts and trinkets. I love the table settings and centerpieces. I love doing the little things and arranging the surprises.

Hospitality, and kind, friendly behavior 

should be a trait highly visible in Christians

My largest entertaining accomplishment to date is organizing a Harvest/Hunter’s Supper at my home church. While I didn’t do all the cooking or necessary gathering, I was the go-to person. Even so, credit goes to our small congregations’ involvement and the praise was all to God’s blessing the event.

"It was awesome!"

The turnout was fantastic and we fed almost hundred people, many who had never been in a church before. I couldn’t stop praising God.

Another ministry opportunity came as my Husband and I hosted a Thanksgiving Day meal at our church for the people in our congregation who had no place to go. That was very satisfying knowing they weren’t sitting alone on this day of giving of Thanks.

Anyone who enjoys cooking enjoys watching their guests eat what they’ve prepared. When the only sound is rattling silverware, you know you succeeded. Like when a stranger buys one of my paintings without ever meeting me. My work has spoken for itself and my presence is unnecessary for their approval.

“(be) hospitable, a lover of what is good, 

sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled” Titus 1:8

My Dream House is an inviting place where people want to be. It is open to Missionaries, pastors and their wives, and other traveling guests. I imagine holidays, ceremonies, Bible study groups, children’s Bible groups. Best of all, I imagine inviting unsaved people for good food and fun. In my open home, I’d introduce them to my Jesus and His free salvation. I would tell them of heaven and its awesome splendor that outshines my temporary house on earth.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” 

Colossians 3:2

Looking to Heaven and describing my Dream House? It’s a slimy, water-slogged, decaying, moldy mud hut compared to my Heavenly Father’s house.

"But while I’m on earth, I would like to host parties, 

especially where Christ is always welcome

 and gets to meet with people at my table"

"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, 

sweetness to the soul and health to the bones"

Proverbs 16:24

The Joy of Handmade Christmas Ornaments

There are millions of selections of decorations for your Christmas tree and surrounding décor but what about making your ornaments for next year. By simple internet search, you can find simple or elaborate patterns for many items with which to decorate. or go to a craft store for instruction books. Or just get creative and have fun! The possibilities are endless!

• Tinfoil stars twinkling in the light.

•   Shiny foil snowflakes gently turning sending myriads of sparklers around the room.
• Colorful paper or felt crafts dangling merrily from branches.
• Pipe cleaners, empty paper rolls, scraps of Christmas wrap and glitter all fashioned into Holiday Happiness by yours, and the hands of your children.
• Popcorn, Cranberries, Apple slices, twists of Holly leaves, and Beads, all strung into festive garlands to wrap around a tree hung with homemade Reindeer, Santas, Nutcrackers, Bulbs, Hats, Mittens, Sleighs, Globes, Animals, Doodads, Doohickeys and Thing-a-ma-jigs, Nativities, Magi, and Baby Jesus, all with love and care.

Among the reasons for homemade decor is the wealth of quality family strength, emotion and togetherness. The tree is usually the central focus of Christmas. It is where the most fun happens. The cameras come out to record the moments as paper flies in all directions. Faces light up and laughter peels throughout the house. Children of any age get involved with the joy of giving and receiving. It’s the best family gathering for anyone.

There is another Family involved in Christmas: God the Father sending His Son Jesus into the world as His gift. The first Family and the First Gift.

There is another Christmas Tree: the Cross. Jesus came for only that purpose. Jesus came only to that destiny.

        He did not come to be a Good Teacher.