aThe Apostolic VoiceVolume 01 Oct - December 2008 Number 03

Ephesians 4:12-13 (KJV)12 For the perfecting of the saints, for thework of the ministry, for the edifying of

the body of Christ:13 Till we all come in the unity of the

faith, and of the knowledge of the Son ofGod, unto a perfect man, unto the mea-sure of the stature of the fulness of

Christ:

THANKSGIVING CHRISTMAS

Thanksgiving

You have probably heard a lot aboutThe First Thanksgiving. You may besurprised to learn that the day we call

The First Thanksgiving today was notreally a

thanksgivingat all to thepeople whowere there!

The historyof Thanksgiv-ing goesmuch furtherback thanPlymouthand 1621.In fact, peo-ple acrossthe world from every culture have beencelebrating and giving thanks for thou-sands of years. In this country, long beforeEnglish colonists arrived, Native Peoplecelebrated many different days of thanks-giving. Strawberry Thanksgiving and

Green Corn Thanksgiving are just two ofkinds of celebrations for the Wampanoagand other Native People.

In 1621, the English colonists at Plym-outh (some people call them Pilgrims

today) had a three-day feast to celebratetheir first harvest. More than 90 nativeWampanoag People joined the 50 Englishcolonists in the festivities. Historians dontknow for sure why the Wampanoag joinedthe gathering or what activities went on

for those three days.Form the one shortparagraph that waswritten about the cel-ebration at the time,we know that theyate, drank, andplayed games. Backin England, Englishpeople celebratedthe harvest by feast-ing and playinggames in much thesame way.

The English didnot call the 1621 event a thanksgiving.A day of thanksgiving was very differ-ent for the colonists. It was a day of prayerto thank God when something really goodhappened. The English actually had theirfirst thanksgiving in the summer of 1623.On this day they gave thanks for the rainthat ended a long drought.

History of Thanksgiving

"The First Thanksgiving", painted by Jean Leon GeromeFerris (18631930).

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That means acknowledging that the Lord isin control at all times and we need to havea attitude of joy, and praise Him and thankHim in all situations.

Also we are instructed in Philippians,

Philippians 4:4-7 (KJV)4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I

say, Rejoice.5 Let your moderation be known unto all

men.iviThe Lord is at hand.6 Be careful for nothing; but in every

thing by prayer and supplication withthanksgiving let your requests be madeknown unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passethall understanding, shall keep your heartsand minds through Christ Jesus.

to rejoice always and without worrying, ineverything (in plenty or want) by prayerand supplication with thanksgiving, weneed to make our requests known unto God.

Though a set date is alright to commem-orate the blessings of the Pilgrims whocame to Plymoth to settle in the name of'Thanksgiving', yet more beautiful way thescripture encourages to develop a naturewithin ourselves wherein we would be prais-ing, rejoicing and 'thanking' the God ofGlory at all the times and all of our days,for the beautiful, precious gift of His SonJesus Christ.

Listen to Give Thanks Click on the Musical Note

Thanksgiving is a gesture wherein oneexpresses ones gratitude and thankfulness.Here in the holiday Festivity of'Thanksgiving' we see a conditional expres-sion of thanks. What I mean by conditionalis unless the produce is plenty or positiveconditions exist,which trigger the attitudeof thanksgiving. It is okay to thank theLord when we have plenty, but what hap-pens if the ground doesn't produce any-thing and we do not have plenty , are wegoing to be quiet and not thank the Lord?.The pilgrims primary need to go on a voy-age to find a new place is to find a way to'freedom of Worship'. Though the celebera-tions lasted for three days their entireattitude was a heart felt thanks to the Lordof Glory who made it possible.

The Biblical way

In Habakkuk we are introduced to a mind-set and attitude that how one needs torejoice in the Lord at all times, even in thetime of want

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (KJV)17 Although the fig tree shall not blos-

som, neither shall fruit be in the vines; thelabour of the olive shall fail, and the fieldsshall yield no meat; the flock shall be cutoff from the fold, and there shall be noherd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I willjoy in the God of my salvation.

19 The LORD God is my strength, andhe will make my feet like hinds' feet, andhe will make me to walk upon mine highplaces. To the chief singer on my stringedinstruments.

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(Mrs. Eva Rees, S. Wales, U.K)So many things amaze me as I ponder

the account of the events surrounding thebirth of the baby at Bethlehem.

For example, I am amazed at the unbeliefin the heart of the godly Zechariahs whosurely knew the scriptures and the story ofSarah and Abraham whose son arrived longafter Sarah was passed the age of havingchildren. Yet he, despite the visitation of theangel found it so hard to believe what was said.

I am amazed at the simple trusting faithof the young woman, Mary - Trust that causedher to become the channel of God so that theSaviour might be born.

I am amazed at the preservation of themother and child as they journeyed toBethlehem and I am amazed at the conditionsin which the child was born and also at theselfishness stupidity and cruelty of Herodwho presumed he could th\vart Gods plan.

Yet above all these I stand amazed at thework of God the Father as He ushers His Soninto the world. Who hut our God would com-mand the angelic host to break through thenight sky, eclipsing the moon and the stars tobring the message of the birth of the Saviourto simple, uneducated shepherds to that theymight see Him for themselves and worship?They were counted among the loxver strata ofsociety and surely xvere of little importance.God did not think so!

Why would God, the Creator hand aspecial star in the sky and draw the attentionof a group of foreigners to the fact that His

We can interpret Christmasas the celebration of the Christ. As this is theseason hallmarked by lighting and giving inthe name of Christmas, it is the time ofreceiving to be precise. The receiving is nottangible or material but personal and intangi-ble. The joy , lights, gifts and new cloths all ofthese are excellent, but all of these are not theprimary but secondary and overflow of theprimary. Though the accuracy of the time ofthe Jesus Christs birth may be questionablebut His birth as a human child was concreteand historical. The coming of Jesus Christ(messiah) is the fulfillment of the promise Godmade in the Garden of Eden. It took fourthousand years from the time of the promiseto its fulfillment in coming of the Messiah.

He came for the purpose of bringing salva-tion to us, the forgiveness of our sins andgiving us eternal life. This He accomplished bygiving Himself as the atoning sacrifice on thecross, shedding of His blood, death, burial andvictorious resurrection on the third day. Resur-rected , glorified and ascended Jesus is theLord and Savior who is seated on the throneand ruling as the King of kings. So the joydeclared at His birth is the joy of salvation Hegives to those who believe in Him. Understand-ing this would make anyone to align andcenter festivity around the King, Redeemer,Deliverer and Savior Jesus Christ and makethe celebration more pointed and meaningful.That is why I had mentioned that Christmas isa time of reconciling and receiving JesusChrist in to our heart, It is a time of renewingour relationship with Christ in a morepersonal way.

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Son, the Jews Messiah had been born? Isntit that they too might see for themselves andworship Him?

These things reveal so much about ourGod. The Father had great delight in sendingHis Son into the world. The writer to theHebrews gives us a glimpse of the fathersheart!

As we linger a little on the story of thevisit of the wise men we realize how Godloves to draw men to His Son. There surely must have been otherstudents of the night skies who saw that starthat night? Tacitus, the historian, recordsthat there was a general knowledge all overthe eastern countries at that time that a kingwould be born to the Jews. Yet, just thissmall group of men was moved \vith alonging to go to see Him for themselves andto worship Him. God Himself was drawingthem on to worship.

John tells us of an occasion when theJews murmured against Jesus because Hsaid that He was the bread that came downfrom heaven. They objected to that claimbecausethey said they knew his parents.

Jesus response was this, No one can cometoMe unless the Father, who sent Me drawshim. John 6:44)

When Jesus spoke to the woman at thewell He used this phrase in~ the conversa-tion, The We read of Jesussaying, and

Both Father and Son speak the samelanguage because they are one. I searchedout the word, draws in Interlinear Greek N.T.and smiled to find that it can be translatedas drags. These men did not need to bedragged Im sure. There are some folk whomGod has to drag though, no doubt.

It is evident from their words that theyhad set out with the desire to worship intheir hearts and because of that they cameprepared with gifts to offer. We use the wordworship very loosely. We say we worshipwhen we mean that we are praising. Wesometimes think we are blessing God byraising hands and voices to sing our varioussongs. But worship is greater than that.Notice that these wise men came preparedto give - choice gifts. Gifts that spoke of theworthiness and character of the child theysought.

Furthermore they came seeking, deter-mined to see Him for themselves. To be ableto say personally that they each had beheldHim. The townsmen of Samaria said,

The act ofworship is a very personal thing.

The difference between the worship of menand angels is this. Angels were commandedto worship the Son. - (Heb 1:6) The wise men

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were drawn to seek Him and led to find Himand when they saw Him they worshipped. Itis only as we are drawn into His presenceand our whole hearts and minds are takenup with that desire to~. see Him, as He reallyis that we are able to offer true worship.

The very act of worship should openup our hearts so that we long to give to Himall that He truly deserves. Not just for whatHe has done for us but for what He is in Hisown sovereignty and humility and character.There is no greater experience on earth thanthat of finding oneself in the awesome pres-ence of God and adoring Him. May He drawmany into that wonderful place of seeingJesus and loving and adoring Him. Comeand worship!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

&HAPPY CHRISTMAS

The Tenets1. The Unity of the Godhead and the Trini-

ty of the Persons therein.

2. The utter depravity of human nature,the necessity for Repentance and Re-generation and the eternal doom of thefinally impenitent.

3. The Virgin Birth, Sinless Life, AtoningDeath.Triumphant Resurrection, AscensionandAbiding Intercession of our Lord JesusChrist;His Second Coming and Millenial Reignuponearth.

4. Justification and Sanctification of the Believe is through the finished work of Christ.

5. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost for be-lievers with signs of following.

6. The Nine Gifts of the Holy Ghost for theedification, exhortation and comfort ofthe Church, which is the Body of Christ.

7. The sacraments of Baptism by immer-sion, and of the Lords Supper.

8. The Divine Inspiration and Authority ofthe Holy Scriptures.

9. Church Goverment by Apostles, Phoph-ets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, El-ders and Deacons.

10. The possibility of falling from grace.

11. The obligatory nature of Tithes and Of-ferings.

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