(Archive of other audio sermons)
(Archive of other audio songs)

or

Sunday 22 December 2002 - "The true meaning of Christmas" - Engagement of Khumbulani Maphumulo and Nomusa Ngiba

Hebr 2:17

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his  brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining  to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

For many Christmas is a time of partying and boozing. They are totally ignorant of the true meaning of Christmas.

However, we know that Christmas is the celebration of the coming of Christ Jesus into this world. We give each others gifts, because of the greatest Gift of all that was given to us - He came to live and die for us that we might be saved from our sins. He became like us in all ways - He was tempted like we, yet without sin.

He, the Creator of Heaven and earth, saw how the devil treated men as a cat treats a mouse (just as a cats "love" mice), and He had pity on us. It has been truly said that we have no pain that heaven does not feel. Just as a cat tortures a mouse before finishing it off, so Satan mercilessly tortures men when he has them in his grip. A boy claims to love a girl but when he's got what he wants he drops her. He will even curse her for sleeping with him.

When Lucifer sinned, he took a third of the angels with him. People do the same when they choose to rebel against God. They do not fall alone, but pull many from the right road when they sin. It's amazing that God did not choose to have pity on the angels that fell, but on us human beings. This fact alone should cause you to turn from your sin. Jesus said to His Father that He would come to this earth full of sorrow to be made like us so that He could help us. He sought someone through whom He could be born and found Mary, a virgin, untouched by a man. He became man, but men did not accept their Creator and crucified Him. Yet He remained faithful and paid the full price for man's redemption, if only they will believe on Him.

Jesus could control His bodily appetites and desires. He fasted for 40 days in the wilderness. He was very hungry, but did not give in to the temptations of the devil. He could say No, and listen to God alone.

If Jesus is in you and you in Him, why are you not able to overcome? Your life should be like Christ. His was a life of victory. He would meet up with trials and temptations and overcome time and time again. Jesus lived by the Word of God. Some waste their time in front of the TV, but those that spend their time with God's Word will grow and overcome. Others dress as they like and say that God does not look on the outside but only at the inside. No, the Bible speaks very clearly how our outward adornment should be.

If you are tempted and fail, you need to come to Jesus, before it is too late; for He rescues those that fail to overcome.