The most precious gift you will ever receive

MCF Life Church Christmas Message 2015

Christmas is celebrated as the birth of Christ Jesus. The Messiah, Saviour, Redeemer and King. The fact is He was born to die for you and me, so that by His shed blood on the cross, the most precious gift known to mankind ever, could be received by just asking God for it.

Source:freedomborn.wordpress.com

Christmas!! What does Christmas mean to you? Is it a word that sends fear and tingling down your spine? Is your first response to say ‘Oh no, not that time of year again!?’ or is it to say ‘YES!! I love this time of year’. Does it excite you to think of all the presents you're going to get? Or is there a sense of horror at all the presents you've got to buy? When I mention the fact that its nearly Christmas to people I usually get one of the above responses or I'm told, ‘Oh shut up’ or ‘please don't tell me that!’ but the fact is, if people just stopped for a moment and reflected on why Christmas is celebrated by Christians, then I really believe that like me, they'd love this time of year.

So let me just break this down a little, firstly by splitting the word ‘Christmas’ in two (in fact its original form was 'Christ-Mas'). The first part is 'Christ' and without Christ there would be no celebration of Christmas. But then think for a moment, what happens on Christmas morning? Don't people give gifts to each other? So does Christ have something to do with giving a gift? YES! Absolutely, and not just any old gift, but the one gift that can never be surpassed, in fact it's the greatest and most special gift a person could ever receive, and it's also the very reason Christmas and indeed Easter are celebrated.

Source: quoteshunger.com

Christmas is celebrated as the birth of Christ Jesus. The Messiah, Saviour, Redeemer and King. The fact is He was born to die for you and me, so that by His shed blood on the cross, the most precious gift known to mankind ever, could be received by just asking God for it. What is it you might ask? The answer is; Eternal Life through repentance and the forgiveness of sins, or to put it another way, we get to go to Heaven when we die, because all the things we ever did wrong are forgotten by God the minute we turn away or stop doing those things we know are wrong, and ask Jesus to forgive us of them and invite Him into our lives. Basically Christ Jesus was born to offer you a way out of going to Hell. What a gift! and it's freely available for you right now. 

The gospel of John 3:16 says 'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.' So with this in mind let us look at the word 'Mas', and then the real meaning of the word 'Christmas' or 'Christ-Mas'. I recently read an article which explained it really well, and this is a small part of what it said; The word ‘Mass’ in religious usage means a death sacrifice...... The word Christmas comes from ‘Cristes Maesse’, an early English phrase that means ‘Mass of Christ’. (or, 'the death sacrifice of Christ.') ....Here let it be noted that most people think that the word, ‘Christmas’ means ‘the birth of Christ’. In fact, by definition, it actually means ‘death of Christ’ (therefore Christmas points us to the cross).

So in essence it could be argued that Christmas, in its true meaning, and Easter should be celebrated around the same time, especially as we celebrate Christmas at the wrong time of year anyway, because Christ was actually born around our autumn season not the winter season. However, in reality, Christmas is where Christmas is, 25th December, and the reason I love celebrating the festival we call Christmas, is because I can't praise and give thanks enough to Almighty God for His act of incredible love that He showed to me by sending His Son Christ Jesus to be born of a virgin through the Holy Spirit, and to one day suffer the horrific death of crucifixion, so that through His shed blood I can have a relationship with Him now here on earth, and spend eternity with Him in Paradise. Something I do all year round, (praise Him that is), but at Christmas time people come to church who wouldn't normally come, which gives me a chance to share the truth of the gospel with them, that under normal circumstances I might not have the opportunity. In John 15:13 Jesus said ‘Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends’; and that's exactly what He was born for, and did for you and for me. What a great thing to celebrate!

So there you go, Christmas has nothing to do with some fictional fat guy in a red suit. Sorry to break your bubble if that's what you thought. Joking apart though, let me finish by asking you the question I started with: 'What does Christmas mean to you?' Your answer to this question could just change how you feel about it, and could in fact change your whole life.

May you know God's blessing this Christmas and New Year.

Author: Kevin Hunt

May God bless and enrich your life

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The Heart of Worship

Worship is all about an attitude of heart and life. It finds its true meaning in the expression of love and gratitude we feel to the Lord in our hearts when we reflect on all He is and what He has done for us.

Source: eastmountainvineyard.org

I love to sing and one of my favourite worship songs is ‘The heart of worship’ by Matt Redman.  My voice is not brilliant and I have always wished that the Lord had blessed me with a voice like Kari Jobe or Twila Paris because when I sing I really want to belt it out and glorify God. The truth however is that although the people around me hear my voice I know God hears my heart. I`m no Darlene Zschech but I get by. Over the years I have been blessed (if a little reluctant at times) to be involved in the worship team in my church.  I have loved this and the Lord has both challenged me and often blessed me in this way.

Recently I became very hoarse and my voice started to get really thin and unpredictable. It appeared I had a polyp (an abnormal growth of tissue) on my vocal chords. No problem, the wonderful NHS arranged for me to have it removed. Job well done: but unfortunately it is going to take a long time before I get my voice back properly if at all. I must admit I have gone through quite a bit of frustration at this. It came to a head when my husband and I recently went to a ‘Big Church Night In’ event at which Kari Jobe and Matt Redman were leading the worship. The atmosphere was electric and the worship was wonderful and all the people around me were singing their hearts out.  I felt really frustrated and a little sorry for myself (silly me), because I could not sing my heart out too. Then Matt Redman sang ‘I`m coming back to the heart of worship’ and the Lord started to do real work on my heart.

I felt the Lord say to me, ‘What is worship?’  Well Lord it`s like the song says; ‘It’s all about you’. I felt the Lord remind me that it was about Him and not about me. The song also says:

‘I'll bring You more than a song

For a song in itself

Is not what You have required

You search much deeper within

Through the ways things appear

You're looking into my heart’

Source: Source: www.pinterest.com

And this is exactly what the Lord wanted me to learn. Worship is not just singing a song (which I guess I always knew) and I had also made it all about not being able to sing. He reminded me that Worship is all about an attitude of heart and life. It finds its true meaning in the expression of love and gratitude we feel to the Lord in our hearts when we reflect on all He is and what He has done for us.

For the rest of the night I stood singing my heart out in love to the Lord without opening my mouth or uttering a sound. Totally freed up from the need to get the notes right, or being conscious of what I sounded like. I experienced the true heart of worship, just Him and me, giving and receiving of love, with nothing to get in the way or distract. It was truly liberating and a really wonderful experience.

When we are in church it is encouraging to the worship leader and each other if we sing out loud. But if you get a chance, either for one song or at home whilst listening to a CD, close your eyes and keep your mouth closed and let your heart sing out to the Lord songs of love and worship (why not try this by playing the video below).  Experience the true heart of worship and you will be amazed what the Lord can reveal to you as you truly abandon yourself to worship him with NO distractions. John 4:23-24 ‘But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’

Author: Jan Pearson 

May God bless and enrich your life

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Searching for peace and contentment in our lives

If we could come to a place in our lives where we want what we have rather than have what we want, then we are much more likely to be content.  We should also remind ourselves that this life is a journey and our true reward will be found not on earth but in heaven

Source: quotesgram.com

As part of my prayers each morning I always pray for people who have not yet been saved including those close to me. As I was in the process of doing this recently, God spoke to me through a thought He put into my mind about which made me think about life and how many unhappy people there are who never appear to be fulfilled.  This then made me think about my own life and about what makes me feel happy even though like everyone else I am subject to the ups and downs of life.  I sometimes get sad and frustrated and occasionally experience those days which we would rather not have, however on the whole I am happy and fulfilled and I would not swap my life for anyone else.  God provides all of my needs and each morning I hand my life over to Him and I ask Him to use me as a vessel for His heavenly kingdom, to His glory and not mine. I am sure this is the reason that I feel fulfilled, because God fills that need in my soul that wants to be valued and loved, every single day. Praise God. Philippians 4:12-13 'I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength'.

Source: bestlifemistake.blogspot.com

Modern society is hectic particularly in the developed World and there is no doubt that we live in a very materialistic age. People and especially the young are continually fed with commercial advertising that tells them that they must have the latest of everything, houses, computers, phones, cars, clothes, jobs etc. etc. etc. When the desired item is obtained it is not long before something bigger and ‘better’ or a new updated version comes along and this becomes the new ‘need’. This is a continuous cycle that will never fulfil the needs of the human soul because any fulfilment or happiness is only short lived. The problem is that these types of needs, and there is no other way of saying this, are selfish desires. 

God does not mind us having possessions or being successful in life as long we do not put them above Him. Matthew 6:33 ‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’. He is almighty and everything we have in our lives and in our World have been provided and given by Him.  It is all His, everything, and we should give thanks and praise to Him every single day for what He has provided in our lives, rather than spending our time desiring or being concerned about the things that we haven’t got. If we could come to a place in our lives where we want what we have rather than have what we want, then we are much more likely to be content.  We should also remind ourselves that this life is a journey and our true reward will be found not on earth but in heaven; Matthew 6:19-21 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’

During my prayers God also spoke to me about how ‘giving’ makes me feel happy and fulfilled. Giving is not just about spending money and giving gifts but can equally as effective and rewarding by spending nothing. Just taking the time to help somebody is something that any of us can do and the only cost to us in many situations will be our time. Spending time with someone who is lonely or taking the time to show somebody some compassion are simple examples of how God can use us to demonstrate His love, using us as His vessel.  These are the types of thing that will help to fill the void within the soul and the reason why is that they are from God not from ‘the self’. Therefore real happiness and fulfilment can be attained by giving with a willing heart, with no agenda for recognition, or for our own earthly rewards, but a real desire to provide compassion and love, all of which are attributes of the heavenly kingdom. Matthew 6:1-4 ‘Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you’

When life is not going the way we would want or if we are in a particularly low place in our lives then why not try giving, for which you will then receive peace in your life and the blessings of God; Deuteronomy 15:10 ‘Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to’. As stated above we do not need money or possessions to be able to give, simply time will suffice, but when we do, the blessings of God will come into our lives and changes will start to happen.  Why not give it a try and remember that our Father gave everything for us by His amazing grace; John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ Praise God.

Author: Gary O’Neill

May God bless and enrich your life

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