Tag: Christmas

The Hope of Christmas Pt. 2: The Dragon Who Tried to Steal Christmas

Today, Christmas is becoming more and more controversial to celebrate. Many could argue that Christmas itself is under attack. Many don’t realize that this isn’t new. Christmas has always been under attack from the very beginning. 2,000 years ago, there was a war between good and evil. God Himself was the subject of an attack by the enemy. But when was this attack, and when was Christ ever really in jeopardy? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the very first attack on Christmas in his message, The Hope of Christmas Pt. 2: The Dragon Who Tried to Steal Christmas.

Matthew 2:1–2
Matthew 2:9–11
Matthew 2:7–8
Hebrews 4:13
Revelation 12
Esther 1:13

The Dragon Who Tried to Steal Christmas

¹³Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy Him.” ¹⁴And he rose and took the child and His mother by night and departed to Egypt ¹⁵and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
¹⁶Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. ¹⁷Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: ¹⁸“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Matthew 2:13-18

What does this have to do with the dragon trying to steal the very hope of Christmas?

¹ And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. ²She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. ³And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. ⁴His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. ⁵She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, ⁶and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Revelation 12:1-6

Satan is the dragon that tried to steal the very hope of Christmas through King Herod.

Part Three?

Is Krampus Real?

During the Christmas season, we’re used to stories of Santa Claus and his reindeer soaring through the sky on his sleigh to bring presents made by him and his elves for all the good children. Santa has become a staple in our society today, but in the more recent years, a new darker Christmas character has taken the spotlight. Krampus is the center of much pop culture these days, but who is this goat demon? And is there any truth to the story of Krampus? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find any evidence in her video, Is Krampus Real?

Leviticus 17:7
Exodus 12:12
Jeremiah 44:17‭-‬18
1 John 4:8
John 3:16
Galatians 3:8
Joel 2:32
Genesis 22:18
Ezekiel 3:18-19
Ezekiel 33:6
Matthew 22:29
Genesis 3
Revelation 12
Luke 22:3
Mark 9:20‭-‬29

Is Krampus Real?

What or Who is Krampus?

Krampus comes from central and Eastern Alpine folklore. Places like Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Northern Italy, the Autonomous Province of Trento and South Tyrol, Slovakia, and Slovenia. He is a goat-like creature that comes out to punish naughty children.

Biblical Evidence

⁷ So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons [śā·ʿîr], after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.

Leviticus 17:7

¹⁴For the Levites left their common lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons cast them out from serving as priests of the Lord, ¹⁵and he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat idols [śā·ʿîr] and for the calves that he had made.

2 Chronicles 11:14-15

śā·ʿîr (שָׂעִיר), which means hairy, rough, he-goat, demon, satyr

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Don’t Miss The Big Picture

²Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” ~ Genesis 22:2

God told Abraham to take his only son Isaac. I want you to think about that. Does that not sound a little contradictory? “… Your son, your only son Isaac …” Remember, Abraham has another son, Ishmael. But God doesn’t count that son because it’s the son of the promise and not the son of bondage that Abraham’s descendants are counted.

You see, Sarah caught Ishmael mocking Isaac at his weaning party, and so she sent Ishmael, Abraham’s firstborn son, and Hagar, Ishmael’s mother, out of their home. But Abraham was very distressed over the matter because he loved his son Ishmael as well, probably not as much as Isaac, but he loved him all the same. After all, Ishmael was his son too.

But God brings Abraham’s focus back to the promise of Christmas. He said, “Look, Abraham, this is what it’s really all about. It’s through Isaac that the promise of Christmas will come. Therefore, it’s Isaac who God recognizes as Abraham’s only son because the promise of Christmas wouldn’t, couldn’t, and didn’t come through Ishmael but through Isaac.

Sometimes, we get caught up in the details, and we miss out on the bigger picture that God has planned for us. We want to include people, places, or things that aren’t intended to forge the way to our promise. But don’t worry, God doesn’t forget people because even though the promise didn’t come through Ishmael, God still made a way for Ishmael’s descendants to be blessed through the promise. How? Because Christ came to redeem all people from every nation that would call on His name.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Miss The Big Picture.

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The Hope of Christmas Pt. 1: The Promise of Christmas

Every Christmas season, we read the same Christmas verses on the Birth of Christ Jesus, Matthew 2, Luke 2, Isaiah 9, etc. These are everyone’s go-to Christmas verses, but what if there’s a Christmas verse we’ve missed that’s hidden in plain sight? A Christmas verse that was given to bring hope to all people? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the Christmas promise we’ve all missed in his message, The Hope of Christmas Pt. 1: The Promise of Christmas.

Genesis 22:15–19 (NKJV)
Genesis 17:5–6
John 8:56 (NIV)
Genesis 22:2
Genesis 21:12
Galatians 3:15–18 (NKJV)

The Promise of Christmas

Fulfilling the Promise of Christmas

Birth of Christ Jesus

⁶For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:6-7

Jesus is the promise or prophecy of Christmas fulfilled. It’s His birth that gives us hope because, without Jesus, there is no salvation. There is no hope. There is no light in the world. There is nothing.

¹ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 2:1-7

Jesus fulfilled the first promise of His coming 2,000 years ago (the first Christmas), but that’s not the end of the story. Jesus will come again.

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Why Was Jesus Born in Bethlehem?

2000 years ago, Jesus was born in the city of David, the town of Bethlehem, but why? Why did the Messiah have to be born in Bethlehem? What’s so special about Bethlehem? Does it have to do with the Messiah being the descendant of David? Or maybe it was just a perfect shot to Egypt? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the answer in her video, Why Was Jesus Born in Bethlehem?

1 Kings 11:9-13
2 Chronicles 11:5-12
Jeremiah 23:5-6
Ezekiel 34:11-16
John 6:35
Matthew 2:18
Jeremiah 31:15
Genesis 21:12-13
1 Kings 11:11-13
John 1:29-30
Hebrews 9:11-28

Why Was Jesus Born in Bethlehem?

The Physical Reason Jesus Had to be Born in Bethlehem

Luke 2:1-7

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the city of David.

Bethlehem Fun Fact

Bethlehem is Spiritually or Symbolically Called ‘Rachel’

¹⁶Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. ¹⁷Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
¹⁸“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Matthew 2:16-18

To avoid the massacre that Herod ordered in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph fled with Jesus to Egypt. This fulfilled the promise that the Messiah (the Descendant of David) would be called out of Egypt.

Matthew 2:13-15

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‘Tis The Season: Twas The Day After Christmas

After Christmas Day, we tend to move on and forget the Birth of Christ because of the rush of cleaning up the mess of the presents/gifts and preparing for the coming new year. As the year moves on, we slowly forget more and more, until December 1^st comes around again, then suddenly we are all about the Birth of Christ. But is this the way it should be? Is the day after Christmas as important as Christmas Day? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of the story of the Wise Men in his message, ‘Tis The Season: Twas The Day After Christmas.

Matthew 2:1–6
Matthew 2:11 (KJV)
Matthew 2:16 (KJV)
Daniel 5:10–12
Matthew 2:7
2 Timothy 3:5
2 Timothy 3:10–12
John 4:35–38

Twas The Day After Christmas

The Day After Christmas: The Story of the Wise Men

Many believe that the Wise Men came to find the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, but this isn’t actually the case. They arrived, if you will, the day after Christmas.

Their Encounter with King Herod

¹ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ²saying, “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” ³When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
⁵They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ⁶‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Matthew 2:1-6

Their Encounter with The Messiah

This is how we know for sure that the Wise Men encountered Jesus after He was grown a little. This had to be, if you will, the day after Christmas because Jesus was a child living in a house with His two parents.

⁷Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found Him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship Him.” ⁹After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ¹²And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Matthew 2:7-12

Today is the day after Christmas, are you still seeking Him?

Part Three?

Celebrate His Birth

¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” ~ Luke 2:10–14

I just want to remind you of the good news of great joy, for today, we celebrate the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ, who was born 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, the city of David.

Let’s not get bogged down on the day or the month but let us celebrate and be glad that our LORD got off of His throne to come to this earth to die a vicious and horrible death, to save His people, whosoever will, from their sins.

This tiny little baby, wrapped in swaddling cloths, and lying in a manger, because there was no room for Him in the inn, was the sacrificial Lamb of God, destined to be sacrificed, to take away the sins of the world.

So, celebrate this Christmas, the remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. Accept His free gift, and rejoice that you have eternal life. Merry Christmas.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You this Christmas morning, giving thanks that little baby Jesus did not stay a baby but grew up to become the Savior of the world. Bless all of Your dear Children this Christmas day and help us to remember the real and true meaning of Christmas. In the name of Jesus, I pray, amen.

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‘Tis The Season: O Little Town of Bethlehem

Happy Christmas Sunday! Christmas is about the promise of the Messiah being fulfilled. The prophets prophesied that the Messiah (Jesus) would receive an everlasting kingdom with eternal dominion. Every prophecy was tied into one, Immanuel. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he explains biblical mysteries in his Christmas Message, ‘Tis The Season: O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2
Matthew 2:6
John 7:14
John 6:35
Joshua 19:14–16
John 1:5
John 8:12
Isaiah 9:6–7
Micah 4:8
Matthew 28:18b
Genesis 49:10KJV
Psalm 110:4
Hebrews 7:15–17
Exodus 28:31–32NIV
Matthew 26:65
Isaiah 7:14

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Prophecy of Jesus’ in Bethlehem

² But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Micah 5:2

This prophecy stirred the writing of the Christmas Carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem:

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see Thee lie
Above Thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in Thee tonight

Jesus’ Authority

Jesus, through His earthly ancestry, has the right to sit on David’s throne, and through His heavenly ancestry, that is His deity, He has the right to sit on the Father’s throne with Him. So, Jesus has inherited the former and the ever-present dominion.