Christmas Special—How to Not Miss the Reason for the Season

These broadcast to move you how to not miss the reason for the season. Christmas special day here on the Christian worldview radio program or the mission is to sharpen the biblical worldview of Christian and to share the good news that all people can be reckoned about the God through Jesus Christ and David. We know the program and our website is the Christian worldview.org Merry Christmas everyone and thank you for joining us on the Christian worldview today. It says in Luke chapter 2 verses 10 and 11. Behold, I bring you good news of great joy. This is what the angel said to the shepherds announcing the birth of Christ, which will be for all the people for today in the city of David. There is been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the anointed one, the Lord, the most significant event in history was the coming of the son of God, Jesus Christ into our world from being born of a virgin woman to living a sinless life to performing miraculous acts over and over again to offering his life on a cross to pay the penalty for mankind's sin to rising from the dead to ascending into heaven and promising to return someday all in front of a watching world. That's beyond extraordinary business no words for that kind of life. The only reasonable conclusion is that Jesus is who he claimed to be God now Christmas should be the remembering and celebrating of Christ's birth now.

Yes, Christmas has pagan and Roman Catholic roots. The Roman Catholic Church try to appropriate a pagan holiday. I think it was the sun worshiping holiday try to cut a religious size.

It and so forth. Yes, there is that that history to it. And yes, we don't have record of the early church commemorating it the day of Christ's birth, but setting aside a data honor. Christ's coming into the world seems to be a good thing good thing to remember what Christmas has become is not really that good. You take a look around at our society, and you will see that the Christmas season is is characterized by endless shopping, scurrying around and busyness.

People are exhausted by the time Christmas gets here partying in and drunkenness Santa Claus endless inane movies on television and frankly are increasingly secular culture doing everything possible, whether in schools, corporate America, the media, you name it. To ignore or remove Christ from the season.

For example, happy holidays and have a nice winter break.

No not Merry Christmas and have a nice Christmas break and then we can't remove Christ from Christmas the most of the world. Mrs. Christmas but did you know that it was actually the same thing back in the time when Jesus was actually brought born people missed Christmas pack Glenn as well for varying reasons.

Owner last live program of 2018 were going to examine six of examples of those who missed Christ's birth. For varying reasons from back in the time when when he was born making sure that we don't do the saying that we remember the reason for this most important season. So I received a a booklet called six ways to miss Christmas. This was a a grace to you publication John MacArthur's radio ministry dissented out to the sum of their followers and so I read or read it and it was very good little booklet and we have it linked on our website the Christian worldview.org you can read it online as well as getting it in a hard copy and I just want to read the first several paragraphs which which sets the tone for the ways that people missed Christmas. This is the majority of people in the world will miss Christmas, but how can that be how can anyone miss Christmas. Given the amount of advertising, publicity and promotion. The holiday receives each year because although many celebrate Christmas every year. Most don't know what it's about, in spite of all the media promotion of Christmas. The majority of people will miss it because it's true meaning has become so obscured. For those of us who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas is a time to focus on his birth, but even we can get caught up in the swirl of activity around Christmas time and can miss it in a practical sense. Satan has so cluttered the Christian concept of Christmas with needless paraphernalia that is true meaning is easily lost, and then goes into a brief history of Christmas. Most scholars doubt that December 25 is the true date of Christ's birth. There is no biblical support for it and some against that particular day being his birth the church in Rome. The Roman Catholic Church decided on that date in the fourth century and had a specific reason for doing so many people in the ancient world were sun worshipers because they depended on the sun to provide warmth and ripen their crops. Multiple health fear feast at the time of the winter solstice, which was mid December a time when the days were shortest. They built bonfires to give the son God strength and bring him back to life again when it became apparent that the days were finally growing longer.

There was great rejoicing. The leaders of the church in Rome decided to celebrate Christ's birth on the winter solstice in an attempt to Christianize the popular pagan celebrations, but they failed to make the people conform. Instead, the heathen festivities continued and we are left with the bizarre marriage of pagan and Christian elements that characterizes our modern celebration of Christmas so this is a little bit of the history of Christmas and the fact that even though such a significant event people missed it all around the world and the booklet gets into the six ways that people missed the first Christmas. So from the time of Christ being born in in Bethlehem, there were six different people or groups of people and they miss Christmas for six different reasons. That's what I like to go over today here on the Christian worldview radio program. The first way that people someone missed Christmas was was was given by the innkeeper were where Mary and Joseph came to to give birth to Christ. It says in the booklet on the first reason was that there was a missed Christmas because of busyness or ignorant preoccupation. Luke chapter 2 says Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and she wrapped him in clause in laid him in a manger, because there is no room for them in the. The first person.

The booklet says who missed Christmas was the innkeeper he was unable to take and Mary and Joseph because he had no room for them.

Apparently he was indifferent to their plight. There is no indication from Scripture that he tried to help them me think about this. We don't know the exact circumstances but here we have a pregnant woman, Mary, who is about to give birth bearing the son of God, no less, and she comes to the end obviously pregnant in the innkeeper doesn't take much pity on her and maybe asked someone inside the N hey could you change westerly of a pregnant woman to give birth year many many men any day now, but they have to go into a cave or maybe a stable or something. Your animals are likely were animals because he was put in a manger, a feeding trough and then it says that Mary bore the child herself. Maybe would Joseph help. There's no midwife training. The Bible says that Mary actually wrapped him herself. So for all you mothers out there. Just imagine giving birth were just you and your husband. I guess that's probably not totally unlikely to do that. The old days, but then having to wrap the child immediately afterwards. Clean up a child, wrap them immediately and she's doing the whole thing. Since when does a a new mother do that. That's not something is done. At least anymore in our in our world, at least in first world countries. So the innkeeper missed all this here right next door likely next door to where he was in the N, the son of God was being born into the world and he was so preoccupied and so busy that he missed the most important events in all of history says in the booklet, page 4 here. Most people are like the innkeeper.

The chambers of our souls are filled with needless things with stuff that doesn't matter. As a result, they miss the Christ of God, the anointed one, of God. Our society is filled with the unnecessary be insignificant in the meaningless. We spend a fortune to amass things so we can let our children fight over them when we die in our time is eaten away by the demands our things placed on us in mudslinging interjected I could definitely concur without you you you buy something and you have to manage that something it just takes time people missed Christmas. He goes on to say at Christmas time because he is crowded out by a world that dictates what they should think, do, and by like the innkeeper people today are preoccupied.

The innkeeper didn't know anything about the baby Mary gave birth to and neither do they today they don't know who Christ is and they don't know why he came. Instead there ignorantly preoccupied busy with the mundane and the meaningless house sat. It is that so many people live their lives in pursuit of such things, only to wake up one day in eternity without God. So the innkeeper the first person that that missed Christmas from these examples.

He missed it because he was preoccupied with the busyness of running his in in the all the people in Bethlehem for the census. He was so preoccupied and so busy he missed the son of God being born literally right next door to his in the second way from this booklet. Six ways to miss Christmas has to do with jealous fear. In the example of this is Herod he missed Christmas because of his jealous fear. It says in the Matthew chapter 2 some excerpts from Matthew chapter 2 after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying where Izzy who has been born king of the Jews, for he saw his star in the East and have come to worship him. When Herod heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him then Herod secretly called the Magi and determine from them the exact time the star appeared in you sent them to Bethlehem and said go and search carefully for the child and when you have found him report to me so that I too may come and worship him now just as a little background about who Herod was, of course, he wasn't in the coming worship amusement come and try to kill them because he had a jealous fear of this this king, people who were saying the king, the Messiah has has come, the king of the Jews. It says that because he was not Jewish.

But if you mean in Edomite Herod actually married Marianne Maryam and heiress to the Jewish has money in house to make himself more acceptable to the Jews.

He now rules that he married a Jew so he be more acceptable to to his subjects. He was a clever and capable military leader order and diplomat, but he was also cruel and merciless. He was incredibly jealous, suspicious and afraid for his position and power. Fearing a potential threat he had the high priests heiress Douglas.

It is that his wife's brother drowned at which you provided the magnificent funeral where he pretended to week. He then had Maryam killed herself and then her mother into of his own sons will read more about Herod's incredible cruelty because he was fearful and jealous of anyone taking his place as King of his life eliciting the Christian roots and is Christmas special on how not to miss the reason for the season.

Who is George Soros and what does he believe, are you religious believe in God. Soros told independent newspaper in Great Britain. It is a sort of dizziness when you consider yourself some kind of God, the creator of everything that I feel comfortable about it now since I began to live it all. Soros spends his billions to transform America into godless socialism be informed about him in the organization. See funds by ordering this George Soros resource bundle which includes a 60 minute DVD 60 page book in 16 page, follow the money. Chart and guide for donation of $50 or more to the Christian worldview to order call 1888 646-2233 or right to Box 401, Excelsior, MN 55331 or visit the Christian worldview.org decibel Christian worldview.org. The Bible says that children should be raised in the discipline and instruction of the Lord is nothing more important than sitting, walking, talking and teaching your son or daughter to love and fear God, the church is swimming in children's resources, but it's also important to select ones that accurately represent God's word in the gospel and I store Christian worldview.org we are intentional about offering resources to build a sound and strong faith in children, you will find several models for children Adam raccoon look serious and good news for little hearts series. We also have video and audio resources like video and sugar creaking, browse the mom the Christian worldview.org and then use them daily with the child of God is put in your life. That's the Christian worldview.worldview with you and your loved ones, and most meaningful and memorable Christmas focusing on the birth and the coming of the son of God into the world to save us from our sins is that you can have a wonderful time with your family and friends this Christmas season. Thank you for listening to supporting and encouraging us this year on the Christian worldview been so thankful for all the end-of-the-year letters and gifts and donations we been receiving so thank you to all of you who have participated in that way today in the program were talking about how to not miss the reason for this peak season on this Christmas special and it received a booklet is a mess in the first segment. If you just join just call six ways to miss Christmas and I give six examples of of people from the time of Christ to who missed the first Christmas in the first example was the innkeeper were Mary and Joseph came in to for the census and then Christ was born and he completely missed Christ birth because he was too busy and too preoccupied. He was running around and how often that happens during lateral running around all the time and we we miss we miss Christmas we missed two Christ is this even in general, forgetting just Christmas the dates just Christ because society is so distracting. Number two. The second example of someone missing Christmas is King Herod during the time he was so fearful and so jealous of someone else taking his kingship that he completely missed Christmas.

Masaaki tried to to to end the first Christmas.

Shortly thereafter I was reading about what kind of man he was and how cruel and merciless. He was immune or just continue here. He talked about he killed his wife's brother, and then and then he he also I had Maryam killed herself, and then her hurt her own mother and two of his own sons he killed an innocent of this five days before his death. About a year after Jesus was born. He had 1/3 son executed coming, what can a person executes their own family members. One of the greatest evidences of his bloodthirsty nests and insane cruelty was having the most distinguished citizens of Jerusalem arrested and imprisoned.

Shortly before his death. And why would he do that he's going to die.

Why would he have some of the most distinguished citizens arrested. Here's the answer because he knew no one would mourn his own death so he gave orders for those prisoners. These these leading people of Jerusalem to be executed. The moment he died. Thus, he hoped to guarantee that there would be morning in Jerusalem after he died. What kind of wicked mind comes up with that scheme. That barbaric plan was exceeded in cruelty only by his slaughter of what of all the male children who were in Bethlehem and its vicinity from two years old and under for Matthew chapter 2, it talks about that by that action. He helped to eliminate any threat to his throne from the one from the one the Magi said had been born king of the Jews mean that that is just really unbelievable that you could be so threatened by a baby being born that you will go to those lengths to try to to end his life and not have any concern for the the lives and the well-being of the nonrelated children being killed under two, but the families of those you are just sending into unbelievable morning and goes on to say in the booklet here. Lest you think there are no more Herod's in this world today. You only need to read the daily newspaper, humanity is depraved.

There are Herod's. In every society, but there is a greater lesson for all humanity. Many people miss Christmas because of the same kind of fear. Herod had Herod was afraid that someone else would take his throne.

Today people are fearful of giving up their own plans priorities their own values and morals. I'll add this in the throne of their own life.

They and we want to sit on the throne of her own life.

We don't want Christ there another Herod was afraid of the don't want to come to Christ because he will cramp their style. He will lay claim to their lives and they will have to alter the way they live. The media tells people to do their own thing, master their own fate and short run destiny.

The world is full of kings who will not kneel before Jesus Christ. So they miss Christmas just like Herod and that's something that I think every person before they come to saving faith in Jesus Christ that that's the the the line you need to cross by faith Noah, in my willing to surrender the throne of my life to Jesus Christ.

That's the bottom because that's what happens when you become a Christian you you put your if you stop putting your faith and trust in your own ideas in yourself for salvation your own good works.

You say no that's that's not gonna work with, that's not what the Bible says I must put my faith and trust fully in Christ. I must step off the throne of my own life I must step away from the helm of my own ship, and I must ask Jesus to take over and he must be Lord of my life and not me being the Lord of my own life miss exactly what Herod and so many people are unwilling to do that. This is not even an intellectual problem roadblock. There is a problem of the will. I will not step down from the throne of my life because I'm afraid what's going to happen if someone else is in control is raining on throne. I like let me to say that it says in Scripture very clearly when we go God's way, his ways are not burdensome. It's better to go his way through life will be better be much more than that you be right with God, forgive any terror eternal life but your life will also be better when he's on the throne of your life. Now it mentioned in that segment there in the booklet that lest you think that no more Herod's in this world exists this this this godly this jealous fear that takes place today.

Listen to this article, the from this week from CBN describing the situation in China right now. On December 9, Chinese authorities arrested Pastor Wang Yi, and more than 100 members of the early rain covenant Church in China as CBN news reported Pastor Wang's home was raided and ransacked by police. The raid may have been triggered by a 7000 word manifesto titled meditations on the religious war which Pastor Wang wrote and posted on social media in that manifesto. He condemns China's Communist Party and urges Christians to perform acts of civil disobedience organ hopefully have some time to read some of this manifesto later today, but basically there's been a terrific persecution going on right now in China by the Chinese comet communist government and the chairman is Gee I think his name is and he has the same fearful jealousy that Herod had back in his day. He's fearfully jealous that Christianity will grow too much and take away power from him and the Communists. Pastor G could pester ye hurt Wang criticize the government for forcing its citizens to engage in quote Caesar worship by treating president G Ching Ping like a God.

He wrote that ideology is that ideology is morally incompatible with the Christian faith, and all those who uphold freedom of the mind and thought. His home was ransacked. It's a mess. Someone told the South China morning reporter the police at our church is an illegal organization and we cannot attend anymore gatherings from now on and so this pastor over there wrote a manifesto criticizing the government saying this is not just this is not right. We should have freedom of of of speech and religion, and they came for him. And right now, today he is in jail in China. We have no idea how long he's gonna be there and read some of his manifesto. Hopefully later in the program today if I don't have time I will link it on our website the Christian worldview.org is you must read it is just the way of setting your mind on things above and seeing things biblically and in response to a tyrannical government sets a second example of ways people miss Christmas.

The first one we get too busy to preoccupy the innkeeper was the example of that. The second one was we have a a jealous fear, like Herod didn't want anyone else ruling as King and at the same thing on hearts. We don't we miss Christmas because we are scared of what it would be like if Christ rained on the throne of her life. We don't know how that would change her life will change.

Like a lot, but for the better and we we don't want that. We we like our sin we like things the way they are right now we don't want anyone else to be taking over the throne that we we think we we own the third way people miss Christmas is through prideful indifference and this was the religious leaders of of Christ days who were indifferent who are apathetic and in self-righteous.

They didn't think they needed this this new baby that was being born says once Herod learned from the Wiseman. This is Matthew to verses four through 61 hair once Herod learned from the Wiseman of the King of the Jews would be born.

He gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people and inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him in Bethlehem of Judea for this is what has been written by the prophet, and you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah proud of you shall come forth a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel is Matthew to the chief priests consisted of a the high priest the captain of the temple police and the most important of the other priests. Those who had great administrative teaching and leadership skills.

For the most part, the chief priests were Sadducees describes are primarily Pharisees. The two main religious groups. They were the experts in the law of Moses.

Those two groups new with the Messiah was to where the Messiah was to be born because they knew Micah had prophesied that Bethlehem was to be the place of his birth. One thing the Jewish nation have been looking for and still does to this day was the Messiah here looking for the Messiah, waiting for him been waiting for a deliverer throughout their history, especially while under Roman oppression. However, these priests and scribes were unwilling to even travel a few miles to Jerusalem to Bethlehem from Jerusalem to find out if this baby might be the difference. Why were the unwilling to travel there because of indifference. They didn't care. They thought they had all the facts and they didn't need to Messiah and mama returned from his break will get into more why this third reason of prideful indifference that people miss Christmas, I'm David Wheaton eliciting the Christian worldview, David Wheaton here, host of the Christian worldview for over 15 years.

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That's one AAA 646-2233 or visit the Christian worldview.org how to not miss the reason for the Christmas season and David Wheaton eliciting to the Christian worldview radio program today. Our website is the Christian worldview.org were going through six ways that people miss the first Christmas in the really the same ways that people miss it today as well. The first example was the innkeeper who who missed Christ's birth because he was just too busy and preoccupied. The second way was was hared King Herod of the time he was he would not have someone else reign as king get a jealous fear in some way some people today will him will miss Christmas because they will not have Christ rain on the throne of their life in the third way was the religious leaders of Christ time when they when Herod asked him were worse. This the Messiah to be born is that in Jerusalem Bristol was only 5 miles away. This is close to where they were. They knew where he was coming and this child was to be born there but they didn't even think that it was even worth going down there to check it out.

They were indifferent. They are apathetic they were self-righteous and I was continuing to read about them.

This is why did they miss the first Christmas because of their indifference. They didn't care. They had all the facts.

They were the repository of knowledge that they didn't need a Messiah why because they were self righteous. They saw themselves as perfect keepers of the law in their minds they were for filling all that God could ever ask of them. So if you have a a a self-righteousness that you think you're a really good person and you're doing all the right things in life are given to charity are going to church and your religious and you're in a kind of people and you help the disadvantaged and and that's what you think that's gonna make you right with God because of all your goodness. Why would you why would you repent and put your faith in a Savior and in Christ who is the one who died on to pay the penalty for your sin and that you must be given his righteousness by God to be able to be right with God. If you think your self-righteous. Why do you need Christ's righteousness does make any sense if that's your professor worldview and that's exactly what the religious leaders thought of Christ day were Artie righteous. We don't really need a Savior. We've Artie saved ourselves because we've done some were doing. We've done are doing so much good in this world is the third way that people miss Christmas is because of their own self-righteousness. The fourth way people miss Christmas is based on the reaction to his burger by the people in Jerusalem at the time and they were so focused on their religious rituals that they completely missed the point of all those religious rituals. It says here and in the booklet it says to special people when when Christ was was brought to Jerusalem for his circumcision to special people did note of him took note of him when he was brought to Jerusalem.

Luke 225 and 26 mentions Simeon a man. He was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon Simeon and had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ in Luke 236 tells us about Anna. Another one a widow who saw the Messiah in the temple and who continue to speak of him to all those who are looking for the redemption of Jerusalem, so Simeon and Anna. There were just two people in Jerusalem who who knew he was coming and wanted to see him but now look at the rest of Jerusalem. However, the mass of people in Jerusalem miss Christmas the birth of Christ again took place only a few miles away.

It was the fulfillment of all their dreams and hopes the event that would change the destiny of the world, but they missed it. But why did they miss it, they missed it because of their religion. They were so busy with the rituals of their religion that they missed the reality of of Messiah's birth. When Jesus asked his disciples, who do people say the Son of Man is in Matthew 16 there answer was. While some say John the Baptist and others, Elijah, but still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. All the speculations were wrong. Jesus didn't fit into the religious system of his day and the people knew he didn't. After knew we didn't after he gave the sermon on the Mount religion is damning if it is anything less than the true worship of the true God. Read that again.

Religion is damning if it is anything less than the true worship of the true God, a false religious system gives a person a false sense of spirituality. People steeped in various religions and cults talk about God, Christ, in Scripture, but they don't know the Christ of the Bible. They are lost in the midst of a religious system so the people of Jerusalem missed Christmas while they were in the midst of being religious. How ironic that we can be so caught up in our religious rituals that we actually miss the specific point of Christmas, which is the coming of Jesus Christ and worship him in spirit and in truth.

And if you listen the program.

In recent weeks.

You heard that interview between the Orthodox Jew Ben Shapiro very conservative, very intelligent, shares many of the same values as Christians. And he was interviewing John MacArthur and he set this he asked John MacArthur. The difference between Judaism and Christianity. Some of you probably picked up on this when you heard the sound bite the listen to what Ben Shapiro says as he sets up this question when I read the New Testament myself and I obviously not a believer in the divinity of Jesus. When I see what Jesus actually has to say about the Old Testament is usually very similar to the stuff that Zechariah is saying are the Jeremiah say when Jeremiah says that they had the sacrifices themselves are basically of no use.

Unless there's actual meaning. Okay skin a reply. The first part again when I read the New Testament myself and I obviously not a believer in the divinity of Jesus. When I see what you okay so assorted said to quickly in passing is this this is you know, I prefer your chocolate ice cream or vanilla, but what he said there is the most significant thing a person will believe in their life.

I don't believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ. Did you know that that particular belief is the only thing if you persist in that to the end of your life and you die in that state of unbelief that is the only sin that will get you damned to hell for eternity.

I said it was sorrow over Ben Shapiro, we would need to pray that that changes in his life and you come to a saving faith in Jesus because the Bible says in John 336 he who believes in the son has eternal life, but he who does not obey or believe in the sun will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

You can be a serial adulterer, a homosexual, a murderer or a thief, you name it and if you repent of that sin. God will forgive you when you put your faith in Jesus Christ as paying the price for your sin. But if you persist to the end and saying I don't believe in the divinity of Christ.

I don't believe he is who he said he is know you're doing your calling God a liar.

First John five the one who believes in the son of God has the testimony in himself.

The one who does not believe God has made him a liar because he is not believe in the testimony that God gave concerning his son, that skews me had to cough and the testimony is this that God has given us eternal life in this life is in his son Hugh as the son has the life and Hugh does not have the son of God does not have the life that is incredibly troubling that Ben Shapiro would which would even say that because again that that's putting your own eternal soul at risk to reject the Christ of riches of Christmas, the Ben Shapiro that in an interview. He's very steeped in the religious rituals of Judaism. He's very fastidious about keeping he's an Orthodox Jew, but that's not what saves us, what saves this is what we do with God's offer of his son, are we going to accept or receive God's offer of his son to pay the penalty for our sins is really only two choices. We we can pay the penalty for own sins ourselves and eternal death and hell. Or we can accept God's gracious gift to have Jesus Christ pay the penalty for us was really the only two options with pray this Christmas that Ben Shapiro would perhaps think back the interview John MacArthur and have a change of mind, a change of heart is like the apostle Paul did possible religious Jew kept all the rituals I figure I a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He said Hebrew of the Hebrews going off to Damascus to persecute Christians. We met Jesus on the way. Without that happens to Ben Shapiro was weatherwise Ben Shapiro is going to miss Christmas this year and next year and events with using the Mrs. soul for rejecting the Christ of Christmas was move on to the fifth way that people miss Christmas and this was the Romans of Christ time missed Christmas because of their idolatry up because of their over familiarity with with who this this Christ was assessed perhaps the saddest of all the people of not not Romans.

I'm sorry the people lived in the west side or back up one made a mistake there in the notes number number five, not six, number five is the Romans missed Christmas because of idolatry assessed throughout the life of Christ we see the presence of the Romans before his death. Christ appeared before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judeo.

He was executed by the Romans Roman guards lied about his resurrection propagating a story to cover up the reality that he rose from the dead, despite all their interactions with Christ. The Romans missed Christmas they had their own gods, that multitudes of them. The pinnacle of their worship being Emperor worship Christ didn't fit in with their idolatry. The Romans had the true God in their midst, but they missed them. They missed Christmas in the world today is full of people goes on to say who worship their own gods, they don't worship idols like the people at the time of Christ. Maybe in America, but there are still idols in God's some people worship money. Some people worship sex.

Some worship cars in both the material things in houses and lands. Some worship power and prestige. Those are the pagan gods of today. The idols of the 21st century if that is what you're worshiping, you're going to miss Christmas to may receive some presence eat a big dinner enjoy a beautiful decorated pine tree. We are going to miss Christmas because your idols are not who it should be should be focused on Christ more after this. Who is George Soros and what does he believe, are you religious believe in God. Soros told Independent newspaper in Great Britain. It is a sort of disease. When you consider yourself some kind of God, the creator of everything, but I feel comfortable about it now since I began to live it all.

Soros spent his billions to transform America into godless socialism be informed about him in the organization. See funds by ordering this George Soros resource bundle which includes a 60 minute DVD 60 page book in 16 page, follow the money. Chart and guide for donation of $50 or more to the Christian worldview to order call 1888 646-2233 or right to Box 401, Excelsior, MN 55331 or visit the Christian worldview.org decibel Christian worldview.org. Be sure to take advantage of two free resources that will keep you informed and sharpen your worldview.

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Number two Herod the king the cruel King missed Christmas because you would not have another king ring. He was so jealous and so fearful someone else reining in his place that he missed the birth of Christ in us the way we are today when we refused to step down off the throne of her own life because were afraid of someone else being on that throne.

Number three. The religious leaders, Pharisees and Sadducees that the leaders of Christ, they they missed Christ birth because they were self-righteous.

They didn't think they needed. They were a bit and need a Savior, Christ the Lord. They had saved themselves through doing all kinds of what they believe are good works so they missed Christ birth number for the people in Jerusalem except for a couple there were so focused on their religious rituals and in performing religious acts that they actually miss the point of all those acts which was to worship the son of God so they missed Christ birth number five. The Romans who were occupying Israel at that time they missed Christmas because they were all involved in their own idolatry, their focus on their own God's throne idols. Just as we today have her own idols of materialism in sex and power and position in all the things that we put is idols that is as important things that we worship in our our lives today and finally the final group of people who missed Christ birth to miss Christmas were the people who lived in Jesus own hometown of Nazareth, they missed it because of over familiarity with him and this one is perhaps the scariest one of all because this applies to all of us to have grown up a bit around the church and so forth were so familiar with Christ. Let me read just a few paragraphs from this booklet.

Perhaps the saddest of all the people of Nazareth miss Chris Nazareth miss Christmas loop to says quote when they performed everything according to the law of the Lord. They is Mary and Joseph returned to Galilee's to their own city of Nazareth, the child continue to grow and become strong increasing in wisdom, the grace of God was upon him. When Jesus returned to Nazareth. He was unlike any other child. He accompanied his parents to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. He was 12 years old. He proceeded to confound the doctors of theology. The temple member that he spent 30 years of his life in Nazareth.

If the residence failed to recognize who he actually was whose true identity was Luke four unveils the tragedy that took place when Jesus Jesus actually clearly revealed his identity to the Nazarenes.

This is from Luke chapter 4 he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and has as was his custom, he entered the synagogue of his own hometown on the Sabbath and he stood up to read in the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him and he opened the book and found the place where it was written, the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. And Jesus closed the book and give it back to the attendant, and sat down in the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him and you begin to say to them today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. This is in his own hometown synagogue. I am the one this book. These prophecies are writing about. I'm the Messiah. I added that, Barb. That's what he saying and all were speaking well of him and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from his lips and they were saying is this not Joseph sent and he said truly I say to you know profit is welcome in his hometown and goes on to say, the people of Nazareth missed Christmas because of over familiarity. They knew Jesus as Joseph son the guy who lived down the street and they didn't view that is anything special after Janet Jesus finished speaking at the synagogue, the people it says got up and drove him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which the city had been built in order to throw him down the cliff but passing through their myths.

He went his way goes on to say over familiarity is a deadly thing I come across so many people who say they were brought up in a Christian environment but are not Christians fear grips my heart when I hear that over familiarity strangles conviction when he heard something. So many times without acting on or do any donating about it, such familiarity can breed contempt Mark six gives us Christ owns analysis of the people of Nazareth.

He wondered at their unbelief.

Matthew 13 as he did not do many miracles in Nazareth because of their unbelief over familiarity with Christmas can truth can breed a stony heart heart so respond well your heart is soft, lest you become hard and what you won't have the ability to respond in this is this is the case in American evangelical Christianity today. We wonder why our kids grow up we take in the church and youth group and we read Bible stories John and we do all the cortical at the right things the way they grow up and they walk away from the faith they live nothing life like God commands us to live or bore believe what God commands us to believe familiarity with it has not led to conversion but truth heard and rejected leads to a hard heart. Remind you what Jesus said in Matthew seven. Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and your name cast out demons in your name perform many miracles that was we been around the church. We been doing all the things in your name. Verse 23 and then I Jesus that will declare to them, I never knew you depart for me, you who practice lawlessness. That's a scary place to be to be over familiar with Jesus, but never having softened your heart repented of your sin and put your trust in who is the son of God and what he did for you on the cross paid God's require penalty for your sin when you do that you go from being a professing Christian to being one who actually possesses genuine saving faith and so just in conclusion, they only got a minute left. What's behind all these reasons for missing Christmas. It's an unwillingness to believe whether it's the busyness of life, the jealous fear of hell.

Herod the self-righteousness of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The, the focus on religious rituals of the people of Jerusalem. The idolatry of the Romans or the over familiarity with the people of Jesus hometown Nazareth.

It was all because of unbelief. Many people simply refuse to believe in Christ. The book of closes by saying the apostle John says he was in the world and the world was made through him, the world did not know him. He came to his own. The Jews, and those were his own did not receive him, but as many as received him, that's open to all, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name. If you've been missing. The reality of Christmas in your life know that if you repent of your sin and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation Christmas will become real to you. It can happen today and that Christmas is between you and God.

Thank you for joining us this year on the Christian worldview. We will have another previously her program next week next Saturday because we do live in a changing and challenging world, one that tries to take the eraser in a race Christmas. There is one thing we can always trust in encounter on Jesus Christ and his word are the same yesterday today and forever. We hope to these broadcast turned your heart toward God's word and his son to order a CD copy of today's program or sign up for our free weekly email or to find out how you can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ go to our website the Christian worldview.org, call us toll-free at one Tripoli 646-2233. The Christian worldview was a weekly one-hour radio program that is furnished by the over comer foundation and is supported by listeners and sponsors request one of our current resources with your donation of any amount go to the Christian worldview.org or call us toll-free at one Tripoli 646-2230 3.2 us in Box 401, Excelsior, MN 55331 that's Box 401, Excelsior, MN 55331. Thanks for listening to the Christian worldview. Until next time think biblically live according