“I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.” Are you glad that you are here? Well, we are very glad.

Christmas, the observance of the birth of Jesus was never intended to be a distraction, but simply to declare that death and Satan have been defeated. Christmas, at its core, is about Jesus Christ – the hope and assurance which He brought to mankind. It is the hope that we have an eternal treasure which death and the devil cannot destroy. It is the assurance that we do not have to succumb to the difficulties of life. Christmas lights and holiday parties can keep our minds preoccupied for a while, but when it is all over, reality soon dawns again. The burdens and the cares of life return; and it is only through Jesus Christ that we can overcome.

The greatest tragedy of Christmas is that we have replaced the Savior with the symbol. Even as devout Christians, the celebration of Christmas has become more significant than the miracle of the Incarnate Christ. The coming of the Messiah changed the course of history! All of Israel looked forward to his coming as their one hope from bondage, oppression, and death. Every believer’s hope can only be Jesus’ sacrifice which demolished sin and death. Yet, this great hope that changed our history and our future gets clouded by all the Christmas paraphernalia.

Let nothing distract you this Christmas from its true meaning. On December 26 when the gifts would have been opened and the parties would have been over, Christmas will still be a reality. Jesus Christ came to earth as a human, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sin and was resurrected, giving us an eternal hope. Let us not stop celebrating this hope, for it is not confined to a date on the calendar.

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS!

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK

1. CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
Today, 6:00P.M.
All are invited to attend this exciting and fun-filled evening to celebrate the birth of the Savior. Refreshments will be served in the Annex following the program.

2. LUNCH HOUR HOTLINE/ PREEMPTIVE
WARFARE PRAYER FOR 2016
Wednesday, 12:00 noon Lunch Hour Hotline
5:30 p.m. – Preemptive Warfare/Prayer and Fasting for 2016.

3. HOUR-OF-POWER PRAYER SESSION
Saturday, 7:00a.m.-8:00a.m.

4. PRAISE & ADORATION PRACTICE
Saturday, 6:00 p.m.

5. NO CHOIR PRACTICE

6. NEXT SUNDAY
Worship & Ministry, 9:00 a.m.
Global & National Intercessors, 5:00p.m.

Spanish Scripture: (Matthew 1:23)
“«La virgen concebirá y dará a luz un hijo, y lo llamarán Emanuel» (que significa «Dios con nosotros»).”
-Mateo 1:23 (NVI)

The gift of God’s presence through you is your gift to the world.
GOD WITH US

His presence in the room was obvious. Everyone else was dressed rather formally. He had on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a weathered baseball cap. I couldn’t help but notice him as I addressed students that day in a seminary chapel in Bucharest, Romania. I have no idea why he didn’t conform to the norms of seminary attire, but I do remember his name. At the close of the meeting he came up to introduce himself. When I asked him his name, he answered, “Immanuel.” I was surprised by his answer and asked if he knew what that meant; he unashamedly replied, “Yes- ‘God with us!’ ”
I’ve often thought about that young man and how he stood out in the crowd. Just as Jesus came to bring the presence of God into our world –“Immanuel… god with us” (Matt. 1:23)- so too we are called to bring His presence into our world. Jesus made that clear when He said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). This Christmas, we can give the gift of God’s likeness through us. When our lives reflect the God who lives in us, we can be different from the world, and that difference can bless others with the transforming presence of His love and grace. ~Joe Stowell
His spirit fill my hungering soul, His power all my life control;
My deepest prayer, my highest goal, That I may be like Jesus.
~Chisholm

MEDIA MINISTRY

World Overcomers: WSTA 1340 AM station: Sundays at 12:30 p.m. & Tuesdays at 6:00 a.m.
Website: http://www.wom.vi
On our Website you will find: Live Streaming, Mobile, and Podcast
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