With Christmas coming up this week, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas is meant to honor Christ, yet He is often overshadowed by Santa, gifts, shopping, holiday festivities, and other non-Christian holidays fighting to be recognized and honored. Every year, I am just bewildered at the growing opposition trying to take Christ out of Christmas. This just seems so crazy to me because without Christ, there isn’t even a CHRISTmas. I am not sure exactly what all those who oppose Christ in Christmas are actually celebrating on Christmas then.<\/p>\n

Even though I know that it is all about Christ, I do have to admit that I often get caught up in all the glitz and glam of Christmas. Our family absolutely loves Christmas time. We love decorating and shopping for months in advance. We love baking cookies and watching Christmas shows all through December. We love piling all the kids up in the car with their hot chocolate to go driving around looking at lights only to quickly return home because someone always has to go to the bathroom. I love watching my kids take all the leftover decorations and using them to decorate their rooms, and then watching me get tangled up in them in the middle of the night trying to maneuver through their obstacle course of lights.<\/p>\n

I love leaving my parent’s house on Christmas Eve with presents filled to the roof of our car because they still give me and my siblings the same amount of gifts they gave us when were kids. Only now, it’s also extended to our spouses and our children. I love the yearly battle between me and my husband over a tree. Fake vs. Real! Who will win this year?? My husband always tells me that he doesn’t want a fake Christmas. I tell him that I have enough in this house to feed and clean up after. Besides, he always waits until mid January to take it to the curb and of course by then they stop picking up the trees. Therefore, it sits in our back yard until who knows when. Actually, I think we still have last years back there, and maybe even the one from the year before.<\/p>\n

With all of that, it’s easy to lose focus on what Christmas is all about. So today I want to step away from all of the holiday craziness for a moment and redirect my focus toward Jesus and give Him His due honor this Christmas by recognizing what He has truly done for us.<\/p>\n

We know that Jesus was born to be the Savior of the world, to set us free from sin and death by paying the penalty for our sins, and in doing so, opened the<\/strong><\/em> ONLY <\/strong><\/em>way for us to be reconciled to God, just as it was at the beginning of creation. But, do you know how much more Jesus has given us along with salvation? I remember as a new believer reading about all the promises of the Kingdom of Heaven in the Bible, and I used to think to myself\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6Heaven is great but what about now? What do I have to live for in this life now? Surely, there has got to be more.<\/em><\/p>\n

Jesus didn’t come to earth to just give us eternal life after we die. He came to literally give us eternal life now. He came to give us the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and everything in it, which means that we have access to the same authority that He had when He walked this earth. Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16:19,<\/strong> I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven<\/em> (AMP)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This wasn’t just available to Peter. It is available to all who receive Jesus. In Luke 12, when Jesus was telling His disciples not to worry about their life necessities, He told them in verse 31-32, But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus came to give us all that God has given Him. Everything that He has is now ours through our faith in Him. We are co-heirs in His inheritance, because we are now God’s children, just as He. The amplified version of Romans 8:16-17 says, The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n

Jesus being born in the flesh was the greatest act of love our God could ever do for us. He humbled Himself to be like us, to feel what we feel, to be tempted like we are tempted, to hurt like we hurt, to struggle like we struggle, in order to set an example for us to follow by showing us the power that is available to us, through Him, to overcome everything in this world. Hebrews 4:15-16 says, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are\u00e2\u20ac\u201dyet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need<\/em>. <\/strong><\/p>\n

When Jesus walked this earth, He had victory over everything, though in the natural it may have looked like He didn’t because of the great suffering He endured. That suffering however had a purpose, which is why He endured it even though He actually had the power to stop it. He overcame the world for us through that suffering. 1 John 5:4-5 says, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The authority Jesus has given us means that nothing in this world can ever have authority to rule over us without our permission. We can overcome everything through Christ’s power in us. Nothing in this world has the authority to steal our righteousness, our peace, our joy, our hope, and our inheritance in Christ. We are truly kept safe in Him.<\/p>\n

1 John 5:18-20 says, <\/strong>We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true\u00e2\u20ac\u201deven in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

So many Christians are not living to their full potential because of the mindset that Christ just came to give us salvation. Their sins are covered and they are going to go to heaven when they die, but they aren’t living in any victory now. What would motivate us to live our lives uncompromisingly for Christ if there was nothing more to receive in this life? Paul said in Philippians 3:12-16,<\/strong> Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

So what was Paul pressing on toward? What had he attained that he was striving to live up to? He had salvation but why would he have to strive to live up to that when the Bible says that we don’t work for salvation, we receive it freely. Ephesians 2:8-9 says,<\/strong> For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God\u00e2\u20ac\u201dnot by works, so that no one can boast. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Paul knew his inheritance in Christ. He knew the very Kingdom and power of God was living inside of him. He was straining toward knowing Christ through God’s fullness reigning in and through him. He knew his flesh often hindered that fullness, but he still pressed on toward it until he’d reach that complete total fullness when he’d meet God face to face. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known <\/em>(1 Corinthians 13:12).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Christ demonstrated God’s power reigning fully through man by living with the complete fullness of the Holy Spirit in Him. We who receive Christ have that same Spirit and power within us. It may be buried under sin, but it’s still there and still available to us if we turn from our sinful ways and live our lives following His Spirit in us and not our flesh. Feeding His Spirit in us with the Word of God and not feeding our flesh with things that contaminate us and hinder His Spirit. Asking God to fill us with the fullness of His Spirit by surrendering our whole hearts, undivided, over to Him.<\/p>\n

Luke 17:20-21 says, Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied,<\/em><\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation,<\/strong> nor will people say, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcHere it is,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 or \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcThere it is,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 because the kingdom of God is within you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/strong> <\/em>What an amazing responsibility God had given each and everyone of us. We are literally walking around with the Kingdom of God inside of us. Therefore, we should always strive to live up to what we have within us.<\/p>\n

Colossians 1:9-14 <\/em><\/strong>says, For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light<\/span>. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

God has not only saved us but qualified us to share Jesus’ inheritance! Romans 8:32 (AMP) says, He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?<\/em><\/strong> As we strive to put Christ first place in every area of our lives, we will start to grow and see more and more of what we have inside of us. We will start to see what all those “other things” <\/em>God has given us are. As we start to use that power that is within us, we will perform the miracles that Jesus did on earth and potentially even more than Him. John 14:12 says, I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The more I follow God’s Spirit in me and not my flesh, the more I start to see His power growing stronger in me. I start to see Him doing amazing things through me that I never knew I was capable of. The more I see God’s power in my life, the more I want to strive to press on to reach my full potential in Christ. The more of Christ that is displayed in us, the more people God can reach through us. Ephesians 2:10 says, <\/strong>For we are God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to\u00c2\u00a0do.<\/em><\/strong> Christ sacrificed all for us, so let’s honor Him this Christmas by honoring Him with our lives each and every day. Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s follow what God has already prepared for us to do by striving to reach our full potential in Christ so that we can truly give honor to our Lord and Savior.<\/p>\n

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\n**Something to think about this week**<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Just think about Jesus and enjoy your inheritance in Him. May God richly bless you all this Christmas!<\/p>\n

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given<\/em><\/strong>, not only in the present age but also in the one to come<\/em>. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ephesians 1:18-23<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

**Share with others what their inheritance is by sharing this message through the share tabs below**<\/p>\n

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**Come back next Monday as I share more of God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s truths and the reasons behind the truths.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

**Follow me on my facebook page as I share verses and comments throughout the week that correlate with each week\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lesson.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With Christmas coming up this week, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas is meant to honor Christ, yet He is often overshadowed by Santa, gifts, shopping, holiday festivities, and other non-Christian holidays fighting to be recognized and honored. Every year, I am just bewildered at the growing opposition trying to take Christ out of Christmas. This just seems so crazy to me because without Christ, there isn’t even a CHRISTmas. I am not sure exactly what all those who oppose Christ in Christmas are actually celebrating on Christmas then. Even though I know that it is all about Christ, I do have to admit that I often get caught up in all the glitz and glam of Christmas. Our family absolutely loves Christmas time. We love decorating and shopping for months in advance. We love baking cookies and watching Christmas shows all through December. We love piling all the kids up in the car with their hot chocolate to go driving around looking at lights only to quickly return home because someone always has to go to the bathroom. I love watching my kids take all the leftover decorations and using them to decorate their rooms, and then watching me get tangled up in them in the middle of the night trying to maneuver through their obstacle course of lights. I love leaving my parent’s house on Christmas Eve with presents filled to the roof of our car because they still give me and Continue Reading →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=105"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}