Saturday Morning Blog with Pastor Williams (December)
Posted on December 1st, 2006 by TADCCBLOG
Pastor Williams will be active on the blog site this Saturday morning from 10 to 11am immediately following the WRJD 1410AM broadcast of “Christian Perspective Today”. Please suggest topics or questions for discussion.
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Pastor Williams,
Genesis 6:4 speaks of “giants in the land.” For many years I’ve heard teachings that giants in the Old Testament were the product of demons/fallen angels having sex with the daughters of men. Is this the scripture that has been misinterpreted? Also,were angels created for the purpose of service?
No. Goliath was a giant but did not result from such a union. The word giant in the Hebrew can also be translated as fallen ones. Therefore some erroneously believe that these are the angels that fell from heaven as shown in Revelations 12.
However, these angels make war with the inhabitants on earth, not cohabitate with them. Sons of God which some have translated to be angels are the righteous men of God, not angels. The Bible calls angels angels. The mistake made is that men try to read into scripture more than what it says. You see this in John 1st chapter where sons of God refer to believers in God.
The word angel is also translated as messenger. Just as the angel Gabriel brought messages to Daniel and the Virgin Mary, this describes what angels do. They are messengers of God.
Happy Hannukah,
This is the time of year that Christians often overlook, but these are days that our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus observed.
John 10:22-38
22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
“The holiday was called Hanukkah meaning “dedication” because it marks the re-dedication of the Temple after its desecration under Antiochus IV. Spiritually, Hanukkah commemorates the Miracle of the Oil. According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days – which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate new oil. “ (Wilkipedia)
The current theme of exchanging gifts during this Holy Day is an Americanized version that resulted from competition with Christmas.
However there are still some important implications if we read the Biblical text closely. Hannukah is also called the Feast of Lights. Notice what Christ Jesus proclaims in the eighth chapter of John which happens about the same time as the Feast of Dedication.
John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
This is the True Light that has come into the world. Not the lighting of the candelabra, but the Light that illumines the hearts of men and leads them to salvation.
This is also the time that Christ Jesus declared Himself to be Divine or God. John 10:30, Jesus declares that I and the Father are One. This is in response to the Jews asking Him if He were the Messiah (Christ). Christ Jesus declares Himself to be more than an Anointed Person (Greek meaning of Christ), but indeed God in the Flesh.
Therefore at this time of the year Christ revealed that He is the One to illuminate the dark hearts of men and also that He is God.
Hag 2:18
Consider * now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’S temple was laid, consider * it.
2:20
And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,
2:21
Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
2:22
And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
2:23
In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.
The ninth month is sometimes the month of Kislev which corresponds to our month of December. This is the same time as Hannukah. It is doing this time that God said He will overthrow and destroy the Kingdoms of the heathen.
I believe that Christ Jesus our Lord appeared on the Feast of Dedication/Hannukah at Solomon’s Porch to declare Himself to be the fulfillment of the prophecy in Haggai. Hannukah is the 25th day of the ninth month and Haggai prophecy took place on the 24th day of the same month.
These are the reasons why all Christians should observe/celebrate Hannukah. Thses truths are based on the Word of God and are not derived from pagan rituals as a lot of the symbols related to Christmas.
Happy Hannukah
Thank you Pastor Williams,
I have basisly stopped celebrating “Christmas” in December because of the commercialism and after learning that Christ Jesus was actually born during the fall, not the winter.
Thanks to your above entry, I can now celebrate “Hannukah/The Feast of Lights” during this time of the year. So much emphasis was being placed on gift-giving and getting gifts, that Christmas had lost meaning for me.
After finding out that Christ wasn’t born during this time of the year, that this holiday season was being celebrated by non- christian nations (because they do not observe it as a religious holiday) as a pagan celebration, and that the majority of stores endorse “Happy Holidays” instead of Merry Christmas, further justified my decision to start celebrating the birth of Christ during The Feasts of Tabernacle and saying “Happy Jesus’ Birthday.”
Thanks again for explaining the significance of Hannukah. I thank God everyday for Jesus. And I thank Jesus everyday for saving me. I can not imagine my life without Christ. All that is good in my life is of God. My life, my being, my all and all belongs to Father God.
And Pastor Williams, I thank God for you and my Church Family. I thank Him for knowledge, wisdom and insight when studying His Written Word.
Happy Hannukah!
KB,
Thank you for your comments. The more we learn about Christ Jesus the more we love Him.
Pastor Williams,
I had the pleasure of watching a Christmas message about the celebration of this very special holiday, an explanation I had not heard before; but actually gave me a new-found reason to truly raise my voice with a “HALLELUJAH” praise.
This minister spoke of Zacharias’ experience with the angel Gabriel in the Temple, appearing to him and announcing that his wife Elisabeth was going to have a child. Because of Zecharias’ unbelief, he was rendered mute until after the child was born. The angel told him to name the child John, and that this child would be the “forerunner” for the Messiah. (Luke 1 & 2)
This minister goes on to explain that Zecharias’ tour of duty as priest in the Temple ended sometime around June 22-23. He and Elisabeth concieved John sometime during June 23-25.
Six months later, the angel Gabriel visited Mary to tell her that she had found favor with God and that she was going to become pregnant with the Holy One, Christ Jesus, through and by the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Immaculate Conception of Christ.
Most believers are aware that John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin and that he was six months older than Him. Since John was concieved between June 23-25, being six months older that our Lord, the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary between December 23-25.
SO, instead of believers being confused about whether Christ was born on December 25 or during the Feasts of Tabernacle, we CAN celebrate HIS Conception on December 25. Life begins at the moment of conception, therefore; Christ Jesus did become GOD in the flesh and dwelt among us the moment He was placed in Mary’s womb!
What a wonderful revelation! Others might have already heard this explanation but I had not. The most important thing to remember is that HE CAME to earth, born of a woman, walked among us, and died on an old rugged cross in order to pay our sin debts and redeem us back to Father God once and forever! He willingly gave His Life as a ransom, as an atonement for our sins. He bridged the gap between us and Father God, and through Him we can now go before God in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.
Christ Jesus is the ONLY way. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life and the Light of the world! HALLELUJAH!! AMEN!!!