Preparing for the Holidays

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

The Holidays are upon us:

The Holidays mean different things for different people.

to some people they evoke the fondest of memories.

for others the evoke angxioty.

whatever emotions they evoke the truth of the matter is for you the fact is they are not going anywhere.

The scripture teaches us that we are to have the abundant life.

There is nothing wrong with needing and taking the time needed to get the help needed to deal with whatever situation that you are dealing with.

to stay allow the holidays to be a stumbling block for years.

let’s talk about why I used the opening verse. we are called to have an abundant life.

1. We are called not to isolate.

Genesis 2:18 NKJV

18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

of course this verse is talking about marriage. Looking at the (a) “its not good for man to be alone.”

Hebrews 10:25 NKJV

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

We are called to exhort one another.

Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (3870 παρακαλέω)

3870 παρακαλέω [parakaleo /par·ak·al·eh·o/] v. From 3844 and 2564; TDNT 5:773; TDNTA 778; GK 4151; 109 occurrences; AV translates as “beseech” 43 times, “comfort” 23 times, “exhort” 21 times, “desire” eight times, “pray” six times, “intreat” three times, translated miscellaneously four times, and “vr besought” once. 1 to call to one’s side, call for, summon. 2 to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc. 2A to admonish, exhort. 2B to beg, entreat, beseech. 2B1 to strive to appease by entreaty. 2C to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort. 2C1 to receive consolation, be comforted. 2D to encourage, strengthen. 2E exhorting and comforting and encouraging. 2F to instruct, teach.

Exhort-2: language intended to incite and encourage Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).

incite- to stir up.

Proverbs 18:1 NKJV

1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.

I love this Church, I don't love this Church the way that I love other things. I have a son and 5 Grand Children, I have a beautiful wonderful wife that I love dearly. That is not what I mean when I say I love this Church, The Lord speaks about the needs I would not ordinarily think of and care deeply that people know the love of God.

2. We are called to fellowship.

Ephesians 2:19 NKJV

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

As members of the household of God we are Church Family.

Romans 12:10 NKJV

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Galatians 6:10 NKJV

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:10 NKJV.

Breaking bread and spending time together is a New Testament normal.

3. Being with Church family for the holidays is NOT charity! It’s not it’s love, (just like the family you where born into.)

Just like in the family you where born into, members have responsibilities to the family as a whole.

1 Corinthians 12:11 NKJV

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.