Terry Sommerville writes:
Amazing as it seems, our celebrations of Christmas may actually be keeping the nation from slipping into total darkness. In his book The Twilight Labrynth , George Otis Jr. says that cultures throughout the world reinforce their spiritual darkness, through seasonal festivals. Covenants are maintained with the powers and principalities by annual observances. Can it be possible that our celebration of Christmas reinforces the spiritual light in our nation? Charismatic Christians frequently ignore church traditions in favor of spontaneus actions. But recently prophets have recovered the whole idea of "prophetic action" to establish things in the heavenly places. Could Christmas observances be "prophetic actions"? Can it happen even when most of the "actors" don't know why they are doing it? Here are some of my thoughts on prophetic actions in the traditions of Christmas. ...
Mat 13:52 Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe who is instructed in the kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out treasures new and old."
Amazing as it seems, our celebrations of Christmas may actually be keeping the nation from slipping into total darkness.
In his book The Twilight Labyrinth , George Otis Jr. says that cultures throughout the world reinforce their spiritual darkness, through seasonal festivals. Covenants are maintained with the powers and principalities by annual observances. Can it be possible that our celebration of Christmas reinforces the spiritual light in our nation? Charismatic Christians frequently ignore church traditions in favour of spontaneous actions. But recently prophets have recovered the whole idea of "prophetic action" to establish things in the heavenly places. Could Christmas observances be "prophetic actions"? Can it happen even when most of the "actors" don't know why they are doing it? Here are some of my thoughts on prophetic actions in the traditions of Christmas.
1. Christmas Lights. This is a wonderful prophetic act to everyone far and near."Jesus is the Light of the World".
2. Christmas carols It's remarkable! We hear the prophetic declaration in stores, businesses and broadcasting, that "Christ the Savior is born." We sing "no more let sin and sorrow rule, or thorns infest the ground! He comes to make His blessings flow, far as the curse is found!" This is a prophetic declaration to the earth! How many thousands hear this prophetic music every year?
3. Christmas Trees Now don't go off about the pagan god thing. That culture was redeemed a thousand years ago and I've never met anyone worshipping a pagan god with their Christmas tree. Instead it is a prophetic act proclaiming "the tree of life" which is ours in Jesus Christ.
4. Christmas presents This should be obvious. Giving presents is a prophetic action based on "God gave His only Son" . Amazingly, everyone can distinguish between selfishness and the real love expressed in the "spirit of giving" Have we ever stopped to wonder where that awareness comes from? It comes from God Himself.
5. Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" Now this has become a Christmas tradition. It's broadcast coast to coast starring everyone from Alistair Simms (original actor) to Mickey Mouse. It is prophetic. The gospel is proclaimed (listen closely to the dialogue next time). Scrooge is confronted by his sin, faces his own mortality and hell. He repents, is born again and becomes a new man, doing works befitting repentance! He's even got the joy of the Lord and can't stop laughing! "I'm light as a feather... I feel like a new man". This movie is undoubtedly the most popular proclamation of the gospel at Christmas and we should pray for it!
6. Feasting on roast beast. Fellowship and food is the foremost fashion for faithful friends to feel the Father's favour at a family feast. (Whew) Food and Christianity goes together. Feasting is also prophetic. The Lord has "set a banquet for all nations" and we will all be at "the marriage supper of the lamb." Even communion is not supposed to be a sterile wafer and sip event. Jesus said "whenever you eat and drink, do it in remembrance of me."
7. Church Services. Yes many people only go to church services at Christmas and Easter, but even that is prophetic. They want to celebrate the birth and death of the Savior, but are not really finding the way we do church the rest of the year relevant! (Let it sink in.)
We are free to pursue new wine-skins but that does not mean we throw out old things! We are free! The Spirit of God still speaks through our traditions with a prophetic voice to a lost humanity.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Terry Somerville
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