Joy to the world is the glad refrain that echoes from many a Christian heart and home at Christmastime! Our hearts are full of joy when we read the announcement of an angel who exclaimed: I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord Luke 2: 10,11. Such joy was initiated when the God of Creation and the God of Eternity stepped into time and space. John Wesley expressed it this way: God contracted to a span; incomprehensibly made Man . . . and we the life of God shall know; for God is manifest below.
Jesus was born on that joyful day! Therefore, when the Wise Men from the East came to Jerusalem looking for: He that was born King of the Jews, (Matthew 2:2) Herod, in his throne-lust, was troubled when told of a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel. Satan had to take care of baby Jesus before our Savior reached manhood. Inspired by Satan, Herod deceived the Magi in a pretense of false worship. However, through a heavenly warning, they were redirected in their journeying which resulted in Herods fury to kill, all children from two years old and under.
So, even on that first Christmas day, the song of joy was muted by a sob of heartbreak: (Matthew 2: 17,18) Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet, saying, in Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentations, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not
The Astonishing Cost around Seth
Such a blood-thirsty attempt of Satan to destroy the Seed Royal was not initiated at Bethlehem; it began in the Garden of Eden. There, the crowning jewels of all Gods created universe, Adam and Eve, were created in the image of God Genesis 1:27.
Accordingly, they were clothed with the pristine glory and holiness of their Creator. This posed an immediate threat to Satan. His ambition is recorded in Isaiah 14:13,14: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my name above the stars of God. . . I will be like the most High. Such an unholy ambition was now in jeopardy. So, Satan projected his prideful ambition and tempted Adam and Eve. You shall be as gods, knowing good and evil Genesis 3:5. Immediately, Eve succumbed to that vile temptation and was stripped of the glory of God, and with Adam, became shamefully conscious of nakedness. The glory was gone!
Satan had appeared to have won but, God declared: I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed [yes the battle lines were drawn] and thou [the Seed of the woman: Jesus] shall bruise his head [Satans head] and he [Satan] shall bruise his heel [At the cross Jesus was knocked down but not knocked out!]. So from the day that Satans doom was pronounced, he launched a blood-thirsty agenda to destroy any link in the Royal lineage through which the Great Emancipator of mankind would be born.
Jesus said of Satan: he was a murderer from the beginning John 8:44. Because Abels offering to God was accepted and Cains was rejected; thinking he had forfeited his birthright, Cain killed his brother Abel. The Apostle John wrote: Not as Cain who was of that wicked one who killed his brother 1John 3:16. However, God triumphed as He always does! Adam and Eve had another son whose name was, Seth. He was now the progenitor of the Seed Royal.
As recorded throughout the Old Testament which traces, the Seed of the woman through which Jesus would be born, Satan relentlessly pursued his blood-thirsty attempts which are all part of: The Astonishing Cost of Christmas!
The Astonishing Cost around the Hebrew race
Now there arose a new King over Egypt which knew not Joseph Exodus 1:8. Satans inspired hatred endeavored to destroy the entire Hebrew race. This included the Seed Royal, by ordering the midwives: If it be a son, then kill him Exodus 1:16. But the life of Moses, a deliverer, was miraculously preserved by the Lord!
The Astonishing Cost around King David
Jesus Christ our Lord, was: The seed of David according to the flesh Romans 1:3. Therefore, in a further miserable attempt to destroy the Seed Royal, Satan inspired attacks on Davids life. Let us ask: Who controlled the hand of Saul (a ready accomplice of Satan with similar throne lust) when he hurled a javelin at David? Saul missed; so did Satan; God triumphed!
The Astonishing Cost around Jehoram -
Through David, and then Solomon, the Seed Royal was eventually passed to another family. This was the family of: Jehoram [who] strengthened himself and slew all his brethren. Another blood-thirsty attempt at Davids family to be eliminated failed. That is, all except Jehoram. The preservation of the Royal line of Gods promised Deliverer hung on the fragile thread of one man!
The Astonishing Cost around Joash
Jehoram left many sons as legal successors to his throne. Enter Athaliah! A wicked grandmother who, incited by Satan, also had throne-lust and we read: destroyed all the Seed Royal. Yes, she even killed her grandchildren! But God triumphed again for, Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah . . . and hid him from Athaliah so that she slewed him not 2 Chronicles 22:11,12. The Seed Royal was miraculously preserved!
At last came that first Christmas! All of Satans blood-thirsty attempts to abort the birth of Jesus had failed and we read: unto us a child is born, a Son is given and the government shall be upon His shoulders Isaiah 9:6. The oft overlooked significance of Christmas is found in Hebrews 2:14 For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood He also Himself likewise took part of the same that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.
When talking to His disciples, the Lord Jesus said I beheld Satan as lightening fall from heaven Luke 10:18. Today, because of the Finished Work of our Lord Jesus Christ, Satans ambition to, be like the most High in heaven is totally nullified!
Present-day Crisis Satan, as the god of this world still has a blood-thirsty attempt to sabotage the possibility of the Kingdoms of this world becoming the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and is amassing and organizing world-wide hatred against little Israel. The only explanation for the growing anti-Semitism in the nations and even in the Church, is that Satan is organizing his forces for world dominance through the anti-Christ.
Yes! There must be a nation called Israel with a capital called Jerusalem from which the Lord will sway the scepter of universal empire. (Zechariah 14:4) Every attempt of Satan to thwart Jesus reigning as Lord on planet earth is doomed to ultimate failure. Hallelujah!! (Revelation 19: 11-16):
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Exactly 60 years ago, at an extended college chapel service, the late Dr. Howard Ferrin addressed the student body on an unusual theme of Christmas. I was greatly blessed. A few years later, it was our joy to entertain Dr. Ferrin and his wife, Evelyn, in our home in England. Dr. Ferrin urged me to personalize this message and to make it available to British radio listeners.
This Christmas, Dorothy and I have personalized, systematized and amplified this message to be relevant to the current cosmic confusion.
We gladly send this message with the prayer that the explosive number of people around the world who are accessing our website: www.ccim-media.com will be alerted to Satans strategies at this present time and be greatly encouraged to read the end of the story from the Bible!
Please duplicate, download and widely disseminate this article to your own circle of friends and acquaintances: The days demand it; the Savior commands it; the Holy Spirit enables it!
- Richard and Dorothy Bennett
_________________ Brother Kevin
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