Page 6 - Preacher of Righteousness Magazine | Mark Barclay Ministries

This is the
account of the
angel coming to Joseph
and Mary, announcing the birth of Christ
and informing them to name their child “Jesus.” The point I’d like to bring out in this beautiful verse is the “reason for the season.” As you read it, you’ll very clearly see that the purpose for Christ coming to the earth was to deliver His people from their sins.
As you study this more deeply, you will realize that the word “sin” doesn’t just mean outward behavior but inner iniquity.
In fact, it actually means “our sinful nature.” So we could very legitimately quote this verse as,“Jesus came to deliver us, His people, from our old, sinful nature.”
If we look even more closely, we can discover that this sinful nature can also be interpreted to mean us personally. It is the nature we were born with. It is the nature we were trained in and reared in before we met Jesus Christ—that old nature from the fall of man, the daily curse that is upon everyone born a human. Literally this verse means that Jesus came to deliver His people from themselves. For example, in my life, I could say that Jesus came to deliver Mark Barclay from Mark Barclay—from my pride, my great ideas, my kingship over my own life, my lordship by calling my own shots, and all the wrong thinking and wrong motives that live in the chambers of my fallen- nature heart. But praise God, a Savior came, and His name is Jesus! We call Him Emmanuel, which means “God is among us.” However, among us doesn’t mean in a room somewhere. It means living in the very chambers of our heart.
I can think of no better moment than now, as you’re reading this article, to ask you to do two things. One, this Christmas sea- son I encourage you to tell everyone you know about the real meaning of Christmas and why Jesus came to this earth. Lead your friends, family, and loved ones to Christ. It’s not only a beautiful feeling, but it will change your family relationships and friendships forever and ever and ever. And of course the byproduct is that each and every one of them will be rescued off the highway to hell and set on the highway to Heaven, avoiding that wide gate that leads to hell and getting on the straight and narrow road that leads to eternal salvation.
Two, if you are reading this article and you don’t know our Lord and Savior, I would like to bring to your attention this Bible verse:
1 JOHN 3:8
“. . . For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
The works of the devil are the things in our heart that have us bound and drive us and control us. It is so simple to turn around. It takes less than 15 seconds to pray the prayer to initi- ate this great walk. It’s painless; in fact, it removes pain. And it’s completely free because Jesus already paid the dearest price of all for you personally. You simply admit in your heart that you are not your own god and that you, like every other human, were born into this fallen nature. Though it wasn’t your fault, you are still cursed with a curse until you ask Jesus to come and live in your heart. If you ask Him, He will do what you ask. You
will
become
regenerated on the
inside. You will become a new creature. New things will begin to happen. Your motives and thoughts will change. It is the most exhilarating and exciting thing that will ever happen to you.
No, it is not religion. Religion is a bunch of do’s and don’ts, with no power to do the do’s, and no power to stop doing the don’ts. This is Christianity. This is the Living Christ coming to live on the inside of you, in your heart, where He causes you to become born again and begin a fresh, new life.
The logistics will change. You are now walking toward Heaven and away from hell, toward prosperity and away from poverty, toward health and healing and away from sickness and disease, toward the light and away from darkness. Once you accept my Jesus, you will never be the same, and you will never, ever, ever be sorry. I pray you will do that now, and then please contact us and we will help you in your new journey. We are excited for you!
Now back to Christmas . . .
Many people who know Jesus are still bound by vices, habits, and sins. The very reason He came was to destroy these works and deliver you from them—not to condemn you for doing them or ignore the fact that these things have a grip on you. We just read that He came to destroy the works of the devil, and we read that the angel announced that Jesus came to deliver you from the old you. Thank You, Jesus!
Above and beyond all that, this season is filled with family, friendship, love, and attention to our Christ. Every time Christmas comes around I count my blessings and name them, one by one.
Following are some of my favorite things about the holiday season:
Everywhere you go, the music is playing, the signs are posted, the art and decorations are everywhere, and everyone is talking about the first Noel and this little Baby Jesus in a manger. I love it!
I love the music in the stores. I love the music in the parks. I love the music in church. I love the music on the radio. I love it because I understand it now, and it means something to me. I love it because it’s now a part of my culture and my life. And I especially love it because even all the sinners everywhere are playing songs about our Master. May it sink in and seed their hearts this Christmas season.
The thing I probably love most about Christmas is that it’s the best opportunity to get people born again—family members, relatives, friends, neighbors, and those we are able to reach through our ministry. What an awesome time.
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