You can find the ad “Christmas with a difference” in the magazine called VIVA, 08/08/2012, and VIVA comes with THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD.

In THE COLLINS CONCISE DICTIONARY  I find two definitions for Christmas. First of all it says there that Christmas is on December 25 and that it is the yearly celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ by Christians. Secondly it says there that Christmas is also called Christmas Day, that Christmas Day is also on December 25 and that it is observed as a worldly celebration. On Christmas Day gifts and greetings are exchanged.

CHRISTMAS 1958

For me CHRISTMAS 1958 was a “CHRISTMAS WITH A DIFFERENCE”.

What happened?

Until then it was CHRISTMAS DAY, a worldly celebration, receiving and giving gifts. More receiving gifts, than giving, because I was still young at that time.

From then on it was the yearly celebration of the  birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What really happened?

When I was eighteen years old, I became a new creature, I experienced the new birth.

Just as people are born physically, people are born spiritually. And just as I know that I am born physically, I know that I am born spiritually.

Many things are happening when one believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let me just give you the six in relation to God the HOLY SPIRIT:

1. We are born again. 2. We are anointed by the Holy Spirit. 3. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 4. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. 5. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit. 6. We are given a spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit.

Is CHRISTMAS DAY for you a worldly celebration, where you give and receive gifts or is it  the yearly commemoration of the of birth of our Lord JESUS CHRIST?

THE  NEW BIRTH, WHEN A PERSON BECOMES A NEW CREATURE,  MAKES ALL THE DIFFEREENCE!

In John 3:3 the BIBLE says, “Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

“Little deeds are like little seeds,

they grow to flowers or weeds.” – Victorian Wisdom

“If you are in debt, somebody else owns part of you.”

“Out of debt, out of danger.”

“Spend more than you make = debt. Spend less than you make = independence.”

( LIVING WISDOM by David Riddell)

The BIBLE says:

“Let no DEBT remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” – Romans 13:8

“Love your neighbours, but don’t pull down your hedge.”

Just as I find the above words again and again, you probably do too. And dreamers have been on my mind for a long time.

At the present time I am reading the book called RENEWED DAY BY DAY by A. W. Tozer and he is writing in the book about the man who is the dreamer.

Just now I cannot keep away from that book, because it is a real blessing.

Yesterday in the evening I looked through reading material I had picked up during the day and I could hardly believe what I found.

“dream a little,” it says on the front page of the little booklet (Aug-Oct 2012)  that advertises the goods of our local shop, where you buy books and stationery.

“Our success as a nation relies on every  single New Zealander stepping forward, making the most of themselves, helping others, seeking new ways of doing things, and reaching for their dreams,” writes the Prime Minister in his message on the New Zealander of the Year Awards 2013 NOMINATION FORM.

But let’s go back to Tozer and what he says about the man who is the dreamer.

“We of the Christian faith need not go on the defensive, for it is the modern man of the world who is the dreamer, not the Christian believer!

The sinner can never be quite himself. All his life he must pretend. He must act as if he were never going to die, and yet he knows too well that he is. He…..”

Please get hold  of the book RENEWED DAY  BY DAY by A. W. Tozer and read everything what he writes under the heading: “It Is Modern Man Himself Who Is the Dreamer.”

First of all a short SERMON OUTLINE:

First John 2:16

Intr.:

“For everything in the world-

1. the cravings of sinful man,

2. the lust of his eyes, and

3. the boasting of what

-he has and

-does

End:

comes not from the Father but from the world.”

FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD.

What is friendship with the world?

— Friendship with the world is hatred toward God.

— Friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God.

ARE YOU AN ENEMY OF GOD?

FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD.

What is friendship with God?

— Friendship with God is hatred toward the world.

— Friendship with God makes you an enemy of the world.

ARE YOU AN ENEMY OF THE WORLD?

FINALLY I AM ASKING YOU AGAIN: ARE YOU AN ENEMY OF GOD OR ARE YOU AN ENEMY OF THE WORLD?

IF YOU ARE AN ENEMY OF THE WORLD YOU LIVE FOREVER!!