For some this is a familiar read, but since the word of God does not change the following message will always be posted in December.

 At this time of year if we are not perky and bubbly we are asked where is our Christmas Spirit? Or don’t you have a Festive Spirit? Truth be told I have the Holy Spirit God has given me. God loves a cheerful giver and His Spirit is given without measure, so when I hear it’s the season of giving I am reminded our Lord’s Spirit is not for a season. At this time of year we are always seeing in the newspapers and on the news people doing their good deeds and the giving of alms which all is seen before men. Scripture teaches we are to give and not announce what we’re doing as so many do, we are not to do our alms before men! (Matthew 6:1-4) Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

 The giving of gifts is not unknown to our Lord as the world views gift giving seeing He was the first to do so. (Ephesians 4:7-13). But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

 If we truly love what the bible teaches and love the Lord then as Christians we must question where did Christmas originate? Anyone with a computer can do a search and find the same answer you are about to read………… TYPE IN “WHERE DID CHRISTMAS ORIGINATE?”

 Many who are celebrating would probably not prefer to read where all the things done this time of year came from. With a healthy fear of God I questioned constantly why we do what we do, only to find the world celebrates differently than what scripture teaches us. So do you follow the world or do you follow Christ? (John 15:19).

 The Romans came up with Saturnalia that was a time for merrymaking and the exchanging of gift’s which was a week long celebration held December 17-25. The house was decorated with greenery and lights. The celebrating consisted of going house to house singing and at times were even naked, there was human sacrifice, all were given a license to rape without any repercussions, basically a free for all without limits. At that time the Christian population was larger than those who were celebrating such festivities so the Romans thought to say that Jesus was born December 25th so a greater number would accept the celebration and it worked!!!

 About this time you may want to shoot the messenger, but it does not change how Christmas originated. Scripture plainly tells us what is and is not acceptable in the eyes of God. Ever notice the word christmas is not once written in the bible? Had it been then a good place to read of it would be right after the crucifixion of Christ we would be told there would be a festive time called Christmas and to honor Christ you will put a pine tree in your houses and decorate it with lights and ornament’s and then we would be given the Spirit of giving at this time BUT IT DOES NOT!

 Scripture is so plain in telling us how to serve God we cannot miss it (The tree and all the celebrating).What scripture does tell us however is what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are and in fact lists them…..A christmas Spirit is not on the list. 1) Word of Wisdom 2) Word of Knowledge 3) Faith 4) Gift of Healing 5) Working of Miracles 6) Prophecy 7) Discerning of Spirits 8) Various Tongues 9) Interpretation of Tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:7-10). But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.

 We are told the traditions of men make void the word of God, and just as the Pharisee’s in Jesus day held to their traditions that had nothing to do with God, Jesus addressed them by saying: (Mark 7:7-9) Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

 I encourage anyone who wants a closer walk with the Lord to search about where christmas originated and see it is not a time God ordained for His people to follow and celebrate.

 For those who say we must put Christ back into christmas , I say how can you put Him into something He was never a part of?