FAITH HEROES OF CHRISTMAS

Have you ever thought about the Faith heroes of Christmas? Well, let me tell you that you are among them.

I have heard many definitions of Faith. Paul, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, defined Faith in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews:

“Now, (in this present moment), Faith is the substance (a pure form of matter, what things are made from) of things hoped (joyfully celebrated) for. The evidence of things not seen.”

(Hebrews 11:1)

“And without FAITH, it is impossible to please Him, because whoever comes to Him must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

(Hebrews 11:6)

The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is a wonderful dissertation about the subject of Faith given to Paul, our anointed and appointed teacher by Holy Spirit. Check it out.

I have attempted to refine this definition into a relatable explanation:

Faith is living in this present moment, joyfully celebrating the receipt of the Great and Precious Promises of Jesus, bought and paid for by His blood, without regard for what our senses tell us.

One of those great and precious promises is the gift of His Faith, received by believing, and believing in Jesus.

(2Peter1:1)

The course of our lives is greatly determined by how much or little of that Faith we choose to employ.

Mary is one of my Faith Heroes. If Abraham is called the father of Faith because he believed God (Romans 4:11, Galatians 3:7, Hebrews 11:8-10), Mary would be the mother of Faith, both figuratively and literally, because Jesus, her firstborn, is the “Author and Finisher of our Faith”. (Hebrews 12:2)

Think about the Faith of Mary. She was a virgin girl raised in one of the poorest villages in Israel. Biblical Scholars believe that she was probably fourteen when the Angel Gabriel came to visit her.

Here is what He looked like, according to the prophet Daniel:

“On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,  I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.  His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.“

Gabriel appeared to Zachariah the High Priest, Mary, the Shepherds, and Joseph, Mary’s fiancé, in a dream. All of them, though horribly frightened, believed him, except Zachariah, who called nonsense on him and was made mute until the words Gabriel spoke to him were fulfilled.

Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds were all heroes of Faith because, no matter how outrageous the things that Gabriel, the personal messenger of God, spoke, they all believed and obeyed him.

None of these folks had ever seen a photograph, a film, or a video. They had never heard amplified sound. Yet, even though frightened nearly to death, they obeyed the voice that sounded like “the sound of a multitude”.

Mary was told that even though she had never had sex with a man, she would become pregnant and that her child would be God in the flesh and of His reign there shall be no end. She bought it.

Here is what she said: “Pay attention, I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done unto me according to your Word.”

(Luke 1:38)

Joseph, the Fiancé of Mary, was revolted by the story that Mary told him. He was trying to figure out how to divorce her quietly without embarrassing her or her family when Gabriel appeared to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid to marry Mary, because the story she told him was true. He bought in and married her.

The Shepherds in the fields, guarding their flocks by night, saw and heard Gabriel tell them the “Good News of Great Joy, Which Shall Be To All People.” Gabriel told them that a virgin had given birth to the Messiah and told them to go and find her. They bought in and risked their lives and jobs to obey Gabriel.

Luke was a hero of Faith. He was a follower of Paul and a Physician. He interviewed all the eyewitnesses to Jesus’ deeds. I believe that Mary met Luke in Ephesus when she was there with John the disciple, teaching the Gospel. She was the eyewitness who explained the complex set of circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus to him. He used his Faith to believe her and write a meticulous and most thorough account of the greatest event of all time.

You are heroes of Faith! You have chosen to believe the report of the birth of Jesus and all of His Words and promises. You prove your Faith by supporting the work of Throne of Grace Ministries/KnowJesusKnowGrace.Com.

THANK YOU.

HAT’S ALL, FOLKS, END OF TEACHING

LETS ROLL!

My commitment to Charlie Kirk is to do what I can to pick up his torch. I intend to give more, work harder, and be more outspoken. I am committed to making every effort to expand the footprint of our ministry dramatically and to be fearless in that endeavor.

As long as each of us has passion and breath, as long as we set our sails and join the race, Charlie Kirk’s ministry will never die. We can’t let it.

Thank you, Our Golden Givers! You are helping us utilize the high-tech world that God created to share the Good News of Great Joy, which shall be to all people. You are helping us roll!

You folks can really help us reach these new believers by listening to our Podcasts, liking them. sharing them with your friends, subscribing to them and commenting on them.