Dear Above Rubies readers,
I am going to send you out a few thoughts about the birth of Jesus each day until Christmas. I pray you will be very blessed. If you don’t have time to read them each day, print them off so you can take time to ponder them over the Christmas period, or even read them to the whole family. I know that you, all your family, and friends too, will be blessed as you share them.
Much love, Nancy
WHAT FILLS YOUR HEART THIS CHRISTMAS?
“Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
What do you think of at Christmas? To many people Christmas is coming home from shopping with a car filled with gifts, homes filled with decorations, tables filled with food and stockings filled with things we will never use. We are filled to over the top.
Does this picture relate to the story we read of Jesus’ birth in the New Testament? Yes, the birth of Jesus is a time of filling, but a different kind of filling. It is the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Nearly everyone associated with the birth of Jesus was filled and empowered with the Holy Ghost. Let’s have a look…
The birth of John the Baptist
The angel came to Zacharias and told him that he would have a son who would prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. He said in Luke 1:15-17, “He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost,even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.”
God was true to His word and Elisabeth, Zacharias’ wife conceived. Mary came to visit her during her pregnancy and the moment Mary greeted Elisabeth, “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Luke 1:41)
John was born with great joy. At his circumcision, when Zacharias announced his name would be called John, “Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied” (Luke 1:67).
The birth of Jesus
Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:35 says, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God.” Read also Matthew 1:18, 20.
After Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary took him to the temple to be dedicated. At the temple was a man named Simeon who was filled with the Holy Ghost. Luke 2:25-28 tells us more about him. He was “just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus… then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God…”
Simeon walked and lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. He listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Because he was in tune with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit was able to reveal to him about Jesus and He led him, by the Spirit, into the temple at the very right moment that Joseph and Mary brought Jesus. As Simeon held Jesus in his arms, he also prophesied by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 2:34-35)
Anna, a widow of 84 years, who “served God with fastings and prayers night and day” also prophesied by the Holy Spirit. (Luke 2:37-38)
The challenge is: what are we going to be filled with this Christmas? It should be a time to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Imagine what could happen if we spent as much, or more time, seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit as rushing around buying gifts and preparing for Christmas. Imagine if we took time to listen to the Holy Spirit. What would we learn?What would He say to us? What difference would it make in our lives and in our homes? Imagine if we asked the Holy Spirit to lead us instead of doing our own agenda. How would He direct us? Who would He lead us to speak to? What kind of Christmas would we organize?
Don’t you think it would be exciting? The birth of Jesus was not ordinary. It was supernatural. Everything that happened was miraculous. People were filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit.
Why don’t we put aside our own agenda for a moment and ask the Holy Spirit what He wants us to do. Let Him direct us and lead us at this Christmas time. Can we let the Lord fill us with His Holy Spirit and fill our homes with His Spirit? Oh what a difference!
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
PRAYER:
“Dear Father, I ask that you will lead me by your Holy Spirit. I want to hear your voice speaking to me. Please direct me the way you want me to go. Fill my life with your Holy Spirit. Fill our home with your Holy Spirit. May the anointing of the Holy Spirit be preeminent in all our lives this Christmas.”
AFFIRMATION:
I am listening to be led by the power of the Holy Spirit.