The True Meaning of Christmas

Min. Angela Lee Price

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:10-14).

What is the true meaning of Christmas?  It depends on who you ask.  For many in society, Christmas is just another holiday or another season to make money. Christmas means jolly ol' Saint Nick is on his way to find out whose been naughty and whose been nice; that the halls are decked with bales of holly, lights, trees, and and shiny things.

For some, Christmas means family and foods from festive recipes loaded with sugar, spice and everything nice. Christmas to the sports fan means the season for basketball and football - games galore, college rivalries, bowl games, NBA and so much more.

For others though, Christmas means not gladness but sadness, worries and stress about mounting bills, which gifts to get and which gifts to give.  It is not the most wonderful time of the year. Gift-getting and gift-giving oftentimes overshadow our greatest gift, Jesus the baby in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothing.

The true meaning of Christmas can be found in the greeting the angel(s) gave the shepherds the night Jesus was born (Luke 2:10-14).

The true meaning of Christmas can be found in Luke 2:10-14:  
1) That God loves man:  “Fear not” (v10); (See also John 3:16 and 2 Timothy 1:7)
2) That God’s love is manifested” “For, Behold,” (v10); (See also 1 John 3:1)
3) That God showed His mercy before man sought it” “I bring,” (v10); (See also Romans 5:6-8)
4) That good tidings and joy are for every individual: “you,” (v10);  (See also Acts 13:32)
5) That God is no respecter of persons: “to all people,” (v10);   (See also Isaiah 52::10 and Romans 2:11)
6) That salvation from sin is within reach of everyone (v11). (See also Acts 4:12)
7) That God wants man to enjoy peace on earth, and good will among men (v 14) (See also John 14:27).

Happy New Year from Jesus Saves Ministries, Louisvillle. 

Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ!

I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost 2

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

The following links are from a nifty website called GotQuestions.org. I pray you will take the time to peruse these one-page fact sheets on ghosts and related topics so that you will become better eqipped to defend the faith.  More Christians, it seems, believe in ghost and the paranormal due to all the ghost hunting shows on television, and in the movies and because they just don't know what the Word of God says about this subject.  My bible tells me, absent from the body is present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).  I ain't afraid of no ghosts either.

What does the Bible say about ghosts / hauntings?

Answer: Is there such a thing as ghosts? The answer to this question depends on what precisely is meant by the term “ghosts.” If the term means “spirit beings,” the answer is a qualified “yes.” If the term means “spirits of people who have died,” the answer is “no.” The Bible makes it abundantly clear that there are spirit beings, both good and evil. But the Bible negates the idea that the spirits of deceased human beings can remain on earth and “haunt” the living.

Hebrews 9:27 declares, “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” That is what happens to a person’s soul-spirit after death—judgment. The result of this judgment is heaven for the believer (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23) and hell for the unbeliever (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:22-24). There is no in-between. There is no possibility of remaining on earth in spirit form as a “ghost.” If there are such things as ghosts, according to the Bible, they absolutely cannot be the disembodied spirits of deceased human beings.

The Bible teaches very clearly that there are indeed spirit beings who can connect with and appear in our physical world. The Bible identifies these beings as angels and demons. Angels are spirit beings who are faithful in serving God. Angels are righteous, good, and holy. Demons are fallen angels, angels who rebelled against God. Demons are evil, deceptive, and destructive. According to 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, demons masquerade as “angels of light” and as “servants of righteousness.” Appearing as a “ghost” and impersonating a deceased human being definitely seem to be within the power and abilities that demons possess.

The closest biblical example of a “haunting” is found in Mark 5:1-20. A legion of demons possessed a man and used the man to haunt a graveyard. There were no ghosts involved. It was a case of a normal person being controlled by demons to terrorize the people of that area. Demons only seek to “kill, steal, and destroy” (John 10:10). They will do anything within their power to deceive people, to lead people away from God. This is very likely the explanation of “ghostly” activity today. Whether it is called a ghost, a ghoul, or a poltergeist, if there is genuine evil spiritual activity occurring, it is the work of demons.

What about instances in which “ghosts” act in “positive” ways? What about psychics who claim to summon the deceased and gain true and useful information from them? Again, it is crucial to remember that the goal of demons is to deceive. If the result is that people trust in a psychic instead of God, a demon will be more than willing to reveal true information. Even good and true information, if from a source with evil motives, can be used to mislead, corrupt, and destroy.

Interest in the paranormal is becoming increasingly common. There are individuals and businesses that claim to be “ghost-hunters,” who for a price will rid your home of ghosts. Psychics, séances, tarot cards, and mediums are increasingly considered normal. Human beings are innately aware of the spiritual world. Sadly, instead of seeking the truth about the spirit world by communing with God and studying His Word, many people allow themselves to be led astray by the spirit world. The demons surely laugh at the spiritual mass-deception that exists in the world today.

Recommended Resource: The Truth Behind Ghosts, Mediums, and Psychic Phenomena by Ron Rhodes.

Did the witch of Endor really summon Samuel from the dead (1 Samuel 28:7-20)?What does the Bible say about praying for the dead?
What does the Bible say about praying to / speaking to the dead?
What does the Bible say about channeling?

Source:  GotQuestions.org Home

The Believer's Resurrection 2023

By: Angela Lee Price

It is no more remarkable that we should live again than that we should live at all!  We just need to think of the bewildering complexity of the human body and the even more intricate workings of the human personality to see that we are indeed "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps. 139:14).  The God who could make us once can certainly make us again.  What is of utmost importance to the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  It is a fundamental, factual, and fervent belief.  It gives us hope for the future.  Because  Jesus died and rose again on the third day, we too, by faith shall be raised in our mortal bodies to put on immortality to spend eternity with the Lord.

Our belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is a fundamental belief.  In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth to remind them of the gospel he had preached  to them stating, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...." (1 Corinthians 15: 3-4).  This is the eu angelion, the gospel which means "Good News." Apart from it the Word of God is a false, the work of Christ is a failure, and the witness of the Spirit is a farce.

The Resurrection is a factual belief.  The Apostle Paul referenced the Scriptures used logic and factual evidence to combat the false teaching of those claiming there was no resurrection of the dead.  He provided proof of the resurrection of Christ.  Paul stated, ...he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve, then to 500 brothers and sisters at the same time...He then appeared to James and to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me...." (vv5-8).  Paul put icing on the list of witnesses to the resurrection stating, "and.. he appeared to me". In other words, I am not telling you what I heard or what I think I know. I am telling you what I know.   Paul had a personal encounter with Jesus later on the road to Damascus as he was persecuting the saints.  Do you have a "know-so" faith?  Have you had a personal encounter with Jesus on your own "Damascus Road"?  Then you ought to tell somebody about the Lord!

Paul said if Christ did not rise from the dead, our faith is useless.  But Christ did rise from the dead and we will also be resurrected (vv12-14; 20-23).  Jesus speaking to Martha when Lazarus died said, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11: 25-26).  Then he asked her the ultimate question, the question I am asking you now, "Do you believe this?"  Martha answered, "Yes, Lord...."  What is your answer?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ --as wonderous as it is, as marvelous and as game-changing as it is-- it is not the end of God's display of power!  Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, believers shall be raised from the dead also.   Our resurrected bodies will be the same bodies. Thomas would not believe unless he felt Jesus' wounds.  Jesus proved it to Peter, John and the disciples whom he called from their boat to have breakfast with him along sea shore before he ascended. Paul told the church as with Jesus, "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.  The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power, it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body (vv42-44). Our bodies, will be splendid bodies -- the mortal shall put on immortality.  Our bodies will be spirit bodies, incorruptible like Jesus' glorious body.  This is our inheritance, the hope of the  bodily resurrection of the believer.  We praise God for it!

The belief in the resurrection is not only fundamental to the Christian faith and factual with many witnesses, the prospect of it is the rapture of the church.  It is a fervent belief.   Paul said, "Listen, I tell you a mystery:  we shall not all sleep, but we will be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed (vv51-52).    The song of the living and raptured saint is "O death, where is thy sting."  The song of the departed but raptured saint is "O grave, where is thy victory" (v55).

Brothers and sisters, we have the hope of the believer's resurrection.  We shall enjoy resurrection bliss.  We shall be with our Glorious Lord in heaven, a glorious land. We thank God for Jesus who gives us  abundant life here on earth, and one day we shall live with Him throughout eternity.

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Turn Your Bad Friday Into Good Friday

By: Min. Angela Lee Price
Are you having a bad Friday? Turn your bad Friday into Good Friday. After all, today is Good Friday!

Say “TGIF – Thank God I’m Forgiven!” Write down, “TGIF.” Take the “T” that represents the Cross and move it from the beginning to the end because Jesus is coming back again. Now you have the word, “GIFT.” You have just turned your bad Friday into Good Friday. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life!” You've got a Gift in Jesus Christ!

Turn your bad Friday into Good Friday. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Isaiah 53:5 says, "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." What can wash away are sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Turn your bad Friday into Good Friday. Jesus defeated Satan and his evil forces at the cross! Colossians 2:15 states, "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them at the cross."

The disciples turned their bad Friday into Good Friday in Acts 6. They recognized that they were not serving properly within the body of Christ so, “They gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry for the Word of God in order for us to wait tables” (v2).

An excerpt from the sermon, "Get In Where You Fit In!," Acts 6.
It is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

Devotional: Now Run And Tell That!

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

Scripture: John 20:1, 10-17

"Jesus said, 'Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (v17 NIV).

Six women in the New Testament had the name Mary. One of them was from a northern city called Magdala in Galilee. Mary Magdalene became a follower of Jesus early in his ministry after he healed her of seven demons (Luke 8.2). I don’t know if her head spun around like Linda Blair in the movie, The Exorcist, or if she cut herself violently like the Gadarene demoniac, but one thing is for sure she was eternally grateful when Jesus freed her from her affliction so much so, that she left everything to follow Him. She became a friend, supporter, traveling companion, and disciple. When all the disciples abandoned Jesus during his crucifixion, Mary Magdalene stayed there, along with the other women. On the morning of the resurrection, Mary and some other women including Mary the mother of James and Joseph went to anoint to body of Jesus, but found the tomb empty (Matt. 28:1-5; John 20:1). She ran and got James and John, and after they had left, she met the risen Jesus.

Some Gnostic writings would have you to believe that Jesus married Mary Magdalene. Dan Brown in the DaVinci Code goes so far as to claim that they even had a baby together. However, there is no evidence to prove this in Scripture. Evidence indicates that Jesus and Mary had a unique relationship, one of Teacher and disciple. It was unique in that women were not permitted to study the Law. Jesus broke all the rules where women were concerned. He risked being considered unclean for associating with them. And for a Rabbi to associate in any way with a woman once possessed with evil spirits was unheard of in his culture.

Jesus called Mary to a pivotal assignment at the tomb on Resurrection Morning. He could have told her to go and play with the children since that’s “woman’s work,” or go and pray since women “know how to get a prayer through,” or go and stay quiet since women “should keep quiet in the church,” but he didn’t. He said to her, “Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” In other words, Now run and tell that!

Somebody needs to know that He is risen! Regardless of the situation, there is hope in Jesus Christ. He’s a heart fixer, a mind regulator, a burden bearer, and heavy load sharer! Somebody needs to put on some jogging shoes today and run and tell that!

What is it that we must do if we are to effect change in our society and bring more people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? We must...

Start early

1. “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” If you want to make a discovery about who Jesus is, get a jumpstart while it is still dark. Start early.

Stay fit

2. If you are going to be a trailblazer for Jesus, you must stay fit. To run for Jesus requires that you have strength, stamina, courage and conviction. Mary Magdalene didn’t just begin running for Jesus in verse 17, she began running for him soon after He cured her of seven demons (Luke 8:3). The race is not to the swift, but to those who endure to the end. Stay fit.

Stay late

3. The bible says, "Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying…. " (v11). She stayed late. In this severe economic crisis, many people are turning to God. However, many are not participating and partnering with God. Like the disciples, in running to look in the tomb and leaving, many people come to church, look in and leave early. Some come to see what they can see and, and others come to get what they can get. Mary Magdalene stayed late. She went beyond the call of duty and tried to tend to the things of God. If you want to hear from God in a direct and profound way, do what Mary did and stay late.

To run and tell that, not only must you start early, stay fit, stay late, but you must…

Stick with it.

4. The angels asked, "Woman, why are you crying?" She told them, "They have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put him." She was so concerned about finding Jesus that she threw protocol and formality out the window. She didn’t say, "My name is Mary, and you are? What you doing just sitting in the tomb in all that white?” None of that. She was so busy sticking to the task of searching for Jesus, that the presence of the angels was the least of her concerns. The bible tells us, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Tim 2:15. Stick with it.

And finally, you must...

5. Stride Wide
Jesus told Mary, "Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (v17). In Matthew 28:18-19, Jesus told the disciples, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Ghost;..." The operative word here is "Go." Go to your brothers and sisters who have lost sight of Jesus. Go to those who need to know who Jesus is. Go to every body and tell them about the goodness of the Lord. Tell them Jesus is risen! Tell them Jesus saves! Now run and tell that!




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Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

Resurrection Sunday: What True Love Does

“And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome had bought sweet spices that they might come and anoint Him.”  Mark 16:1-6.

Love doesn’t sit around,  and mope around during times of crisis!  Love doesn’t sit around on its "do nothing" waiting for someone else to do something!  Love doesn’t keep putting off til tomorrow, next week, next year what can be done today!  Love doesn’t make light of, normalize or trivialize serious matters!   Love doesn’t mope around with head hanging down, but looks up, prays up, speaks up, and stand up!  Love looks to the hills from which cometh its help…love prays and keeps on praying…love speaks those things that be not as though they were…love stands on the promises of God!!  That’s what love does!  That's what the women did on Resurrection morning.

The women who came to the tomb on Resurrection Sunday can teach a number of lessons about such love. We see our obligation to respond to the love of God with action.

True love leads to action.  Love led these women to seek Jesus that morning.  Some of them were the last at the cross and the first at the grave.  Love led these women to bring the expensive gift of sweet spices to properly prepare his body for burial. This shows how true love willingly makes heavy sacrifices.  The Bibles says, "This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and see his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."  (1 John 3:16-18)

Secondly, love leads us to see Jesus early.  The women came early in the morning.  This teaches us the time to seek the Lord is early. Early in life.  Ecclesiastes 12:1 states, "Remember your creator in the days of your youth.  Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go,  and when he is old he will not turn from it."  Early in the day.  Psalm 5:3 states, "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.  This allows one to be with Him when the mind is fresh and bright.  In the early stages of everything you do, you ought to seek the Lord!  Don't wait until it is late or until things have reached the point of desperation. 

True love presses on. The women could have failed to go because they knew they would face soldiers, a stone, and a seal.  They refused to be deterred by what they were sure would be difficult.  When there is true love, it will push on through the obstacles.  Paul said it, I press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lastly, true love finds its rewards. Those who press forward in spite of difficulty always find more than they had anticipated.  The women sought the dead body of Jesus and found an angel and a living Savior.  The Bible says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart”  (Jeremiah 29:13). Earnest seekers always find more than what they thought they were seeking.  This is what love does!

Prayer for Much More Love

Heavenly Father, You are the one true God. Beside You there is no other god. We bless Your name. You are Yahweh, King of kings and Lord of lords.  You are the Great I am, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  We worship You with the fruit of our lips today. 

In a world that is becoming increasingly more violent, I pray for more love.  For you demonstrated your love for us in this, while we were sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Lord, thank you for loving us so much that you sent your son Jesus to die for our sins that we might have eternal life ( John 3:16).  

Father, forgive us for failing to love as You have commanded. I pray like the apostle Paul prayed in Ephesians 3 that we may be rooted and established in love and in power, that we may grasp how wide and long and how high and deep is the love of Christ and to know his love that surpasses knowledge that we may be filled to measure with Your fullness.

Heavenly Father, help us love you more faithfully. Give us more love.  Help us to obey and keep your commandments. We live under grace and not the law; that doesn't mean we should live any kind of way, but that we ought set the standard for a more excellent way.  We thank you for grace that keeps us when we fall, and love that lifts us back up again.  Help us, oh Lord to love our neighbors and ourselves. 

I pray for family members, friends, co-workers, colleagues, churches, and communities in Kentucky and everywhere.  Help us to give and receive more love.  I pray  for our enemies and those who mistreat us.  Please give them what they need most. Your word says, "Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).  Lord, I pray for everyone who is on this journey to Christ likeness. May they give and receive love at home, at church, on the job, and even here on the Jesus Saves Ministries Blog. May we speak truth in love according to Your Word. For you have said, the greatest of these is love (1Corinthians 13:13). In Jesus Name, Amen.

What Does Frederick Douglass and Valentine's Day Have in Common?

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

Abolitionist, orator, author, diplomat, politician and polemicist Frederick Douglass was born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in Maryland in February in either 1817 or 1818. The exact date of his birth is unknown. However, he chose to celebrate his birthday on Valentine's Day, February 14th. Frederick Douglass was a courageous African American intellectual who escaped slavery, and through his life and literary works, provided hope for the future.

In his 1845 autobiographical book entitled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, Douglass eloquently articulated that hope as he reflected on his life as a slave in Maryland. Had Douglass not penned his autobiography, we would have never known the full scope of brutalities, injustices, hypocrisies and humiliations he endured in his quest from slavery to freedom nor would we have understood the level of brilliance, creativity and bravery required of him in order for him to teach himself, and other slaves, to read and write in a system that treated the American Negro as chattel.

Moreover, Douglass’ scathing condemnation of slave-holding Christianity provides hope today to seminarians and Christians currently grappling to understand and explain this nation’s racial divide.

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Here are excerpts from three of Frederick Douglass' speeches:
Church and Prejudice
Fighting Rebels With One Hand
What A Black Man Wants

"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love" 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Remember, There's only one way to eternal life. Jesus Saves!