Newsletter                                                                 December 2022

Dear saints,

I hope you had a fruitful Thanksgiving. The world sets aside this day to give thanks for one's blessings. Every day believers should be thankful to God, that he sent his only begotten son to die for our sins, so we might have everlasting life. After that, whatever you’re thankful for should follow. God put into the hearts of his servants (who have been entrusted to write the Word) over and over, to always be thankful. If one is focused on this, the list can be endless. The scripture says “in everything give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thess. 5:18. In spite of negative situations that might be upon you, or in the world, still praise the Lord. Our country is blessed and highly favored by the Lord. The founding Fathers realized our foundation had to be built on the Word of God. Blessing Israel is also essential, as is sending the gospel around the world.

Christmas is right around the corner. This Christmas be wise in your gift-giving, don't overindulge. There is nothing wrong with giving a couple of gifts, as a token of Christ's birth. Christmas has become a hook for the retail business, a money-making holiday. This push used to start the day after Thanksgiving, now pre-black Friday sales start enticing the masses before then. This day was meant solely to be devoted to the birth of Christ.

I can only imagine what Mary’s troubled mind was thinking; when the angel told her she was blessed and highly favored of the Lord, Luke 1:28, 29. Also, she was told that she was chosen to give birth to a son, and shall call his name Jesus. Further, his reign would be forever, and his kingdom would have no end, Luke 1:31-33. By her response, Mary was a true worshipper of God, who knew the Messiah was coming. She said “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior”, Luke 1:46-47.

Tradition says wise men were at his birth, but not so. On the day Jesus was born, an angel appeared to shepherds announcing his birth; “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Luke 2:13-14. The shepherds gave no gifts. Neither did his parents. We learned through scripture at his birth, the giving of gifts isn’t biblical. The gift that was given was the message of salvation, spoken by the shepherds. They were the first Evangelists, who preached the gospel. “And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told to them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:16-19.

While the shepherds witnessed the miracle of miracles, the wise men just started their journey. They studied prophecy and were expecting the birth of a King, to rule Israel. Wise men from the east were led by a star to Jerusalem. It took approximately two years for their journey. Tradition once again was untruthful, it was said that there were three of them when scripture doesn’t say how many. When they found Jesus, He was living in a house, Mt. 2:11. The gifts they gave Jesus represented his future as King. Gold is the metal of a King, frankincense is the powder of the priest, and myrrh is the substance of embalming. The gift bearers knew he would be King of the Jews. They also knew he would be a priest and would sacrifice his life to bring us redemption.

This Christmas: be happy about the finished work at Calvary; be happy about the day you got saved and became a child of God; be happy that he is not a babe in a manger, but is coming back as our conquering King; be happy about reigning with Him for a thousand years; be happy that HE CONQUERED DEATH AND WE WILL BE WITH HIM FOREVER!

As fellow heirs in Christ, your prayers and financial support make it possible for us to continue sharing the gift of salvation and helping those in need. Our tools are via Website https://newhopeinthelord.com, by video at https://YouTube/newhopeinthelord, eighteen Public Access TV channels, radio, writings, and preaching in churches. To God be the glory, for what he did for us, at the cross. Please make your tax deductible check to The Master’s Hand Christian Fellowship and send it to 70 Church St, New Rochelle, NY 10801 or give through PayPal here: https://paypal.me/cohen727, or give directly through Zelle, to rev.joseph@aol.com, or go to https://newhopeinthelord.com and under the menu click donations. “We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word” Acts 6:4.

Serving Our King Together,          A Merry Christmas to all!
Rev. Joseph & Eric Ross