Far above there was once a war declared! Yet, there’s still a warfare to wage. And how was or is that related to Christmas?

Happy Birthday to Immanuel our Commander in Chief!

Yay!  Let’s each give Him a gift He'll love -- ourselves!  Let's come as we are today. 

Let's all celebrate, and fight on. Yep, on our knees! (Okay, so this is a different but sound take on Christmas.)

The Bible tells us believers to, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Tim. 6:12

Let’s pray and praise and worship the Lord our commander. Let's talk about that war declared in the heavens. It was before Adam and Eve. A great resistance to direct Authority there.  You remember...

“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." Gen. 3:15 

Puffed up, rebellious Lucifer and a third of the angels really lost out. They got booted out of heaven. We’re still seeing a heated cultural battle here that’s been getting worse.  

Now we spiritually reborn believers live in the target zone.. in the war zone but the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. 

“For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ..”  2 Corinthians 10:3-5

“I’m not afraid of the devil. The devil can handle me—he’s got judo I never heard of.  But he can’t handle the One to whom I’m joined; he can’t handle the One to whom I’m united; he can’t handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature.” ~ A.W. Tozer

So what verses go along with these words?  Kind of a unique Christmas passage does.  The Bible says...

“Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” Rev 12:1-6 nkjv

What do we see? The incarnation (of Jesus), the exaltation and the coronation. 

* Who is the Murderer (verses 1–6). The Child here is Jesus Christ, and the radiant woman here is NOT Mary nor is it the Church. The radiant woman in this passage actually represents Israel who brought the Savior into the world (See ”..on her head a garland of twelve stars” representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Genesis 37). Sure, think about it. Christ is the one who gave us the Church, and not visa-versa. The dragon here is Satan who tried to keep Jesus from being born and attempted to kill Him after He was born. Remember that happening? Satan still wants to rule this world and receive worship, and he will not submit to the King of kings (verse 5; Ps. 2:9).

Historians tells us that King Herod (or Herod the Great, as he liked to be called) was a cruel, power-hungry ruler who destroyed anyone he feared was trying to topple him from his throne. He even killed several members of his own family because he thought they were plotting against him. When a group of wise men (or scholars) came to Jerusalem shortly after Jesus was born they asked one question: Where could they find the newly-born king of the Jews? They added, “We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2, NKJV). When word of this reached King Herod, he sent for them and urged them to find the child, so he could worship him, too. But Herod was lying. His real goal was to destroy the child, fearing (illogically) that in time Jesus would take over his throne. God warned the wise men of Herod’s plot in a dream, and after Herod realized they had evaded him, he ordered the death of every child in Bethlehem below the age of two. Herod wasn’t the last to try to destroy Christ and His people; even in our own day evil men and women rise up against God’s work. But God’s Word is true: “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Matthew 16:18 kjv

* Who is the Deceiver (7–9). Warren Wiersbe here says this is a picture of the fall of Satan (Isa. 14:12–17). Sure, he was able to deceive one-third of the angels into following him (v. 4), and now he deceives the world into worshiping him. 

* Who is the Accuser (verses 10–12). Satan has access to God’s throne where he accuses God’s people (Job 1–2; Zech. 3). The Lamb overcomes him because of His victory on that Cross at Calvary (Rom. 8:31–34; 1 John 2:1–2) and because of the power of the Word (Eph. 6:17). The cross put and end to the war. Yes, the devil is a defeated foe, but is ticked off and dangerous still. The devil is not in the lake yet, nor is he in hell today making sinners shovel coal. Nope, but he’s a lot like a wounded animal about to be no more. 

”The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” - Rev 20:10

* Who is the Persecutor (verses 13–17). The war may be over in heaven, but it is just getting more intense here on earth. Satan knows his time is very limited. And he is really angry -- he seeks to destroy the Jews and make war with anyone who trusts in the Lord Jesus. But God is able to shelter His people in spite of Satan’s cruel attacks, but be sure you wear the full armor (Eph. 6:10–18) and trust your heavenly Father because. Trust Him because of blood of the cross of Christ. And keep on obeyin’, prayin’, fightin', praisin’, and worshipin’ Him!

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
   And wild and sweet
   The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
   Had rolled along
   The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
   A voice, a chime,
   A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
   And with the sound
   The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
   And made forlorn
   The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
   "For hate is strong,
   And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
   The Wrong shall fail,
   The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

“Happy Christmas, Kyoko. Happy Christmas, Julian

So this is Christmas

And what have you done

Another year over

And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas

I hope you have fun

The near and the dear one

The old and the young

A very Merry Christmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

And so this is Christmas (war is over)

For weak and for strong (if you want it)

For rich and the poor ones (war is over)

The road is so long (now)

And so happy Christmas (war is over)

For black and for white (if you want it)

For yellow and red ones (war is over)

Let's stop all the fight (now)

A very Merry Christmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear...

A very Merry Christmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

War is over, if you want it

War is over now

Happy Christmas!”~ Beatle John Lennon 

..J.L. was a seeker, who some in his later days say he professed a faith in Christ. He even went to a church. Me, not sure. None of us like a stupid world war -- such a waste!

Happy Christmas!  Rejoice and fight on, believers, but not with each other or in the flesh.  Who needs that? Nobody! (Blog)

Photos by Carla Dyck, Mr. De Predicated and World's best Hotels 2014.