The world makes it so easy for us to forget the true meaning behind Christmas. With all the shopping, presents, lights, trees, feasts, and excitement, it seems that our worship is often cut short. In fact, the modern world squeezes us for every moment, not only at Christmas, but every day. Even with holiday vacations, most people have little time to spend with their families. It is usually spent out at the malls, either buying last minute gifts or taking advantage of the after Christmas sales. Christmas has become a commercial day, and not a day of thanksgiving for the birth of our Savior.

Brother Branham taught us that Christmas should not be lost in the enthusiasm of a commercial celebration, but it should be a day of worship. It represents the day that our Savior came to earth.

It's a day that we set aside. Course, we realize it isn't the Lord's birthday. He couldn't been born on December the 25th, because it's--it's so cold up there, shepherds could not have been on the hill, and so forth. And if you was ever in Judaea along that time of year, you'd know it wasn't--it wasn't in the winter time. But it's thought that it was perhaps along in April or May, when lambs are born. And like He come by all nature, just like the regular lambs are born; He was the Lamb of God, and He was born along that time. But I don't suppose that He cares what day we set aside, because the actual day is lost. But it's in commemoration of His birthday.

62-0117 Presuming

It is terrible to think that the Scriptures that were fulfilled on that spring day, two thousand years ago, are among the losses of this commercial holiday. The people of the world are simply too busy to sacrifice a moment, and dig deep into the Scriptures to find the real meaning of Christmas.

Moses, in the Book of Genesis, wrote that Shiloh would come from the Tribe of Judah. Numbers 24:17 tells of a coming Star out of Jacob. Isaiah 7:14 prophesies of a virgin conceiving a Child, Whose name will be called Immanuel (God with us). He then goes on in Chapter 9 to tell us that His name would be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. The Song Of Solomon calls Him the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys. The prophet Micah told us that, although it was a little town, He would be born in Bethlehem. Jeremiah 31:15 speaks of Herod ordering the murder of the babies in Israel about the time of the Christ’s birth, which drove Mary and Joseph into Egypt, where another prophecy was waiting to be fulfilled, Hosea 11:1. And then, of course, the gallant disciple John wrote: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (St John 1:1, 1:14).

With all the gifts that we receive during Christmas, let’s not overlook the Gift that our Creator has given us: His Word.

Since most of us do have a little time off to spend with our families this Christmas holiday, why not dedicate a portion of that time to learning more about the birth that we are honoring? Brother Branham called it the Family Altar. It is a time when parents and children can sit down at the table and learn as a family. Over the next week, we will post excerpts from Brother Branham’s sermons that specifically explain a certain prophesy about the birth of the Lord Jesus.

We will start with Isaiah 7:14 tomorrow. Brother Branham goes into detail about the prophecies of Isaiah, and the events that led up to the visit of the Angel Gabriel.

I pray that every family takes a moment to open their Bibles, read the Scriptures referring to the birth of Christ, and worship the Lord at the Family Altar this Christmas. Maybe our Savior will look over the Banister of Heaven and smile that there is a group of people on earth today who know what Christmas is truly about.

God bless you my friends. May Christ be with you this Christmas.

Brother Joseph Branham

You fathers, you mothers, are you ready to establish an altar in your house, and take that television out? Are you ready to take that deck of cards off the table? Them comic books that your children's reading, preparing their little mind for a blast that the Devil's going to give them. Are you ready to establish the old family altar again?

63-0120e Just One More Time, Lord