“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).

It’s the day before Christmas day and I had meant to get this post published much sooner in the week, but better late than ever I suppose!

I’ll keep it brief but I really felt the Lord wanting me to say something quick as concerning this subject and the times ahead.

Friend, it’s been another year of chaos and insanity, though you already knew that; and now that the year is almost expired and we are in the enter holiday season, so I wanted to exhort you to have some joy and merry this Christmas and New Years, or whatever it is that you celebrate or don’t. Whatever you do or don’t do is none of my concern, but whatever it is that you do, do it with some joy, gladness, merriment, and mirth.

I have already made peace with the issue concerning holidays and what the Bible has to say. I have a lengthy study with tons of scripture discussing the matter, which you can check out as to not repeat myself, titled “The Real Issue With Christian Liberty, Is Not Liberty: It’s Charity.” Every year the “holiday hunters” come crawling out from their filthy lagoon this time of year to impress upon you their vain wisdom they got from the inside of a cereal box, running about to steal your joy and make you feel miserable and as envious as they are. Misery loves company after all.

A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

Proverbs 13:5

Something all people who “loveth and maketh a lie” (Revelation 22:15) have in common is they are these miserable, loathsome, bitter, envious, callous losers who have nothing better to do than waste everyone’s time, in an attempt to stoke their own ego whilst justifying their own sacrilege.

There is a HUGE difference between someone who simply does not view any day to be special or of any real significance (which is what I mostly fall into, for the most part); versus these losers who incessantly shout from the rooftops, clearing up any confusion that they are indeed FOOLS to the highest degree. And then these people want to point the finger and blame you for causing division: oh the irony!

William Shakespeare had a great way of putting it: “It’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt.”

[9] He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. [27] He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. [28] Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Proverbs 17:9, 27-28

But I digress from the point of this article. If you want more surety from the scriptures concerning this topic than go watch my studies on it. If people want to keep pining away whining and preaching to their shadows then they can do that: WE have better things to do with our time, or at least I do that is.

Anyways, here’s the crux of what I wanted to say:

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

After another year of insanity, stupidity, frustration, woe, anger, emptiness, loneliness, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera; we all could use some medicine and some healing.

So, brethren and dear reader, whatever it is that you do this remainder of December, do it with joy, merry, and gladness. For that matter, do all of that each day, but specifically for the remainder of this year.

People, and ESPECIALLY saved, born again believers can be so uptight, high-minded, and persnickety over anything and everything. Believers have a tendency to overcompensate and zealously try so hard to be the ‘ideal Christian,’ you can make yourself go nuts and lose all true, righteous joy and mirth in the process, and end up worse than you ever were.

It has gotten so insanely out of control nowadays, but hardly no one is genuine anymore: everything is artificial and contrived, and done in vainglory for others to see and emulate. I see this even more so with professing Christians. Friend, just obey the book and stop making things harder than they need to be. Do you have the Spirit in you? Do you have God’s word (KJB) to direct you, right? Okay then, just take it for what it is and believe it, and live it.

Reader, there is a HUGE difference between moderation and temperance (Philippians 4:4; 2 Peter 1:1-11) and being menpleasing, lukewarm Laodiceans (Ephesians 6:5-9; Revelation 3:14-22).

[9] And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, [10] The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, [11] Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 4:9-11

I am guilty of this too, but we so often forget that the Lord created us for his pleasure, not so we can be monastic Catholics in a dark convent somewhere, where we flagellate ourselves if so much as the thought of sin enters our minds. I am NOT justifying anything sinful, not in the slightest bit, but as I said earlier, trying to be oober pretentious just makes all that stuff worse.

[7] Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. [8] Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. [9] Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. [10] Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

Flying in the face of the holiday hunters, we are advised by Solomon under the inspiration of God to in fact make merry and have joy in all that we do. Again, this is why I advise brethren and readers to relax and take a spiritual chill-pill: trying to put on all this piety and pseudo-righteousness will just make your life so utterly miserable, to the point where you can no longer take correction and admonishment, as every act of kindness from others is soured upon; while you can barely walk and chew gum at the same time!

Brethren, we all have a date with death. This life will end someday. Instead of wasting it away, Solomon says what he says. The lost world also accepts that they will die, and instead choose hedonism as their guiding principle; or as the scriptures put it:

[17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, [18] Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: [19] Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

[15] And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. [16] And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: [17] And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? [18] And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. [19] And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. [20] But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? [21] So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Ephesians 4:17-19; Luke 12:15-21

Notice how in both passages (and many others like it), CHARITY is neglected and forgotten.

But unlike the lost world which has “no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13), and are “driven away in [their] wickedness” (Proverbs 14:32); those that are saved are supposed to live, believe, and demonstrate that “the righteous hath hope in his death,” (Proverbs 14:32); which according to 1 Timothy 1:1: “God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;” for he said “I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25).

But without charity “I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).

All of this to say – coming full circle again to Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 – Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. [5] Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” Enjoy this life while it lasts: don’t waste it away. Do not do things halfheartedly and do not commit wickedness that will only accelerate your death (Romans 8:13), but go out and enjoy it, and be charitable to others.

Consider this passage:

[17] Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; [18] That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; [19] Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

1 Timothy 6:17-19

You see that? Be charitable, fear the Lord, depart from evil, all while enjoying this life and things that God has blessed us with. I will tell you as I have grown in grace, and knowledge, wisdom, and perception, prudence, and discretion; even though this world continues to get so utterly disgusting, repulsive, abominable, oppressive, and so forth, and I too get angry, bitter, sorrowful, depressed, nervous, envious – I still have “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:8).

This is why I wish to exhort you, dear reader, to do all in moderation and charity.

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Proverbs 18:9

Don’t waste away your life: live it and enjoy it, work hard, stand up for righteousness and truth, love your spouse, love your children, love your neighbor, and praise and fear the Lord. Do the Lord’s work and adhere to his will he has for you in your life, and get busy, but also remember to enjoy the things that God has richly given you. Don’t waste your time aimlessly waiting imminently to be whisked away whilst do nothing and not fighting hard against the wiles of the devil and sin.

Bearing all these things in mind, I must also dispense a sobering warning:

If you have followed The WinePress for any length of time you know that I am not in the business of sensationism, false hopes, fear porn, but dealing with facts, truth, and logic no matter whom it may offend.

But I am being as serious as a shark attack when I say this: I enjoy this Christmas and holiday season while it lasts: make merry, enjoy it, savor it, bottle it up and save it; because this will probably one of if not the last genuine ones we have, at least for a while.

Ladies and germs, after tons of research and analysis of events happening in the world across multiple sectors, studying of the scriptures, and prayers and meditation with the Lord; I regret to inform you that 2023 is going to be a very rough and painful year.

I will not delve too much into this now, as I do plan to discuss more of this moving into next year, either sometime before or after the New Year; but the America and the Western world and allies have reached an impasse point, and things are going to get really hairy really fast. If you thought these last several years were taxing, then you best get your body, soul, and spirit in check; for I do firmly believe 2023 will be one of lots of sorrow, distress, and anxiety for a myriad of reasons. But in short, most of what I wrote of in my report “Are You Awake? Are You Ready For What’s Coming? Do You Loathe The Honeycomb??,” I do feel we are finally going to really see some of that come to pass; (which I recommend rereading). 2022 was the calm before the storm I feel…

I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

1 Corinthians 4:14

I shall leave it there for now. For now, as I said, have some merriment as we close out this year. Enjoy this time, if you can, with your family, friends, and neighbors. If you can’t and are alone, or you don’t care at all about Christmas and other festivities, then spend your time in prayers and fasting, and reading scripture and singing hymns; or perhaps do something nice for your neighbor and someone you’ve never met; or give something to someone (who is a not a slothful, communistic bottom feeder); as the scriptures say: “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Or, better yet, go out and witness for Jesus Christ: hand out tracts, give King James Bibles, and so forth; for the people are temporarily more receptive to humoring you than they normally would be.

To all that read: Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Mele Kalikimaka, God Jul, Joyeux Noël, Vrolijk Kerstfeest, Frohe Weihnachten, счастливого Рождества, חג מולד שמח, メリークリスマス, Buon Natale.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Philemon 25

[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

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12 Comments

  • Merry Christmas to you Brother Jacob. That was an amazing article. This may be the only article I’ve read that caused a tear to run down my cheek. Thank you for that and all you do for the Lord. God bless you brother!

  • Merry Christmas to you dear brother Jacob, and the brethren. Thank you for this wonderful article. I pray that you and your ministry be most blessed always, and that you have a wonderful Christmas. May the LORD bless you and reward you exceedingly.

    Deuteronomy 28:3-6
    [3]Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
    [4]Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
    [5]Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
    [6]Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

  • Merry Christmas! Thank you for the heartwarming words! I too often get easily depressed! God bless you and see you again soon in the next awesome articles!

  • Yes, 2023 will be really tough in Brazil, now that our good President Bolsonaro lost in a stolen election and that Communist Lula is going to be our President for the third time.

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  • Same to you Jacob, Have a good peaceful Christmas and Happy New Year. What is awesome is that I just read Prov 17:22 this morning during my 1Cor 4-5 study.
    God Bless Ya
    Dave and Tammy

  • If you love the Lord Jesus Christ the Jew then you will see just how blasphemous satans Xmas is. Satan perverted the image of Gods angel host to mankind depicting them as all women on the nativity scenes everywhere. Graven images of him as a child , “mary” and Joseph too . Her real name is miriam in her native tongue. Talk about statue worshipping…. idolatry at its finest.

    Y’all didn’t catch on to hanukkah. Who do you think created it ??? Lol

    Hanukkah nowhere to be found in the KJV Torah part …. Not that we can’t create traditions of celebration to JESUS or just for fun but most people find it terribly hard to not feed into the fleshly lusts.

    People blur the lines between Vanity and worship.

    To each there own but look at how In this judgment God is taking it away.

    Coz the apostles never celebrated it nor created it in his name so why aren’t you listening to their words in the New Testament and seeing with your own eyes this truth.

    The heart wants what it wants Jesus made that clear in Jeremiah 17:9 & proverbs 28:26

    No one in Jerusalem that got saved after Jesus’ resurrection created any tradition to his birth and yet they knew his date of birth.

    God shows us in the Old Testament that when and if he wants us to celebrate something for a special day of worship To him he will speak it into existence.

    The Jews in the Old Testament didn’t get traditions for A yippy good old party time …. has anyone even read the book of Leviticus. What a heaping burden God put on them and he did it on purpose coz they
    We’re lovers of mans traditions and wanted their own to be proud and glorify themselves so God let them have it! almost 700 laws …..

    Yikes!!!

    Moses went up to heaven for 40 days and the encampment had a die hard itch for tradition of any kind and they perverted themselves. The vanity. Satans Monkey see monkey do.

    LISTEN reeeaal close to the pages written by God himself through his prophets and apostles and please realize the basic teaching God wants to be worshipped in spirit because he is a Spirit.

    Just read John chapter 4. You will understand.

    I pray for the spiritual blindness of all to be lifted and the brethren not to be led astray but man made traditions.

    The real new year was also the Judaic new year (but it was only for the jews to keep at for the Old Testament times) one as Jesus will make it to be a tradition FOR ALL in his 1000 year reign,
    There , Once a year all the people’s of earth must return to Jerusalem to worship God or else they get no rain for that year.

    See …. we don’t have to go to Jerusalem to worship him because we are in a different dispensation right now. Faith not sight.

    Be Merry at heart and keep it right with God too. It’s easy.

    Just trying to be helpful to saved and lost and newly saved.

    Rule of thumb, if Satan created it we should have no part in it , for we cannot worship two masters or what hath Baal and Jesus in common!?

    In modern terms should you eat fast food or healthy food? Water or soda pop? Satan or God?

    Do not be equally yoked with unbelievers, fakers, lost, pagans … etc.

    Oil and water don’t mix for a reason and example.

    Hope y’all have a wonderful day!

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