Hello, friends and dear readers! We survived another year on this earth – a year of more rapid increasing wickedness, more wars, economic collapse, tensions running high, and just the daily frustrations that both come with the times and even our own internal suffering within ourselves; as Romans 8:23 says in part, “even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” If you are saved you know exactly what I am talking about.
Today of course is Christmas Eve, and a week from now will be the start of 2025. I wanted to take a moment to remind ourselves on what’s important and how to spend the time we have left this year, and what we can expect moving forward. Each year I write a similar message, so some of my talking points will be the same but are still very much relevant, even more than before.
Dear reader, I wanted to exhort you to have some joy and merriment 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; whether you treat every day alike, or you set aside some days for yourself and with family and friends; but whatever the case be sure you give the upmost thanks for all of it.
Typically I like to publish an annual Thanksgiving message as well, but I did not have a chance this year to do that, so I still want to include some of that admonishment as well; and so as a reminder:
Colossians 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. [15] And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. [17] And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. [17] Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. [18] And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; [19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; [20] Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; [21] Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Sure, there is a lot going wrong in the world today, but you can never get to the point where you stop giving thanks. That’s a huge problem we see everywhere and around the world: whiny, privileged, spoiled brats that are not content with anything, wallowing in their troughs of excess, never happy with what they got and even think to give thanks for it. Of course, this was prophesied to occur in the last days, and indeed we do see it on display everywhere we go.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Don’t fall into that state of unthankfulness. God will remind you when you least expect it when you lose sight of it. Let the world moan and groan like they always do, and let them alone and let them drown in their misery. Isaiah 57:19: “I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. [20] But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. [21] There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”
As the old hymn goes, “[…] And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.”
The heart of my message is simple and it is this:
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
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. I’ve learned that along the way; and I had to learn it some more this year. I’m guilty of letting the filth of this world get to me far too often than I should. At the same time, I am still learning to “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity” (Psalm 37:1). I’ll be the first to admit I am terrible at that at times. But there are many times the Lord still keeps me encouraged, I’ve had to learn to just control what I can control. After all, Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 11:9-10: “[9] Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. [10] Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.”
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).
SEE: ‘Be Not Righteous Over Much’ – When Too Much Wisdom And Knowledge Drives You Mad
Revelation 4:9 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.
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 über pretentious just makes all that stuff worse. Solomon had this to say on the issue:
Ecclesiastes 5:18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. [19] Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. [20] For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
Ecclesiastes 9:7 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.
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 (Ephesians 4:17-19; Luke 12:15-21); and that obviously is quite foolish, and giving yourself up to vanity will only ruin your life and hasten your death. SEE: “The Sad Vanity Of This Life, Working And Eating To Never Be Fulfilled.”
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:
1 Timothy 6:17 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.
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, 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; and don’t “be over much righteous” as I covered in a recent study.
This is why I wish to exhort you, dear reader, to do all in moderation and charity. It’s the simple things in life that bring us the most joy.
“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. But I digress.
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 sensationalism, false hope, fear porn, but dealing with facts, truth, and logic no matter whom it may offend. Unfortunately, many are simple and pass on and are punished (Proverbs 22:3), and they don’t heed the warnings. I’ve had brethren let me know what goes on in some of these forums and chatrooms that supposedly believe mostly what I believe doctrinally, and yet refuse to listen to the judgment to come and the problems lying ahead. Apparently, what I report on is just “fearmongering” to some. I mean, I’ve had brethren claim that I am “scaring them” for warning them about the obvious dominoes that are and will continue to fall. How sad – but some people just want to live in their own little echo chambers, disillusioned from life and reality.
But I am being as serious as a shark attack when I say this: 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 2025 is going to be another very rough and painful year. I said this of 2024, and it of course came with its own unique set of issues for us all around the world; but there is no question in my mind that 2025 is going to be full of a number calamities. To me, the proverbial “writing on the wall” will beset a lot of us, and there is going to be a lot of chaos. I’ve warned about this all throughout the year, and the amalgamation of events clearly seems to be reaching an inflection point that I feel will certainly be trying times for us.
“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. In the meantime, 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 prayer 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; 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 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.
Philemon 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
[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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