Christmas is the time to remember the birthday of Jesus Christ! The month of December reminds us that He started his ministry as a baby. Israel had expected a general who would lead an army against their enemies but It was not so... Yet what a Christmas story!

Jesus was not born in a palace or in a hospital, He was born in a barn because the Bethlehem Inn was full. He wore baby clothes of “swaddling cloth", and His first guests were a “multitude of angels” that were followed by some shepherds who were also invited by angels (Lk. 2:1-20). But the story doesn't end here...

Three years later, wise men guided by a star arrived from the east seeking to find Jesus. “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and we have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he sent others to find and kill Jesus. The wise men had seen the star and they followed it to him bringing birthday gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. During this time Jesus’ family escaped into Egypt after being warned in a dream and they stayed there until King Herod died (Matt. 2:1–15).

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Lk 2:11);

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa 9:6);

"We now believe not only because of your words; we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world." (Jn 4:42).

Today when we invite Jesus to be our Saviour and Lord, there are two parts to being "born again." The first is to repent for your sins, and the second, is to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with initial evidence of speaking in a new "tongues" language (God’s communication system) Acts 2:4, 41; 5:44; 8:14-17; 9:17; 10:44; 19:6.

There are 15 Christmas Gifts of the Holy Spirit that are distributed by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12:6–8; 1 Cor. 12:8–10). The Greek word for these gifts means “gift or gifts of grace”. To refuse any of them is to be in rebellion against the Holy Spirit which results in the one unforgivable sin called "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 12:31; Lk. 12:10).

Jesus promises and encourages us when He said, “If you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” ( Lk. 11:13; Matt. 11:13). We have seen children as young as 3 years old, or men and women as old as 90 years old receive! Salvation and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit along with the proof of speaking in tongues languages, are necessary so we can have control over our tongue (Jas. 4).

I remember in one of the Seminary classes  where I had attended, our professor was Dr. Bryant Kirkland, the Senior Pastor at the 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. He shared that there were some people who complained about the Gift of speaking in tongues. During his Sunday service message, he explained to his congregation that “the gift of speaking in tongues is a ‘good gift’ given by Holy Spirit... so get over it!” And they did! The result was a revival!