Tonight on the Hal Lindsey Report
Well, it's the holiday season again. And with it come the usual stresses and strains.
Some of the stress is caused by the tremendous disruptions of our daily schedules. Most of us are responsible for the usual loads we carry, plus all of the other activities and demands of the Christmas and New Year's rush. It can become almost too much to handle.
That's why depression and distress are so prevalent during the holidays -- and just when it's supposed to be the happiest time of the year!
We don't escape those disruptions here at "The Hal Lindsey Report." In fact, it's the only time of the year that we sometimes split our programming schedule and offer different programs on different networks.
And this is one of those times. Some of you will receive one program, while the rest of you receive another. But don't worry, you won't miss anything. Next week, the programming will be reversed and you will receive what you didn't see this week.
Now that I have you thoroughly confused, here's what you can expect this week on "The Hal Lindsey Report."
For those of you watching on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), you will learn that the life of Jesus as foretold by the prophets was so certain that it is described in the Bible as "a more sure (or certain) word."
As 2016 bears down upon us, many Christians are becoming more and more confused about what's important, or even what's true. At the same time, more unbelievers than ever are uneasy about what they see happening in the world. They know that things aren't right and they're feeling a sense of impending doom.
So where do they turn?
The only sure place to find answers is the Bible. In fact, the Apostle Peter said that the truth we get from the Bible is more certain than the testimony of an eyewitness.
The world is fascinated by the "prophecies" of modern "prophets" like Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, or Joseph Smith. But their predictions have invariably proven to be vague, at best, and completely erroneous at worst. And they are always "discovered" after the fact. Unlike the prophecies of the ancient Bible prophets who named names and dates centuries in advance and were never wrong.
As the world hurtles toward the end of this Age, we have the plan already laid out for us. And it's written -- straight from God Himself -- with unmistakable clarity and detail. As Peter described it, "...we have the prophetic word made more sure (than the testimony of an eyewitness) to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place...." (2 Peter 1:19, NASB)
Bible prophecy is built on the certainty of God's foreknowledge of what evil men will choose in the circumstances and events He places before them. This is why only God's prophecies given through His chosen prophets are 100% accurate.
So don't despair about events you see unfolding around you. It's going to get rough, but our Father has provided ample warning for us through His prophets and His Word. He's also given us "instructions" on how to prepare ourselves for these days.
More importantly, He's given us this promise: "Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:20, NKJV) No matter what happens in our near future, we can count on every word of that promise.
And this one: "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5, NKJV)
And He won't, even in the hustle and bustle and frustration of the holidays!
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For those of you watching on Daystar Television, The Word Network, CPM Network , and some of our local affiliates, I will present my traditional Christmas offering.
For many of us, Christmas is our favorite time of the year. But each year it grows more difficult to navigate the suffocating commercialism and secularization of the season to arrive at the genuine reason for the celebration: the incarnation of God as a human to become the sacrifice for our sins and make possible our reconciliation to God.
I'm afraid we've lost our sense of wonderment at the unfathomable miracles that made possible the advent of our Savior.
One of those miracles was the coming of the magi to worship the child. As is my recent custom, I will examine the story of those mysterious 'wise men' who traveled so far to worship the new 'King of the Jews.' Who were they? How did they know to watch for a sign in the heavens? How long did they wait for that sign? Where did they come from? (Hint: It's a land where, 20 centuries later, the followers of the Christ child are suffering tremendous persecution and martyrdom.) Why did gentiles come to worship the King of the Jews? How did God use them to preserve the Messiah's life? You'll learn the answers to all of these questions and more this week when I discuss "The Mystery of the Magi."
I think it will rekindle in you an appreciation of the complexity of God's plan to redeem His creation through His own sacrifice. Christmas is a celebration of that overwhelming and unsearchable love.
Have a blessed and wonderfully Merry Christmas!
Don't miss this week's Report here Sunday.
God Bless,
Hal Lindsey
