Lively Hope & Eternal Inheritance

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Peter is revealing the mystery of the ages that we celebrate with praises the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has shown us His extravagant mercy. For His fountain of mercy has given us a new life—we are reborn to experience a living, energetic hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We are reborn into a perfect inheritance that can never perish, never be defiled, and never diminish. It is promised and preserved forever in the heavenly realm for us!  What a celebration - the first result of our new birth is that we are brought into a living hope in the power of God, based on the resurrection of Christ, to excel in life.  The second result is an eternal inheritance, which is available now by faith, and is also reserved in heaven for us.  All this, because of our heavenly Father’s matchless mercy and tender compassions!  Glory to God!

Peace & Rest from the Holy Spirit

 “and the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭8:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Noah released the dove from the ark again. Before evening, the dove came back to him - and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf!  Previously Noah had sent a raven which allegorically symbolises the law which was sent out first but gave no assurance that the waters of judgment had been lifted.  The dove, returning with an olive branch, the symbol of peace, symbolises the Gospel of grace given to us by the Holy Spirit.  The glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ brought a better hope to us - judgment has retreated.  The Dove (Holy Spirit) cannot rest where there is corruption and death.  For generations, the Dove sought a place to rest till at last He rested on the Perfect Man, Jesus the Son of God under the open heaven at the Jordan river.  Every time the Dove of God comes, He brings a fresh olive branch - fresh oil for the sons and daughters of the Highest.  Let the Holy Spirit rest in our bodies, His temple as we surrender to Him to receive the nature of the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.  Thank You Holy Spirit!

Focus on Christ Alone

 “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The writer of Hebrews explains that we are now made holy, and each of us is invited to the feast of our heavenly calling. So let’s fasten our thoughts fully onto Jesus, whom we embrace as our Apostle and King-Priest.  The Aramaic word for priest is the same word used for Melchizedek and not for the Levites!  Let’s put our whole focus on the truth that we are co-included in Christ and are blameless as we participate in Christ’s identity.  Let’s acquaint ourselves immediately and fully with Christ confessing Him as our Apostle and High Priest and being focused on the Risen and Exalted Christ alone!  Hallelujah!

Doomed to Fall

 “but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy Lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭5:23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Belshazzar the Chaldean king was petrified when he saw the hand writing on the wall and asked for Daniel to come and interpret it.  Daniel told Belshazzar that he had risen against the true Lord of heaven.  By demanding that the sacred vessels of the temple of Jerusalem his predecessor king Nebuchadnezzar had brought for Belshazzar and his officials, his wives and his concubines to drink from, issuing a challenge to the true God, they cannot win.  They have made toasts and offered praise to the idols crafted in silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood and stone - idols which cannot see or hear or know anything at all.  And they have failed to honour in all they do, the One True God Who holds the breath of life in the palm of His Hand and makes possible all their days.  In the new covenant, this God has given His own Life for all mankind.  Therefore, if people choose to dishonour Him and His Church which is His Body, rendering Christ irrelevant, they are doomed to fall.  It may not be as quick as Belshazzar, but they will fall.  Amen!

Good News of Great Joy!

 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Luke wrote that the shepherds seeing the light of glory when the angel came to them out in the field, were petrified.  But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid, for I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere!  The angel or the celestial messenger calmed them and said that they had no reason to fear as he had the most wonderful announcement to make - this will lead to the great encounter of the most joyful bliss for every single person on the planet!  Christians are now the messengers who give this joyful news to everyone they encounter.  The message is of joy, not of suffering.  Unfortunately, the wrong message is being given by many who call themselves Christians, to their detriment, as heaven and earth will pass away but the Word of God will never - and the Word says that the Gospel is a joyous message.  Let’s correct ourselves and be Gospel carriers with joy in our hearts!  Amen!

Humility Attracts Glory

 “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭66:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied that Yahweh’s Hand made the heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth and all that is in it, they all belong to Him.  But there is one Yahweh’s eyes are drawn to: the humble one, the tender one, the trembling one who lives in awe of all He says.  The glorious God is too great, yet He humbled Himself to be born in a manger!  Our minds and our intellect cannot comprehend this wonder.  Our hearts are filled with awe and reverence that humility and glory are connected.  Let’s humble ourselves, trembling at His Word, so that we can carry His glory in us.  Amen!

In the Fullness of Time

 “but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul wrote that when the time of fulfillment had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law.  Everything predicted was concluded in Christ when the day dawned; the most complete culmination of time!  The Son arrived, commissioned by the Father; His legal passport to the planet was His mother’s womb.  In a human body like ours He lived His life subject to the same scrutiny of the law.  The Word became a human being; we are His address - He resides in us!  The glory we see is not a religious replica - He is the authentic monogenes begotten Only of God.  The glory that Adam lost, returns in fullness.  Only Grace can communicate Truth so completely!  Glory to God in the Highest!

Wonderful Yeshua

 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9:6-7‬ ‭KJV

Isaiah prophesied that a Child has been born for us; a Son has been given to us.  The responsibility of complete dominion will rest on His shoulders, and His Name will be: The Wonderful One!  The Extraordinary Strategist! The Mighty God!  The Father of Eternity!  The Prince of Peace!  Great and vast is His dominion.  He will bring immeasurable peace and prosperity.  He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom to establish and uphold it by promoting justice and righteousness from this time forward and forevermore.  The marvellous passion that the Lord Yahweh, Commander of the Angel Armies, has for His people will ensure that it is finished!  Let’s believe with great faith and are fully convinced that the One Who began this gracious work in us is faithful to complete it!  Hallelujah!

The Seed of David

 “concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul introduced Jesus in his epistle to the Romans that the gospel is all about God’s Son. As a man he descended from David’s royal lineage, but as the mighty Son of God he was raised from the dead and miraculously set apart with a display of triumphant power supplied by the Spirit of Holiness. And now Jesus is our Lord and our Messiah.  The Son of God has His natural lineage from the seed of David; however, His powerful resurrection from the dead by the Holy Spirit, locates and confirms His Being and Sonship in God.  We were born anew in the resurrection of Christ.  The relevance of the resurrection is the revelation of mankind’s inclusion in Christ.  For this reason we bow our knees before the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth receives it’s true name.  O come let us adore Him.  Glory to God in the highest!

The Seed of the Woman

 “and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God said to the snake, “And I will place great hostility between you and the woman, and between her Seed and yours.  He will crush your head as you crush His heel.”  The Seed of the woman is Jesus Christ.  The male carries the seed, but with Jesus Christ, He is the Seed of the woman, for there was no human father to conceive Him.  Christ has sown Himself as the Seed into our hearts.  We have been born again, not by a corrupting seed, but by an Incorruptible Seed, the living and abiding Word of God.  Jesus would be wounded by the snake/sin on His heel, but bring a death-blow to satan by the power of His Cross and resurrection.  Victory in Jesus Christ, the Seed of the woman, Hallelujah!

The Love of our Father

 “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:35‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Gabriel answered, “The Spirit of Holiness will fall upon you and Almighty God will spread His shadow of power over you in a cloud of glory! This is why the Child born to you will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God.”  Jesus Christ is holy, born without sin in His Bloodline, for His Father was God Almighty.  He would become the only Perfect Sacrifice to take away our sin and remove its power and penalty from us.  This is the love that the Father has for all humanity.  We receive Your love, Father, through Your Son, Jesus Christ!  Amen!

Land of Promises Fulfilled

 “Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭7:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied that Immanuel will eat curdled milk and honey, and He will know enough to refuse the evil and choose the good.  This coming Son will be One Who has the Kingdom promises as His diet.  Milk and honey represent the promised land, where God fulfils all of His promises.  Jesus is the only One Who has fulfilled the Father’s desires.  Feeding on the promises enabled Him to choose the right.  He resisted temptation by means of the Word of God dwelling in Him.  Strength to reject evil comes from feeding on truth. Bread alone will not satisfy, but true life is found in every word that constantly goes forth from God’s mouth.  Jesus is the Truth and His Word is Truth which sanctifies us.  Thank You for the Word that proceeds from You, Father!

Mary’s Song of Praise to God

 “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: For, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:48-49‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Mary’s song of praise that He set His tender gaze upon her, His lowly servant girl. And from here on, everyone will know that she has been favoured and blessed. The Mighty One has worked a mighty miracle for her; holy is His name!  Mary said she was so aware of God’s favourable gaze upon her life - even though she was a handmaid of no prominent social standing - from then on God’s favour would be endorsed in every birth and His blessing be evident for all generations to realise!  God’s favour is not a reward for good behaviour or social status.  Christ in the nations is the mystery that was hidden for ages but now unveiled in the Incarnation revelation!  His favour will be endorsed in every birth.  God has done great things for her, sang Mary - He is indeed the Mighty One and His Name is Extravagant Goodness!  Our generation has also experienced God’s awesome kindness when Jesus was born in our hearts as He forgave us our sins!  Thank You Father!

The Vine & the Branches

 “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The prophecy from Isaiah concerning the royal family line of David.  Jesse, the grandson of Boaz, was the father of King David.  The cut-off stump of Jesse will sprout, and a fruitful Branch will grow from his roots.  Jesse means “upright, firm, strong.”  Christ is both the root and the offspring of David.  This means that the “branch” that grows from the roots (His spirit/nature) points to the Body of Christ, His Church on earth.  Christ in us is the Vine and we are His fruitful branches.  Jesus Christ branches out through His people and grows from His root.  Overcomers are the branches that bring forth the fruit of Christ’s Life.  This sprout will grow to become the rod of God’s power.  Let’s allow Christ in us to be the Vine, and we His fruitful branches.  Amen!

The Baptizer in the Holy Spirit

 “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:41‬ ‭KJV‬‬

At the moment her aunt heard Mary’s voice, the baby within Elizabeth’s womb jumped and kicked. And suddenly, Elizabeth was filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit!  The baby leaped in Elizabeth’s womb and the Holy Spirit flooded her being.  Elizabeth saw in the spirit what Jesus would do and her babe in the womb saw the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb!  That’s why this baby as John the Baptist, introduced Jesus as the One Who will baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire!  Let’s know that we all need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and of power because without Him we can do nothing!  Amen!

The Great Light

 “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied that those who walked in darkness have seen a radiant light shining upon them.  They once lived in the shadows of death, but now a glorious light has dawned!  This glorious light is Jesus, the Light of the world; and also includes Jesus’s teachings, His miracles, and His pure life lived before the Father.  Jesus Christ is the Light of rescue for the lost, comfort for the hurting, wholeness for the broken, and escape for the captive.  Jesus is the Light of joy, the Light of revelation, the Light of deliverance.  Jesus’s birth signals an end of night and the beginning of morning.  Jesus is the Only True Light!  Hallelujah!

Authentic Light

 “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As John the apostle recorded that the perfect Light of Truth was coming into the world and to shine upon everyone.  A new day for mankind has come.  The authentic Light of Life that illuminates everyone was about to dawn in the world!  This day would begin our calendar and record the fact that human history would forever be divided into before and after Christ.  The Incarnation would make the image of God visible in human form.  In Him, Who is the blueprint of our lives, there is more than enough Light to displace the darkness in every human life.  He is the True Light that enlightens everyone!  Hallelujah!

God Became One of Us

 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Lord Yahweh spoke through Isaiah that the Lord Himself will give you a sign.  Behold - the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son and will name Him ‘God Among Us’.  Immanu El “God became one of us”.  A new nature is about to be planted in the soil of humanity.  Immanuel is a term used for this new creation life coming down out of heaven.  It will begin as a man but will soon  become a company of men and women.  Immanuel is the partnership of heaven and earth, God and humanity.  God is jealous over us  with godly jealousy: for He has  espoused us to One Husband, that He may present us as a chaste virgin to Christ.  Hallelujah!

God Delights in Mankind

 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:14‬ ‭KJV‬

Heavenly messengers sang “Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven! For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.”  God’s highest and grandest intention in the heavens is dovetailed upon earth in unbroken, Incarnate Oneness; in being human God exhibits His delight in mankind!  It is not “peace to all men and women on earth who please Him” as some have translated this; as if God’s delight is only a reward for those who qualify.  He loved us when we were at our worst, and He loved us first!  Mankind is God’s delight!  Jesus exhibits God’s happy delight to be human.  His peace and goodwill has come to us only through Jesus.  Glory to God in the Highest!

Glory revealed in Jesus Christ

 “and the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then Yahweh’s radiant glory will be unveiled, and all humanity will experience it together.  Believe it, for Yahweh has spoken His decree.  John the Baptist said that all flesh shall see God’s salvation.  Bring into the light every dark way. Make right every wrong. Remove injustice. Every heart of pride will humbly bow before Him. Every deception will be exposed and replaced by the truth to prepare everyone everywhere to see the Life of God!  This prophetic Word was revealed in Christ and now Christ is in us the hope of Glory!  Let’s flow in the prophetic Word, Amen!

Non Jew Prophecy

 “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: There shall come a Star out of Jacob, And a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite the corners of Moab, And destroy all the children of Sheth.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭24:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Balaam, a non-Israelite, nevertheless a prophet, was asked by the Moabite king to curse Israel but Balaam prophesied that he sees Him, but at a later time, Balaam recognises Him even though He is far away.  A Star will come out of Jacob.  A Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.  It will break down Moab and tear down the people of Seth.  God is sovereign and He blesses all who put their trust in Him, His chosen people.  The world may curse and govern cruelly, but those who belong to Christ have been given the prophetic word—the written message of the prophets, made more reliable and fully validated by the confirming voice of God on the Mount of Transfiguration. And we will continue to do well if we stay focused on it. For this prophetic message is like a piercing light shining in a gloomy place until the dawning of a new day, when the Morning Star rises in our hearts.  This is the Lordship of Jesus in our hearts - no curse can touch us, no misgovernance can stop the Kingdom of God from advancing.  Hallelujah!

The Lord is my Shepherd

 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭KJV

That night, in an open field near Bethlehem, shepherds were watching over their flock.  They were watching over the temple-flock specially devoted to sacrifice.  The shepherds were raising sheep to be without blemish for sacrifice.  Jerusalem’s economic heart was the holy Temple, the only place where Israelites could sacrifice animals as offerings to God.  How fitting that these shepherds would hear the announcement of the birth of the Lamb of God.  The open fields could have been the fields of Boaz and later David who watched over the flocks of his father, Jesse, and where he sang that the Lord was his Shepherd, Yahweh Rohi - Jesus, the Shepherd and Bishop of our soul.  Amen!

The Birth of the Church Bride

 “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This indicates that there are forty two generations from Abraham to Christ, though when the names are counted there are only forty one.  The forty second generation is Jesus giving birth to it at the Cross when Blood and Water flowed from His side as He birthed the Church.  The first Adam “birthed” his wife out of his side, and so the last Adam - Jesus, gave birth to His Bride from His wounded side.  Jesus desires to reproduce Himself in us.  Christ is the Anointed One - now a corporate body - the Body of Christ.  We, as the Body of Christ, are also anointed ones.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say that we are anointed by the Anointed One and carry His anointing in our lives.  Glory to God!

King of Kings

“The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭72:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon prophesied in this psalm about the King of kings Who would be born as he says, “O King of kings, they will all bow before You. O King of kings, every nation will one day serve You.  The kings or wise men from the east who came following a star were led to where Jesus was.  They had watched the heavens which proclaim the glory of God and came to where the Glory was, bowing before Him and giving Him gifts.  They returned and became Gospel bearers.  Let’s learn to be good news bearers, Gospel carriers as we, like those wise men, bow and prostrate ourselves before the risen King of kings, Amen! 

Jesus Christ is LORD

 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

No one ever before gazed upon the full splendor of God except His uniquely beloved Son, who is cherished by the Father and held close to His heart. Now that He has come to us, He has unfolded the full explanation of Who God truly is!  Until this moment God remained invisible; now the authentic, incarnate begotten Son, the blueprint of our design, Who represents the innermost Being of God, the Son Who is in the bosom of the Father, brings Him into full view!  He is the official authority qualified to announce God!  He is our guide Who accurately declares and interprets the invisible God within us.  Let all mankind willingly declare that Jesus Christ is Lord!  Glory to God in the highest!

God with Us

 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah got this revelation that the Lord Himself will give a sign.  Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son and will Name Him God Among Us - Immanuel.  This is the powerful prophetic greeting the angel Gabriel greeted Mary with.  This is the desire and resolve of God, “God with us!” - it is the boldest and grandest declaration of the essence of the Gospel - God will not be God without us!  In the Man, Jesus the Christ, mankind is fully included and represented and therefore, in the genius of God, rescued from every definition of distance and separation!  Although God alone is the immortal God, living in the unapproachable light of divine glory! No one has ever seen His fullness, nor can they, for all the glory and endless authority of the universe belongs to Him, yet Jesus told Philip that whoever has seen Jesus has seen the Father.  All separation is removed in Christ. Thank You Father, to You be all the glory!

Buy Your Enemy Lunch!

 “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:20-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The way to overcome evil is so simple, as Paul reveals.  If your enemy is hungry, buy him lunch! Win him over with kindness. For your surprising generosity will awaken his conscience, and God will reward you with favor. Never let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.  If your foe is hungry, feed him and if he’s thirsty, give him something to drink.  These acts of kindness will be like heaping coals of fire on his head and certainly rid him of the dross in his mind and win him as a friend. A refiner would melt metal in a crucible and intensify the process by heaping coals of fire in it.  This is good strategy - be sensitive to the needs of your enemies - God sees gold in every person.  Hostility cannot hide our true value.  He won us while we were still hostile towards Him, His kindness led us to the radical awakening of our minds. Do not let evil be an excuse for you to feel defeated, rather seize the opportunity to turn the situation into a victory for good. Let’s love our enemies as Christ loves us and live victoriously every time!  Amen!

Word Forever Settled in Creation

 “For ever, O LORD, Thy word Is settled in heaven.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:89‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The psalmist proclaims that the Word of God is firm in the heavens and fastened to eternity.  To go back to the very beginning, is to find the Word already present there, face-to-face with God.  The One mirrors the Other!  The Word is “I Am”; God’s eloquence echoes and concludes in Him.  The Word equals God.  This is the Word given to us, so that when we speak it with the faith of Christ Who loves us and gave Himself for us, it has the same power as Christ Himself and the entire creation resounds with it.  Let’s speak forth, proclaim, decree the Word of God as if it is Christ Himself speaking through us!  Amen!

The Love of God Constrains Us

 “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul reveals that the love of Christ constrains us and resonates within us; leaving us with only one conclusion - when Jesus died, every individual simultaneously died.  In God’s logic, One has died for all, thus all have died.  Jesus one hundred percent died humanity’s death, not 99% or for 99%!  If Paul had to compromise the last part of this verse to read “one died for all therefore only those who follow the prescriptions to qualify, have also died”, then he would have had to change the first half of the verse as well!  Only the agapé love of Christ can make a calculation of such enormous proportions!  The religious mind would question the extremity of God’s love and would prefer to add a condition or two to a statement like that!  We no longer live self-absorbed lives for we are convinced that He has given His life for all of us and it is Christ’s love that fuels our passion and holds us tightly! God of Love!  Hallelujah!

Man’s Origin is God

“I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭65:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God spoke through the prophet Isaiah that He revealed Himself to those who didn’t even ask to know Him.  Those who did not seek Him, found Him.  The Lord said to a nation that did not call on His Name, “Here I am! Here I am! I will help you!”  What would it be that attracts God to engage with us?  Man began in God.  You are the greatest idea that God has ever had!  It is not our brief history on earth that introduces us to God - He has always known us.  We are not the invention of our parents!  God knew us before He formed us in our mother’s womb!  When God imagined us, He imagined mankind to partner in God’s Triune Oneness - His image and likeness in human life.  God has found us in Christ before we were lost in Adam, we are associated in Christ before the foundation of the world.  Now in Christ, we are invited to know ourselves even as we have always been known.  Human life is tailor-made for God because of Jesus!  Thank You Jesus for being born in our heart! 

Christ Came by Water & Blood

 “This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is He Who was to come; He arrived in the flesh through His mother’s womb - by water and blood - Jesus Christ.  And in His ministry as the Christ, He was not only borne witness to by John the Baptist in the prophetic baptism of water, but He went all the way into His baptism of death, in His shed Blood, where He died mankind’s death.  It is the Spirit that bears witness which is Truth.  If mankind’s salvation could be secured only in the incarnation of the Christ and His three year ministry, then His death and resurrection would be irrelevant.  That’s why Jesus said that the Son of Man is glorified in the single grain of wheat falling to the ground, not to abide alone, but to bear much fruit.  For this purpose did He come - to shed His Blood as a ransom for many.  As we celebrate His incarnation in this season, let’s celebrate His redemption on mankind’s behalf.  Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill to all mankind!