God introduced the first active ,HOLY supernatural WORD at creation called “LET”. This HOLY WORD is so supernaturally active that it released what was in the MIND OF GOD relative to HIS CREATION. The word LET means to allow, permit,consent and release into action to what already exist. You can never say “lets do it”unless the plan is already in place. LET God implement HIS plans for YOU in 2010 NOT your own agenda Genesis 1:1-3
Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is
how it happened…
I just finished the household chores for the night and
was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in
the front of the house. I opened the door to the front
room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out
from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger
over his mouth so I would not cry out.
“What are you doing?” I started to ask. The words
choked up in my throat, and I saw he had tears in his
eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the
eager, boisterous soul we all know.
He then answered me with a simple statement. “TEACH
THE CHILDREN!” I was puzzled; what did he mean?
He anticipated my question, and with one quick
movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind
the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, “Teach
the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas.
The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten.”
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR
TREE and placed it before the mantle. “Teach the
children that the pure green color of the stately fir
tree remains green all year round, depicting the
everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point
heavenward, making it a symbol of man’s thoughts
turning toward heaven.”
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a
brilliant STAR. “Teach the children that the star was
the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a
Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of
fulfillment of His promise.”
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE.
“Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that
Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this
great light we are reminded of He who displaces the
darkness.”
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a
WREATH and placed it on the tree. “Teach the children
that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love.
Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round
of affection.”
He then pulled from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF.
“Teach the children that I, Santa Clause symbolize the
Generosity and good will we feel during the month of
December.”
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. “Teach the children
that the holly plant represents immortality. It
represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The
red holly represents the blood shed by Him.
Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, “Teach
the children that God so loved the world that he gave
His One and Only Son” “Thanks be to God for his
unspeakable gift. Teach the children that the wise men
bowed before the holy babe and presented him with
gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give
gifts in the same spirit of the wise men.”
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY
CANE and hung it on the tree. “Teach the children that
the candy cane represents the shepherds’ crook. The
crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep
to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are
our brother’s keeper.”
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. “Teach
the children that it was the angels that heralded in
the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. The angels
sang ‘Glory
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his
bag he pulled out a BELL. “Teach the children that as
the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it
should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes
guidance and return.”
Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at
me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He
said, “Remember, teach the children the true meaning
of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am
but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow
down to worship Him, our Lord, our God.
‘And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.’
Luke 1:31
Is Your God the True God?
In Jonah chapter 1 verses 5-6 we read “Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” Great winds amidst mighty tempest confronted the ship on its way to Tarshish which necessitated every body to call upon his or her god to save the situation, but to no avail. Jonah however was fast asleep in this crisis and they had to wake him up to also call upon his God. Today we are in different situations that demand that we should call upon our God to help.
The global economic meltdown forces situations upon us where we need to call upon God to save us. People don’t know which one will work. Financial experts are calling on psychics or spiritualists to get directions. In this world’s ship that we all are travelling in, when they finally get to you like they got to Jonah, which God are you going to call upon?. Some marriages are not working and people are looking at which one is working, can your home be a model to them? That is can they call on your God to help them?
Is your office- ship drifting? Colleagues at work are looking up to you for breakthrough possibly in sales, marketing, research and development. Do you have what it takes to rescue them? Friends at school and other club members are desperately searching around you for a solution that works, can they call upon your God? In order words, is your life a reflection of His works or are you also like Jonah in a state of slumber? Unfortunately in some churches all they listen to are beautiful sermons that are entertaining but have no life changing impact and therefore are in a state of slumber like Jonah. Are you sleeping?
The challenge with Jonah in this story is that he had God – the True God, but he was not in a right relationship with Him at this moment of crisis. Today as you are reading this article:
Are you at the right place God has asked you to be?
Are you doing the right thing at the right time?
Do you have the cordial relationship with God that people looking desperately for help can rely on you to hook them up with your God for solutions?
Will you have to tell them stories like Jonah had to do or you are in such a relationship with God that you could be like the Lord Jesus Christ and ask the storms to cease immediately or like Paul in that ship, you could confidently say there will be no loss of life?
Some people have a relationship with God as they wake up and pray to God in the morning but as they get into their cars, trains and buses they begin to take instructions from the god of the traffic, weather and the subway system. When they get to their offices the identity of God they started the day with has faded and they tune to the god of the office. Their god varies with the different situations they are in for the day. Jesus Christ said I and my father are; one therefore any where, any situation they called upon Him He could link them up with God instantly. Same with Joseph, Daniel, Peter and Paul- they provided solutions to the immediate crises around them. If you are called upon this moment to help out, can you truly call on God?Is your God the true God and are you still connected?
Imagine what Joseph’s brothers had claimed versus the true version of what happened. They perfected their lies so much so that to them it became the ‘truth’. They told Jacob (their father) what they came up with as the truth. When they got back to their wives the day they sold Joseph into slavery they told them their version of the truth. I can imagine as the family was growing possibly not all of them were married at that time as they went for marriage and naming ceremonies they recounted the story of how the animals in the field killed their brother, some might have even shed tears as they spoke with a lot of emotions. This version they also told their children as they were growing up and to strangers that had come to settle amongst them.
What lie have you converted to be true in your life? In your marriage is there a cover up you have done, between your parents, brothers, sisters that you also presented yourself as true? Are you a Pastor, Apostle, Bishop and there is a lie you have covered up and you keep presenting yourself to your congregation as true ? .Do not wait until your Joseph will tell you to prove yourself like in Gen 42v 19 .When he challenged them ‘if ye be true ‘. In verse 21 of this same chapter their conscience troubled them- ‘And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us’. Rather than own up they still hardened their hearts and when they got back to Jacob after this first encounter with Joseph they lied to their father describing themselves in Gen 42 verse 31 as true men. ‘And we said unto him, we are true men; we are no spies:’ How long will you continue to lie?
These Joseph’s brothers were so bold in their deceit because they never knew Joseph was alive. Be careful too one day you may again present yourself as true and your Joseph will be in the audience! Why not turn to the only true person which is the TRUTH Himself. In John 14 verse 6 ‘Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me’. “And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent,” (John 17:3).He is the only true person that can help you with the situation you are hiding and can intervene.
Today can you really say that you are a true person or you are just describing yourself as true? You may be standing before your Joseph very shortly .Are you a true man indeed?
Serving without Knowledge- How are you serving God?
We all remember the story of the prodigal son and his brother who continued serving their father when he went out for his famous riotous living and returned when he came to his senses. However, there was something about the brother who stayed to serve his father that was uniquely similar to many of us today: his narrow-minded view of his father. Our relationship with God is like that too. The question is, how did he serve? He was just simply carrying out the routines of the family business without adequate knowledge of what his terms and conditions of service plus the benefits were. The brother called the prodigal son knew a little more than the benefits; he also knew the father loved him with an everlasting love and he could always come back home.
The brother that stayed on at home to serve only knew about doing things. He did not know that it was possible to have his God given desires met. He had always wanted to have some fun, at least a party, or a form of celebration, but he was too timid to ask. No wonder he was angry and disappointed when the prodigal son came back and their father threw a party to celebrate his return. But he never asked the father what his terms and conditions were. He did not even know his inheritance until this incident. Many of us today are like this other son serving God without adequate knowledge of all our privileges and rights in Him. God wants us to serve Him and praise Him daily, having an aura of celebration in our lives but we sometimes only focus on keeping straight faces. The scriptures say we should serve him with gladness of heart.
Sometime ago I came across a sister who faithfully paid her tithes because her mother taught her to do so from childhood. But she never at any time opened her mouth to claim the benefits of protection and continuous provision associated with it, until we met of course. She was just making ends meet in spite of her consistent payment of tithes. After showing her, from the scriptures, her benefits from faithful tithing, she moved into a level of abundance with the testimonies of having more than she expected. Now she gives more than her tithes and offering. She has discovered the covenant relationship of serving God that is mutually beneficial.
Sarah was just serving God while her husband Abraham was relating with God in a covenant relationship. That was why she could offer a compromise solution of Haggai and Ishmael. Abraham in spite of the challenges served God faithfully and the Bible says he staggered not at the promises of God.
Mary and Martha served Jesus differently based on their knowledge of Him. Both were blood sisters. Today Mary is spoken of highly for her service to God based on what she did. She always listened and poured out the most expensive perfume at the Master’s feet.
The brother of the prodigal son was serving the father grudgingly as we could see from his complaints to the father after the father threw a party to celebrate the return of his brother. How are you serving God today? Are you angry at the celebrations and blessings in other Christians lives? The scriptures say, rejoice with those who rejoice. With a proper knowledge of who you are in Christ Jesus, you would find that God’s resources never run out and His timing always the best.
If I may ask, how are you serving Him?
Who did Better Lot or his Daughters?
At a recent family Bible Study on Genesis 19, the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, two incidents appear more vivid than the others. First, the decision of Lot to offer his two virgin daughters to be raped by a mob in place of the two visiting angels who had been sent by God to rescue him (Gen 19v8). Secondly the decision of Lot’s two daughters to sleep with their father because they assumed no man on earth would come to them (Gen 19v31).Which of these two decisions is right? Were they knowledge based decisions? .How far you go in life depends on the knowledge of God you have.
In an unusual hospitality gesture father Lot decided that he was going to offer his two virgin daughters to protect the two visitors that had come to rescue him from the pending destruction of the city. What motivated him to make that offer? Was he so concerned about his visitors that he did not mind his own daughters being destroyed by being gang raped? Possibly he thought with his own knowledge of the situation he had to do something to help. However when we look at this incident again, these two men were not mere mortal men they were angels on assignment. Did Lot not know they were sent by the Almighty God? Has he forgotten about this Almighty God Uncle Abraham had always talked about, that even recently came to rescue him from the confederation of kings that sacked that city? Some how his decision to offer his daughters to please those men was not based on a good knowledge of what was really going nor the power behind the mission .Thank God the angels intervened by causing the men of the city to go blind and his plan was not implemented.
In the second incident we see these daughters who could be described as the circumstantial victims of the first incident also made decisions based on what they thought was their problem .Was that the right decision to take ? How knowledgeable were they about the “earth “and the availability of men anyway. Unlike the first incident there were no timely interventions to prevent them from carrying out their decisions which had grave consequences. God had to instruct that these two races resulting from the incest (Moabites and Ammonites) be completely destroyed from the earth.
Looking at these two situations, what are you passing through that is pressurising you to make decisions hastily? Do you have a personal relationship with the Almighty God or Like Lot you are just in church and your relationship with God is circumstantial. Are you like the two daughters whose actions were based on only what they can see? They reasoned “no man on earth” existed, so you have to help yourself. Remember that maxim “heaven helps those who help themselves” is not biblical! Remember the parable of the prodigal son? Both the prodigal son and his older brother did not have good and adequate knowledge of their father. The prodigal son had very limited knowledge and took decisions that hurt him but thank God for the mercy of God, when he repented he was taken back. But what about the older brother, he was just serving without asking his father about his rights and privileges hence he turned cold and bitter when he saw his brother’s restoration. (Look out for an insight on the older’ brother’s life in the next issue).
So how knowledgeable are you on the issues of life that you are currently handling? What kind of decisions are you making? .Was any better? Lot or his daughters?