The incarnate: Emmanuel Week 52, 2014

Was Jesus Christ a good man, an exemplary teacher whose simplicity and humility the world would do well to emulate? No He wasn’t. Surprised? He IS a good man, and an exemplary teacher; but much more than these. If that is all you know Him as you are deficient. As Jesus was setting out again, a man ran up to him, knelt down in front of him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus looked at him and loved him. Then he told him, "You're missing one thing…”Mk 10:17, 21(ISV). 

Is Jesus a mighty prophet, filled with the true message from the Almighty God, accurately presenting God’s views, promises and judgments to a lost world? Should his messages rule our hearts today and always? This was the limited view of some who followed Him at that time. “Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.”  Luke 24:19-21 (NIV).  Perhaps that is all you know of Him. He is much more than a prophet.

Can we say that He was a man filled with the spirit of the messiah at baptism, the son of Joseph and Mary destined for the throne of David? "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Jn 1:45(NIV). Wrong.

Jesus Christ is not like any other man of God. He is not like the world’s prophets either. There have been many religious figures. Mohammed was given a message by spirit beings, but he was born a product of a man and woman. He began from conception.  Buddha was an exemplary teacher in many people’s opinion. He was also a man with a beginning. Jesus however is from eternity. "As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah … the one who rules in Israel for me will emerge from you. His existence has been from antiquity, even from eternity Mic 5:2(ISV).   He is not a man possessed by the spirit of God. He is God born as man: the incarnate one. God, the eternal spirit, took up a body formed in the womb of the virgin to save us from sin. Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. Lk 1:34-35(ESV) He says to those that see Him as a good teacher, "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Nobody is good except for one—God” Mk 10:18(ISV). In short “I am God”. Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"Jn 20:28(ESV). Perhaps you have been following without knowing who He is. In the New Year I wish you more than a teacher and an example; much more than a prophet in great power and anointing. Receive Emmanuel – God with us. He that goes before you is more than you have known Him to be.

For them no room at the inn Week 51, 2014

I used to think it was the journey that caught up with Mary and Joseph at the birth of Jesus. Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David's hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David's family Lk 2:4(CEV). I thought that she went into labour on the road to Bethlehem. A long stressful journey suddenly embarked upon by a pregnant woman near term who enters into labour whilst on the journey to Bethlehem and so they looked for an available inn: that is how the manger birthplace was rationalised. No. They had been in Bethlehem a while before she went into labour: and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby Lk 2:6(GNB).

I took it that no rooms were available at all in the inn when the saviour was to be born. That with the journeying made by so many on account of the census, the inns which are stop over motels on routes (Gen42:27; Ex4:24) were so filled with travelers. That is until the phrase caught my attention --there was no room for them to stay in the inn Lk 2:6(GNB). The scripture didn’t say there was no room for anyone at the inn. No. The account was not “there was no more room at the inn”. It says: and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no place for them in the guest quarters Lk 2:7(ISV) .The saviour was rejected at birth by the world. He came to his own creation, yet his own people did not receive him Jn 1:11(ISV).

And so today the manger and farm animals symbolise the coming of Christ into the world; what a missed opportunity by the inn-keeper! The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him Jn 1:10(GNB).  Had he known who it is that was coming into the world would he not have vacated his own room happily for this poor yet- to- wed woman to have her child? Yes: Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem Lk 2:5(CEV).  The marriage was consummated after the birth of Jesus.

Now before we condemn the inn-keeper, have we room for other things but for Jesus? Not the saviour in pomp and pageantry the world likes but the rejected, the stigmatised Jesus. Are we only willing to associate with respectability in society? Do we refuse to open up to Him when it means shame and disgrace and financial loss? When no one will pick up the bills? Therefore go to him outside the camp and endure the insults he endured. For here we have no permanent city but are looking for the one that is coming Heb 13:13, 14(ISV). Please do not miss your own opportunity: he waits to be born in you.

Jn1:12(GNB)  Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children. They did not become God's children by natural means…God himself was their Father.

Turning around situations Week 50, 2014

The sequence of events which secured a turnaround during the Euroclydon are worthy of note. I believe following them will achieve similar results when in storms of life. Intercede with fasting until you get a word from God. Speak it by faith; then watch unto it to do what must be done.

The first is repentance and prayer. This prayer culminated in a word from God. The word was firm. 'Stop being afraid, Paul! You must stand before the emperor. Indeed, God has given to you the lives of everyone who is sailing with you.' Acts 27:24(ISV)   Have you similarly received a word from God? Then speak by faith that same word as Paul did. Exemplify what you believe and teach. Fasting was certainly discontinued after a sure word had come; but this breaking of the fast represented no laxity on Paul’s part. Even when God has given a word to a man (to you) Satan yet plans to subvert it if we are not watchful. Can that be? Elisha said, "This is the LORD's arrow of victory—the victory arrow against Aram, because you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you will have utterly finished them off." 2Kgs 13:17(ISV).  Yes we can lose God’s pronounced purpose by laxity. At this the man of God became angry at him and told him, "You should have struck five or six times! Then you would have attacked Aram until you would have destroyed it! But as it is now, you'll defeat Aram only three times!"2Kgs 13:19(ISV).  Often times when God has spoken there remains a role we must play to enjoy the full manifestation of that word. Watch and pray.

So Paul recognized danger when the sailors attempted a cunning escape. He didn’t presume since God had granted him the life of every one sailing with him therefore nothing more need be done. Paul told the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men remain onboard, you cannot be saved." Acts 27:31 (ISV).  Beloved watch! When Jesus had spoken by faith too at Gethsemane He acted to bring that spoken word to pass. "I have already told you that I am he," Jesus said. "If, then, you are looking for me, let these others go."  (He said this so that what he had said might come true: "Father, I have not lost even one of those you gave me.") Jn 18:8, 9(GNB)  You have seen visions of your mansion in heaven? Beautiful: now continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him Phlp 2:12 (ISV).   

What role did the rest of the 275 men in the ship have to play? Every one of them had to listen to and obey the word from Paul (Act 27:31-36). All had to obey the word. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.2Ch 7:14(KJV)  Obedience makes the difference - always.

In this way everyone got to shore safely Act 27:44(ISV)

When God reverses Week 49, 2014

“Honestly I feel it was too harsh on the man of God. Haba now, could he have known he was being lied to? " I'm a prophet like you," the old man replied, "and an angel spoke to me and delivered this message from the LORD: 'Bring him back with you to your house and give him food and water.'" But he was lying 1Kgs 13:18(ISV)  Why punish him with death? "This is what the LORD says: 'Because you disobeyed a command from the LORD … but instead you returned to eat and drink in the very place that he told you "Eat no food and drink no water," your body will not be buried in the same grave as your ancestors.'"1Kgs 13:21-22(ISV) ” 

I need you to understand something about the integrity of God. Would you believe a total stranger who claims to have a contrary instruction to your father’s clear word?

“You mean he should have asked God first?”

It’s good you recognise he should not have swallowed it at face value. It would have been out of character for God to reverse himself like that.

“But God does reverse Himself sometimes. God told Hezekiah 'Put your house in order, because you are going to die. You won't recover Is 38:1(ISV)  but after "I've heard your prayer and I've seen your tears; so I will add fifteen years to your life Is 38:5(ISV). God reverses Himself when men repent.”

You didn’t get my point. Prophecy can be reversed, but God preserves the integrity of the prophet by announcing the reversal through him. Where you quoted showed God sent Isaiah with the message of death and sent him back with the reversal.

“Is that what happens all the time in scripture?”

As far as I know; in both old and new testaments. God warned through Paul. "Men, I see that during this voyage there will be hardship and a heavy loss not only of the cargo and ship, but also of our lives." Act 27:10(ISV).  Later God said: But now I urge you to have courage because there will be no loss of life among you, but only loss of the ship Act 27:22(ISV) through the same Paul. God spoke to Ahab through Elijah: Now pay attention! I'm going to send evil in your direction! I will completely sweep you away and eliminate from Ahab every male, whether indentured servant or free, throughout Israel1Kgs 21:21(ISV), and it is through the same Elijah (not Elisha or one of the sons of the prophets) that God announces when Ahab repented "Have you noticed that Ahab has humbled himself in my presence? Because he has humbled himself in my presence, I will not bring his evil to harvest during his lifetime, but I will bring evil to his household during his son's lifetime." 1Kgs 21:29(ISV). You will see the same trend in Joshua and Amos (Jos7:12; 8:1; Amos7:1-6). Jonah refused to announce his.

“Is that so? Is it not pride or presumption on our part to insist on this?”

I ask: when the Spirit had expressly urged him to go to Jerusalem how else did Paul disregard those who said to him not to go? (Acts20:22; 21:4, 12) Be not deceived.