December 25 is the day we celebrate the birth of Our Saviour. It is the day we recognize that the world would never be the same without Him. For me, it is as if I'm there, a shepherd, spoken to by angels, rushing to behold first hand this great moment. Jesus is born.
Two thousand years later, it is as if I'm there. The miracle of birth. The miracle of miracles, that God would become man...no...a vulnerable infant. At a time when most newborns barely have a chance, this child comes to the world triumphant from the moment of birth...no...conception. The prophecies are fulfilled this night.
With His birth, comes a rebirth in me. With His birth, comes new hope, new direction, a new future...because God became man at this time. And the Gospels of Matthew and Luke give every detail.
May we all gain a new, refreshed, perspective on Christmas this year. May we be humbled by the reminder that God became flesh so that He could better appreciate our lots in life. May we be drawn closer to Him by virtue of Him trusting Himself to mere humans for nurturing and upbringing. I am renewed at this very Christmas. I am renewed in 2007. God became man for me...and for you. Let us not forget this.
May the joy of being a Christian envelope, surround, and uplift each of us in our faith, and move us to share this glorious event to those who do not know of it.
In the name of The Most Holy One I pray....on Christmas day...I pray.
Amen.
Showing posts with label Prophecy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prophecy. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Jesus Prayed for You and Me...Today!
A study of John 17: 20 - 26, reveals how Jesus prayed for his disciples, and for those who hear the word as a result of them sharing the good news. In other words, Jesus was praying for us! We have heard the good new from those who heard it from those who heard it, and so forth. And because of this, we can claim that Jesus was praying for you and me when he said:
John 17: 20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Does the authority of Christ commissioning us all to be one with Him and the Father get any clearer? More importantly, doesn't it become clear that we are to be ambassadors for Christ, through this prayer? This is an evangelistic beginning for the church we claim today.
The point is that we believe that God, the father, sent Jesus for us all. He commissioned his disciples, though they didn't understand it at the time, to bear witness that God sent Jesus for us all. This prayer is the beginning of the church as we know it, although it was prior to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus prayed for us!
Some question the resurrection...so be it. Some may question the filling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost...so be it. But these words spoken by Jesus in prayer to the Heavenly Father, predate all of this. This is His prayer for us. As a result of this prayer, I believe. As a result of this prayer, we believe. As a result of this prayer, there is a commissioning of the disciples that makes everything else subordinate to it.
The power of this prayer, the last prayer Jesus prayed with his disciples, puts it all in perspective for generations to follow. Ah, but the joy of sharing the resurrection and ascension makes it all the more powerful. Before Christ proved his Godliness, he empowered his followers with this prayer. How utterly pregnant the notion.
Thank you, Jesus, for praying for me before you proved your true nature. I look to that prayer and accept that it was for me, 2000 years later...thank you, Jesus.
John 17: 20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Does the authority of Christ commissioning us all to be one with Him and the Father get any clearer? More importantly, doesn't it become clear that we are to be ambassadors for Christ, through this prayer? This is an evangelistic beginning for the church we claim today.
The point is that we believe that God, the father, sent Jesus for us all. He commissioned his disciples, though they didn't understand it at the time, to bear witness that God sent Jesus for us all. This prayer is the beginning of the church as we know it, although it was prior to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus prayed for us!
Some question the resurrection...so be it. Some may question the filling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost...so be it. But these words spoken by Jesus in prayer to the Heavenly Father, predate all of this. This is His prayer for us. As a result of this prayer, I believe. As a result of this prayer, we believe. As a result of this prayer, there is a commissioning of the disciples that makes everything else subordinate to it.
The power of this prayer, the last prayer Jesus prayed with his disciples, puts it all in perspective for generations to follow. Ah, but the joy of sharing the resurrection and ascension makes it all the more powerful. Before Christ proved his Godliness, he empowered his followers with this prayer. How utterly pregnant the notion.
Thank you, Jesus, for praying for me before you proved your true nature. I look to that prayer and accept that it was for me, 2000 years later...thank you, Jesus.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Postmodern/Emergent Movements-Cause for Careful Introspection
How shall I begin. We attempt to capture the youth of our world and lead them to Christ. In that process we look to other churches that have been successful in this regard and try to mimic their orders of worship etc.. In the end, we're no different than Voodoo worshipers...gazing at the easily hypnotized states brought about by endless repetitions of praise songs, with non-ending drum beats, and repeated phrases. I'm deeply worried. It's Christian hypnotism!
Mind you, I'm a forever learning Christian. I want for others to come to know Christ. But, should we employ the tactics of hypnotists to win the souls for Christ? Should we trick 'em into thinking Jesus is the answer to their problems? Should we structure the order of worship such that after sufficient spellbinding words and music that we then ask for the offering...then give them more to chew on? These are the very tactics utilized in some of these various ministries that come to a city near you, packing the house, selling DVDs and shirts, caps, books, and more...How repulsive! And when their special crusade/event ends, they point those who came to the local franchise (church) so that the lost who have been saved can have a place to go for more of the same.
I share this observation because many in mainstream churches look to other not-so-mainstream churches that are growing by leaps and bounds...and ask why. We may ask, what can we learn from them? I only hope that those engaged in the postmodern/emergent movement find a way to distance themselves from the manipulative practices of those in it only for the money. May we find ways to bring people to Christ...but I pray...with a different motive.
Be careful, as God is watching.
Mind you, I'm a forever learning Christian. I want for others to come to know Christ. But, should we employ the tactics of hypnotists to win the souls for Christ? Should we trick 'em into thinking Jesus is the answer to their problems? Should we structure the order of worship such that after sufficient spellbinding words and music that we then ask for the offering...then give them more to chew on? These are the very tactics utilized in some of these various ministries that come to a city near you, packing the house, selling DVDs and shirts, caps, books, and more...How repulsive! And when their special crusade/event ends, they point those who came to the local franchise (church) so that the lost who have been saved can have a place to go for more of the same.
I share this observation because many in mainstream churches look to other not-so-mainstream churches that are growing by leaps and bounds...and ask why. We may ask, what can we learn from them? I only hope that those engaged in the postmodern/emergent movement find a way to distance themselves from the manipulative practices of those in it only for the money. May we find ways to bring people to Christ...but I pray...with a different motive.
Be careful, as God is watching.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)