MY TIMELESS CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

IT IS ANOTHER CHRISTMAS SEASON. YES ANOTHER CHRISTMAS SEASON AND WHAT ELSE THAN TO GO TO CHURCH, THEN THE STORY OF JESUS BE RETOLD AS USUAL_AFTER WHICH WE COME, MAKE MERRY AND JUST HAVE FUN.

IS THAT NOT WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT?

WELLLL, DON’T YOU GET TIRED OF THE NORMAL (CLICHÉ) SUCH THAT IT APPEARS TO HAVE LOST ITS ESSENCE.

BUT WAIT……. HAVE WE REALLY SAT DOWN TO REFLECT ON THE MEANING, ESSENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS?

MORE SO, HAVE WE REALLY THOUGHT OF WHAT  LIFE WOULD BE LIKE IF JESUS HAD NOT MANIFESTED IN HUMAN FORM TO SAVE US FROM ETERNAL BONDAGE.

PAUL RIGHTLY PUT IT WHEN HE SAID…. “WHAT WOULD BECOME OF US IF CHRIST HAD NOT COME TO DIE FOR US?”

AMAZINGLY, ALL THESE IS EMBEDDED IN THAT SIMPLE STORY THAT IS TOLD EVERY YEAR. I TELL YOU BUT THIS SIMPLE STORY THAT IS MOSTLY TAKEN FOR GRANTED HAS SOMETHING GREAT AND ETERNAL; THAT IF ONLY WE WILL LET THE SPIRIT CONTINUALLY SPEAK TO US…… WE WOULD HAVE A JOYFUL AND FULFILLING LIFE.

(I TOLD SOMEONE OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHRISTMAS MESSAGES EVERY YEAR AND HOW I ALWAYS GET SOMETHING NEW IF I PAY ATTENTION AND NOT TRIVIALIZE OR FAMILIARIZE IT)

AND SO IT IS CHRISTmas. IT IS ABOUT NONE OTHER THAN CHRIST-OUR SAVIOUR, REDEEMER, COMFORTER AND CONQUEROR AND IN WHOM WE WILL HAVE ETERNAL REST.

FINALLY, THINK ABOUT CHRISTmas THIS WAY: LET IT BE A TIME THAT YOU WILL SEEK TO KNOW CHRIST MORE AND MORE EVERY YEAR.

(YOU CAN CHOOSE TO CALL IT CHRISTmas FROM NOW ON, I DON’T THINK THE ENGLISH PEOPLE WILL MARK YOU ON THAT)

HAVE FUNNN……BUT IT IS ALL ABOUT CHRIST….GOD BLESS YOU

“LET ME BRAG…” (PSALM 91)

 

What? … Brag to me about how 'reekingly' rich your family is, how clearly clever  your cousins not to talk of ... or how very versatile you are?

Then, you proceed to swank about your conglomerate of businesses, your fleet of cars or how you change your top-notch outfits thrice a day.

I’m sure these are the questions the title today seems to draw out especially when the Bible warns us against that.
Well, the above are all ‘things’ which are really needed but after taking you through this ride, you’ll understand the above are even the minutest of things.

They will be hardly mentioned and even in most passages it is supplementary.

The key ingredient here is the immense power we possess, the joy, peace, security and unshakeable reliance on the unfailing one.

I’m sure you remember who this extract is all about “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…”

Yes, it is about our LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
What does the subsequent verse say “… and all other things shall be added unto you.”  (Matt. 6:33)

Jealousy and Bragging are bad things as God himself tells us. However, our God is exempted from this and only he, has the exclusive right to be called a jealous God.

In the same way, we have that right to brag and boast about God and be alienated from sinning. (2 Cor. 1017)

So, you get the drift now. I’m pointing to none other than my Dad. (Yes, the one you know as God or the Lord God Almighty)

I have ten (10) solid BRAGS (B) about my DAD.

 As we go into them, be mindful that they're not just your normal brags, declare them in faith &solidify or see manifold blessings it will bring upon your life. Let's go:

(B1) I brag about him because I have a MOST HIGH, THE ALMIGHTY who himself is a SHELTER FOR ME. A safe haven always providing that needed rest free from any fears, worries and doubts.
Well, unless I CHOOSE NOT TO DWELL IN.

(B 2) Again, I swank about him because in all this life I can say he is MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS. MY ONE AND ONLY GOD IN WHOM I TRUST.

(B3) Do you know why I can unreservedly boast about him without thinking because he tells me that he is the only one who can SURELY SAVE ME FROM THE FOWLER’S SNARE AND FROM THE DEADLY PESTILENCE.

(B4) I blow his horn all the time because just like a bird does, HE COVERS ME WITH HIS FEATHERS AND UNDER HIS WINGS I FIND REFUGE. ABOVE ALL, HIS FAITHFULNESS HAS BEEN MY SHIELD AND RAMPART.

(B5) I speak about him loudly because with him, I never have TO FEAR THE TERROR OF NIGHT, NOR THE ARROW THAT FLIES BY DAY, NOR THE PESTILENCE THAT STALKS IN THE DARKNESS, NOR THE PLAGUE THAT DESTROYS AT MIDDAY.

(B6) I crow about him again and again and again BECAUSE A THOUSAND FALLS AT MY SIDE AND ANOTHER AT MY RIGHT HAND BUT IT CAN NEVER COME NEAR ME.
Simply, this is because my God is with me and he only leads me to OBSERVE WITH MY EYES AND SEE THE PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED.

(B 7) I sing of his praises forever because forever and ever THE MOST HIGH TELLS ME HE IS MY REFUGE. And that if only I MAKE HIM MY DWELLING THEN NO HARM WILL BEFALL ME AND NO DISASTER WILL COME NEAR MY TENT.

(B8) Once more, I talk big about him because he has special ANGELS CONCERNING ME AND COMMAND THEM TO GUARD ME IN ALL MY WAYS.(Aaah, no wonder I always…)

(B9) This is why I pride myself with him because with these ANGELS HE LIFTS ME UP IN THEIR HANDS SO THAT I WILL NOT STRIKE MY FOOT AGAINST A STONE. More so, THOU I TREAD THE GREAT LION, COBRA AND SERPENT, I TRAMPLE OVER THEM ALL.

(B10) What’s more,this is what I do- I show him off because this is what the Lord God Almighty says:

I WILL RESCUE THOSE WHO LOVE ME
I WILL PROTECT THOSE WHO TRUST IN MY NAME.
WHEN THEY CALL ON ME, I WILL ANSWER;
I WILL BE WITH THEM IN TROUBLE.
I WILL RESCUE AND HONOUR THEM.
I WILL REWARD THEM WITH  LONG LIFE AND GIVE THEM MY SALVATION.
(And so far I have every reason...in fact I can attest to them all)

All these are contained in Psalm 91.

I believe you’ll gladly permit and even join me as we brag about him.

SO AS A BRAGGART OF GOD, I SAY:
P-L-E-A-S-E “LET ME BRAG ABOUT MY DAD.”

“WRITE YOUR STORY” (HEBREWS. 12:2)

I’m so excited about the title because for the past weeks I have been thoroughly enjoying a song called WRITE YOUR STORY by an American Artiste called Francesca Battistelli. (Name a mouthful I know. Don’t worry; I struggled before getting a full grasp)

“I’m an empty page, I’m an open book. Write your story on my heart. Come on and make your mark. Author of my hope, maker of the stars, let me be your work of art. Won’t you write your story? Write your story. Write your story.”

This is a part (chorus) of the song. I believe you (should) see yourself as such & these words can be your prayer unto God. In fact, it is the best prayer you can offer unto God. 

God made us& he made us as open books with empty pages. Whatever should be contained in the entire book he only knows.


It’s just like an author of a book, before the book occupies the shelves to be picked by you, it is only the author who knows what the first& last pages will be. 

That is EXACTLY how God is & Heb. 12:2 aptly captures it.

“LET US FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTOR OF OUR FAITH…”

“My life I know it’s never really been mine. So do with it whatever you like. I don’t know what your plan is but I know is good, yeah.” (Another part of the song)

So this is how you should see your life. It has never been yours. It was given to you by someone. It has a source. The source is GOD. Therefore, why don’t you go back to him and say:  Use, mould, lead and do with me whatever you deem fit for I don’t know your plan but I know it is always best.

It is just like the potter and clay example mostly used. Well, if that is too familiar what about that business plan developed for you or that device you bought and couldn’t operate. Where did(do) you go to???

I know we all know this is the best prayer to make but equally it is also the most difficult. Why?... because we all have our dreams, desires, aspirations and most… defin..itely being an Osofo (Pastor) is not part of it. They just don’t cut it for us, not really fanciful, not to talk of persecuting missionaries or some poor church mouse ‘bi’.

Yes, it is true. We’ve all had that feeling but certainly not everyone will be a pastor but we are all priests or people of GOD as in 1 Pet. 2:9. All God requires of us is to reflect who he is or fulfill his purpose in whatever chosen field he has given us. Get on your chosen field; take a critical look whether medicine, teaching, entrepreneurship et al and you will realize you need God in it all.

In fact, that is where the souls really abound & God is telling you to save them through your profession. Why do we run to God whether our pursued profession succeeds or not. For even when we have made it all, we finally (have to)run back to God realising how empty we are or have been.

Anyway, he who finds God’s work finds a good thing& they are never poor unless they choose to.

Emphasis on this:

“…BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE BELONGING TO GOD, THAT YOU MAY DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS WONDERFUL LIGHT.”  1 Peter. 2:9

Anyway, the song is available.

SO I ONLY HAVE TO SAY:

Let GOD …“WRITE YOUR STORY.”