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THE WORD OF THE WEEK 9/12/18. Why do we celebrate CHRISTMAS!

WORD OF THE WEEK 9/12/18

WHY CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!

Its December of 2018, what is the Lord saying? The King who is the Bridegroom is excited it's His Birthday month. Now am aware that there are enough debates about the real month when Jesus was born. I have gone through them all, l was convinced by them all. The arguments for all are quite sound, so l ended up saying to myself, “I won’t bother because it’s not His Birthday anyway”. I was happily going on with my Praise and worship until one day when Jesus Confronted me. He said, everybody else (everybody in my family) is celebrating my birthday and you don’t seem to be doing anything, why? I was taken aback, and I replied, “It’s just Christmas and it's not your birthday anyway”. Jesus replied, “What kind of a Father would reject the day His children have chosen to celebrate his birthday just because it’s not on the exact date He was born”? I said It’s not your birthday. Then He said these words which blew me away, “In Heaven at this time we celebrate together with Earth, its because in the Birth of Christ, the plan of salvation for mankind was effected. We celebrate that Gift from the Father”. Then He said firmly “ Don’t miss out”. I was so taken by surprise. I remembered how exactly I lost my zeal for Christmas, I visited a mega-church in London. The Bishop shredded Christmas and said its pagan worship, including the trees and all. So, I started ignoring the birth of my Bridegroom King, not realising He enjoys when His Bride prepares and makes a fuss about His Birthday. Jesus loves it when His Bride makes a Fuss(He is a real man and enjoys the attention from His Bride).  To discourage Christmas celebrations, the enemy is telling people to abort Christmas it’s all pagan worship. But worship is in the Heart. Nobody should tell you who you are worshiping. True worship is personal, and Christ looks at the heart. At Christmas my true Worship goes to the King of Kings, The Lord Jesus Christ. Its His Birthday. I have purposed in my Heart that I am wholeheartedly celebrating the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then I asked Him, when He was born really? He wisely said, Lets follow the Dates that have been chosen by God’s children. Heaven joins in these celebrations. Can you imagine the Day the day when an announcement was made in Heaven” Behold the child has been born on planet Earth, who is the saviour of the World”.

WORD OF THE WEEK (21-11-18)

WORD OF THE WEEK (21-11-18)

This week “ The Parable of the Persistent Widow”

18 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, ² saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor ^[a]regard man. ³ Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ^[b]‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ ⁴ And he would not for a while; but after ward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵ yet because this widow troubles me I will ^[c]avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

⁶ Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷ And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸ I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

ARE YOU ABOUT TO LOSE HEART?

Here we find Jesus reaching out to us. I know so many people have been waiting for so long they want to lose heart. DON’T! THIS MUST HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THE LORD DECIDED TO ADDRESS IT.

If you look at the history of Israel at this time, they were expecting a liberator. They were tired of Roman rule and too many taxes. Their hearts were melting. Jesus decided to encourage them, not by providing the fish, but by teaching them how to fish for answers from God. He says you are to continue praying and not stop. Then he gave a story about a persistent woman who would not be denied. Even though the Judge wasn’t co operating at first, but the woman continued coming UNTIL HE GOT TIRED. He then decided to grant the woman’s plea. Jesus called that faith. What is exciting about faith? It’s the WAY to the heart of God the Father. Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE….

Hebrews 11:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

GET THE HINT FROM JESUS” PRAY ALWAYS AND NOT LOSE HEART.

BY Pastor Nomsa jonah

THE WORD OF THE WEEK PART 2

12-11 2018

CONTINUED FROM PART 1

GOOD DAY

Today we continue with the story of Abraham and his promise from God. 

We did mention that we can learn a lot from Abraham the Father of faith. We did mention, FAITH, PATIENCE, PERSEVERENCE. We do not hear Abraham murmuring and complaining or being angry with God. Never once did he accuse God of anything. but the bible shows us his state of mind at the time of waiting.  

ROMANS 4:13-25

The Promise Granted Through Faith

¹³ For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For if those who are of the law areheirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, ¹⁵ because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be ^[d]sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all ¹⁷ (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; ¹⁸ who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” ¹⁹ And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. ²² And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

²³ Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, ²⁴ but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, ²⁵ who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

This is remarkable, and no wonder God was pleased! This man was a great man of Faith. We learn a lot by following his example. While I was pondering this great example, the Holy Ghost spoke to me. We know that all Scripture was written for our example and learning.  (V23 above) If we are open minded God will teach us a lot through His word. We will learn through what is written which is the (LOUD TEXT) and we will also learn by what is not written the silent text.  We can also learn a lot by what he didn’t do but should have done.

QUESTION FROM THE HOLY GHOST?

Why didn’t Abraham enquire from The Lord about His promise? Why didn’t He talk to God? Maybe God was waiting for Him to ask. God may wanted Him to make conversation. WHY?

Because He is a relational God. He delights in Fellowship. He loves us so much that He wants us to ask questions. God delights in conversation. We see Him and Abraham talking and getting into a debate just a few chapters later. God had just told Abraham that He was Going to destroy the two wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham starts interceding for the city, arguing that God the Righteous Judge of the whole earth would be unjust, if He destroyed the good people with the evil people. Take a look

Genesis 18:16-32 New King James Version (NKJV)

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

¹⁶ Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. ¹⁷ And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, ¹⁸ since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? ¹⁹ For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” ²⁰ And the Lordsaid, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, ²¹ I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

²² Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. ²³ And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴ Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? ²⁵ Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

²⁶ So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

²⁷ Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: ²⁸ Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?”

So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”

²⁹ And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?”

So,He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”

³⁰ Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

³¹ And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”

³² Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”

And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” 

What can we learn from this conversation? Think about these things and discuss them

In your groups. We will continue text week when we conclude next week…. 

BYE NOW HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

WORD OF THE WEEK.------THUS SAYS THE LORD! PART 1

GOOD DAY!

It's time to seek the Lord,  oh how good He is! Recently the Lord has been talking to me about seeking Him and going for my promises that I've been waiting for years. As l write this I'm reminded of Abraham who waited for 25 years for his promise.

Genesis 15 New International Version (NIV)

The Lord’s Covenant With Abram

15 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.
    I am your shield,[a]
    your very great reward.[b]”

2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[d]be.”

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

7 He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”QUESTION IS...... WHY did it take so long? Is there anything that he could have done to make the promise come sooner? I want to believe there is. We don't hear him talking to God about the promise. No communication at all! I believe God was waiting for him to approach and ask questions. When he didn't come God had to come back and make a promise again, this time with a time frame.

Genesis 18 New International Version (NIV)

The Three Visitors

18 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

3 He said, “If I have found favour in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”

“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs[b] of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”

7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.

“There, in the tent,” he said.

10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”

But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Maybe you, are like Sarah who ended up bringing Hagar to help with God's promise. Maybe its been so long that you even laugh at the idea of the fulfillment of your promise, GOD knows. There are so many things that you can learn from Abraham concerning what he did- patience, perseverance, faith, intimacy with God. Yet ...... TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK. PART 2