Saturday, December 5, 2009

A REASON TO CELEBRATE


“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10,11

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel [The Incarnation], which being interpreted is, God with us. [Divinity in union with humanity]” Matthew 1:21,23

The word ‘Incarnation’ literally means “in flesh”. The word is used to describe the teaching that God through Jesus Christ of Nazareth has taken on human flesh and become God in human form. The Incarnation is the greatest miracle of the ages! It was the only solution to the sin problem which has brought mischief to the human race through the first man (Adam) and it was the only way for man’s redemption to be on legal grounds. Do you know that you are an incarnation by your identification with Jesus? You are hundred percent spirit and hundred percent human. If you are not, then Jesus was not. You must understand that redemption was based on God’s principle of Justice and the Judge of the whole earth cannot be unjust. The Word tells us that Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of God’s throne (Psalm 89:14). However, by virtue of Jesus becoming our substitute, He became what we were that we may become what He was – this is how the law of substitution operates. The incarnation made Jesus the only qualified person to handle man’s misery. The incarnation is also what makes the Saints the only qualified beings to communicate the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ to the human race. Christianity is the manifestation of the divine life on earth. This is the reason Jesus committed the Great Commission to us and not to angels or to some other beings. What a calling! This is what we celebrate at Christmas. We celebrate Jesus and what He has made us by virtue of His substitutionary work.

There are many ways of celebrating but there is also the love-way to celebrate, and we as the love-children of a love Father-God must celebrate the love-way. As a Christian you don’t try to become what you are already. You don’t try to love because the love of God is already shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5). So then, all you need do is to choose to walk in love. Just as the bird has the ability to fly but chooses when to fly. As love-children we must pass on the Gospel and always remember the poor. Just imagine what men would become if they receive this great Gospel in your mouth and imagine the difference it would make when the poor have something to eat or wear because you are alive. I think it shouldn’t just be during Christmas, it should be a lifestyle. We must ensure that people are thankful to God that we are alive for everyday we live in this world – that's impact!

May this season usher into your life the extra-ordinary manifestation of God’s divine presence
May the anointing of the Spirit cause you to walk in the same direction with the Master
May the Precious Holy Spirit bring excellence and beauty into your life
May the Father-God work on, in and through you to bring hope to hopeless humanity
May Christ be formed in you and may you come to experience the reality of His personality
May you be filled with contagious faith, hope and love in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS & A GREAT NEW YEAR!

With love,

David C. Okoye