God’s Purpose Keeps Us Alive #ChristmasSeries

One of Man’s greatest fear is death. Many face this experience with dread. For this reason, the rich mount very tight security about themselves. The dying spends a fortune to turn back the hands of time. The poor who seem to be tired of living still celebrate when they escape death by inches. But is there a better way to preserve our lives?

Herod was fuming with fear and jealousy when he heard a new King has been born. I wonder what kind of Child intimidates the King if not that the affront originated from a realm beyond the visible! Herod ensured that all the Children within the age range of the threat were eliminated. But Jesus survived. He lived through the massacre. It is interesting to know that John fell within that age range too and His life was preserved.

I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that people who are within the purpose of God cannot be eliminated by death. Death can only reach us when God says we are done. Acts 13:36 "Now when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.” Purpose preserves our lives and those of the people that God will have us inspire to fulfill destiny.

We see severally from the scriptures that God’s word is life!

• John 1: 4 In the Word, there is life and this life gives light to all. Anyone who walks in His light can be safe!
• Pros 3: 2 God’s word will increase the length of our days and the years of life, and our prosperity.
• Pros 4: 22 God’s word is life to those who find them and health to all their body.
• John 6: 63 The words I have spoken to you--they are full of the Spirit and life.

More ExamplesGod’s purpose is revealed to us by His word and His word comes by revelation. God can, therefore, reach us with dreams, visions, impressions, thoughts, signs and writings coming alive.

Jesus Stayed alive By Revelation:When God came in the form of man. He was as vulnerable as any of us would. But By revelation in a dream, Joseph was instructed to take Jesus to Egypt (Matthew 2:13). The wise men, also by revelation in a dream, were instructed not to return to Herod so that Jesus would not be found (Matthew 2:12). This saved Jesus’ life and preserved the plan God had for the salvation of the world. God can keep your soul from death and destruction by revelation!

The Young Prophet:1 Kings 13: 11-26 This is rather a tragic example but helps to see how disastrous it could be to walk outside of the word/purpose that God has for us. The young prophet has explicit instructions with which his life could have been preserved, but he decided to go on his own just for a moment and death caught up with him.

God’s word has the capasity to prolong our lives!

A Personal Christmas #ChristmasSeries

The purpose and destiny of every man is to be conformed into the image of Christ. Rom 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. This implies that all things ought to work together for this sole purpose. As a matter of fact, both verses of scripture are quoted in the same context. there is no doubt that that is what God wants for us.

All of Paul’s prayers and desires were that Christ will emerge from within the people. Gal 4:19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you. Paul pictures that Christlikeness is like conception. We carry it and bear it until we bring forth. This is an awesome illustration. This brings me to the crux of the matter today: A Personal Christmas. God desires that the Christmas story be replicated in each life!

We can go on and on from testament to testament; from book to book; from chapter to chapter; from verse to verse; from person to person and place to place and see that the sole purpose of life is conformity to the image of Christ. There is far more evidence in scripture that the purpose of life is Christlikeness than anything else we can come up with.

But God Left Us with a Way
If our sole purpose is conformity to the image of Christ, then we should have an example to follow. Thanks be to God that He left us with an example - Christmas! In this piece, I would try to make an attempt to enumerate the process of attaining Christlikeness by the pattern that God Himself gave to us.

The Visitation:
God initiates everything. We cannot claim that we found God, He is the one who sets out to bring us in. He Sent Jesus to reconcile the world to himself. God sent His angel, Gabriel, to deliver a message to Mary. It is interesting to note that the first step to Christlikeness is a revelation of the will of God. What I have said that Christlikeness is the goal is just a piece of information. When it becomes a revelation and dawns on each individual's heart, then the journey begins.

It is said that Mary had an attitude of devotion. We did not see any expression of doubt in her entire experience. Rather, she sought clarity and received God’s promise. We must put ourselves in such a state that fulfilling the purpose of God for our life is not just a revelation, but also a desire - a strong one at that.

Destiny Relationships:
The Story of Christmas is not complete without listing people like Joseph, Mary, Zechariah, Elizabeth, John, the Wise Men, the Shepherds and so on. Destiny relationships are critical to fulfilling destiny. They create an enabling environment for the life of God to thrive. There are two lessons to hold on to here:

• We should look out for relationships God bring our way They are critical to our formation into the image of God 
• We should not let strife and lust take over our own relationships because the purpose is to bring out the Christ in the other. And Christ cannot come in the midst of strife.

The Prince of Peace #ChristmasSeries

Is 9:6 A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,” “Prince of Peace.”

Who is a Prince?
The very first impression that we receive when we hear prince is that he has a father who is a King. And in no time, He would be king too. But do we ever think about these things as we see them in scriptures? God is never referred to as the King of Peace and so Jesus being the prince of Peace should raise questions in our hearts. Secondly, God is everlasting and so Jesus is not a prince Because He would take the father’s place anytime soon!

Before I go ahead, I would like to make reference to a portion of scripture with a similar expression.

1 Sam 18:30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.

Right here, the meaning of Price jumps right at us! Commander.

Prince in this context isn’t just speaking about a royal male child who is waiting for a national tragedy to become the new monarch. A prince is the Commander of the Army. This is perhaps the name of Jesus that introduces him as a warrior and the Lord of Host. He is the commander of the Armies of the Host of Heaven. He is the one Joshua saw and fell on His face! John 5:14. Christmas is not just a celebration of the birth of a sacrificial lamb. It is also the birth of the Lord of Hosts; a warrior.

And Peace?What exactly is our interpretation of Peace? Peace is not a compromise between the warring parties so that they reach a mutual agreement and give each other mutual respect. Peace is not sweeping issues under the carpet so that ‘peace will reign.’ Peace is not silence and deadness.

Peace is total subjugation of the enemy. Peace is the stronger taking total authority such that opposition dies forever. Peace is when issues are permanently resolved. Peace is life and excitement. Peace is a guard for our minds. Peace is completeness, soundness, sanity and safety. 

We do not need to come to a compromise with our personal weaknesses, we can overcome!

We do not need to accept defeat as human race, we can come through it all!

We do not need to cower from oppression as a nation, we can be victorious!

We do not need to submit to tyranny and corruption, we can experience peace indeed!

The Mighty God #ChristmasSeries

Is 9:6 A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,” “Prince of Peace.”

This is perhaps the most daunting statement for people of every other religion. This is the struggle of every other school of thought that one personality can totally embody all power, authority, knowledge and also be everywhere. This is the singular distinction between Christianity and any other religion. And until we reach this point, we honestly have not begun our Christian walk. Jesus is not just a prophet or a Man of God. He is not just a good man. He is the Mighty God.

The Mighty God Came to UsWe have seen people start religion on the basis of mediation. That one person can stand between God and man and relay messages, blessing and instructions both ways. But God does not have to be too far away that we cannot reach Him. He does not have to be too high up that we cannot access Him. This is the reality of Christianity: God can be revealed. God can be known. And this is the reality of Christmas. Christianity is God coming to us so that He can take us to Himself!

One of the greatest lessons of Christmas is that God revealed Himself! Finally, man can experience God in new dimensions that no one has ever done in the times past. God is more than an idea to debate on. He walked the face of the earth once and left giant footprints for men to follow.

God Walked the EarthIt is important to understand that God walked the face of the earth. This redefines everything about humanity. God made man in His image and likeness and we need to know that it is a possibility that divinity and mortality can coexist. God made mention of severally through men, prophets and nature. However, the Gospel is not just in words but in the demonstration of the spirit and power. God decided to also demonstrate the possibility of this coexistence and that is what Christmas reveals.

Choose One, Loose the OtherFinally, it is good to know that divinity and mortality can coexist in one body. That is great news! We can enjoy Godliness in our lifetime. However, there is more to it. Adam demonstrates to us that mortality can totally make the divine life elude us. Jesus demonstrates that, when we let God’s life to be expressed through us, mortality will be obliterated.

The Everlasting Father II #ChristmasSeries

We are at a critical time in the sojourn of mankind where peace is very expensive. This is not a 21st-century development, however, it is reaching a new flavor and height that is impossible to ignore. The bitterness and hatred for those different from us has been man’s greatest companion for several years now. However, we are not condemned to this heartless and violent world forever. Christmas reminds us that there is a Prince of Peace whose reign will restore peace to the world.

There are a number of flash points for division among human beings: race, sex, government, beliefs and self. Racism seems to be the largest of all. However, when we decide to zoom into each race, we see that even ethnic groups within races are pained against one another. Could this mean that the problem is no longer with the races but something much deeper within? When we zoom into ethnic groups and consider members of the same family, we see the same hatred among brothers. This is the final blow that makes me think, our problem goes beyond race, but deep within the human nature.

This also applies to governments across the world. Individual families are having a tough time maintaining law and order within the home. Kids rebel against parents and parents vent their anger. If this happens within a small building we can imagine that at scale within the borders of the country. What hopes does Christmas bring?

Jesus: The Everlasting FatherThe everlasting father is not a sweet appellation for the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a revelation of His purpose and intent to unite man under one single family and race. The Everlasting Father is the beginning of a new race that will heal up all the wounds caused by the friction between the races and bind all the broken hearts as a result of all the atrocities in the history of each family, race and nation. 

Eph 3:14-15 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name."

It is indeed beautiful that a family can gather together and we experience different personalities. It is so beautiful. How much more when tribes gather together. NYSC is an awesome time not just because there is room for some adventure in a strange land, but because we also see beauty from every corner of the nation. The Olympics is another marvel. We see beauty from every nation gather in one city to celebrate. This is the kind of unity that the Everlasting Father brings: beauty from each individual, each tribe, each nation, each race, each continent.

The everlasting father unites the world under one single family, one singe race. This is yet another beauty that Christmas reminds us of!

The Everlasting Father #ChristmasSeries

If there is anything I’m sure of about the scriptures, it is that there is no word being used carelessly. God carefully chose many of the words used to describe his intentions. Names of people and places gave more insight to circumstances and between-the-lines perspective to all the things that happen. There is no one name without a hidden message in the scriptures. As a matter of fact, an interesting approach to Bible study is to go name by name.

Name’s aren’t just words that distinguish one person from the other. Especially in the scriptures, a name is a revelation of the nature and destiny. The names of God reveal to us who God is, they are not just words to fill up our worship.

One of such many names that hold a lot of message and power for us is the Everlasting Father. That was one of the only 4 names revealed my the most popular prophesy about the coming of Jesus. How come we walk past so quickly whenever we come across it? I honestly cannot remember any sermon particularly zooming in into the purpose and intent of God for this appellation.

Here are three lesson I can draw from the name Everlasting Father:

Jesus Begins a New Race
One of the very first people that God called father was Abraham. God called him father of many nations because He was about to start a brand new race of humanity from him on. Jesus is the Everlasting Father because by Him God will bring many sons to glory. Just as by one man sin came into the world, by one man also, righteousness will overcome the world.

Like Father Like Son
This race will bear God’s identity. Whoever is born of flesh is flesh. Whoever of born of Spirit is spirit. Jesus as the Everlasting Father means for us that we bear His identity. We have the same bloodline and shares His genes - His divine nature. We bear His name, we bear his nature and his blood flows through our veins. This is one remarkable thing that Christmas should remind us of.

Another Clue to Eternal Life
Boldly spelt out in this name is the intention of God for man to be immortal! If the first is an Everlasting Father, the rest would be immortal sons. It tells us that God’s purpose transcends time and when we begin to think that the totality of God’s purpose will be expressed and interpreted only in our mortal life, we surely have deviated from one of Christianity’s core beliefs.

The most popular scripture is “For God so love the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16. In summary, I strongly believe that that passage talks about “Everyone born of the water and spirit; in the lineage of Christ will enjoy the same quality of life that Jesus has - Everlasting.”

This is another truth Christmas brings...

The Wonderful Counsellor II #ChristmasSeries

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Jeremiah 1:12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” 

Isaiah 55:10-11 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 

Mark 16:20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. 

Hebrews 2:4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. 

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

We can go on and on from the New and Old Testaments to see the ministry of the Wonderful Counsellor in action. God is not all about the talk alone. As a matter of fact, overtime He spoke something more happened. His type of Gospel is not the intellectual one that tickles our intelligence. The gospel causes a change wherever is is being preached. God’s counsel is always accompanied with a wonder.

Right from the beginning, we see that whenever God spoke, something happens. God said let there be light and there was light. God said let the waters be separated and so the firmaments were formed. He gathered the waters to form the sea and land all by His word. The sun, the moon and the stars came by the word of His mouth. All living things all came as a result of the wonder in His counsel.

So next time you get your prayer answered, don’t just jump up and run around. Stay around for the Lord to ask who touched me, and let him give you counsel for a much eternally relevant change. Next time you get an insight into the scriptures or a revelation jumps at you. Don’t rush out to share it. You might want to spend time to pray that the wonders in His counsel be also made manifest in your life.

It is my prayer that we experience and express the Wonderful Counsellor. That our faith will not be in words only but in power and the demonstration of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus: The Wonderful Counsellor #ChrsitmasSeries

One of the most commonly used words in this Christmas season is also one of the most overlooked words. Sometimes we should not just jump past words when we find them in the scriptures. What on earth is Wonderful Counsellor? Is its one whose counsel so full of wisdom that it amazes the hearers? Or are His wonders are accompanied with such an advice that will put our life in shape. I think so. I think His counsel is so saturated with wonders that we see that really, no amount of logic and reasoning can bring us to such a realization. And the miracles He does? They are always embedded with a message! He is the Wonderful Counsellor.

Woman with the issue of blood Luke 8:43-48

After many years of spending so much on her health and visiting several doctors with no improvement. This woman finally summed up courage. She squeezed through the crowd and touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. She indeed got healed instantly and was about to leave. But Jesus wasn’t done with her yet. She had just received a wonder but she was yet to get a counsel. So Jesus had to find her out. Peter thought it would be insane to try to single out the person who touched Him out. But Jesus knew that a wonder without a counsel will not do her much good.

When Jesus found her, He said this words “My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” I’m sure this was a bigger miracle for Her. Before then, she didn’t think she was a daughter. If she knew, she would have come looking for father rather than doctors. She got a new revelation of her identity. She understood her place in God’s family. All of these would have never happened if she met just the wonderful! But Jesus? He is not just wonderful. He is the Wonderful Counsellor. He has a message with every miracle.

Ten Lepers Cleansed Luke 17:11-19

This was one of the few occasions that Jesus gave counsel first. He asked the ten lepers to go show themselves to the priest. This was a wonderful message for many even today. Jesus did not come to overturn the scriptures, He came to fulfill them. On their way, they ended up with a miracle. All were cleansed. Jesus taught them to respect protocol even if they get healed! He taught them to still submit to the rules despite the fact that the same rules ostracized them for years?

Or should I talk about the Fig Tree Jesus made to wither. Jesus taught a remarkable lesson of about faith and against hypocrisy there. With faith, you can make all of your desires come to pass. We do not have to fake the life if we do not have the life, we make people expect from us what we do not have.

How About You?

Have you received a miracle from God and rushed out in excitement? Have you ever touched the hem of His garment and ran off that you didn’t even hear Jesus ask “Who touched me?” You should stay and ask for your the counsel that will make you a spring of living water thatcher than a vessel that keeps water. God’s counsel makes us live a life of being the miracle rather than always receiving the miracle. He is the Wonderful Counsellor.

And are you an intellectual Christian who is full of bible verses about everything that God can do but has never really had a feel? Are you the one who always has an answer but never an experience? Jesus is not just the Counsellor who fills you with intellectual knowledge. His words have the capacity to create and restore and do wonders. He wants us to be witnesses, not just puppets. He is the Wonderful Counsellor and that is yet another thing that Christmas reminds us of.

Christmas is About A King #ChristmasSeries

The very first Christmas was a remarkable encounter

I can imagine for years Israel worshiped like groping

They worshiped a God they did know very well

But for the very first time men could put a form to Him

And God? He was totally fine with it

The scriptures warned not to worship any other save the Living God

And never to have a graven image or a form to represent Him

This was because He has an image and it is Jesus

Jesus is the expression of the Father

The brightness of His glory

The express image of the living God

He is the visible God

And for the very first time God permitted worship to one that could be seen

God knew there would be a lot of opposition or reluctance

God made sure that the heavens were the first to burst out in worship

God revealed. Word become flesh. The earth can follow then follow.

It was a marvel in the heavens, even for the angels

That God could come to the earth and dwell

And yet His throne in heaven is not vacant

That God will share in His divinity

And yet not be depleted in anyway

They cried Glory to God in the Highest

And on earth, peace to men of goodwill

The Yoruba will call Him Ajade ma tan ni le.

The One who left home but yet still home

He came to the earth in His fullness

And yet He still governs Heaven in person

That is such a brand new expression of God

Even the angels who have never ever blinked

Have never ever seen Him like this

Years of prophesy and promises converged in one body

The seed that will bruise the serpent’s head

He was the foundation of the city that Abraham saw

The perfect replacement to preserve humanity

The One of whom who will reign forever on David’s throne

The babe whose cries unsettled the earthly kings

A child was born to a family but a son was given to humanity

He’ll be so full of wisdom and power

That His counsel will be full of wonders

And His wonders will overflow with counsel

He is the King, the Lord and Savior

The wise men knew this and brought gifts not toys

He is the Lord God of Hosts

The shepherd knew this and brought worship not a cuddle

What do you see? A Babe still? 

I hope this is enough reminder

That Christmas is about a King not a Baby

Herod knew that well enough and wanted to end it there

But what He didn’t know is the true expanse of His kingdom

I think the world knows that it’s about a King a new dispensation

They hope that the `Happy Holidays` will take away the `A Savior is born`

They really want to overshadow worship with songs about babies

But no worries, like Herod, the world really doesn’t know the expanse

The real Christmas isn’t one day, it is a new day

Those who walked in the darkness have seen the first ray of dawn

The light of the world, the Sun of Righteousness is rising

This season these rays are reaching many for the first time

Our hearts should be filled with worship for the King

All Things are Working Together #ChristmasSeries

What we call Christmas is a series of events that span over a period of about 2 years, if not more: the sighting of the star and commencement of the journey to seek out the star, the journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, the visitation of the shepherds, Herod's rage, arrival of the wise men and presentation of gifts. All these happened over years and yet it is clear that it is just for one purpose. How about events that span thousands of years?

It is also interesting to know that all of Scripture point to Jesus. From the word with which God created the heavens and the earth, to the man: the image and likeness of God, God already began to give us a glimpse of who He is. He began to tell of His sacrifice for our sin right after man fell. He slaughtered a lamb to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness. He didn’t just demonstrate, He declared too that the Seed of the woman will give the serpent the final blow.

We also see the appearance of Melchizedek, a Priest of God and a King of a place called Peace. With this Jesus was introduced as one though man, but also without a human ancestry. God walked the earth and He can do that again and again. He did that again in Jesus.

As we move on to the birth and travails of Isaac and how Abraham already determined to give him up because He trusted God will raise Him up, we see the resurrection being illustrated too. The serpent Moses hung on a rod, the intercession of Aaron between the dead and the living to stop the ravaging destruction, scriptures tell us of the constant intercession the Lord makes on our behalf. The many rules regarding atonement, Jubilee, passover, first-fruits. They all speak of Jesus.

We can go on and on. Have we mentioned Joseph who saved the entire world by going before them to prepare a place? We won’t have done justice if we do not mention Joshua, the one through whom God apportioned an inheritance to each tribe of Israel. And of cause David whose life God used as an illustration of the reign of the messiah. Every single event and person was a pointer to Christmas!

And the very obvious prophesies of Isaiah and Micah and the not so explicit ones of Jeremiah and Ezekiel all speak about Jesus. All of the law and prophets speak of Jesus.

How About Us?
There is an event that everything in our life seems to be pointing to. All things are working together for good for something. And this is not about becoming the CEO of the company of your dreams or owning enough wealth than we can possibly describe. As a matter of fact even professional, marital and financial success are part of the all things that should work together for that grand purpose God originally intended. The singular event that all our life experience is pointing to is the 'Formation of Christ in Us - a Personal Christmas.'

Man is a creature of purpose and God by everything leads him to His primary destiny: becoming the image and likeness of God. Just like every page in scripture speaks of Christ (not just his birth but also his reign and reception of the world) every event and decision in our life should point to the emergence and dominance of Christ in Us.

Christmas is not a Birthday, It’s a Brand New Day #ChristmasSeries

I have heard again and again that the 25th of December is not Jesus’ actual birthday. Sometimes I wonder why some people are just knowing this for a fact. I have known this for years and still chosen to celebrate Christmas. Some people even go further to set the date at sometimes in September. But when we realise that we are not celebrating a birthday, we would care less about the accurate day and cling to the core of the season. 

Christmas is not a birthday, it is a brand new day and we begin to rejoice when we awake to that reality. We do not all awake to a brand new day at the same time. We do not come upon this realization at the same time, but whenever we do, joy fills our heart for what the day brings. This is the same with Christmas. Christmas brings joy to the world, it brings joy to the heavens too. It brings peace to men of goodwill.

Christmas is the moment that the light dawns upon those who walk in darkness Is 9:2. It is the moment when the promise of restoration, redemption and reinstating man to the perfect will of God begins.

It is what we do not the circumstances

I do agree that this particular period Christmas is celebrated has a non-christian origin. some say it is idolatrous and others say it is purely a political strategy to pacify the majority. But whatever the case is, it has never been about what men did, it is about what we have chosen to do now.

Babylon was a place of captivity and the natural reaction would be to mourn and look forward to freedom. But God warned those who decided to sulk in this self-designed mourning to accept this new reality and live their lives (Jer 29:4-9).

The prison cell is not a place to rejoice and praise God. It is a place to curse god and die. It is a place where men loose hope. But for Paul and Silas, it wasn’t so. They worshiped from the depths of their hearts. What happened afterwards is not really a concern for today. My emphasis is even though the environment or circumstances are highly idolatrous or political, what we make of it is the most important.

Seed of the Woman #ChristmasSeries

Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

The first prophesy or declaration of a saviour was in Genesis 3:15. It is such a strange declaration because, it virtually goes against everything we know today about conception and delivery. It came at a time when child bearing was an alien experience for Adam and Eve: they had didn’t know what is meant to give birth.

Our idea of conception today is the union of man and woman and contributions of both bring about a brand new life. We cannot call that seed of the woman because the man played a part too. As a matter of fact, it is never a seed until it is fertile. Fertilisation happens after the union of man and woman. So a single gender cannot lay claim to the seed! But for the saviour, it was going to be another story entirely. Something man had never experienced.

Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

This means that only the woman would make a contribution. No one else, at least within the psychical realm would have a contribution to the birth of the saviour. This was such a crazy idea that it took a dream to convince Joseph that this was what God has been speaking about from the Genesis. There was no explanation Mary could give that could make sense to anyone. Not even to the man that loved her so much and was willing to marry her. It took God to speak to Joseph in private. God called him aside in a dream and spoke to him.

What if Joseph wasn’t familiar with the Prophesy?
I think it would have been disastrous if Joseph wasn’t aware of the prophesy of a virgin conception. What exactly has God spoken regarding our lives or about the people we love? When these thing happen, do we fall among the people who explain it away and say ‘coincidence?’ Or our faith in God is strengthened because we see Hid word come to pass before our eyes?

What does this man for us today?
All our lives we have known success that had man’s hand in it. We have got opportunities because other people got involved. We have become who we are because of interaction with friends, family and teachers. We have started businesses because someone asked us to. But until we can point to events that are a pure collaboration between the Holy Spirit and our souls, we cannot claim our own Christmas.

We arrive at our real identity when we are a product of nature and the breath of God. We have life changing encounters when there’s not a single human finger involved. We bring forth eternally relevant ventures when the only human involvements are pointers to the sacred chambers where our seeds are fertilised by God’s and men of like passion refuse to give us up because they see an obvious work of God in our lives.