XMAS SPECIAL – Celebrating the Purpose of His Birth

Tuesday, December 22

XMAS SPECIAL – Celebrating the Purpose of His Birth

Scriptural reference: John 3:16, 17

16) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

There is such a vast difference between the joy and euphoria people experience during the two most meaningful and important festivals on earth – Christmas and Easter.

There is always a huge display of excitements concerning Christmas even months before the actual festive week.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with that because the birth of the one and only saviour of mankind really deserves to be celebrated to the full. Even Heaven could not help but to unleash numerous angels to sing on the day of Christ’s birth.

The concern is the joy that is not experienced in the wake of the Easter festivity. For many this occasion is all about Easter eggs. Nonetheless, the essence of Easter is equally as important as that of Christmas.

Yes! It is truly good news that Jesus was born into the world. However, the purpose of His birth would not have been fulfilled had He not died in the way and manner described in the Bible.

The terrible ordeal that our Lord went through was foretold that the prophets way beforehand. The prophet Isaiah gave a much-detailed description of what was to happen to the Messiah in the 53^rd chapter of his book.

Be conscious that all the pains, sufferings, stripes that He sustained were not as a result of His sins but rather yours and mine. For surely He borne our griefs and our sorrows…and He was despised and we did not esteemed Him.

Never forget that His wounds, bruises, chastisement and stripes were to pave way for the complete forgiveness of your past, present and future sins, peace that surpasses all understanding and healing from all sorts of sicknesses and diseases (Isaiah 53:5).

Jesus did all of these to demonstrate His unconditional and everlasting love for you. Isn’t the Lord wonderful? Praise His Name forevermore! Halleluiah!

Grace unto you,

Osei Barnie.

THE CALL FOR INTERCESSORS

Monday, December 14

THE CALL FOR INTERCESSORS

Scriptural reference Gen 18:22

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?

The entire people of Sodom and Gomorrah had been taken away by King Chedorlaomer as captives after defeating them in a war. It took Abraham to rescue and restore them to their lands. Nevertheless, they did not change their wicked and abominable ways of living. As a result, the cry of innocent blood went up before God against the people.

In verse 22, we read that ‘two men turned away from there and went toward Sodom.’ We later see in Gen 19:1 that these two men were angels who were on a mission to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. As I read, this portion of scripture really stood out to me and that is; ‘But Abraham still stood before the Lord.’

He did that in order to intercede for the people of that land. He was certainly aware of the sinful lifestyle the people were living. Instead of condemning, he rather stood in the gap on their behalf.

Mostly, instead of having compassion toward those who are living helplessly in sin, we tend to ‘nail them to the cross.’ Such a character is not what our Father, Who is the true Judge, desires from us. In first Timothy 2:1 onwards, He rather urges us to supplicate, pray, intercede and give thanks on behalf of ALL people – whether good or evil. The reason being; He desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

It must be noted that this call is not for a select few. All believers have been given that responsibility. So I encourage you to begin interceding for your family, friends, country and the whole world. You are anointed to effect dramatic changes in situations that seem impossible only if you will persevere in your intercession. Who knows what would have happen had Abraham reduced the number of the righteous people to three. With that, Lot and the two daughters would have been enough to save the entire land from destruction.

Grace unto you,

Osei Barnie.