TOPIC: THE JOY OF HIS BIRTH
TEXT: LUKE 2:1-20
As Isaac Watts says in his song that “Joy to the World the Lord is come“so it is. The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ brought a lot of blessings to the world. In this write up, we wiII be considering three major blessings that the birth of our Messiah brought to the world.
“Glory to God in the highest“
First and foremost, the birth of Christ brings glory to our God in the highest. His birth, the life He lived here on earth, His preaching’s and teachings, the miracles He performed while He was here in the flesh, His death and resurrection, His ascension to the heaven and His ministries in our lives, all brings glory to our Lord in the highest. And that is reason why his birth is worldwide celebrated yearly.
We need to ask ourselves at this juncture, how is our birth affecting our family members, our community, town, state, the body of Christ (His Church} and our nation? Has our birth been a blessing or a curse and reproach? Do people thank God for ever meeting us or regret of ever met us?
These are the things we should work on as we will celebrate A MAN whose life has been a blessing to us and humanity. Our lives must bring glory to God and bless humanity in all ramifications. Lord helping us.
“….and on earth peace to men…..“
Secondly, the birth of our Lord Jesus brought peace back to humanity and our world. His birth brought back the peace we lost at the Garden of Eden to us and to our world. We could recollect what happened immediately after the fall, sin and all atrocities entered into our lives and world. This is clearly seen in what Cain did to his brother Abel, in that he killed his blood brother, and since then, the world has been in chaos – brother on the throat of another brother, leaders, against their subjects, servants and subordinates against their masters. The chaotic situation of the world has so eaten deep into the fabric of our senses that we have lost the sense of humanity in all ramifications.
After the fall, till His birth, we lost the peace with God and peace with ourselves, but His birth restores our peace with God and with ourselves. He said in His word that: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to your as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid“(John. 14:27).
Therefore, the birth of Jesus should restore you back to God and make you to be at peace with your fellow men. Let the Prince of Peace has his way in your life and you will experience His Peace in your life, home, work, business in its fullest. “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility“(Ephesians 2:14). Halleluiah!
“….on whom his favour rests“.
And thirdly, His birth brought His good will toward men; as confirmed by the angel who said to the shepherds “Do not be afraid“. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people“(Luke 2:10). Halleluiah! “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord“(Luke 2:11).
His birth brought for us the good news of joy, of salvation from sin and deliverance from the power of the evil ones as foretold by Zechariah, the prophet:
68Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has
Come and has redeemed his people. 69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 71Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us – 72to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham 74to rescue us from the hands of our enemies, and enable us to serve him without fear 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days (Luke 1:67-75). NIV.
The question now come to us, how are we showing forth the good will of the Lord to our world today? How effective are we in the work of soul winning and missions committed into our hands? Do we groan over the sinners around us? Do we adequately finance the cause of the gospel, evangelism and gospel outreach to the perishing world? Are we wholeheartedly committed to the cause of the gospel? Remember that, just because of our salvation, that’s why Jesus left his glory in heaven and came to this sinful world, just to save us. He was destitute, hungered, and thirsty, He had no place to lay his head, no clothes, He borrowed almost everything he used while in the flesh, and finally He laid down His life to die for us. He was
born that man no more may die
born to raise the sons of earth
born to give us second birth
He did all these just because of our salvation. What are we doing just to save others? May His birth never be in vain over our lives. Merry Christmas!
Pastor Emmanuel O. Adeleke ,
Zonal Superintendent,
Christ Apostolic Church,
Saje Zone, Abeokuta Ogun state.
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