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Thanksgiving Series: God, the Strong Armed One

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On January 4, 2016

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives, Thanksgiving

Hand of God

The Creation of Adam

Psalm 136 can be touted as the “The Psalm of Thanks” or the “Thanksgiving Psalm.” It is a Psalm that is rich in content, apropos the character of God and since each verse in the Psalm is suffixed with “For his mercy endures forever”, it is a Psalm that is easy to read and memorize as well. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, giving thanks for the ultimate reason of sending us his only begotten Son, we will be looking at each verse in Psalm 136 and glean out the character of God from these verses, which would be reason enough to be grateful and give thanks to our LORD God.
Today we look at Verse 12.
With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

When visiting the Vatican City, we were blessed to see the wondrous work of Italian Renaissance artist, Michelangelo Buonarroti on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Between 1508 and 1512, Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with a series of frescoes, portraying several biblical stories. One central painting which is commonly misnamed as the Hand of God, but which is correctly named The Creation of Adam, depicts God giving life to the first of his creation, Adam (man). In this painting, Michelangelo puts the viewer’s attention on the two outstretched arms – one that is of Adam, limp with drooping fingers as if without any energy, resting upon one bent knee as if it is too heavy for him to hold it up without support, and the other, the assertive strong powerful hand of God himself, reaching out and ready to discharge the vital spark of life.

God does not just have an outstretched arm, but a strong outstretched (reaching) arm.

Points to ponder:
Just as God rescued the Israelites with his outstretched arms from their enemies, he continues to reach out to us today. Like Adam, by ourselves, we cannot hold ourselves up. Without God’s Spirit in our lives, we are languid and limp. When Jesus came into this world, it was God’s strong outstretched arm, reaching out to all of mankind, to give our limp lives, the vital spark of eternal life. We thank God for the outstretched strong Hand of God – yes, his mercy truly endures for ever.

God is reaching out to you! Accept Jesus by acknowledging him to be your Lord and Savior and get life – eternal life – by become a living soul (Genesis 4:7).

Psalm 136:12 (KJV)
12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Christmas Perspectives :: Supreme to Simple

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On December 24, 2015

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

Christmas is the occasion when Jesus Christ, the mighty God (Isaiah 9:6-7), Supreme Lord over all of creation (Colossians 1:15; NLT), became a simple child and came to the world of man. Some of the definitions in the dictionary that you will find for the word “simple” are “easy to understand or deal with”, “not elaborate or artificial, plain”, “not complex or compound, single”. The unfathomable Supreme God of the universe became on Christmas day, the expressed image of the invisible God (Colossian 1:15), easy to understand, easy to deal with, an unelaborate, plain and real baby, not complex or compound, but the triune God in one.

Points to ponder:
Though Jesus is Supreme, he willfully chose to become simple, so that we who are the real simple ones, could become supreme, able to make mountains plain (Zechariah 4:5), as co-heirs with Christ of God’s glory (Romans 8:17), by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, who comes to dwell in all who believe in Jesus, for it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Holy Spirit, says the Lord (Zechariah 4:6-7). Are you supreme or simple?

Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Colossians 1:15 (NLT)
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation

Romans 8:16-17 (KJV)
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Christmas Perspectives :: Prince to Pauper

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On December 22, 2015

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

Christmas is the occasion when Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6-7), willfully left all the glories of heaven (Philippians 2:6-7) and came to the world of man, where he became a pauper in a worldly monetary and material sense, so much so that he advised that one cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24), and advised the rich young man to sell all the possessions to be perfect (Matthew 19:21) as he was and go follow him, and even his tomb was borrowed (Isaiah 53:9).

Points to ponder:
Though Jesus is a Prince, the Prince of Peace, he became a pauper so that we who are really paupers, storing up our treasures here on earth, must be willing to relinquish all the glories of this world and go follow him, as princes and princesses of heaven. To all who believe and receive Jesus, he gave them the privilege to be called the children of God, which is other words, is that he made us princes and princesses of heaven if we believe in him.  This Christmas season, don’t let this question go unanswered – Are you a pauper or a prince / princess?

Philippians 2:6-8 (KJV)
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

John 1:12 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Christmas Perspectives :: Heaven to Homeless

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On December 21, 2015

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

Christmas is the occasion when Jesus Christ, the God of heaven, willfully left his home (Philippians 2:6-7) and came to the world of man, where he became homeless (Matthew 8:20) for there was no place for him in even an inn. He did this so that man who was truly homeless (without a home in heaven) could find a home in heaven, by being accepted and adopted into God’s family (John 1:12), if we believe in Jesus as our Lord, and Savior and King.

Points to ponder:
Jesus said, he is going to prepare a place (home) for us in heaven, so that where he is, we may be also (John 14:3). In other words, at Christmas, Jesus became homeless so that we no longer need to be homeless. Are you homeless? If so, believe in the Lord Jesus, today (wait no longer), and be adopted into God’s family, so that you can call heaven your home. Are you homeless?

Philippians 2:6-8 (KJV)
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Matthew 8:20 (KJV)
20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

John 14:1-3 (KJV)
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Thanksgiving Series: God, the Smiter and our Rescuer

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On December 18, 2015

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives, Thanksgiving

Psalm 136 can be touted as the “The Psalm of Thanks” or the “Thanksgiving Psalm.” It is a Psalm that is rich in content, apropos the character of God and since each verse in the Psalm is suffixed with “For his mercy endures forever”, it is a Psalm that is easy to read and memorize as well.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, giving thanks for the ultimate reason of sending us his only begotten Son, we will be looking at each verse in Psalm 136 and glean out the character of God from these verses, which would be reason enough to be grateful and give thanks to our LORD God.

Today we look at Verses 10 and 11.
To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

These verses indicate that God is not only a smiter of our enemies, but is one who is a rescuer of slaves. The people of God were in physical bondage and slavery under the rule of the Pharoah in the land of Egypt and God heard their cries. He sent unto them his deliverer, Moses, who with the aid of God, led God’s people of out the land of slavery. During this exodus from Egypt, God’s power was manifested and the unrelenting obstinacy of Pharaoh, brought on Egypt many plagues and calamities, including costing the people of Egypt, their firstborn son.

Points to ponder:
At the onset, it may be easily misunderstood that God was a cruel God, who according to some atheists and anti-theists, was a murdering God, with no compassion for the firstborn. But, let us not forget that in order to save all of mankind from spiritual slavery, being in bondage and under the power of the devil, God did not ever spare his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. God sent him as the ultimate deliverer from spiritual slavery, to be born of a virgin, in a manger, overshadowed by the Cross. Let us not forget that God smote the adversary, Shaitan (or Satan) and the last enemy which is death (1 Corinthians 15:26), freeing all who believe in him and his son, who was sent to and for us. God indeed is the smiter of our enemy and the rescuer from spiritual slavery and that is all the reason that we can be thankful for.

It is Christmas season and while many focus on Jesus as a baby in the manger, let us not forget to see him as the rescuing Knight that he really is.

Psalm 136:10-11 (KJV)
10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Thanksgiving Series: For the LIGHT and lights

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On December 17, 2015

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives, Thanksgiving

Psalm 136 can be touted as the “The Psalm of Thanks” or the “Thanksgiving Psalm.” It is a Psalm that is rich in content, apropos the character of God and since each verse in the Psalm is suffixed with “For his mercy endures forever”, it is a Psalm that is easy to read and memorize as well.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, giving thanks for the ultimate reason of sending us his only begotten Son, we will be looking at each verse in Psalm 136 and glean out the character of God from these verses, which would be reason enough to be grateful and give thanks to our LORD God.

Today we look at Verses 7 to 9.
To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

These verses speak of two great lights that were made to rule, but according to the creation account recorded in Genesis 1:3, it is written, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” This not only establishes that fact that the sun, moon and stars are not the source of true light, but it was this LIGHT that was in the beginning (even before the creation of the sun, moon and stars (great lights)) that is the true source of LIGHT that dispels real darkness. This is further accentuated in the scripture, where it is written that Jesus, the Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God who dispels spiritual darkness (sin) of the world, is the light in the city of God (heaven) which does not have the need for the sun or the moon (Revelation 21:23). Jesus is the LIGHT. He was not created. He simply was and is and forever will be – from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2). In the beginning was the LIGHT and that LIGHT was with God and the LIGHT was God (John 1:1) for Jesus said, “I am the LIGHT of the World (John 8:12), and whoever follows him shall not walk in darkness – spiritual darkness, separated from God, but have the light of life.” 

Points to ponder:
It is Christmas season and as one ponders about the birth of Jesus Christ in a manger, sometimes getting lost in the festivities, let us not forget that on Christmas night, Jesus had his birth in the form of a man, but not his beginning, but more importantly let us not overlook the true meaning of Christmas and that is “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16). Jesus is the greatest of all lights, the maker and ruler of all other lights. Are you still in darkness? Is your life a slave to sin? Ask Jesus to be born in your heart so that he can dispel all darkness and by that you can have the light of life. Now, that is a great reason to be thankful for.

Psalm 136:7-9 (KJV)
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Revelation 21:23 (KJV)
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Isaiah 9:2 (KJV)
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Matthew 4:16 (KJV)
16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Jesus – The Prince of Peace

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On January 5, 2015

In Christian, Christmas

The Prophet Isaiah, in the divine prophecy revealed by God unto him, lists out the names by which Jesus shall be called, even before Jesus’ birth – the fifth being “The Prince of Peace”, for the Bible records “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

To be a Prince implies that you are the child of a King. Psalm 47:8 establishes that God reigns over all nations, meaning that he is the King over all nations. God is King and his only begotten Son, Jesus is the Prince. In addition to establishing the sonship of Jesus (as the Son of God), this name also gives insight into the Spirit (character) of Jesus’ reign. Jesus’ reign is one of peace for only through him can one have the peace that passeth all understanding.

Points to ponder:
When you and I let Jesus totally rule our life, then we can be assured of a life of peace (which passeth all understanding), irrespective of the circumstances or situations that surround us. Even in the valley of shadow of death, can one feel perfect safe and at peace, when Jesus shepherds one’s life. Jesus is the Prince of Peace – Are you at peace? Is Jesus your Prince?

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Philippians 4:7 (KJV)
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Jesus – The everlasting Father

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On January 2, 2015

In Christian, Christmas

The Prophet Isaiah, in the divine prophecy revealed by God unto him, lists out the names by which Jesus shall be called, even before Jesus’ birth – the fourth being “The everlasting Father”, for the Bible records “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Naturally, one would find it absurd that a child who is born is to be called “The everlasting Father”. How can the Son of God be also God the Father? Herein is the beautiful mystery of two of the three persons of the Trinity of God prophesied. Jesus was more than a mere child who was born, he was the Son of God, who was given. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son and whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). In other words, God gave himself, to man, begotten as The Son. Jesus affirmed this when he declared that He and the Father are One (John 10:30).

In Jesus, we find the perfect juxtaposition of the divine with the human, the immortal with the mortal, the heavenly with the earthly, the eternal with the ephemeral, the Spiritual with the flesh for the Word became flesh and dwelt among men as man (John 1:1) and the Father with the Son. Jesus was not created for he existed eternally with God (John 1:1-3) and by him, through him, and for him were all things made (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 2:10). Jesus was begotten of the Father (John 3:16) and said that he had come to reveal the Father unto man (Luke 10:22) for no man has seen the Father (John 1:18), except the begotten Son, for they are One and the Same. Jesus is The everlasting Father.

Points to ponder:
Jesus is the everlasting Father. The question that begs to be answered is, “Is he your everlasting Father?” For to as many as those who received him and who believe on his name, Jesus gave them the power to become the sons (and daughters) of God (John 1:12). The Son of God came to the world as the everlasting Father so that he could give the sons of men the power to become his own sons (and daughters). Jesus is The everlasting Father.

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

John 1:1-3
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:11-13 (KJV)
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus – The mighty God

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On December 30, 2014

In Christian, Christmas

The Prophet Isaiah, in the divine prophecy revealed by God unto him, lists out the names by which Jesus shall be called, even before Jesus’ birth – the third being “The mighty God”, for the Bible records “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

The phrase “The mighty God” occurs only a few times in the King James Version of the Holy Bible. The Bible states that the arms of Joseph’s hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob (Genesis 49:24). The Psalmist refers to the Lord as the mighty God who controls the rising and the setting of the sun (Psalm 50:1) and that he would not sleep until he finds a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob (Psalm 132:5). The prophet Isaiah not only prophesies that Jesus’ name shall be called “the mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6) but also prophesies that the remnant of Jacob (God’s people) shall return to the mighty God (Isaiah 10:21). Jeremiah the prophet identifies that the name of Great Lord of hosts who made the heaven and the earth, for whom nothing is too hard, who shows loving kindness unto thousands and deals justly with sins, who is great in counsel and mighty in work, omniscient of all the ways of the sons of men, rewarding each one according to their ways and to the fruit of their work (doings), is the Mighty God.

Points to ponder:
Jesus is the mighty God of Jacob who strengthened the arms of the hands of Joseph, raising him from the pit to the palace as a prince. Jesus is the mighty God who controls the elements of this world (Mark 4:35-41), his creation – from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same. Jesus is the mighty God who made the heavens and the earth, for whom nothing is too hard, who shows loving kindness unto thousands and deals justly with sin. Jesus is great in counsel and his works were deemed mighty in word and in deed (Luke 24:19).
The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the remnant of God’s people shall return to the mighty God. Are you and I returning to God turning back from all our selfish and sinful lives?
The Psalmist declared that he shall not sleep until he finds a habitation for the mighty God. Like the Psalmist, let us also vow to not slumber nor sleep until we find a home for Jesus Christ, the mighty God, in the lives of people who do not know him (yet).
Remember, though this may seem like a impossible task by our own strength, there is nothing too hard for Jesus – The mighty God.

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Jeremiah 32:17-19 (KJV)
17 Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name,
19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

Luke 24:18-19 (KJV)
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

Jesus – The Counsellor

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On December 29, 2014

In Christian, Christmas

The Prophet Isaiah, in the divine prophecy revealed by God unto him, lists out the names by which Jesus shall be called, even before Jesus’ birth – the second being “Counsellor”, for the Bible records “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Merriam-Websters gives a trifold definition to the word “Counsellor” i.e., advisor, advocate (lawyer), and authority (supervisor in-charge). The Bible states that where no counsel is, the people fall (Proverbs 11:14) and without counsel, purposes are disappointed (Proverbs 15:22).

Jesus’ name shall be called Counsellor for he is The Counsellor,
– who advises us in the way we should go (Psalm 32:8) with his eyes fixed on us,
– who is our advocate with the Father, when we sin against God (1 John 2:1) and
– who is the overall supreme authority over our lives and the lives of all (Matthew 28:18).

Points to ponder:
Jesus Christ is The Counsellor. He advices, advocates and has authority over all of mankind. Have you submitted to his authority so that he can supervise your life? If not do so today, so that he can be your advocate and give you Godly counsel.

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

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