REASON FOR THE SEASON

We are celebrating the birth of a King, not just any King but the King of kings. Was Jesus born on the 25th? Why do we celebrate His birth if He wasn't born on the 25th? Well I don't know about you but a King left His heavenly throne and came down to this lowly world just to save you and I, He left all He had so as to show us the Way, the Truth and give us Life. I don't know about you but I think it's worth celebrating.

 Who cares if He was born on the 25th, we are just glad He was born and that is the most important reason for the Celebration. Not every King can give up His throne for His subjects, not every King can dress as his subject, eat their food and be like them.


So let's not join in profane and vain blabbing debate as to when Jesus was born but to keep the Celebrant in mind; Jesus. It's always been all about Him, so celebrate the King.
His birth brought Life, His birth brought Hope, His birth brought reconciliation, His birth brought Redemption, His birth is a prove of Love from the Father, His birth gave us victory, His birth brought about a Change, the change the devil was scared of; so scared he killed thousands just to get to a baby. His birth brought pe peace and joy.

A child was born, a Son was given to us and the government and every authority rests on his shoulders.

He is the Reason for the Season.

Compliments of the Season
kellyshor_writes

KEEPING CHRISTIANS BUSY 1

In Exodus 5:6-9 Pharaoh saw that the Israelites were less busy that was why they could demand for freedom to worship their God and offer sacrifices to Him. Pharaoh did something, he kept the Israelites busy, he kept them so occupied to make them forget serving their God. They'll be too busy to demand for freedom.
Pharaoh had the power, he ruled over them he knew what would have happened if the Israelites gained their freedom, that was why he kept them busy; the same way the devil keeps certain Christians busy.

Been busy is been occupied with activities or business, it could be busy with someone else's activity, been preoccupied or engaging with some else's purpose and vision.

How are Christians kept busy? What keeps them busy? Who keeps them busy? 

This being called the devil has exists for thousands of years, he is cunning with worldly wisdom and therefore should not be under estimated but be resisted. He is aware of how the mind of man works and has strategically placed certain things that will capture man's heart. One of his primary aim is to separate God's children from their Creator, and one of the tactics he uses is by keeping them busy.

There are different methods the devil uses in keeping Christians busy even in the house of God. That was the busy nature Martha had while Jesus was present. Even in the presence of God you see Christians too occupied with works in the name of 'service'. Mary knew the 'work' could wait but the presence of the Lord is of utmost importance to her. Certain Christians are busy with how melodious their voices sound rather than the one who receives the worship, they are too busy been religious rather than having an intimate relationship with their Creator. Christians in the body of Christ are busy with positions and titles just like the Pharisees, forgetting they are only temporary. Little wonder why Apostle Paul cajoled us to fix our eyes on things not of this earth which are only temporary, but to fix our eyes on heavenly things which is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18).

The devil is very much aware of these things and every year more posts and positions are created in the body of Christ to keep Christians busy with 'works' they forget 'the walk'. They forget the reason for their services. Jesus Christ called such Christians 'workers of iniquity' (Luke 13:27). You can't serve or offer service to a God you don't love, or don't know. God isn't asking you to be religious but to reestablish a relationship with Him and make your services acceptable.

Don't be too engrossed in your service to God you neglect your walk with Him, in other words don't be too 'busy' with activities in church you ignore your relationship with God, you start postponing your time with Him and thereby redrawing from His presence.
God wants every of His Children to be a child after His heart, to have such intimacy David had with God. He doesn't want you to come chat with Him once in a week in your Sunday best but to have that intimate relationship with Him. He's more concerned with the attitudes of your heart than the environment or the conditions in which you live.

Another way the devil keeps a Christian busy is by supplying you with a purpose and convincing you that it's the right purpose. You see certain Christians who ventured in businesses or careers that isn't God's plan for them. Their businesses takes away God's time from their lives because they are too busy keeping up with their own purpose or the one the devil has assigned to them. Their main purpose is to attain certain heights in life thereby making God a little part in their lives. If you don't find your God given purpose the devil assigns one to you by keeping you preoccupied.

Idolatry is replacing God with something else. God is a jealous God, He won't tolerate anything that replaces Him or removes your trust and affection from Him. That is the reason why He didn't create you to give you a job that makes you too busy for Him. Everyone has a purpose and walking in God's purpose and plan for your lives cannot separate you from Him instead it brings glory to Him.

You are created to fulfil the plan God has predestined for you. God doesn't create then wonders what to do with what He has created. He decides what he wants before He starts in the process of getting it. Therefore He couldn't have created you to separate you from Him, He created you to bring glory to His name. God has already laid down the plans, the purpose before commencing with the job. The reason your job makes you too busy is because you haven't found God's purpose for your life. And even if you know God's purpose and you are trying to live it out, the devil will find ways to slow or detour your progress.

Not everyone is meant to be a doctor, a lawyer, an evangelist or working in an office. Whenever we choose not to acknowledge God and His foreordained desires for our lives we open ourselves to the influence of the evil one, the devil.
For the devil knows what God intends for our lives and he'll do anything to keep us from accomplishing it, he'll keep us busy with other plans we forget God's plan for our lives.

Leaders Are Servants

[NIV] Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant.

Why would Jesus Christ tell his disciples that before they can be great, they must be servants? In this passage, He was speaking to His disciples about humility. The Pharisees and similar religious leaders serve as examples of those who loved to broadcast their good deeds. They took pride in their public righteousness and often forgot that Jesus Christ warned to avoid practicing it in front of others. By doing so, they risked receiving a reward from their Heavenly Father.

It is unfortunate that "Christians" like these Pharisees still exist today. Jesus warned his disciples to be weary of those who expect praises from men and love to be honored with every passing opportunity. This type of leadership is usually not effective because they spend majority of their time protecting their status, instead of doing what is required of them.

Who is a servant? 

A servant is one that offers help to another person of some kind. The attitude of a servant was demonstrated through Christ Himself. Despite being the Son of God, He showed humility by washing the feet of His own disciples. Jesus Christ also stated that he did not come to be served but to serve. That is service and that is humility. Leaders who are servants view their leadership as an act of service.

Servant leadership is service to others. It is not about lobbying for a position, nor politicking for power. Instead it is about looking for opportunity to serve. Servant leaders avoid the limelight and serve in ways that often go unnoticed, such as taking out the trash or making the coffee at work. These acts do not have to be grand in order to be noticed by God, remember He searches the intent and content of man's heart, the little things we think might be too small to be noticed by Him are the things He actually takes note of. To be a Servant leader you must be ready to be criticized by the world, because you'll seize to do what they expect. No matter what Jesus Christ did, He was always critized by the Pharisees, the always wanted to make Him guilty, but Jesus wasn't a bit bothered by them, He went on with His purpose.He didn't love His life to please the Pharisees, He lived His life to please His Father. He was bent on been the King they wanted Him to be, He was more interested in the heavenly Kingdom and didn't care what the Pharisees thought about Him, so far He pleased His Father.

Any leader that is preoccupied with personal interests, protection of status, and preservation of positions, may not be a good ambassador of Christ. True leaders are those who strive to please the Lord through their lives with integrity. The Bible is full of great people who were exalted because of their humble hearts. David, Joseph, Solomon and Samuel are a few. They learned how to serve people and God. Even as kings, they were lowly at heart and were able to be used as a vessel of honor. 

To be great you must first learn how to serve in a humble manner. Jesus Christ said, those who humble themselves will be exalted and 1st Peter 5:5 tells us God opposes the proud. A person who is proud or has pride is indirectly contending with God and would therefore not be exalted. Jesus Christ served for the glory of God. His ultimate service was laying down His life in love. Even though the Son of God, He was always ready to offer Himself. Our Lord Jesus is a perfect example of a servant leader.

ENOUGH WITH THE SHOW AND PRETENSE

Amos 5:21-24, Hosea 6:6, Malachi 1:6-14, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 15:8-9


All these passages and more from the Bible tells us how God isn't pleased when we offer sacrifices to Him and our hearts are far from Him. We say we are of God but we compromise with the world, we know His teachings and His ways but we are more focused on our works than our relationship with Him. This isn't a message for either the writer and the reader to look at areas they are good and ignore other areas, but to check ourselves and ask, 'Do I really honor God with my lips while my heart is far from Him?'

Our lips says one thing but our hearts says another. God is telling us it is enough. Enough 'trying' to look it when you are not, enough 'trying' to seem 'righteous', enough with been a 'Pharisee', enough with offering 'sacrifices', knowing Scriptures and teaching others about the Scripture but not living by it. It is time to rebuild our relationship with God and stop pleasing Him with words from our lips. Enough with been the hearer alone and not the doer of the Word. Enough with all the show and pretense, enough with living on your past relationship with God. Your past relationship with God cannot get you anywhere with God except apprasials from men; just like an expired visa won't get you into a country. Your current status will determine if you can move into a country or not, it’s all about the current status, that's what really matters.

The Scripture says blessed are they who do not only hear or listen to the Word but also Do ,meaning putting them into practice or action. (James 1: 22); this means there are people that are just listeners of the Word. It is time to start putting the Word of God we listen to into practice, it is time to start studying the Word to want to know God more and not to show to 'men' we know Scriptures. It is time to learn at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ and put His Word into practice. Enough with all the show, we've deceived people enough.

We may be able to decieve man and everyone around us but we definitely cannot deceive God; and you know who we can't decieve?  The devil. As the Lord sees what's been done in secret so also the devil and his demons sees those who really live by the Word of God. How do I know this? Ask the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19: 14-16). They know those who are walking in The Truth, they also see what you do in closet. If not the demon won't have been able to recognize 'Paul' and not recognize them, the sons of Sceva wanted to do what Paul did but failed.

If you don't runaway from God in the closet, He won't disappoint you in the open. It is high time we stopped hiding under the cover of religious activities and start replacing it with our relationship with God. Take time to ask yourself this question and sincerely give yourself an answer, 'Why do I really study the Word? Is it to make people see I'm familiar with Scriptures or because I really want to know God and understand His ways?'

Our God prefers a heart who yearns after Him more than sacrifices, He wants us to know Him, He wants our lives to be an endless river of righteous living and not see knowing him or walking in His ways, as a 'pain'. He wants us to honor Him both with our hearts and lips and to stop with the pretense or with the 'sacrifices.'
The Bible says, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6). Fulfilment does not come from works or sacrifices, it comes only from a genuine hunger and thirst for righteousness.

We need not to only study the Word, but believe the Word and Do the Word.

Are you pretending over your passion for God or do you genuinely love Him?

Don't Live As A Slave

Everyone is in need of Redemption. Redemption has been giving to us but some Christians are still living as slaves, they don’t understand the price that has been paid for them; we underestimate the sacrifice God has made for us. Though we are but dust and worms, God did give His son for our- redemption, essentially God Himself, the maker of the universe, coming to be conceived in a human womb and to be born as human. Not only that, He subjected Himself to the limitations of man and was maltreated by His own creatures; all just for you and me not to perish in hell fire but to be with God forever.

It is pathetic to see Christians living in sin and leaving the case of redemption to unbelievers. Jesus Christ has paid the ultimate price to redeem us back to God, He has freed us from being ransomed, and our debt has been paid off. He bought us out of the slave market; He didn’t purchase us for Himself as a slave but to free us. You may wonder what exactly Jesus freed us from. The Bible tells us that we are all slaves and no man is free, everybody in the world is a slave in their sinful nature. Another question to ask is who is the captor? Who has held everyone in bondage? 

John8:34 says “men are slaves to sin” Romans 7:14 says “men are sold under sin” Romans 7:23 “men are controlled by sin” Romans 8:21 says “In bondage to corruption” Who then or what is the captor of men? Sin, sin is. Sin is the captor that holds men down. Sin demands a price to be paid to release its victim. What is the price? Romans 6:23. The price or wage of sin is death; in order to purchase a person from sin there must be death. Hebrews 9:22 without death there is no remission of sin.

Sin is what Jesus Christ came to free us from, sin is what He came to deliver us from, and sin is what He bought us out from. His life was the debt that he used to pay off; he acquired us from sin so we don’t live a life of bondage, so we don’t live as slaves to sin. 

But we still see some Christians still living as slaves in a free market, John 8:34. So called Christians acting as an undercover, in church they showcase one personality at home or with friends they showcase another one. Some are even suffering from multiple personality disorder spiritually. Or what do you say about “Christians” that indulges in sexual immorality, adultery, jealousy, greed etc and refuses to repent from it. One sin that has been trivialized in modern times is lying.

Today the world has classified lies; you have lies that cannot hurt a fly, white lies, blue lies, heavy weight lies, feather weight lies, business lies, normal lies, ministerial lies etc. If you are a lover of lies, you are far from being righteous; you are living as a slave in a free market. Even if you keep away from every other sin but still tell lies you are on your way to hell. How do I know this? Revelations 21:8, Revelations 22:15. The Bible bluntly said all liars and all who love to live a lie, their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Jesus Christ has paid everything for us to live above sin. Apostle Paul urged us to stay free and to stay above sin Galatians 5:1 because we have been redeemed. The world might tell you it is impossible, but the life that was given as a ransom for all will tell you it is possible. 

There are lots of benefits that comes with redemption but can only be received through genuine repentance and not by been tagged ‘a Christian or by going to church’. If you don’t repent you cannot experience redemption. Make up your mind today to start living above sin. It is a day-to-day battle of enforcement and resistance that will be “painful”. The flesh is not going to like your stance but you must let it know you are dead to it, you are no longer a slave to it, you’ve been set free and it cannot rule over you.

Make no provision for the flesh. You must not disgrace your buyer, a very high price has been paid for you, do not disappoint Him.