Have you ever really looked forward to receiving a gift? Maybe this question takes you back to a Christmas morning years ago, or reminds you of the look of children just as they are handed a wrapped present with their name on it. It's so exciting to receive a glimpse of the unknown, such as holding a present, but not knowing exactly what is inside.
The prophet Isaiah must have had this kind of moment when he recieved the word from God, that is recorded in Isaiah 9:6-7, which says:
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 Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
Isaiah didn't know every detail of what he was prophesying, yet he knew that God was offering him the distinct honor of presenting the children of Israel a beautifully wrapped gift. This gift became one of the many wrapped gifts given to the Israelites during a long season of God's building excitement and anticipation of the Greatest Gift that ever was or will ever be. Even though we would be the recipients of the gift, called the Prince of Peace, the Giver of this life-changing Gift was in eager anticipation.
Then, it happened. Immanuel, God with us, was born in a stable. This beautiful baby boy grew up to be a man who worked hard, studied the scriptures diligently, and whose ministry still continues today. As the Gift was being crucified for the sins of all people, a new wave of anticipation arose. This was the excitement and anticipation within the heart of Jesus as the Spirit of God brought to mind all of those that would come to know Him, and ultimately, bring glory to the Heavenly Father.
Imagine again, if you will, being handed an ornately pampered gift, in which a tag has your name written on it. Upon taking this wrapped delight into your hands, something happens within you. You are overtaken by an indescribable awareness of a Heavelenly Caregiver that desires your life to not only receive this gift from Him, but to be a gift to others. You have a moment, an encounter, if you will, where you accept His presence in your heart and vow that your life will never be the same again. This due to the awareness and commitment that your life is no longer yours, it's His.
You're so overcome by what has just happened upon recieving this Gift, that you almost forget to open it. Yet, you slowly and carefully take off the beautiful wrapping paper and let it drift to the floor. Your heart beats quickly as you begin to lift the lid off of the newly exposed box. At this moment of glorious anticipation, you feel every sense and fiber of your being screaming out for more of the Giver of this amazing Gift. As an intoxication falls over you, you lift off this lid, as to be fully exposed to the contents therein. This is when your heart explodes with a sensation of warmth that travels like honey through your body. You've not only received the promises of God, you've received the Spirit of God, who now resides within you, in an interactive way, molding you daily in to the likeness of Jesus, bringing glory to the Father.
There is no Gift greater than that of Jesus. There is no Giver more gracious than God, the Father, the ultimate Caregiver. There is no moment like now, to receive Him into your heart and life. There is no experience more real, than to be filled with His Holy Spirit, so that you can be the gift to others, bringing them to the Giver, the Father of Lights. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him.
Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Seek Him, while He may be found. Call upon the name of the Lord.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
A Year To Remember
As a Christian, it is easy to speak truths about God. Often times, though, these truths are spoken out of habit, more than out of one's deep longing to press in to God's presence, even in the worst of times.
Just over one year ago, my family was deeply involved in a wonderful youth ministry at our church. On a bi-weekly basis, we watched God break through and change our young people by the power of His Spirit. Even though the church didn't conduct worship services the way we most preferred, and didn't seem to believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, evidenced by the manifestation of certain spiritual gifts, as we did, we pressed on. We were learning how to keep the main thing the Main Thing. That being the truth of Jesus Christ.
Then, it happened. In the midst of a large youth event, our world as we knew it came crashing down around us. I knew at once that the current chapter of my life was over. The odd thing, though, was that I felt something that I had been longing to experience, in fullness, for a long time. Freedom. In the midst of the noise and confusion, I felt peace. Quiet. Stillness. Freedom.
Once you experience the path to freedom, you dare not venture far from it, even if it means leaving all you knew and those you love. We believed that God would lead us to the next step on our journey. Through strong words of confirmation, we knew that God was opening the door to the next chapter of our lives. It was exciting, unknown, caused some nervousness, yet kept us on the path of freedom. Since the first Sunday of January, 2011, we have called Vineyard Community Church of London, "home." There isn't enough time to tell, or ears to hear all that has happened since our time began with the Vineyard family. It feels like I've grown more this past year than in all of my years combined. God has shown me incredible truths about His love, presence, and His desire that all would come to Him. Whether it be serving our community, sitting under life-changing teaching, or building new relationships, we now know that it is possible to live in freedom. There is no more hiding. I am a believer of Jesus Christ, filled and operating in the power of His Holy Spirit, expecting gifts of His Spirit to flow through me along every step of my way.
Even today, not everyone understands, nor will they. Yet, my prayer is this: That all would know how wide and deep is the love of Jesus. That all would seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit and experience the truths and power of a Spirit-filled life. That all would seek Him while He may be found, and call upon Him while He is near. That all would taste the refreshing of the Water that satisfies eternally. That all would dare to drink from the Well.
Just over one year ago, my family was deeply involved in a wonderful youth ministry at our church. On a bi-weekly basis, we watched God break through and change our young people by the power of His Spirit. Even though the church didn't conduct worship services the way we most preferred, and didn't seem to believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, evidenced by the manifestation of certain spiritual gifts, as we did, we pressed on. We were learning how to keep the main thing the Main Thing. That being the truth of Jesus Christ.
Then, it happened. In the midst of a large youth event, our world as we knew it came crashing down around us. I knew at once that the current chapter of my life was over. The odd thing, though, was that I felt something that I had been longing to experience, in fullness, for a long time. Freedom. In the midst of the noise and confusion, I felt peace. Quiet. Stillness. Freedom.
Once you experience the path to freedom, you dare not venture far from it, even if it means leaving all you knew and those you love. We believed that God would lead us to the next step on our journey. Through strong words of confirmation, we knew that God was opening the door to the next chapter of our lives. It was exciting, unknown, caused some nervousness, yet kept us on the path of freedom. Since the first Sunday of January, 2011, we have called Vineyard Community Church of London, "home." There isn't enough time to tell, or ears to hear all that has happened since our time began with the Vineyard family. It feels like I've grown more this past year than in all of my years combined. God has shown me incredible truths about His love, presence, and His desire that all would come to Him. Whether it be serving our community, sitting under life-changing teaching, or building new relationships, we now know that it is possible to live in freedom. There is no more hiding. I am a believer of Jesus Christ, filled and operating in the power of His Holy Spirit, expecting gifts of His Spirit to flow through me along every step of my way.
Even today, not everyone understands, nor will they. Yet, my prayer is this: That all would know how wide and deep is the love of Jesus. That all would seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit and experience the truths and power of a Spirit-filled life. That all would seek Him while He may be found, and call upon Him while He is near. That all would taste the refreshing of the Water that satisfies eternally. That all would dare to drink from the Well.
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