The Sunday Conversation | with Pastor Luke Okoro | 10. 04. 2022
Isaiah 9:6-7; 61: 1-4; Jeremiah 31:31-34;
Luke 2; 4:16-21.
“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, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
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 with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall perform this.” Isaiah 9:6-7.
Prophet Isaiah made the above prophecy several centuries before Jesus Christ was born. He saw Jesus conceived and born as, Wonderful, Counselor and The mighty God, as well as The everlasting God, who is The mighty God and The Prince of Peace. It is not to be gainsaid that Jesus upon being born lived and still lives to typify all these gracious and graceful attributes. The world regardless of whether they believe or not, still regard Him Jesus as the greatest man and prophet that had ever walked upon the surface of the earth. Yet He is more than a prophet because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life ; and no man will ever come to the Father except by Him Acts 4:12. John 14:6.
But then, let us see the events surrounding the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy:
“And it came to pass in those days , that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed,. ..
And Joseph also went up to Galilee out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David,).
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. ..
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in a swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for him in the inn…
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord”.
Luke 2: 1-12.
We must not forget that our conversation is to diligently bring out some biblical developments that authenticate the word of God. This is especially so as so many people had in recent times tended to void the Bible , describing it as old fashioned, archaic and unreal. Whereas those who fall into such error may wait for the day of judgement to see their foolishness, Psalms 14:1, Hebrews 9:27, and it’s regrettable and painful end, it’s important that those of us who believe do not fall into such deadly error. Therefore as a believer be encouraged because your faith and hope aren’t in vain in the Lord.
Jesus also went ahead to prove the fulfilment of His birth and the essence of His coming to earth thereof:
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord…
And he began to say unto them , This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears”.
Luke 4:16-21.
It is strange that too many people in the Christendom do not know the essence of their calling as believers. This is why they follow the multitude to sin, to err or to revel in wanton vanity. We are called to do the works Jesus did while He was here on earth. Our duty is to find the area wherein we are properly fitted in the kingdom business. Indeed, there is no believer who does not have a particular giftedness to fit into an area of the vast land called: The Go Ye Commission. Matthew 28:18-20. Find out your own calling?
Meanwhile Jesus quoted from the book of Isaiah where His assignment on earth was prophesied and intentionally defined . According to Isaiah:
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach the good tidings unto the meek , he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives , and the opening of prison to them that are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.;
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion , to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning; the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness; the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified” Isaiah 61: 1-3.
Whereas it is good to sing, to dance, to build giant temples and cathedrals for worship , the true essence of the coming of Jesus into the world is : to save the sinner , and to turn them into His kingdom. Yes, anything anybody is doing that does not conduce or factor soul winning into it may as well be a labor in WASTE.
Today, so many people are involved in churching activities that do not have eternal value. To such people church is just one of several engagements meant to remain relevant in the passage of time and life. Such people need to be re-enlightened in their inner man to know their calling and true essence of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection. Jesus gave us POWER to continue the Work of the Kingdom, from where He stopped. His command is : Go Ye… How much of the GOING are you doing? He that winneth souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30.
The point must be stressed that anybody who doesn’t have Jesus as LORD and Saviour is miserably poor , brokenhearted and in the captivity of the devil. So many people out there are imprisoned by Satan. Therefore, whereas they may live in skyscrapers, glass houses and ride in the best of cars and jets, they are enslaved by the powers of the ENEMY, who stranglehold on them had kept them, their families and businesses in utter helplessness. Psalms 140. Are you caught up in such hopelessness? Or helplessness?
There is hope for you because that is part of the wholesome message of Salvation that Jesus brought to mankind. The gospel saves, heals, delivers and sets free from bondage and captivity ; sin and Satan. When a man or woman encounters Jesus in the manner of wholesome salvation, the gospel becomes more real. And the Cross assumes a symbolic partner of death to sin and Satan. It becomes an experience you will live by every passing day. Those who trifle with sin and Satan, or who envy unbelievers in their vain glory, lack divine insight and wisdom of who they are in Christ Jesus. You are a joint heirs to God’s kingdom with Jesus Christ. Colossians 3: 1-3. You are called to draw men from their pit of sin, spiritual bondage, captivity and poverty, and not to envy them. When a man gets to know Jesus, He takes his worries, his sicknesses and diseases. He heals them all.. Isaiah 53. His chastisement made us whole. He clothes us with His righteousness. These are the essentials of the gospel more than any other thing we may do.
(To be concluded).
Happy Sunday. God bless.
•Pastor Okoro, a revivalist and marriage counselor, can be reached on:
08051000462.
April 10, 2022.
