Brethren Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2020! The Lord has done great things was our topic last Sunday from Psalm 126:1-6 and John 6:1-14. We thank God for He has been faithful and all we can say is Ebenezer thus far He lord has brought us. No matter the circumstances we have gone through we ought to thank God. This Psalms reflect the restoration of Israel back to Jerusalem /Zion.
Since they had lost their Identity, the God whom they worshiped, and time of eating and sacrificing together and also they had sinned against him. The children of Israel saw it as a dream of great astonishment of what God was able to do. They couldn’t imagine that God was so loving, caring and forgiving to bring them back home and thus were returning with Joy. The resurrection of Jesus and the rest of the apostles experienced this reality that was a dream to them. When there was gladness
in their hearts there was singing, rejoicing being proclaimed. These are the lessons drawn from this passage of psalm.
This Christmas can be your home coming, a day and a time of your revelation and having a new experience; maybe you are wounded, lost and in despair. God desires to open your eyes and behold His blessing. You have the gift of life, children gone to school, promotions, new jobs, built new houses, lost dear ones but God is holding you strong, survived accidents, among others therefore count your blessings and name them one by one and you will be surprised what God has done. He has done great things and he requires your response today, have a thankful heart. To the children and parents to bring back reality today, to the youth struggling in the search for identity and burning with much pain and suffering such as facing rape, defilement, lost in alcohol, drugs, pornography, giving excuses, running from God everyday and behaving like the prodigal sons and daughters even when they are home. To Fathers and mothers where have you been consumed in exile? everyone wants to be independent, and marriages today are now contracts and not covenant, poor parenting, violence, separation in our homes. This Christmas season, the prince of peace is knocking on your hearts willing to restore peace in your marriages and families and he is calling us to return that he might restore our values. It’s only God who can perfect our deliverance. After the children of Israel had come home they were struggling with the process of restoration and the Lord was still with them to restore their fortunes. The Lord is able to cause a new root in your life and you are able to bear fruit.
Weeping must not stop the sowing. Those who sow in tears shall reap in lots of joy. The sowing period is very troublesome but when you see the greatness of the Lord as you harvest is great. What looked hard, the Lord is able to elevate you. Are you struggling with a difficult situation that seems so lasting,
for there is nothing that is lasting before the presence of the Lord! For you to celebrate the goodness of the Lord and for you to say the Lord has done mighty things you need to come home, for he is gently and tenderly calling you in particular who has been in captivity that he might clothe you with a garment of praise and salvation.
Guidelines and Questions
1) As an individual and family, share testimonies of the great things the Lord has done for you?
2) What is hindering you from giving thanks to the Lord as we celebrate this Christmas season?
3) Prayerfully surrender them to God who is the reason for Christmas.
More Study Helps: Gen 45:5-28, Acts 12:9, Mark 16:9-11, Isaiah 53:1-5, Joel 2:25-26
Rev. Patrick Kamara
Priest in Charge: Home Cell and Pastoral Care
0772482433/0754 482433 /0753922448