Religion and Spirituality

The Angel ‘Gabriel’ Foretold Jesus’ Birth

Gabriel broke the good news to Mary

Mary, a virgin, was living in Galilee of Nazareth and she was engaged to Joseph, a Jewish carpenter. But before they came together, an angel named Gabriel, appeared to Mary and told her that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. Luke 1:30-31

At first Mary was afraid and troubled by the angel’s words. Being a virgin, Mary questioned the angel, “How will this be?” The angel explained that the child would be God’s own Son and, therefore, “nothing is impossible with God.” Humbled and in awe, Mary believed the angel of the Lord and rejoiced in God her Savior.

No doubt  Mary reflected with wonder on the words found in Isaiah 7:14 foretelling this event, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (NIV)

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

Joseph was not happy about the news. Fear and doubt overwhelmed him but he did not want to expose Mary to a public disgrace which was required by law–so he planned to divorce her quietly.  But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and he took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

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Do you give God your all?

The world wants your best, but God wants your all. So what is preventing you from giving God your all?…Self…It’s hardly a secret that conquering self is the biggest problem Christians all over the world face daily. It was true for Jesus’ disciples— and it is true for modern-day Christians.

Somebody once said: “Learn to conquer self before you try to conquer the world.”Learning to conquer self is an ongoing struggle I am face with daily. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I understand that unless I overcome self I will not reach those higher heights and deeper depths, which the apostle Paul referred to in (Philippians 3:14), “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Most Christians, I would imagine, will not admit openly that they struggle with self, but I am not ashamed to admit that I do. As a matter of fact, one of the greatest Christians the world had ever known struggled with self and he was not ashamed to admit it.  The apostle Paul, a stalwart of the early and modern-day Church struggled with self. In (1 Corinthians 9:27), he writes: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

The apostle Peter himself, struggled with self. When the soldiers took hold of Jesus, after Judas pointed Him out–the Bible says: “Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchu” (John 18:10).

The truth is we all struggle with self, whether you admit it or not.  It is the single biggest impediment that prevents many of us from giving God our all. Each of us has that 1 or 2 things that we cannot shake. We have been working on them for years or maybe months, but every time we thought we had them under control, they raise their ugly heads again.

The only solution for the problem of sin is to stay close to God. Feed on His words, walk in His footsteps and obey His commandments (Exodus 20), for “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24)

Now is the time to recommit yourself to Jesus Christ

Every believer goes through a period when you feel the need to recommit yourself to Jesus Christ– not because you have drifted away from the faith, but because you have recognized the need to reach higher heights and deeper depths in the Spirit.

Almost everybody in today’s world owns a navigation system. And we all know when that thing is getting ready to change direction–it prompts you with the words, “re-calculating, re-calculating”. That is similar to what your spiritual navigator does. He prompts you when you have lost your sense of purpose, and are no longer walking in the Spirit of God.

You see folks, it is the Spirit who directs your footsteps, your thoughts and ultimately your entire being. Romans 8:9 states: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. Now if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. Paul is clearly telling you that the Spirit of God does not dwelleth in you at all times. Therefore, if the spirit of God is not dwelling in you, it is time to recommit and renew your covenant with God.

Will you join me in oneness of Spirit and recommit your life to God today?

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

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Do you love Christ enough to die for Him?

Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records. The Apostle Peter denied Christ 3 times when he faced danger. But the prophet Daniel did not compromise his religious principles, when king Darius threatened to throw him in a den of hungry lions. Instead, he remained resolute in his commitment and turned to God in prayer.

Do you love Christ enough to die for Him? Believers, we may not be willing to die for Christ because our faith in God is not as strong as Daniel’s, but we should be willing to honor our commitment to Him, in any situation. Let us thrive to be like Daniel, and not like Peter before he repented.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Daniel 6:19-28 NIV:

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!

26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”

28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Turmoil In Zion? Pastor Eddie Long’s Wife seeks Divorce

“Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland” (Jeremiah 12:10).

The on again, off again marriage relationship between Pastor Eddie Long, head pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, and his wife Vanessa appears to be over.

The split comes a about a year after a lawsuit filed against Eddie Long alleged that he used his influence and lavish lifestyle to lure four men into sexual relationships. Long settled the cases but has never admitted to any wrongdoing.

On Thursday December 1, 2011, Vanessa Long filed for divorce from her husband,  Eddie Long. In a statement, she said the decision to end the marriage followed “a great deal of deliberation and prayer.”

A change of heart by was reported early on Friday December 2, 2011, just hours after Vanessa Long had announced that she had filed for divorce from Long after 21 years of marriage. In a statement issued through Eddie Long’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church she said that she loves her husband and planned to withdraw her petition.

“Upon prayerful reflection, I have reconsidered and plan to withdraw my petition for divorce from my husband, Bishop Eddie L. Long,” she said in an emailed statement bearing the New Birth logo. “I love my husband. I believe in him and admire his strength and courage.”
She went on to blame “years of attacks in the media” for her initial decision to seek a divorce.

But In a another statement issued late Friday December 2, 2011, Vanessa Long’s attorney says “she has determined that dismissal of her divorce petition is not right at this time.”

Believers, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We are the examples of Christ. Therefore, we should walk in His footsteps and “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us (1 Peter 2:12).