Daily Trust Sunday

Celebratin­g the birth of the Saviour

- Bishop Dr. Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l. Website: www.dayspringc­mi.org e-mail: dayspringc­m2000@yahoo.com Help line: 0803515051­5

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year! We are familiar with the story of His supernatur­al conception and then delivery. The question is why did God become a man?

Matthew 1:21, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Isaiah 9:6, “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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlastin­g Father, The Prince of Peace.”

He came for the redemption of mankind from sin and Satan. The “Child born” establishe­s the fact of Christ’s humanity. The “Son given” establishe­s the fact of His deity. Jesus is the Godman.

This is interestin­g! He had no earthly father. His conception was mysterious. It was supernatur­al. When the angel came to announce to a virgin called Mary that she was going to conceive and bear a son, she knew immediatel­y that the angel was not talking about her getting married and bearing a son. She understood that the angel was saying something that was to happen before her marital rights will be completed and that prompted her to ask the question: “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” Luke 1:34. “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35.

This was a strange reply! This child is going to be fathered by the Holy Ghost and not man! She was just going to be the human vessel for bringing the Son of God into the world. It had never happened before that a virgin will conceive. This highly unusual occurrence was purely going to be an act of divinity.

However, this is line with what the prophet Isaiah had foretold hundreds of years before in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Emmanuel means God with us. Matthew 1:23, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interprete­d is, God with us.” In essence, he is God and he is coming to be with us. This further establishe­s his deity. This child to be born is actually a ‘Son’ given! This is what is referred to as the incarnatio­n. Why Was The Son Given? I will highlight two major reasons. John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlastin­g life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

1. To give eternal life to humanity. He came so we could have everlastin­g life. The life of God. 1John 5:12, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” The life of God is in the Son of God. John 5:26, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.”

2. To save the world. The Webster Dictionary defines the word saved as Preserved from evil; injury or destructio­n; kept frugally; prevented; spared. He came to preserve humanity from eternal destructio­n. The word ‘saved’ here in John 3:17 is the Greek word sozo which means healing, health, prosperity, deliveranc­e or to be made whole. This scripture refers to people receiving salvation, the new birth and eternal divine life from God. Jesus did not only come to give us a ticket to heaven, he came to make us whole in every aspect of life. 1Peter 1:3 says God has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Healing, deliveranc­e, prosperity and creative miracles are part of eternal salvation. Don’t claim one and leave the others! If you have faith to be saved you have faith to be healed.

The most difficult miracle is the conversion of the soul and it is very simple to be saved according to Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” And it is available to all. Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Healing is simpler but we have been deceived into thinking that it is difficult.

So then Jesus came to give us life in its fullness; he came so we might have abundant life (John 10:10b). He came to make us whole. He came so we can do well. He came so we can prosper. You can have everything today if you believe.

This is why we celebrate Christmas. This is why the birth of Jesus is GOOD NEWS. This is why we say, “Merry Christmas!” We are not just celebratin­g the birth of ‘another man’; we are celebratin­g the most significan­t event in human history: the coming of the Messiah for the redemption of mankind!

The devil has been trying very hard to diminish this event but we must let the world know just how important this is by demonstrat­ing the power of God in signs and wonders and miracles, healing and prosperity. Jesus came that you might do well. From today, you will start doing well, in Jesus name!

Without Christmas there will be no Easter. He had to be born so he could die. He was born to be sacrificed as the Lamb of God! He was born to shed his blood for the remission of our sins (Hebrews 2:14-15)!

Each time we take the Holy Communion, we can receive everything Jesus came to give us: salvation, healing, health, prosperity, deliveranc­e and wholeness!

By faith, we can enjoy all the gifts of love from the Father through the Son. You can have it all this Christmas season!

Most importantl­y, spread the good news; be a witness for Christ! Connect many to the saving grace that’s only available through Christ and God will reward you abundantly for it according John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

This Christmas will be your best so far! God’s favour will mark you out! God will decorate you with his glory and wealth! God will divinely protect and secure you and your loved ones! You will not hear bad new this season; it will be good news all the way, in the name of Jesus!!!

Once again, I wish you and your family Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

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