As we celebrate this season of Christmas, I will like to share with you the story of two baby boys born by two women at two different times under two different circumstances (1 Sam 4:19-21 and ” Matthew 1:23).
“And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel : because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband – 1 Sam 4:19-21.
“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” Matthew 1:23
In 1 Sam 4:19-21 – here we have a woman given birth, her husband and his brother were killed in the battle field, her father in-law has just collapsed and died, the ark of the Lord (which represents the presence of GOD) captured and the glory departed. Everything going wrong, she was so discouraged that she named her baby Ichabod – because the ark the representative of the presence of God has been captured, the glory, her joy, her hope were gone it is over. Then we read in the Matthew 1:23, another woman gave birth to another baby boy who was named Emmanuel – God with us. In the first birth God had departed from us – Ichabod! And in the second birth God is with us – Emmanuel! . What a paradox, what a contradiction.
In the story of Phinehas’ wife (1 Sam 4:19-21), that child represents her future; sometimes we look into our present circumstance and name our whole future and say our hope and future will be like that; No! No! No! Child of God, the sun will shine again; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning if you hold on unto God. The spirit of Ichabod and the spirit of Emmanuel are the two prevailing spirit in this present world – and you have to choose which one of these spirit will rule in your life.
You can choose because of negative situations that are happening in your life and take on the spirit of Ichabod – everything is bad and there is no hope or you can take on the spirit of Emmanuel – God is with me and everything is going to be alright – “this is what the message of Christmas all about.” The message of Christmas is when we are going through that difficult stuff, “I am still with you”. I am not alone He is with me.
Emanuel! He is with us, and He has come to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and to give us life in abundance (John 10:10). Emmanuel will usher in the power to conquer, the grace of overcome and the power to sustain our victory.
When everybody is saying everything is going so bad, don’t let the enemy put the spirit of Ichabod in you about your children, your husband, your finance, business and about everything; it will never be better, it is this and that! That is not God’s voice; you need to get the “Emmanuel spirit” about your future, about your marriage about your job etc. You may be going through a lot of rough stuff at the moment, but you don’t have to take the spirit of the world “Ichabod”, we have the message of Christmas with us – the message is “Emmanuel” God is with us. It is not that we are not going through or will not go through rough stuffs, but it is that when we go through rough patch He is with us – “Emmanuel”! That is what the message of Christmas is all about – “for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb. 13:5) and “When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up” (Job 22:29).
The mystery of Emmanuel; how the father of eternity can become a baby in a manger. The one the heaven could not contain took residence in the womb of a little virgin girl. The infinite one has become an infant. He came to transform our sensuality to spirituality – “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). The mystery is a fulfilment of God’s promise in Exodus 25:8 “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them”. God came in the flesh (Gal 4:4) to dwell with us – Halleluyah!.
As we close this year, we are not closing with the spirit of Ichabod. We are closing this year saying “Emmanuel” God is with us, He will never leave us nor forsake us. We may not know what next year or the year after hold for us and we are not going to sweat or anxious about that; there is one thing that we know and that is absolutely sure – “Emmanuel” – God is with us.
May the Spirit of the Lord strengthens you with His might, and empowers you to work in His miraculous. May every cycle of delay and frustration be broken off your life and may the power of the risen Christ be manifested in your life to the glory of God. May you be clothed with “the Elijah mantle” releasing the anointing to speak the mind of God, energized to run the distance, do great exploit for God and outrun the horses and chariots of your enemies and distractors.
According to Isaiah 61:7 “Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs”. In this coming year, you will experience a season of never ending blessing, a season of restoration and double portion; harvest will meet harvest, testimony will meet testimonies and the Kingdom of the Lord shall be fully established in your life.
The sun, the moon, the stars and the air will be at peace with you and they will reject (on your behalf) every evil works done against you. May the shout of victory be heard in your homes and may the glory of Zion shine forth for you all through the year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
Oreolu and Mojisola Akinduro
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