PASTORAL INSIGHT

THE JOY OF LONG AWAITED MIRACLE
Luke 1: 5ff.

OUR HISTORY
Everyone has a past,  an history- the story that can be told. Some aspects are pleasant,  others may not. Our past cannot be rewind and changed.  None of them can be erased. Alas! a miracle can overshadow the negative experiences. How?
      God spoke through Prophet Isaiah, "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.( Isaiah 43:18-19). God proves.that he cannot forget his own people. The story of the first Christmas contains the episode of God remembering to meet a need.

OUR NEEDS
God will usually not arise to no occasion nor meet his people without a point of need. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1). The story of Christmas presents a family that had a need.

  Luke wrote that "there was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.  And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years." (Luke 1:5-8). The story ended in and with joy, God gave them a son.

    OUR GOD REMEMBERS
We are tempted by human nature to feel neglected and forsaken. The God we serve will remember his word, his promises and his people. God asked, 
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." (Isaiah 49:15 KJV). An example is this, "And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb."(Genesis 30:22)

OUR CONVICTION
The story of the birth of Jesus will be incomplete without a mention of the manifestation of long..awaited miracle- the birth of John the Baptist. Are there long awaited miracles, waiting wombs and age-long reproach?  God will meet you.divinely.

Merry Christmas.

Rev Dr Kehinde Babarinde
Conference President

BAPTIST DEVOTIONAL

SEEK DAILY, NBC
Sunday, December 22
Luke 2:1-17

FOR ALL PEOPLE
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people." Luke 2:10, NIV

Have you noticed that every person that knew about the birth of Jesus was specially told? Joseph and Mary knew Jesus through angel Gabriel; Simeon, Anna, Elizabeth and Zechariah through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; the wise men through the star that led them; the shepherds through angelic visitation; John the Baptist through the instructions and descriptions of God Almighty; the apostles knew Jesus by God's leading, He chose them and revealed Himself to them. This is the season of singing and fellowshipping in the spirit of Christmas.

Two lessons from today's passage are:

(a) We cannot claim to know Christ if He has not been revealed to us by God.

(b) The dying world is waiting for you and me to introduce Christ to them.

After the shepherds received the message, they spread it. Having received Christ let us go and make Him known today.

Prayer Point: Pray that Jesus Christ will be revealed to many people through you this Christmas season.

BAPTIST DEVOTIONAL

SEEK DAILY, NBC

Saturday, December 21

Galatians 4:1-7

THE FULLNESS OF TIME

"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law." Galatians 4:4, NIV

       Slavery is more of the state of the mind than a physical state. It is a perpetual state of ignorance and fear. In time past, slave masters would allow one or two slaves to attempt escape and when caught, such would be treated brutally and murdered in full view of the other slaves to serve as a deterrent to them.
      They are thus enslaved physically and psychologically; and, once the mind is captured, the strongest muscles would offer very little or no resistance.
Before the coming of Christ Jesus, we were slaves – body, soul and spirit – to the wisdom of this world. Every attempt of humankind to set him/herself free kept failing. Satan and sin held us bound and we could not shake them off no matter how much we tried.
     However, God sent His Son into our lives and afterwards He sent His Spirit into our hearts, as a guarantee of greater things. God did these so that we should no longer be slaves to sin and Satan. With Jesus, no one can enslave you again!

Prayer Point: Pray for total freedom from every form of slavery in which you may be.

THE JOY OF THE LORD

JESUS CHRIST BROUGHT JOY
      Jesus Christ is simply the Son of God, Saviour of the world, God Himself, one who came to reconcile man to God and ONE who came to restore the lost glory, dominion and power back to man.
       Joy is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. It is also something that is deep within and does not leave quickly and it's the second fruit of the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22)
      Who are the kingdom people - it is not just an appellation rather it is a designation. They are people elected and appointed for the purpose of the kingdom business.
      The birth of Jesus Christ (Lk 1:14) and His ascension (Lk 1:52) brought about great joy to the world (People). It can be experienced by those who have given their lives to Him as their Lord and Saviour

  JESUS CHRIST WILL BE THE JOY OF THE KINGDOM PEOPLE PROVIDED;

■THEY - Have FAITH in Him 
■BELIEVE in His word
■Have  RELATIONSHIP with Him
■UNDERSTAND and ■HOLD on to HIS PROMISES
■ LABOUR to be on MISSION for Him
■EXPECTING His second coming

Do you desire his joy in its fullness?  Do that which have been suggested above. God bless you.

Rev 'Tosin Olatunji
ModeratorNew Creature Baptist Association

JESUS CHRIST THE JOY OF KINGDOM PEOPLE
LUKE 2:10-11, 4:17-19, 1 COR 15; 19, 57

The word "Kingdom" laterally means "A country ruled over by a king or queen. Therefore, kingdom people are citizens of a country ruled over by Jesus Christ as their king. Kingdom people become members of Christ kingdom by accepting and confessing him (Christ) as their personal Lord and Saviour. They agreed and determined to live their lives according to his pattern and doctrines. (John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 16:31, 1 Pet. 2:9)
         According to the complete Christian Dictionary, the word joy is defined as "A feeling of delight happiness, gladness, a source of pleasure." In other word, a person or a thing that causes us to feel, very happy is a source of our joy. A child can cause his parents to feel happy, marriage can cause a couple to feel happy and promotion to a higher position can cause an individual to feel happy. Winning in a competition can bring happiness into our lives. Likewise Jesus Christ is the cause and reason for kingdom people happiness and gladness that ultimately culminate in  joy at this season and other seasons of the year. This is experienced through the following:

1. The announcement of his birth was a good news (Luke 2:10-11)

2. His mission and ministry were about gospel, healing, deliverance and liberty to the people of the kingdom. Luke 4:17-19, Isaiah 60:1-2, John 3:24)

3. He was anointed by the Holy Spirit to do good to kingdom people- Act 4:38

4. His death and resurrection are the foundations of our hope and victory over death. We consequently become people of his kingdom (2 Cor. 15:19, 57)

CONCLUSION
Jesus Christ is the joy of kingdom people by his coming to this world through the announcement of his birth, his life and ministries, his death and resurrection; all are the reasons why kingdom people musr be joyful and glad at this season and other seasons of the year. Merry Christmas.

Rev. Gbemileke A. Olonade
Pastor of First Baptist Church,Kuje Amuwo

BAPTIST DEVOTIONAL

SEEK DAILY, NBC
Thursday, December 19
Micah 5:1-5

EVEN YOU
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,… out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel ...." Micah 5:2, NIV

At the time Israel was going through a rough period due to the siege laid against her by the enemies they thought their deliverance would come from one of the powerful tribes in Israel. God in His wisdom however decided to choose an insignificant city - the  smallest of them all to bring about their deliverance. Even the means by which God decided to save the world, (confession of Jesus Christ, the son of an ordinary carpenter) does it not look foolish to the wise?

The message for you is that though you may be insignificant and unimportant today in the estimation of your family members and friends, tomorrow shall be different. This is because you are the only person in your family who will bring the long awaited glorious change. You are one person before God who can never have a perfect replacement. You are also a fulfilment of prophecy. There are no coincidences in our lives for all things are ordered by God according to His plan and purpose, just walk in obedience to His Word.

Prayer Point: Lord, let my uniqueness be manifested in its due time as you designed it.

Jesus Christ: The Joy of the Kingdom People

I.  CHRISTMAS : SEASON OF JOY
      Christmas is here again! It is time to remember He who died that we may live. He left His glory to identify with our weaknesses. He would have come in Kingly glory, but He chose the manger. Indeed he chose the poor Joseph and Mary aschannels of appearance. Luke 2:6-7 affirmed that "Mary brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid himin a manger; because there was no room in the inn". What an irony for him to become poor so that through his poverty, we may experience prosperity.
   This Jesus Christ, indisputably born of the Virgin Mary, the fulfilment of human redemption, is the joy of the kingdom People. We are Kingdom people.

II. SEASON OF JUBILATION FOR BELIEVERS
    Our Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom. We servean eternal King who cannot be conquered. "...of his Kingdom, there shall be no end". The King of our Kingdom fears no foe for throughJ esus Christ, man's redemption from the chief foe was accomplished.Jesus Christ is our joy because he lived a blameless life. The Prince of this world could not fault him.
       Jesus Christ is our joy becausethrough him we obtain peace. The King of our kingdom is called thePrince of Peace. He is our joy because he is coming back again.
 
III. INVITATION
Friends, Jesus Christ can be your joy too if you embrace him today

Rev.Timothy 'Bukunmi Popoola,
Minister of Missions & Church Development
Lagos Central Baptist Conference