The Simple Gospel

It has been an interesting week. God has been speaking and I have seen him moving in the life of a friend (I will call her a friend these days), who I have had the pleasure of doing the Alpha course with over the last 3 months or so.

Firstly, in the middle of this last week, at an online church Christmas party, I had a retired pastor take an interest in my ministry – and she confirmed prophetically significant words that I have had spoken over me in the past. She is not someone who knows me particularly well. It has personally been so encouraging to hear what she said (even if it is nothing entirely new), and it is lovely just to be seen for where I am at. God knows my heart and what I need in my season. It has increased my expectation, my hope and my faith to watch and see what God will do in the next few years in my life.

Secondly, it is always good to share other people’s faith journeys, and I have had the privilege of doing just that in recent months with a couple of sisters who have grown up in the Greek Orthodox church, and have recently decided to do the Alpha course. God is really moving in their family; bringing them closer together in new ways and revealing himself to them both in new ways – bringing healing (from back pain), freedom from a bit of an alcohol habit and conviction around other meditative practices. It is brilliant to watch from the other side of a zoom meeting and to be a part of in a small way. Where there was previously a sense of feeling angry and overwhelmed around the idea of being prayed for, one girl is now seeking it out for herself from other people. She has been out buying bibles at the local Christian bookshop and she was baptised in a blow -up wading pool in the church carpark last month (Thanks to Covid -19 restrictions at the time). I think the other sister may just be following suit soon. Praise God for his goodness and kindness that leads to repentance!! They are both super happy. He is merciful and faithful and his promises are true!!

So I am on a bit of a spiritual high at the moment, and I realise that life isn’t always like that. Some people have had a really rough 2020 for so many reasons. The Covid – 19 virus has had a lot to answer for, but especially in this advent season, it is good to pause to reflect on the promise of a saviour and our God, who made himself known to us a little baby born into a poor family in a stable in Bethlehem. Jesus came as a sweet, screaming, pooing baby that made his mother (who was a young Jewish girl who had fallen pregnant out of wedlock) wonder and watch as this story of God was about to unfold. God hasn’t left us alone and to our own devices, even today in 2020. Corona Virus doesn’t surprise Him. He has, once and for all (Romans 6:10), entered fully into our human condition; he entered into our pain, our frustrations, our suffering and our indifference. I love Mary’s words that she spoke as she knew she was expecting a baby unlike any other in the book of Luke:

Luke 1: 46-55 NIV

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

And, just like Mary, we can also watch and wonder and trust in an amazing God who lifts up the humble and fills us with good things. He really does love people and gives us his promises. He is merciful, and worthy of our praise.

And more than that, he is Emmanuel, meaning God is with us. He came to earth as a human to be with us; fully human and at the same time fully God. To bring us into relationship with the Father.

John 1: 10 – 18 TPT

He entered into the very world he created, yet the world was unaware. He came to the very people he created—to those who should have recognized him, but they did not receive him. But those who embraced him and took hold of his name were given authority to become the children of God!

He was not born by the joining of human parents or from natural means, or by a man’s desire, but he was born of God. And so the Living Expression became a man and lived among us! And we gazed upon the splendour of his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father overflowing with tender mercy and truth!

John taught the truth about him when he announced to the people, “He’s the One! Set your hearts on him! I told you he would come after me, even though he ranks far above me, for he existed before I was even born.” And now out of his fullness we are fulfilled! And from him we receive grace heaped upon more grace! Moses gave us the Law, but Jesus, the Anointed One, unveils truth wrapped in tender mercy. No one has ever gazed upon the fullness of God’s splendour except the uniquely beloved Son, who is cherished by the Father and held close to his heart. Now he has unfolded to us - the full explanation of who God truly is!

And this is the wonder of Christmas, a simple gospel message of a God who loves us, and gave his only son. That whoever should believe in him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). It is a message of a new beginning, a new day, God’s tender mercies, a father who loves us and a God who made himself known to us back then, and He still does today. Like Mary, it opens up possibilities in our lives, gives me an inexplicable hope, and it makes us wonder. It makes my heart come alive and it leads me to worship Him. This is my friend’s story (and her sister’s) and this is my story too. It is such a beautiful thing.