Greetings to each of you in the name of El Elyon, God Most High. We are less than 30 days away, from celebrating Lord be willing, Resurrection Sunday. I especially love this time year, which is a reminder to me by the visible presence of the pollen alone in Tallahassee, that the Lord Jesus is not dead. He is yet alive! The fragrance of new blossoms and the singing of the birds in the morning, as my wake up call, are my reminders of the glory of God in nature and that in Him and with Him, there is no failure.
Psalm 34 proclaims:
1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
I am so glad that we are looking unto the Lord Jesus, the Light of the World and the Sun of Righteousness, and also experiencing the Shekinah glory. The gospel upon our faces reflects that we are not ashamed and also bear such radiant facial recognition by the glory of God.
In our continued focus of St. John 1:14, it bears repeating that the word “glory” is the divine, spiritual, moral, and majestic beauty and perfection of the essence of God visibly present before the people of God. In 586 BC, the glory of God departed the Temple in Jerusalem as a visible sign of God’s judgment against Israel because of sin. However, But 600 years later, God’s visible presence returned as the Word who was made flesh. The Lord Jesus is the repairer of the breach between all of us and God. It should be recognized that sin separates us from the Father. However, every person that is in Christ is reunited with God the Father in this newness of life. We know Him as the Word (the logos) and call Him, the Bright and Morning Star, who is soon to come. I believe He is coming soon and have a great expectation to see Him coming in the clouds and in the full array of God’s glory.
I am inspired to share an example of God’s glory manifested through the Lord Jesus. This glory is recorded as the first sign or miracle that the Lord Jesus performed during his three year ministry and found in St. John 2:1-11:
1 And the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus said unto her, Woman, what have I to do with you? my hour is not yet come.
5 His mother said unto the servants, Whatsoever he says unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus said unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And said unto him, Every man at the beginning does set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou has kept the good wine until now.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
From the text, we see that on the third day, from the calling of Phillip as a disciple as recorded in St. John 1:43, we find Jesus and his newly called and selected disciples invited to attend a festive occasion, a marriage, in Cana, by Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary obviously is close to the wedding couple and their families, such that she shows a particular concern that the host had run out of wine. Wine is considered a symbol of gladness and certainly on this occasion was a significant ingredient to celebrate the marriage of the unnamed and unidentified wedding couple. We are not certain from the text whether Jesus had any personal relationship with the wedding couple or their family but we see here Jesus responding to the request of His beloved mother by commanding the servants to draw out now.
As I mediated on the text, my finite mind was enlightened to appreciate that the first miracle of Christ Jesus was borne out of lack but not necessarily out of grave necessity. Not having wine at this wedding was not going to be the end all of any person attending the event. It should be quickened in our minds that the miracles of God don’t necessarily have to be in times of calamity, dire straits, last chance scenarios, and the can’t see my way out the situations and circumstances of life. The miracles of God can simply be the evidence of joy and gladness that are borne out of our well-intended desires.
It is written in Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” I dare you begin to start having a good time with God the Father as a new creature in Christ, and watch Him supernaturally give you the desires of your heart. Watch Him, supernaturally manifest His visible presence and produce outside of the established process good things that will make you know His joy and gladness.
In my life, I have two good Daddies who include my earthly father and my heavenly Father who I know as Jehovah-jireh (the Lord will provide). Both of my daddies are special to me and I know that I am special to them. They never have and never will withhold any good thing from me. They have been there with me in times of celebration and in times of crisis. I am so glad that they have not left me fatherless. I love my Momma but I am not ashamed to tell you I’m a Daddy’s boy. And let me say to the accuser of the brothers and sisters (in both the spirit and natural realms) that regardless of what you think about me or call me, I know who my Father is! I encourage all of us to speak that in the atmosphere. Preach that to the demonic extremists! We are more than conquerors through Him (the Lord Jesus) that loves us!
In my spiritual mind, I can imagine Mary saying I have known you Jesus since your virgin conception in my womb, but right now, on this festive occasion, I know that you’re a Daddy’s boy. I hear you Jesus (“Woman, what have I to do with you?”). I know your hour is not yet come but let’s really get this party started because the wine is running out. I hear you Jesus but I know you’re a Daddy’s boy and all power is in your hand. So, Mary told the servants before Jesus said another word, “whatsoever He says unto you do it.” Before Nike came up with the slogan, Mary said unto the servants, if you will, just do it! There are times that the ekklesia (I’m talking to those who have been called out from darkness into His marvelous light) just have to speak by faith to quicken the faith in others who have yet to hear His command. Sometimes you have to speak by faith (when the facts say one thing and Truth has yet to be spoken or revealed) to quicken the faith in others who have yet to hear the Word. I encourage you to speak faith to hear joy and gladness in each area of your life where you believe your well-intended desires are running out.
I am reminded that today is an all-star-day for basketball lovers. Well, I agree and it’s not because of who is playing basketball on television today but whose team we are on every day as believers. I’m so glad that more than two thousands year ago on a Sunday, my MVP, the most valuable player of all times (not King James, not Michael Jordan, not Magic, not Doctor J, but King Jesus) won the slam dunk contest when our Abba Daddy resurrected Him from the dead. On the third day, Jesus got up! It was on the third day too when He spoke the Word and defied both time and process to miraculously call forth those things that be not as though they were by turning water to wine.
It is written in Revelation 22:12-16:
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man [and woman] according as his work [and her work] shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Are you on the Bright and Morning All Star Team with me today? I hope you are and pray that by faith and with greater works you are bold enough to join His team with me and just do it!