Bold Declarations
by Terrence G. ClarkBold Declarations
God is no wise limited by earthly seasons, holidays, or events to express His Word or glory. Still often, He uses “the times” to help us understand the message. So, I’m sure that the Word of Wisdom, during a recent time of prayer, had reference to the Christmas holiday several weeks away. Although, I’m more convinced, it pointed to the upcoming New Year. “Its time to make bold declarations and not decorations.” This was the statement of what I heard Him say. The explanation was to follow. It was the Apostle Paul, by the Holy Ghost, in Philippians 2:15, who wrote that believers shine as lights amid a crooked and perverse generation. (A message itself to challenge Christian conformity to---pop culture, secular views, and unfiltered social acceptance.) Seen everywhere, Christmas decorations adorn or looks expressing aesthetics and reflections. However apart from the ooos and aahhs, and the trips down memory lane, as a decoration, they relatively have no intrinsic power. Sometimes a light display can show honor and bring accolades. The best light display in the neighborhood may gain a coveted award. It can’t be denied that if a moment of happiness, in their gaze, brings temporal joy or healing then the hanging time was well worth it. Decoration versus Declaration Interpreted, shining Christmas “decorations” also “bring honor” to those who look on the light that is contained in the illuminated vessels of plastic and glass. A “declaration” is not just the view upon the display, it’s the revelation of what the light from the display does. From that view, the light that goes out from a bulb or vessel is potentially unlimited. It pierces darkness, provides security, brings heat, comforts souls, paves ways, and reveals hope. Essentially, light, although packaged for decoration, has a purpose beyond that which is presented. The Ark of the Covenant, in the Jewish temple, was separated from the people of Israel, by a thick curtain. The people knew it was there in the Holist Place. They were in awe of its beauty and power. But they were separated from it. They had no fellowship with the presence of God in it. Only the High Priest could go into this place once a year. The power of the Ark was synonymous with the presence of God in it. This is known as the glory of God. In all fairness, in the sin state, God’s people could not fully enjoy His presence or power. God could live amongst His people only if he contained himself. Many times, Christians wear the decorations of Christianity. We wear displays. We wear ornaments. Jesus said the religious people of His day kept the traditions associated with God but deny the power of His Word. Christmas, as well as other holidays, are ideal times to display the decorations of our God and His goodness. We hang the lights, we ring the bells, we wear the crosses. But do we always decree the power? Jesus said the Gospel is presented not in word only, but power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit. |
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Jesus came days after Lazarus’s funeral had passed. He visited his grave. He even cried. Onlookers took note. But he didn’t stop there. He knew He was the Light of the world. He knew He was the Resurrection and the Life. He knew the Father heard His prayers.
Exclusively, none of this alone raised Lazurus from the dead. With the decorations on—Jesus made a bold declaration and called Lazurus from the dead. Miraculously, Lazurus came back to life. It could be said that the tradition of Jesus’s visitation was overshadowed by the power of his visitation.
Even as the Son of God, the Messiah, Lord of lords, Jesus could have stood at the tomb all week and Lazurus would just have had more days to add to his interment. Nothing happened until the Light made a bold declaration.
As a Christian believer, at Christmas and every day, we are not just called to just display our Christianity, but by the Holy Ghost—living and speaking—declare our relationship with God. Our relationship with God is more than a decoration or a statement, it is a received experience that is radiating His unlimited power.
It's One Thing
It's one thing to be scripturally---the righteousness of God. It's another thing to declare that righteousness in the face of condemnation. It’s one thing to be healed by the stripes of Jesus, but another thing to boldly declare that healing in the face of a contrary symptom. It’s one thing to say you have God-given peace, but another thing to declare that peace in a storm.
It one thing to decorate our houses, bodies, and lives with decorations that display “Jesus lives”. It’s another thing to declare to those we encounter---with power, “He lives within”.