The Spread Of The Word

We ended yesterday’s offering with a word of anticipation and expectation. I expressed with hope, that we were looking forward to a sterling conclusion. What do I mean by a sterling conclusion? I simply mean that we should all be looking forward to and expecting that which is not just of a lofty standard, but that which lifts us up to the highest we can be, in this phase of time.

With faith as our way and walk, we will continue to believe that absolutely nothing, which our Sovereign Father God wishes to accomplish in us, mortal beings, will be impossible for Him to do. Our stubborn, unmoveable belief is that as the shepherds were raised beyond themselves, to be and do what pleased God, the same can be witnessed in us. 

Holy Spirit, our Teacher, Guide, Counsellor and Promoter, do as You will in us, to the expressed glory of God, the Father, as His Word is made flesh in us. Amen!

Here is the text for us to conclude this week of words and works, which we have treasured up and upon which we have pondered and will continue to ponder in our hearts and minds. 

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  Luke 2: 17 – 20.

Today’s sterling conclusion does not just lift us to lofty standards, but it leads us to continue in high standards and leaves us in stubborn assurance that with Jesus, there can only be victory. This brings to mind a song called, ‘Victory In Jesus’, written by E. M. Bartlett. Of specific interest are these two last lines of the chorus.

He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.

When we are shown the shepherds, we can safely say that even before they knew about the Coming of God in His Son, Jesus Christ, in flesh, God had already thought of them and loved them dearly enough to make them His first visitors to see Baby Jesus. Not only that, but wouldn’t you also agree, that He literally plunged them, sunk them into victory, if you like, under the cleansing flood of His Peace, His Revelations and His Spirit, to go and victoriously spread the Good News?    

There are different victories, all in Jesus which have raised those shepherds beyond themselves to sterling obeying, performing and producing.  

The Victory in Obedience - These shepherds have passed from terrifying fear to transforming faith. They never questioned what they had witnessed, whether it was real or not. They listened without any human interjections and as soon as they were alone, after all the heavenly beings had left them, what did they do? They showed the truth of believer. They got up forthwith and went to receive all that had been revealed to them. There was no procrastination, no lingering, no putting off until they were absolutely sure, and no timidity. They simply obeyed, with a spirit of expectation and anticipation. Is not their obedience, victory in Jesus?   

The Victory in Performance - These shepherds have not just gone to Bethlehem and seen all that was revealed to them, they did more. Think about it! Every single shepherd has been given the same Good News and they all speak in unison. But note the response to their voices. People hear and are amazed at what the shepherds say to them. Can we but value all that the shepherds are now doing, all the works they are performing? Is this not victory in their lives, through Jesus as they are made shepherds to people, not just sheep? They are guiding people, telling people about the New Birth. They are speaking, not from experience, or hearsay, but from revelation. Here is the victory in sterling proportion. Before, no one will have listened to shepherds, turned evangelists. But there is victory before her, as people hear and are amazed at the word of God. Mary treasures up in her heart and mind the victory of the Word made Flesh. The shepherds are now shepherding people. Is not their performance, victory in Jesus?  

The Victory in Producing - These shepherds are not just obeying people, but look at what is happening. These ordinary people, shepherds, who have never been schooled in evangelizing the Word of God, are doing such sterling work, that this is their victory outcome. All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. The shepherds are now spreading the Gospel News. They are now producing fruit for the Lord. Is that not victory in Jesus?

All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.