Contention : Pastor Jeannette Samuels
Contention…not exactly the word you think of when you think of Christmas. But Mary and Joseph had to contend against many things in order for Jesus to be born. After Mary accepted the word from the angel, she had to contend against the doubts and questions in her own mind, as well as those things in her culture that ran contrary to an unmarried woman having a baby. That alone could have resulted in her death!
Joseph had to contend with his own doubts and questions, not to mention the culture surrounding his fiancé being pregnant before marriage. But they did it. They didn’t let culture, friends, family, religious leaders, or politicians dictate what they were going to do. The Word from the Lord dictated their decisions. Because of their choice to do this, Jesus was brought into the world. Without their contending for Him, there would be no Christmas…and no Easter…and no salvation.
Church, we are being called to contend for Him; for His will, and for what is right. We cannot afford to stay silent anymore. We cannot afford to keep Jesus a secret we only pull out on Sundays. We must contend for Him; His will in this nation, His will in our lives, our children’s lives, our grandchildren’s lives, and for future generations. If we don’t speak up in word and deed, the world will continue along the path it’s been on, and we will be silenced even more. This is not time to be silent; it’s time for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah to roar…and that comes through us!
And I tell you you are Peter [Greek, Petros – a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, Petra – a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build my church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven. [Isa. 22:22] -Matthew 16:18-19 AMPC
