A NIGHT LIKE NO ANY OTHER

LUKE 2: 8-20

It was a cool normal night

The breeze as usual blowing intermittently

As though condemned to the night alone, so were the shepherds up to perform their night duties.

Their duty was nothing to carry home about.

It was a life of struggle, segregation and separation from kith and kin

They had to content with the smelly goats and sheep all the night

As if this was not enough, there was the cold of the night to contend with

There financial status and general status in the society did not accord them any privileges that life had on offer.

Theirs was a life of hard work but nothing could show for it.

As good students of the Law of Moses and the prophets they knew that the Messiah was to come

According to their understanding, he was coming to liberate them physically so speaking.

He was to be their ruler literally. But nobody had envisaged what this night had on offer.

The bible declares that they were watching their flocks by night

Then suddenly there appeared unto them an Angel of the lord who stood before them

And the glory of the Lord shone before them

This was to their wildest dreams

They had never anticipated this neither were they expectant.

And because of what happened before their own eyes, they simply blacked out

Beloved of God, you are here today

I may not know what it is you are saying or even thinking about. May be you are saying I just know this happens only to people you call the correct ones

It does not matter how farther you have distanced yourselves from the blessing that you count out of your reach

Your night when it begun you knew exactly what to expect

In fact you can baldly infer what is bound to happen

But allow me to bring you good tidings

First the Lord declares DO NOT FEAR!

For fear is the enemy of reaching out to what Jehovah is releasing to you

Before you is the very presence of the angel of God

I know you might be terrified and in disbelief of what I am announcing to you

But you better pay attention and listen to me

This is the voice you need to hear today

It is the one that will bring forth the testimony that the world will be pulled to understanding who God is and what He is able to do.

Friends the bible reminds me that our ancestors were shepherds.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Rachael, Joseph and King David were all shepherds

They all herded sheep and goats

Remember Genesis 47.3, they replied we are shepherds.

Shepherding was not a respected occupation in Egypt and Pharaoh relegated Joseph’s family to the far-off land of Goshen.

 J.A.F.N

Characteristics of shepherds:-

1.     The shepherd is patient.

2.     The shepherd knows his sheep

3.     The shepherd values his sheep.

4.     The shepherd loves the sheep

5.     The shepherd observes the sheep

6.     The shepherd feeds the sheep John 21.15-22, 1Peter 5.2

7.     The shepherd leads his sheep

8.     The shepherd speaks well of his sheep

9.     The shepherd pursues his sheep Luke 15.3

10.                        The shepherd rests his sheep

11.                        The shepherd perseveres with the sheep Jeremiah 3.15

And you may be wondering as a shepherd what good have I in society?

Allow me to announce to you that the Messiah’s birth was revealed to this non -valuable group of people.

The well off were sleeping and having some good time

But you better here this

The angel appeared to the shepherds by night and the glory of the lord shone before them

And then came the big news,

Behold in the city of David is born the Messiah

Today I am her to announce that your messiah is here

Behold the glory that is surrounding you

Remember the calming words “DO NOT BE AFRAID”

Stop looking at yourself as a shepherd

The time has elapsed

The Lord’s promotion is already here

And you know what?

 Your position withstanding, God has decided to break the good news about what he wants to do in our times through you

Dear friend it is time to arise, dust up your self and get going to witness what the new tidings of the lord are

A savior is born

A savior to the whole world

You know child of the Most high you have never known how this position of a shepherd is a privileged one.

Jesus is the great shepherd and as the saying goes, “mtoto wa nyoka ni nyoka”

David caps it very well when he says we are the “sheep of his pasture”

So it is not a surprise that I am endowed with the power of the shepherd who lives in me

You have lived in this state of affairs and people have made you believe that you are a no body.

But I am here to jog your mind

The advantage of shepherding life may be found in the seclude lifestyle of the shepherd.

While engaged with flocks, ambling through the hills and valleys, the shepherd is cut off from noisy distractions of society, thus enabling ample time for inner reflection.

Solitude verses Connection.

Additionally the labor is not intensive

Unlike farming, shepherding does not require one to exert a great deal of energy in mundane matters.

Nevertheless, the shepherd is concerned with the actual physical needs of the flock.

He is involved in the real world, seeking water, shade and good pasture for animals

These shepherds were an un-known entity, wait until the Angel of God ministered good news to them

Their fear mellowed and soon they were engulfed in joy un-speak able

This shall be your song

As you encounter and embrace the word of God in your life, beloved

I am here to declare it shall not be business as usual

No amount of pinning you down either by name calling or whichever avenue the devil and his agents are going to employ is going to materialize.

You are a changed entity and heaven confirms this

That is why the glory of God has shone all around you, followed by the Lord’s decree

Do not fear, today in the city of David is born a savior, who is the messiah, the Lord.

The inkling that you have risen above your yesterday will be marked by your actions from now hence forth.

The bible says that after the Angel of God had departed, the angel decided

The good news we have just received is not good news if we do not act on it

Who they left the sheep with I don’t want to know

But you can be sure; they never went with the sheep

You better hear this, time for staying up and out in the night is now over.

Move on as the sheep of his pasture

It is time to get out and witness the good that the lord has done

Halleluyah to the King who is born!

And you better make haste just as the shepherds did

And when they arrived, they found the new born boy child just as the Angel of God had spoken to them.

And what followed is what I now want us to arise and do the same

It is time to glorify and praise the Lord

Let’s lift up our hands and adore

Come take your place

Precious Holy Ghost

We worship you

We bless you for remembering us

We give you honor, praise and majesty.

You are Alpha and Omega

We worship you alone

You are worthy to be praised

We lift you higher

Higher, higher Lord!

When praise go up,

Blessings come down

And may God forever bless His word amen!

Message given on Wednesday 23^rd October 2013 @ 14.25hrs while working

Pastor Geoffrey D. Otuko

18.45hrs 23^rd October 2013

A NIGHT LIKE NO ANY OTHER

LUKE 2: 8-20

It was a cool normal night

The breeze as usual blowing intermittently

As though condemned to the night alone, so were the shepherds up to perform their night duties.

Their duty was nothing to carry home about.

It was a life of struggle, segregation and separation from kith and kin

They had to content with the smelly goats and sheep all the night

As if this was not enough, there was the cold of the night to contend with

There financial status and general status in the society did not accord them any privileges that life had on offer.

Theirs was a life of hard work but nothing could show for it.

As good students of the Law of Moses and the prophets they knew that the Messiah was to come

According to their understanding, he was coming to liberate them physically so speaking.

He was to be their ruler literally. But nobody had envisaged what this night had on offer.

The bible declares that they were watching their flocks by night

Then suddenly there appeared unto them an Angel of the lord who stood before them

And the glory of the Lord shone before them

This was to their wildest dreams

They had never anticipated this neither were they expectant.

And because of what happened before their own eyes, they simply blacked out

Beloved of God, you are here today

I may not know what it is you are saying or even thinking about. May be you are saying I just know this happens only to people you call the correct ones

It does not matter how farther you have distanced yourselves from the blessing that you count out of your reach

Your night when it begun you knew exactly what to expect

In fact you can baldly infer what is bound to happen

But allow me to bring you good tidings

First the Lord declares DO NOT FEAR!

For fear is the enemy of reaching out to what Jehovah is releasing to you

Before you is the very presence of the angel of God

I know you might be terrified and in disbelief of what I am announcing to you

But you better pay attention and listen to me

This is the voice you need to hear today

It is the one that will bring forth the testimony that the world will be pulled to understanding who God is and what He is able to do.

Friends the bible reminds me that our ancestors were shepherds.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Rachael, Joseph and King David were all shepherds

They all herded sheep and goats

Remember Genesis 47.3, they replied we are shepherds.

Shepherding was not a respected occupation in Egypt and Pharaoh relegated Joseph’s family to the far-off land of Goshen.

 J.A.F.N

Characteristics of shepherds:-

1.     The shepherd is patient.

2.     The shepherd knows his sheep

3.     The shepherd values his sheep.

4.     The shepherd loves the sheep

5.     The shepherd observes the sheep

6.     The shepherd feeds the sheep John 21.15-22, 1Peter 5.2

7.     The shepherd leads his sheep

8.     The shepherd speaks well of his sheep

9.     The shepherd pursues his sheep Luke 15.3

10.                        The shepherd rests his sheep

11.                        The shepherd perseveres with the sheep Jeremiah 3.15

And you may be wondering as a shepherd what good have I in society?

Allow me to announce to you that the Messiah’s birth was revealed to this non -valuable group of people.

The well off were sleeping and having some good time

But you better here this

The angel appeared to the shepherds by night and the glory of the lord shone before them

And then came the big news,

Behold in the city of David is born the Messiah

Today I am her to announce that your messiah is here

Behold the glory that is surrounding you

Remember the calming words “DO NOT BE AFRAID”

Stop looking at yourself as a shepherd

The time has elapsed

The Lord’s promotion is already here

And you know what?

 Your position withstanding, God has decided to break the good news about what he wants to do in our times through you

Dear friend it is time to arise, dust up your self and get going to witness what the new tidings of the lord are

A savior is born

A savior to the whole world

You know child of the Most high you have never known how this position of a shepherd is a privileged one.

Jesus is the great shepherd and as the saying goes, “mtoto wa nyoka ni nyoka”

David caps it very well when he says we are the “sheep of his pasture”

So it is not a surprise that I am endowed with the power of the shepherd who lives in me

You have lived in this state of affairs and people have made you believe that you are a no body.

But I am here to jog your mind

The advantage of shepherding life may be found in the seclude lifestyle of the shepherd.

While engaged with flocks, ambling through the hills and valleys, the shepherd is cut off from noisy distractions of society, thus enabling ample time for inner reflection.

Solitude verses Connection.

Additionally the labor is not intensive

Unlike farming, shepherding does not require one to exert a great deal of energy in mundane matters.

Nevertheless, the shepherd is concerned with the actual physical needs of the flock.

He is involved in the real world, seeking water, shade and good pasture for animals

These shepherds were an un-known entity, wait until the Angel of God ministered good news to them

Their fear mellowed and soon they were engulfed in joy un-speak able

This shall be your song

As you encounter and embrace the word of God in your life, beloved

I am here to declare it shall not be business as usual

No amount of pinning you down either by name calling or whichever avenue the devil and his agents are going to employ is going to materialize.

You are a changed entity and heaven confirms this

That is why the glory of God has shone all around you, followed by the Lord’s decree

Do not fear, today in the city of David is born a savior, who is the messiah, the Lord.

The inkling that you have risen above your yesterday will be marked by your actions from now hence forth.

The bible says that after the Angel of God had departed, the angel decided

The good news we have just received is not good news if we do not act on it

Who they left the sheep with I don’t want to know

But you can be sure; they never went with the sheep

You better hear this, time for staying up and out in the night is now over.

Move on as the sheep of his pasture

It is time to get out and witness the good that the lord has done

Halleluyah to the King who is born!

And you better make haste just as the shepherds did

And when they arrived, they found the new born boy child just as the Angel of God had spoken to them.

And what followed is what I now want us to arise and do the same

It is time to glorify and praise the Lord

Let’s lift up our hands and adore

Come take your place

Precious Holy Ghost

We worship you

We bless you for remembering us

We give you honor, praise and majesty.

You are Alpha and Omega

We worship you alone

You are worthy to be praised

We lift you higher

Higher, higher Lord!

When praise go up,

Blessings come down

And may God forever bless His word amen!

Message given on Wednesday 23^rd October 2013 @ 14.25hrs while working

Pastor Geoffrey D. Otuko

18.45hrs 23^rd October 2013