Creation Epic

The worlds were framed by the Word of the Lord

And the earth embraced by His Spirit of Love;

He spoke and boundless light poured forth…

The mantle of darkness was peeled away,

Revealing the marvelous miracle of the very first day;

His powerful Word like a sword did split

The highest heights of the firmament

From the broiling depths of the ocean deep,

Which seemed to have no end…

He sent forth the heavenly decree

Which established the border of the seas

Bringing forth the dry land,

Soon to be the home of man…

With tender love did His voice forth

The pleasant herb of the field,

The abundant bounty of fruit trees,

The  blessed Orchard of Eden…

The earth needed not the moon, nor sun

For it was illumined by the Holy One;

Nevertheless, for the dividing of time did He them create…

In one breath did He decorate the tapestry of heaven

With the star-spangled banner of Love,

Their dazzling beauty like sequins

In an exquisite garment above…

With just a word He created

The teeming multitudes in the sea,

Leviathan frolicking in the waves

And birds flying high on the breeze…

He spoke the Word and there appeared

The varied beasts of the field,

The creeping things of the earth;

After their own kind they would yield…

On the sixth day God had a special work in mind,

The crowning glory of creation,

Distinct from every kind…

“Let us make Man in our image” He said,

“And put the crown of dominion upon his head;

Let him  rule the earth and the sea,

Custodian of all that have life by Me…”

And God stooped down and gathered dust,

With His own hands, He fashioned a bust;

On the earth did Adam lay,

Beautiful, but lifeless man of clay…

God breathed His own breath into him

And the man came to life;

“Adam, my son,” thought God,

“Your loneliness will soon require a wife…”

So our first parents were made,

In the similitude of God

To multiply and replenish the earth

And rule it with hearts of love;

Their home was carpeted with the plush mossy meadow

And the windows of heaven a roof over them…

And God looked upon His creation

And declared it very good;

The sons of God shouted for joy and heavenly anthems raised

As the earth broke forth in chorus of resounding praise…

All was rest and beauty on that hallowed first Sabbath day,

Precious memorial of creation that forever would remain…

This poem/song was inspired by: Genesis 1, Job 38

Revival and reformation P5: The Fruit of Reformation

In the last few weeks, we have learned about revival and what we must do to ensure that true revival is ignited in our hearts. Revival does not start one church at a time. It starts with every individual. The Bible describes being in a  state of revival as being like a tree planted by rivers of living water, bearing fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither. (Ps 1:3)

Without revival, there can be no reformation for reformation is the fruit of revival. Jesus described Himself as the vine and all who believe in Him as the branches. We cannot have true revival if we are not maintaining a continual connection with Jesus Christ, the True Vine. We cannot produce the fruit of reformation apart from Him. (John 15:1-9)

What is reformation? Gal 5:22 describes for us what the fruit of reformation looks like. It is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance and not desiring vainglory. In summary, it is the character of godliness, the character of Christ.

God’s mission in each of our lives is to restore the perfection of the image of Christ in each of us. This was the image that we were created to reflect in the beginning for we were created “in the image of God.” The process He follows in order to achieve this is “reformation” and the results of that process is the fruit of the Spirit which is the beauty of His character revealed in mortal flesh. (Gen 1:26-27)

Jesus said in Jn 4:14 that whoever drinks of the living water He gives shall never thirst for the water He provides will become a wellspring of living water springing forth unto eternal life. Jesus is restoring the “tree of life” in each of us who believe in Him and out of that tree will spring the fruit of reformation, which the world will taste and they will see that our God is good. (Ps 34:8)

The Bible describes the tree of life in Rev 22:2 as being “on either side of the river” and bearing “twelve manner of fruits and yielding fruit every month.” Does this not remind you of what God wants you to be right now? A tree planted by the living water bearing fruit all year round! The twelve different fruits reflect the completeness of the character of Christ, the image that He is recreating in us as we journey through life. The tree of life in Heaven is also a visual reminder, the culmination of a process that God has started in you today! Phil 1:6 reminds us that God is well able to finish the good work that He has started in each of us and bring it to a grand completion.

Nothing is impossible with God! Do you believe that God can transform your life? Jesus did not lie when He said that nothing is impossible with God. Nothing is too hard for him. All you have to do is take the next step and ask Him to transform you, to reform you. You are already a new creature in Christ. It is time to embark on the exciting daily adventure with God called “sanctification”. Let go and let God!

God's Delegation of Authority-use it wisely!

As Jesus stood in the judgment hall, Pilate interrogated him saying, “Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?”

Jesus answered, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above…” (John 19:10-11)

God made man in His image. His purpose was to rule the earth like God rules the Heavens. However, God would still be all-powerful because the created can never be greater than the Creator. God made us “a little lower than the angels and crowned us with glory and honour.” (Ps 8:5)

Since then mankind’s concept of true power has been distorted. We have forgotten that it is God who puts us in positions of influence so that we can make good decisions to benefit others, and represent the grace and nobility of God to them. We have forgotten that true power is authority exercised responsibly.

Slavery occurs when leaders become power-hungry and want prestige and wealth for themselves, but refuse to work for it. Instead they make others suffer so that they can live life in the lap of luxury. We would do well to remember that we are put in a position of power to serve, not to be a cruel taskmaster to others.

A person of true power does not boast because of his power, but recognizes that only God is all-powerful. It is this false concept of fame, position and power that is destroying our world. Business leaders look past the people, and look only for profits. When they do study how to manage people, they do it with the ulterior motive of increasing profitability! We no longer walk in truth.

We have a choice to make. Are we going to join satan’s rebellion and keep “playing god” or are we going to let God reign in our hearts, and transform us into true leaders for Him?

The novelist George Orwell wrote as follows in his satirical novel, Animal Farm: “All power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It doesn’t have to be this way. It is absolute power in the wrong hands, that causes absolute corruption. Let us not let power in our hands be like a weapon in the hands of an untrained fool, which puts everyone around us in danger.

God has given each of us a certain amount of power and influence. Pray for wisdom to rule your affairs justly. King Solomon did this and as long as He obeyed God, he was the richest and wisest king that ever lived. As soon as he started focusing on himself and letting his desires have free reign over him, his life came to ruin. The story of King Solomon has a powerful lesson for all of us. 

" And God said to Solomon, Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, nor honor, nor the life of your enemies, nor yet have asked for long life but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may judge My people, over whom I have made you king;wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you, nor shall any after you have the like."-2 Chron 1:10-12

Scripture Readings: Matt 16:26, 2 Chron 1:10-12, Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, 1 Kings 11:1-12 (Solomon's downfall)