Uncategorized

Last week we spoke about Jesus’ mandate to bring Good News to the poor. We saw that Good News means practical solutions to real life problems; that is what is good news in the ears of a troubled person.

In 2 Kings 4:2 we read of a widow who was in an extremely tricky situation. Her husband had borrowed some money from some very unfriendly people and then he died before he could pay it back. As a result, her kids were in danger of being sold as slaves in order to cover the cost of the debt. She had a real problem, a money problem, she needed some REAL Good News!

Do you need some good news in your situation? Some REAL Good News? YES?

But let me first return to the story:

So this desperate woman, makes her way to the prophet in search of help. What happens next? Does the prophet wave a magic wand, tell her to sow a seed and wait for her miracle? No, he asks her: What do you have in your house?

Ask yourself, what do you have in your house? What are the resources you already have?

I have nothing she says (Have you ever thought you had nothing…..nothing to give…no money to invest? Watch what happens next.)

Oh, wait, she says, I have a small container of oil. Well then, the prophet replies, go to all your neighbors and ask them for containers, as many as you can, take them to your house, close the door and pour from your bottle of oil until all the containers are full – and she went and did as he said.

The prophet gave her an inspired strategy for a REAL problem, not some kind of spiritual “feel good” slogan or sermon, but a real strategy to help her come out of her situation.

God is waiting to give you an inspired strategy for REAL World problems. Real solutions to take you to the next level in your life, isn’t that REALLY GOOD NEWS?

Next week we shall look at what happened next in our story and why inspired strategies are not enough to solve the real life problems you face today!

Have a blessed week!

Dr. Joseph Okia

Good news for the Poor (and for you too!)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach Good News to the poor.” Luke 4:18

With these words Jesus launched his ministry on earth, it was the first salvo of many more to come, a headline of what he was going to be about, what we could expect.

Good News for poor people. Have you ever thought of what would be good news, when you are poor? What announcement would you make to poor people, that would absolutely throw them into frenzied celebrations? Think of it.

My kids have been watching this movie called “Madagascar” for the last couple of months (as in every day for the last 3 months – they now know it by heart), there are these little creatures, I think they are lemurs that absolutely know how to celebrate, especially when they receive the good news that “Alex the Lion” was not going to eat them.

What would be good news mean to you personally? Imagine you receive a letter in the mail and it says: Good news……you have been selected to receive………………………….(fill in your good news!)

Will it be something ethereal, far away and abstract, or something real, tangible that will get you excited. I am sure it will be real, physical, maybe money, maybe an inheritance or health or something for your family and loved ones; That is good news!

So when we are talking about Good News for the poor, we are talking about tangible solutions that make a lasting difference. Not handouts, not quick fixes which create more dependence, not projects which mainly serve to create employment for those who run it, but real impact that transforms lives.

How is it in your life? Are you in need of some good news? Jesus has something in store for you right now, not when you die or far away in eternity, right now there is a life transforming power available for you to produce tangible solutions for your situation.

I declare to you “GOOD NEWS” in your life and situation, in the Name of Jesus

Next week we will look at God’s diving strategy to provide Good News in our lives