Christ-Like
It is interesting that in Scripture, there are only Seven “Prayed for, or Prophesied for Babies,” and all the seven were little boys, and all did amazing things, and all have strong characteristics as latter seen in Jesus Christ. The first is Abraham that prayed for his wife Sarah, who was by then close to 90 years old when she bare a son Isaac (Genesis 17:15-17.) Isaac prayed for his beloved wife Rebecca (Genesis 25:21,) and she bare twins, and Jacob was the inheritor. Jacob prayed for his most favorite wife Rachel, as her “Sister Wife” already had many children, and then Rachel bare Joseph (Genesis 30:1-2, Genesis 30:22-24.) Manoah prayed for his wife and the Angel promised them Samson (Judges 13:1-24.) Elisha prayed for the Shunammite woman and she bare a son (2 Kings 4:10-17), and then Hannah prayed most earnestly that she would bare a son so that she could dedicate him to God to work for him, as her “Sister Wife” (Peninnah) had children, who daily goaded her about her infertility, so Eli prayed and prophesied and she bore Samuel (1 Samuel 1:9-20.) In the New Testament, Zacharias prayed most earnestly for Elisabeth, the Angel of the Lord met him in “The Holy Place” and prophesied there, and she bore a son, “John the Baptist” (Luke 1:5-64.)
Christ-Like Characteristics; Isaac goes to the place of sacrifice with the wood upon his back, Isaac is a willing Sacrifice – He is a Type of Christ. Jacob was the father of the 12 Patriarchs or 12 Tribes of Israel, Jesus had 12 Disciples, He is a Shepherd, He Intercedes, he Wrestles with God, (New Jerusalem has 12 Gates etc.) Rachel pleads, give me children or I die, Joseph was a Type of Christ and there is a perfect record of him in scripture, he was sold into captivity by his brothers for silver, (Judas sold Jesus for Silver) he forgives them, he Feeds the whole world, Robe of Joseph was covered in blood and presented to his Father. Manoah prays for his wife, and she has a miracle son, Samson kills a lion like David, sacrifices his life at the end, Samson was blinded and so was Jesus, Bound as Jesus was bound, imprisoned as Jesus was imprisoned, Samson stretches out his arms, is filled with the Holy Spirit, and defeats God’s Enemies through his death, just like Jesus. Samson was a judge in Israel, was bound, imprisoned, beaten, and single handedly pulled down the empire that was oppressing.
Hannah pleads with God, and has Samuel, who is a Prophet, Priest and Judge, he lives a Godly life and there are no failings recorded in Scripture, Samuel is always faithful and listens to God, Samuel shows us the Priesthood, Preaching and Teaching ministry of Messiah. Shunammite woman’s son taught us this, the son dies in the field, is working with his Father in the Harvest just like Jesus, and is miraculously resurrected just like Jesus. Just like the Shunammite family, we have an older father, Zacharias, and a barren wife who have a miracle baby, John the Baptist who is the “Forerunner of Jesus” and is a Type of Christ.
It is interesting that there are 7-Miracle babies; with the Shunammite Woman, 7 Sneezes, and 7ys of Famine, and then a Royal Decree to enable them to get their lands and wealth back from the squatters that moved in when they went south for the Famine, Israel was not warned of the coming Famine, just a stranger in the land. Elisha saw her “Afar off” Gehazi ran to her (Prodigal Son language) she caught Elisha by his feet and worshiped him (Mary Magdalene language) son dies in the field, Gehazi told not to greet anyone on the road, Disciples told the same thing by Jesus, do not get sidetracked from your mission work. Abishag the Shunammite warmed aged King David, Elisha warmed the Shunammite boy. There are 7-sneezes, 7yr Famine, there is Joseph’s Famine in Egypt, Ruth’s Famine, Elijah 3 ½ year famine, Elisha has a “Double Portion” so famine is twice as long, 7 years, and twice the number of miracles.
The Shunammite woman watched her son die, Mary watched Jesus die, Mary Magdalene clings to Jesus feet and worships him, has 7-demons cast out, Shunammite clings to Elisha’s feet and worships, 7-sneezes. Jacob prayed “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” Are you like the Shunammite Woman, are you open to Christ, do you prepare him a room for him within the walls of your life, and then keep it always clean and ready, do you make daily preparation, and then run out to welcome God who is passing by, and press and implore him to turn in, just like “The Road to Emmaus” Disciples?
Galatians 5:22-26 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” John 4:23-24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.”
Are we becoming more “Christ Like?” Let us always be “Christ-Like” in all our; Forgiveness, Patience, Love, Humility, Temper, Forbearance, Speech, Deeds, Ministry, Sympathy, Manners, Efforts, and in every facet of our being, reflecting clearly Jesus in every single facet, abundantly displayed here in you. Matthew 5:48 MSG “In a word, what I am saying is Grow Up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your GOD-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” Please make this a reality starting right now.
