Wherever our Lord went the atmosphere did not stay static for long. The light within Him was so bright that it was literally the life-giving force of all mankind. Injecting that type of power, possibility, and creativity into any atmosphere would demand that one make a choice. In this book, Toby Morgan presents us with the realities of what happens when people come in contact with the presence of the King of the universe. Something will happen.
A choice must be made.
He may have arrived as a babe in a manger, or come to us lowly, and riding on the back of a borrowed donkey; still His undeniable Presence requires a choice.
- To Rome, He was an unwanted nuisance.
- To the religious hierarchy, He was an uninvited imposter.
- To the crowd, He was an entertaining phenomena.
But to a Samaritan harlot He was living water that checked every box and quenched every thirst.
To a ragtag group of outcasts consisting of rough fisherman, a tax collector, a zealot, and a few others, He was worth forsaking and denying all over.
John said of Him that,
"the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
Jesus didn't tabernacle among just one sect or group. He made Himself available to whosoever would. Titus tells us that the grace of God that brings salvation appeared to ALL men.
From that we can ascertain that all men saw Him, but not all men saw the same thing.
In the pages of this book we see varying responses to His Presence and varying results. In His day the writing of Isaiah became true, the children of the desolate became more than that of the married woman. People who had no business walking in the renewing power of revival - did. Why? Their responses to the Master.
There is also a story of the responses of people familiar with Jesus. Their remarks can be paraphrased thusly, “Don't we know Him? Isn't He just like us?”
In that unbelieving response Jesus didn't work many miracles.
John said it this way:
“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John1:10-11).
How tragic to be near Him but not know Him! But, we don't have to live there! John went on to say,
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John1:12).
I've still never experienced anything as exhilarating as becoming a child of God!
I believe the writing in this book is intended to take us from seeing to believing. Bishop Morgan's ministry is marked with moving the "whosoever wills" into the fullness of the Presence.
I know the author's heart matches the heart of the Father: that all may offer the right response. As you read this book, may the Holy Spirit cause you to be enamored with the One Who is a miracle, wrapped in miracles, offering miracles to the meager!
- Pastor Doug Baker, City Church, Rainbow City. AL
|