WHAT MANNER OF GREETING IS THIS?

By Anokwafo - January 04, 2012

Sunday 1^st January 2012
By Ps. Seth Asare Ofei Badu

Main Text: Luke 1:26-31,34

1. Greetings are Initial Declarations with which we begin conversations. Greetings establish protocol in all human endeavors. We, as ambassadors of Christ should carefully craft our greetings to centre all conversation on our Lord and Master Jesus. The rest will follow.
2. Greetings or Initial Declarations are often used in the Bible to sow the seeds of what God establishes. They are made in faith in the face of human impossibilities.

Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us. Daniel 3:17

Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. Exodus 14:13

The Lord is with thee, mighty man of valour. Judges 6:12

This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand. 1Samuel 17:46

3. God does not do anything unless He has spoken first (Initial Declaration)

And God said. Let there be light... Genesis 1:3

[Jesus said]: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me... Luke 4:18

The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work... Acts 13:2

In the beginning was the Word … and without Him was not anything made that was made. John 1:3
                                So let us converse Jesus, who is what God will do.

4. The Principal Step of Faith unto Salvation is the initial declaration
Romans:   For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 10:10
5. With our Greetings and Initial Declarations then we hold the key to many positive doors for the rest of our lives:
a.      We show where we are coming from, and how we know who we are and what God has already made us and done for us:
§ I am Gabriel that stands in the presence of God

§ Our identity has been transformed by Christ, and we need to constantly affirm that with our greetings, rather than having a throw back to the doubtful and sometimes empty greetings. We should rather carefully prepare our greetings and initial declarations in diverse circumstances in the light of our our identity as God’s beloved children who trust fully in their Father’s good intentions for them.
b.     By our good greeting we also throw light on where we are going, and therefore the kind of meaning we want placed on our subsequent conversation and actions.
§ Your Word is a lamp unto my feet
Think about the importance of Greetings an Initial Declarations our Lord Jesus, Paul and Peter:
The Resurrected Christ:
Peace be unto you – John 20: 19&21
Paul’s letters:
Romans: Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:7
1&2 Corinthians, Philippians: Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:3 and 1:2
Galatians: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. 1:3
Ephesians: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:2
Colossians & 1Thessalonians: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:2, 1:1
2 Thessalonians: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:2
1Timothy: Grace, mercy and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 1:2
2Timothy: Grace, mercy and peace, from God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 1:2
Titus: Grace, mercy and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. 1:4
Philemon (and Apphia, Archipus, and the church in Philemon’s house): Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter’s Letters
1Peter: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. 1:2
2Peter: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 1:2
The whole of Psalm 119’s 176 verses are variations on the Word of God, which is good cleansing a young man’s way (v. 9)
Law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments, word
6. Righteous Greetings and Initial Declarations place tend to discipline improves us, unless we are fond of idle declarations, which would place us in an unfavorable position in judgment
Let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 4:14
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith. Hebrews 10:23
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36
Profession (What we do) and Confession/Conversation (What we say) therefore have very close associations in the Bible.

CALL TO PRAYER

Let us watch to say the right thing that will compel us to do the right thing

Like Paul, create your trademark greeting based on who you know you are

In reaching out, let us set the tone for conversations with greetings that will bring Christ into every matter, so that life will be in our conversation. Without Christ in the conversation, there is no life in the conversation.

Let many people we meet this year ask: What manner of greeting is this? For we are the present messengers of God, His angels to a dying world.

Let us fill the air with talk about Jesus

Let us talk, let us talk Jesus always