Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the
Truth and the Life. John 14:6
As we look at Jesus’ life we can see the parallels of His life to the
life of the Jesus born into those who have chosen to be part of His
family. God has a plan and a structure for all of us to be
transformed into the image of Jesus.
Part 1

John the Baptist was conceived before Jesus.
John the Baptist had a ministry of repentance which preceded Jesus’ ministry.
Repentance is an absolute requirement before Jesus’ Spirit will be birthed in
anyone.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to the Virgin Mary who was engaged to
be married to Joseph. The first thing Gabriel said to Mary was, “Hail O
favored one [imbued with grace]! The Lord is with you! Blessed (favored of
God) are you”. Luke 1:28 Amplified Bible
That same message is true for everyone who has truly repented, given up on
themselves, and asked God to forgive them for the ways they have hurt Him,
themselves and others. Salvation means deliverance from destruction and failure.
Unless you admit to yourself you have lived a life of destruction and failure you
will never repent.
Celebrate Life

Mary was a virgin.
When we go through the ministry of repentance our sins are washed away and in
God’s eyes we are spiritual virgins. Just as Mary made a commitment to marry
(she was engaged), a commitment is also required of us.

Mary was told she would become pregnant and have a son named Jesus, the
Son of the Most High God. She questioned how this could happen since she
had never been intimate with a man. Gabriel said the Holy Spirit will come
upon you and Jesus will be birthed in you.
God also wants to impregnate us with Jesus, the Son of the Most High God.

Gabriel told Mary, “With God nothing is impossible”. Luke 1:37AMP
Most people question how we can be born again with a new spirit in us. Just as
Mary, “With God nothing is impossible”.

Mary knew the consequences of becoming pregnant without being married
to Joseph. By law she could have been stoned to death for adultery. Joseph
could have broken off the engagement, and she would be ridiculed, disgraced
and persecuted by family and friends.
We have to be ready to accept those same challenges to receive Jesus in us. We
must die to our old nature which has attempted to be accepted and secure in
people and things we know and things we possess.

Mary made a decision knowing the consequences and told Gabriel; “I am a
servant of the Lord; let it be unto me according to what you have said.” Luke
1:38
There is a cost to being born again and one should consider that cost before
making that decision.
“Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me
cannot be My disciple.” Luke 4:18 AMP
28
For which of you, wishing to build a farm building, does not first sit down and
calculate the cost [to see] whether he has sufficient means to finish it? Luke 14:28
AMP
There is a cost to receive Jesus into our lives and we need to stop and consider the
cost before making a decision. We have to agree to be conceived with Jesus seed
just as a wife receives her husband’s seed in the most intimate way. This is not just
a date with Jesus; a marriage commitment is required to become one for better or
worse, until we die. Jesus knows what is in your heart. He knows whether you are
thinking about receiving Him or have actually made that decision. This is a lifelong
commitment to be one with Him, as husband and head of your spiritual
household. A husband is supposed to play the leadership role in a marriage. The
commitment is not like the 50% of marriages in America that end in divorce. A
majority of those that divorced and will be divorced are actually saying during the
ceremony, I will live with you as long as you please me and if you don’t we can get
a divorce. A glorified dating arrangement is not what is required to be born again.

Gabriel told her to go and listen to her relative Elizabeth. In her old age she
had conceived a son even though she was called barren. Luke 1:36 AMP
Elizabeth was a Godly woman who had become pregnant with John the Baptist
and was six months pregnant at the time.

When Mary arrived Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her
womb, and Elizabeth was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. The
baby also leaped with joy. She cried out with a loud cry, and then explained,
blessed (favored of God) is the fruit of your womb! Luke 1:41-44 AMP
When we become impregnated with Jesus, we should go to someone who can
hear from God and knows we are impregnated by the Holy Spirit. We should listen
to them. The Holy Spirit in them will leap with joy when you arrive.

Mary told Elizabeth that God has looked at her low station and humiliation
and has done a great thing in me. His mercy (compassion and kindness
toward the miserable and afflicted) is on those who fear Him with Godly
reverence, from generation to generation and age to age. He has scattered
the proud and haughty in and by imagination and purpose and designs of
their hearts. He puts down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those
in low degree. Luke 1:48-52 AMP
God blesses those who are repentant of being exalted and their need to be
worshiped for who they are and what they can do and have done. We must give
up our false humility as well. Many people pride themselves in their lowly
situation and serve others to be accepted. True acceptance comes only from God
and those have found new a new life in Jesus.

Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned to
her own home. Evidently after John the Baptist was born, his father,
controlled by the Holy Spirit, prophesied this: “Blessed (praised and extolled
and thanks) be to the God of Israel, because He has come and brought
deliverance and redemption to His people!” Luke 1:68 AMP “And you, little
one, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go on before the
face of the Lord to make ready His ways. To bring and give knowledge of
salvation to His people in the forgiveness and remission of their sins.”Luke
1:76-77 AMP
There is a period of time after conception, like Mary experienced with Elizabeth,
after Jesus is born in us that we need to listen to an older wiser Christian who
hears from God and nurtures us during this critical time.

When Mary got home Joseph found out she was pregnant and knew He had
not been with her. “He was a just and upright man and not willing to expose
her publicly to shame and disgrace her; he decided to be done with her
quietly and secretly.” Matthew 1:19 AMP
Mary knew the consequences she faced. Thank God Joseph was an upright man.
What would you have done if the girl you were engaged to turned up pregnant
before you came together sexually?

As Joseph was thinking it over an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream, saying, “Joseph do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that
which is conceived in her is of (from out of) the Holy Spirit. She will bear a
Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua,
which means Savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is,
prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is
God]” Matthew 1: 20,21 AMP
Joseph, being aroused from His sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had
commanded him: he took [her to his side as] his wife. Matthew 1:24 AMP
We all need spiritual fathers who are upright and will listen and obey God for our
sake. No new Christian needs to be thrown out in the cold or left to a big group to
nurture them. They need to have believing parents to raise them, spiritual
mothers and fathers.

He had no union with her until she had borne her firstborn Son: and he called
His name Jesus. Matthew 1:25 AMP
Joseph, like any husband who had a beautiful new young wife, would want to
have sex with her. He restrained himself because he didn’t want to ruin what God
was doing. We all need spiritual parents who can restrain themselves so God can
do His work in us.

Rome decreed that everyone must go to their own hometown to be
registered. Joseph took his pregnant wife to Bethlehem to register with Mary
who was about to become a mother.
Our spiritual parents should obey the law and by following law we end up where
God plans for us to be, even though it may not seem right at that time. Joseph
could have easily said Mary is in no condition to travel. A wise Christian parent will
listen to God and take you on journeys other people don’t think are wise.

There was no room for them in the inn so they had to stay in the stable with
livestock. Jesus was placed in a feeding trough after His birth.
Jesus never lived in a penthouse or stayed in one as far as we know and we have
to accept lowly places sometime. Jesus was born right where God wanted Him to
be, in a lowly manger. His kingdom is not about physical things or circumstances.

“There were shepherds living [out under the open sky] in the field, watching
[in shifts] over their flock by night. An angel appeared to them and they were
terribly frightened. The angel stood by them and said, do not be afraid, I
bring you good news of a great joy. Christ the Messiah is born this day. You
will find [after searching] Him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a
manger.” Luke 2:8-12 AMP They decided to go at once to Bethlehem and find
Him. They did find Him just as they were told.
Those who shepard God’s flock will hear from God and be led to come to new
born Christians and worship the Child in you and them also.

They took him to Jerusalem to the temple about five miles from Bethlehem
to present Him to the Lord eight days after His birth. He was circumcised and
the parents made the appropriate sacrifice.
Spiritual parents know there will be a sacrifice of their time and energy to raise a
new Christian and are very willing to make sacrifices to see the new Christian
blossom into adulthood. They know the new Christian is God’s. They have been
given the privilege to help raise them.

Simeon a godly man, prophesied over the baby Jesus. One of the things he
said to Mary and Joseph was, that Jesus would be “A Light for revelation to
the Gentiles [to disclose what was before unknown] and [to bring] praise and
honor and glory to Your people Israel. Luke 2:32 AMP “And a sword that
would pierce your own souls also- that the secret thoughts and purposes of
many hearts may be brought out and disclosed.” Luke 2:35 AMP
The Jesus (Holy Spirit) in you will bring out the secret thoughts and purposes of
your heart to be disclosed. He will transform those thoughts and purposes to your
best interest and for the good of everyone.

Wise men from another country saw a new star in the sky which they had
never been there before. They followed that star to Jerusalem and started
asking where He who has been born, King of the Jews. The ruler of the
country, King Herod, heard about this and was greatly disturbed because
there might be someone who would take his kingdom from him. He called in
the chief priest and learned men (scribes) and asked where Christ was to be
born. Their answer was Bethlehem of Judea. Herod was crafty and a liar. He
told the wise men to go find the child and come back and tell them where
they found him so he could go worship Him.
Wise Christian men will come and bring gifts to the new Christ child in you. They
are spiritual gifts that will help your spiritual parents raise you. There is an old
ruler who is crafty and does not want to give up his throne in you.

By the time the wise men followed the star and found Jesus, Mary, and
Joseph had moved into a house. No one seems to know how old Jesus was at
the time; most estimates are nearly two years old. When they found the child
they worshiped Him and gave the parents gifts for the child.
Wise man will know the child in you is Jesus and they will make their spiritual gifts
available for your growth and protection.

The wise men were divinely instructed and warned in a dream not to go back
to Herod, so they departed to their own country by a different way.
Spiritually wise men will listen to spiritual messages from God and follow those
instructions.

“An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, [tenderly] take
yourself, the young child and His mother and flee to Egypt; and remain there
until I tell you [otherwise ], for Herod intends to search for the Child in order
to destroy Him.” Matthew 2:13 AMP
Joseph listened to God and did what he was told to do. God warned Joseph the
child was in danger and told him where to go. God knew King Herod was a liar and
really wanted to find Jesus to kill Him. There have always been religious leaders
that want to maintain their positions of leadership, and they have other leaders
under them who follow and approve of their agenda. They will talk a good talk like
King Herod, but they deny the power of the Holy Spirit because they want you to
depend on them and their teaching just as people depended on the Scribes and
Pharisees who instigated killing Jesus. A wise spiritual parent will lead you away
from those who grieve the Holy Spirit by not releasing Him to rule and reign in
your life and others.

A few years later King Herod was furious that the wise men had misled him.
He ordered all the children two years and younger in Bethlehem and the
whole territory killed.
The religious leaders who are worshiped and strive to be recognized will do work
to prove themself worthy to be your leader and maintain their position. The
people under them will never be trained to listen to God for themselves nor will
they know the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the only one that can
bring death to life and without Him being released the opposite is being served,
death. Those under these type leaders will never grow to maturity as described in
Ephesians 4:10-12. If you have Godly spiritual parents they will lead you away
from those leaders. Those leaders will do anything to maintain their position no
matter how great the cost to their followers. Leaders like Jesus create successors,
not just followers of the leader.

“God spoke to Joseph in a dream and said, [tenderly] take the child and His
mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought The Child are dead.
Because Archelaus was ruling over Judea in the place of his father Herod, he
was afraid to go there. And being divinely warned in a dream, he withdrew to
the region of Galilee.” Matthew 2:20-22 AMP He went and settled in a town
called Nazareth the town where Jesus was conceived.
A wise spiritual parent will look at circumstances before making a decision and will
wait for further instructions from God. It is amazing that they went back to the
very town where Jesus was conceived. Wise parents will always go back and
remember you were conceived by the Holy Spirit. No matter how many mistakes
you make as a young Christian they will still love you and want what is best for
you.

“The child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom’ and the
grace (favor and spiritual blessings) of God was upon Him.” Luke 2:40 AMP
As a Christian growing up in a spiritual family you will grow spiritually strong,
learning to listen to the Holy Spirit and gaining wisdom and the grace (favor and
spiritual blessing) of God will be upon you.

Jesus parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover Feast. “When
Jesus was twelve years [old] they went up as it was their custom. On the way
home after a day’s journey they realized Jesus was not with them. They went
back to Jerusalem and found Him in the court of the temple, sitting among
the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who
heard Him was astonished and overwhelmed with wonder at His intelligence
and understanding. Mary and Joseph were also amazed and even though
Jesus wanted to stay there they took Him home with them. Jesus was
[habitually} obedient to them. Jesus increased in wisdom (broad and full
understanding) and in stature and years in favor with God and man.” Luke
2:41-52 AMP
Wise Christian parents will protect adolescent Christian children from jumping
into ministry leadership positions before their time because they do not have the
broad and full understanding of His kingdom and purpose for their life.
Celebrate Life
If you would like to know more or just have questions or
comments please write or E-mail us at the following
addresses:
The Meeting Place, 201 SW Rutledge St., Madison, Fl 32340
[email protected]
stepstohealingamerica.com