Expectation
Matt. 1:20
We are reading the infamous story about the birth of JC into this world. We often look at this and consider the wise men, shepherds, Bethlehem, Joseph/Mary, etc. But there is a powerful word for the church right now that is hidden inside this story.
We understand how that the HG came upon Mary and she became pregnant, and would soon give birth to the son of God, who left the throne of Heaven to come to Earth to die for the sins of humanity, which would be the key to bridge the gap btwn mankind and God. On a day that God appointed in his own time, the Lord was miraculously conceived inside Mary, and the process of pregnancy began. And through various trials, and setbacks, she finally reached the time of her delivery. Though there wasn’t a room left at any of the inn’s in town, she laid down in a stable and gave birth to the Christ child, while a star shined above them, and various folks came to observe. *But as I considered this, something began to stir within me. Sure, she was pregnant with the one called savior, redeemer, governor, prince of peace, lord of hosts, etc. But can I tell you, that she was impregnated with an expectation of change. The one she was expecting to give birth to would bring about the greatest change the whole wide world has ever known.
As I read this, I began to think about us as believers here in 2007. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I can tell you in my spirit, God has birthed an expectancy of change inside me. I can’t explain it, but something has begun to happen in my soul that says great things are about to happen. Revival is building up, and on its way. Souls are getting ready to flood the back door. The sick are getting ready to be healed, and the empty are preparing to get filled. And I just sense that God is getting us as his church ready for it.
There are churches seemingly on every corner, and every other person you meet is a preacher. But amazingly, multitudes of folks are still lost/headed to hell. We pay to put great preachers on TV/radio/internet, we flood coliseums to see them put on their religious shows. We’ve got all kinds of gospel cable channels and radio stations, but still the world is void of the truth in Christ. I can tell you, this is the age of “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”. None of these religious activities can do what an on-fire, HG filled, anointed church can do. I’m talking about the kind that has learned the power of prayer/fasting, the ones who have preached the truth of JC w/out compromise, the ones who are not as concerned about whose worship style is right/wrong, but just want to worship period. *THAT’S THE KIND OF CHURCH I BELIEVE GOD IS CREATING HERE!*
God bless the televangelist/radio ministries, but right here in rural AR I believe God is preparing a church for revival. There’s an expectancy in my spirit that tells me something good is about to happen. And all I can say is, if you can’t feel it pray until you do. If don’t want it, don’t try and stop it. And if you feel it and are ready for it, then stay on course because a mighty outpouring of anointed, HG power-packed revival is coming to Morrilton, AR, and I believe he is centering in on Deerwood A/G!
There are some things I’d like to share w/you that God’s speaking to me about from this story:
(1)When she announced she was pregnant, no one could believe that she could be pregnant as a virgin- First off, she questioned it. Luke 1:34 “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” Her fiancé Joseph couldn’t believe it either. In fact, he tried to break the engagement with her privately so she wouldn’t be disgraced. But it was true. God had impregnated her with this miracle.
I can tell you there are a million reasons why folks would believe that a great move of God can’t/won’t come here. Not a big crowd, not a lot of money, not very fancy, too many past problems, not very technologically advanced, don’t have the right backing, etc. *But I can tell you there are some good reasons why it WOULD come here. First, and foremost, because there is no place too far gone that God can’t bring revival to! Second, because I believe there are some folks that have been seeking his face for a move of God. Third, I believe there are some people here that want revival. Folks like Bro. Nowlin, they’ve seen the HG fall in years gone by, etc. But the days of revival are still here. We just have to press in. And I believe there’s some folks here doing it. And because of that, revival is on its way!!
1 Cor. 1:26-29 “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence”.
I can tell you that it would be easy to look back at 2006 and be convinced that revival can’t come here. We didn’t grow, hardly anyone got saved, finances struggled, people were discouraged, etc. But listen to Jesus in John 16:21 “A woman when she is in travail has sorrow, but her hour is come. But as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers the anguish no more, for joy that a man is born into the world”. *You can’t have a birth without travail. But when the birth comes, the pain seemingly is forgotten. Brother, I know it has been a rough last year. But the Lord is about to birth a miracle here!
(2)She was chosen because she was favored- Word favored defined: “endowed with special advantages or gifts”. She was given favor from God. She was specifically chosen for this task. God could’ve picked anyone, but she was holy/pure, and she was willing. Gabriel told her the Lord was with her, and she was blessed among women.
You know what? God has identified those he has favored. It’s those that are not full of sin and those who are willing to step into his will and go. Listen to Mary in Lk. 1:38 “Be it unto me according to thy word”. Bible says when Angel heard her say that, this is when it departed. *Point is: Just receive it! It’s here!
(3) The fruit will be blessed- When Mary went to see her cousin Elizabeth, Luke 1:42 says (as soon as Mary walked in the room and looked at El.) she said with a LOUD VOICE (in other words yelled it out) “Blessed are you among women. And blessed is the fruit of your womb!” *Not everyone saw this child to be a blessing, but El. Recognized him as that.
Let me tell you, the fruit of revival will be souls. These souls won’t all be clean cut, handsome looking people. But more often than not it will be the destitute, poor, needy, desperate, smelly, drunk, drug addict, whoreing, heathens of society. But these people are searching for the truth that will set them free. So as pastor of this church, I say bring in the sinner, the ungodly, bring the rich, poor, wretched of society, drug lords, wife beating drunks, etc. Jesus is here to save! Let them flood these doors and find God!
Luke 1:43 “And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” In other words, ‘who am I that the one about to give birth to this miracle finds me worthy enough to walk into my world and want to be near me’.
This is exactly what they will say. Everyone else has cast them off. So many churches/pastors have been saying ‘we don’t want that kind here. They disrupt things. They cost money. They don’t fit in’. But praise God, those are just the ones he’s looking for.
CONCLUSION:
We have to quit going from service to service never looking for any good thing to happen. If we’re not careful, we’ll think, “We’ve had good services before, and then back to the same old thing”. I’m not just talking about a good service. Folks, look around. God is doing some things. New people are coming in, we had probably our best month financially in nearly a year, people have been saved, filled, etc. Good things are happening. I wish I could tell you all the things that have been prophesied about this church. But I’m telling you, I’m expecting, and I believe a well of revival is about to come forth in this place.
