Preparation for the Coming Birth
By Rev. James May
Thanksgiving is passed. The leftover turkey and dressing still lingers somewhere in the back of the refrigerator. We’ve somehow managed to survive Black Friday. If you were like me, it wasn’t hard to survive because I refused to get out there and fight the crowds in the first place. There is nothing in the stores I want bad enough to get into the scenes that happened on the opening day of the Christmas shopping season and it appears that the most dangerous place to be on Black Friday is in the Walmart consumer electronics departments.
There was a video of a mob in action shown on the news that started over a prepaid cell phone at a Walmart in Georgia. This video of the screaming, pushing and fighting among people out of control gave very appearance of a feeding frenzy of sharks. Americans have gone mad over gadgetry. Most people will spend everything they have just to have the latest TV, cell phone or game console for their computers. It was a miracle that no one was hurt in the process.
Californian’s are among the worst. You don’t want to be caught in Walmart on Black Friday in California. In 2011, a woman pepper-sprayed a crowd at a Wal-mart in Los Angeles. She was trying to get a Wii for 60% off.
In 2010, crowds at a Sacramento Wal-Mart forced the store to evacuate every shopper in the store when they started pushing and shoving, tearing down displays and getting into fist fights over deals on consumer electronics at 5:30 am.
In 2009, at another California Wal-Mart, store clerks and managers needed police protection from unruly crowds in the early morning hours in the consumer electronics department. The store was closed a few hours, along with another store in nearby Upland, California, until the mobs could be brought under control by police.
The worst Black Friday for shoppers so far occurred in 2008, when a man was trampled to death. Despite being 6'5" and 270 pounds, a worker was smothered to death when crowds stampeded into another Walmart; this time in New York. The mob was trying to get to a sale in the electronics department. Over 2,000 people stormed, pushed and broke down the doors, trapping the worker in a vestibule where he was working, probably as a greeter. Eleven other people were also injured, including a pregnant woman who almost lost her baby.
Such is the mentality of a nation gone wild; a nation that is losing its fear of God and focused only on the things of this world.
Our world is caught in gross darkness; with people always on the edge of panic. Black Friday, with its fears of not getting the best deal, or being first in line at all costs, is but one small indicator of the true condition of the hearts of men. Around the world, just a small incident can quickly escalate into a full panic and riots in the streets. If all hope of man is bound to the things that this world alone can give; then the thought of missing out fosters panic that somehow we won’t survive another day.
Satan has blinded this world, and filled mankind with a heart of fear; but mankind has also fallen so far from God that he worships things made with his own hands more than his Creator.
But do not despair for the evil that is around us; or for the desperate actions of those living in fear. God is still God and He is on the scene; working in the hearts of men; seeking to save those who are lost and looking for answers.
Just as surely as the World if ripe for panic and fear of the things that are coming; the world is also ripe for revival. It’s ripe for the arrival of a great outpouring of the Holy Ghost and the ministry of a church that is on fire for God and a new birth of hope through the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe that God is setting the stage; preparing the hearts of men who will receive Him as Lord and Savior and that God is raising up a church right now that will step out into the darkness of this world and preach the gospel as never before.
I believe God desires to raise up some John the Baptists in these last days that will go forth and prepare the way for the birth of Christ in the hearts of men.
The church has sat back, by-in-large, and watched as the world plunged ever deeper into the darkness. But now it’s time to rise up; to let a new birth of the power of Almighty God come forth in the church; and for men and women of God to get a fresh anointing; a holy fire; and word from the Lord; and go out and become soul winners for the Kingdom of God.
If you’ve been serving the Lord for very long, you’ve already heard of the story of Jesus being born of a virgin by the name of Mary.
Luke 1:26-35 And in the sixth month of the Jewish Calendar, sometime around August and September of our calendar, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto Nazareth. There this archangel, one of God’s most powerful angels, appeared to Mary, a young girl who was engaged and promised to a man named Joseph who was a descendant of King David.
Gabriel appeared to Mary. I can only imagine the power and presence of God that Mary must have felt as the angel spoke to her. Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. As verse 29 says, I have no doubt that Mary was troubled as Gabriel spoke to her. I can only imagine the thoughts that ran through her mind; and perhaps through her feet. She probably felt like running in fear.
But Gabriel calmed her fears and let her know that God had chosen her to bring forth God’s own Son into the world. I can certainly understand her fear. What if Gabriel had appeared to you and said, “You will raise God’s Son; and you better do it right!” Most of us have enough trouble raising our own kids, much less God’s own son! What a responsibility! What a challenge!
Mary’s heart was filled with questions. I would be too, wouldn’t you? How is this going to happen? Why me? What am I supposed to tell people? Who, what, when, whey, where and how? All of these questions came to her mind!
The answer from Gabriel was to the point but he didn’t go into any detail. All he said to Mary was that the Holy Ghost shall come upon her, God’s power would hover over her, and something holy would be formed in her, and the Son of God would be birthed from her in due time.
I believe that these same four points pertain to the church today. Before the Son of God can be birthed into the hearts of men and a revival of holiness, righteousness and the salvation of men’s souls can come forth, a sequence of events must happen; and I believe that they are already happening in those who will allow God to use them in these last days!
1) The Holy Ghost must come – the church must be filled afresh with that power from on high, and that power can only come through the baptism in the Holy Ghost! Jesus told us that we were to wait for that power, for that baptism, for that fire from heaven to come and for the wind of the Spirit to blow.
The early church had to wait in Jerusalem, praying in that Upper Room for 40 days before the Holy Ghost fell. But we don’t have to wait for Him to come. He’s already here, and He’s waiting on us to prepare our hearts to receive him. The Holy Ghost didn’t fall on those who were outside that room that day; and even some of those who were very close by didn’t get the baptism because even though they heard Him come; and saw the mighty move of God; they weren’t a part of it because their hearts weren’t prepared to receive Him when he came.
If we want to have a part in bringing forth the birth of the Son of God in this last day revival, then we have to prepare our hearts, and be filled with the power of the Holy Ghost! We can either sit on the side watching the revival come and go, and never really be a part of it; or we can move as the Spirit leads and be right in the middle of the flowing of God’s outpouring of power and saving of the souls of men.
2) Before we, the church, can be ready to bring forth the birth of Jesus in the hearts of men, we have to allow the power of God’s presence to hover over us and prepare us for the receiving of his “seed” into ourselves so that we may be able to give that “seed” into the hearts and minds of those lost in sin. In other words, we have to always have a fresh anointing; a fresh word; a power of God in us that carries the ability to impregnate the hearts of men whom God has prepared to receive the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
My words don’t carry that kind of power; only the words that are anointed and filled with the power of God. It’s God’s word, flowing through us, being spoken to others that will carry the seed of the gospel.
Paul tells us that he came not with enticing words filled with the wisdom of men; but he came forth preaching a gospel that was filled with power and demonstration of God’s ability to put that seed into the hearts of men.
The only way we are going to have that kind of power is by constantly seeking the will of God, being ever in a state of prayer and praise; always searching for a fresh word; an anointed word; and for the presence of the power of God to speak out what God has given with fear or compromise! The power of the Holy Ghost must hover over; or dwell within us at all times. Without that power we are nothing; but with that power of the Holy Ghost, we can cause the hearts of men to be pregnant with the gospel and Jesus will be birthed in their hears!
3) We must allow that seed to be formed both in us and in those we give that seed to. We can be assured that the Word of God, spoken forth under the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost; that Word that is fresh from the throne of Heaven; will never fail to accomplish what it is meant to do in the hearts of men. His Word will never return void. It always does the work. If we preach it; if we speak it; or if we prophecy it; and it’s under the anointing; then something is going to happen. Men and women are going to be saved. Teenagers and young children are going to turn back to Jesus. That Word that is given; that Word that enters their hearts; that Word that begins to grow in them; that Word filled with God’s power, His eternal seed of life; will bring forth a birth of the life of Jesus Christ within them and there will be a revival in their hearts.
Don’t be afraid to speak forth that which God gives you to speak. In whatever place, to whatever person, in whatever circumstances you find yourself feeling that unction of the Holy Ghost to speak out the truth of the gospel; don’t fail to speak forth. It’s the power in the Word; not in you that will do the work and God’s Word never fails.
4) Expect the birth of Jesus Christ to come forth in the hearts of men and women that God will lead you to. Expect the birth to happen because it can’t help but happen. God has foreordained that some will be ready to receive the seed and let it grow in their hearts.
When a woman is expecting a baby, you expect that baby to be born. It can’t be inside her body forever. It’s just not possible.
So it is with the seed of God’s Word that is implanted into the hearts of those who have been prepared and are ready to receive it.
I can’t help but believe that God is working all of the time in the hearts of sinners, doing whatever it takes to turn their hearts and minds back to Him. He allows troubles, trials, tests, and circumstances in life to bring people to the place where they have no hope without God. They will come to the place where there is no one else or nowhere else to turn; and they’ll be forced to look toward Heaven for answers.
It’s at that moment, when their hearts are open to the Word, that God is going to send you and I with that anointed message of the Love of Jesus Christ and the gospel of salvation to them. And when the Word goes forth, their hearts become pregnant with the gospel message, and in due time, the Son of God will be birthed in them.
Realize now, that the moment of receiving the seed is not always going to result in an immediate birth in their hearts. Sometimes the birth of salvation is immediate, but so many times it takes time for the seed to grow and fill their hearts. Perhaps a week, a month, a year; only God knows how long it may take for the seed to grow and be ready to be birthed forth. But don’t give up on the baby – the day will come with the birth will happen and Jesus will be born into their hearts; and they will be born again by the power of the Spirit of God! Give the seed time to grow and be patient during the growing pains.
After you have preached the Word; or spoken the anointed Word into their hearts; learn to treat them as though that Word in them is like a baby forming in the womb. It takes time. Sometimes there’s some sickness; some weakness; some pains all during the pregnancy. Sometimes that which is being formed will give a little kick or give some discomfort.
So it may be with those to whom the Lord will lead you. They make kick against the Word a little while it takes hold of their hearts. They may try to move away, but the Word won’t leave no matter how much they move. Their will may be weak; and their lives may not begin to show any sign of changing for a little while; but don’t give up. Keep praying and believing because one day that Word is going to be born in their hearts and Jesus will come forth in them.
How are we to prepare ourselves for these last days? How can we be assured that we are a part of preparing the way for the Birth of Christ into the hearts of men and the bringing forth of the knowledge of the Son of God so that men may have eternal life?
We can find the answer to those questions by looking back at the calling of the greatest prophet in all of God’s Word. That Prophet’s name was John the Baptist. Even Jesus said that there was no one greater born among men than John the Baptist.
What does the name “John” mean? In the Biblical context, John means “Yahweh is Gracious”, or in our terminology, “God is Grace”.
According to Luke 1:59-63, no one in the family of Zacharias or Elizabeth had ever held that name, but this was the name that God had said to give to their son. No one else had carried the message of the Grace of God but John the Baptist!
That’s our key! We are to carry forth the message like John the Baptist, preaching and teaching that God is Grace; and that because of the great love of God for all men; He has chosen to extend Grace to all who will hear. It’s nothing that can be earned; it’s nothing that can be bought at any price; but because of God’s great Grace, salvation is offered to all who will repent and accept God’s wonderful gift of Grace and eternal life!
Our message must be simple, repentance and Grace; for God’s grace is sufficient for all things. No matter how far the sinner may run; or how deep into the depths of sin they may fall; or what they may have done; God’s Grace is sufficient if they will just repent and turn back to Jesus in faith and believe upon Him.
In Luke 1:76 we are given the reason that John would be called a prophet of God. The reason was that he would go before the Lord to prepare the way for Christ to come.
His calling and anointing was for some specific purposes.
1) According to Luke 1:77, 78 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
2) In Luke 1:79, John was called a prophet of God because he was, “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
In our day, there are a lot of people who are looking for some word of prophecy, trying to figure out God’s plan. My question is, would we rather hear a prophet; or would we rather be used as a prophet? For myself, I want to be numbered as a true prophet of God right along with John the Baptist.
If we want to be called a prophet of God then we must follow the example that God have us through John the Baptist.
1) We must be filled with the Holy Ghost and fire as John was from the moment of his birth.
2) We must preach and teach the knowledge of salvation to those lost in sin, and let them know that through the blood of Jesus their sin can be forgiven; that through the mercy of God, Jesus has come and given himself. The Daystar has given Himself for the sin of man by His Grace.
3) We must lead them to the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The world sits in darkness; on the edge of destruction. Panic lies at the surface of the hearts of the lost for they live under the shadow of death at any moment from multiple sources. WE, as the church of Jesus Christ, can be used prophetically to guide them to the Light of Christ; and show them the way of peace.
Let us as a church be a “John Church”; showing for the Grace of God; preaching the Love of Jesus Christ; leading the lost to the Light of the Gospel and giving forth the Love of Jesus Christ as we preach truth and repentance from sin.
Let me (put your name here); Let me be a prophet of God by following John’s example and telling everyone I can about the Grace of God. Let me lead them to repentance. Let me lead them to baptism. Let me lead them to Jesus. Let me tell others of the Grace of God!
The Preparations are already underway for the bringing forth of the Birth of the knowledge of God in the hearts of sinners. God is already doing His part, preparing their hearts for the prophet to arrive.
Let us pray that God will let us be that prophet! Let us never pass an opportunity to be used as an anointed Prophet of the Most High God! Let us prepare the way through our preaching, teaching and witnessing, for the coming forth of the Birth of Jesus Christ in the hearts of the lost around us!
For those whose hearts are prepared to receive the seed of God, there is no greater message than God’s Grace is sufficient. All that is required is a repentant heart, and a heart that will believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; a confession that Jesus will be the Lord of their lives to lead them in the ways of righteousness.
