The Reason for the Season

Luke 1 (The Message) A Virgin Conceives

^26-28In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: Good morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.

^29-33She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.' The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob's house forever— no end, ever, to his kingdom."

³⁴Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man." ³⁵The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.

 

^36-38"And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God." And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her.

Beloved of God, what is it that seems impossible to your mind today? This same God who makes impossibilities possible is waiting for you to believe Him again, in faith. You see you need to be pregnant and expectant with the promise of what God has said you will give birth to. What has our heavenly Father promised you in this season? God has not reneged on His promise. Just believe, like Mary did.

Even though she did not fully understand how God would do it, she believed that God had the capacity to do as He promised. The second she believed, spirit became flesh. Don’t let the enemy convince you that you have a false promise, that you conjured it up in a moment of emotionalism. I know you know that you know that GOD spoke to your spirit concerning what you are believing for. Don’t give up and don’t give in. The devil is a LIAR! How then do you believe like Mary, remember she said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. You need to see it (again) with the eyes of your heart. Your senses in this realm cannot fully understand or discern spiritual matters. They have been fashioned for carnal information. Our heart is the seat of faith and belief. Ask God to reactivate and open the eyes of your heart so that you can see what God sees by faith. Remember that our faith is the substance of what we hope for.

Hebrews 11:1 – 3 AMP

 ^1aNOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for,

Beloved a title deed is a document that shows rights and obligations and ownership, for a property. So God is saying when you believe me, I will give you a legal right of ownership of ANY{thing} He has promised you.

^1bbeing the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].²For by [faith--trust and holy fervour born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report. ³By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.

Beloved, allow the Spirit of God to overshadow you by allowing His word to conceive the faith you need to see Him bring that thing He promised you to full term. You need to believe NOW. Let us see what Mary did with the promise she was given.

Luke 1: 39 -56 (the Message), Blessed Among Women

^39-45Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and travelled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,

Mary, immediately, moved herself to a place where she could stay in faith. She stayed with someone who had gone through what she was experiencing, a miracle pregnancy. Elizabeth had 3 months (a trimester) to go before the birth of her son (John the Baptist) and Mary was beginning her trimester. Every pregnancy is different and comes with different symptoms, morning sickness, swollen joints, nausea, mood swings etc. This is because a woman’s body alters itself to make room, protect and nurture the life inside it. So it is with believing God; sometimes it is uncomfortable, we feel stretched beyond our capacity but somehow we endure because of the promise of the child to come. Beloved, hold on, endure for a time because at the appointed time the promise will become a reality in this realm. Amen.

“You're so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed! And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, The babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy. Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come true! 

^46-55And Mary said, I'm bursting with God-news; I'm dancing the song of my Saviour God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened— I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts. He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. It's exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now. ⁵⁶Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.

I want you to be encouraged by the words of Mary and say this confession.

I am blessed and highly favoured. What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, has set me apart for His deliverance.

Mercy of God, flow in wave after wave on me because I am in awe before you God. God bare Your mighty right arm and show my enemies your strength, scatter the bluffing braggarts. Knock down every tyrant attacking my life and destiny off their high horses. Father God, pull me out of the mud. Set a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Father, embraced me as your chosen child, remember me and pile on  your tender mercies, pile them high. It's exactly what You promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to me, in Jesus name, AMEN.

Tune in tomorrow for our special Christmas message and you will be blessed.