CHRISTMAS 1993

"In the midst of judgment is the promise and certainty of the Lord's deliverance... . The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death; upon these has the Light shined." (Isaiah 9:1 2 Amp, Matthew 4:16)

As we live in a day of deepening darkness and judgment, what would we do without the hope of Christmas?! Years ago, God gave us a vision of revival and healing of Christ formed in us, His body doing His works in the earth like a great light shining in this present darkness. We have continued praying to that end as we've watched the increase of sickness, bondage and fear, and seen many of our friends die prematurely. We have borne the reproach of the enemy and sometimes of people as the Word of God has tried us. At times, we have wondered if our faith will stand the test and what will happen to the vision if it doesn't. But this Christmas, God has given us two marvelous and freeing things from His Word which we want to share with you: (1) He is a God of timing a timing we cannot understand, and (2) what God ordains He will always do!

Just think, even Jesus' life on earth was bound by the Father's timing. Of Himself He could do nothing. He had to watch the devil work in the world and see loved ones (probably His own father Joseph) become sick and die, knowing that in just a short while, He would heal the sick and raise the dead and defeat Satan. How much grief He must have borne while He waited for the day of His power. Yet certainly there was not any lack of faith on His part!

But let's consider a man in the Christmas story whose faith did fail. Luke 1:6 7 tells us Zachariah and Elizabeth were blameless in God's sight and yet they suffered barrenness. Because of this, they bore much reproach for it was considered a curse. They prayed about it (vs 13) probably for many years but God had not answered and finally Zachariah had stopped believing (vs 20) convinced it was too late for they were advanced in age (vs 7, 18). Even when the angel Gabriel came with the answer, still Zachariah did not believe. But this did not stop God from fulfilling His plan in bringing John the Baptist, the greatest man born of woman except for the Lord Himself, to birth through Zachariah and Elizabeth. For Gabriel said as he rebuked Zachariah's unbelief, "my words are of a kind which will be fulfilled in the appointed time" (vs 20).

Jim and I were comforted by this reminder of God's timing and His fulfilling of the impossible with or without man's understanding and belief. We know our vision is of God, yet we have waited and suffered and often felt abandoned and perplexed. But, as we see what awesome plans God had, especially concerning the preparation for the birth and ministry of His Son, we believe that so also is the greatness of His preparation for revival and deliverance of His captive church.

Dear ones, are you waiting for some vision from God that seems too late? Take heart! God has not forgotten you, no matter how wrong it all seems. "For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to fulfillment; it will not disappoint. Though it tarry wait for it for it will surely come on its appointed day." (Hab 2:3) Whatever you are facing don't give up. God's time to be glorified in and through us is coming quickly! But for those of you who are now in grief over loved ones who did not live to see the day, we pray you will take comfort as you remember that Jesus, too, lost loved ones as He waited for His day. He knows your pain. And even John the Baptist, who was used to prepare the way of the Lord, never saw His miracles but went to his death undelivered with only these words from his Lord, "Blessed is he who is not offended in Me." (Matt 11:6)

We pray the God of Peace will fill your hearts with His encouragement, comfort, strength and love. And may Christ be formed and come to fullness in us to shine His great Light and do His mighty works in the earth once again at this holy Christmas. Let us with willing hearts, prepare the way of the Lord as we worship our Savior in celebration of His birth. God bless you, and have a wonderful Christmas.