How Can This Be?
Christmas is a time of celebration. We look back and see how far we have come and how the goodness of the Lord can be seen in so many ways. God has good plans and thoughts for us, plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give us a hope and a future… (Jer. 29:11). Keeping this intention of the Lord in mind, He is always at work on our behalf, aligning our best with His timing.
I love the Christmas story in Luke 1 in which the Angel Gabriel visits Zacharias, the husband of Elizabeth, (representing the old generation), and then Mary, the chosen mother of Jesus, a young teenager, and a part of the young generation. Gabriel first visited Zacharias to tell him his prayer for a child had been answered, (it was delayed for some time because of Elizabeth’s barrenness), and the Angel spoke the future John the Baptist persona to Zacharias. There would be joy and gladness at his birth. He would be great in the sight of the Lord, filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb, and he would turn many to Christ. John would be the forerunner of Christ and operate in the power and anointing of Elijah, turning the hearts of fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. What a promise!
Zacharias’ response, however, came in the form of a question signaling unbelief…”How will I know? I am old, my wife is well advanced in years.” The question, “How will I know?” was a question birthed from a place of unbelief. It is important to note that the promise was not nullified because Zacharias couldn’t believe it. We, too, have many promises from the Lord that seem impossible. It is encouraging to know that God’s Word is not negated by our lack of faith or belief. He is greater than our unbelief.
Mary, on the other hand, had quite a different response to Gabriel’s announcement that she had been chosen by the Lord to give birth to the Son of God. Her response was similar yet quite different.
Instead of trying to wrap her mind around this truth with a question of, “How will I know,” she asked the better question, “HOW can this BE, since I do not know a man?” Mary was quite young and hadn’t developed all the logic, rationale, and experience of Zacharias, and it showed. She didn’t ask how she would know. She said, “How can this be…” In other words, she didn’t discount the promise because of its biological impossibility. She received in into her heart, and said, “Let it be to me according to your word (38).”
During this New Era we have begun, God is calling us to walk in the Life of the Spirit, trusting His Word spoken, crucifying all unbelief, and embracing the truth that with God ALL things are possible. A younger mind such as Mary’s might be able to do this easier than the generations before, but it puts a light on some observations of truth for this Christmas season and the days following.
- God is a God of His Word, and His Word never comes back void but accomplishes ALL He desires (Isa. 55:11).
- Despite our unbelief, God’s purpose and promise is never canceled when His timing comes into play. Numbers 23:19…God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good and fulfill it? God is speaking to you today. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it (Phil 1:6).
- When the timing of His promise is activated in His heart, there are no such things as delays. It is going to happen, and it cannot be stopped. Ezekiel 12:28, Therefore say to them, “Thus says the Lord God,” ‘NONE of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be fulfilled COMPLETELY,’ says your God.”
There are so many more nuggets of truth in these examples. I invite you this Christmas season to take off the limits of the Most High and begin to ask the right question: “How can this be?” In other words, “How can I partner with You, Lord, to receive Your wonderful promises.” Enjoy the wild adventure with Him.
On behalf of Men of Issachar, Aglow International, I declare over you the era of promises fulfilled has now begun. Be joyous, be expectant, and release your faith to presumptuous levels, knowing it is all in His hands. The timing of the Lord has been activated on your behalf. I leave you with one more inheritance scripture:
Deuteronomy 23:5…” Nevertheless, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.”
No more curses. No more hope-deferred. No more negative thoughts. God is for you and His heart of blessing is upon you…not because of your performance…but because He loves you.
Blessings, Blessings, Blessings, from the Men of Issachar, Aglow International!