We’ve all heard about the “Birthers”, a group of
people so coined because they don’t believe Barack Obama is a natural-born citizen.
Although documents show Obama’s birthplace
as Hawaii, birthers claim these are forged to cover up the fact that he was
really born in Kenya, which makes him ineligible to hold the office of the
President of the United States.
However, on this day, The Feast of the Visitation, I’ve been thinking about a very
different set of “birthers”.
Our story begins with Elizabeth-- well-stricken in age, as the Bible notes--who
became pregnant with a child prophesied to be the forerunner for the Messiah.
When she was six months into her pregnancy, her teenage cousin Mary arrives for
a visit. She, too, was pregnant—pregnant with the Messiah! The extended visit
between these two extraordinary “birthers” is recorded in Luke 1:39-56.
I like to be around “birthers”. Not the political, conspiracy-minded kind, but
believers who are pregnant with the plans of God. I’m a birther, too. We’ll quickly tell you
that what we carry is of God; otherwise, our age, health, finances, lack of education,
and a host of other natural obstacles would normally prevent conception.
Whatever the reason, Kingdom birthers all agree on one thing: It’s the same phrase the angel Gabriel used
when he appeared to Mary and announced that she, a teenage virgin, would be
overshadowed by the Holy Spirit with a “holy thing”: (KJV)
“For with God nothing shall be impossible”. (Luke 1:37)
Are you incubating a “holy thing”? An immense vision, a dream or a daring
assignment from God that is maturing inside of you?
You don’t have all the answers. You may not be sure of the exact season when
you’ll go into labor. And you certainly don’t know how you will be able to
properly care for this new arrival. You just know that God chose you. He
overshadowed you. Despite the difficulties ahead—including misunderstandings
from family and friends—you said “yes” to God. Suddenly, your inner man became
a womb.
Let me advise you to do exactly what Mary did—seek out “with haste” another
“birther”! That which was placed on the inside of you will always jump for joy
in the presence of another believer who carries a living word, a promise, and a
plan from God.
Only in the presence of birthers--not the spiritually barren--will you receive
a blessing (Luke 1: 42, 25). The spirit of prophecy can well up inside of you
to speak forth His goodness and grace to the nations. You will wax strong and
be able to bring to full term that which is on the inside of you:
“Now Elizabeth’s
full time came that
she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son.” (Luke 1:57)
“…the days
were accomplished that she
(Mary) should be delivered.” (Luke 2:6)
Sadly, not all assignments from God come to birth at their appointed time. A discouraging
spirit can show up during a birther’s most vulnerable moments. It can be sent
from Satan; but honestly, my worst adversary is myself. It animates out of my
own deep, lingering fears.
Regardless of its origin, the adversary’s purpose is to get me (and you) to
exchange the truth for a lie--the lie that says we have deceived ourselves by thinking
we are chosen by God for great things—a lie that, if believed, expels (uproots)
the seed within us.
Godly reforms were taking place under Hezekiah’s leadership, but there was much
more that needed to be done. Then a powerful enemy came to lay siege against
Jerusalem. His clever, deceitful words made King Hezekiah cower in fear and
cry, “This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children
come to the point of birth and there is no strength to deliver them.” (Isaiah
37:3)
His name was Rabshakeh —Sennacherib’s silver-tongued general. The Assyrian
forces had never been defeated. Hezekiah’s people were outnumbered and
outclassed by a ruthless army. (Rabshekeh’s name, by the way, means “Chief of
the Princes.”)
He met with Hezekiah’s representatives outside the city wall. They asked him to
converse in the Syrian tongue so as not to panic the people watching from the
wall, but Rabshakeh arrogantly refused. He threatened them in perfect Hebrew,
mocking God and Hezekiah’s claim that God would prevail on their behalf.
Don’t be surprised if a Rabshakeh of some sort shows up to mock you. Don’t be surprised
if he makes his threats public for everyone around you to hear, particularly
those who have supported you through rough times and may now be prone to
criticize.
This I know: if a Rabshakeh shows up, it can only mean one thing--you’ve come
to full term and your days are about to be accomplished! Don’t give up!
Hezekiah rent his clothes in despair, but instead of letting Rabshakeh frighten
him
from God, Hezekiah ran to God. He called upon a friend who knew
how to incubate and protect a word from God during difficult times--the prophet
Isaiah. Isaiah returned God’s words to ascendancy over Rabshakeh’s. Hezekiah
regained his confidence and strength, and God won the day!
Don’t go it alone in isolation. Don’t hang around with spiritually barren people. With haste, seek out other believers who are pregnant with the seed
of great things for God and stay a while. If you do, you will be blessed…and “there
shall be a performance of those things which were told to you from the Lord.”
(Luke 1: 45)