Birthing Pangs…Deliverance!

Some may Struggle with Christmas 2015

We struggle this Christmas of 2015 after just witnessing our citizens of the USA gunned down by terrorists in San Bernardino, California.  We heard newscasts endlessly and noted that one of the killers was a woman with a 6-month old child.  We ask the question how can a woman leave a 6- month old child?  A child who is fully dependent on  parents for all their needs to live.

Isaiah 49:15-16

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb?  Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.  See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.  Your sons shall make hast; Your destroyers and those who laid you waste Shall go away from you.

GOD SEES THE UNREST

God says He sees what has come against us, all the unrest, that though we may forget Him He will not forget this mother or us.  Like this child, we as children of God are fully dependent on Him for life!  Each one of us was fearfully and wonderfully made by Him, who knows us intimately, and knows the walls of His protection that we require and need (Psalm 139:14).  Our lives are in His hands.  Those who destroy will go away from us.  We condemn evil and we forgive our debtors releasing them to Jesus. We mourn with those who have lost loved ones.   Thank You Father for Your love, mercy, and care; and especially for this free gift of grace that cost You the life of Your Son who has risen from the dead and sits now at Your right hand.

Noisy City!

The sound coming from our cities is noisy with much unrest and questioning!  As we try to make sense out of what seems to be senseless violence.  Could this senseless violence be part of the birthing pangs?  Just a thought.  Birthing pangs that bring about birth of something more wonderful and new? We want hope for our future and something good to look forward to and so God’s plan for the time to come shall be.

Isaiah 66:6-15

The sound of noise from the city!  A voice from the temple!  The voice of the Lord, Who fully repays His enemies!  Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing?  Who has seen such things?  Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?  Or shall a nation be born at once?  For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.  Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?  says the Lord.  “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb? “  says the Lord.  Rejoice with Jerusalem And be glad with her, all you who love her:  Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;  That you may feed and be satisfied With the consolation of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted With the abundance of her glory.”  For Thus says the Lord:

Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.  Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried and be dandled on her knees As one whom his mother comforts So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”  When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, And your bones shall flourish like grass; the hand of the Lord shall be known to His servants, And His indignation to His enemies.

Born to give us second birth!

The nation of Israel was born in one day in 1948.  The only nation once thought to be dead came back to life in a second birth.  Which is exactly what we describe happens to children of God when we receive this free gift of grace by faith from Jesus.  We are born again. Before the birth pangs of Israel’s final deliverance the Child was born to free mankind but not all would choose to receive by faith His free gift of grace.   When He returns He will come to rule and reign on the earth destroying His enemies so that the earth will much better reflect heaven.

The nation of Israel is often referred to as a woman.  Could her child, ready to be birthed, be God’s people or the Bride of Christ?  Is the imagery of Israel the land be where people are being comforted and cared for with tender loving-kindness of God!  The righteous feed on the goodness of God in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).  God’s people are nourished by their God and fully satisfied with comfort.

Nurtured Mother with Child…

Can you remember being carried and dandled on the knees of your mother in a space pregnant with peace and comfort?  This is a sweet picture of a nurturing mother and her child.  As Mary was with Jesus so will Israel be to the Bride of Christ.   I have great empathy for those who have not had that kind of experience on earth. It may seem too good to be true!  But when we receive and believe on His finished work at the cross we receive this peace now to enjoy, but when He returns, the fullness of it will restore and redeem both the people and the land.

He assures us that as we begin to see these birthing pangs of suffering and tribulation that are multiplying and mounting one on top of the other, deliverance is surely going to take place. Because after the birth pangs comes delivery of the new born baby!  It’s hard sometimes these days to remember the last greatest violent event that has rocked our world because they come so quickly mounting one on top of the other and yet we are not seeing delivery of the anticipated baby.  We anticipate a new baby or season of peace and comfort but where is it?

These birthing pangs often cause us to grapple for human reasoning, understanding, and a hope for more glorious times that can await us. We can get anxious and fear but God says do not fear He has good tidings this new baby that ushers in new seasons of life Luke 2:10-14; John 16:33)!

Luke 2:10 …Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

The picture painted especially by :

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

seem to indicate that while all the guns are pointed at the God’s righteous ones  and/or Israel,and look as though they may be defeated; the zeal of the Lord will come to end all the destruction and birth everlasting peace.  In the place of chaos and destruction will be a government and priesthood at peace on the shoulders of the one Child.  Israel and all people who believe in the Son of God, Jesus, who trust in Him for their salvation, will be rescued from the worst of these birthing pangs or tribulations.  Because their righteousness comes from God and not themselves (Isaiah 54:17). They will be overjoyed with the results of everlasting peace.

We are also assured that when the tribulation of these birthing pangs becomes too much, as it sometimes feels today, we hear the words of His word say:

Revelation 3:10-11 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.  Behold I am coming quickly!  Hold fast what you have, that no  one may take your crown.

USA PRESIDENTIAL RACE

As we look to the USA Presidential race of 2016, we the people look for a person who can lead us out of the global troubles.  These troubles seem to have been running their course since the ancient of days! And who better to solve these ancient of problems than the Ancient of Days Himself!  Isn’t it our Mighty God, who knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10; Revelation 1:8).  We anticipate the zeal of the Lord to do for us what no man can do.  For what is impossible for man is fully possible with God (Matt. 19:26).  Meanwhile we ask God for His leading through these seasons anticipating ultimately His Kingdom come by His will it will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10).  As His children we acknowledge that we are fully dependent as always on Him for all life. We anticipate with great joy His perfect plans for mankind to come forth and manifest on earth with the coming quickly of His Son’s return.

So in celebrating Christmas this year we celebrate the joy of the Child living on the inside of all who would believe Jesus, the Son of God, as their replacement for all their sin and the assurance of their peaceful future.  The birthing pangs that brought deliverance from all sin, hope for today, and the promise of the joy of good tidings and great joy of the first Christmas is a continuous celebration into all seasons of life, to and for the glory of God!

God bless us one and all for this season and for every season of this amazing journey of life!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a blessed new year!