A SPECIAL CHILD

The set Gospel reading in many churches this Sunday which is also New Year’s Day is from Luke 2 where the infant Jesus is brought to the Temple in Jerusalem by Mary and Joseph to be dedicated according to the Law of Moses. There He is recognized by two elderly people, Simeon and Anna, as the promised Messiah. They had been praying and waiting for the birth of this special Child. This is a very appropriate reading for New Year as here is the old welcoming the New Who holds the promise of great things ahead.

Sometime ago the Lord told me that I was an Anna. [There is no doubt many others] In my study of the Scriptures I came to see the significance of the Child of Revelation 12.  God told me that I would live to see the birth of this Child. The other day I received a newsletter from Australian Prayer Network which confirmed that the time has come. This is the beginning of great things about to happen.  But perhaps I had better share what the Spirit showed me concerning the special Child of Revelation 12.

THE BIRTH OF THE OVERCOMERS

The apostle John is shown a “great sign in heaven;” – a woman about to give birth. A great red fiery dragon stands by waiting to devour the Child. A male Child is born and is immediately caught up to the throne of God. War breaks out in heaven – Michael and his angels against the dragon and his angels, resulting in the dragon and his angels being cast from heaven. There is no doubt as to the identity of the dragon – he is “that Serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.” Since God promised in Genesis 3:15 that the Seed of the woman would defeat the Serpent, the dragon has always been standing by ready to devour the promised Seed, as in the slaughter of the innocents at the birth of Christ, and further back at the birth of Moses.  Whenever a deliverer is born there is a slaughter of innocents. I believe that the unprecedented number of abortions in these days is because the old serpent knows a special "Child" is being born.

Now some of you will be no doubt saying “What’s new! This is the birth of Jesus” and that is certainly true but not the whole truth.  As you probably know prophecy has more than one level.

Two key scriptures will open this prophecy further and also open other scriptures in the New Testament. These scriptures are Galatians 3:16 and 29, which say that Christ is the promised Seed but goes on to say that if we are Christ’s then we are Abraham’s Seed and heirs according to the promise. The Seed is Christ and the Church, one but many. Just as God called the many-membered nation of Israel “My son, My firstborn” [Exodus 4:22 also Hosea 11:1] so Christ and those who believe in Him are One. The Woman is the people of faith of all ages, travailing since the Fall to bring forth the promised Seed. What we are seeing in Revelation is the birth of the Overcomers, the ones who will overcome satan “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they love not their lives to the death.”  [Revelation 12:11] . The Child is caught up to the throne of God – they rise up in kingdom authority, a great spiritual battle ensues resulting in Satan being cast down from his place of authority.

The antitype of the scene in Revelation 12 is when Israel, under Joshua, crossed the Jordan, brought down the strongholds of the enemy and possessed the Land. Who are overcomers? –The ones who believe that they are who God said they are and can do what God told them to do.  God told Israel they were His Son and that they could possess the Land.  When they believed that, they did.

Jesus has commissioned us to make disciples of all the nations, - a huge task but it can be done, because God said so and He is with us. When a new generation of Israel finally crossed Jordan to take the Promised Land, the hosts of heaven were waiting to do battle with them, just as they are waiting to fight with the Overcomers - the New Testament Joshua generation. When God's people go to battle in God's will, they win.

So what am I excited about?  Here is the email

WORLD PRAYER ASSEMBLY TO BE HELD IN JAKARTA INDONESIA IN 2012

The World Prayer Assembly (WPA) 2012 will be a “new wave” to strategically connect and empower the global prayer and mission movements as 5000-6000 Christian leaders from up to 220 nations join with the Lord and each other through united prayer, leading to Spirit-inspired action to transform our world. It is being arranged and co-hosted by leaders of the Indonesian and Korean prayer movements, two of the most powerful prayer forces in the world, with the support of international prayer networks such as the International Prayer Council and the Global Day of Prayer.

The ultimate goal of the World Prayer Assembly is two-fold: to see the knowledge of the glory of the Lord filling the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14) and the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer that His followers become one so the world will know He is its Creator and Saviour (John 17:21). WPA 2012 will learn from and build upon what the Body of Christ has experienced through the worldwide explosion of prayer efforts since the last International Prayer Assembly (Korea,1984), by linking together prayer, mission and marketplace ministries from all church traditions, denominations and social spheres.

In the spirit of Acts 13, together we will seek to hear from the Lord of the Church His plans to engage and direct the global prayer movement, so that every nation, city and rural area throughout the world becomes filled with ongoing intercession and Spirit-inspired action until His Kingdom’s values are fully manifested there. Prayer networks and ministries worldwide will meet with those who are prayerfully working for transformation in all spheres of society such as government, education, business/marketplace, arts and media. Ministry leaders will learn from one another and plan new strategies.

They will coordinate their efforts to advance world evangelization and the reaching of the unreached, ignite spiritual revival of the Church, as well as champion social justice and humanitarian efforts- so that His glory will fill the earth. WPA 2012 will also encourage and launch the next generation to become cutting-edge leaders for Christ’s global prayer and mission movement, as children and youth take their positions as equal partners in helping to lead it. For more information about the World Prayer Assembly or to register your interest in participating, please see the website at http://www.worldprayerassembly.com/ or write to wpa2012@gmail.com

Source: International Prayer Council

Please note; they are not looking to rise to the skies any moment now in the rapture; they are looking to rise up in prayer and evangelism, believing they can take the Earth for God, AND THEY WILL!    In spite of all the antichrist opposition in the Earth

“The kingdoms of this world [will] become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” [Revelation 11:15] AMEN

HALLELUJAH THE JOSHUA GENERATION IS HERE!