Confronting the Accuser of the Brethren Series
Spiritual Pregnancy, Part 1
Introduction
A When women become pregnant, many of them begin to avoid things that would harm (or retard the growth) of the living/forming person inside of them.
1 Alcohol, smoking, drugs (do not do)
a Do: prenatal vitamins, folic acid, eat healthy, exercise, rest
b Nothing to harm the one living inside; do everything they can to be sure the living one develops in a healthy manner.
2 There is a time, when, having been touched by God, something of Christ is conceived/born in our spirit.
a I was saved at 8, but I didn’t know I was pregnant until I was 35.
aa Whether something was conceived in me then, or it was just when I felt it kick (fluttering of life-quickening).
bb Someone besides me was inside me-growing, developing.
b My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—Gal 4:19 (NASB)
c My walk was so much more than just religion, denomination-passion, destiny.
B (Thought): We went through a church split in 2005, about the same time I got pregnant/Holy Spirit messed me up.
1 The enemy wants to abort a new move of God.
2 Not everybody is excited at the arrival of a new birth.
3 Pregnancies come in “3's”: several of you got pregnant, too.
4 Your relationship didn’t end at the cross-it started at the cross, and now you’re at Pentecost!
C I can remember the immaturity, insecurity, impatience I felt in those early days.
1 It takes time for what God has conceived in me to grow/
develop/mature.
a We can’t bring in this/that person to make us give birth sooner (can bring in people who felt the Holy Spirit kick).
b Just because we don’t always “feel” Him kick/move doesn’t mean we’ve lost the pregnancy.
aa Growing up to something, developing
bb Patience, commitment, & cooperation while God fulfills His promise to develop what He began.
2 Sometimes we doubt our readiness, fear what will happen when the delivery time arrives, doubt our motives.
a Just as intently as God is watching/monitoring the new life in us...so is Satan.
b He (Satan) uses the accusations of people to accuse or criticize our actions.
aa Get mad, angry, hurt feelings, bad attitudes, talk about, gossip, backbite & criticize those whose attitudes Satan has manipulated.
bb We try to get their approval, blessing-why?
c Man’s approval is fleeting, fickle.
d No one can supply the approval we crave but the Lord! (My God shall...)
3 Even though we may owe where we are to the intercessory prayers of another, what God conceives within us, ultimately must find its strength in God alone!
D When Solomon built the Temple, he had two words inscribed upon two pillars: the names “Jachin” & “Boaz”. Thus he set up the pillars at the porch of the nave; and he set up the right pillar and named it Jachin , and he set up the left pillar and named it Boaz . 1 Kings 7:21 (NASB)
1 Jachin meant “He will establish”, Boaz meant “in Him is strength.”
a If we are ever going to enter into service, birth what God desires in/for us, we must abandon our reliance upon any strength but His.
b Any success except what He accomplishes.
2 Takes prayer!
I Rev. 12:1-5 paints a picture of true spiritual growth. A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;2 and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. Rev 12:1-5 (NASB)
A Chapter 12 has many interpretations (Israel birthing Christ; new/old covenant becoming New Israel; some see process where God births spiritual awakening through prayer; end-time saints prayers consummating with Christ’s return), but the principle is more simple than the interpretation.
1 Reflection (smaller scale) of seeing Christ birthed in our service to God.
a Doesn’t it take work, faithfulness? YES!
b Extraordinary prayer to enter a new dimension! Emergence of what Christ is about to do!
2 In Rev. 12:2, all her previous energies, efforts reach a point of breakthrough. and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth...
a Cries out...gives birth to one who will rule the nations.
b So it is with us!
3 One is in us, when He emerges-He will rule/reign over us/ our world.
a The birth doesn’t happen without faith, preparation, prayer.
b There is a time for praise, worship, minister, serve... pray-focused prayer.
4 In recent years the Lord has led the church into greater, more fervent prayer.
a Pray? Too simple, too easy
b We won’t give birth without it.
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