12-22-20   THOUGHTS

The prophecy of Messiah “groaned” until the coming of Jesus.  Paul in Gal 4:4 called that time “THE FULLNESS OF TIME”!  The last two verses of the Old Testament are Mal 4:5-6     "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.  6  "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."
       Elijah was prophesied to come as a herald of something totally NEW.  John the baptist became the fulfilment of that prophecy.  The angel Gabriel speaks to the one who will father John.
Luke 1:11-17    And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12  Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13  But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14  "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15  "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16  "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17  "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
       The TURNING IDEA is key.  This is the great RESTORATION-REVIVAL!  Interestingly, the restoration of PARENTAL FIDELITY, and that coming through FATHERS must be noted!
Deut 6:4-9    "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5  "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6  "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8  "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9  "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
       In truth THIS IS THE ONLY WAY God’s people can sustain over the long haul! John would herald the CHRIST who would provide the ULTIMATE SENSE for belonging to God!
Eph 1:10  with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him

My Prayer:
Revive us, Oh God, to serving you with our all.  Help each of our parents to bring up their children powerfully in you.  Help all of us to help and encourage these dear parents.  Revive us as your people.  Revive us who lead.  Cause us to remember the great restoring that occurred in Christ Jesus.  Ever take us back to the cross Oh Lord.  Keep us in the quiet rest that is near to your heart.  May we love as you have loved us.
In Jesus name                    Amen