Luke 1:26-38
It has been the most difficult year many have ever experienced – trouble on every hand and side! Yet the fact that we are still here, is something not to be quickly glossed over and dismissed! We remain thankful and hopeful!
Our resounding testimony of victory is – God the absolutely, awesomely faithful God – kept breaking in – just like He did a little more than two thousand years ago, after such a great period of intertestamental darkness – He broke in. It still brings us the greatest joy to read “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, name Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary! And the angel came in unto her, and said Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women” – Luke 1:26-28. It was a long time coming! It was a time of great spiritual darkness! It was a time of great political unrest according to the historical records and context but right into all this chaos, He came. God broke in! The Kingdom of God, supernaturally broke in, introducing God’s “shalom” to a broken, devastated world.
The indisputable message from Luke is “. . . the angel Gabriel was sent from God” (v26). His message to Mary was “. . . Fear not, Mary: for thou has found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son and shalt call his name JESUS” (vv 30,31). It seemed unlikely! It seemed impossible that a virgin should conceive and bring forth a son but in that same passage we read “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (V37). God broke in __ and that’s simply the Christmas message, that God broke into our sin-cursed, hopeless world to abolish death and bring life and immortality to light (2 Timothy 1:10). Therefore, we thank God for the appearance and arrival of Jesus Christ which reintroduced miraculous hope and gave real meaning to our otherwise painful and mundane existence. The message of the annunciation was prefaced by those sublime words, “Fear not . . .” (v30). God is still saying to humankind today in the twenty-first century “Fear not.”
May we never forget at the end of this most crisis – filled year that this same Jesus keeps on breaking in, bringing light and life, refusing to let us die alone in misery and despair. Taking great consolation from the gospel of John 1:14 we persistently keep in mind, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us . . .” Thank God Jesus moved into our neighborhoods and took up residence. Thank God the kingdom of God has broken in, to effectively change our sin-cursed direction and destiny!
This year we faced Covid-19 and kept on standing, rebounding and bouncing back, confidently bolstered by the fact that He not only tabernacles with us daily, but He kept on breaking in even when we least expected, and all seemed lost and hopeless. Remember church, we are not orphaned or abandoned but moment by moment He journeys with us and He keeps sustaining us. This is truly what Christmas is all about – God, having broken in, remains with us! For this, and in this we celebrate and keep on looking up!
Merry Christmas from the Greenaway family! Thank you for all your expressions of love, kindness and prayers. May you have the most special Christmas with family and friends, even virtually. May your 2021 and your future be filled with the glory of Jesus’ presence. May you always know that you are highly favored, the Lord is with you always and that you are indescribably blessed. Expect and receive the miraculous in 2021. Be it unto you, according to this prophetic word!
Leroy V. Greenaway
Regional Bishop – Northeast Region
December 19, 2020
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PLEASE NOTE
In collaboration with our District Overseers, the Church of God of Prophecy submits to the wisdom of continuing to ‘Shelter in Place’ for the safety and protection of the flock. This is to be observed until further notice and the present virus is better contained. Should the need arise to meet, we are advised to meet in groups of no more than 10, while we strictly observe the protocols of social distancing, wearing of masks and aggressive sanitizing of our hands and surfaces frequently touched.
Please let us patiently observe these practices to keep each other safe and alive. We are reminded that we are indeed our brother’s keeper. Stay home! Stay Healthy! Stay Hopeful! We shall soon get through this! Premature re-openings of our churches seem not to be the wisest way to go at this point. Let us continue to pray, caring for each other and staying connected.
Leroy V. Greenaway
Regional Presiding Bishop — Northeast Region
