And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of he altar of incense. And when Zachariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear took possession of him. But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must call his name John [God is favorable]. And you shall have joy and exultant delight , and many will rejoice over his birth, for he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord. And he must drink no wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit even in and from his mother’s womb. And he will turn back and cause to return many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, And he will himself go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient and incredulous and unpersuadable to the wisdom of the upright [which is the knowledge and holy love of the will of God]— in order to make ready for the Lord a people [perfectly] prepared [in spirit, adjusted and disposed and placed in the right moral state]. Luke 1:11-17 AMP
As I read the story of the birth of John the Baptist, I thought about how Elizabeth and Zachariah had to wait a very long time to see the Lord’s promise fulfilled in their lives. So long that Zachariah couldn’t believe it when the angel told him it was about to happen.
I have shared previously the story of our son’s birth and how I was unable to get pregnant for the first 11 years of marriage that I was not on birth control. We were given a couple of prophetic words about it and the Lord had spoken to me personally about it, even giving me the name of our child. But, it took so long that I had started doubting it would come to pass. I didn’t blame God; I just figured we had missed God by not praying more, going to the doctor more, etc. We had moved the baby bed out into the shed, not realizing at the time that I was carrying God’s promise in my womb. God was faithful in spite of our lack of faith.
Some times situations go on so long that even though we pray, we start to doubt they will ever change. We pray for family members to turn to God, to be delivered from addictions, etc. and it seems like nothing changes. But, I like what the angel said to Zachariah in verse 20: my words are of a kind which will be fulfilled in the appointed and proper time. God has an appointed or “set time” for things to happen and it’s usually not our timing.
God has given us dreams and prophetic words about a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a time of great harvest that is coming. And I have heard prophetic words about it happening in 2024. Although it seems like it’s taking a long time, I know God will be faithful to bring His words to pass at the proper time. And I believe that just as the angel told Zachariah, that God will “turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers.” I believe we will see family members being saved, delivered, and set free and healing and restoration of relationships and much more. God is good!
I will leave you with this final scripture: And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. Galatians 6:9 AMP. God bless you all and have a wonderful Christmas!
In Christ ~ Kelly Rowe
A Deeper Walk 