WEBVTT - Michele Jackson - Oct 22 - 3:30 pm

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<v Speaker 1>Today on the Converge Network, Apostle Michelle Jackson will be

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<v Speaker 1>sharing God's heart with you through the Word of God.

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<v Speaker 1>Before she ministers to you, Apostle Michelle serves as Senior

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<v Speaker 1>Pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland. She's the

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<v Speaker 1>founder of the Converge Network, which is home to Harry

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<v Speaker 1>Jackson Ministries' Hope Connection and her podcast for women, Life

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<v Speaker 1>in the Overflow. Today's teaching will explore how the Lord

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<v Speaker 1>is using people like you and me to build His

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<v Speaker 1>Kingdom today. and usher in a new era of glory.

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<v Speaker 1>But before we get started, we have a promotion exclusively

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<v Speaker 1>for you. Grab your free gift today. Just go to

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<v Speaker 1>our channel, The Converge Network, and order your free resource,

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<v Speaker 1>a manifesto by Bishop Harry Jackson while supplies last. Now

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<v Speaker 1>for today's message from Apostle Michelle, here we go.

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<v Speaker 2>Hey everyone. This is Michelle Jackson. I've just been so

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<v Speaker 2>moved by the story of Jesus during this time to

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<v Speaker 2>take this month of December to just go through the

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<v Speaker 2>Gospels together and just to look at different aspects of Jesus'

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<v Speaker 2>birth and in our hearts to make ready new territory

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<v Speaker 2>in our hearts and our lives to have deeper relationship

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<v Speaker 2>with Jesus, but also to be of greater use to

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<v Speaker 2>Him in this season as we anticipate His return. And

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<v Speaker 2>I remember being a kid, and I've been telling stories

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<v Speaker 2>all month, so if you haven't been with us this week,

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<v Speaker 2>I've been telling stories about my life, because Christmas was

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<v Speaker 2>a special holiday for my family. So I remember being

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<v Speaker 2>a kid, and my parents had two daughters, but between

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<v Speaker 2>us there was actually a boy. And I remember my

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<v Speaker 2>mom being pregnant for my brother. And I remember when

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<v Speaker 2>he died in the womb and she had to deliver

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<v Speaker 2>that child. And I remember the great sadness that came

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<v Speaker 2>into our family. And I remember the deep longing that

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<v Speaker 2>I had to have a sibling and how God miraculously

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<v Speaker 2>answered that prayer with my mom getting pregnant for my sister.

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<v Speaker 2>And then even through a difficult pregnancy, was able to

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<v Speaker 2>have a child. And so, you know, that reminds me

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<v Speaker 2>of Elizabeth and Zachariah, because they were men and women

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<v Speaker 2>of God who were in righteous standing. They were careful

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<v Speaker 2>to obey all the laws and regulations. But they didn't

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<v Speaker 2>have any kids because Elizabeth wasn't able to conceive and

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<v Speaker 2>they were very old. Sometimes when tragedies happen, like what

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<v Speaker 2>happened with my brother, my brother and my parents are

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<v Speaker 2>together now in heaven. And one day I will get

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<v Speaker 2>to meet him for real. But, you know, oftentimes when

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<v Speaker 2>difficulties like that are happening in our lives, we don't

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<v Speaker 2>understand and they can cause us to despair. And the

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<v Speaker 2>holidays can be a challenging time because, As Americans, maybe

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<v Speaker 2>you're listening to this and you're from another country, so

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<v Speaker 2>let me contextualize. And for the Americans listening, bear with me.

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<v Speaker 2>But Americans, we typically like to glorify what we have,

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<v Speaker 2>like make it really big and luxurious and extravagant. As Americans,

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<v Speaker 2>we don't really like simple life, right? That's why reality

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<v Speaker 2>TV is so big. That's why we have so many,

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<v Speaker 2>we have that celebrity culture and it's like extravagant. We

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<v Speaker 2>have all these things, right? And so what can happen

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<v Speaker 2>is it also opens us up to really see what's

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<v Speaker 2>missing and to have a fixation on kind of what's missing.

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<v Speaker 2>And so there can be a deep aching in our

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<v Speaker 2>soul when we don't have around the holidays because of

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<v Speaker 2>all of the glitz and the glamour and the big

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<v Speaker 2>things that are happening that are glorified, that those things

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<v Speaker 2>that are missing for many people, it can be amplified, right?

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<v Speaker 2>And so in this moment, in Luke chapter 1, Zachariah

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<v Speaker 2>is serving the Lord, doing his duty as a priest,

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<v Speaker 2>his custom to enter the sanctuary and to burn his incense.

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<v Speaker 2>And An angel of the Lord appeared to him standing right,

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<v Speaker 2>standing to the right of the altar. And Zachariah is

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<v Speaker 2>shaken and overwhelmed when he saw him. And so Zachariah

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<v Speaker 2>is thinking, oh my goodness, like what is happening? Because

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<v Speaker 2>I've just been going through my routine. You know, we

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<v Speaker 2>know that we serve the Lord. We know that we

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<v Speaker 2>do what we're supposed to do. We know that we

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<v Speaker 2>give our 100%. But there was lack and deficiency in

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<v Speaker 2>his life and that he did not have an heir

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<v Speaker 2>to raise in the priesthood. He did not have a

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<v Speaker 2>son to rear and to carry on his legacy. And

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<v Speaker 2>the Lord intervened that day and the angel delivered the

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<v Speaker 2>word of the Lord that God had heard his prayer.

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<v Speaker 2>His prayer was that he would have a son. that

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<v Speaker 2>he would have a child, that he would have someone

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<v Speaker 2>to carry on his legacy. And so in Luke chapter one,

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<v Speaker 2>verse 13, it says, but the angel said, do not

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<v Speaker 2>be afraid, Zachariah. God heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth,

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<v Speaker 2>will give you a son and you are to name

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<v Speaker 2>him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and

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<v Speaker 2>many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be

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<v Speaker 2>great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never

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<v Speaker 2>touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled

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<v Speaker 2>with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. He will

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<v Speaker 2>turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will

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<v Speaker 2>be a man with the spirit and the power of Elijah.

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<v Speaker 2>He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.

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<v Speaker 2>He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,

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<v Speaker 2>and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept

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<v Speaker 2>the wisdom of the godly. So here's verse 19, and

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<v Speaker 2>I think a lot of us get here at the

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<v Speaker 2>holiday time, right? It says, Zachariah said to the angel,

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<v Speaker 2>how can I be sure this will happen? I'm an

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<v Speaker 2>old man now, and my wife is also well along

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<v Speaker 2>in years. Then the angel said, I am Gabriel. I

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<v Speaker 2>stand in the very presence of God. It was he

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<v Speaker 2>who sent me to bring this good news. But now,

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<v Speaker 2>since you don't believe what I said, you'll be silent

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<v Speaker 2>and able to speak until the child is born. For

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<v Speaker 2>my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time. Whoa, right?

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<v Speaker 2>So I love this because our words betray us. The

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<v Speaker 2>Bible declares that out of the abundance of the heart,

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<v Speaker 2>the mouth speaks. So even the man of God who

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<v Speaker 2>was in the order of Levi, who was one who

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<v Speaker 2>could be in the holy of holies and never allow

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<v Speaker 2>the fire to go out on the altar, to always

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<v Speaker 2>have the fire prepared for the Lord. He was questioning,

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<v Speaker 2>can this truly be? Can this really be? Can this

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<v Speaker 2>really happen? For me, God, can you do this? And

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<v Speaker 2>I want to just encourage those who have been feeling

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<v Speaker 2>that aching of all of the things that are missing,

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<v Speaker 2>that God knows he's heard your prayer. And at the

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<v Speaker 2>appointed time, he will fulfill those desires. He will perfect

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<v Speaker 2>those things that pertain to you. And so their son,

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<v Speaker 2>John the Baptist, as we know him through scripture, the

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<v Speaker 2>timing of his birth was linked to the timing of Jesus'

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<v Speaker 2>birth in order to fulfill God's overall plan for humanity.

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<v Speaker 2>So what am I saying? What am I saying? I

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<v Speaker 2>am saying that oftentimes the reason why certain things don't

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<v Speaker 2>happen for us, like, I don't know, you starting your

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<v Speaker 2>business or, you moving into a different career or your

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<v Speaker 2>relocation to a different area or perhaps getting married or

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<v Speaker 2>having that dream fulfilled that you've had for a while.

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<v Speaker 2>Sometimes it's because our plans are linked to the plan

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<v Speaker 2>of God, meaning there are people that we're appointed to meet.

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<v Speaker 2>There are people that are supposed to get saved through

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<v Speaker 2>what we do. There are people that are supposed to

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<v Speaker 2>hear about the Lord. Like, there's a bigger plan that

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<v Speaker 2>God is working. And so Elizabeth and Zachariah, they hadn't

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<v Speaker 2>had a child yet because their child's destiny was to

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<v Speaker 2>prepare the way of Jesus. The ministry that had been

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<v Speaker 2>appointed to their child was bigger than even what they

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<v Speaker 2>probably could have thought of at the time because they

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<v Speaker 2>were thinking within the religious structure of the day of

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<v Speaker 2>how they served the Lord. And so... It was in

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<v Speaker 2>the six months of Elizabeth's pregnancy that the angel of

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<v Speaker 2>the Lord, the same angel that spoke to Zachariah, visited

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<v Speaker 2>Mary and let her know that the child, that she

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<v Speaker 2>had found favor with God and that she was going

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<v Speaker 2>to conceive a child of the Holy Spirit and that

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<v Speaker 2>his name would be Jesus and that he would be

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<v Speaker 2>great and that he would be called the Son of God.

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<v Speaker 2>And so What we're seeing in scripture is the interweaving

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<v Speaker 2>of lives. And I think so much as Americans, we

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<v Speaker 2>see ourselves as individuals and we don't understand that God

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<v Speaker 2>is weaving a story. And the story is to bring

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<v Speaker 2>restoration and connection to him. Not just that our lives

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<v Speaker 2>would fulfill a story and a plan that just encompasses us,

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<v Speaker 2>but it's greater and grander on a bigger scale. than

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<v Speaker 2>we could imagine within ourselves. And so we're seeing that

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<v Speaker 2>the destiny of even us as Christian, years and years ago,

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<v Speaker 2>following the death of Jesus, the burial and resurrection, right?

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<v Speaker 2>And we coming into the saving knowledge of the name

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<v Speaker 2>that is above every other name. There are two families

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<v Speaker 2>that they're yes and they're surrendered to God and their

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<v Speaker 2>willingness to be a part of his plan and to

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<v Speaker 2>steward the birth of these children is deeply connected to

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<v Speaker 2>a move that is thousands and thousands and thousands of

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<v Speaker 2>years later. Whoa, I think this is what the prophet

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<v Speaker 2>Isaiah was trying to tell us when he said that

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<v Speaker 2>when God said to him, you know, my wisdom is not,

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<v Speaker 2>my ways are not your ways. My wisdom is not

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<v Speaker 2>your wisdom. My wisdom is far above yours, right? And

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<v Speaker 2>so God is able to interweave our stories in such

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<v Speaker 2>a way that that his plan can be fulfilled. And

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<v Speaker 2>so in our neediness and our wants and desires, we

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<v Speaker 2>want to let those places be consumed by him. So

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<v Speaker 2>in my podcast, Life in the Overflow, I had the

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<v Speaker 2>privilege of interviewing a lovely sister in the Lord, Krista Smith,

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<v Speaker 2>and we talked about her book, Singled Out in a

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<v Speaker 2>Couple's World, And she shared transparently about her story of

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<v Speaker 2>coming to be married and how in a season of

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<v Speaker 2>her life, she no longer had the grace to hold

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<v Speaker 2>out and wait for God's purpose mate for her life

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<v Speaker 2>and that she was aching for the need of that relationship.

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<v Speaker 2>I think at the holiday time, we know that statistically,

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<v Speaker 2>psychologists and psychiatrists have told us that suicide is and

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<v Speaker 2>loneliness and depression tend to be things that are plaguing

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<v Speaker 2>many people during the holidays because those absences are felt

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<v Speaker 2>in deeper ways than they are in other seasons. But

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<v Speaker 2>we want to be men and women of faith, not fear, right?

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<v Speaker 2>So oftentimes when we are consumed by that, there's a fear.

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<v Speaker 2>And so Christa was saying that Jesus asked her a

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<v Speaker 2>question that was so powerful and moved her outside of

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<v Speaker 2>what she was fearful of and what she was consumed with.

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<v Speaker 2>And he said, Christa, am I enough for you? Am

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<v Speaker 2>I Jesus enough for you? And a friend of mine,

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<v Speaker 2>my friend Laura, she's a pastor too. We had a

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<v Speaker 2>recent women's coffee with friends. We do a online fellowship, bimonthly.

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<v Speaker 2>You can go on our YouTube channel and watch it.

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<v Speaker 2>But the Lord asked the same question of Laura in

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<v Speaker 2>the time that she'd had several miscarriages and she had

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<v Speaker 2>tried to adopt a child to fulfill that need to

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<v Speaker 2>be a mother. God asked her this question, Laura, am

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<v Speaker 2>I enough? And so, you know, What am I saying?

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<v Speaker 2>I am saying that the Lord wants to be enough

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<v Speaker 2>for those areas of deep, deep, deep desire for us.

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<v Speaker 2>And we see that Zachariah, his words betray that if

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<v Speaker 2>the Lord were to ask him how he asked my

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<v Speaker 2>friend Krista and Laura, and even I believe how he's

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<v Speaker 2>asking us today as we're together today, is he enough?

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<v Speaker 2>If he'd said, Zachariah, am I enough for you? Is

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<v Speaker 2>me doing this and fulfilling your prayer, am I enough?

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<v Speaker 2>Zachariah probably would be like, I don't know, God. I

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<v Speaker 2>don't know because I'm so consumed with the weight and

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<v Speaker 2>the fatigue of all these years that have passed and

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<v Speaker 2>just the longing and just overwhelmed. And now you're saying

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<v Speaker 2>you're going to satisfy it. But how can I be sure?

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<v Speaker 2>Because there have been all these other times that I

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<v Speaker 2>thought it was you and I thought it was going

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<v Speaker 2>to happen, right? Isn't that how we are? But I

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<v Speaker 2>want us to know that God has an appointed time

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<v Speaker 2>for fulfillment. Come on, you just repeat it with me

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<v Speaker 2>this morning or this afternoon, whatever time you're listening. God

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<v Speaker 2>has an appointed time to fulfill those things for me.

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<v Speaker 2>God has an appointed time. And the Lord was waiting

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<v Speaker 2>for the appointed time because John the Baptist's life was

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<v Speaker 2>connected to Jesus' ministry. And so We don't always know

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<v Speaker 2>all the reasons why things don't happen when we think

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<v Speaker 2>they're supposed to happen. And so in the place of

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<v Speaker 2>trying to trace and find the answers, we just have

0:15:44.670 --> 0:15:48.290
<v Speaker 2>to trust the wisdom of God, the timing of God,

0:15:49.490 --> 0:15:52.590
<v Speaker 2>and know that no good thing will he withhold from

0:15:52.710 --> 0:15:56.090
<v Speaker 2>them that are walking uprightly with him. and that he

0:15:56.130 --> 0:15:59.200
<v Speaker 2>will satisfy us with good things. So we know, those

0:15:59.240 --> 0:16:01.760
<v Speaker 2>of us who know the scriptures, but you can read

0:16:01.800 --> 0:16:04.700
<v Speaker 2>it here in the Gospel of Luke and get into

0:16:04.740 --> 0:16:08.860
<v Speaker 2>it a little bit. But we know that when Jesus, sorry,

0:16:08.880 --> 0:16:14.830
<v Speaker 2>when John the Baptist was born, that is when Zachariah

0:16:14.850 --> 0:16:19.610
<v Speaker 2>was able to speak again. And when the baby was born,

0:16:19.650 --> 0:16:24.190
<v Speaker 2>it was when, it's also in, it's still in Luke

0:16:24.210 --> 0:16:29.590
<v Speaker 2>chapter one, But you can look and when John the

0:16:29.630 --> 0:16:32.840
<v Speaker 2>Baptist was born, the neighbors heard, all the people heard,

0:16:32.880 --> 0:16:37.000
<v Speaker 2>relatives heard, and they came and they said, okay, he

0:16:37.040 --> 0:16:40.360
<v Speaker 2>had to be circumcised on the eighth day. According to

0:16:40.900 --> 0:16:44.770
<v Speaker 2>Jewish tradition, they would have a naming ceremony. And I

0:16:44.810 --> 0:16:48.550
<v Speaker 2>believe some African traditions still do this of the naming

0:16:48.610 --> 0:16:52.290
<v Speaker 2>ceremony where the family comes together and they celebrate the

0:16:52.370 --> 0:16:56.960
<v Speaker 2>name of the child. And Surprisingly enough, that's not when

0:16:57.020 --> 0:17:01.960
<v Speaker 2>the Lord opened his mouth, right? It wasn't like, you know, okay, God,

0:17:02.000 --> 0:17:05.740
<v Speaker 2>you said that I'd be silent until my child was born. No,

0:17:06.810 --> 0:17:12.970
<v Speaker 2>Zechariah was silent until he named the son the name

0:17:13.270 --> 0:17:18.250
<v Speaker 2>that he was to be named. Until he agreed with God,

0:17:18.730 --> 0:17:22.379
<v Speaker 2>God wasn't allowing him to speak and spoil what was

0:17:22.420 --> 0:17:26.380
<v Speaker 2>going to happen And so I think that this shows

0:17:26.500 --> 0:17:29.440
<v Speaker 2>the mercy of God and the compassion of God because

0:17:29.480 --> 0:17:34.520
<v Speaker 2>he understood exactly where the brokenness of Zachariah's heart. And

0:17:34.619 --> 0:17:38.250
<v Speaker 2>so when he wrote out, his name is John, it

0:17:38.850 --> 0:17:43.470
<v Speaker 2>was then that he could speak again. And he then

0:17:43.530 --> 0:17:46.730
<v Speaker 2>was full of praise to God because God had fulfilled

0:17:46.790 --> 0:17:50.170
<v Speaker 2>his word to him. He fulfilled his promise. And so

0:17:50.230 --> 0:17:52.890
<v Speaker 2>I just want us to think about, even in this

0:17:52.950 --> 0:17:58.470
<v Speaker 2>time of anticipation, this month of Advent, and we're thinking

0:17:58.570 --> 0:18:02.209
<v Speaker 2>about all that Jesus did by coming to earth and

0:18:02.630 --> 0:18:05.540
<v Speaker 2>being willing to be a child in the manger and

0:18:06.680 --> 0:18:09.680
<v Speaker 2>to go to the cross and be the one who

0:18:09.700 --> 0:18:12.959
<v Speaker 2>would be the substitute for our sin and to be

0:18:13.000 --> 0:18:17.380
<v Speaker 2>that perfect sacrifice to give his body and his blood

0:18:17.440 --> 0:18:22.379
<v Speaker 2>so that we could have eternal life. forgiveness of sin, deliverance,

0:18:22.720 --> 0:18:26.450
<v Speaker 2>wholeness of mind and emotions. I mean, there's so much

0:18:26.510 --> 0:18:30.510
<v Speaker 2>that we receive because of what Jesus came, his purpose.

0:18:31.390 --> 0:18:36.410
<v Speaker 2>And he fulfilled that purpose that we remember that there

0:18:36.570 --> 0:18:41.720
<v Speaker 2>is a praise that's attached to fulfillment, right? So let's

0:18:41.780 --> 0:18:46.760
<v Speaker 2>not get weary in well-doing in this holiday season and

0:18:46.780 --> 0:18:49.889
<v Speaker 2>get consumed by But let's lean into that place of

0:18:50.010 --> 0:18:55.650
<v Speaker 2>knowing that at the appointed time, God will fulfill all

0:18:55.730 --> 0:18:58.969
<v Speaker 2>those things. And John, he grew up and he was

0:18:59.010 --> 0:19:04.010
<v Speaker 2>strong in the spirit and he began his ministry and

0:19:04.070 --> 0:19:08.710
<v Speaker 2>he preached with fire and conviction and he baptized many

0:19:08.770 --> 0:19:13.460
<v Speaker 2>in water, including Jesus, and he prepared the way for

0:19:13.600 --> 0:19:17.679
<v Speaker 2>our Lord. And so don't diminish what God wants to

0:19:17.720 --> 0:19:21.530
<v Speaker 2>do in the season of waiting, in the time in between,

0:19:21.550 --> 0:19:25.590
<v Speaker 2>in the time where there's a promise until it's fulfilled,

0:19:25.990 --> 0:19:29.630
<v Speaker 2>God is faithful to his word. And at the appointed time,

0:19:29.650 --> 0:19:34.369
<v Speaker 2>at the Kairos time, at the God time, things shall

0:19:34.470 --> 0:19:38.040
<v Speaker 2>come to pass for you as well. So Father, we

0:19:38.080 --> 0:19:41.940
<v Speaker 2>just thank you today. We bless your name and we

0:19:42.040 --> 0:19:46.810
<v Speaker 2>honor you. And we thank you, Lord, that You are

0:19:46.850 --> 0:19:49.980
<v Speaker 2>a God of times and seasons that you hold all.

0:19:50.170 --> 0:19:53.660
<v Speaker 2>seasons and times in your hands. And Lord, we just

0:19:53.700 --> 0:19:59.560
<v Speaker 2>thank you because you know those things that pertain to us.

0:20:00.200 --> 0:20:04.720
<v Speaker 2>And you know also the tapestry that you are weaving

0:20:04.840 --> 0:20:10.240
<v Speaker 2>in humanity. You know the tapestry that you're creating so

0:20:10.280 --> 0:20:13.899
<v Speaker 2>that all men can come and have an opportunity to

0:20:13.960 --> 0:20:17.880
<v Speaker 2>know you. So Lord, we repent even right now for

0:20:17.960 --> 0:20:22.010
<v Speaker 2>diminishing the significance in your plan of those things that

0:20:22.030 --> 0:20:25.010
<v Speaker 2>we desire. Lord, we thank you that your ways are

0:20:25.070 --> 0:20:28.390
<v Speaker 2>not our ways, nor are your thoughts our thoughts. And Lord,

0:20:28.430 --> 0:20:32.690
<v Speaker 2>we thank you that you have even what we haven't

0:20:32.850 --> 0:20:37.370
<v Speaker 2>imagined possible for your children and those who love you.

0:20:37.450 --> 0:20:41.230
<v Speaker 2>So Lord, we thank you. that you have an appointed

0:20:41.310 --> 0:20:44.690
<v Speaker 2>time for the fulfillment of all things. And in this time, Lord,

0:20:44.960 --> 0:20:47.800
<v Speaker 2>God of all comfort, be the sweet consolation to those

0:20:47.880 --> 0:20:50.679
<v Speaker 2>who are weary in this holiday season. Fill them with

0:20:50.700 --> 0:20:53.840
<v Speaker 2>your precious Holy Spirit that they might know the nearness

0:20:53.880 --> 0:20:56.400
<v Speaker 2>of your presence, the nearness of your comfort to them

0:20:56.520 --> 0:20:59.790
<v Speaker 2>available in this moment in time, that they will not

0:20:59.850 --> 0:21:02.649
<v Speaker 2>be weary, that they will not be weary in well-doing

0:21:03.590 --> 0:21:05.969
<v Speaker 2>and not give up, but they will be able to

0:21:06.070 --> 0:21:09.690
<v Speaker 2>endure this time until the appointed time of fulfillment. I

0:21:09.730 --> 0:21:12.580
<v Speaker 2>thank you, Lord, for all that you are doing. In

0:21:12.619 --> 0:21:16.470
<v Speaker 2>the name of Jesus, we pray and believe. Amen.

0:21:19.350 --> 0:21:23.930
<v Speaker 1>Thank you for listening. Catch Apostle Michelle Jackson on Pray.com

0:21:24.070 --> 0:21:27.890
<v Speaker 1>radio Monday through Friday at 6.30 p.m.

0:21:28.119 --> 0:21:28.520
<v Speaker 2>Eastern.

0:21:29.180 --> 0:21:36.060
<v Speaker 1>Stay connected with Apostle Michelle by visiting thehopeconnection.org forward slash

0:21:36.340 --> 0:21:40.630
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0:21:40.710 --> 0:21:44.550
<v Speaker 1>Trades Ashes. Share this program with a friend today.