Merry Christmas!
With Understanding
Part 2
Iverna Tompkins
As transcribed by Jane Vaughn

In Part 1 of this message, Iverna laid the groundwork in Luke, chapter 1: the annunciation of the angel to Mary that she had been specially chosen by God. For our contemporary application, we learned that God knows exactly where we are. And secondly, He knows who we are. He knows what is truly inside our hearts, motivating every action. So, we were exhorted to be real with God, honest with ourselves and with others around us. Iverna said, "...the negative situations in our lives do not change the fact that the Lord is with us." jzv.

The Word came and spoke specifically, to a specific individual, in a specific place – all of which fulfilled specific prophecies from the Old Testament.  That’s a “WOW!”  WOW!  That 4000 years before this actually happened, it could be prophesied (cf.Gen.3:14,15) – that in this very town, this was going to happen (cf. Mic.5:2). 

This “Advent Season” ought to be the most exciting moment of our lives because it gives us reason to testify!  We have a reason to say to people: “It isn’t a matter of ‘if you just really believe in whatever god.’”  Or, “If that’s your god, I won’t attack that.”  Oh, yes, I will attack it!  “Here’s the truth: there’s only one God.  There’s only one true God!  And we have proof of Him, as was prophesied of old and fulfilled specifically.”

God knows where you are – and secondly, He knows who you are.  

Then Gabriel goes into the house and says to Mary: “You’re highly favored and the Lord is with you.”  This is still from the Weymouth translation: “And she was greatly agitated at his words and wondered at what this greeting meant.”  Now some people say she was just a little troubled or maybe startled – but this word is /diatarasso/ in the Greek and it literally means “to agitate greatly; to trouble greatly.”  Mary was up-set!  I wonder if she might not have said something like: “How did you get in here?!” 

Let’s be real now.  When the Lord invades your space with a heavenly being – that is startling!  And yet, we pray for it almost daily, don’t we?  “Send Your glory, Lord.”  “Oh, Thy Kingdom come, here on earth.”  “Lord, reveal to me…”  “Let heaven invade earth!”  All of those are wonderful prayers! 

But if you looked up from your routine – cooking or cleaning or mowing the lawn – and the angel suddenly was there and spoke to you, “The Lord is with you…” Do you really think you’d just accept that as the norm?  “How do you know? Who are you? Get out! Get out of here!” :-)  Unless we’re walking close to Him, we do not recognize the Divine Presence!

You are going to be surprised when the time comes that He is with you in eternity, fellowshipping, and He says to you, “Do you remember that time…?  I was there.  Do you remember that time when you…?  Iwas there too.  And do you remember…?”  You see, truly He never leaves us (Heb.13:5).  He’s there with you when you consider your day and make plans to do this or that. 

We tend to think He’s only there with us when we’re on our knees consciously praying, “Father, in the name of Jesus…”  Jesus said, “I want you to pray (Lk.11:2ff;Mt.6:6ff) – and you should pray – but ‘Lo, I am with you – always’” (Mt.28:20).  All the time – day or night, rain or shine, in hard times or easy – He is always there.

Christians today do not readily recognize the Presence of God within because they do not really recognize that they are – sons of God! (Jn.1:12; 1Jn.5:1;1Jn.3:1).  This is a powerful word if you can grasp it.  We (believers) have been birthed into Jesus Christ and given the absolute right to come before the throne of a holy Almighty God– fearlessly!! – so that we may obtain more mercy and more grace than we’ve ever had before! (Heb.4:16).  But His Presence – that Holy Presence – must be recognized.

Mary was “greatly agitated.”  I’ve watched people walk out of a church service when certain things occurred that they didn’t understand – supernatural things. Now, I’m not talking about “woo-woo.” :-)  When some people think they sense the anointing of God they often do “woo-woo” things.  You know – whooping and gyrating and… whatever.  And that is plainly disgusting to everyone – except, of course, to themselves.  They think they’re “responding.”

But when the true Spirit of the Lord manifests – let me tell you – you will not be upset – if you’re walking in the Light!  You will be thrilled!  We are today on the verge of those kinds of things occurring – regularly.  I’m telling you that there is an open heaven over this place (and many others)!  We have been praying and seeking God for it and He’s about to pull the heavens back and demonstrate some things we’ve never seen before!  So – it’s one thing to be frightened in the moment.  It’s another thing to listen – listen to what the Spirit says to us. 

We have, I believe, one of the finest preachers in the land today – prophetic – cutting edge – insightful – and delightful!  That’s why I’m here in this church.  It’s because of his preaching.  I love it!  It feeds me when I hear it and I sense the Presence of the Lord.  When I sense the Presence of the Lord, I tune my ear to what He is saying and I take every message that comes from our Pastor very personally.  Then I search my heart.  In fact, I think I could get saved just about every Sunday morning – all over again. :-)   No, not really.  But I search my heart to say, “Lord, what are You saying to me?”  I have lifted sick hands and said, “I’m healed!”  I mean – we have to do what the Lord tells us to do.

And the angel said, “You are very blessed, Lady – because the Presence of the Lord is with you!”  Now, Mary looks at the whole experience.  First, there is fright - she's agitated, upset.  The second thing is awareness as she listens.  And here’s what she hears: “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you’re to call His name, Jesus.  He will be great” (Lk.1:32a).  That’s the part we lose - that last sentence.

It’s not about you and it’s not about me and it’s not about this Pastor or our wonderful church staff or these great musicians.  It’s not about us!  It’s about Him!  He is the reason for the season!  “He will be great and He will be called ‘the Son of the Most High.’  And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David.  And He will be King over the House of Jacob for the ages and of His Kingdom will be no end” (Lk.1:32,33).

What a word to a young woman!  A virgin.  “You’re going to get pregnant – by the Spirit – it’s gonna be a boy.  You’re going to call His name Jesus – and here’s what He’s going to do: He’s going to rule and reign and be great!”  How would you feel?  About like you do when you get a prophetic word through one of our prophets here.  “Oh, the Lord is going to use you mightily!  There’s going to come a day of opening of doors…”  Thrilling and a little scary all at once because of the awesome responsibility that accompanies that kind of ministry call..

We receive or hear those prophetic words and then we think them through with questions and no small amount of doubt.  “Oh, sure!  Right.  That’s me.” :-)  I think that’s a little of how Mary responded.  She probably said, “Uh, can I just get a little information here?  How you gonna do this?  I mean, I’ve never been with a man, and you’re telling me that I’m going to get pregnant and … and …”  And the answer to that “how” question (and yours) is: “The Holy Spirit will overshadow you” (vs.35).

Now, until the Holy Spirit overshadows you, you will not become impregnated.  Not as long as you have to be seen!  It’s not about you!  Have you ever seen a singing group where one of the singers just can’t tolerate it being a group, and as they’re all singing together that one steps forward? – all the time?  You know what I’m saying.  That’s overshadowing the others.  It’s like: “Watch me. I’m the one to see.”  Even though it’s a whole group thing?

That’s the way we sometimes are with the Lord.

We don’t become impregnated because it’s all about us.  We don’t want to be overshadowed.  When the Holy Spirit overshadows you, no one really knows your name.  Are you there?  When the Holy Spirit overshadows us – He is the One!  He came to magnify Jesus (Jn.16:13,14).  Then it’s all about Jesus and people will think and say: “I saw Jesus in her!  I saw Jesus…  Oh! The Lord spoke today!” 

And that’s the way it has to be in order for us to be impregnated with a desire, or a seed, if you will.  A seed that will grow within us: that we long to bring forth – the Son of God!

Does that frustrate you?  That terminology?  Please, don’t let it.  This church is pregnant.  This church absolutely is pregnant – with vision.  We have a pastor who imparts it constantly.  Vision – vision – vision.  Not just vision for growth.  Thank God, yes, for that too.  People will come – but vision that we will know Him!  Another way to say it is that we will bring forth Christ! 

Here in this place, and everywhere we go – we are pregnant!  Let me remind you that it affects everything when you’re pregnant.  Your appetite changes – all of a sudden, you don’t want to eat the same thing you used to eat.  And you can’t get enough – you just keep eating.  Hello?

And it affects your walk!  The more pregnant you become, you just walk differently. :-)   Everything is different.  Being pregnant is not normally comfortable.  That’s why you’re feeling what you’re feeling in your spirit.  Am I making sense to you – at all?  We are pregnant!  The Body of Christ - we’re expecting!  And we don’t even know what we’re expecting.

Now Mary gets all the answers: it’s going to be a boy – you’re going to call His name Jesus – and this thing is from the Holy Spirit and…  “Fine!” (we say!).  “I don’t know what it’ll look like.  I don’t know how it’s going to happen – I don’t know what my part in it is.”

Your part in it is simply this: just breathe in and out :-) and the Holy Spirit will do all the rest.  Honey, if God speaks a word to you, He plans to fulfill it – in your life.  The only thing that will stop it is for you to say “No,” and that would be so foolish.  So we say, “Be it unto me as Thou hast spoken” (Lk.1:38). 

That’s what Mary said.  “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about – I don’t know anything – I don’t know what I’m to do – but, ‘Be it unto me.’”  Or what we would say in a kind of careless vernacular is, “Hey!  Go for it!” :-)

That’s what the Lord wants from us: “Go for it, Lord!  Whatever it takes in my life.  Whatever it takes – so that I can have a fulfillment of the things You have spoken to me – I say, ‘Yes!’”  And the answer to that is: He will be great!

He knows where you are.  He knows who you are – and thirdly, He knows what He’s going to do in your life.  That’s why our praise time ought to be – incredible! 

That should be message enough to stir you through the “Merry Christmas” season.  But it would be a little unfair if I didn’t tell you that this Child – and this Child is coming – is far bigger than to compel Joseph to obey without understanding.  Hello?

“Fear not to take Mary.  She’s pregnant, but it’s by our Spirit – by the Spirit of the Lord” (Mt.1:20f).  I can just hear Joseph: “Oh, yeah, well, I know everyone’s going to believe that!” :-)  Come on – you have to think of these things. :-)   These weren’t supernatural people.  They were just ordinary people.  He was just a guy!  A nice guy – and he was going to try to cover it up for her (cf.Mt.1:19).  But the angel came in a dream and said, “It’s okay, Joseph, I’m in charge” (Mt.1:20.21). 

I want to say that same thing to you.  I want you to hear it clearly.  “It’s okay, God’s in charge.”  I don’t care what is going on in your life – it’s okay.

Go to Part 3. . .