A Long Time Coming

Posted by Dion Todd March 30th, 2017 9,824 Views 0 Comments

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. (Luke 3:1 WEB)

It had been a long time coming. Ancient prophecies spoke of the one that would come and prepare the way for the Messiah (Isaiah 40:3). When John the baptizer was finally born, and though many great prophecies had been spoken about his ministry, there was still nothing to see but a small child.

For twenty years, nothing happened except that John grew older. Finally the day came, and the Word of God came to John in the wilderness, which changed everything. John came onto the scene and changed the world around him carrying a powerful word from God. He was the one that baptized Jesus and even recognized Him. The word of God could have came to the high priest, but no, it came to John in the wilderness. It was time.

In my own life, the Lord told me when I was young to prepare myself for ministry. So I went through school, got ordained, and then waited' and waited' If I was invited to speak somewhere, they would call and cancel before the day arrived, sometimes the morning of, and after I had fasted for a week. Twenty years went by and all the doors into ministry remained supernaturally closed.

After years, suddenly the day came and I was pushed into ministry like cattle being herded through a loading chute. Every other door and line of work was shut tight, and it became the only path open to me. Two weeks before, we had been out of work for months, could not find a job, could no longer pay the bills, and were packing to move out of our home. I was in a dark place and I no longer even talked to God because I had given up. That was the day that His word came to me.

While sitting alone in my prayer room without saying anything, I suddenly had an open vision from the Lord and that Friday I was a pastor. Then a friend stepped in and paid all our bills for the month. It took forever and then happened suddenly. Here I am.

God has the day marked on His calendar when your situation will change. There is a date, and the closer that you come to it, the more difficult your life usually is at that moment. A sure sign of a breakthrough is when all hell seems to be breaking loose against you. Stay the course. Keep the faith. Try and keep a positive attitude. You will overcome and His word concerning you will come to pass. One word from God changes everything.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your goodness. I know that You see me right where I am, and Lord I know that You have not forgotten me. Strengthen me, build my faith, and draw my heart to You. Send Your word to me Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.