There is so much confusion in the Church today concerning the return of Jesus. Masses of believers have no long term vision for the world at all. They believe it is basically a lost cause. Their hope is for Jesus to come quickly and rapture us all away before it is too late. Like the reality TV show, they are looking to escape the challenges of life as soon as possible.

On the other hand there are an increasing number of believers who are tired of this escapist message.

They are convinced that we are here to redeem the world and bring in the kingdom of God. They do not believe God has given up on planet earth. They do not relegate the kingdom of God to a future golden age, but see it as coming here and now, increasing and filling the earth through the people of the kingdom; the Church.

It is ironic to note that the religion of Islam has no concept of a rapture. Muslims only have one agenda, to conqueror the world even if it takes another thousand years! Tragically large parts of the Church are more concerned about getting out of the world than bringing in the kingdom of God. They are more occupied with the Antichrist than the Christ! Yet it is we who are called to reign in life with Christ. We have the anointing of the Spirit.

The more you know who you are in Christ, the less you will want to escape. You will realise that, ‘greater is he who is within you than he who is in the world’ ⁽¹⁾.

God has mandated his Church to manifest his glory across the whole world before Jesus returns. We may not know the day or the hour but we do know the plan. Jesus is waiting in heaven until the restoration of all things ⁽²⁾. But the kingdom will only come through a release of God’s power the like of which the world has never seen. It will be manifest through the Church but never with ‘business as usual’.

How will it happen? It took place once already when the body of Christ was incarnated in the womb of Mary. At that time, Christ was literally brought into the world. Now before Jesus ‘the head’ returns from heaven, there must be another manifestation, a birthing again, of the body of Christ in the earth. The first time it was the man Christ Jesus; the second time it will be the corporate body of Christ, the Church!

Just as God found Mary through whom he could birth his son, today God is looking for a people through whom he can bring to full birth, the Christ in the Church. How did it happen for Mary? The keys are right there in Luke chapter 1, keys which are just as relevant for us as we seek a manifestation of Christ in the world today. I encourage you to read the chapter for yourself.

Firstly, Mary found favour in the sight of God ⁽³⁾. The word ‘favour’ in the New Testament is the same as the word ‘grace’. The people God will birth his glory through are those who have learned to live and walk in the grace of God. They enjoy the truth that ‘God does not treat us as our sins deserve’ ⁽⁴⁾. They do not live to gain God’s approval but rather, they live from a place of approval.

Grace covers our shame, forgives our sins, restores us and causes us to live with our heads held high, because in Christ we have been placed into a position of favour. God is attracted to that basic posture of humility. He draws near to us as he did to Mary.

Secondly, the angel Gabriel said that, ‘the Holy Spirit will come upon you’ ⁽⁵⁾. The people who will bring to birth the manifestation of Christ in the earth are those who abide under the presence of the Holy Spirit. God is raising up a people who passionately love his presence. For them, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is a living, moment by moment reality. They hunger for the presence of God knowing that from his presence comes anointing and authority.

Finally, Gabriel said that, ‘the power of the Most High will overshadow you’ ⁽⁶⁾. It would all be of God! Because, ‘the child to be born will be called holy – the Son of God’. God plans to bring to birth something that is purely of him. We may be very clever, gifted and passionate but none of those things will be sufficient for God’s purpose. He wants the world to see Christ in his Church, a people walking in his holiness, love and anointing. In this way the nations will be won to Christ.

Mary’s response was to say, ‘Behold I am your servant. Let it be to me according to your word’ ⁽⁷⁾. The same response in us will trigger the working of God’s power and the manifestation of Christ to the world in our day which will beckon Jesus’ return from heaven for his people.

Notes
         1) 1 John 4:4
         2)  Acts 3:21
         3) Luke 1:30
         4) Psalm 103:10
         5) Luke 1:35
         6) Luke 1:35
         7) Luke 1:38