American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 48
As we enter the Advent season, American Reformation Church is doing a series on “Behold our King.” Starting in the Torah and then proceeding on to the Psalms, the Prophets, and the Gospels, we are seeking to discover all the prophecies, predictions, and preparations commissioned by the Lord to bring forth the glorious Incarnation of Christ into our poor-fallen world.
Advent means arrival. The Christmas hymn, O Holy Night, captures the longing and great anticipation of this special arrival, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.”
This promised arrival reveals the revelation of the Incarnation. Incarnation according to the dictionary means “endowment with a human body; appearance in human form. It is something embodied in the flesh. Who or what is embodied in the flesh? Who or what is appearing in human form? It is none other than Jesus Christ, who is the eternal Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity, and God Almighty in the flesh.
As with all great redemptive productions of the Bible, you can be assured there are prayer warriors and intercessors that are in the wings helping to prepare the way of the Lord. Just like Daniel and his fiery trial of facing the lion’s den was based upon his intercession for Israel to return to the Promise Land to rebuild their fortunes after the 70 years of captivity, so there were intercessors beseeching God to send forth the Promised Messiah.
The two notables were both elderly. One was male, Simeon, and the other female, Anna. Anna was a widow woman for most of her aged life. Yet, this prophetess did not depart from the Temple, where she fasted and prayed day and night, seeking the redemption of Jerusalem. She bore witness to the Lord in that regard.
Simeon, who was a just and devout man of God, was also waiting on the Lord for the Consolation of Israel. As he prayed, the Holy Spirit assured him that he would not see death until he gazed upon the Lord’s Christ.
The Holy Spirit led him to the Temple and as Jesus was being circumcised according to the custom of the law, he took the babe in his arms and prophesied “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).
Tomorrow evening, Wednesday, 12/4/24, our church will meet at 7 pm to continue to pray the Lord’s Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
