Kluane Spake
It had been an extremely stressful day. You know, one of those days you never want to happen again. I was pressed with difficult circumstances and I searched for a way out. But, there was no way out, but through. Actually it happened the week my natural mother died. And, I searched for the peace that should guide the day.
When suddenly, those words came. Loudly and audibly, "Your water is breaking!"
This really got my attention, because I haven't heard anything with that much clarity for quite awhile.
Oh yes, I've birthed four children of my own and numerous spiritual babies before - churches, ministries, goals, and dreams. But, I realized that this was a different birthing of much greater SIGNIFICANCE.
Looking back, we find that motherhood was viewed as the major function for women in the Old Testament. Their barrenness gave great suspense to the miraculous birth promised to come. Most of these women viewed their childlessness as disfavor, until finally a child birthed of spiritual desire brought honor. Their progeny became born of their flesh, but conceived by faith in the Spirit. After the birth, in most cases, the real focus of the story then shifts to the miraculous baby.
Most of the barren wives of the Old Testament eventually conceived, there was Sarah; Hannah; and Rachel the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1:15-22) the two Egyptian midwives who refused to kill the sons of the Hebrew slaves, because they "feared God" more than the highest law of the land. Because of their bravery, God rewarded them with children of their own.
EVE:
Bible translators have long misunderstood Genesis 3:16: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception." The word conception is eseb - the same word used for Adam's "toil" and the woman's sorrow. It should be translated as sighing or effort. Her sorrow and sighing were the consequence of the fall - and does not refer to God's creative design to punish women by the painful birth process! Contrary to popular opinion, this phrase doesn't mean unbearable labor pains for all women to endure!
Women were NEVER CURSED in birthing to somehow repay her for her role in the fall. But certainly, Eve's sorrow and sighing increased as she turned to Adam and left the presence and provision of God. Most likely, she had great sorrow when her son Cain killed her son Able. The Fall brought tremendous sorrow to the woman.
Jesus told the woman at the tomb to sorrow not! He died to set her free from all of her mistakes. Jesus clearly established a new paradigm for women giving birth. He even paralleled our salvation with the birthing process (JN. 3:4-9). And, He taught that childbirth was a travail that brought great joy, "When a woman is in travail, she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a child (anthropos, a human being) is born into the world" (JN. 16:21). He didn't mention any "curse" being put on Eve that would make childbearing some sort of punishment due to the evil nature of the woman, nor the terribleness of bringing new children as sinners into the world.
Rather, He said it was JOY! Nothing is said to indicate preference for boys over girls, or the necessity of a longer purification period. Only JOY. Joy over birth.
"Travailing in birth," is an expression that applies to many levels, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." (Romans 8:22). Matt. 24 tells us that the beginning of sorrows (odin, the word for birth pangs) will mark the end of the age. Paul says (in Gal. 4:19), "My little children (infant infant technon), for whom I labor (odino) in birth again until Christ is formed (matured, transformed) in you. He's talking about praying until believers grew up complete and mature in God. Obviously, that growth process differs from person to person.
Out of our own ashes, we emerge as the mature sons (men and women) no longer expressing our excessive self-indulgences and destructive desires (Rom. 8:19, Eph. 4:13). This new corporate creature is called the "sons of God." This is not teknon the infant-child, but huious which means, "the grown up offspring" (descendants, irrespective of gender) who is now full grown and demonstrates the character of the parent, giving evidence and dignity to the likeness of God's character. NOW, we're the SON. We're the BRIDE. And grownups reproduce.
We're no longer waiting to be married in heaven. It's now! The time has come. The finished work of the cross brings forth a new race of grownup believers who are energized by His likeness. We hear the Lord knocking and we open the door (Rev. 3:20). The vision of our returning Lover enlarges as we hear Him call, "Rise up, my love, my fair one and come away. For the winter is past and the rain is over and gone..." (SOS 2:12). He breathes life into the ear of the church and whispers, "Oh, beloved radiant spouse, give birth to My purposes."
MARY'S BIRTHING:
Suddenly, on the Day of Atonement, this angelic proclamation broke 400 years of absolute total Inter- testament silence from heaven. Gabriel's first words were, "Fear not." Then he told the old priest of a promised son. Zacharias questioned the angel, "How shall I know this? For I'm an old man and my wife is advanced in years" (Luke 1:18). Perhaps Zacharias forgot that his name meant "The one remembered by God" - because Zacharias spoke doubt. AND, he couldn't speak again until the day the promised son was named "John."
In contrast, Gabriel (whose name means the "Prevailer of God, or ONE WHO STANDS IN THE PRESENCE of the Lord") also went to Elizabeth's cousin, Mary, and spoke of her promised Son. Notice that Gabriel didn't adore Mary or worship her, he merely called her "blessed" and then instructed her to call the child's name Jesus. Mary similarly questions the angel, "How can this be since I do not know a man?" She wondered, but believed.
• Adam was created in the image of God on the 6th day, and Gabriel came in the 6th month to announce the birth of the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45).
We see from these two similar examples that angels gave revelation to both men and women - individually. This same angel spoke to a priest and a maiden. They both questioned the angel, but she wasn't struck dumb. Rather, grace was poured out to her.
• John the Baptist prepared the way. Now, we're the ones that prepare the way for His second coming. Surely, He comes IN us and TO us. We say, "Awaken oh barren soul and give birth. Establish oh God, your purposes and bring forth the image of Jesus."
Gabriel told Mary that she would bear the promised Messiah. She well knew that familiar prophecy, but never suspected she would participate in it. Luke tells us how she wondered in astonishment about how this miracle could occur, since she knew not a man.
As Gabriel explained, Mary believed the Word from God. The angel told her, "With God nothing will be impossible" (1:37 - literally nothing shall be impossible with every WORD of God). The angel said, with God (when you are with God and drawing from Him) nothing (every word and every promise) will be impossible (has the power dunamis, sufficient power to reproduce its own results)! The Phillips translation says, "No Word of God is void the power it takes to fulfill itself."
Mary conceived the WORD of God inside of herself by confessing, "Let it be to me according to your word." The spoken word (Logos) became ALIVE (Rhema) when the Holy Ghost implanted the Word within her. This was not accomplished by her efforts, but by believing the Word in her life.
She gave birth to the WORD (JN 1:1).
Contrary to all the oil paintings, Mary didn't have a halo - she was an ordinary person. She overrode the meaning of her name, "little rebellion," and decided to give birth to the promises of the Word! Even today, God looks for many Marys to become pregnant - to give birth to His promises. God still searches for virginal (one with pure motives) people to beget his pledges. And, He says we are "blessed."
Incidentally, notice that the angel spoke to Mary, not her parents, her husband, or the rulers of the synagogue. She chose all by herself to be a vessel for God. In spite of her youth, Mary didn't obtain approval from any human authority figure. There was no "chain of command" or official covering for her. Alone, she decided to willingly offer her body as a living sacrifice. Her song is long remembered (Luke 1:46-56) - that God had regarded the low estate of His handmaiden (Lk1:46). Mary was the vessel that God used to accomplish the birthing of His WORD. She wasn't super human. And, she didn't fear a ruined reputation.
Luke 2:19 says that Mary kept all these things (the promises) in her heart. She came into agreement with the angel, "Be it unto me, according to your Word." The literal Greek says, "Every word of God shall not be powerless." This agreement permitted the "In-carnation" (the process of taking on divinity and flesh) to occur. Luke 1:34 repeats the Mary's "Magnificat" which lyrically esteems the coming Messiah into a world of flesh. Jesus would became human (the part of God that died for us), clothed in skin, so that we could identify with Him and love Him. All salvation comes only through Him.
Today, the Word of God comes to us in this way and says, rejoice highly favored one, I have come as a seed to infuse you with My Word. It is up to us to bring forth that Word, birthed by revelation.
As ransomed people, we respond to our Lover. That's us, with faces shining. Our properly tended garden-heart womb of our mind incubates His Words, and soon the Seed grows (MK. 4:27). The birth canal for these thoughts is our mouth. Night and day, and day and night, we don't know how that Godly tree grows. Suddenly, a baby, the fruit of our lips, the "Tree of Life" emerges in strength. That disciplined tongue has changed a twig into a standing timber of life that bears apples of gold in settings of silver (Prov. 25:11).
The consummation of our marriage gives birth to His likeness.
We must guard our words in order to give birth.
BIRTHING & BREAKING FORTH:
We've been expecting for a long time. Many of us have tired from the long process. We've waited and waited and now feel a heaviness of not giving birth. Will things ever change? Will transition last forever? Will we ever see the tangible evidence of our long held faith? We've longed to birth new eras of importance for the Lord. We've struggled to produce whatever our dream might be.
But, the pregnancy now comes to an end and it is time for this final birthing. Our creative words bring forth new life. And when the water breaks, there's no turning back. It's time. Like Baal Perazim, we see that pent up flood bringing destruction to every opposition "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water" (2 Sam. 5:9). When that water breaks, there's floods upon dry ground (IS. 4:3). That which was barren and lifeless takes new form. There's rivers in the desert (IS. 43:19).
Now, with undeserved vindication, we glimpse into the nowness of this birthing of God. The hopeful universe desires to catch a glimpse of this unmistakable (manifest) child of God. Yes, all creation groans and labors with birth pangs (odin), waiting for their promised deliverance - to see Christ be fully formed. The Phillips' translation of Romans 8 elucidates this expectation, "The whole creation stands on tiptoe to see this wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own."
There's a MANCHILD being birthed. NOW.
ISAIAH 66:7 says that before she travailed, she brought forth: "Before her pain came she was delivered of a man child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth bring forth IN ONE DAY? Or shall a nation be born at once? For AS SOON as Zion travails, she BRINGS FORTH her children. Do I bring the moment of birth and not give delivery?"
"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered" (Rev. 12:1-5).
Here we find a very specific travail, it indicates the birthing of the "overcomers." It is not hard to understand what is meant by the symbol of the "woman;" she represents the church, the body of Christ , the called out ones. Basically, this refers to the NEW CREATION, that is by ONE spirit all baptized into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Here again it is said, as it was to Mary long ago, "The holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God"(Luke 1:35).
We see that this WOMAN (church) is "Clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." Sun, moon, and stars, are used in Joseph's dream (Genesis 37:9) and understood in this application to be symbols of Joseph's father, mother, and brothers (a united family).
This forming of a nucleus "body" within the visible church can be paralleled to Ezekiel's wheel within the wheel. This one and that one are born of her (PS. 87:5). These are the MATURE ones separated and peculiar unto God. These are the ones giving birth! Generally, the church world doesn't recognize them. They are the "mis-fits," the sold-out ones who have been totally dis-satisfied and dis-content with the present conditions of the church and they cry out to be delivered into the unseen realms. These travail for deeper revelation. They groan for meaning and a demonstration of truth. They cry out for more. Their God-given urgency cannot be satisfied with anything less than birthing this new manifestation that desires to be delivered.
During this process, "There appeared another wonder in heaven; and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." John's shows us that when the woman is "READY," all negative forces that have tried to stop her maturity will now be rendered powerless. At last, this powerful child will rise up to triumph. That's what the dragon feared all along!
"And she brought forth a man child." Again, this word used here for "child" is "huios," one who is mature, not a baby - but a strong MAN who can bear the load. For the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, growing up in the midst (surrounded by, encircled by) of a woman is a MAN (Jeremiah 31:22). This MANCHILD company is "caught up unto God, and to His throne." Caught up - "harpazo" meaning: to be taken into God's presence.
There, this child will "Rule all nations with a rod of iron" (see also Revelation 2:26-27). This word "rule," comes from the root word "poimain" which means to shepherd, guide, govern (which should define the new apostolic application of the word "pastor." This indicates a new kind of ruling authority based in compassion and not tyranny. The shepherding style of ruling, the ministry of Christ, is revealed from a people who have become one with Him.) This style of government is firm and strong.
God's plan perfectly unfolds as we embrace our eternal heritage and destiny. With spiritual eyes, we see that God's Kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven. It comes in you and me. Christ in us, revealed in us. He uses us. He declares us "not guilty," even though we will always be undeserving. He fills us with His goodness. He gives us His right standing, and promises us His glory (8:30).
That's where we are today. Fully ready. All there's left to do is "PUSH!" If there's any resistance to the delivery, then we just need to change position a little bit. Move. The emancipation is near. Likewise, (Romans 8:26) the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses (which means the inability to produce or give birth). The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us, and He comes alongside (sunantilambano) to mutually bear the same load and help us in this transformation.
This new birthing causes a cataclysmic advancing of the kingdom of God. It's here. Nothing can stop it. The kingdom comes. Not with observation (not seen externally), but from within, growing like a tree, like leaven, like talents rightly used. The Tree of Life laden with fruit and heavy with desire fulfilled emerges from within us.
That's good news of the gospel and we're privileged to birth life. The water is BREAKING.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.