Focus: It's My Turn To Testify!

Text: Lk.1:36

"And, behold, THY COUSIN Elisabeth, she hath ALSO conceived a son in her old age: and this is the SIXTH MONTH with her, who was called barren."

Elisabeth had lived from youth to old age without a child. She had prayed, believed, and hoped, yet no sign in sight. She had been a godly woman her entire life. She had been a loving and loyal wife to Zechariah, yet no fruit of the womb. And just when all hope of having a child was gone, Gabriel arrived from the highest throne in the universe with a message too sweet to be true. The news was that barren and aged Elisabeth would give birth to a baby boy in the course of time. And true to it, the word of Gabriel came to pass. 

Luke writes, "And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months…" (Lk.1:24). Elisabeth experienced a heavenly miracle. A woman with a dead womb carrying a child! That's a miracle. A woman who has for long passed the age of childbearing now pregnant! That's nothing short of a miracle. Luke says, "And after those days Elisabeth conceived…" Gloomy days are over. Barren years are passed away. Tearful and sorrowful times are gone forever. Elisabeth survives years of agony and hopelessness. She survives years of insult and gossip. God brings a new dawn upon her. The Lord enters her space and changes her story. Like a dream, Elisabeth is singing a new song and testifying of God's goodness. She says, "Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my REPROACH among men." By giving her a child God has taken away her shame and disgrace.

One important aspect of the story is that Luke says that Elisabeth "hid herself five months." Elisabeth goes into hiding for months. Why? Is she feeling ashamed or looking at her pregnancy as something too good to be true? Is she taking some time out to digest the whole experience? Is she saying to herself, 'Is this me? Is this really a baby moving inside my womb? What an incredible experience!' She hides herself. But the question is: why hide a miracle? This kind of miracle cannot be hidden. It's the kind of miracle that refuses to be hidden, regardless of how hard we try. Miracles cannot be hidden forever. How long are you going to hide your miracle? Elisabeth tried for five months to hide the pregnancy, but she came out of hiding eventually. The news of her pregnancy was flying around the whole country.

Another point: Six months into her pregnancy the same Gabriel arrives at the home of Mary, the cousin of Elisabeth, and announces another miracle, and this time it is Mary's turn. I call this, A season of family miracles. Elisabeth and Mary are cousins. God loves family. Six months ago it was the turn of Elisabeth to embrace a miracle. Now it is Mary's turn to testify. Two unique miracles in the same family. Miracle at old age and miracle for a teenage virgin. Unique miracles! One is married; the other is betrothed. Both are impossible situations, but divinely converted into miracles. Similar miracles, but remarkably different. As God announces Mary's miracle to her, He says, "Thy cousin Elisabeth hath ALSO conceived." In other words, you are not the first. 

God will do for you what He has done for another. God has done it before, and will do it again.

Someone in your family has a similar experience. Her name is Elisabeth. Go, find out from her that I do impossible things. I leave no one the same way I met them.

Listen to me: God is coming into your family with miracles. Let everyone get ready for a testimony! It will go from house to house and from one person to another.

Tell yourself: 'It's my turn to testify!' The gap between Elisabeth's miracle and Mary's is only six months. One miracle follows another in a matter of moments. God is bringing a suitable miracle into your life, a miracle with your name on it, and a miracle that will forever bury your shame and transform your story. It's a custom-made miracle. Miracle that fits.

Mary testifies, "For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed" (Lk.1:48). I believe you fall into the category of the blessed. Have you been in a tight spot for years? I announce to you that God has a miracle for you. Have you been in a dark place for a long time? I declare that the light of God will shine upon you. Whatever the situation, you are about to testify of a miracle. Look at yourself in the mirror, and tell yourself, 'It's my turn to testify. God will remove my shame and dry my tears. I trust my God and wait patiently for Him. Amen.'

by Bishop Moses E. Peter