Stormie Omartian - The Miracle of Christmas: 15 Inspirational Stories to Read Through the Advent Season

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover by Koechel Peterson & Associates, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota

Back cover author photo Michael Gomez Photography

THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS

Previously published as The Power of Christmas Prayer

Copyright 2000 by Stormie Omartian

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-5174-6 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-5176-0 (eBook)

The Library of Congress has cataloged this edition as follows:

Omartian, Stormie.

The power of Christmas prayer / Stormie Omartian.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 0-7369-1004-2

1. ChristmasPrayer-books and devotionsEnglish. I. Title.

BV45.O63 2003

242.335dc21

2003001998

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

With special thanks:
To Michael Omartian, Susan Martinez, Katie Stewart, and Roz Thompson, for praying this book into being.

To Bob Hawkins Jr., Carolyn McCready, Barb Sherrill, and the people at Harvest House, for making it happen.

This account of the birth of Christ is based on several Bible translations of the first and second chapters of Matthew and Luke, and the prophecies of Isaiah, Micah, and Jeremiah. I have also included specifics about the culture, geography, people, and government of that time according to a number of excellent historians and writers of Bible commentary. In cases where the experts did not agree, I made choices as to the details I included. These details do not affect the profound impact of the story one way or the other, except to provide a clearer picture of what life was like at the time. I have also taken the liberty of exploring the possible reactions, perceptions, and actions of the characters involved and coming to a conclusion about what they may have been thinking, feeling, doing, or saying in response to what was happening to them. While Scripture guides us in the basic story line, the inner workings of these individuals and the daily details of their lives are left to the imagination. But inherent in the characters and events of this first Christmas is a message for each one of us that is something worth praying about.

When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son.

G ALATIANS 4:4

This story happened once upon a time. But it is a true story and not a fairy tale, myth, old wives tale, or figment of someones imagination. The characters are not simply one-dimensional stick figures. They are human beings made of flesh and blood, with feelings, struggles, hopes, and dreams similar to our own. They are real people like you and me.

All of them, except for one, had something very important in common. And that is that they were each visited by an angel of the Lord and given revelation as to the part they had been called to play in the dramatic unfolding and fulfillment of the greatest promise God had ever given to His people. Even though this story took place more than two thousand years ago, there is something in every part of it, and in each person involved, that speaks powerfully to us right where we live our lives today.

The story of the birth of Jesus usually sits on a shelf for most of the year. We bring it out in December, dust it off, let it shine for a few weeks, and then pack it up shortly after Christmas and put it away for another 11 months. But this wonderful story has meaning for every day of our lives. It is a message of hope that says God always remembers His promises and fulfills them in His perfect timing. It tells us that God uses ordinary people who love Him to do extraordinary things for His kingdom. It encourages us to believe that God can birth something great in us, even when we know there is no possibility of that ever happening on our own. It assures us that with God, nothing is impossible. It reminds us that God loved us enough to send His own Sonpart of Himselfto be with us as a light in the midst of our darkness, and a hope in the center of our hopelessness, in order to bring us into an abiding walk with Him. May I suggest that this is a story for all seasons.

A long time before this story ever took place, God revealed important pieces of it to some of His prophets. He told them a day would come when His own Son would be born on the earth. Three of the most important of these prophets were Isaiah, Micah, and Jeremiah.

I f you were to compare each of Gods prophets to a musical instrument, Isaiah had a voice like a trumpet. It rose strong and clear across a wilderness of godlessness. It was a voice both cacophonous and melodic, depending on who was listening. It became Gods instrument, used to proclaim. To announce. To warn. And its sound wafted in the air long after the trumpeter had ceased to play.

Gods displeasure with your evil, rebellious, corrupt, and idolatrous ways will bring His judgment upon you, declared Isaiah in a voice of unwavering strength to the people of Judah.

Be quiet, Isaiah, said the people. No one wants to hear this.

You are an educated and prominent man, said the king of Judah. You are highly respected for your knowledge of history, economy, and theology. Why dont you stick with what you know? You and I enjoy a close relationship, Isaiah. Why do you strain it with these depressing predictions?

Its because I have a close relationship with God that I must tell you whatever I hear from Him, Isaiah replied.

In the midst of Isaiahs prophecy of gloom, however, came a message of hope.

God will bring a way of redemption to those with a humble and repentant heart, Isaiah said. The Lord Himself will give you a sign. The virgin shall conceive and she will bear a Son, whose name shall be called Immanuel.

Isaiah went on to explain that this Child, Immanuel, which means God with us, would be a righteous King who would rule the earth forever.

His name will be Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, he proclaimed.

Everyone liked this part of the message, but they didnt have hearts that were humble or repentant enough to receive it.

Micah had a voice like a timpani. It pounded out the beat of Gods will. Percussive, penetrating, noisy, and irritating to those who did not want to march to it. Clear, precise, rich, and majestically compelling to those who had a heart to follow.

Gods judgment is coming upon you! Micah warned the people of Judah and Israel. You people covet things and are rebellious. You have contempt for Gods Word and you worship false gods. You rich people are oppressing the poor. You rulers do not uphold justice. You will surely fall to your enemies unless you repent!

Youre too extreme, Micah, said the people. You speak well, but you never say anything nice.

Calm down, Micah, said the king. Dont you think youre taking your job a little too seriously?