This blog by Mario Murillo was released on December 25th 2022. Read how it matches what we are seeing right now. MMM

Will we ever see another moral awakening in America? The Christmas story in Luke chapter 2 is embedded with some surprising answers to that question.

The first revelation Christ wants to give us is hidden in this phrase: It was not what they expected, but it was what they needed.

The cast of characters who were involved in the first Christmas experienced inexpressible joy and jubilation. But first, they had to get over a major shock. The events of the birth of Christ were nothing like what they expected.

It was not what they expected, but it was what they needed.

Given the fact that this was the birth of the Messiah, they thought that it would be greeted by all of the Kings of the world, complete with towering gifts, pomp and festivities beyond comprehension.

The Jews also assumed the Messiah’s advent would be celebrated in Jerusalem at Temple—they never foresaw that it would take place in a decrepit stable in Bethlehem. Revival is just like that. It does not come the way you expect it, or happen where you expect it.

Revival will not come in the package that modern Christians delight in—nor will it be delivered to the address we expect. It will not come through what are considered ‘proper’ channels of Christian celebrity. There will be no sold-out concert, festooned with all the features of modern entertainment and technology.

It will not be a hot ticket. It will be a holy fire. It will not be what we expect. It will be what we need.

Revival will come to America in an unimaginable way. 1 Corinthians 2:9, As it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

It will not be a hot ticket. It will be a holy fire. It will not be what we expect. It will be what we need.

He does not do this just to jolt the high and mighty. He does it in order to fool the devil. Satan cannot stop what he cannot imagine. The evil one, knowing scripture, expected that Messiah was coming, but because of his vanity, he missed how Jesus would come.

Satan guarded all of the main roads. He kept surveillance on the usual suspects.  But he did not realize that his greatest nightmare was a pregnant woman and a poor carpenter. He did not imagine that the One Who would crush his head would not appear as a mighty warrior, but as the most helpless entity in nature—a human baby.

Revival in a modern manger of no reputation, led by people of unrecognized talent, makes divine sense. It will not be what we expect, but it will be exactly what we need.

The great shock of the first Christmas created strange reactions. Those we might assume would welcome it, instead, opposed it. And those we would expect to reject it, became its greatest advocates. The same applies to the coming Awakening. You will be shocked when you see who will fight it, and who will accept it.

Zacharias the priest was the first person invited to the Christmas story. He was chosen to be the father of John the Baptist. The Bible describes Zacharias as “…righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). But when the angel Gabriel appeared to him, he resisted his calling.

The same applies to the coming Awakening. You will be shocked when you see who will fight it, and who will accept it.

Luke 1:18-20, And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

Wow. The very man who should be advancing the Kingdom, finds himself muzzled.

Some of the loudest advocates for revival in the church right now—and some that have even written many books on revival—will likely resist it when it comes. Simply because it did not start with them.

A ministry must never so fall in love with their own methods, reputation and identity, that they would be threatened by revival. No one should ever assume that revival must come through their ministry or their denomination, lest they find themselves fighting against the very thing they claim to be fighting for.

On the other hand—many who we least expect to, will jump into the Awakening! The shepherds were rough and rugged men, not given to old wives’ tales. They were the last men we would expect to have emotional experiences. Yet, they were the very ones God chose to be the first evangelists of Christmas. And they embraced the call without hesitation or doubt.

Luke 2:15-18, “So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”

Will Revival come to America? Christmas says, yes! But the fuse of Revival will only be lit by those who want it more than their dignity—more than recognition—more than comfort, safety, and even life itself.

Pray for Bakersfield!