Advent Reading In His Word Day 2

 Advent Reading ~In His Word Day 2 December 2, 2020


 




Sometimes we must reread things to clarify what it is that was said. Yesterday I mentioned that Zechariah laughed but as I read back in the New King James version of the Word of God, I see that he was more doubting than laughing. Due to his lack of belief the angel of the Lord, Gabriel, took away his ability to speak until he had to tell them on a tablet what John was to be called.
We have the choice to believe and be saved, according to the scripture in the book of Acts 16:31. Zechariah, or Zacharia as some versions spell it, chose to doubt that his wife was able to bear a child at such an old age, but we know that God is able to anything and if we believe it we will see it!

11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,  and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” Luke 1:11-20

After John’s birth his father was able to speak again. He also was able to prophesy over his son John.

Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

 “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.  You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.                Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”  John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel. You can read the full prophecy in Luke 1:67-80.

John grew up in the desert one version said, the wilderness reads another translation. Either way God provided for his every need and he grew up in the knowledge that he was chosen to be the voice of one calling from the wilderness. What an honor!

He was called by God yet had to wait for the time to be right.

Sometimes we may feel like we are in the wilderness, or a place in a dry life. I mean that our prayers can feel dry, our worship can feel dry, even the Word can feel dry to us when our spirit is not attuned with God. When we remember who we are in Christ, that He gave us the Holy Spirit to lead us, and when we open up our hearts to hear what He is saying… it can be a life giving living river flowing through us just as John the Baptist stood in as he baptized the people and told them to repent! When we are walking in the Spirit we will feel the excitement of the season, the excitement of celebrating Jesus’ birth, and we will fill up with songs and hymns a spiritual songs making music in our heart to the Lord! Then our hearts will be full of peace, Joy and the excitement for what God will do with this time we are alive in! Then we will trust God to bring us through the dry land to live and dwell in the place in life that He has put before us to fulfil the purpose He brought us here for. Just like John who was said to have lived on locust and wild honey prior to his ministry beginning just as Jesus was beginning His, we can walk according to our callings. In Jesus’ name.

Today, think on the faithfulness of God. Read Psalm 27, and remember His goodness, His faithfulness to all generations!