Luke 1 ~ the whole multitude of the people were praying

 

Luke 1

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,
 of the division of Abijah. 

And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 

10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 

19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 

21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”


26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed[b] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[e] will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.


39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[g] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”


46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.






57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
Zechariah's Prophecy

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71
that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Technically, while the world is wondering what to do with the New Year, this is still Christmas. The Magi will create Epiphany January 6th. And Christmas is completely put away January 7th. Merry Christmas !!!





What else parallels The First Christmas, the Birth of Jesus Christ?

The people had political unrest and wealth and discomfort and customs were replacing the worship of God in Spirit and in Truth. The leaders were married to their sister in laws. The Governor slaughtered people in worship.

This is when Zechariah proclaims his hopes for his child - John.

We will serve God without Fear.

Thank You God for this Country. Founded to protect the worship of God in Freedom.

We will not fear and we will continue in Jesus each day.

Psalm 100 is a Psalm of Gratitude ~ a profound Word of God.
His Gates are Open.

And circumstances are in His Hand to make us or to improve us or suffer us to change us.

It is HE who made us. We have to look at our choices each day and make them with His help.

If our hearts chose to be hostile, angry, impassive, rude, needy, grasping, inattentive, unavailable - then we have not put our eyes on Him as He asks. There is a time - we all will reach a needy state, such as being elderly and we will hope in Jesus Christ we have built our fortress in Him for continued internal hope, faith and love. In this fortress - our soul - having a Light of Jesus shining.


I saw my grandmothers diminish and provide a harbor in their wind down. I hope to be this as well. Psalm 23 says that we leave goodness and mercy as our footprints. Jesus says we will shelter those who rest in His goodness. He says we will provide shelter for the subduing of the earth and a path through the wilderness.


The young will not appreciate the passage. However this is for TODAY. For All Ages. We think in our 20s we are preparing for our important years ahead. Sure. But really we are building our fortress now. Our internal strength of good choices to say - I have been pleasing to Father God. When you know you have pleased God, the wild winds of life may howl, but inside you have warmth and peace - a pleasant place to dwell - within yourself.




The New Testament is interesting. Paul certainly knew of Jesus - as He worked His Ministry - as a Temple Official. And after Jesus was victorious over death - The Temple had much, much more to contend with. Letters survive of miracles and miracles and miracles in the Name of Jesus. And Paul, we see had a very real relationship with Jesus Himself. Just like we do today.

Not just old men running around in the Middle East wearing robes worn today only by royalty; Paul was subduing the wilderness saying Jesus is real, even after His sitting down at the right hand of God. Jesus is available to help us - with such joy and willingness.




I love to hear Father Francis MacNutt proclaim Jesus after 40 years of a healing ministry. The willingness of Jesus, of the Holy Spirit, of Father God, to love us far below the level of Creator of the Universe. And to see us and want us to live in His Kingdom today and always.




What we need to do is trust Jesus, the level of His willingness - knowing He has made us and not we ourselves. The Word of God assures us Jesus knows the vastness of the Heavens, families in Heaven and on earth are named by Him. Jesus knows the numbers of hairs on our heads and when the sparrow falls to the ground. His People, His Creation are cherished by Jesus Christ, each day.



Father God, 
Please let my heart, my soul, my words, my mind be pleasing and acceptable in Your Sight. My Rock and My Redeemer. Cover all my loved ones and the People You give me in the Highest Name of Jesus. Surround this city, state and Nation in Schools, Churches, Work Places and Governing With the Light and the Love and the Faith of Jesus Christ. We lift up our cares to You.

Rejoicing in seeing the Heaven You place near to us in Your Goodness. Blessed are You Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †