Luke 1:66-79 ~ The Hand of the Lord was with him

Reprint from 12/6/2017
with additional

Luke 1:66-79

For the hand of the Lord was with him.

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."




Father God, we would ask You to bless us. In Jesus, Amen.

To receive a blessing from God - something is required of you.

To just be a 'receiver' from God. God tells us He will bless whom He will.

And what pleases God...

Absolutely to have - faith - in God's Love. The Hope God Loves you. Abraham believed God and this was credited to him as righteousness. Abraham was known to be a friend of God. Abraham received the Gift God had for Abraham, by faith.

Jesus Christ. God's Christmas Gift to us. Just as Jesus didn't just feed thousands in miraculous God Work's, Jesus has fed us and millenniums of the Children of God.



Zechariah's prompting in Luke's Gospel, Chapter 1, of the Holy Spirit is our gift in God's Son Jesus.

If God is for us, who can take our Blessings?
Jesus has made our Blessings secure.

When I think of the feeding of the multitudes, I believe the groups of 50 received the 5 loaves and 2 fish. Like the way I've seen 4th stage cancer healed. There was enough.

And the next group of 50 received some loaves and fish and there was enough. Suddenly the groups passing this along got a little faster passing the next group the loaves and fish - there was enough.

And then Jesus has fed the multitudes, the millenniums and us. Many, many people blessed and fed on the Living Word of God by His Son - our Christmas gift - Jesus.

Abundantly. Abundantly. Abundantly.

Imagine being near the Blessing of Jesus Christ. Let's go as far back as Genesis - Isaac is born. A Blessing spoken of by God Himself, the Almighty, to Abraham and Sarah - what surrounds them? The Blessing of God surrounds them and Genesis records Blessings. The livestock was reproducing amazingly well. Multiplying like Loaves and Fish. That time woolly.


Zechariah headed to a regular day. A Rabbi - a regular day in God's Temple. About the same as all of us - another day on this small planet of green and blue beauty in the middle of a barren solar system and in this small corner giving amazing Light and warmth. Amazing the mountains are colder at the top (closer to the sun) than the valley. The Word of God upholds - Life.

Zechariah entered the Temple.

 Going through the Court of Women, past the Gates history tells us open of their own accord by the Word of God.

Probably, Zechariah looked at the beautiful floors.

And going into The Temple.

Zechariah has now been toe to toe with God's Messenger. We learn reflection, serious reflection on a Gigantic milestone for you and for me. Mankind.

Zechariah has evidenced God is Forgiving and all God.

Zechariah remembers the first start opportunity to sanctuary - he could have refuge from God in the altar horns. He had become mouthy to God's Messenger.  The horns of the altar exist as safety. Zechariah has forgotten the mercy.

He begins where he should have started - God is our Refuge.

God is willing Sanctuary. Fear not.
And for our Father God to be this - He is forgiving and Loving. Salvation. Has God's nature changed? God was willing for Aaron to enter the Holy of Holies and display himself throwing blood. God understands we are not Holy. He Loves us. Immeasurably.

The mercy promised is given.

We have no need to fear God. Creator of All. He is as Holy and as far from our abilities as the Sun itself.

And as Gentle.

The Father of Jesus is Good as His Word and Promise. All of our days.

Jesus has brought us Peace. Showing us the Nature of God Himself.

God's Mercy has Prevailed. The Victory of Jesus is for us.

And Christmas is a Celebration of the end of these fears of doubt and war.

Jesus is our Certainty. And we have found Him to be Joy.

And this is the Announcement of Christ arriving. In our eternal foothold - our soul.



Mercy and Forgiveness, The Graciousness of God Abound.

Elizabeth has the opportunity to shelter a young cousin from 'departing with haste' from her family. God is giving opportunity to share blessings. More than Just the Blessing of a Savior for All of Mankind?

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The Blessings of the Shepherds to take their Heavenly Host adventure and see more. Blessings. The opportunity to share in Good News with Mary and Joseph. Blessings.

And we should not stop and we should consider - the day the childless Elizabeth and barren Zechariah continued their blessing. All male children are presented to the Temple.

What seems Improbable?

That mankind would be blessed beyond the Birth of their Savior Jesus.

Why? Why Bless Zechariah? Why Bless Elizabeth? Why Bless the Shepherds? Why have the Heavenly Host arrive to the Shepherds? Why Bless Bethlehem?

Why Bless Anna? Why Bless Simeon? Because our God, is Our Father and He feeds the multitudes for millenniums.

We can imagine with a feeling of certainty - Egypt was blessed having young Jesus, Mary and Joseph

His Word is Living and Alive. And we are blessed This Christmas Season.

Abba,

You have shown us our Blessings many times. We are fearfully made. Angels have longed to see. The soul in Promise of Salvation.

We pray Your Blessings upon us. 
Your Blessings upon our Loved Ones. Your Blessings upon the People You have given us. 

Your blessings on our ways of life, Churches, Schools - a place Honoring to You. Fostering nurturing. We pray Your Depth in our areas. In our States, many. In our Nation. 

We pray Christ's Holy Spirit gathering and giving increasing Love upon the Nations. 

And draw strength thinking of the prayers given and received world wide.

 Jesus Christ bring more good Heaven upon this earth. We rely upon Your Word always.


Blessings upon our Nation trusting in God. Blessings upon the Creation as Believers pray for more Heaven on earth each day. Blessing Nations trusting in Him

 Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

2 Peter 1:12-21 ~ The Morning Star rises in your hearts

Rome at Christmas Time , a rare snow.

1 Peter 1:1
In 66 AD, Peter writes from Rome to the Jewish believers in the Roman provinces of Asia Minor – in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.

2 Peter. 1:14-15
In 67 AD, Peter writes again from Rome, where he has been imprisoned and is about to be executed.

Christmas and the New Testament. The New Testament  at the end of James, Peter and John. These - touchingly - are the long road traveled.

Peter is not at home in his fine home on the Sea of Galilee where a house church has formed for the next 300 years. Peter is not thinking he will be Home for Christmas.

C. 1960  Peter's home was found under a byzantine Church and was recovered. He lived here with his wife and his brother Andrew and his mother-in-law. Peter never saw the aeral view of Capernaum - we are one of 5 generations to know aerial views.

Peter moved to Capernaum from Bethsaida near the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Hometown of the Apostles Simon Peter, his brother Andrew, and Philip. A blind man was healed during a journey to their hometown.

What does Peter have to say for the man who came back to Life ~ after 34 years? 
The Son of God -Jesus.

2 Peter 1:12-21

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 

13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body,to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 

15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.


16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 

19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 

20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 

21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Abba,

For all generations - You have been our Blessing.

When we are looking over our city, our lives, our years - You are always there.

And in this safekeeping, we are assured of Your Blessings and ability to have Hope and in overcomimg.

And in this joy, we place our Loved ones in Your care. Knowing You inhale our prayers, You are so close. A Revelation.


We entrust our Faith knowing more Heaven on earth will be seen. Peter never forgot seeing more Heaven on earth.
Giving us, in the Power of the Holy Spirit, our Nation and many others trusting in You.

We pray for Peace, Love, Joy and coughing to be kicked out of the house forever. Healed.

You are the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Matthew 12:14-21 ~ until He brings justice to victory, and in His Name the gentiles will hope

God would choose His Son to be born to an unwed mother in harsh conditions. To live this life.

When Christmas is not the Happiest Season of All.

We look in the Bible to find God walking the realities of this life. Jesus tells us life is Joy and gives us situations to know and remember when life is in difficulty.

The King of Kings has seen trouble and lived to overcome.


Matthew 12:14-21

14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah [42:1-3]:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Let's open our Bibles and find the time Jesus said, "Not today - you don't count - come back tomorrow - not Youuu, oh gosh, no."

Jesus wasn't a sidewalk hack or a temperamental star.

And Jesus could be relied upon to be unique. God's  Exact Nature. Yes, He healed them all.

And yet. And yet. And yet. One day.

Jesus said - you don't really count.
Another day - Jesus was too busy to go to a friend.

I remember a lot of miracles, the ones written about in more than a few sentences. Yet that small phrase "healed them all". Sometimes Scripture says they sought to touch Him & not just Jesus reaching out. Sometimes He physically touched them, and it also says merely, "He healed them all."

The age: slavery, war, destruction, highway robbery, people born blind & the parable of the Good Samaritan - this was a difficult time.

 Not just the people who were deaf, blind, ill, but the sorrow of the people who had seen difficult things happen to loved ones. Children who died, loved ones who died in child birth, people who were well and suddenly died of fever. There are a lot of stipulations in the Bible for the fatherless and the widow.

The hopeless, the fearful, the lonely & the cut to the quick.

These people who found Jesus had put aside the every day of life, they sought Him. Jesus didn't stay to quarrel, debate the Pharisees, shock, anger, and create a stir - - -

Jesus - from time to time - said, "No."

No? Surely Jesus repaired the bruised reed. Jesus rekindled the flickering flame, the light became a torch. Jesus gave hope & mercy to the word - justice. Jesus didn't select a few, the light of Jesus Christ is for all.

Jesus stood and was asked by the disciples to get rid of the woman to whom He said, "No."










Matthew 15
22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”


23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

God being God says what God would understand the best.

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”






 

The disciples came from, largely, Capernaum. A city created rather recently due to the need for food and goods by the Roman Empire. The Disciples knew gentiles and had argued for the Capernaum Centurion. NO WONDER why the disciples wanted the Canaanite woman swept past.

Aren't we glad the Holy Spirit never swept past us and left us wondering. 
Nasty ol Goy. Om. That's us. 
Shabbas goy. Gentile — goy·ish adjective, sometimes disparaging.

Funny of God when HIS mission statement is to save the World. 

What is Jesus doing saying "NO." God doesn't need to prove all the time that He is good. He is a Monarch. 

The woman Expected Jesus to do Good. She expected Him to be the "Helper."

The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

This is justice to the Gentiles - who never did help Israel. Jesus does Not owe her.

She does not retreat from seeing Jesus as merciful.

“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”





This Canaanite woman might have read about David. David routinely got into trouble. And the less loving prophets like Gad would come in to predict something Terrible. David would say, "Let me fall into the hands of God. He is merciful."



Mostly no parent in the world, wants their children to have to beg them. Unless, That Parent knows a valuable lesson will be learned. He expects their heart to teach others. Jesus is returning the favor of her trust.





 

28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” 

And her daughter was healed at that moment.

We learn. Jesus intended us to.

1. Jesus does not owe us.

2. He feels free to say, "No.".

3. Jesus trusts people.

4. Jesus especially trusts people who trust Him for solutions and miracles.

5, Jesus, just like His Father, wants His People to Expect Good from Him.

6. Jesus once told us the story of the persistent woman with the Judge. Jesus expects to answer those who keep asking. Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

7. Jesus doesn't expect us to treat Him as a waiter. The woman of faith knew Him to be Sovereign.


Thank You, Jesus Christ Lord. For answering our prayers. We will Trust in You. Amen. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †