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Dailies November 2020 |
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12/04/2020 Daily Devotions: by Christina Farris 1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. 23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. The day of administration for the Priesthood was to enter into the holies of holies a sacred place only priest could enter where the ark of God resided. It was a place so holy priest tied a rope to their waist and was pulled out if they died before the Lord. The Holies of Holies was a place if one was wretched in sin you did not enter, or you would surely die. Zachariah perform his duties went into the Holies of Holies and there while praying he had a visitor an angel from the Lord whose name is Gabriel. We will be looking at the significance of this angel in another devotion, but right now we looking at the story of Zachariah and this vision he had concerning the fact his wife is to old to have a baby but was said she was going to have a baby.. She was going to give birth and Zachariah was going to be a father. I think of all the difficults of being young and getting pregnant for some, imagine being told your wife past child bearing and she going to have a baby and his name is going to be John. Not only John but because of a lack of faith you are not going to be able to speak because of unbelief. He did not say he would not believe, God perceived in his heart that he did not believe and yet the angel told him these things. It a sad day when a minister believes not God or his messenger and even may prophecy the lies of Satan because they believe not God. Accuracy to believing and not only believe but to tell the truth of the facts of God is important. All make mistakes. Unbelief in a minister is not unusual. Why no one sees angel often for one and if it happened to you despite all the stories you heard would you believe. I often wonder what would we believe if God speaks directly to us not by Spirit but in a vision, dream, or through an angel during our prayer life. When there no noise around us, but God's presence is felt and known to us, and yet an angel comes maybe even sits or stands beside us and begins to speak. Would we believe. In today's world would the average person think we are crazy or why are we blessed and they were not. Perhaps it is good Zachariah lost his ability to speak after all. However if God speaks then it not always based on our ability to believe for something to come to pass in our life. Zachariah no doubt when he walked out of the temple unable to speak knew what God told him would come to pass. God choose Zachariah and his wife because of the righteousness. The fact they were believers and lived according to the laws and ways of God. Doubt and unbelief can follow believer. If you have doubts about what God speaks to you, do not worry, it is a normal reaction, a normal hiderance in faith and even sometimes a struggle. God speaks he will reveal himself to you or you will know it is Him. If angels is from God you might need his name. Reason for the name we will see tomorrow as we look back in scripture at the significance of the name Gabriel. Zachariah only choice was to wait on the Lord concerning the message the angel gave him and see if his wife would have a child. Can you imagine not being able to speak but you leave the temple and the people around you want to know what happened inside. What evidence because of the delay in his coming out of the temple, that something had happened inside the temple, Not only a delay but when Zachariah came out he beckon them over with his hands to come here. The people understood Zachariah had a vision from the Lord and believed. You can not lie to God about unbelief he sees your heart, but be honest about it. Mary asked how would this thing be when she spoke to Gabriel later in this same chapter. Stop think and an ask for evidence and don't tempt God or you land up like Zachariah unable to speak. Seek God to understand what God speaks to your heart about, ask him. Know it so you remember when it comes to be. This story is recorded for the church benefit. This is recorded for you and I, so the world can know how the prophecy around Christ birth happened and evidence came to people of old age, who had not conceived until the angel spoke to Zachariah. The inability verses the power of God can be clearly seen in life of Zachariah and his wife. Dear Heavenly Father help us not to be doubters of your word but believers in faith even when your Spirit speaks to our hearts. Help us to be wise to ask when, where, what and how this is to be. Teach us to understand what you speak to us. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study: Luke 1:34 KJV 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?(Mary is Joseph betrothe not Zachariah. Elizabeth is Zechariah wife.)
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