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Dailies November 2020 |
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12/10/2020 Daily Devotions: by Christina Farris 57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. 65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. 66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. 67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit on God's people is nothing new, in fact the time of the Maccabeans when the second temple was built, we see there is a pouring out of the Holy Spirit as the cleansing of the temple took place. Only enough oil for one night last eight days. Today the Jewish begin national celebration of Hanukkah, which actually begins on Friday for the traditional religious celebration and the lighting of candles today. Yet the oil in the origin story last eight days as the people gather for worship. The power of God was with the people during this time. It not in regular Bible the story, but if you find Catholic Bible that has the added books you can probably find the story or the history surrounding the tradition. There is point there are some that would like to claim God turned away from the people. It is not something I will ever believe completely, because I believe God still worked in the believers life even if those without faith chose not to believe or to receive the evidence of the Holy Spirit. Now time of Zacharias and Elizabeth the second temple had been built and established. The second temple was where Zechariah had his vision and then unable to speak. After Elizabeth conceived she came out of home publicly after six months. Her appearance testified the blessing of God, but when she delivered Zachariah mouth would be loosened and he be able to speak as the name of his Son John was written down for him. From the moment his tongue was loosen and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Zachariah would prophesy both from past, present and future declaration of that the glory of the Lord did, had done and will do in the lives of God's people. He gloried God by the power of the Holy Spirit. Zachariah prophesied about the salvation and redeemption from God because God visited his people. Did he understand it all, I do not think so, but he understood that salvation had come to the world, that the promises of God for remission of sin was here. That this Savior would guide our feet in the way of peace. That his Son would be called a prophet of the Highest, which he was he was called Elias/Elijah. We can not deny God ministered to his people. We can not deny God speaking to his people even at the time of rebuilding the Temple. If we close our eyes to the reality that God was for his people even in the time they were seeped in sin we can never understand the exile was punishment for sin and a form of correction from God, that his people would not live in sin despite they were his people. He never let his people go, and those who worshipped and obey God and was trapped by the sin of the neighbors in the punishment knew God's protection. Joseph in the Old Testament in the book of Genesis found God's grace even in his storm during his life time. His storm not because of his sin, but because of his brothers sinned. This prophesy was for Israel, but not all would receive the truth of this message or the coming of their Savior. Yet it would be recorded. Let us hold to the traditions of faith that remind us that the Holy Spirit is with his children of obedience, even in their times of doubt and misundertanding. Even Zachariah had to battle out his faith and the appearing of his Son John was enough for him to know the reality of the blessings of God were real. What does it take for you to believe what God says to be true. Will you heed to his Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not been given, but the Spirit of God still came upon his people and in John 7 we see until Christ would be glorified the Spirit would not be a permanent gift to the believer. Dear Heavenly Father help us hear your Spirit and to trust in your power, til the time of Christ return. In Jesus precious name Amen. Continual Scripture Study: John 7:39 KJV39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
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