Christmas 2018 A Story of Contrasts (Zechariah, part 2)
Hello this is Eric again. A friend asked me, “How can I know that the Bible is true?” So, I am taking some time to answer my friends question and to do this I am looking at one of the evidences the Bible gives to answer this question, Prophecy.
(Read the previous blogs here)
Sometimes we need to just stop. To stop and think. To stop and take a deep breath. To stop and allow God to re-align our hearts with His—to make sure we are going where He wants us to go. And, sometimes, God needs to stop us and do this for us—this is called discipline.
Zechariah was in a 9 month stop. Last time we talked about him, he had doubted whether or not God was really big enough to do what He said He would do. Zechariah hasn’t been able to talk for these past 9 months, and his son has been born. In Jewish culture, on the 8th day, their son would be circumcised and named, and everyone had their opinion on what the boy should be called—they wanted to name him after dad, Zechariah Jr. Elizabeth said his name was to be John, but they deferred to dad, hoping to win the day. Zechariah asks for a tablet, and writes “his name is John” and then…Instantly, he can talk.
Amazement falls on the crowd. They see something happening, and begin to wonder what God is going to do with this child, and then something wonderful takes place.
You see, for 9 months Zechariah has had the unique chance to stop, and breathe, and listen. He has had the chance to observe, and understand, and ponder. I know that this can be an uncomfortable time, but Zechariah had to humble himself (he didn’t know if God would give him his voice back) and find a new way to live. Part of this new way, was a better understanding of who God is and what God is doing. We all need that. Sometimes we choose to do this, and sometimes, well, God loves us enough to help us get there.
In Matthew 4:4 Jesus says,
“People do not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
We need to spend time with God. Need. We need to hear His voice, and allow Him to clean us up, and re-align our hearts with His. So here’s the question—do you? Or, have you gotten to a place where, when God clearly talks with you, you won’t hear Him—like Zechariah?
What happened next gives a beautiful picture of what hanging out with God might look like. Zechariah knows God better. Zechariah is excited about who God is and what God is doing. Zechariah is willing to trust and obey God , with joy. And, (especially for why we are taking this journey together) Zechariah is led by the Holy Spirit to have a glimpse of what God is going to do through his son—God uses Zechariah to prophesy (Luke 1:67-79).
“‘Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy: ‘Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant—the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. ‘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.’”
Through Zechariah’s stopping and being with God--albeit discipline--we have the first public proclamation that God’s gospel has begun. What will God do in and through your life as you lean in with Jesus?
Do you want to walk on this journey with us?
Subscribe here
(Read the previous blogs here)
Sometimes we need to just stop. To stop and think. To stop and take a deep breath. To stop and allow God to re-align our hearts with His—to make sure we are going where He wants us to go. And, sometimes, God needs to stop us and do this for us—this is called discipline.
Zechariah was in a 9 month stop. Last time we talked about him, he had doubted whether or not God was really big enough to do what He said He would do. Zechariah hasn’t been able to talk for these past 9 months, and his son has been born. In Jewish culture, on the 8th day, their son would be circumcised and named, and everyone had their opinion on what the boy should be called—they wanted to name him after dad, Zechariah Jr. Elizabeth said his name was to be John, but they deferred to dad, hoping to win the day. Zechariah asks for a tablet, and writes “his name is John” and then…Instantly, he can talk.
Amazement falls on the crowd. They see something happening, and begin to wonder what God is going to do with this child, and then something wonderful takes place.
You see, for 9 months Zechariah has had the unique chance to stop, and breathe, and listen. He has had the chance to observe, and understand, and ponder. I know that this can be an uncomfortable time, but Zechariah had to humble himself (he didn’t know if God would give him his voice back) and find a new way to live. Part of this new way, was a better understanding of who God is and what God is doing. We all need that. Sometimes we choose to do this, and sometimes, well, God loves us enough to help us get there.
In Matthew 4:4 Jesus says,
“People do not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
We need to spend time with God. Need. We need to hear His voice, and allow Him to clean us up, and re-align our hearts with His. So here’s the question—do you? Or, have you gotten to a place where, when God clearly talks with you, you won’t hear Him—like Zechariah?
What happened next gives a beautiful picture of what hanging out with God might look like. Zechariah knows God better. Zechariah is excited about who God is and what God is doing. Zechariah is willing to trust and obey God , with joy. And, (especially for why we are taking this journey together) Zechariah is led by the Holy Spirit to have a glimpse of what God is going to do through his son—God uses Zechariah to prophesy (Luke 1:67-79).
“‘Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy: ‘Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant—the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. ‘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.’”
Through Zechariah’s stopping and being with God--albeit discipline--we have the first public proclamation that God’s gospel has begun. What will God do in and through your life as you lean in with Jesus?
Do you want to walk on this journey with us?
Subscribe here
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