Podcasts about when zechariah

St. Luke 1:11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. St. Luke 1:12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. St. Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.

Our last show mentioned that even when we focus on living a righteous lifestyle, the challenge will lurk on possibly devouring us as we followed the life of Elizabeth and Zachariah. We'll pick up from where we left off and plunge more inward for life lessons and the opportunity to learn from history. Here is the second half of our Power Word. Luke 1 v10-17 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Pray and stay the course while starving the urge to be overwhelmed by fear. Notice Zachariah's intentionality to seek counsel from God through prayer, however even among an angel of the Lord, he became gripped with fear. God never intended for us to operate in fear; however, He prefers when we pray with accurate expectations, believing that He will bring forth victories in every sector of our lives. We are well aware that fear keeps us stuck in place, preventing us from living our lives by faith on the path to our purpose. YOU'RE A MIRACLE! God wants you to live life on Purpose.

Episode 104 – Interview with Patrick Prill 2 Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script Notes: In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, … All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy, chapter 3, verses 12 through 17 New International Version ******** VK: Hello! Welcome to another episode of Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. I'm Victoria K and today we're going to be joined again by Patrick Prill who has written a fascinating book entitled Things Atheists Say that Simply Make No Sense. Patrick was with us last time on Anchored by Truth and is joining us remotely today. We wanted to bring Patrick back on because we believe that some of the observations he has made in his book could help our listeners deal with some of the misinformation that circulates today in popular culture. In recent years there have been a number of books written by prominent atheists that have gained widespread attention in the press or culture. But all too often no one stops and looks to see whether the arguments being made by the atheists actually make any sense. Well, Patrick has taken a look and he has concluded that many of the ideas that have been widely circulated actually don't make any sense. Patrick has recorded his observations in his recently released book. And he aptly titled his book Things Atheists Say that Simply Make No Sense. His book would make a great morning devotional because the chapters are easy to read in just a few minutes but they give you a completed idea very suitable for meditation throughout the day. We'd like to welcome Patrick Prill back to Anchored by Truth. Patrick would you like to say a word of greeting to the Anchored by Truth audience and maybe tell us a little about your background? Patrick: Thanks for inviting me to join you on Anchored by Truth. - Introductory comments - VK: Patrick, can you tell us a little about why you decided to write the book Things Atheist Say that Simply Make No Sense? Patrick: Comments about reason for writing book. Question List: Patrick, you address observations made by some of the most well-known atheists of our age, people like Stephen Hawking, Peter Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and others? But one of the great things about your book is that you are only addressing their ideas and not them as people. We think this is a critical point. Our goal when we engage with people who disagree with Christianity is to help them understand – as 1 Peter 3:15 says - “the reason for the hope that lies within us.” We don't want to win arguments or embarrass anyone. We want to win souls. We want people to come to know Jesus so they can enjoy fellowship with Him for all eternity. Well, let's get to some specific questions. 1. Patrick, we live in an age where utilitarianism is a very common worldview. This is the worldview that says that our “worth is based on our usefulness.” You have a chapter in your book that addresses this misconception. Would you mind telling the Anchored by Truth audience why utilitarianism is inconsistent with the Christian faith – and why is it important for us not to fall into the utilitarian trap. Please help us understand why our value as human beings goes beyond just our looks, our wealth, our strength, or our capabilities. 2. You also address a related problem that “God isn't required for morality to exist.” In our Lord of Logic series Anchored by Truth addressed the many difficulties that arise for those who would like to find an objective system of ethics that doesn't acknowledge God's existence. Because without God any system of morality or ethics would ultimately be based simply on physics or chemistry. The starting point for a system of ethics that doesn't acknowledge God is ultimately based on nothing more the random collision of atoms and molecules. We'd like to hear your thoughts on the issue of how morality could possibly originate if God doesn't exist. 3. You also tackle the assertion that “real scientists” don't believe in God. We think that would be news to Dr. Jonathan Sarfati who is the lead scientist for Creation Ministries International and who has been a guest on Anchored by Truth. Dr. Sarfati has a Ph.D. in chemistry and physics and he leads a team of scientists who have doctorates in a wide variety of fields including biology, physics, paleontology, and other fields related to the truth of the Bible. How do you address the notion that real scientists don't believe in God. 4. Thank you for putting that business about who does or does not believe in God into perspective for us. Let's move on to another topic. You have an entire section in your book on religion and you take on some very common assertions such as “religion ruins everything” and “religion is the biggest cause of war.” What do you have to say about these assertions? 5. Anchored by Truth has done an entire series on miracles. You also address miracles in your book. How do you address the assertion that “miracles can't happen?” 6. I think that's a very interesting insight. You're absolutely right that “nature can't explain the existence of nature” and Anchored by Truth has done a couple of series on this subject. In our Lord of Logic series we talked a lot about the fact that the only alternative to a Creator God are various naturalistic explanations. But, as you've observed, none of the naturalistic explanations provide a satisfactory explanation of the existence of the universe in the first place. Nor can they explain how the random, chaotic collision of inanimate molecules and atoms can produce life much less intelligent life. And in our Truth in Genesis series - with the help of Dr. Sarfati - we talked extensively about how Biblical creationism actually aligns extremely well with the empirical observations we get from science. And as I mentioned Anchored by Truth has an entire series just on miracles. The big point is that any worldview that wants to provide explanations has to account not just for matter, energy, space, and time – but also for life, logic, language, law, purpose and intelligence. And explanations such as the general theory of evolution or undirected physics and chemistry leave more gaps than they cover. Well, let's cover one more topic for today. What do you say to some of the historical complaints that are made about Christianity? For instance, the assertions that “Jesus may or may not have existed” or that the Gospels are unreliable? VK: Before we close for today, Patrick are there any final thoughts or encouragements that you would like to offer to the listeners? Patrick: Final thoughts VK: We'd really like to thank Patrick Prill for being our guest on Anchored by Truth today. I think we can all be inspired by the kind of reasoned approach that Patrick uses to address objections that are lodged against Christianity. Patrick's story is just one more example of how sacred scripture –the Bible – continues to demonstrate its supernatural nature through lives that are changed for the better for all eternity by its saving power. Well, we've covered a lot of ground today. We've also seen that even atheists acknowledge that when they look at nature and out into the cosmos there is an incredible amount of design and intelligence evident. The atheists may classify this appearance of design as being an illusion. But as Christians we know better. We know that the universe and life appear designed because they are. This observation is not only Biblical. It is also logical. Occam's razor is the principle that the simplest explanation is usually the right one. The simplest reason for appearance of design in life and the universe would be that they were designed by an omnipotent Being who had the power not only to design but to create. We've also learned today that many of the objections hurled against Christianity don't actually hold water when they are examined closely. For instance, the presence of pain in our lives can serve a beneficial purpose if it used to help us cling more tightly to the true source of comfort. And it is very hard to find a basis for an objective morality unless there is a sovereign, just God that could establish a basis for true ethics and morality. Today for our closing prayer let's pray a prayer of adoration for God the Father who is, in the words of the Nicene Creed, “maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.” Certainly, the only path to true wisdom and righteousness starts by adoring and worshipping the One True God. ---- PRAYER OF ADORATION FOR THE FATHER VK: We hope you'll be with us next time when we will begin a new series on Anchored by Truth. And we hope you'll take some time to encourage some friends to tune in too, or listen to the podcast version of this show. If you'd like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We're not famous but our Boss is!” (Bible Quotes from the New International Version) 2 Timothy, chapter 3, verses 12 through 17. New International Version   The Role of the Holy Spirit in Prayer Orthodox Christianity has long held to the doctrine of the Trinity, that there is one God who exists eternally as three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Most people probably have well defined conceptual frameworks for the Father and Son, in part because we have earthly points of reference from which to guide our thinking. The Holy Spirit, however, is somewhat more mysterious to most of us. His mystery is deepened by the wide variety of guises in which He appears in scripture, e.g. tongues of flame in Acts, seven spirits before the throne in Revelation, seven eyes on one stone in Zechariah. Part of the solution to building a Biblical concept of the Holy Spirit is to look within the references we have to understand what He does and how He works, without trying to dwell unduly on the visual symbols used to communicate His attributes and activities. For instance, many observers believe that the number seven is often associated with the Holy Spirit, because the number seven in the Bible is a symbol for completion, i.e. God used seven days to complete creation. When Zechariah says that the Holy Spirit has “seven eyes” Zechariah is not trying to describe the Spirit's anatomy. Zechariah was a prophet. He knew that God was incorporeal, and his audience would have shared that fundamental understanding. Zechariah's depiction of the Spirit's seven eyes was a metaphorical way of saying the Spirit had complete vision of everything that goes on, or in other words, the Spirit is omniscient. Similarly, recall that in Acts on the day of Pentecost the Spirit appeared as tongues of fire that touched the disciples and instantaneously gave them the power to preach in languages other than their own. In addition, all present heard the sound of a mighty rushing wind. Therefore, here was a visible and audible manifestation of the Holy Spirit's ability to illuminate the heart, sweep away any impediments to His purpose, and interact powerfully with every believer simultaneously. This scene calls to mind the Spirit's omnipotence, sovereignty (wind goes where it wants), omnipresence, and ability to empower disciples to perform mighty acts beyond their human abilities. We learn from these instances, and numerous other ones, that the Holy Spirit is a full participant in all the attributes of deity, as holy, perfect, and transcendent as the Father and Son. Moreover, we also learn that the Holy Spirit is a personal being, not an impersonal, unaware, or unthinking force. The New Geneva Study Bible notes that “The Spirit is said to speak (Acts 1:16, 8:29, 10:19, 13:2), teach (John 14:26), witness (John 15:26), search (1 Cor. 2:10), will (1 Cor. 12:11), and intercede (Rom. 8: 26, 27). All these are the acts of an individual Person.” It is important that we have a firm grasp on the Holy Spirit's deity and personal nature in order to understand His role in our faith and in our prayer life. The Holy Spirit is the Person within the Trinity that applies the benefits obtained by the Son to individuals. The Holy Spirit works within the hearts and minds of people both before and after they embrace Christ as their Savior. Some people can define with great clarity and precision the moment they accepted Christ as their Savior, variously referred to as being “born again,” “converted,” or “justified.” Others cannot pinpoint a specific instant when they came to believe, often observing that they have always believed or that the awareness of Christ's work for them built more gradually over an extended period of a steadily developing relationship. Whatever an individual's specific salvation experience, the Bible clearly tells us that the Holy Spirit prepared the person to receive Christ, was instrumental in providing illumination about the work of Christ, and provided the inspiration that finally brought the person to the point of salvation. Yet, the Holy Spirit does not cease working within a person after salvation. The Holy Spirit continues to encourage a person to grow in their new life, increases their knowledge of Christ and His kingdom, gives them unique gifts for service, and equips them to withstand the wiles of the world, the flesh, and the devil. The Holy Spirit's role in prayer is particularly important. Romans 8:26, 27 says, “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” These verses teach us that even after being saved we do not know how we can best pray, for ourselves or others, but that the Spirit does not leave us to struggle alone. Most Christians will admit that there are times when they try to pray and literally all they find the strength to do is little more than groan or mutter. Such times can be very frustrating because we are used to seeing the focused prayers of the prophets, the carefully composed prayers at public gatherings, or the wonderful prayers we hear from others in prayer meeting and Bible studies. It is a true blessing to know that at the times we feel weakest the Holy Spirit does not cast us off but rather intercedes for us. The Spirit's intercession will be in a form of His choosing. He might provide fresh illumination, inspiration, or strength. He might lead us to helpful resources in the scripture or elsewhere whereby we can use words and prayers set down by others; or He might simply transform our deep-seated needs and longings into spiritual communion between the Father, Son, and us. Whatever form the Spirit's intercession takes, we can be comforted by the knowledge that His presence in a believer's life is unshakeable. If all chaos sought to steal the tiniest believer who has ever come to Christ, chaos would fail in the attempt. Here again, the believer's peace and confidence are grounded in, and strengthened by, an understanding of the omnipotence, immutability, and sovereignty of God. Because the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and Son there are occasions in scripture when prayers are directed to Him, and it is certainly appropriate to remember His work on our behalf with frequent adoration and thanks. Far from being a minor player in the drama of our redemption, salvation, and ultimate glorification, the Holy Spirit is central to the entire plan and we do well to meditate upon Him, His work, and the blessings He bestows on each of us.

Download this Podcast Luke 1:11-13—Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John." The post Do Not Be Afraid appeared first on Getting to Know Jesus.

Click to watch the video https://youtu.be/SR0QgOm3PBg GREATER GLORY OF GOD Presents Advent Special JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM Twenty-First Day in the company of Zechariah Let's know Zechariah, the husband of Elizabeth and the Father of John the Baptist • In the days of King Herod of Judea • a priest named Zechariah, belonging to the priestly order of Abijah • His wife, Elizabeth, was a descendant of Aaron • Both of them were righteous before God, • living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. • But they had no children • because Elizabeth was barren • and both were getting on in years.  An old man without any child  A sense of hopelessness  Mind-set – having been faithful to the Lord, but the Lord seemed to have been unfaithful  Children are God's gift – bible Psalm 127:3 Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Situation  Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty  he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense.  Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Appearance of the Angel Gabriel and Zechariah's reaction o Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord o standing at the right side of the altar of incense o When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him Reason for fear - a long gap for any message from God – drought of God's message - seeing the angel is equal to death – no one can see God and live o But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah” message about the birth of John  When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. Zechariah's doubt - Human inability – human naturality 18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” - Nothing new – examples of Abraham & Sarah Punishment for doubt because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.” The Birth of John and the prophesy of Zechariah Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy Jesus through the eyes of the Zechariah Zechariah's Prophecy Because of his disbelief, Zechariah had lost his speech and after the birth of John, the faith of Zechariah was restored and so his speech. We are called to speak of the wonders the Lord has done for us. Now he is prophesying about the Saviour --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/greatergloryofgod/message

GOSPEL POWER- DECEMBER 19, 2020 - SATURDAY Gospel: Lk 1:5-25 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.” Meanwhile the people were 19 waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.” REFLECTION Old age and frustrated hopes of bearing children have made Zechariah incapable of being surprised by the God of infinite possibilities. Prolonged waiting for unanswered prayers has led him to resign to his and Elizabeth's disgraceful fate. Thus, the angel's announcement sounded to him like “too good to be true.” We too, like Zechariah, often fit God into our time scheme with deadlines and expiration dates. We, too, are incapable of stretching our hopes beyond what is humanly possible, thus setting boundaries to what God can accomplish for us. Ironically, Zechariah has forgotten that his name means “Yahweh remembers.” His and Elizabeth's prayer is ever before God, for eternity knows no time limits. The God who can make the desert blossom (Is 35:1) can certainly make an elderly and barren woman's womb fruitful, just as in the history of Israel, he opened the wombs of Sarah, Rachel, Hannah and Samson's mother. PRAYER Lord Jesus, increase our faith in the God of infinite possibilities who opened even a virgin's womb to give you as a gift to humanity. Amen.

Welcome to the weekly sermon from Otterbein United Methodist Church, Navarre, Ohio. More at https://otterbeinconnection.org. This week’s scripture from the NIV Luke 1:11-20 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was …

     The pericope opens with a pronouncement of judgment against the leaders and land to the north and east of Judah (Zec 11:1-3), perhaps because of some wrong they’d committed against the Israelites. God then called Zechariah to act out a message to His people (Zec 11:4). The prophet’s first role was as a shepherd who pastured a flock that was doomed to slaughter (Zec 11:5-14), and his second role was as a foolish shepherd who selfishly abused his flock and was cursed (Zec 11:15-17). The bad shepherds abused the sheep (Zec 11:5), and were judged by God Himself (Zec 11:6). Acting as a shepherd, Zechariah took two staffs, which he named Favor and Union (Zec 11:7). God, speaking through Zechariah, stated, “I annihilated the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul also was weary of me” (Zec 11:8). The three shepherds are not identified and could represent three actual shepherds, three kings, or three offices of leadership such as king, prophet, and priest. Then, speaking to the nation again, the Lord states, “I will not pasture you. What is to die, let it die, and what is to be annihilated, let it be annihilated; and let those who are left eat one another's flesh” (Zec 11:9); this is presumably because of some sinful failing on their part. Zechariah took the staff he called Favor, and cut it in pieces, which represented God’s breaking His covenant with His people (Zec 11:10). This does not appear to be a reference to any of the major biblical covenants (i.e. Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Palestinian, Davidic, New), but a metaphor of the broken relationship between God and the people of Zechariah’s day. When Zechariah did this, he said, “the afflicted of the flock who were watching me realized that it was the word of the LORD” (Zec 11:11). Speaking as their shepherd—who had broken his staff—he asked them to pay him his wages, and they gave him thirty pieces of silver (Zec 11:12). God told Zechariah to take the money and “throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them” (Zec 11:13a). So he “took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD” (Zec 11:13b). This might imply the temple reconstruction was complete at the time Zechariah received his message. Matthew saw this symbolic act as prophecy concerning Judas and the betrayal of Jesus (see Matt 27:3-10). Zechariah then cut in pieces his second staff, the one he’d named Union, “to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel” (Zec 11:14). This verse is difficult to know who he’s talking about, since the separation between Israel and Judah occurred historically after the death of Solomon in 930 B.C. God called Zechariah to assume a second role, that of a foolish shepherd (Zec 11:15). This role was to typify a leader God would raise up to punish His people, one “who will not care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or sustain the one standing, but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs” (Zec 11:16). At times, God appoints unjust rulers to discipline His people (Isa 3:1-5; 10:5-11; Hab 1:5-10). Finally, concerning the unjust leaders in Zechariah’s day, God declares, “Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! A sword will be on his arm and on his right eye! His arm will be totally withered and his right eye will be blind” (Zec 11:17). Because of his sin, the foolish shepherd’s strength and intelligence will be crippled, rendering him unfit to lead. Overall, the chapter emphasizes God’s sovereignty to administer just punishment to nations, leaders, and His people.

Matthew 11:11 11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist   John 1 19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.   Luke 1 5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.   Luke 1 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.   Luke 1 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.   … And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins...   Malachi 3:1 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.   Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.   Matthew 3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.   John 1 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.”   Matthew 11 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.   Luke 1:17 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”   Luke 7:30 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.   John 1 “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”   Deuteronomy 18 15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” 17 The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites,   John 1 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” 24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”   John 1 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”   “every service which a slave performs for his master shall a disciple do for his teacher, except the loosing of his sandal.” The Gospel According to Matthew, Volume 40, By Leon Morris   Matt 11 yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Luke 7 yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Download this Podcast Luke 1:11-13—Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John." The post Do Not Be Afraid appeared first on Getting to Know Jesus.

Preached on Sunday, December 15, 2019 December 15, 2019God with Us Brings Joy Luke 1:5-25 New International Version (NIV)The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold 5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” The themes are - joy, gratitude, gift of Jesus, love. If you have been touched by this message but have never invited Jesus Christ into your heart, today is the day of salvation dear friend. So we invite you to pray with us this prayer with all your heart. "Dear God, I believe you send your Son Jesus Christ to die for my sins. I believe He rose again and gives me forgiveness. I make him Lord of my life and I ask him to please enter into my heart. Thank you Jesus Christ, and thank you that now The Holy Spirit lives in me for eternity making me a new creation! If you prayed that prayer, we encourage you to click on the following link https://www.scottstchurch.ca/first-steps to let us know of your decision to follow Christ. We will send you an online FIRST STEPS package! Congratulations and we want to support you and help you grow in your faith with Jesus, no matter where you are. If you have any prayer request, please email us at prayer@scottstreetchurch.ca Let's us know what's happening in your life right now. Please know that the Scott Street Church family loves you wherever you are, and we are here to serve you in the best way we can. Please subscribe to our podcast. Watch us on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/scottstchurch Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/scottstchurch Visit our website https://www.scottstchurch.ca Or support this Ministry by donating through PayPal by clicking here

Text: Luke 1: 1-25 1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold 5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Episode 26 in the series: Yeshua fulfilled all the prophetic requirements of the Messiah, the Anointed One – coming from the tribe of Judah (through his mother, Miriam), at the appointed time, preceded by John the Baptist, etc. John witnessed the Holy Spirit descending upon Yeshua and remaining upon him – the sign to John that this was the One. He declared himself to be “greater than Solomon,” “greater than Jonah” – in fact, to be the Son of God! He could not have been deceived, or a deceiver, and still be a ‘good man’ or a prophet.  He was and is who he said he was. He foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, but also that the Jewish nation would NOT be destroyed. He promised that he would return to receive his own and the angel at his ascension promised that Yeshua would return to the Mount of Olives, just as he left it.  When Zechariah describes this he refers to YHWH himself descending to the Mount – confirming that Yeshua is God! He warned us that many would come in His Name, that there would be many false Messiahs.  We’ve already seen the ‘Christian’ German people fooled by one of these – Hitler.  Not everyone who speaks in Yeshua’s Name has His authority to do so.  We need to be alert, discerning and knowledgeable in the scriptures to be sure of not being taken in by them. Above all, He promised that He WOULD return! -------------------- with music from: Kickin Grass Band (North Carolina, USA) – 'Pot Liquor', (On The Short Rows); Sammy Horner (Scotland, UK) – 'When I Think Of Heaven', (Celtic Praise Volume 4 – See Touch And Hear); Eamonn Costello and Cathal Clohessy (Ireland) – 'Sergeant Early's Dream', (Bosca Ceoil and Fiddle).   Produced by Precious Oil Productions Ltd for Kingdom Come Trust

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Luke 1:5-20 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/LUK.1.5-20

When Zechariah and the people of Judah returned from captivity in Babylon, they were called to rebuild the temple. But the Lord was specific that it must be accomplished not by their might or power, but by His Spirit. God's amazing grace showed in His help and provision, even to this unfaithful nation. So, how much more will He do when we are faithful and obedient? ON this day when the Lord is moving Harbor Rock in a fresh direction, we see the absolute need to only move forward under His leading and power, knowing that He is ready to do great things for and through His people.

  Bible verse for meditation: Luke 1:11-13 KJV 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. NIV 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John What does this scripture mean to you? Has it had a different effect this reading as compared to times past? How does this scripture make you feel? Continue breathing deeply as you ponder this meaning. Meditation on scripture / bible verse meditation: John the baptist was considered a great prophet. He became very influential in preparing the hearts of many people to receive the message of Jesus as the lamb of God. Jesus himself showed spoke of how important John was. He was so important that his birth and naming were declared by the voice of an angelic visitation to his father Zacharias. He doubted the proclamation of the angel and was made to not be able to speak until he wrote out that his Son’s name would be John, as stated by the angel. Despite the great plans that God had for Zacharias in the form of his son, this didn’t mean that he was ready to live the plan God had for him. Also it didn’t mean that John’s life would be easy or that the life of His parents would be great. It did however mean that God had a plan for them, as he does for us. Zacharias was doubtful about the declaration from the spirit. Despite having a prominent religious position, he was not ready to receive God’s will. This unwillingness was accompanied by a shortage of faith. It is quite interesting that God shows us in this scripture that despite what role we have in His church, or despite what we know or can do, if we are not trusting in God then we can miss the blessings that he has lined up for us. Humility and faith can work together to help us overcome. God certainly has a blessed path for each one of us. Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling being patient for your own faults and trials. Meditate and Visualize Positive Change in Your Life: Sue donated on Patreon and selected the scripture. Thanks Sue! Final Question: Has there been a time when you missed Gods plan for you? Each and every one of us have a life that allows us to learn and grow. The blessings and challenges we face can benefit for us if they draw our hearts to God and help our faith develop. As you have felt peace in your life during this meditation you have felt God’s spirit. As we let God’s spirit reign in our life we can experience joy regardless of what happens in our lives. Life is always improved as we trust God and trust his word for us. I encourage you to trust in God and as we do this we will be more aware of the blessings of God.     FIND ME ON: iTunes Facebook ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Youtube Twitter Pintrist                    

This is the third week of advent!!!! Such an exciting time of expectancy. The song "Wreckless Love" Jesus left the 99 to go after the 1. He didn't leave us alone, we have each other. This time of the year, How can we not look up and say, "What's next, Jesus?". "With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ bible.com/111/luk.1.3-4.niv Elizabeth was barren but, was considered righteous. Zachariah in vs. 2 was startled!!!! "In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God." ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:5-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬ bible.com/111/luk.1.5-16.niv Petition is a request or supplication, supplication carries more weight than a simple request!!! "Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."" ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬ bible.com/111/luk.1.18.niv The highlight above describes the amazing things that was foretold of their son. "Your a momma eagle not a momma chicken. Your job is to teach them to fly!!!" Did Mary and Elizabeth really know what was going to happen to their little boys??? The grace needed to know and forgive what happened truly happened, to know the true plan of God that their lives had to go through!!! "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:17-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬ bible.com/111/1ti.6.17-19.niv Paul was content with or without. Can you go through 25 days of contentment???! May we never lose our wonder!!! Who will you bless this week!!!!

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”Support the show (http://www.sanctuarychurch.nyc)

It seems like everyone wants to label you. That was the case with John the Baptist. But his identity was shaped by God. When Zechariah realizes this, it opens him up to healing, and a buzz of hope and anticipation in the air.

It seems like everyone wants to label you. That was the case with John the Baptist. But his identity was shaped by God. When Zechariah realizes this, it opens him up to healing, and a buzz of hope and anticipation in the air.

Luke 1:5-25 New International Version (NIV)5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your [...]

Luke 1:5-25 New International Version (NIV)5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your [...]

Starting at Luke 1:5, this session focuses on the man God destined to "prepare the way of the Lord," John the Baptist (Is 40:3). He is the long-awaited son of the Zechariah the priest of Abijah and the barren Elizabeth, an elderly couple who were "blameless before the Lord, following all this commandments and ordinances" (Lk 1:6) The so-called "Little Annunciation" refers to Luke 1:8-22, when the Archangel Gabriel appears to Zechariah in the Temple and announces that Elizabeth will conceive of John. As he towers over Zechariah before the Altar of Insence, Gabriel proclaims that John will not only be a Nazirite who lives according to the ordinances of Numbers 6, but he will "be filled with the Holy Spirit" from his mother's womb and will fulfil the prophecies of the end of the Book of Malachi and Sirach 48:10. Moreover, he will "turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before Him in the spirit 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." When Zechariah questions the messenger of God, he is struck mute until John's birth for his lack of faith, but his tongue loosens at the remarkable naming of his son. Now eight days old, John has been the talk of the hill country of Judah for five months, for some of his neighbors marvel at him, others are frightened and all ask "What then will this child be?" Simply put, John is the greatest of all the prophets who effectively sums up all the prophets and a saint of saints. All four Gospels begin with John the Baptist as the herald and preparer for Christ. Intentionally consecrated for divine intervention, John is filled with the Holy Spirit from within his mother's womb. The first prophet in 400 years, his ministry of baptism and repentance was unique in all of Judaism quickly attracts the attention of all of Israel. Baptizing thousands primarily in the Jordan he even extends his ministry to the Samaritans and is later captured ministering in the Northern country. His extraordinarily radical message condemns the government for its injustice towards the poor and indicts the corruption within the priestly leadership. Underscoring the presence of grace and divine design in John's life, Jesus chooses not to begin his ministry full-throttle until after John's death. John's ministry is relevant even today, for we must continue to prepare the way of the Lord and do whatever possible to prepare ourselves and our people for salvation by repenting and entering into the treasures of our Baptism.