Author: evangelist_breland

Luke 1:14-17, NKJV

As Zacharias fulfilled his chosen lot to serve as priest, he was troubled and afraid when an angel of the Lord appeared to him. Surely his reaction is indicative of how anyone of us would react because of the presence of God. And the angel encouraged and reassured him that he did not need to be afraid because his prayer is heard; his wife Elisabeth will bear him a son, and he will call his name John (vv.8-13).

The angel continued a monologue prophesying to Zacharias about his promised son. The angel said that he will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at the birth of his son (v.14). For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb (v.15). And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God (v.16). He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘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” (v.17). 

What good news the angel delivered to Zacharias! After all the years that he and Elizabeth walked righteously and obediently before God, they will be honored with a son who will give them joy and gladness, and he will be great. This reminds us that God answers prayers of the faithful who “… wait patiently for Him” (Ps.37:7a) because He is purposeful in all His ways.

Lift up your voice and shout, “Glory!”

 (Luke 1:5-13, NKJV) 

When children of God pray, they do expect an answer. However, we don’t know when, where, nor how the all-knowing God will answer our prayers. A certain priest, named Zacharias, and his wife Elisabeth were examples of such a situation. They were both righteous before God, walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord (vv.5-6). But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years (v.7). 

According to the priesthood custom Zacharias was chosen by lot to serve as priest before God in the order of his division (v.8) to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense (v.9). While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying (v.10). Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias (v.11); when he saw the angel he was troubled and afraid (v.12). The angel gave him prophetic reassurance, telling him not to be afraid, because his prayer is heard, and his wife Elizabeth will bear him a son, and he will call his name John (v.13). Children of God have the right to “ask, and it will be given to you” (Matt. 7:7a). In His infinite wisdom the Lord is never late. Zacharias probably made this request known to God long before he and Elisabeth were well advanced in years even though she was barren. Now, they will have a son to be named John – Jehovah shows favor.

Zacharias and Elizabeth may have given up on having a child, but God is purposeful in everything He does.

Lift up your voice and shout, “Glory!”

1 Samuel 15:1-11, NKJV

In 1 Samuel 15:1-9 Samuel told Saul that God sent him to anoint him as king of Israel. That day Samuel also told Saul that the Lord sent him a message, commissioning him to utterly destroy Amalek their enemy for how he treated Israel when Israel was coming out of Egypt. This command was a test of Saul’s obedience to the voice of the words of the Lord. He will be king of God’s chosen people; therefore, it is important that he obeys the voice of the Lord. Was Saul obedient to the Lord’s voice? No, he did attack the Amalekites, but he was not completely obedient to God’s command to utterly destroy them and all that belonged to them. What did Saul and his people do? They totally destroyed everything that was worthless or of poor quality but spared Agag their king along with the best of all the livestock.

Brothers and Sisters, you cannot deceive the Lord; He always knows heart. It is not a small matter when God appoints you to a position of leadership. James 4:10 commands that we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Saul’s disobedience disappointed the Lord. He came to Samuel and said (v.10), “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night (v.11).

Lift your voice and give God glory!

Ezekiel 34:11-16, NKJV

In verse 10 Ezekiel prophesied of God’s intervention on behalf of His people, Judah, that irresponsible leaders failed. The Lord God said: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.” The Lord declared His love and protection of Judah from selfish, corrupt leaders. “The Lord is right and good in all His ways, and kind in all His works” (Ps.145:17, NLT). “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD” (Jer. 17:7). 

In Ezekiel 34:11-16 the Lord promised to restore His people. He declared that He Himself will search for His sheep and seek them out. Though the shepherds who were supposed to care for them failed, the Lord God said that He will take the responsibility of His people. He will be their Shepherd and deliver them from exile “from all the places where they scattered on a cloudy and dark day.” In other words, God promised to bring His people out of Babylonian exile (other places too) and restore every Jew to Israel. There are consequences for your sins. Judah and their leaders caused them to be driven into exile. But ultimately, it was God Himself who carried out the punishment for His people’s repeated disobedience. However, the true Shepherd promises to restore His flock. Obey God and be kind to others. 

Lift your voice and give God glory!

Ezekiel 34:10, NKJV

In verse 10 Ezekiel prophesied of God’s intercession to save His peoplethat the irresponsible leaders failed. “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”

God is our Creator, and everything belongs to him. He expected the shepherds to shepherd His people. Failure to do so was like turning against Him. Romans 8:31b asks: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” God’s love for His people is everlasting, and no one can be against us. Paul said that ^“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him graciously give us all things” (Romans 8:32, AMP)? 

Ezekiel continued the prophecy, saying God promised to “require my flock at their hands” (v.10b). Shepherds should be careful to not selfishly neglect God’s sheep and turn against Him. The God of love promised to intercede for His people and pour out His wrath, holding the irresponsible shepherds accountable for mistreatment of His sheep. This is a sharp reminder that we should not become enemies to the Lord. The law of reaping states that every person will reap what they sow and be responsible for their own destiny. God holds leaders accountable; He expects them to be just in the service they give in the church and community.

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!