Good morning friends! We will pause for a bit from the book of Acts for the Christmas story from the books of Matthew and Luke. For the next 12 days we will celebrate the Christmas story, and what my true love sent to me - Jesus! That will take us through Christmas Eve. Come let us worship Him together, and celebrate His coming then and now. He wants to come to us today and make His blessings flow in our lives. He wants to become more intimate with us, and fill us with His joy and peace. Let us open our hearts to receive Him! Lord, we thank you for a new day, where we can get to know you better. Your love for us boggles our minds, and we cannot understand why you love us so much. We want to trust you more. We want to delight your heart. We want to do and say only those things that please you. We want to serve you with gladness. We want to fall more deeply in love with you. Fill us anew with your Spirit this morning, and flood our hearts with your great love, so that others will be attracted to you through our lives. Luke 1:5-17 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 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. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 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.” The birth of John the Baptist is intertwined with the story of the birth of Jesus, so we will start there. This was the first king of Judea, Herod, who was not of Jewish descent. This was the time to look for the Messiah, the coming king. It was dark days for the Jewish nation, oppressed by Roman rule. Zacharias was a priest, and his wife Elizabeth came from the line of Aaron. Zacharias was from the division of Abijah. What that means is that he was ordained for a week of service in the temple. David had set this up because there were too many priests to serve. He divided them into 24 groups, and each group served for 1 week, so each group served twice a year. It was Zacharias turn to offer incense in the temple. Both he and his wife were godly, and lived righteously, walking in all the laws of God, and were called blameless. They were both old, and had no children. He was going about his business in the temple, when an angel of the Lord appeared to him. Zacharias was frightened, as any of us would have been seeing an angel of God standing right next to us. The angel told him not to fear, and that God had heard his prayers, and that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear him a son, and that they would call his name John. He would bring them great joy, and he would be great in the sight of the Lord, and lead many to repentance. He would not drink strong drink or wine. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mothers womb. He would also prepare the way for the Messiah. God was coming to His people - the time they all awaited for was at hand. This message was almost too good to be true to Zechariah. But Gods promises are always true - He had promised this time would come - when the Messiah would come to His people. God is still coming to His people. Let us open our hearts and receive Him. Lord, we thank you that your promises are always true, that your word always comes to pass, and that you come to your people. Come to each of our hearts today, and make our hearts your throne. Rule and reign in our hearts. Cast out our sin and enter into our hearts as king. Have your way in us, and make us true followers and disciples of you. Let your blessing flow in each of our lives this day by your Spirit. AMEN! Walk with the King today, and be a blessing! I leave you with one of my granddads favorites - There is Room in My Heart for Thee. Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown, When Thou camest to earth for me; But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room For Thy holy nativity. Refrain 1-4: O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee. Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang, Proclaiming Thy royal degree; But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth, And in great humility. The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest In the shade of the forest tree; But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God, In the deserts of Galilee. Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word, That should set Thy people free; But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn, They bore Thee to Calvary. When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall sing, At Thy coming to victory, Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room, There is room at My side for thee.” Refrain 5: My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, When Thou comest and callest for me.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 12:05:11 +0000
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