THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (Part I)
For the next few
days of Advent, let us prayerfully revisit the wonderful revelation of
God-in-Christ that is the heart of the Christmas story:
Luke 1;5-33 (New King James Version)
5 There was in the days of
Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of
Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both
righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the
Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child,
because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in
years.
8 And it came to pass, that
while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of
the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple
of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of
the people were praying without at the time of incense.
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.
14 And thou shalt have joy and
gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in
the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he
shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of
Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him
in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.
18 And Zacharias said unto the
angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well
stricken in years.
19 And the angel answering
said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to
speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be
dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be
performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in
their season.
21 And the people waited for
Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he
could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the
temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, that,
as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his
own house.
24 And after those days his
wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt
with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among
men.
26 And in the sixth month the
angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a
man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was
Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto
her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she
was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this
should be.
30 And the angel said unto
her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt
conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and
shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him
the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the
house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please
(above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.
Maranatha!
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