As we celebrate the miraculous
birth of Jesus Christ, we will allow the Word of God to rekindle our gratitude
for the great and gracious gift of the only begotten Son of God.
Luke 1;5-33 (New King James
Version)
5 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. 6 And they were both
righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the
Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child,
because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the
order of his division, 9 according to the custom of
the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the
temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of
the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord
appeared to him, 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 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. 14 And you will have joy and
gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 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. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their
God. 17 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.”
18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I
am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who
stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these
glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will
be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because
you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered
so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he
could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the
temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.
23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed,
that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his
wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has dealt
with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my
reproach among people.”
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city
of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed
to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the
angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with
you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his
saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will
conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and
will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the
house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Amen!
Amen! Amen!
Sisters and brothers,
be continually blessed and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO
MEET YOUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
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