29/12/10

Hold your mouth

Luke 1:67 - And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,


When John the Baptist was born although he was born of old age by Elizabeth yet all the attention at that time was captured by his father Zacharias.

Firstly he was made dumb for nearly nine months by the Angel before the birth of John. This was done so as to stop Zacharias who was full of doubt in his mind from opening his mouth and speaking negative words which would have hindered the birth of John.

We later see after the birth of the child when Zacharias was asked for the child's name while writing he was able to speak what he wrote and he also started praising God. This event caused a stir among the people so much that they started to wonder what great plans God must be having in the life of the child. At this point of time the Holy Spirit through the very mouth of Zacharias spoke about the life of the John.

If one checks the words of Zacharias through a Cross Reference, you will be able to link the words to scriptures spoken by the Prophets from the books of the Old Testament.

What we see through this testimony of Zacharias is that God has already declared the goodness and beautiful plans He has in the lives of His loved ones. What stops these blessings from being received are the negative words and thoughts which we speak and believe in. We need to be dumb like Zacharias when our hearts are troubled, heavy and burdened and we cannot think of any good things. We need to wait on the Lord and He will surely make us glad. We will surely at the end land up praising Him and His glory on us will be so much so that even others will be shaken by it.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, help us to overcome our anxiety and negativity. Help us believe that You have plans which are good for us. They may take time by surely they will be received in our lives. You have already set all our needs for us all through our lives. You have written the beginning and the end and know every thought of our hearts. Lord, take charge of our mouth and our minds so that we being filled by your Spirit speak the goodness You have set for us from the foundation of creation...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripture ]
Luke 1:12-22
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 Spirit, even from his mother痴 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.

Luke 1:59-80
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

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