The beloved physician Luke wrote concerning Zacharias, “there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord 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 unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 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. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 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. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years”, and in chapter one and verse nineteen of his book Luke shares how the angel said to Zacharias, “I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God”, where we read:
And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God;
and am sent to speak unto you, and to show you these glad tidings.
The verse reads, “And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; ” Luke began with the words, “And the angel answering” or “and the messenger and envoy beginning to speak and respond” “said unto him” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Zacharias”, “I am Gabriel” or “I, the angel, and Gabriel whose name means man of God and is one of the angel princes or chiefs of the angels”, “that stand” which means “who is set at hand, present and near” “in the presence of God” or “within the occupied place before, opposite and in the face of the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Luke shared how the “angel” revealed who He was, “Gabriel”, who is set and in place before the “face” of “God”.
The verse continues, “and am sent to speak unto you, and to show you these glad tidings.” Luke added the words, “and am sent” which means “and is ordered to a place appointed, sent away, driven and departed”, “to speak unto you” or “to utter, declare and proclaim to Zacharias”, “and to show you” which means “to bring, announce and proclaim” “these glad tidings” or “the good news”. Luke shared how the “angel Gabriel” was “appointed” to “declare” and “announce” the “good news” concerning Zacharias' son John and his function in the world.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how “Gabriel” took offense to Zacharias not believing his words concerning his son John. The “doubt” within Zacharias caused “Gabriel” not only to identify himself, but also to share with Zacharias that he “stands” in God's presence. Therefore, there was no way he would fabricate the words he spoke to Zacharias. God wants people to “believe” Him, and when they “trust in, rely upon and cling to” His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, not only will He forgive their sins, but also provide them with “eternal life” with Him. Let all doubt be put aside.
Next time Luke shares how Gabriel says to Zacharias, “you shall be dumb, and not able to speak, unto the day that these things shall be performed”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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