The Word for Today with Ray

Sunday, October 3, 2021

Turning Israel to the Lord - Luke 1:16

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 in chapter one and verse sixteen of his book Luke shares how, “many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord”, where we read:

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

The verse reads, “And many of the children of Israel ...” Luke began with the words, “and many” or “a great number” “of the children” which means “pertaining to the offspring and progeny” “of Israel” or “belonging to the family or descendants of Israel whose name means he shall be a prince of God”. Luke shared how the “angel” said a “great number” of the people who were descendants of “Israel” will comply with the following words.

The verse goes on to say, “... shall he turn to the Lord their God.” Luke continued with the words, “shall he turn” which means “will the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth's son John bring back and return” “to the Lord their God” or “to the One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah who was the people of Israel's Godhead and trinity which was comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit. Luke shared how the “angel” told Zacharias that his son would “bring” people “back” to the “Lord” who is “their God”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how this male child of Zacharias and Elisabeth would affect the people of “Israel”. “John” would begin to “turn” people back to their “Lord” and “God” again. It had been over four hundred years since God spoke to the people of Israel, and now He was speaking through this “angel” and eventually “John” who was later known as “John the Baptist”. God loves people, and His desire has been to save them since the day they were born.

Paul the apostle wrote, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This is why Jesus came, and “John the Baptist” was given the mission of “turning people to the Lord their God”, and may all who read these words understand what God has done for them and “turn” to Him today.

Next time Luke shares how the angel said, “he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias”, 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".

Great with No Wine or Strong Drink - Luke 1:15

Luke the beloved physician 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”, and in chapter one and verse fifteen of his book Luke shares how the angel said, “he shall be great in the sight of the Lord”, where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink;” Luke began with the words, “For he shall be great” or “because, since and on account that this male child born to Zacharias and Elisabeth will be esteemed highly in importance, of great weight and stately” “in the sight” which means “within the presence and face” “of the Lord” or “belonging to the One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”, “and shall drink neither wine” which means “and will not and in no way imbibe the fruit of the vine” “nor strong drink” or “no, and not in any way any intoxicating beverage which was derived from grain, vegetables or from the juice of fruits or a decoction of honey”. Luke shared how Zacharias' son was going to be “greatly esteemed” before God, and he was not to “drink” of any “wine” or “intoxicating beverages”.

The verse continues, “and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.” Luke added the words, “and he shall be filled” which means “and Zacharias and Elisabeth's son will be furnished” “with the Holy Ghost” or “with pure and morally righteous third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son”, “even from his mother's womb” which means “indeed from the time when this male child of Zacharias and Elisabeth would be inside Elisabeth's belly or uterus”. Luke shared how the “male child” who was to be named “John” would be “filled” with God's “Holy Spirit” while he was within the “womb” of his mother “Elisabeth”.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we discover the prophetic word given to Zacharias concerning his son. “John” was going to be “great” in God's “sight”, and he was not to “drink” of any “fruit of the vine” or “intoxicating beverage”. He would also be “filled” with God's “Holy Spirit” from the time he was in the “womb” of his mother Elisabeth. Because these great promises of God were to be fulfilled within Zacharias' son, they demonstrate the “greatness of God” to bring about a miraculous birth that would lead to His Son Jesus Christ. Those who examine these prophesies and the fulfillment of them shall discover how much God the Father cares for their “salvation”, and they shall see how God has provided the way for people to receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Luke shares how, “many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Joy and Gladness at His Birth - Luke 1:14

And you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

The verse reads, “And you shall have joy and gladness;” Luke began with the words, “and you shall have joy” or “and Zacharias will gain and obtain exceeding cheerfulness, calm delight and gratefulness” “and gladness” which means “and exultation and extreme joy”. Luke shared how the “angel” told Zacharias he would obtain “exceeding cheerfulness and extreme joy” when his son is born.

The verse goes on to say, “and many shall rejoice at his birth.” Luke continued with the words, “and many shall rejoice” which means “and a large group of people will be exceedingly glad, thrive and be well with salutations” “at his birth” or “at the engendering, nativity and begetting of the birth of Zacharias son”. Luke shared how “many” people would be “exceedingly glad” when this child was born to Zacharias and Elisabeth.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see the response Zacharias would have when his son was born, and we notice the “cheerful” response of “many people” at his birth as well. We can imagine, since both Zacharias and Elisabeth were old, how the birth of this son would be a “miracle” from God. Zacharias, Elisabeth and people who knew them would be “greatly excited” over the birth of “John” because it was so out of the norm. God loves to work in ways that are beyond the expectation of people, and when He performs a miracle like this one, not only those who are directly affected by it, but also those who know them as well. God wants every person to come to Him through His Son Jesus, and even this “miracle” of the birth of “John” to Zacharias and Elisabeth demonstrates his willingness to go “out of the ordinary” to reach out to every person to be “saved” and forgiven of their sins to live forever with Him.

Next time Luke shares how the angel said, “he shall be great in the sight of the Lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

The Angel's Message to Zacharias - Luke 1:13

Luke the beloved physician 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”, and in chapter one and verse thirteen of his book Luke shares, “the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias”, where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for your prayer is heard;” Luke began with the words, “But the angel” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding, moreover and the messenger or envoy” “said unto him” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Zacharias”, “Fear not” or “do not be afraid, struck with terror and seized with alarm”, “Zacharias” whose name means “remembered of God” and was “the father of John the Baptist”: “for your prayer” or “because, since and on account that your oration, supplication and worship” “is heard” which means “is given heed to, complied with, assented to and listened to”. Luke shared how the “angel” encouraged Zacharias not to be “afraid” because his “prayer” to God was given heed.

The verse goes on to say, “and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” Luke continued with the words, “and your wife Elisabeth” which means “and Elisabeth who was the female spouse of Zacharias” “shall bear you a son” or “will engender and birth a male child for Zacharias”, “and you shall call his name” which means “and Zacharias was to name his male child” “John” or “Jehovah is a gracious giver”. Luke shared how the “angel” told Zacharias that his wife, Elisabeth, would have a male child, and Zacharias was to name the child “John”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn about the comfort and message provided to Zacharias through this “angel”. Zacharias was “afraid” and “filled with terror” when he saw the “messenger from God”, and the first words of the “angel” was to encourage him to be at “peace”. Afterward, the “angel” let him know his “prayer is heard” which implies that Zacharias had been “praying”, and because the answer was that his wife Elisabeth would provide a son for him, we know God was listening to him. The name “John”, which Zacharias was to name his son, means “Jehovah is a gracious giver”, and when we apply that to God's character, we see how He desires to “give and provide” to mankind. John the apostle wrote, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16), and those who study what the “angel” said to Zacharias and how God is a “gracious giver” do best to yield their lives to the only One who is able to save those who receive Him.

Next time Luke shares how the angel said, “you shall have joy and gladness”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Saturday, October 2, 2021

Zacharias Troubled - Luke 1:12

Luke the physician wrote, “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. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense”, and in chapter one and verse twelve of his book Luke shares, “when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled”, where we read:

And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

The verse reads, “And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, ...” Luke began with the words, “And when Zacharias” or “at the time and moment Zacharias whose name means remembered of Jehovah” “saw him” which means “observed, perceived, noticed, discovered and discerned the angel”, “he was troubled” or “Zacharias was disturbed, made restless, stirred up and rendered anxious”. Luke shared how Zacharias became greatly disturbed when he “noticed” the “angel” standing near the altar.

The verse continues, “... and fear fell upon him.” Luke added the words, “and fear” which means “and dread, terror and exceedingly great fright and alarm” “fell upon him” or “seized, took possession of and pressed upon Zacharias”. Luke shared how “exceedingly great fear” came upon Zacharias after he saw the “angel”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we discover the reaction of Zacharias to the appearance of the “angel”. We can only imagine how frightened he was after the sudden visual of this messenger from God, and yet, the Lord had a plan for this messenger. God has a plan of salvation for every person through His Son Jesus, and when a person yields their life to Him, they understand not only who they are, but also who they were meant to be. God loves people, and even “fear” from the appearance of His “angel” displays His desire for everyone to know Him.

Next time Luke shares how the angel said, “Fear not, Zacharias: for your prayer is heard”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

An Angel Appearing to Zacharias - Luke 1:11

The Beloved Physician Luke wrote, “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. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense”, and in chapter one and verse eleven of his book Luke shares how, “there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord”, where we read:

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

The verse reads, “And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord ...” Luke began with the words, “And there appeared unto him” or “and there allowed himself to be seen by Zacharias” “an angel” which means “a messenger or envoy” “of the Lord” or “belonging to the One whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding and the title given to God the Messiah”. Luke shared how “an angel” from the “Lord” showed himself to Zacharias.

The verse goes on to say, “... standing on the right side of the altar of incense.” Luke continued with the word, “standing” which means “in place, put and set” “on the right side” or “at the right hand place of honor and authority” “of the altar of incense” which refers to “belonging to the altar for the burning of the incense which stood in the sanctuary or the Holy Place”. Luke shared how the “angel” stood at the right hand side of the “altar” where Zacharias was offering the “burnt incense”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn of the “appearance” of a “divine messenger” of God. This “angel” showed himself to Zacharias as he was “burning” incense upon the “altar” within the Holy Place in the temple. Because this was a special “spiritual envoy” from the Lord, we know his message was important, and because he was “standing” at the “right side” of the “altar”, he was at the position of “honor and authority”. This “angel” was another part of God's plan for the salvation of mankind, and when we see what he tells Zacharias, we will understand that God desires a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus. Let us carefully consider every aspect of the story as it relates to Zacharias and “this angel” and realize God's desire for the redemption of man.

Next time Luke shares, “when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.