Luke 1:67

Luke 1:67 says, And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,  Having been given the ability to speak again, Zacharias did so filled with the Holy Ghost.  If we speak today, being given that power by God, we need to do so by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse sixty-eight adds, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,  Zacharias began by stating that God should be blessed, because He had visited and redeemed His people.  This above all other reasons is why we should acknowledge the blessings to God today.  Verse sixty-nine continues, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;  Zacharias said God had raised up a horn of salvation from the house of David.  This had not yet occurred, but was underway.  Verse seventy states, As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:  Zacharias said God had spoken by His holy prophets since the world began.  They were not holy because of their own goodness, but because of their relationship with God, just as we are today.  Verse seventy-one adds, That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;  We have indeed been saved forever from our enemies and those that hate us.  Nothing can ever separate those who are followers of Christ from the heavenly Father.  Verse seventy-two continues, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;  Zacharias said God was going to perform the promise made to their fathers and them.  God did fulfill His promise of the coming Messiah, and His fulfillment of that promise still applies to anyone who will put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse seventy-three says, The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, The promise made to Abraham remains true today.  Verse seventy-four adds, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,  God has forevermore delivered us from the hands of our enemies and we should be serving Him without fear.  Verse seventy-five continues, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.  As Zacharias said, as we serve God without fear, we also are to serve Him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives.  Verse seventy-six states, 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;  Zacharias now began to speak to his son John, telling him he would be a prophet of the Highest and go before the coming Lord to prepare His ways.  We know that John did, and we must go before the returning Lord to prepare the way for His return.  Verse seventy-seven adds, To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,  The remission of sins can only come by faith in Jesus Christ, which John was to prepare the people for.  Verse seventy-eight continues, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,  Salvation can only come from the mercy of God on high, Who visited us in the person of Jesus Christ to bring us salvation by faith in Him.  Verse seventy-nine concludes, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.  Jesus Christ is the light of the world and the only source of true peace, and until we accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord, we will continue to sit in spiritual darkness.  Verse eighty declares, And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.  John grew strong physically and spiritually in the desert until it was time to do what God has called him to do.  As we are waiting to do what God has for us to do, we should use the time to grow spiritually stronger.

Luke 1;57

Luke 1:57 aays, Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.  God's promise to Zacharias was fulfilled and Elisabeth had a son.  We can be certain that God's promises will always be fulfilled.  Verse fifty-eight adds, And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.  Elizabeth's neighbors and cousins heard about how God had shown her mercy and they rejoiced with her.  I believe any birth is a miracle from God and should be celebrated by God's people.  I know that sometimes the circumstances of the child's conception may be terrible, but we as followers of Christ must be there to celebrate the birth and do all that we can for both the mother and child.  Verse fifty-nine states, 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.  After eight days, at the time of the circumcision of the baby, the people gathered together and named the child Zacharias, after his father.  I know there was always a celebration at this time, but didn't know that the people named the child.  Matthew Henry says there was no Biblical direction that said the child had to have the father's name.  It was normal to name the child at the time of circumcision though, since God had given Abram a new name when he was circumcised.  Verse sixty adds, And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.  Elisabeth spoke up and said that he would not be called Zacharias, but John.  This is what God had said his name would be, and Elisabeth was obeying God's direction. If God blesses us today, and we know what He expects of us once we receive that blessing, then we need to follow through on what we know He wants us to do.  Verse sixty-one continues, And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.  Those gathered with her argued with Elisabeth, ssying none of her kindred were named John.  We might find it hard to understand anyone other than a parent naming a child, but evidently there were others involved then.  Verse sixty-two states, And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.  Evidently,  Zacharias still was unable to talk, so the people communicated with him by using signs.  Imagine a man as old as Zacharias finally becoming a father and having been unable to talk about it, all because of his lack of faith.  We should never allow a lack of faith to keep us from being able to share the joy of the blessings God brings to us.  Verse sixty-three adds, And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.  Zacharias asked for a writing tablet and wrote that the baby's name would be John, and the people marvelled.  They did not know what God had told Zacharias to name the baby.  Sometimes, people may not understand what we do as Christians, but if we know that God has influenced us to do something, we need to do it, even if other people do not understand why we are doing it.  Verse sixty-four declares, And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.  After Zacharias did as God had told him to do, he was able to speak once again and he first praised God.  When God does something miraculous in our life, we need praise Him to all those around us.  Verse sixty-five adds, And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.  Those around Zacharias and Elizabeth became afraid when Zacharias could suddenly speak again, and news of what had happened spread abroad and throughout the hill country of Judea.  People today who do not understand what God is doing in a person's life still often talk about it if something miraculous has happened.  Verse sixty-six continues, 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.  The people wondered what manner of child John would be, because they said the hand of God was on him.  I believe the hand of God is on every child, and we as followers of Christ should help them to become what God wants them to be.

Luke 1:46

Luke 1:46 says, And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,  Mary accepted the news and said her soul magnified the Lord.   When we are called to do something for God, no matter how impossible it may seem, we need to accept God's calling and magnify Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Verse forty-seven adds, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.  Like Mary, as Christians, our spirit needs to rejoice in God and the salvation that He has made available to us.  Verse forty-eight continues, For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.  Mary said that though she was of low estate that because of what God was doing through her that all generations would call her blessed.  I believe when we do what God calls us to do, no matter how lowly we may be in the eyes of the world, that we will be blessed by God, and that is what really matters.  Verse forty-nine states, For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.  I believe here Mary was saying that she would be called blessed because of what God was doing through her.  She was not seeking glorification for herself, but for God, and so must we as followers of Christ.  Verse fifty adds, And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.  God's mercy has been on generation to generation because of the coming of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse fifty-one continues, He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  Mary said God had shown His strength and had scattered the imagination of the hearts of people.  Verse fifty-two says, He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.  Mary said that God put down those who believed themselves to be powerful and exalted those of low degree.  We cannot come to God believing that He must save us because of Who we are, but can only come as lowly sinners, accepting His gift of salvation.  Verse fifty-three adds, He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.  God does fill those who are spiritually hungry, and those who believe themselves to be rich and in no need of salvation will be sent away empty one day.   Material riches do not determine whether we are saved or not.  Veree forty-four continues, He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;  Mary said God had helped His servant Israel, and as long as they were His servants He did.  Their blessing by God was based on their obedience to their covenant relationship with Him. If we are to receive God's blessings today, we must be in a covenant relationship with Him through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse fifty-five concludes, As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.  Mary said that God was fulfilling His promise to Abraham.  God will always fulfill His promises, no matter how long it may take.  Verse fifty-six states, And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.  Mary stayed with Elisabeth for three months before returning home.

Luke 1:39

Luke 1:39 says, And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;  After the angel told Mary about Elisabeth, she got up and went in haste to where Elisabeth lived.  There was no instant communication in those days, but Mary wanted to see if what the angel said was true.  We should always do our best to make sure that what people tell us, even if it is an angel unaware, is  the truth.  Verse forty adds, And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.  Mary went to Zacharias' house and met Elisabeth.  Since the angel had told her about Elisabeth, Mary went to see for herself if what the angel said was true.  As just discussed, we need to make sure that what people tell us is from God checks out with the facts and especially with what God's word tells us.  What the angel Gabriel told Mary was consistent with God's word in Isaiah.  Verse forty-one declares, And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:  When the baby, not the fetus, heard Mary's voice, he leaped in the womb.  As followers of Christ, we can never come to the conclusion that a baby in the womb is less than a human life.  Verse forty-two adds, And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.  Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, said that Mary was blessed among women and that the fruit of her womb would be blessed.  Mary was not blessed because of her own inability to sin, but because she was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus.  Verse forty-three continues, And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  Elisabeth then said Mary was to be the mother of her LORD, and asked Mary why she had come to see Elizabeth.  Verse forty-four states, For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  Elisabeth did not say that as soon as the baby heard Mary's voice he moved, but that he leaped for joy.  You might ask how Elisabeth knew this, but I believe that the Holy Spirit let her know, just as He will let us know the truth today.  Verse forty-five adds, And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.  Elisabeth said Mery was blessed because she believed that the things the angel told her were going to come to pass.  We today are blessed as Christians when we believe the truth of God's word.

Luke 1:26

Luke 1:26 says, And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, The angel Gabriel was once again sent by God, this time to the city of Nazareth.  Angels go where God sends them, and so should we as followers of Christ.  Verse twenty-seven adds, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.  Gabriel was to go to a specific virgin, Mary, who was espoused to Joseph, of the house of David.  God chose Mary, just as He chooses each person today to come to Him for salvation and for the task that He has for them to do.  Verse twenty-eight continues, 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.  Gabriel spoke to Mary, telling her she was highly favoured and that the LORD was with her.  He also said that she was blessed among women.  So far, Gabriel had not said why this was true.  Some people deify Mary, but she was just as human as any other woman.  Verse twenty-nine states, And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.  Mary was troubled by Gabriel's greeting.  She wondered what it meant.  We are not told that she was troubled by the appearance of an angel, but only by what he said.  He may not have looked that much different than any man she hade met, since we are told we may often entertain angels unaware.  Verse thirty adds, And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.  The angel Gabriel told Mary to not be afraid, because she had found favour with God.  As Christians, when we first encounter Jesus Christ, we likewise have no reason to fear.  Verse thirty-one declares, And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  If Mary was confused by the greeting of Gabriel, I am sure she was now becoming even more confused.  Gabriel told her she was going to have a baby son, and even told her what to name Him.  Since Mary was a vigin and still not married, this would have tended to raise a lot of questions and doubts.  When God calls us to do something that seems impossible today, we may be filled with the same questions and doubt, though we shouldn't be.  Verse thirty-two adds, 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:  Mary was a simple young woman, and Gabriel told her that her Son was going to be called the Son of the Highest and given the throne of His forefather David.  I would imagine that by now her questions would be growing.   Verse thirty-three continues, And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.  Gabriel continued by saying that her Son, Jesus, would reign over the house of Jacob forever, and that His kingdom would have no end.  Jesus' kingdom would be everlasting and without end.  This will never change.  Verse thirty-four says, Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?  Mary asked how this was possible because she was still a virgin.  I am sure that this would be the first guestion asked by any woman in her position, if it were not written off as just crazy talk.  Verse thirty-five states, And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.  The angel Gabriel told her that God was going to cause it to happen, and that her Son Jesus would be called the Son of God.  I am sure that by now Mary was really filled with questions, especially considering her status as an unmarried woman in that day.  God may at times call us to do things that seem impossible and maybe even dangerous to us in the eyes of the world, but we need to move ahead in faith.  Verse thirty-six adds, And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.  For proof we might say, Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elisabeth who was old was now in the sixth month of her pregnancy.  Evidently  Mary did not yet know this.  Verse thirty-seven continues, For with God nothing shall be impossible.  We need to claim this promise today as followers of Christ.  With God, nothing shall be impossible.  Verse thirty-eight declares, And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.  Mary may have still had questions, but she turned herself over to God and said let what the angel had said to her happen.  Ultimately, this is all that we can do as Christians, and that is to heed God's call for us to do whatever He has for us to do.   We do not need to look to the worldly impossibility of it happen, but need to remember that with God, nothing is impossible. 

Luke 1:18

Luke 1:18 says,  And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.  Zacharias asked the angel how he would know that Elisabeth and he would have a child, since they were both old.  He was looking at the facts and not God.  Even if it seems unlikely or even impossible, if God tells us something, we need to simply put our faith in Him and believe.  Verse nineteen adds, 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.  The angel identified himself as Gabriel, and said that He stood in the presence of God and was sent with this message from God.   We might think this would be marvelous to have an angel to tell us what God says, but we have One even greater, the Holy Spirit, with us at all times to tell us what God wants us to do.  Verse twenty continues, 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.  Zacharias asked for a sign, and the angel gave him one, though probably not one that he wanted.  He would be unable to speak until the baby was born and named.  We should never ask God for signs, but should simply follow by faith.  If we do ask for a sign, and God gives us one, like Zacharias we may not like it.  Verse twenty-one states, And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.  Zacharias was in the temple so long that the people began to wonder about what was happening.  Matthew Henry says that they were awaiting his blessing, and unlike some Christian congratulations they did not hurry away when he was late.  Verse twenty-two adds, 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.  When Zacharias came out, he couldn't speak.  He called the people to Him, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple because he could not speak.  When we are gathered in God's name, we should have a vision of what He wants us to do, and it should never leave us speechless.  Verse twenty-three declares, When the time passed for Zacharias to perform his duties at the temple, he returned home.  He was able to carry out his duties as a priest, except for speaking.  If we become somehow limited in our ability to carry out God's calling, that does not relieve us from the responsibility to do all that we can.  Verse twenty-four adds, And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,  When Elisabeth conceived a child, she hid herself for five months.  Zacharias could not tell the people or her what was happening, so they did not get to share the wonderful news that Gabriel had shared with Zacharias.  If God works a miracle in our life, and He certainly did when He sent Jesus to die in our place, we need to shout it from the roof tops. Verse twenty-five continues, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.  Elisabeth recognized the blessing from God and said that He had taken away her reproach among men.  I am not sure if the people actually looked down on Elisabeth since she had no children or not, but  she at least thought they did.  Sometimes we may think that people are looking down on us because of something that they see as a limitation, but we need to simply continue to believe God and do what He calls us to do, no matter what.   

Luke 1:13

 Luke 1:13 says, 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.  Ths angel had good news for Zacharias.  God had heard his prayers about wanting to be a father.  Elisabeth was going to have a son and Zacharias was to name him John.  We aren't told how long Zacharias had been praying for this, but since they were both older, it must have been for awhile.  God may not immediately answer our prayers with a yes, but until we know He has answered we should never give up on praying.  Verse fourteen adds, And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.  The angel told Zacharias that he would have joy and gladness and many people would rejoice at the birth of his son John.  There is usually a lot of joy and rejoicing at the seemingly impossible birth of a baby.  Verse fifteen continues, 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.  In the case of John there was even more reason to rejoice.  He was to be great in the sight of the LORD and filled with the Holy Ghost even before he was born.   Still, this does not mean that John was sinless, even though he was to drink neither wine nor strong drink.  This had to be a life-long commitment.   The earlier we can dedicate our life to God the better, but no matter how soon we do so we will never be without sin.  Verse sixteen states, And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.  John was to turn many people in Israel to God once again.  This means many were not following God, just as being a church member today does not mean that a person is truly following God.  Verse seventeen adds, 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.  John was to go forth by the power of God to restore relationships and prepare the people of Israel for the coming of Jesus Christ.  We today as followers of Christ are to work to restore peoples relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ and to prepare them to be ready for His return.