The Fulness of Time
GALATIANS 4:4
After four hundred years of silence from the prophets, God bursts onto the scene in Luke chapter one in a dramatic way. The FULNESS of time has finally come! The long-awaited and longed for Redeemer is here! The blood of Jesus will cover our sins and the Holy Spirit will inhabit His people. This is a new day and the very beginning of the church age. The Father and the Holy Spirit paved the way for the birth of John and Jesus through Zacharias and Elizabeth and Joseph and Mary. God even chooses their names. As we will see, the meaning of all the names of those involved in this chapter is quite amazing. There are no coincidences with God. He proves Himself through the way the Scriptures are prophetic and intertwined through the ages. If anyone would study the Bible objectively, they would know that man could not write it without God's inspiration.
1-4 Luke is inspired to write the account of those things that happened. The eyewitnesses and the apostles related these events to others who also wrote about them. Luke is writing to Theophilus who he addresses as "most excellent."This implies a person of some rank or importance. Most likely a Roman convert to Christianity. Luke carefully investigates these happenings. This is a systematic inquiry. He does this so Theophilus will know the truth about what he has been taught.
5 Zacharias from a priestly line and Elizabeth from a priestly line.
6 They were both righteous and blameless.
7 Elizabeth was barren and old. Vs 25. Like Hannah in 1st Samuel, a stigma. They were both of a priestly line, righteous and blameless. Why have I been barren my whole life? Do you think they prayed a lot for a child?
8,9 As a priest he was required to serve. Part of that serving was in the temple of the Lord and to burn incense.
10 A multitude of God's people were in prayer. Does He answer prayer?
11 An angel of the Lord appeared standing to the right of the altar. A sign of Authority.
12 Zacharias was troubled and fearful. This a great scene! Put yourself in Zacharias's place.
13 Do not be afraid! A command. Your petition has been heard. This should encourage us. God is no respecter of persons. After all these years, He answered their prayers. Why would He answer their prayers? Vs 6. The miraculous answer to their prayers changed history. His answers to your prayers change history too. God chooses the name. John means YHWH has been gracious. Isaiah 30:18. Psalm 123:1,2. Don't give up on praying for a certain situation!
14 Joy and gladness, many will rejoice at his birth.
15 He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink no wine or liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus said John was the greatest born among women. Matthew 11:11. In the New Testament after Jesus goes back to Heaven, He sends the Holy Spirit for ALL people to have access to Him. In 1st Peter 2:9, Peter says we are a Chosen Race a Royal Priesthood. In other words, set apart from the world. One of the things this verse tells us is alcohol and the Holy Spirit do not mix. This should not surprise us. Leviticus 10:8,9. Numbers 6:1-8. Judges 13:4. Jeremiah 35:6. Ezekiel 44:21. Ephesians 5:18. 1st Peter 4:4. Read any account of revivals or awakenings and you will consistently see the alcohol business greatly affected or go out of business.
16 He will turn many to the Lord.
17 Mal. 4:6. Make ready a people for the Messiah. The long-awaited, prayed for, read about, hoped for, Messiah. Your miraculous son will pave the way for Him! Would your head be spinning? Can you imagine what Zacharias was thinking? Could he even think straight?
18 Let us not be too hard on him and his question to Gabriel. You have not been in this situation. Why is it we doubt that God will answer our prayers in a mighty way? Lack of faith? I'm not good enough? He is not personal with me, just with others. Do not think like that! Thank Him for it! Praise Him! Bless His Holy Name! Accept it. Grab it and go! Take it to the bank! Act on it and go through that door that is opened through your prayers.
19 I'll tell you why Zacharias! I am Gabriel and I stand in the presence of God. He sent me to tell you this good news.
20 Unbelief. This is one mindset that the Lord does not like or accept. Mark 6:5,6 Luke 9:41, a very strong rebuke! Zacharias remained mute.
23,24 He was mute for the rest of his time of service. Elizabeth became pregnant and was in seclusion for 5 months.
25 He looked with favor on Elizabeth to take away her disgrace. Let's look at the meaning of the names of those involved in this story. Gabriel means a mighty man of God. From heaven, God's mighty angel. Zacharias means God remembers or God's man. Elizabeth means the oath of God's fullness, abundance. John means God has been gracious. So we have God's mighty angel Gabriel coming to prophesy and tell the good news to God's man, Zacharias that God remembers, and the oath about Elizabeth is fulfilled. She becomes the fullness of God's promise and has a son, John because God is gracious. Is God amazing? Is God good? Does He do what He says He will do? Does He answer prayers? Yes to all these questions.
26,27 The mighty angel of God is sent to Galilee to the virgin Mary. She was engaged to Joseph.
28 Another great scene. Let's put ourselves in Mary's place, especially you women.
Hail favored one! The Lord is with you! A salutation from an angel. This means richly blessed, blessed among women. Would you receive a greeting like this? Are you walking blamelessly?
29,30 She was greatly troubled at this statement. Do not be afraid for you have found favor.
31, 32,33 You will conceive, bear a son, and call Him Jesus. God chose this name too. He will be great, the Son of the Most High, God will give Him the throne of David. He will reign forever and His throne will have no end. If you look at these two scenes you will see they are very similar. Vs. 12-17. Who is in control here? God. He is setting this up since it is about the Messiah, His Son. It is for our sake too that this story is recorded in the Bible.
34 A logical question. Do you blame her?
35 Wow! What an answer! The Holy Spirit, God, and Jesus working together. Again, would your head be spinning? How could anyone take all that in?
36, 37 Look Mary, God is at work also in your relative Elizabeth. In her old age, she is pregnant. If God did it for her He can do it for you. Nothing is impossible with God.
38 I'm a bondslave of the Lord. May it be done to me according to Your word. Yes, Lord! This is the right answer! Let's look at one of the meanings of Mary. It is the word Myrrh. Myrrh was one of the ingredients in the Holy anointing oil for anointing the tabernacle and the items in it and the HIGH PRIEST AND HIS SONS. Exodus 30:22-30. Myrrh was also used to prepare Jesus's body for burial, John 19:39. Jesus came through Mary (myrrh) and was anointed and prepared for His burial! I find this fascinating. Is God good? Is the Bible amazing? Yes!
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Are you walking blamelessly before God?
What part are you playing in the Kingdom?
Do you have unbelief in your life concerning the Lord?
If He asked you to do something miraculous by faith, would you say "Yes Lord?"
God wants to do something amazing in your life too! If you have never trusted Jesus with your
heart and life, now is the time to do it by faith. This is the first step towards God intervening in the fullness of time in your life with a wonderful plan for you and His Kingdom.
After four hundred years of silence from the prophets, God bursts onto the scene in Luke chapter one in a dramatic way. The FULNESS of time has finally come! The long-awaited and longed for Redeemer is here! The blood of Jesus will cover our sins and the Holy Spirit will inhabit His people. This is a new day and the very beginning of the church age. The Father and the Holy Spirit paved the way for the birth of John and Jesus through Zacharias and Elizabeth and Joseph and Mary. God even chooses their names. As we will see, the meaning of all the names of those involved in this chapter is quite amazing. There are no coincidences with God. He proves Himself through the way the Scriptures are prophetic and intertwined through the ages. If anyone would study the Bible objectively, they would know that man could not write it without God's inspiration.
1-4 Luke is inspired to write the account of those things that happened. The eyewitnesses and the apostles related these events to others who also wrote about them. Luke is writing to Theophilus who he addresses as "most excellent."This implies a person of some rank or importance. Most likely a Roman convert to Christianity. Luke carefully investigates these happenings. This is a systematic inquiry. He does this so Theophilus will know the truth about what he has been taught.
5 Zacharias from a priestly line and Elizabeth from a priestly line.
6 They were both righteous and blameless.
7 Elizabeth was barren and old. Vs 25. Like Hannah in 1st Samuel, a stigma. They were both of a priestly line, righteous and blameless. Why have I been barren my whole life? Do you think they prayed a lot for a child?
8,9 As a priest he was required to serve. Part of that serving was in the temple of the Lord and to burn incense.
10 A multitude of God's people were in prayer. Does He answer prayer?
11 An angel of the Lord appeared standing to the right of the altar. A sign of Authority.
12 Zacharias was troubled and fearful. This a great scene! Put yourself in Zacharias's place.
13 Do not be afraid! A command. Your petition has been heard. This should encourage us. God is no respecter of persons. After all these years, He answered their prayers. Why would He answer their prayers? Vs 6. The miraculous answer to their prayers changed history. His answers to your prayers change history too. God chooses the name. John means YHWH has been gracious. Isaiah 30:18. Psalm 123:1,2. Don't give up on praying for a certain situation!
14 Joy and gladness, many will rejoice at his birth.
15 He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink no wine or liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus said John was the greatest born among women. Matthew 11:11. In the New Testament after Jesus goes back to Heaven, He sends the Holy Spirit for ALL people to have access to Him. In 1st Peter 2:9, Peter says we are a Chosen Race a Royal Priesthood. In other words, set apart from the world. One of the things this verse tells us is alcohol and the Holy Spirit do not mix. This should not surprise us. Leviticus 10:8,9. Numbers 6:1-8. Judges 13:4. Jeremiah 35:6. Ezekiel 44:21. Ephesians 5:18. 1st Peter 4:4. Read any account of revivals or awakenings and you will consistently see the alcohol business greatly affected or go out of business.
16 He will turn many to the Lord.
17 Mal. 4:6. Make ready a people for the Messiah. The long-awaited, prayed for, read about, hoped for, Messiah. Your miraculous son will pave the way for Him! Would your head be spinning? Can you imagine what Zacharias was thinking? Could he even think straight?
18 Let us not be too hard on him and his question to Gabriel. You have not been in this situation. Why is it we doubt that God will answer our prayers in a mighty way? Lack of faith? I'm not good enough? He is not personal with me, just with others. Do not think like that! Thank Him for it! Praise Him! Bless His Holy Name! Accept it. Grab it and go! Take it to the bank! Act on it and go through that door that is opened through your prayers.
19 I'll tell you why Zacharias! I am Gabriel and I stand in the presence of God. He sent me to tell you this good news.
20 Unbelief. This is one mindset that the Lord does not like or accept. Mark 6:5,6 Luke 9:41, a very strong rebuke! Zacharias remained mute.
23,24 He was mute for the rest of his time of service. Elizabeth became pregnant and was in seclusion for 5 months.
25 He looked with favor on Elizabeth to take away her disgrace. Let's look at the meaning of the names of those involved in this story. Gabriel means a mighty man of God. From heaven, God's mighty angel. Zacharias means God remembers or God's man. Elizabeth means the oath of God's fullness, abundance. John means God has been gracious. So we have God's mighty angel Gabriel coming to prophesy and tell the good news to God's man, Zacharias that God remembers, and the oath about Elizabeth is fulfilled. She becomes the fullness of God's promise and has a son, John because God is gracious. Is God amazing? Is God good? Does He do what He says He will do? Does He answer prayers? Yes to all these questions.
26,27 The mighty angel of God is sent to Galilee to the virgin Mary. She was engaged to Joseph.
28 Another great scene. Let's put ourselves in Mary's place, especially you women.
Hail favored one! The Lord is with you! A salutation from an angel. This means richly blessed, blessed among women. Would you receive a greeting like this? Are you walking blamelessly?
29,30 She was greatly troubled at this statement. Do not be afraid for you have found favor.
31, 32,33 You will conceive, bear a son, and call Him Jesus. God chose this name too. He will be great, the Son of the Most High, God will give Him the throne of David. He will reign forever and His throne will have no end. If you look at these two scenes you will see they are very similar. Vs. 12-17. Who is in control here? God. He is setting this up since it is about the Messiah, His Son. It is for our sake too that this story is recorded in the Bible.
34 A logical question. Do you blame her?
35 Wow! What an answer! The Holy Spirit, God, and Jesus working together. Again, would your head be spinning? How could anyone take all that in?
36, 37 Look Mary, God is at work also in your relative Elizabeth. In her old age, she is pregnant. If God did it for her He can do it for you. Nothing is impossible with God.
38 I'm a bondslave of the Lord. May it be done to me according to Your word. Yes, Lord! This is the right answer! Let's look at one of the meanings of Mary. It is the word Myrrh. Myrrh was one of the ingredients in the Holy anointing oil for anointing the tabernacle and the items in it and the HIGH PRIEST AND HIS SONS. Exodus 30:22-30. Myrrh was also used to prepare Jesus's body for burial, John 19:39. Jesus came through Mary (myrrh) and was anointed and prepared for His burial! I find this fascinating. Is God good? Is the Bible amazing? Yes!
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Are you walking blamelessly before God?
What part are you playing in the Kingdom?
Do you have unbelief in your life concerning the Lord?
If He asked you to do something miraculous by faith, would you say "Yes Lord?"
God wants to do something amazing in your life too! If you have never trusted Jesus with your
heart and life, now is the time to do it by faith. This is the first step towards God intervening in the fullness of time in your life with a wonderful plan for you and His Kingdom.
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