{"id":193,"date":"2013-02-09T14:40:38","date_gmt":"2013-02-09T19:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=193"},"modified":"2013-02-10T19:52:42","modified_gmt":"2013-02-11T00:52:42","slug":"two-blessed-annoucements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=193","title":{"rendered":"Two Blessed Annoucements"},"content":{"rendered":"<p align=\"center\">Lesson 1<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">Two Blessed Announcements<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">Luke 1<\/p>\n<p>If there is one thing that I have discovered over my life time is that it is a life full of impossibilities may have turned into possibilities.\u00a0 If somehow I had been able to sit down at the very beginning of my life and map out what it would be like I could not have conceived of all the twists and turns that it has taken. For that reason I have to say that all that I have accomplished are a string of impossibilities that can only explained by knowing that God has been the One working out of the details.\u00a0 The Scripture in Proverbs is certainly true of me.\u00a0 It says, \u201cThe mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.\u201d (Proverbs 16:9) The one example that stands out above all others is my salvation.\u00a0 Left to my own devices it would have never happened to me.\u00a0 Somehow in God\u2019s sovereignty He looked down from heaven and through grace chose to draw me to Himself.\u00a0 There was no way that I could have made myself acceptable to Him by any of my plans and lifestyle.\u00a0 The only thing I could do was to respond to Him.<\/p>\n<p>Just think about it for a moment.\u00a0 The church was given an impossible task over two thousand years ago. Jesus said that the apostles and those who came after them were to carry the good news about Jesus, as Savior and Lord, into all parts of the world.\u00a0 He also told them the job was too big for them without the filling and empowering work of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 What started as an announcement to two people willing to submit to the will of God, which would change the world has continued against all odds until today. Believing what God says makes the impossible into real possibilities.\u00a0 Are we willing to listen to what He has to say through His Word and live it out and proclaim it to the world?\u00a0 Two did are we going to join them?<\/p>\n<p>Luke 1:1-4<\/p>\n<p>These verses were part of the introductory lesson last week so only one or two things will be mentioned.\u00a0 Before Luke put down on papyrus the events surrounding the life of Christ he spent a great deal of time collecting data.\u00a0 He knew in order to provide an accurate account he must gather all the information he could.\u00a0 He also knew that this document was going to be scrutinized by many people including Theophilus, an official in the Roman Empire, who may have been a Christian. If he was not a follower of Christ, he was knowledgeable of Christianity.\u00a0 He would not be the only one.\u00a0 Followers of Christ everywhere would have this material available to them and would know if he had accurately reported what had taken place. The last thing to notice is that it was not information the people had not heard before, but that he might give them a clearer understanding of the things that had been presented to them before.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>When you are to make a presentation how do you prepare?<\/li>\n<li>What sources do you use?<\/li>\n<li>What sources did Luke have available to him?<\/li>\n<li>What was his great concern?<\/li>\n<li>What should be our concerns when making a presentation?<\/li>\n<li>How important is it to us to have such an accurate report of the events surrounding the birth, life, death and resurrection?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 1:5-7<\/p>\n<p>Here is one of those facts that gives Luke\u2019s narrative its historic setting.\u00a0 The time would have been prior to 4 B.C.\u00a0 Herod who is mentioned here died in that year.\u00a0 From Matthew the date can be set probably about 6-7 B.C.\u00a0 The writer brings onto the scene two individuals whom without his inclusion in the Bible would never have been known at all.\u00a0 They were Zacharias and Elizabeth who were going to be the parents of John the Baptist.\u00a0 Luke gave some interesting details about these two.\u00a0 Zacharias was a priest as were all descendents of Aaron. He was of the division named for Abijah.\u00a0 Each division included about two thousand priests.\u00a0 His wife Elizabeth was also from the tribe of Aaron.\u00a0 Marriage of a priest must be to a virgin of his own people as stipulated by the Levitical law.\u00a0 Both were described as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Righteous in the sight of God<\/li>\n<li>Walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>They did however have one shadow over their lives. Elizabeth had not been able to have children. It now appeared that it would be too late for them since they were elderly.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why is important to have the points of reference, such as the reign of Herod in the narrative?<\/li>\n<li>Who were Zacharias and Elizabeth?<\/li>\n<li>From the description of them how would you expect God to be able to use them in any way?<\/li>\n<li>How often do we write people off because they do not fit the mold of what you think God needs to get His work done?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 1:8-9<\/p>\n<p>Zacharias was caring out his responsibility of burning the incense in the temple.\u00a0 It is amazing that he was even there in the first place.\u00a0 Because there were so many priests, some twenty four thousand, and two thousand in his division as has been mentioned above, the odds were astronomical that the lot would have fallen to Zacharias in the first place.\u00a0 There were those who were priests that who never had the opportunity to go into the temple during their whole lifetime.\u00a0 Here is one of those instances when God orchestrated for his servant to be the present in the house of worship.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Just statistically what would the odds of Zacharias being in the temple on that particular day?<\/li>\n<li>Why would there be priest who would never be given the opportunity to burn incense in the temple?<\/li>\n<li>What was really going on?<\/li>\n<li>What does this say that God can do in our own lives?<\/li>\n<li>How are we to view the opportunities that we have each and every day?<\/li>\n<li>What are the possibilities that we might meet God in them?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 1:10<\/p>\n<p>Care must be taken to gloss over this one little verse.\u00a0 Here is seen the dedication of the people to God.\u00a0 While Zacharias was in the Holy of Holies burning incense for the people, they were outside in an attitude of prayer.\u00a0 Sadly, as shall be seen later, all the priests did not possess all of the character qualities of Zacharias, but the inhabitants of the land prayed.\u00a0 It was possibly at the afternoon prayer that the events about to take place occurred.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>How important did it appear that prayer was to the people?<\/li>\n<li>What is the danger of having to do something, even prayer, on such a routine basis?<\/li>\n<li>How do we keep from having acts of worship not to just become traditions?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 1:11-13\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As Zacharias was performing his duty, he became aware of someone with him.\u00a0 An angel had appeared and stood at the right side of the altar.\u00a0 His positioning would indicate that he was one who would speak with authority.\u00a0 There are two reasons that he was troubled when he saw the man.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>He as the priest was to be the only person in the Holy of Holy\u2019s inside of the temple.<\/li>\n<li>He would have realized by the appearance of the individual that he was an angel of God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As would be expected, fear gripped him.\u00a0 The angel immediately tried to put him at ease, telling him to not be afraid.\u00a0 He then told Zacharias why he was there.\u00a0 Evidently he and Elizabeth had both prayed for a child for years.\u00a0 Not having a son had brought both shame and sadness to this godly couple.\u00a0 According to the angel all of that was about to change.\u00a0 He had good news to tell him.\u00a0 They were going to have a son.\u00a0 They were to name the boy, John which means, \u201cThe Lord has been gracious.\u201d\u00a0 His name would always be a reminder to them of God goodness and grace to them. Not only would the child bring happiness and gladness to his family but others would rejoice with them.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did the angel take up his position at the right side of the altar of incense?<\/li>\n<li>Why would Zacharias have been frightened by the presence of the man?<\/li>\n<li>What did the angel mean by saying, \u201cYour petition has been heard?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>What was the good news he had for the family?<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0In what different ways was this good news?<\/li>\n<li>Why was he given the name by which his son would be called?<\/li>\n<li>Why would those around Zacharias and Elizabeth also rejoice at the event?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 1:14-17<\/p>\n<p>The angel gave Zacharias quite an extensive picture of his son.\u00a0 He was to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Be great in God\u2019s sight<\/li>\n<li>Refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages.\u00a0 Sign of a person consecrated as a Nazarite.<\/li>\n<li>Be filled with the Holy Spirit. This would be like the filling in the lives of Moses, Saul and David and not the permanent work done by the Holy Spirit after Christ\u2019s resurrection.<\/li>\n<li>Bring about reconciliation between the Israelites and God, through the baptism he would perform for the atonement of sins.<\/li>\n<li>Be the forerunner of Christ.<\/li>\n<li>Come in the spirit of Elijah, Israel\u2019s greatest prophet, and reunite families, turn disobedient to attitude of righteousness and get the hearts of the people ready to receive the Christ who was to come.\u00a0 It was believed that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why was it important for the angel to give Zacharias such a complete description of his son to be born?<\/li>\n<li>What did the angel mean by John being filled with the Holy Spirit?<\/li>\n<li>How did it differ from the work of the Holy Spirit after the resurrection of Jesus?<\/li>\n<li>Why would the angel mention Elijah?<\/li>\n<li>In your mind what was the most important part of the description of John?<\/li>\n<li>Before your children were born what were your aspirations for them?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 1:15-20<\/p>\n<p>When Zacharias expressed some doubt of the promises made because of his age and questioned the angel, he received an answer that did not actually answer his question.\u00a0 The angel identified himself as Gabriel who stood in the presence of God.\u00a0 Whenever important news needed to be carried from the throne of God to man, Gabriel was that messenger. He then told Zacharias that the words he had spoken were good news. Because he had not believed his words, he caused Zacharias to be mute until the time of the birth of John.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why would Zacharias doubt the words of the angel?<\/li>\n<li>What would the revealing of his name as Gabriel mean to Zacharias?<\/li>\n<li>Why did he use such an extreme sign as muteness to make sure Zacharias understood?<\/li>\n<li>Why would Gabriel call what he had told Zacharias, \u201cgood news?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 1:21-23<\/p>\n<p>While all of that was taking place inside the temple the people were still waiting outside.\u00a0 They had to be wondering why the burning of the incense was taking so long and probably were also somewhat concerned about Zacharias.\u00a0 Finally when he came out his demeanor would have indicated that something extraordinary had occurred inside, but even with hand gestures they we were unable to truly know what had occurred.\u00a0 It could have been that the words were for his ears only at that point in time.\u00a0 Zacharias completed his week of service and returned home.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why would the people become concerned about Zacharias?<\/li>\n<li>Why could they not understand what he was trying to convey to them?<\/li>\n<li>What may have been one reason that he was made mute?<\/li>\n<li>Why did he not return home immediately?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 1:24-25<\/p>\n<p>There is no way of knowing how Elizabeth responded immediately to the good news. Some time following Zacharias conversation with Gabriel, she became pregnant.\u00a0 For five months she went into seclusion trying to comprehend all that was taking place.\u00a0 Her words indicated the joy she felt.\u00a0 \u201cShe said, \u201cThis is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.\u201d<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>How do you think Elizabeth reacted initially to what Zacharias told her?<\/li>\n<li>Why did she go into seclusion for five months?<\/li>\n<li>What do her words indicate about her innermost emotions?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways were all the words of Gabriel secondary to what she was experiencing?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 1:26-28<\/p>\n<p>The narrative turns from Zacharias and Elizabeth to Mary.\u00a0 In the sixth month of Elizabeth\u2019s pregnancy Gabriel was sent once again to deliver a message.\u00a0 This time it was to the non-descript town of Nazareth. Although it was along one of the main travel routes it had never reach the status of a major city. It had the reputation of being a city full of corruption.<\/p>\n<p>He was sent to a specific person predetermined by God. In the city lived Mary who was engaged to a man named Joseph. Both of them were descendents of David.\u00a0 Luke notes twice that Mary was a virgin. She had never been married and was a pure maiden.<\/p>\n<p>Gabriel\u2019s words to her would have been very strange to someone who lived in such an out the way place as Nazareth.\u00a0 He greeted her as one upon whom the grace of God had been poured.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What is amazing about the fact that Gabriel would have been sent to a city like Nazareth?<\/li>\n<li>Who had he been sent to find?<\/li>\n<li>What determines the character of a person?<\/li>\n<li>What indication do we have that Mary had not let the reputation of the city determine who she was?<\/li>\n<li>Why would Gabriel give such a greeting to one who lived in a city of no reputation?<\/li>\n<li>What did his greeting mean?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 1:29<\/p>\n<p>As would be expected Mary did not understand why this stranger would be saying such words to her. She began thinking about his message and possibly what it could mean.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What would be your reaction to such words?<\/li>\n<li>What was Mary trying to do after hearing such a greeting?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 1:30-33<\/p>\n<p>Before continuing Gabriel tried to assure her that there was no reason to be frightened.\u00a0 Again he her wanted to know she was the recipient of God\u2019s grace. He then shared with the message he had been sent to give to her. She was told that she was going to have a son that was to be named Jesus.\u00a0 Following that news, he went on to describe what this son would be.\u00a0 He would\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Be great<\/li>\n<li>Be called the Son of the Most High<\/li>\n<li>Be the recipient from the Lord God of the throne of his father David<\/li>\n<li>Rule over Israel forever and His kingdom would never come to an end.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\u00a0Why did Gabriel try to put her at ease before proceeding?<\/li>\n<li>How different was the description of this child than that of John?<\/li>\n<li>Other than the name Jesus why was there no mention of salvation in his description of the Son to come?<\/li>\n<li>What would have been the most important part to the nation of Israel?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 1:34-38<\/p>\n<p>Mary did not doubt the words of the angel.\u00a0 Her question was about her own ability to have a baby since she had not yet married.\u00a0 Gabriel answered her by telling her she would conceive the baby not by man by the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 For that reason the \u201cChild shall be called the Son of God.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She was then told of another miraculous event.\u00a0 Her cousin Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy.\u00a0 This was an affirmation to her that God was the God of the impossible.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Mary\u2019s response indicated that she had submitted her life to the purpose of God.\u00a0 With Mary\u2019s affirmation the angel departed from her.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did Mary not doubt the words of the angel?<\/li>\n<li>What was her problem?<\/li>\n<li>Why did the angel tell her about Elizabeth?<\/li>\n<li>Why did the angel feel he could depart at that point?<\/li>\n<li>What do you think of Mary\u2019s response?<\/li>\n<li>What do you do when God asks the impossible of you?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>God uses different people to carry out His work.\u00a0 Each of us is called to use the way He has wired us to serve Him.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Develop a heart that is sensitive to the calling of God by meditating on His word.<\/li>\n<li>Look back on your life and think about those things you may have considered impossible to see how God has worked out the details.<\/li>\n<li>Overcome any doubts you may have when confronted by what seems to be impossible.<\/li>\n<li>Remember it is not where you are that determines who you are but your relationship with God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>God truly does want to do marvelous things through His body, the church.\u00a0 We have seen in the lives of two individuals the characteristics that God desires from His children.\u00a0 The church is never any better than the people who make it up.\u00a0 God calls His church to be holy and blameless.\u00a0 We are to represent Him to the world.\u00a0 If we allow ourselves to have the attitude of a bond slave and live before Him in all humility, He will be able to work His works through us and bring glory to Himself.\u00a0 Let us expect great things from Him and He will accomplish them.<\/p>\n<p>Resources:<\/p>\n<p>The Daily Study Bible Series &#8211; The Gospel of Luke by William Barclay<\/p>\n<p>The Gospel According to Luke by G. Campbell Morgan<\/p>\n<p>The New American Commentary \u2013 Luke by Robert H. Stein<\/p>\n<p>Exploring the Gospel of Luke, An Expository Commentary &#8211; by John Phillips<\/p>\n<p>The New Testament Documents- Are They Reliable by F.F. Bruce<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lesson 1 Two Blessed Announcements Luke 1 If there is one thing that I have discovered over my life time is that it is a life full of impossibilities may have turned into possibilities.\u00a0 If somehow I had been able to sit down at the very beginning of my life and map out what it [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-luke"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=193"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":195,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193\/revisions\/195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}