The Danger in Resisting God's Messenger

Ellen J. Barrier/Author/Spirituality Counselor 


Event as Told: St. Luke 1:5-25 & 57-64

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.

God Sent Gabriel To Give Zacharias a Message:

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the alter 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 thy prayer is heard: and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and, and thou shall call his name John. And thou shalt 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.”

Zacharias Question Gabriel and Expresses Doubt:
                (The results were punishment)

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 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. 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.

The People Witnessed The Curse The Angel Placed upon Zacharias:

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
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.

And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, “ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among  men.

Elisabeth Give Birth To John As Gabriel Had Said:

Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and  they rejoiced with her. 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. And his mother answered and said, “Not so; but he shall be called John." And they said unto her, “There in none of thy kindred that is call by this name.”

Zacharias Speech Return As Gabriel Had Said:

And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” And they marveled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

Recommended:
 Chapter 5:                                                                        
"God's Message To His People"

Title: How To Trust God When All Other Resources Have Failed
ISBN: 978-0-9794043-0-6
Copyright© 1994
Authors: George C. Barrier Sr., & Ellen J. Barrier
Price: $15.75
Book Description: http://barriersbooks.com/bookstore.html
Payment Method: Check or Money Order

Barrier's Books & Associates
P.O. Box 12269
Wichita, Kansas 67277-2269

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