Strength for the Weary

Mary and Zacharias, Encounter with Gabriel

In Luke chapter 1, we read the physician's account of the birth of Jesus and his cousin John. 

In vs. 18, the angel Gabriel visits Zacharias, who was married to Elisabeth, Mary's cousin, to tell him that his prayers have been heard and that his wife Elisabeth is going to bear him a son and he should call his name John. 

Zarcharias replies to the angel Gabriel these words in verse 18 "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years." Gabriel replies, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show 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." 

And when he (Zacharias) came out (of the temple) he could not speak. Zacharias was not able to speak until the day his son was born. When asked what his name should be, he wrote John down on paper, and immediately his tongue was loosed and he spoke, and praised God. 

About six months after Zacharias' encounter with Gabriel, Gabriel returns to visit Mary to tell her that she has found favor with God, and that she shall conceive and bring for a son and call his name Jesus. 

Can I pause for a minute and talk about how awesome it is that God chose their names. I have six children, and I believe God gave me each of their names. They were found sometimes in peculiar ways, but from God nonetheless. Each one individual and unique with their own amazing stories. 

After Gabriel spoke this incredible announcement to Mary, she replied to him "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And Gabriel answered her, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall over-shadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Then the angel Gabriel goes on to tell Mary that her cousin Elisabeth is already 6 months pregnant. 

Both Zacharias and Mary had a visit from the angel, both were told about miraculous conceptions that would soon take place, both had questions, but only one was rebuked by the angel. Why? After some study, I believe that there are several reasons why Zacharias was rebuked while Mary was blessed, and I believe that today, when we are directed by God about something in our lives we have a choice to respond like Zacharias, and suffer consequences, or like Mary and receive blessings. Let's look at Zacharias' response.

"How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years."

Zacharias responded in doubt about the way, and with whom this miracle would happen. When the angel had already told him that his wife would conceive through him. You see there was already a method in place, but Zacharias doubted the power of God to do what the angel said. His old age and that of his wife was too much of a hurdle for God to overcome. So he was rebuked and struck dumb until the birth of his son.

Now Mary's response:

            "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"

Mary, in contrast, was asking about the process, knowing that it would come to pass. She did not know how God was going to do it, only that He would do what he said. So she asked for specifics. And we know this because the angel Gabriel then gives her specifics about the "how" when he tells her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and over-shadow her. That's how she will conceive, not by a man. And then the angel tells her "for with God nothing shall be impossible." Then Mary embraces the plan of God and the angel's words. She has no doubt, only faith.

This is the difference between the two. Faith! Zacharias even though he was given the way in the beginning, still did not believe in God. Whereas Mary, who did not know how, believed God because of who He is.

When God speaks to you, how will you respond. Like Zacharias who couldn't see past his own limitations, or like Mary, who could only see the greatness of her God! The way you respond as you can see has great consequences of cursing or blessing. 

As and ending note, I want to point out that God's will was performed either way. What God said through the angel Gabriel came to pass. When we waver in our faith, we suffer for it, but God's will cannot to be thwarted. What he says, will come to pass. 

I want to believe in God, and what Gabriel said, "for with God nothing is impossible"

The "Real" Key to Happiness

Happiness. What we long for, from the time we understand what it means to be happy and to be miserable. There is not a single person on the earth who wouldn't want to be happy, whatever that means for them. But I believe that no matter where you live, or your current situation, I have found the key to happiness. I know you are skeptical, and this is not an infomercial, where I will not give you the key until you read twenty pages of dialog. No, I am going to tell you right now. The key is found in two bible verses: Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165 And, blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. Luke 7:23, (Jesus speaking) So here we are being told that blessed, or happy is the person who is not offended, in the verse in Luke, but not just not offended, not offended where? in Jesus. And in the old testament we are told that if we love the law of God we will have great peace, and NOTHING shall offend us. Why is so much importance put on offended. Well offended is the enemy to happiness. Think about it, you can be having the best day, got up, prayed, read your bible, got ready for work, singing a song in your heart, and your phone rings. You innocently answer it and its your brother telling you that you have messed up and that you are a loser. What happens next? Well for most, you get offended, and hurt and now your happiness is gone. You are brooding over how wrong you brother is about you and how he doesn't understand, and you spend the rest of the day meditating on what he said. Let's look at this word offended in both the New and Old Testament. To do this I am going to my second favorite book in the world, Strong's Concordance. In Psalm 119:165, the words "and nothing shall offend" come from the Hebrew word mikshowl, and it means: a stumbling or occasion of stumbling, stumbling block. In Luke 7:23, the word be offended is the Greek word skandalizo, and it means: to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend, to entice to sin, since one who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed. So how can we keep from be tripped up, "stumbled", annoyed by this world and the people in it? IN JESUS! Luke tells us, happy is he, whosoever shall not be offended IN ME. In Jesus we find our identity. In Jesus, we no longer live, but he lives in us. In Jesus we are what he says about us and not what others say. This is so crucial to understand. You are not what your brother says about you, a loser. You are not what you parents say about you. You are not what your co-workers say about you. You are not what the world says about you. YOU ARE what Jesus says about you. Your value and worth are based upon him, why? because you are in Him. When you grasp this, and how much God loves you, it won't matter what the world, or people say or do to you, because that hole in you that only God can fill, will be filled and you will have peace, happiness, in every situation. Because it will be outside of you. No longer in you, that ability to offend. It will be gone. I will try to give a very poor example, because this is much more amazing. Let's say you have just won the lottery. (bad example i know) And your friend comes up to you and says, so no job yet. Man it must really be a bummer to have no money and no work. I wish you could find a job like mine. I make so much money and it just feels good to pay your own way. Now before you won the lottery, that would have offended you. (it would have offended anyone) It was very callus of your friend to bring out your difficult situation and then boast about his fortune. But now you just smile, and nod your head. You feel bad for your friend, because he has to go to work, while you get to buy your new boat, sports car, and house you've always wanted. But you are no longer offended by the words he spoke, because you have all you need now and his words have no power over you. You don't need to boast about what you have. You know it will make your friend feel bad, so you just keep silent. Do you see the beauty in that. IN JESUS, you have won the ultimate lottery. Everything you need, your identity, your value, your worth, your immediate provision, your peace, your future is in HIM. And if that's where you are, then happy are you! Now this is very important**** The only thing you need to believe about you from here on out, if you are in Jesus, meaning if you are born again, are the words Jesus says about you. What the bible says about you. And if you are not yet born again, saved, then now is the time! How valuable are you? How important are you? How loved are you? How worthy are you? For God so loved the world (YOU), that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever shall believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. That is how valuable, worthy, loved you are. God sacrificed his son for you. Without you doing anything. Before you were even born. There are many more scriptures you can find that tell what God says about you, go search them out. Now you can see, how happy you can be. What other people say or don't say will not move you. This new freedom you have from being offended, will now allow you to love others as never before. Even your enemy. I pray Lord that you would give ears to hear, and understanding of this amazing truth to all who read it. Especially to those who are hurting so badly, feeling like they are worthless. Who are measuring themselves by what the world has told them. Open their eyes to see how beautiful they are to you. How valuable they are. They cost heaven everything it had, to buy them back from death and hell. Jesus!

A Love Story Gone Wrong!

A great lie, conceived in darkness, but now to be uncovered for all to see. Aimed like an arrow at the family, to destroy what God hath created. What God hath put together at the very beginning, the family. Satan has tried to bring asunder, and succeeded many times over. Through the family God reveals His love and creates in His image the purpose for His love; a relationship with his creation. Marriage is at the center of the Bible story; that of God the father, sacrificing his only Son and sending His Spirit to find a Bride for His Son. These are are all family terms. But from the very beginning the evil one, Satan, determined to undermine and destroy what God hath created. I am asking the Lord to show me how to relate the truth so that the lie will be dispelled once and for all. Many have begun to read a sermon or teaching and from the way it is written, become quickly overwhelmed with facts so that the sermon/teaching cannot begin to give the same impact as when delivered personally. So I thought, not of myself, "what if I tell a story?" One that will be pleasant to read and at the same time, full of truth. After all, did not Jesus himself tell many stories that were allegories of spiritual truths? A Love Story Gone Wrong! There once was a young man, who fell ill while living a wild life of chasing women and drinking. He soon died, and as he had rejected the advice of his parents who taught and showed him God's love, he now arrived at the gates of hell. "You may ask one question before you enter into your eternal torment", said satan.. The young man thought to win mercy by appealing to satan's ego, so he asked "what has been your greatest accomplishment!". Satan said, Oh that is simple: to destroy the family. God's little pet project. You may have thought I would say, killing the Son of God, or deceiving Eve in the first place, but both of those blew up in my face. But, destroying the family, well what one has lasted throughout all time and given me the most rewards. The boy dared to ask, "how did you accomplish this great feat?" Satan, beamed with pride as he began to tell the story. "You see it actually all began in the beginning. That little episode in the garden got me into a lot of trouble. So I had to think quickly..how can I turn this thing around for my benefit and begin a lie that will stand the test of time. I took me some time to finally come up with the best strategy, but it was oh so good. I would pit the husband and wife against each other and use the word of God to do it. That pesky little curse that God handed down in the garden was kinda cryptic and so a plan developed. I will make women think they are responsible, when they are not, and I've already got Adam believing he is not responsible, notice how he pointed to the woman when God called him to be accountable. So the woman will think she is the problem, and blame herself; the way God has created them, it will be easy, so emotional and connected. Yuck! And as for Adam, I will make him think that she wants to rule him, so just as God said, "He must rule over her." He will dominate her and treat her harshly, and this will devastate her because she is so gentle and emotional, but she will blame herself, and he will never know he is responsible and blah, blah, blah...I won't bore you with the details. I even got almost all pastors, clergy to write commentaries stating that the "woman" will want to rule her husband according to Genesis 3:16, but that is so far from the truth, I can barely say the word, that it is priceless. Even if they are cunning enough to study the Word of God, they will still choose to believe the lie. "I do not understand", said the boy, trying desperately to buy time. Oh, you stupid little human, you are dull and tedious. What Genesis 3:16 really means, is just what is says, but man would rather believe me, because I suit their flesh. Genesis 3:16 says "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." Well I have the world believing, like I said, that when it says "thy desire shall be to thy husband" means that, get this, she will desire to rule over you! So what naturally must you do, rule over her. And I have mankind from Adam all the way down, dominating the very object of their love. As time went by, I induced them to become more and more harsh, until they could for the most part, only see women as property, to be used as needed then discarded. Wow, what a plan. One of God's creations, dominating the other....and all the time believing this is what they are meant to do! Meanwhile the poor little women, with their emotions and always trying to please, and mend, fix their husbands...it would make me sick if it wasn't so successful. You see you little imp, I know you are biding time to keep from entering your eternal torture, but I am quite enjoying my little monologue so I will entertain you. What does that verse really mean? Well its quite simple. When it says "your desire shall be to thy husband" it means just that, you will desire, crave and long for him. You will want to please him and be with him, love him. So strongly though that it will cloud your devotion to everything, including God. I love that part. Of course I am taking literary license her. It really only says, that a woman will desire, long for and crave her husband. Crave what, well love of course. But what will he do? He will instead rule over her. Oh how she will long,.....and crave,.....and desire, all in vain. He will dominate her and treat her harshly. Crushing her wittle bitty heart. I wonder if any of the stupid humans have even looked up the original Hebrew word to see what it means and or any other time it was used in the Bible. Well of course I know. There are two other times the word "tĕshuwqah", DESIRE, is used in the Bible, once when God was talking to Cain, my kind of guy, and told him that I was lying at the door, DESIRING like a beast to devour him, but he would rule over me, maybe I don't like that guy. This reference is found in Genesis 4:7. The last time the word tĕshuwqah, DESIRE, is used is in the Song of Solomon, Yuck!, and it is found in chapter 7, verse 10, "I am my beloved's, and his DESIRE, teshuwqah, is toward me." So sappy! The book of love. Man's love for a woman, as a shadow of God's love for man. Blah, blah, blah. Needless to say it didn't make a difference because I have 90 percent of the church at this time still believing that Gen. 3:16 is all about women wanting to control men, so they better control them. And if they don't lookout, she will rule over you and be out of God's will. Rubbish! But believed none-the-less. So there is my plan, and man and wife have been at it for years. Of course women got tired finally of being treated like property, so they rose up to fight. Oh yes I was there too. Plenty of opportunity here to pervert women and men. Of course this will help my original lie a lot, "there go those women, trying to usurp the authority". But there is one more part that I haven't explained. It's my favorite part of this lie. You see, in the garden, Adam refused to take responsibility for keeping and tending the garden. He blamed his wife, when God called him to accountability. When he was right there all the time and just let me hang around. And guess what? Every Adam from then on down, has been blaming instead of taking the responsibility. Of course I am there to promote the blame, keep the wheel turning as I say. Even today, when men are at an all time low in their role fulfillment, they blame the woman. Ah, men are emasculated because of women, and the feminist movement. They are still pointing the finger at women, saying its not my fault. And, hahaha, women believe it and take on the burden of fixing themselves, and their husbands. So on goes the turmoil. Divorce rates skyrocketing, if couples even get married at all. Well I am tired of this harangue. Off you go boy. I have plans for you!!!! I implore you, with earnest love and hope, that you will search the scriptures mentioned in this story. Go to http://www.blueletterbible.org/and look up the word desire. Click on the Strong's button, and the study the word desire. See what it means. Also you can read Ephesians chapter 5, the chapter on marriage. See how closely related the actions of the husband are to the reactions of the wife. It states here that when a man loves his wife, he is loving himself. She is a mirror of him. As we mirror Christ, a woman mirrors her husband. If a man does not like what he is seeing, he needs to take accountability for himself and see what his wife is reflecting back to him. The last thing I want to say, even though I have much, is that the Bible does not say that a man is the head of the household. Rather the husband is the head of his wife. Again read Eph. 5. The bible does say that the woman is the head of the household and this would run parallel with Proverbs chapter 30, where the woman was managing the household, buying and selling, and overseeing all that took place in the home. And her husband had complete trust in her, while he was out sitting at the gate getting the spiritual guidance for his family. The scripture I am talking about is found in 1 Timothy 5:14. Here Paul is speaking to young women, widows in particular, but not in singularity, and he says: "I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully." Notice the words, guide the house. That phrase comes from the Greek word oikodespoteō, and it means: to be master (or head) of a house; to rule a household, manage family affairs. Do you see what it says. Open your heart to receive the truth of God's word. God created women with the tools to manage and rule their home. He gave the husband other gifts and tools, to be the head of his wife. And according to Ephesians 5, he tells the husband specifically what he has been called to do. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:24-33 I pray that every man and woman who reads this will gain understanding and wisdom. Not from me, God forbid, but by the grace of God through the Holy Spirit. I especially pray for the men, the God-like examples of His love on this earth, first to their wives, and also to their children.