The 
Phases of Faith
Faith is the only way to grow in our relationship with God.
Thursday, May 6, 2004
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My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for a new day to worship and serve You! Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that all I think, say and do will bring You glory and honor. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Luke 1:8-20
8One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary and burn incense in the Lord’s presence. 10While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.
11Zechariah was in the sanctuary when an angel of the Lord appeared, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12Zechariah was overwhelmed with fear. 13But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! For God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name him John. 14You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice with you at his birth, 15for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or hard liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.£ 16And he will persuade many Israelites to turn to the Lord their God. 17He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah, the prophet of old. He will precede the coming of the Lord, preparing the people for his arrival. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will change disobedient minds to accept godly wisdom.”
18Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
19Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20And now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you won’t be able to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly come true at the proper time.”
Reflecting on God's Word
How do you think you would have responded if you were in Zechariah’s shoes—would you have believed or doubted the angel’s message? Why?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
What was Zechariah doing when the angel Gabriel appeared to him? (1:8-11)
What message or “dream” did Zechariah receive from Gabriel? (1:13-17)
How did Zechariah respond to the foretelling of the dream? (18-20)
Understanding God's Purpose
What do we find out about God’s purpose for humanity in today’s reading?
Why do you suppose God chose Zechariah and Elizabeth to be the parents of John the Baptizer?
Applying God's Word to Our Lives
What do you learn from today’s Scripture that encourages you for living toward the fulfillment of God’s dreams for your life?
Thoughts...Dreams for the Next Generation...
The dream Zechariah received was not just for him and Elizabeth. In fact, the birth of John the Baptizer and his ministry some thirty years later would be transformational in all of human history! One interesting point about this account is that Zechariah caused a delay even in his ability to relay this vital announcement due to his doubt. Since Zechariah doubted the message, he was made mute until the time of John’s birth. This may seem like a strange action or delay, but consider this: John was going to be the forerunner or the “announcer” for Jesus. Since, John’s father was unwilling to accept the news, the announcement of the announcer was delayed! How many delays do we bring about each day in God’s dreams for us, because we doubt? Only God knows, but we can be sure that doubt never comes from God! Doubt is a tool of Satan. If he can keep us from trusting God fully, then he hopes to distract or even dislodge us from the pursuit of God’s dreams in our lives. May we learn from Zechariah and be confident when God speaks to us to pass on the announcement to the next person and the next, and even to the next generation. After all, God’s dreams come to every generation, and they are for all generations. Let’s trust Him enough to announce the Good News!