Dumbness -- not able to speak, (for unbelief). Good Angels, Appear as Men. The Nazarites

12-02-07 Sunday School Lesson: Like Zacharias believest not the angels word -- Do You Believe? Luke 1:8-23 12-09-07 Sunday School Lesson, Living Out God-Given/Divine Purposes, Luke 1:26-38 (Devotional Reading: Psalm 40:1-5) Key Verse -- 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. Luke 1:20 Dumbness -- not able to speak, (for unbelief) "thou" -- Eziekel 3:26 -- God shutteth the prophet's mouth (Ezekiel 3:27 -- God openeth the prophet's mouth) ....... Now, I am not saying that I am a prophet/prophetess. Season -- I asked this question many times what season are we in? Luke 1:8-23 Verses 8, 9, 10 -- Sacred Persons & Offices 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. Zacharias -- father of John the Baptist, promised a son, stricken with dumbness for unbelief. high priest -- Exodus 28, Leviticus 16 (Leviticus 21:17-21 -- no one that had a blemish could officiate at the altar) High Priest -- Hebrews 8:1-6, Jesus Christ is the High Priest, sit on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens priests -- Malachi 2, denounced for unfaithfulness, Malachi deals with more than money. Elisabeth -- Elisheba, (God her oath), mother of John the Baptist Luke 1:8-23 Verses 9, 10 -- Sacred Persons & Offices And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. "in" -- II Chronicles 31:2 -- Sacred Persons & OFfices ... And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses ................... "to" -- I Samuel 2:28 -- Wicked Priest, The Punishment of Their House ... And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest ................... And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at this the time on incense. Food For Thought ... I Peter 3:7 -- Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 7-23-89 One of my former pastor's preached this sermon -- The Church Reputation is On The Line, Mark 9:17-18, 21-22 Real Life 101 ....... Let me share with you one of my prayers that I would lay silent in bed at night and pray. I would pray for the Lord to send the church a leader when I was their first lady(former first lady). They have a new pastor... Question ... Do you know what a first lady in the church is? Do you know how a woman becomes a first lady? Can you image a first lady being choked on a saturday and act like later nothing has happened, go to church on sunday and teach sunday school, sit on the second row in church on sunday and go to another church and have to introduce her husband before he speak? the end .. Luke 1:8-23 Verse 11 -- Good Angels, Appear as Men And there appeared unto him an angel of the LORD standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Verse 12 -- Good Angels, Terror At And when Zacharias saw him, "he" was troubled, and fear fell upon him. "he" -- Luke 1:20 Luke 1:8-23 Verses 18, 19 -- Offices of Good Angels, Convey God's Message 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. Question: Food for Thought -- Wasn't Abraham and Sarah in Genesis stricken in years/pass child bearing age. With God all things are possible. Luke 1:8-23 Verses 13, 14, 16, 17 -- Jesus Christ, Christ's Forerunner, Predictions Concerning John But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard: and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and "thou" shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and "many" shall rejoice at his birth. "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. "thou" -- Luke 1:60, 63 -- Christ's Forerunner, John's Birth, Early Life, & Ministry "many" -- Luke 1:58 -- And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. Real Life 101 -- From what I am told men love having boys .. sons ... Have would you feel/react if an angel told you that your wife was going to have a son? Would fear not come upon you? The angel gave him instructions what his name was to be. Babies do bring joy and gladness.... But birth is a painful process, whether by C-section or natural birth. After the birth comes great joy and gladness and the pain is nothing compared to your joy. Sometimes women have postpartum blues after the birth of a child.. You are overjoyous and at the same time have much to do that you did not have to do at first. Luke 1:8-23 Verse 15 -- Holy Spirit, Promised The Outward Man, Total Abstinence from Wine, The Nazarites Question: Food for Thought -- How long does one perform a Nazarite Vow? One time my late husband (he was tested as having the qualifications of a prophet but he served in the office of a deacon) had a quiz that they were given at Bible Class by their Pastor. He brought his paper home from church and gave it to me and told me to find and answer his questions so he could take it back the next week to Bible Class. . His Pastor gave him a 98 on his paper and then he brought it home and told me look I made a 98. Luke 1:8-23 Verses 20, 21, 22 -- Dumbness Dumbness -- silent, not able to speak 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 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. Luke 1:8-23 -- Sacred Persons & Offices And it came to pass, that as soon as "the" days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. Scripture reference taken from: KJV, Topical Reference Edition, Crusade Bible Publishers, Inc., Mt. Juliet, Tn The Precious Promise Bible, KJV, The John C. Winston Co., Entered 1915 at Stationers Hall