Luke 1:1-25

 "But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard."

{Luke 1:13} (NIV1984)

What was Zechariah’s prayer? It seems, because of the verse that follows, that Zechariah had been praying for his wife to have a child. However there is no record of his words, or frequency of his prayer. His lack of belief suggests that any prayer he might have prayed for his wife would fall short of “an effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man”, although Luke clearly states that Zechariah was a righteous man. 

We should not be surprised that the Lord Almighty heard the prayer of a righteous man who faithfully served God, although he had trouble believing an angel. The Lord had promised to hear the prayers offered in His temple, and He keeps His promises. We should not be surprised at God answering our prayers, as if the answer depended on our ability to work up “perfect faith”. The Lord answers prayer. That is His promise and it is what He does for His people. 

Now, Zechariah probably wished that the answer had come earlier in his life! However, here once again we see that God’s timing is perfect. Friend, I wonder what are you praying for, in your imperfect way? May we insert our own name in this sentence that was spoken by the angel who stands in the presence of the Lord Almighty. “Do not be afraid, _______; your prayer has been heard.”

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1 Kings 8:22-54

  "It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

 {Luke 19:46}  (NIV1984)

 

Our Lord “cleaned house” that day! Not His mother’s house, but His Father’s house. He drove out those who had lost sight of the purpose of God’s house, the temple. The purpose of God’s temple is prayer. The prophet Isaiah declared that it will be a house of prayer (Isa 56:7). King Solomon dedicated the temple to prayer, and pleaded with God to hear prayers that were prayed in the temple. 

In this Day of grace, where we worship in spirit and truth through the Holy Spirit, may we remember that we are God’s house, His holy temple, and that our purpose is prayer. We have been made part of God’s temple; “living stones” is what we are called. Our purpose is prayer; to pray for ourselves, to pray for our families, our neighbours, the nations, to pray for God’s will to be done and His kingdom to come. To plead for God to move in grace and mercy among us! 

Friend, may the Lord of His church, our Lord Jesus, clean out His house (us) today. May we be men and women of prayer. May we obey Jude’s instruction, "But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit." (Jude 1:20) 

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Numbers 16

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

{Hebrews 4:16} (NIV1984) 

Korah and the Levites were special men, in the midst of a special people. They put God first; they were for God more than they were for their people. Therefore God set them apart for service in the tabernacle worship. However they made a huge mistake -  presumption! 

They presumed that they would be able to take on the priestly duties of Aaron and his sons. That somehow they were qualified to act as priests before God Almighty. The lesson of Numbers 16 is that presumption before God leads to destruction. Burning of incense, the fragrant offering brought to God, must come from the priests in the manner and time that God has prescribed. Not according to man’s desire, but God’s decrees. Korah learned this; Aaron’s two sons learned this (Lev 10:1) and, king Uzziah (2 Chron 26:16) learned this. May we remember their lesson. 

How do we approach God? Do we approach Him in our own merit, in our own time, in our own way? Or do we approach Him as Hebrews 4 teaches, through the great high priest, our Lord Jesus Christ. Friend, if we are truly in Christ, if we are under His blood, if we participate in His body and life, then friend, approach the LORD Almighty with confidence knowing that we will not be destroyed, but that we will find the help we need. Thank you Father, for who we are in Christ!

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Exodus 40

"Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne."

{Revelation 8:3}  (NIV1984) 

The apostle John looked into the very throne room of heaven, the true Holy of Holies, not the earthly shadow that was in the tabernacle built by human hands. This is the very real place where the Living God dwells, and where He rules from a throne of grace! 

In the earthly tabernacle, that was set up according to God's instructions, there was a golden alter placed in front of the curtain that kept us out of the Holy of Holies. On this alter, Aaron and the priests that followed him, offered incense at daybreak and twilight. This offering of incense was part of God ordained worship. 

So it is today, in the age of grace, where we worship in spirit and truth. We do not go to an earthly building and pray as a priest burns incense. NO; we draw near to God as spiritual priests in Christ and we pray, and our prayers are offered before God in the TRUE Holy of Holies! 

Dear brother and sister, let us draw near to Him today, may we pray. May we offer Him a delightful offering of lips that call on His Name, that seek His will, that desire His kingdom. May we hum this children’s song all day long:

Whisper a prayer in the morning,
Whisper a prayer at noon;
Whisper a prayer in the ev’ning,
To keep your heart in tune.

God answers prayer in the morning,
God answers prayer at noon;
God answers prayer in the ev’ning,
To keep your heart in tune.

Jesus may come in the morning,
Jesus may come at noon;
Jesus may come in the ev’ning,
So keep your heart in tune.

{Whisper a Prayer in the Morning}

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Isaiah 44:1-5

  "He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

{Luke 1:54,55} (NIV1984)

God has helped. This is from the woman who helped the Lord Jesus grow from a suckling infant into a man. To help someone is to “give assistance or support to someone”. Mary lived her life giving assistance and support to the Lord Jesus. She “pushed” him into His first miracle. She came to take Him away when she thought He had “lost His mind”. She was there as He died. 

But Mary’s song is about God helping us, not her helping God. She is praising God because He is a God who helps us. He “remembered”. That is, God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob caused His action. He helps us because He has decided to; more than that, because He promised to. 

The psalmist cries out, “Where does my help come from- my help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Ps 121) Friend, that covenant is what the Bible calls the old covenant. We are joined to God through the superior new covenant, the new covenant of His Son’s blood. 

Friend, are you joined to Christ Jesus through faith? Then know this! God has remembered you! He will help you, He is even now helping you. May we praise Him for His help this day!

I Will Praise You in the Storm, Casting Crowns {via YouTube}

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