A TIME OF WITNESS
A TIME OF WITNESS
Sunday Evening, December 14, 2008
Luke 1: 1-80
The time of the Messiah is a time of witness. John the Baptist, who came in the spirit of the prophet Elijah, was the anointed forerunner of Jesus Christ (Is. 40: 1-5; Mal. 4:5-6). There is a present prophetic “Elijah” ministry in these days of a corporate people who are carrying the Presence of the Lord to be revealed as a witness prior to His Second Coming.
Jn. 1:6-7: “there was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe.
Jn. 1:15: “John bare witness of Him…”
Luke 1: 5-12:
“dThere 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 Elizabeth. 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 Elizabeth 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. And there appeared unto him and angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. When Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.”
As Zacharias entered the holy place from the east, the archangel Gabriel (Lk. 1:19) appeared on the “north side” by the table of showbread (Ex. 26:35). After four centuries of hungry silence men were ready to taste the Bread from Heaven (Jn. 6:32-35). The tribe of Dan (which means judge”) camped on the “north side”. (Num. 2:25) Zion’s Judge and King was about to come.
The archangel stood on the “right side” of the altar of incense (Lk. 1:11). This word, also translated as “right hand” in the King James Version, speaks of a place of honor, power; and authority, and it reveals:
- The honor that Zacharias and Elizabeth were about to receive as the parents of John the Baptist.
- The honor that John would receive as the preceding witness to His divine Cousin (Mt. 11: 10-11)
- The “right hand” of the Father to which Jesus the Word would be exalted as the true Altar of Incense—our Advocate and Intercessor.
Verses 13-17 tell us much about the prophet John whose name means “Jehovah is a gracious Giver, gift of God.” These provide insight into the kind of prophetic ministering operating in these days to prepare the way of the Coming of the Lord.
- John was an answer to prayer. (Jas. 5:16)
- He was named or natured by God. (Lk. 1:13)
- His name revealed the grace of God. (Jn. 1:17)
- He would produce much joy. (Rom. 14:17)
- He would be great before the Lord. (Gen. 12:2)
- He would be a sanctified Nazarite like Samson and Samuel (Num. 6: 1-8)
- He would be filled with the Holy Ghost (Eph. 5:18)
- He would “turn” or “convert” many to God. (Acts. 16:18)
- He would fulfill Isaiah 40: 1-5 and Malachi 4: 5-6)
John’s mission and message was to make ready a people “prepared” or "equipped established built,” for the Lord.
In Verses 18-25, we can identify with Zacharias’ sin of unbelief. Like Naomi in the Book of Ruth, this aged priest made the excuse this his day was over. Zacharias had many questions, doubting Gabriel’s glad tidings. The word "sent"in Luke 1:19 is apostello, which mean “to send forth on a mission” with authority.
1:19: And the angel answering sad unto him, I am Gabriel that stands in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto you, and to show you these glad tidings.”
Because of his unbelief concerning the apostolic word, Zacharias became “dumb” or “silent” throughout Elizabeth’s pregnancy. He would not be able to speak. The word rendered “speechless” in Luke 1:22 signifies that the priest became deaf and dumb.
We are in the days and have been in the days of those who refuse to believe the words of the apostolic angel will become spiritually speechless. Because they have not heard from God, they will have nothing to say. Cherished, man-made traditions mean more to them than the revealed Word of God. (Mt. 15:9)
Elizabeth conceived because she received the seed of Gabriel’s announcement, and rejoiced that God had removed her “reproach” or “disgrace”. She “hid” herself completely for five months.
The wonder was about to become a witness! The “messenger” who would prepare the way of the Lord was now an embryonic reality. (Mal. 3:1)
The keynote speaker of this next section (Luke 1: 26-38) is the archangel, Gabriel.
“Archangel” (1 Thess. 4:16; Jude9) is from the Greek archaggelos, which means “a chief angel.” It is taken from two words:
- Archo, which means “to be first (in political rank or power).”
- Aggelos, which means “a messenger; a pastor.”
The name “Gabriel” (Dan. 8: 16; 9:21) means “mighty man of God, hero of God.” It is taken from a Hebrew word meaning “a valiant man or warrior”; its root means “to be strong, to prevail.”
Gabriel was a ruling angel, a Kingdom messenger. His ministry was marked by authority. As such, he can represent the ministry of the apostles in these times of the preparation of the church. This morning Jetta Nastally saw a huge angel in the church. We have many angels at Eastgate. However, I think Gabriel paid us a visit this morning. From her description of the angel, he was surely an arch angel. In which case, he is sent with a message.
Apostello describes one sent forth or commissioned, fully authorized to represent the name of the one who sent him. Paul confirmed this truth in his letter to the Galatians.
Gal. 4:14 “and my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor reject; but received me as angel of God, even as Christ Jesus."
Gabriel came in the sixth month to announce the birth of the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45). Adam, made in the image of God and given dominion, was created on the sixth day. The Body of Christ is about to be impacted by the voice of the archangel, the apostolic company.
26-29: “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Gabriel was “sent” to Nazareth which means “branch”, the dry ground where Jesus would grow up before the Father as a “tender plant”. (Is. 53:2)
Gabriel “came in” or “entered” Mary’s dwelling with the good news (Vs. 28). The mother of the Son of God was highly favored or graced among, not above, women.
The same archangel who prophesied Messiah’s death on the cross (Dan.9:202-27) now arrives over 450 years later to announce His virgin birth!
Mary was shaken up by Gabriel’s initial appearance and greeting. She had yet to hear the “reason for the season”. Gabriel explained that the virgin had obtained “favor” or “grace” with God. By that grace (2 Cor. 12:9) she would conceive in her womb a “Son”.
The name of Mary’s son and the nature of that which is born of God is “Jesus”—Jehovah is salvation. He would inaugurate a new kind of faith (Heb. 12: 1-2) that is activated by a new kind of love. Miracles would flow out of His divine character, and God is love. The dunamis or “ability” of God is power that is inherent within His nature.
Jesus would be “great" (Vs. 32). He would be called the “Son of the Highest”. Abraham was a priest of El-Shaddai. Moses was a priest of Yahweh, the lawgiver. Jesus was a priest of El-Elyon, “the most high God,” the God of the priesthood after the order (manner, similitude) of Melchisedec, the God of the “most holy place".
Jesus was the Son of the Highest”. The Holy ghost who overshadowed Mary was the power of “the Highest”. John the Baptist would be called the prophet of “the Highest”. (Luke 1:76) These verses use the Greek word hupsistos which means “highest, the Supreme God, or the heavens. The Revised versions renders it as “Most High.”
This new King, Mary’s first Son, the incarnate Word would inherit the throne of His father David. The greatest Son of David would be given all executive authority in Heaven and in earth. His reign would be perpetual, and “…of His kingdom there shall be no end”. (Lk. 1:33) Jesus the Messiah is the only King who shall never lay aside His diadem and robes, who shall never die!
Mary’s question in Luke 1:34 contains its own answer. That which is truly born from above cannot come forth”…of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”.
The Holy ghost, the “power” or dunamis (ability) of the Highest would “overshadow” Mary.
This means to cast a shade upon, to envelop in a haze of brilliancy; figuratively; to invest with preternatural influence. It used to describe Jesus’ transfiguration and Peter’s supernatural apostolic ministry in the streets of Jerusalem (Acts. 5:15). This figure of a cloud coming upon Mary is pictured by the Shekinah glory cloud of the Old Testament.
The primary difference between the previous order and this new day is that men cannot preach present truth until their hearts have been overshadowed by the Holy Ghost.
Gabriel then informed Mary that Elizabeth had conceived John. (Lk. 1:36). Mary received the life of God in her womb at the beginning of the seventh month of the prophet’s gestation.
Gabriel’s declaration in Luke 1:37 is the keynote of the entire chapter. The literal Greek reads, “Every word of God shall not be powerless.” The time of wonder has become the time of witness—Messiah cannot be silenced! Once the seed of His word has been planted in our hearts, it must be told. He must speak. He must sing.
Once you tell it, you will be persecuted, and attacked by angry, jealous religious spirits.
The time of the Messiah becomes a time of warfare…
Sunday morning coming, I will preach on A Time of Warfare—The Messiah cannot be contaminated.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from KJV. Text gleaned and quoted from The Time of the Messiah by: Kelley Varner.
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