Luke 1
Time for a confession. When I started reading unsheatheds reading plan for today in Luke I was very angry about some comments made toward my family. My first reaction was to use this blog entry to rebuke that behavior to ensure it does not continue to happen. But, after some time to cool off and to really study this passage, I know that I shouldn't write that. After all, at the heart of unsheathed is that we do not fight against flesh and blood enemies.
Instead I will write about Spiritual Warfare; my favorite topic. Specifically the power and influence carried by our tongues. Words are very powerful tools. God SPOKE the universe into existence. If you aren't familiar with microscopic chemistry, get ready for a quick overview. Everything that we see is made up of matter. That matter is made up of little particles; protons, neutrons and electrons. Those things are made up of "quarks". And quarks, the very smallest, simplest particle in the world, is made up of sound waves. Little balls of sound bouncing of each other to make stuff. The sound of the Voice of the Creator.
There are dozens and dozens of examples when the words used created the miracles desired; Lazarus being raised from the dead, Peter healing the crippled man, David's defeat of Goliath. I could go on and on and on. What is true of each of these stories is that in all of them, someone spoke, out loud, and what they spoke lined up perfectly with the Will of God. Each of them believed that what they were saying was going to come to pass and it did. That shouldn't surprise anyone as Jesus had already clued us in that this would happen.
Those are all examples of how our words can produce good fruit and they really don't relate much to our passage. However, the opposite does. When we speak this that are contrary to God's will and His plan, the devil can take hold of those words and use them against us. He can actually take whatever blessing God has planned away from you. There aren't as many examples of this in the Bible but there are some. What is more interesting is two times when God prevented this from happening.
When the Israelites conquered the city of Jericho they were given some very interesting instructions. They were to march around the city once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day. Then the priests were to sound a horn and scream at the top of their lungs. After that, the walls came tumbling down. What is interesting is that the entire time they were marching around the city they were commanded to be SILENT! Why? It's simple. If they were allowed to speak, what would they say? What would you say? It's not a stretch to envision the army marching around this city to say something like "This is stupid. How are we gonna take this city without using a sword or a stone? Just by walking and screaming? I'm outta here." But that wasn't God's plan. His plan was to ensure that the Jews were able to see first hand the mighty power He has and that He doesn't need weapons or armor that by His power alone His faithful people can be victorious. Cool huh?
So in our passage in Luke we have the story of a priest, Zacharias. He and his wife were blameless before God. Following the commandments and ordinances. Unfortunately, they were unable to have a child because Elizabeth was barren and they were both well advanced in years. But God had a plan for this couple. While Zacharias was working in the Temple he was visited by an angel of the Lord who relayed exactly what that plan was. He was to have a son, a prophet, Elijah returned to exclaim the coming of the Messiah, the Christ, Jesus. I would have had a hard time believing it too. Zacharias asked for a sign to prove that this was true. Did he ever get one. Not only did he get a sign but he was struck dumb. But why? This was a very important step in God's ultimate plan. John the Baptist must return before Christ and the time was now. If Zacharias were to speak during the pregnancy what are the things that would have been said? "So I was at church the other day and this guy came up to me and said my kid is Elijah. Can you believe that junk? I mean really." What powerful tools for the devil to misuse in his life! Instead of taking that kind of risk, speech was taken from him.
Turns out mom was right..... If you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all.
Instead I will write about Spiritual Warfare; my favorite topic. Specifically the power and influence carried by our tongues. Words are very powerful tools. God SPOKE the universe into existence. If you aren't familiar with microscopic chemistry, get ready for a quick overview. Everything that we see is made up of matter. That matter is made up of little particles; protons, neutrons and electrons. Those things are made up of "quarks". And quarks, the very smallest, simplest particle in the world, is made up of sound waves. Little balls of sound bouncing of each other to make stuff. The sound of the Voice of the Creator.
There are dozens and dozens of examples when the words used created the miracles desired; Lazarus being raised from the dead, Peter healing the crippled man, David's defeat of Goliath. I could go on and on and on. What is true of each of these stories is that in all of them, someone spoke, out loud, and what they spoke lined up perfectly with the Will of God. Each of them believed that what they were saying was going to come to pass and it did. That shouldn't surprise anyone as Jesus had already clued us in that this would happen.
Those are all examples of how our words can produce good fruit and they really don't relate much to our passage. However, the opposite does. When we speak this that are contrary to God's will and His plan, the devil can take hold of those words and use them against us. He can actually take whatever blessing God has planned away from you. There aren't as many examples of this in the Bible but there are some. What is more interesting is two times when God prevented this from happening.
When the Israelites conquered the city of Jericho they were given some very interesting instructions. They were to march around the city once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day. Then the priests were to sound a horn and scream at the top of their lungs. After that, the walls came tumbling down. What is interesting is that the entire time they were marching around the city they were commanded to be SILENT! Why? It's simple. If they were allowed to speak, what would they say? What would you say? It's not a stretch to envision the army marching around this city to say something like "This is stupid. How are we gonna take this city without using a sword or a stone? Just by walking and screaming? I'm outta here." But that wasn't God's plan. His plan was to ensure that the Jews were able to see first hand the mighty power He has and that He doesn't need weapons or armor that by His power alone His faithful people can be victorious. Cool huh?
So in our passage in Luke we have the story of a priest, Zacharias. He and his wife were blameless before God. Following the commandments and ordinances. Unfortunately, they were unable to have a child because Elizabeth was barren and they were both well advanced in years. But God had a plan for this couple. While Zacharias was working in the Temple he was visited by an angel of the Lord who relayed exactly what that plan was. He was to have a son, a prophet, Elijah returned to exclaim the coming of the Messiah, the Christ, Jesus. I would have had a hard time believing it too. Zacharias asked for a sign to prove that this was true. Did he ever get one. Not only did he get a sign but he was struck dumb. But why? This was a very important step in God's ultimate plan. John the Baptist must return before Christ and the time was now. If Zacharias were to speak during the pregnancy what are the things that would have been said? "So I was at church the other day and this guy came up to me and said my kid is Elijah. Can you believe that junk? I mean really." What powerful tools for the devil to misuse in his life! Instead of taking that kind of risk, speech was taken from him.
Turns out mom was right..... If you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all.