Throughout the Bible there are consequences for rejecting and disobeying the values, morals, laws, and commandments in the Word of God. This is a lengthy subject, so I am just going to focus on a portion of one chapter in the book of Luke 1:5-20; 57-80, concerning an angel telling Zacharias that his prayer was heard and they were going to have a son.

What is amazing here is that Zacharias had been praying and was a priest to the Lord, so we would think he surely should expect his prayers to be answered. And yet, he did not and he doubted the word of God that positively answered his prayer delivered by an angel.

The angel even had to calm Zacharias down as fear came upon him when he saw the angel. People say they believe in prayer, miracles and the supernatural, yet when an angel appears, some people are afraid, not expecting their prayers to be answered.

In fact, the angel went on to say (prophesy) what type of powerful ministry Zacharias' son would have and that his son would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. (The only way any of us can do great exploits is to tarry for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. That is why when Jesus ascended to heaven, He commanded his disciples to go to Jerusalem and not try to do ministry until receiving the power of God through Pentecost or they could not do great exploits.) The angel continued and told Zacharias that his son was not to drink wine or strong drink and minister in the spirit of Elijah to make the people prepared for the Lord.

The promise of a son was quite an answer to prayer, which we could even say was a miracle because of their advanced age and the fact that Elizabeth was barren, but God can perform miracles and they do happen or why pray?

The angel also told Zacharias what to name his son. Because of Zacharias' disbelief, God struck him mute.

Luke 1:5-20 NKJV

John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁷ But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

⁸ So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, ⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ¹⁴ And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶ And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘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.”

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

¹⁹ And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. ²⁰ But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

NOTE: God's timing is critical and we should not be impatient and get ahead of God or else instead of receiving blessings, protection and prosperity, we can lose our blessings.

Luke 1:57-80 NKJV

Birth of John the Baptist

⁵⁷ Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. ⁵⁸ When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

Circumcision of John the Baptist

⁵⁹ So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. ⁶⁰ His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”

⁶¹ But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” ⁶² So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.

⁶³ And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. ⁶⁴ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. ⁶⁵ Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶ And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zacharias’ Prophecy

⁶⁷ Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

⁶⁸ “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, ⁶⁹ And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, ⁷⁰ As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, ⁷¹ That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, ⁷² To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, ⁷³ The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: ⁷⁴ To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, ⁷⁵ In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

⁷⁶ “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, ⁷⁷ To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, ⁷⁸ Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; ⁷⁹ To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

⁸⁰ So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

CONCLUSION:

What a powerful ministry John the Baptist had confronting evil including the evil in society, the leadership of Israel and Rome, and the evil of the King who was living in adultery. John the Baptist was fearless because he lived a consecrated life of sacrifice, inhaling the scriptures, not the rubbish on the internet, which can fill your soul with the views of society and racists. Demons can now plague, torment and try to destroy you, your marriage, family and your destiny. John spent much time cultivating his relationship with God alone in the desert through prayer, fasting and simple living. He was totally focused on his calling and not the things of this world that entrap most of us.

This was the reason why God honored John the Baptist with baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River. Jesus said John the Baptist was the greatest man born of a woman.

You can also be close to God in constant fellowship throughout the day in a spirit of prayer and also time in the Word. As we set our heart on Christ and extending His kingdom on earth, the cares of this world do not have to influence our walk with the Lord. We can hear his voice, receive His instructions through His word, or servants of God including angels, visions and dreams.

NOTE: Zacharias' tongue was immediately loosed when he expressed to the people that his son would be named John as per the instructions from the Lord through the angel.

NOTE: Zacharias' punishment of becoming mute through disbelief was terminated by the Lord when he obeyed by naming his son John. Zacharias also kept his heart clean and not bitter when God punished him making him mute by immediately praising God when he could speak.

He not only came out of his mute condition praising God but also prophesying. The key point to remember is that when we go through trials, tribulations and chastisement, we keep our heart and attitude clean so
God can continue to hear and answer our prayers, as well as to use and bless us even more powerfully than ever before.

Jonathan Hansen