Luke 1:7-11,13-14 NKJV
[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.
[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.
He was a Priest of the Lord. He was advanced in years. His wife was barren. Their case seemed hopeless. We know ABRAHAM was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 (Genesis 17:17) when God gave them Isaac, but we do not know the exact age of Zachariah and Elizabeth, however, the Bible says, they were well advanced in years. I would, therefore, take it to be at the age of Abraham and Sarah WHEN THE LORD DECIDED TO VISIT THEIR TEARS AND SORROW.
What is very commanding and attractive in this story of “well advanced aged barren couple” is our point of attention in this devotional. The man was a Priest of the Lord, always attending to his ministerial duties of interceding for people and presenting their requests before God, inside the Holy Place of the Temple, while the people would always stayed outside to receive the blessings of God through him always. Yet he carried the burden of his own problems in his heart.
It was his turn to report at the Temple to pray and interceded and offer offerings unto God on behalf of the people, and HE WAS PRESENT TO DO JUST THAT. His barrenness of many years did not discouraged him from performing his duties before God. His shame and sorrows did not stop him from attending to his ministerial duties. He was in the Temple at the right time to attend to the people who were waiting to be interceded and prayed for, while he carried the burden of his many years of barrenness around.
NOW THE MOST MOVING ASPECT OF THIS STORY IS:
LUKE 1:9-11
(9) according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
(11) “Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.”
The ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM AT THE EXACT POINT OF HIS MINISTERIAL DUTIES.
Not outside of the Temple.
Not under a tree,
Not in the Courtyard of the Temple, but at the point of his Duties, at the point of burning incense was where the Angel who was sent from God to break the bonds and fetters of barrenness, appeared to him.
THE ANGEL WAS SENT TO MEET HIM AT HIS POST OF MINISTERIAL DUTIES AND HE WAS THERE TO KEEP THE APPOINTMENT.
He was very old and barren, yet he was not discouraged from serving the Lord and attending to his ministerial duties.
The Angel that was to bring the key to his Open Door of fruitfulness, would communicate the information to him ONLY at his Ministerial Post, and fortunately, he was at his duty post as usual.
If he had been discouraged by the many years of barrenness, he would have abandoned his ministerial duties at the altar of incense. If his challenges and shames had discouraged him from serving the Lord, the Angel would never have met him at his duties post, and when God had decided to end his shame, he would have long left his duty-Post.
HIS CHALLENGES DID NOT DISCOURAGED HIM FROM HIS MINISTERIAL DUTIES, SO, THE ANGEL MET HIM THERE AND BROKE THE CHAINS OF BARRENNESS.
You are no longer leading the Worship because you think you are “well-advanced in age” and you are not yet married. You have been discouraged and left your Ministerial assignment. Probably, the Angel had come on your day of breakthrough and had not met you at your duty post.
You have been seriously discouraged and you are no longer in your Teaching Ministry because all your mates and colleagues have built their houses and have now become landlords, while you still struggle every months to pay your house rents and even eat. You have been discouraged and abandoned the ministry and had probably missed the “Appearing of the Angel at your point of Ministerial Duties”.
Your fervency has reduced.
Your zeal has diminished since you have not secured any tangible employment and you have been discouraged from your ministerial duties the Lord had committed into your hands.
Get back to your Duty Post.
That sickness has discouraged you, despite all prayers and fasting, the infirmities have refused to depart. You have been weakened in your spirit and your ZEALS for the things of God has gone shallow.
Get back at your Ministerial assignment in order not to miss the appointment with your Angel of Change to be sent from God any moment.
Your waiting for a husband has weakened you?
Your search for a wife has sank your spirit?
Your long-term wait for an issue of the womb has dampened you?
Your over-due debts has disorganized your spirit?
Your months and years of joblessness has distracted your service in the Lord ?
GET BACK QUICKLY AT YOUR MINISTERIAL DUTIES, AND PATIENTLY WAIT FOR YOUR ANGEL OF BREAKTHROUGHS THAT WOULD BE SENT TO YOU BY GOD AT ANY TIME FROM NOW.
May I never miss my moment of Breakthrough.
May I never miss my Divine Appointment with an Angel of Blessings.
May I not be discouraged by anything to walk away from my Ministerial Assignment.
May I be at my Post when the Lord would send an Angel to attend to my Tears and Sorrows.
Source: Evang. Mike Bamiloye
Aphorism CITY 