“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.”” Luke 1:13-17
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”” Matthew 1:18-21
Holy God,
Silence for so many years . . . and then suddenly there is the angel Gabriel busy appearing and forthtelling and speaking on Your behalf, God. It seems Zacharias and Joseph needed a little more heavenly reassurance than just hearing it from their wives, Mary and Elizabeth. Preparation is not left to chance. Mary had an angelic visitation to prepare her (Luke 1:26-38). And You Lord chose Your servants well. They all obey even down to John the baptist childhood lifestyle..
And You did fill John the Baptist with Your Holy Spirit while he was still in the womb (Luke 1:41). A promise realized early. And Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit and fulfilled prophecy from (Isaiah 7:14 quoted in Matthew 1:22-23). And dad, Zechariah prophesied into the life of his unborn child (Luke 1:67-80).
And Matthew gives us the genealogy so we can see that Mary’s child though conceived by the Holy Spirit is born into the family of Joseph who is a descendant of Abraham and King David (Matthew 1:1-16). Expectations were very high if only for a small group of people n the know.
Do we have high expectations of what You can do and will do through us if we are willing? Do we simply go through the motions sometimes and not expect anything? Lift our eyes to You, Your hopes and our expectations. Even if we are only a few. Show us what You desire, and can bring to pass, in our time.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 11th October 2026
Let me never forget He is always here with me.
Just like You promised, You’ve come;
Just like You told us, You’re here;
And my desire is that You know
I love You, I worship You,
I welcome You here
Just like You promised, You’ve come;
Just like You told us, You’re here;
And our desire is that You know
We love You, We worship You,
We welcome You here
And our desire is that You know
We love You we worship You
We welcome You here
We love You we worship You
We welcome You here
And my desire is that You know
I love You I worship You
I welcome You here
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Oh Jesus,
We worship Jesus
Oh Jesus . . .
Lyrics: Marsha J. Stevens