Msg #1348 Be Outspoken And Not Dumb

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice 

For better or worse December is the month wherein the birth of Christ is given great emphasis. There is a message in every accounting of every detail of Christ's birth. Sometimes the certain priest of the course of Abia gets overlooked. Zacharias and Elizabeth walk onto the opening page of the Gospel of Luke, coming with twenty or more years of unfulfilled prayer; Elizabeth was old and barren. There is an emphasis that they were both righteous, both walking right, and both blameless, but years had passed without their prayer answered. There is an emphasis on Zacharias' faithfulness in the priest's office and that this day's “lot” put him before the altar of incense. An altar involves both surrender and sacrifice; incense signifies the prayers of saints. The candlestick stood on the left of the Holy Place, providing all available light in the room; the table of shew bread on the right, and the altar of incense was centered against the veil that shrouded the Most Holy Place. The angel of the Lord stood on the right side of the altar of incense, in the shadow of the altar. He told Zacharias, “Thy prayer is heard,” and he was dumb for not believing. When there is a longstanding unfulfilled prayer in your life, remain faithful in your priestly service. This story caps off the truth that God has the greater good in view. Yours will not be as great as a John the Baptist, but a greater good just the same. Also, when the promise of answer appears in the shadow of the altar, believe it, else you will be dumb, and not tell others of the great promise. You gotta love the lead account approaching the story of the birth of Christ. Learn from it and lean on it.

An Essay for week #48 Sun, Dec 1, 13

Published at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/ppulpit/biblesays13.pdf 
Also at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/ppulpit/biblesays13.epub
In paperback at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

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