Word@Work Luke17 - Luke 1:67-68
Published: Thu, 01/14/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
PRAISE AT LAST
Luke 1:67-68 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. (NIV)
After 9 months of silence, Zechariah could speak again (see Luke 1:59-64). The Divine rebuke of dumbness (see Luke 1:18-22), combined with the irrefutable evidence of God's word being fulfilled, gave the old priest no option but to confess that God had been right all along: and so God let him speak again. Zechariah was now able to join the celebration for his son, and express his praise to the Lord. As with all true praise, it was due to the work of the Holy Spirit who had filled him; just as He had filled his unborn baby John and his wife Elizabeth (see Luke 1:15, 41).
Naturally, we have no inclination to praise God. By ourselves we can neither see the need to praise, nor be motivated to worship God for all He has done. Without God breathing into us, we cannot breathe out in true worship: liturgy becomes a stale repetition; hymns become sterile words strung along the line of a tune. But when we accept the Lordship of the living God, in repentance and faith, then the Holy Spirit of God opens our lips and praise comes out (see Psalm 51:15).
Zechariah's song shows that the primary reason for worship is that God, in His sovereign grace, has come to redeem His people (see www.crosscheck.org.uk to know more). To speak or sing out that truth, is both praise and prophecy: humble thanks to God, and urgent proclamation to those who need to repent. But such truth flies in the face of all the world's proud boasting of self-improvement. We could never buy ourselves back from the kingdom of darkness; God had to do it for us. Without Him we have no hope, whatever we try to achieve. Even to understand this elementary spiritual truth, we need the Spirit's illumination. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to embrace it, and as we do - He enables us to proclaim it in praise. So let Him keep on filling you, so that you can praise Him with a full heart. In your home and workplace, praise the Lord! By yourself, walking, riding or driving, speak out His praise! With other believers speak and sing and pray - because that is what believers do with the help of the Holy Spirit. It pleases God, encourages the saints, proclaims truth to the world and satisfies the believer. Is it not time to give Him thanks and praise!
Prayer: Most wonderful and gracious Lord. I want to thank You for revealing Yourself to me through the message of the Scriptures, by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for wanting to redeem me, and for sending Jesus to pay for my soul with His own blood. Thank You for Your promised Holy Spirit; but forgive me for grieving Him and quenching His fire in my heart. Please fill me again so that I may have a heart to praise and a mind to declare Your wonderful grace in my home and church, community and workplace. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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After 9 months of silence, Zechariah could speak again (see Luke 1:59-64). The Divine rebuke of dumbness (see Luke 1:18-22), combined with the irrefutable evidence of God's word being fulfilled, gave the old priest no option but to confess that God had been right all along: and so God let him speak again. Zechariah was now able to join the celebration for his son, and express his praise to the Lord. As with all true praise, it was due to the work of the Holy Spirit who had filled him; just as He had filled his unborn baby John and his wife Elizabeth (see Luke 1:15, 41).
Naturally, we have no inclination to praise God. By ourselves we can neither see the need to praise, nor be motivated to worship God for all He has done. Without God breathing into us, we cannot breathe out in true worship: liturgy becomes a stale repetition; hymns become sterile words strung along the line of a tune. But when we accept the Lordship of the living God, in repentance and faith, then the Holy Spirit of God opens our lips and praise comes out (see Psalm 51:15).
Zechariah's song shows that the primary reason for worship is that God, in His sovereign grace, has come to redeem His people (see www.crosscheck.org.uk to know more). To speak or sing out that truth, is both praise and prophecy: humble thanks to God, and urgent proclamation to those who need to repent. But such truth flies in the face of all the world's proud boasting of self-improvement. We could never buy ourselves back from the kingdom of darkness; God had to do it for us. Without Him we have no hope, whatever we try to achieve. Even to understand this elementary spiritual truth, we need the Spirit's illumination. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to embrace it, and as we do - He enables us to proclaim it in praise. So let Him keep on filling you, so that you can praise Him with a full heart. In your home and workplace, praise the Lord! By yourself, walking, riding or driving, speak out His praise! With other believers speak and sing and pray - because that is what believers do with the help of the Holy Spirit. It pleases God, encourages the saints, proclaims truth to the world and satisfies the believer. Is it not time to give Him thanks and praise!
Prayer: Most wonderful and gracious Lord. I want to thank You for revealing Yourself to me through the message of the Scriptures, by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for wanting to redeem me, and for sending Jesus to pay for my soul with His own blood. Thank You for Your promised Holy Spirit; but forgive me for grieving Him and quenching His fire in my heart. Please fill me again so that I may have a heart to praise and a mind to declare Your wonderful grace in my home and church, community and workplace. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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