Today we will examine the story of the birth of John the Baptist. John’s father Zachariah was a priest chosen to burn incense in the temple. Then he encountered the Angel Gabriel who told him that his prayers were answered. He would be a father in his old age to a mighty prophet of God, John the Baptist. Since Zachariah did not believe Gabriel’s message, he was stricken mute until the birth of John. Today we see the birth of John and Zachariah receiving his voice back. Upon receiving his voice, Zachariah is filled with the Holy Spirit and makes the following prophetic proclamation of praise… 

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, that we should be saved fromour enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. “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, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high hasvisited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” So, the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.” (Luke 1:68–80, NKJV)

May the Lord continue to shine His glorious light into our dark world and open the eyes of many to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. 

 Pastor Mike