By His Spirit

Might serve Him without fear…Luke 1:74

Zacharias was struck mute just after being told by Gabriel that he and his wife Elizabeth would bear a son and call him John. Zacharias doubted, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”Gabriel answered, “behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” Luke 1: 18-25

Soon afterward Gabriel would make a similar announcement to Mary, Luke 1:26-38. Mary was told she would bear a son and call Him, Jesus. Mary left her hometown to spend time with Elizabeth. Luke records their joy for being chosen to bring forth a child, Luke 1:39-45. Luke records Mary’s poem expressing her feelings, Luke 1:46-55.

Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. verse 57. Eight days later John is brought to the priest thinking his name would be Zacharias. “No; he shall be called John.” Verse 60.

Then Zacharias is allowed to speak, and his words are recorded by Luke, 1:67-79. Verse 67: Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, 

and prophesied, saying:

Here is an excerpt of his birth announcement of his son, John:

“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 from our 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 we shall. Because of who God is, we will serve Him without fear. Because of what God has done, we will serve Him in holiness and in righteousness before Him.

We shall do this all the days of our life, not by might, but by the Spirit of God!