PJP2 PROLOG 151211 PROLOG Focus Luke 1:11-21....

Psalm 89:1-2 (ESV)/(emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....{I Will Sing of the Steadfast Love of the Lord}...."I Will Sing of The Steadfast Love of The Lord, Forever; with my mouth I will Make Known Your Faithfulness to all generations.  For I said, “Lord, Your Steadfast Love Will Be Built Up Forever;
in the heavens You Will Establish Your Faithfulness.”....

PJPR PROLOG POST 151211 - Luke 1:11-21 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."And there Appeared to him an Angel of The Lord standing on the right side of the Altar of Incense.  And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.  BUT The Angel said to him, 'Do Not Be afraid, Zechariah, for your Prayer has been Heard, and your wife Elizabeth Will Bear you a son, and you Shall Call his name John.  And you Will Have Joy and Gladness, and many Will Rejoice at his Birth, for he Will Be Great Before The Lord.  And he Must Not drink wine or strong drink, and he Will Be Filled with The Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.  And he Will Turn many of the children of Israel to The Lord their God, And He Will 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 for The Lord a people Prepared.'  And Zechariah said to The Angel, "How shall I Know This?  For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.'  And The Angel Answered him, “I am Gabriel.  I Stand in The Presence of God, and I Was Sent to Speak to you And to Bring you This Good News.  And Behold, you Will Be Silent And Unable to Speak Until The Day That These Things Take Place, Because you Did Not Believe my Words, Which Will Be Fulfilled In Their Time.'  And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple."....

For yesterday's PJP2 PROLOG (151210) we focused on Joseph the Carpenter earthly human step-dad of our Lord Jesus.  I Hear The Holy Spirit continuing that theme today taking a snap-shot look at Zechariah.  Z was John the Baptist (JB)'s father.  I enjoy pondering Zechariah's Story.  Here he was doing his Priestly Duties, going about his worship business, saying the ritual prayers, lighting the incense, and all the other details that being a Gentile I could not begin to explain what they were....when BABAM there stands The Angel Gabriel.  Now, from what little I've read about Angels, Gabriel is considered an Arch-Angel, as he even says, "I Stand in The Presence of God"....so in my minds eye I see this pretty bulked-up/Warrior Angel that could snap old Zechariah like a twig.  Note:  I also find it interesting that it seems consistent that each Time the Angels show up (at least I know through His Story of our Lord Jesus' Birth), one of the first thing they say is, "Do Not Be afraid"....now I'm sure just the sudden appearance of this Angelic Being would be enough to make one a bit skittish.  But I also have to think that perhaps their Brightly Glowing Appearance, perhaps their armed with The Sword of God.....my imagination can get pretty wound up with these Heavenly Images.  My point, what had begun as perhaps an ordinary, 'do-my-duty' day for Z had just been turned into a miraculous, beyond belief day!  I can't hardly blame Z for saying, "WHAAAAT?  There is no way, Brother.  I am too freaking old, as well as my Mrs......we are well past those days of raising a child, let alone one who you are saying God's Got a Great Plan for.....Come on, Man....."  BUT, and here's The Point I Hear The Spirit Laying on me this morning - IF we are Open to Him: TRUST that indeed He Can Do whatever He Says He's Going to Do; Believe and Obey - Then stand back and watch God's Work Unfold.  I am pretty certain I will be speechless in the Fashion of Z as well as we Behold our Lord Jesus beginning to Prepare us for His Second Advent.

Thus my Prayer for us today would be that The Lord would give us an Open Heart Like Zechariah.  Holy Spirit, Prepare us to Be Your servants and Followers in Helping and Facilitating Your Work.  Father God Bolster our Faith that even when Your Guidance may seem impossible, Remind us, Lord Jesus that NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE for God The Father.  Lord Jesus, we Praise and Thank You for Your First Advent.  We Lift Up our Prayers in Your Precious Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

Blessings to you and yours.....jaj