Scripture to Read: Luke 1:14–17
God used His angel Gabriel to deliver some incredibly exciting news to Zacharias. We read in Luke 1:14–17, “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” All parents have incredible “joy and gladness” when God blesses them with the birth of each child, whether it’s one or many. God had specific plans for John, and God made it clear what John’s life would be like in Luke 1:15–17. To be filled with the Holy Spirit before the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1–4 meant John would be filled with the words of the Holy Spirit to speak God’s word by His Holy Spirit (other examples in Scripture: 2 Peter 1:20–21, 2 Samuel 23:1–2, Luke 1:41–45, Luke 1:67–79). John’s role was prophesied in the Old Testament (Malachi 3:1) to clear the path for the promised Messiah. John was filled with the Holy Spirit to do that job.
Challenge & Application
How did God choose to use John for His kingdom and glory?
How do we know God has a job for us to do today for His kingdom and glory as well? (See Ephesians 2:10 for help.)
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!