Title: Life of the Blessed (Luke 1:5~16)
Contents
Who is blessed by God?
The Bible says, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1). :One).
Psalm 2:12 says, “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.”
Romans 4:7 and Psalm 32:1 say, “Blessed are those whose sins are covered.”
Luke 11:28 says, “Blessed are those who hear the word and keep it.”
The Apostle James said, “Blessed are those who endure temptation” (James 1:12).
Peter said, “Blessed are you when you are reviled in the name of Christ” (1 Peter 4:14).
Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.” (Matthew 5:3-10).
If that is the case, then it is different from the concept of happiness of people around the world who think that living well, succeeding, and becoming successful is a blessing. Then who will be blessed?
A person who fears God.
He is a person with whom God is with him.
He is a person who gives thanks for the grace he has received and glorifies God.
A person who humbles himself before God.
He is a person who gives thanks for being called before God.
He does not despise the grace of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
A person who has a relationship with God in this way is a blessed person who has received precious spiritual blessings.
Today's text teaches us what life is like for those who are blessed by God through the birth of John the Baptist.
I. Blessed are those who live a righteous life.
Verse 6 says, “These two were righteous before God, walking without blemish in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.”
The Hebrew word for “righteousness” is “tsedek,” which means “upright, upright.” What are you straight about and what are you straight about? It means being straight and upright in your relationship with God. The text says that the life of a righteous person is a life without blemish by following all the commandments and ordinances.
Then how can we live the lives of upright and righteous people?
Even a person who specializes in architectural design drafting cannot draw straight lines by hand. No matter how skilled a carpenter is, he cannot cut straight posts. If so, is it impossible to build upright buildings and erect straight columns? It's not like that. You can't draw straight lines by hand, but you can draw with a straight ruler. You can't straighten a pillar with a snowball, but you can cut it straight by using an ink line.
Likewise, because we are inherently imperfect creatures, we cannot reach religious holiness or absolute moral good in our own strength.
The Bible says, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God; all have turned aside and become useless in one way; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).
Then, are we humans forever abandoned and destroyed? It's not like that. God has opened the way for us to live a straight and upright life. What is it? It is the word of God.
In the Old Testament Age, God gave the Word of the Law as the standard of life for a right life, and in the New Testament Age, He gave the Gospel Word as the standard for a right life. Therefore, the Word of God is the standard and standard of our faith and life.
The Bible says, “O life, the Lord has shown you what is right; that all God requires of you is to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). .
In the New Testament, Jesus said, “Love God above, and love your neighbor as yourself below” (Matthew 22:40).
Paul said, “If there are any other commandments, they have been heard in their words, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Romans 13:9).
What are the wishes of the priest Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth in the text?
Verse 7 says, “Because Elizabeth was barren, they were childless, and they were both old.” Perhaps the couple's lifelong wish was to have children, but now that they are old, there is no hope. But God is not impossible.
God never forsakes those who live righteously before God. Bless, protect, and protect. God said, “Because he loves me, I will deliver him. Because he knows my name, I will exalt him. He will plead with me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in their troubles, to deliver him and to glorify him. and will be seen as my salvation” (Psalm 91:14-16).
God gives the promised blessings to the righteous who love Him and live according to His laws.
II. He blesses those who live a temple-centered life.
Verse 8 says, “At the same time, when Zacharias was performing the priestly duties in the presence of God in the order of his class…”
When did God's angel Gabriel appear and deliver the blessing? Zacharias appeared while performing priestly duties in the temple. God's blessings fall on God's altar. He meets those who come near the temple and blesses those who serve the temple.
The child Samuel was sleeping in the temple when he heard the voice of God.
While praying in the temple, Hannah was blessed by the priest Eli.
When Elijah fell on his face at the altar of God and prayed, he received the answer that fire fell from heaven.
In front of the beautiful gate of the temple in Jerusalem, the crippled man met Peter and John, who came up to pray during the 9 o'clock prayer time, and healed the crippled man.
We are blessed when we value the temple and live a temple-centered life.
Ⅲ. When we pray before God, we receive blessings.
Verse 13 says, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayers have been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”
Zacharias received grace when she prayed. An angel appeared while praying. When I prayed, my wish came true. God's people must pray.
The life of the blessed is a life of prayer. There is no way for us to become clean without praying before God, living in a world where sin is pervasive. With knowledge, with learning, with culture, nothing in the world can cleanse our defiled hearts.
The Apostle James said, “Is any of you afflicted, let him pray, if any rejoice, let him sing praise, if any of you are sick, they shall call upon the elders of the church, and they shall pray for them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if any sins have been committed, they will be forgiven” (James 5:13-15).
Prayer is the way to receive God's grace, power, and blessings. When you pray, an angel will accompany you. If you pray, the court will shake and the prison door will be opened. Please believe that if you pray, the door of heaven will open and the door of answers will open.