Fear Not, Zacharias

I have had a really tough time getting this post written.  My thoughts have been all over the place!  I've finally figured out what I want to say and hopefully it will give you something to think about.

Over the course of the past two weeks I have read the phrase "fear not" eight different times in my daily Bible reading - seven times in the first 12 chapters of Luke "fear not" is found.  Zacharias is the first that I read and I thought he was a good one to study as I am reading the Prayer Life.

Luke 1:13 says, "But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John." There is so much to study about Zacharias, but I just want to focus on "thy prayer is heard."

What was that prayer?
Many commentaries agree that is was more than one prayer that had been heard.  First, the prayer for a son, since he and Elizabeth were childless.  The second prayer was for the deliverance of Israel by the coming of the Messiah.

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible says, "which he had many years ago put up for a son; for it cannot be thought that he had been now praying for one, being in such an advanced age, and having for years past given up all hopes of one, and was even unbelieving, when he was told by the angel he should have one: prayer is sometimes immediately heard, and answered; and sometimes an answer is deferred a long time, to try the faith and patience of the saints, and to discover the more the wisdom, power, and goodness of God: or this may have regard to his present prayer, one branch of which might concern the coming of the Messiah, which was now expecting, and therefore is told, that his prayer was heard; since the angel that appeared to him, brought him the news of the conception and birth of his forerunner."

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible says, "They are all heard - thou shalt have a son, and Israel shall be saved. If fervent faithful prayers be not immediately answered, they should not be considered as lost; all such are heard by the Lord, are registered in heaven, and shall be answered in the most effectual way, and in the best time. Answers to prayer are to be received by faith; but faith should not only accompany prayer while offered on earth, but follow it all its way to the throne of grace, and stay with it before the throne till dismissed with its answer to the waiting soul."

The Answer to Zacharias' Prayer
This is the part that I've been dwelling on for the past several days.  Zacharias had prayed for a son.  I don't believe he prayed for a son who would be the forerunner of the Messiah.  His prayer was simple, but God's answer was great.

When John was taken as a baby to be circumcised and given the name of John, Zacharias was able to speak once again.  Luke chapter 1 tells us he was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied.  Luke 1:68-79 gives that prophecy.  Zacharias was given a glimpse of what God had in store for his child's life.

This son, known as John the Baptist, was more than Zacharias and Elizabeth could have imagined.  John had a mighty ministry.  Matthew 3:5-6 says, "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."  But he knew who he was, Matthew 3:11 says, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."   John 3:29-30 says, "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." 

He was the voice of one crying in the wilderness.  John 1:6-8 says, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light."  Verse 6 of that same chapter says, "And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!"

God Answers Prayer
My thoughts finally came together about this topic as I was re-reading a post about Rod this morning.  During the final months of his life, Les and I prayed earnestly for Rod.  We prayed that God would heal Rod from the disease that was destroying his body.  About six weeks before Rod died, Les and I went on an extended fast.  We believed that God was going to heal.  If an angel had appeared to me and said, "Fear not, your prayers have been heard," I would have believe it 100% and I would have expected a physical healing to take place.

After Rod died I could have questioned if God had heard my prayer.  But God gave me peace and assurance that He had heard it, but chose to answer in a different way.  My finite thinking could only see Rod's mortal body.  God could see Rod's soul.  The time spent in prayer and fasting wasn't wasted.  God heard and saw it all.  But God chose to deliver Rod from the chains of this life.  Rod was healed but he was also saved from any more sorrow on this earth.  My prayers were heard indeed.

Fear Not to Pray!
My conclusion regarding Zacharias, and in my own life, is we must pray without fear.  Ask, believing.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Fear not, my friend, your prayer is heard.

2020 Vision Refocused

Today's Bible reading included Genesis chapters 1 and 2, Luke 2 and Revelation 1.

Luke 2:10 says, " And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

Fear not!

Revelation 1:17 says, "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:"

Fear not!

I'm now up to a total of four times that the words fear not were spoken in four different situations.  Zacharias, Mary, the shepherds, and John.

I thought I was going to be studying visions this year, but it seems that God has something different in mind.  I'm turning my focus to the times "fear not" was spoken.  So far in each instance something good was spoken following the words fear not - prayers answered, favor found, good tidings of great joy, I am the first and the last.  There are times when the phrase means something different, such as Psalm 55:19, "God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God."  I'll be looking at those verses as well.

What are you fearing as 2020 begins?  Are you afraid your prayers haven't been answered?  Have you heard the good news of the gospel and you're afraid to embrace it?  Have you experienced an encounter with the first and the last and it's left you trembling?  Fear not!  Go forward into the unknown.

Remarkable!

I started a new Bible reading plan this year.  It's the Solid Life “Whole Bible” Reading Plan.  I liked the description, it seemed different than any I have done in the past:

The Solid Life Reading Plan helps you understand the entire Bible. The Old Testament is read once in near chronological order and the New Testament is read twice, beginning the year with Luke and Acts, the first 60 years of New Testament history. Psalms are often read on the same day as corresponding events. Historical books such as the Kings are read along with contemporary prophets. May you hear God’s voice as you read!

Today's reading was Genesis 1, Luke 1 and Jude.  I'm pretty sure anyone who has ever started a Bible reading plan has read the first chapter of Genesis.  The remarkable thing was when I turned to Luke chapter 1...

Luke 1:13 says, "But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John."

Fear not!!

Verse 22 says, "And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless."

A vision! 

Verse 30 says, "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God."

Fear not a second time!

I don't know what 2020 has in store, but it's seems that God is trying to tell me something.  The interesting thing is the words fear not were followed by words of encouragement.  "Fear not, thy prayer is heard."  "Fear not, for thou hast found favour with God."  

Gabriel was sent to both Zacharias and Mary.  He had great news for them, God's plan for the salvation of the world was getting ready to be fulfilled.  I wonder if God has a plan for 2020 that could change our lives if only we fear not.  I believe it's time to be bold, have our prayers answered and embrace God's favor in our lives!

2020 Vision: Fear Not!

Happy New Year's Eve!  Will you be up past midnight tonight?  We try to celebrate the new year with New York (three hours ahead of us) so we can be in bed by 9:30.

As I previously mentioned, I'm embarking on a new study this year.  I'll be studying visions from the Bible.  The first time the word vision is found is in Genesis 15:1.  I'll be studying the entire chapter next week, but for today I just want to focus on two words:  "Fear not."

Several commentaries on this verse agree that when God told Abram "fear not," He was talking about what happened in the previous chapter.  Genesis chapter 14 is the first war mentioned in the Bible.  Abram got involved because Lot had been taken captive.  Although Abram was victorious, it was thought that he could have been fearful that the nations that belonged to the kings he had triumphed over would come after him.

Other commentaries said that it addresses his future when Abram said in Genesis 15:2, "Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?" Whatever Abram was fearing, God said, "fear not."  The rest of that verse says, "I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

The words "fear not" are found 62 times in the Bible.  From Genesis to Revelation we read "fear not."  God spoke these words directly or through an angel or prophet to Abraham, Hagar, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, the children of Israel, Gideon, the widow of Zarephath, Solomon, Isaiah, Daniel, Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, Simon Peter, Jairus, the multitude, the women at the tomb, Paul, and John the revelator.

I've often heard that hindsight is 2020.  That's true for mankind, but God's vision is 2020 all the time.  He sees what lies ahead when we don't.  We often spend our time fearing the future or looking back wondering if we truly defeated the enemy of our past, when we should really be looking forward without fear.

The entire text of Genesis 15:1 is "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."  The commentaries on this verse were remarkable, and I'll return to them next week, for today I'm just going to share what Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible had to say:

"After these things," the victory, the blessing, and the self-denial recorded in the previous chapter.  

“The word of the Lord,” manifesting himself by speech to his servant.

“In a vision” the intelligent observer passes from the merely sensible to the super-sensible sphere of reality.

“Fear not, Abram.” The patriarch had some reason to fear. The formidable allies had indeed been defeated, and the fruits of their marauding enterprise wrested from them. But they might resume their purpose, and return with an overwhelming force. And Abram was still a stranger in a foreign land, preoccupied by tribes of another race, who would combine against him as soon as they suspected him of being an intruder. But the Lord had stood by him and given him the victory, and now speaks to him in the language of encouragement. 

“I am thy shield, thy exceeding great reward.” The word I is separately expressed, and, therefore, emphatic in the original.
I, Jehovah (Yahweh), the Self-existent One, the Author of existence, the Performer of promise, the Manifester of myself to man, and not any creature however exalted. This was something beyond a seed, or a land, or any temporal thing. The Creator infinitely transcends the creature. The mind of Abram is here lifted up to the spiritual and the eternal. (1) thy shield. (2) thy exceeding great reward.

Abram has two fears - the presence of evil, and the absence of good. Experience and conscience had begun to teach him that both of these were justly his doom. But Yahweh has chosen him, and here engages himself to stand between him and all harm, and himself to be to him all good. With such a shield from all evil, and such a source of all good, he need not be afraid. The Lord, we see, begins, as usual, with the immediate and the tangible; but he propounds a principle that reaches to the eternal and the spiritual. We have here the opening germ of the great doctrine of “the Lord our righteousness,” redeeming us on the one hand from the sentence of death, and on the other to a title to eternal life.

I'm saying goodbye 2019 with all it's battles, victories and defeats.  Here's what I'm planning for 2020:

I will Fear Not because
The I AM, Jehovah (Yahweh), the Self-existent One, the Author of existence, the Performer of promise, the Manifester of Himself to man
IS my Shield, my Protector and my Defense Who will stand between me and all harm,
He is also my exceeding great, superlatively multiplied Reward.
Or as David put it, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

2020 Vision

Last night during Youth Service I had an interesting thought drop in my heart.  This happened during announcements, not during the preaching!  I really did pay attention.

I know a lot of people choose One Little Word or a Word of the Year each year.  I've only done that once before in 2015 when I chose "Reset."  I like the concept, but don't always have a word that comes to me.  But don't you think the year 2020 is a perfect year for the word Vision?

What will I do with this word?  At this point it's little more than a concept.  I do plan to study each case in the Bible when someone had a vision or when the word vision is used. The word vision is found 79 times in 73 verses.  For today, I just wanted to get the idea written down.

Key verse will be Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."  I found some very interesting commentary on this verse:

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible said this:
Where Divine revelation, and the faithful preaching of the sacred testimonies, are neither reverenced nor attended, the ruin of that land is at no great distance.

The Pulpit Commentary said this:
The revelation of ancient prophecy was not continuous and uninterrupted, but it came in flashes, between which there were intervals of darkness. Sometimes those intervals were long and most distressing to a people that had learnt to draw its chief lessons from Divine oracles. Such a time was experienced in the days of Eli, for "the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no open vision" (1 Samuel 3:1); and another and longer period was that of the "four centuries of silence" between the closing of the Old Testament and the opening of the New Testament.

A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown broke it down like this:
no vision — instruction in God’s truth, which was by prophets, through visions (see 1 Samuel 3:1).
people perish — are deprived of moral restraints.

As an election year, I feel sure that 2020 will have its share of challenges and drama.  Instruction in God's truth, not what the media or politicians want to sell, is what we need to see clearly.

Do you choose a word for your year?  Have you chosen one yet?