Elizabeth’s Mission

Zacharias and Elizabeth go home and Elizabeth is with child. Luke 1:24-25 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, -- Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. Elizabeth accepted the blessing and the mission that God gave her with a child born late in life.

Once again Gabriel is sent, this time to Mary, the mother of Jesus. He tells her she will give birth to the Messiah and also that her aged cousin Elizabeth is 6 months with child through the power of God.

Luke 1:36-37 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Mary then visits her cousin and something amazing happens, just in case there haven’t been enough amazing things up to this point.

Luke 1:39-45 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

John the Baptist baby, still in the womb of his mother, leaps for joy. If anyone ever tells you that a baby is not a human being until they are born then that person has never read what the Bible says about God and babies in the womb. John only about 6 or 7 months old and he leaps for joy because he has come into the presence of his Messiah and Jesus is in the womb, no more than a few weeks old.

The Bible without a doubt proclaims that a baby in the womb is fully a child in God’s judgment and that judgment is the only judgment that we will be responsible for now and in eternity.

Mary goes back home to await the fulfillment of her own purpose through the power of God and Elizabeth bears her promised child.

Luke 1:57-64 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

Elizabeth, Mary, and Zacharias all find their full potential fulfilled by faith in God's word and promises. When Zacharias takes that wax tablet and writes down, “His name shall be John” all the praise and glory he couldn’t give when he came out of the Temple is now amplified by the Holy Spirit and he himself becomes an oracle of God, prophesying about his son.

Luke 1:76-79 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people
by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God;whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The Purpose Found and Fulfilled

We might wish an angel would visit and tell exactly what God’s purpose is for us as his servants, but again we aren’t John the Baptist and we are not living at a time of God’s plan for the ages intersecting our own times. And yet God does have a purpose for all of us and though it is not given through the visitation of an angel, it is given through the work of the Holy Spirit in the writings of scripture.

Our God given purpose has not been left to guesswork, or emotions or our own visions. Instead, we have been given a concrete, understandable plan and purpose for our life. Too many times we are wasting time trying to figure out God's will instead of simply doing God's will.

God has clearly told us this is how it will be for all of his people.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. The question is not what is God's will for God has revealed it in His word, the question is will I submit to His will?

Throughout the Bible people are not called upon not to decipher God's will or purpose for them but simply to get busy and do it.

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Romans 12:1-2 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I can only fulfill my potential, my purpose, in God, if I know God’s will written in His Word word and then surrender myself to that will. I must surrender my strength for God will only use my weakness. I must surrender my pride for God will only use my humility. I must surrender my fear for God will only use my faith. I must surrender my future for God will only use me now.

Secret of William Booth's Success

An American evangelist asked William Booth if he would disclose the secret of his success.  Tears came into his eyes and began to steal down his cheeks, and then he said, "I will tell you the secret.  God has had all there was of me.  There have been men with greater brains than I, men with greater opportunities; but from the day I got the poor of London on my heart, I made up my mind that God would have all of William Booth there was, and if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army today, it is because God has all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life."

The evangelist walked away and later wrote, "The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender."