River of Life Blog
  • Pastor Todd Weston's Blog

RLA Pastor's blog

Fearless

12/7/2015

 
Picture
Luke 1:68-70 records the only recorded prophetic utterance of Zacharias, the father of John-the-Baptist.  Zacharias was a priest; a spiritual leader in Israel.  So people respected what he had to say.  In the heart of his prophetic utterance is a jewel of a statement, “To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear” (Luke 1:74).

This prophecy was especially comforting to the nation of Israel.  For a period of 400 years there had been no prophetic word from heaven. Not a sound!  For nearly 600 years, the Jews had prayed for deliverance from their enemies: first Babylon, then Medo-Persia, followed by Greece, and finally Rome.  They longed for a savior.  Little did they know the long wait was just about over!  Within a matter of weeks after Zacharias’ prophecy, maybe just a few months, the angels would light up the night sky over Bethlehem with the announcement, “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

Zacharias’ prophecy speaks to us today.  It reminds us that as believers we have been delivered from the hand of our enemies.  All that Adam lost for the human race, Jesus purchased on our behalf with His blood.  Because of Christ’s work on the cross, we no longer have to live in bondage to the enemy.  No longer are we bound by Satan’s lies.  No longer are we subject to his control.  For the Lord“has visited and redeemed His people…that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hates us” (Luke 1:68,71). 

According to Zacharias’ prophecy God has saved us so that we “might serve Him without fear” (Luke 1:74).  Are you serving Jesus today without fear, or are you continuing to live in bondage?  Did you know that according to Romans 8:15, “You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’”?  Have you stood on 2 Timothy 1:7 that states, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  Have you remembered the words of 1 John 4:18 that says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.”

God did not save us so we would continue living in fear.  He did not redeem us so we could go on living in bondage.  He saved us to set us free from every enemy, including fear.  So don’t be afraid!  God will perform the mercy promised (Luke 1:72a).  Don’t be afraid!  He will remember His holy covenant (Luke 1:72b).  God will not break or forget His promises to you.  He will perform all that He promised.

Rest in this thought today: The same power that cancelled our sins can handle our fears.  The first word from heaven to earth at the birth of Jesus was, “Do not be afraid” (Luke 2:10).  The final word of the believer walking through the valley of the shadow of death is this, “I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4).  From the moment Christ is born in your heart to the moment you step into the eternal home of the Lord, may God grant you the grace to serve Him without fear.

Pastor Todd Weston

Comments are closed.

    Pastor Todd

    Lead Pastor
    River of Life
    Assembly of God

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    Categories

    All
    1 Timothy 4:12
    9/11
    Accountability
    Bible
    Bitterness
    Blessing
    Blessings
    Cheerful Heart
    Choices
    Christmas
    Church
    Church Ministry Center
    Comfort
    Commitment
    Compromise
    Confidence
    Connection
    Courage
    Courageous
    Creativity
    Criticism
    Daniel
    David
    Deceitfulness
    Direction
    Discernment
    Drifting
    Economy
    Elections
    Endurance
    Esther
    Faith
    Father
    Fear
    Fellowship
    Finances
    Forgiveness
    Generosity
    Gifts
    Gospel
    Grace
    Great Commission
    Greatness
    Haiti
    Heaven
    Hebrews 12:14
    Heroes
    Holiness
    Home
    Hope
    Israel
    Joseph
    Light
    Mary
    Media
    Mercy
    Miracles
    Missions
    Moms
    Mothers Day
    Motivation
    Natural Gifts
    New Year
    Obstacles
    Options
    Outreach
    Overcome
    Peace
    Perspective
    Planning
    Power
    Priorities
    Race
    Rapture
    Read
    Renew
    Rla Connect
    Running
    Servant
    Sin
    Sing
    Spiritual Gifts
    Success
    Time
    Tithe
    Trials
    Truth
    Unity
    Variety
    Vision
    Voting
    Wedding
    Willing Heart
    Word
    Youth

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.