Luke 1: 1 -25 Developing An Intimacy With God That Eclipses Our Ordinary Day to Day Routine

Scripture to read, from New American Standard Bible at www.bible.com

Luke 1
Introduction

1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,

2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,

3it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;

4so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

Questions to ponder or discuss:

If someone were asked to give an orderly account of God's work in your life over the past year, or five years, what would they record?

How would their narrative influence others to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior?

Who comes to mind in your life that you know is being used by God, and how can you emulate their pattern?

Cross reference: 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

Scripture to read:

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

6They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

8Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,

9according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

11And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

Question to ponder or discuss

Describe a time in your life when you KNEW that God had interrupted your routine, stepped into the middle of your ordinary or mundane existence and said, "Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:19)

Scripture to read:

12Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.

13But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.

14"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."

18Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years."

Questions to ponder:

Share a time when you knew God was sharing a promise with you, but your focus on your circumstances prevented you from understanding or believing Him?

How does his doubt, and his argument seem to conflict with Luke's affirmation that he was blameless in the sight of God?

What does this say about what the law was able to accomplish in his life, as far as faith was concerned? Cross reference: Phillippians 3:8

What does this affirmation say about the mercy and grace of our loving Heavenly Father, and how does this apply to you?

Scripture to read:

19The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

20"And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

21The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.

22But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.

23When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

Questions to ponder or discuss:

Share about a time when you had a mountaintop experience, but the adrenaline rush and emotional impact it had eased, and it seemed that everything was just as it had been prior to your "in touch with God" experience.

How did you respond to the seeming let down?

Do you believe this is a common trait of most people?

Did God eventually follow through with what He had promised? Did He bring about some situation in your life that reminded you of that intimate time with Him?

What does this say about the conflict human emotions can cause in our quest for intimacy with Christ?

What does this say about God's faithfulness to you, in spite of your human weaknesses?

Scripture to read:

24After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,

25"This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men."

Questions to ponder or discuss:

Little is said about Elizabeth in this passage, in comparison to Zechariah.
Husbands, put yourself in his sandals. How would your wife feel if you came out of the temple mute, because you argued with God's messenger? How do you think your wife feels when you fail to trust God? How would your wife feel if you were not able to speak for almost a year? Be honest. (I am certain some wives would be ecstatic!)

Wives, put yourself in her sandals. Share in your own words what that entire situation, prior to her conception, would have done to your mind and emotions. Do you thing she thought it would happen? Do you think she may have thought he was just a little bit crazy?

Singles, imagine (or remember) a situation completely different from the details here in which God communicated something to your spirit that challenged your faith, raising both doubts and aspirations simultaneously, and ask yourself if your response(s) would be similar to theirs.

Example prayer of faith:

Father, we need you to step into our mundane and routine lives and do something new. We need situations that challenge our faith, and draw us closer to you. We praise you because you desire intimacy with us, and are ready to meet with us in our normal day to day routines. Only make it possible that we may know when it happens, so we can respond with faith, undistracted by all of the commotion in our lives. In Jesus' Name. Amen.