Clarification -- Distraction to Obedience? (Lu. 1:18, 34)

Read Luke 1:18, 34.

Both Zachariah and Mary received a word from an angel.  Both responded with a question.  Mary's question wasn't more spiritual than Zachariah's, yet he suffered a consequence and she did not.  He was indicted for unbelief, she wasn't.  What does this tell us about the nature of faith and unbelief?

Perhaps the answer is found in verse 38.  Mary lacked understanding of details.  Nonetheless, the spoken word was enough.  She questioned, yet submitted.  Zachariah wanted more detail, more understanding before he would believe.  He questioned, yet did not submit.

When God brings you a word (direction, insight, counsel, rebuke, etc.) through the method He chooses, it is not wrong to want to verify it.  He doesn't want you following a word that isn't from Him.  What He minds is our seeking continued clarification as nothing more than excuse for inactivity, disobedience and unbelief.

Verse of The Week (07/22/16)

Photo taken 7-3-16 at 7:23 P.M.  Apollo, PA

“THE GRASS WITHERS, 

AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, 

BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”

(1 Pet. 1:24b-25a)

The Word of God Came (Lu. 3:2)

It came to a specific man, John.

It came at a specific time, in a specific situation.  There were division, tension, politics, instability, and corruption.

It came at a specific place.  Would John have heard the word had he not gone into the wilderness?

Verse Of The Week (05/06/16)

Beaver Valley Rd., just outside Patton, PA  2.4.15

 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

And do not return there without watering the earth

And making it bear and sprout,

And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;

It will not return to Me empty,

Without accomplishing what I desire,

And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."

(Isa. 55:10-11) 

Then The Word of The Lord Came (1 Kin. 17:1-9) (Part 3)

Observations:

1. The word of the Lord comes on time, but not your time.  If you were writing this story, you would have had the Lord's word come before the brook dried up. 
2. Don't let circumstances dictate the word of the Lord.  Let the word of the Lord have first place. Don't move until the Lord says so.  He won't be moved to speak simply because you did something desperate or unreasonable.
3. The word of the Lord doesn't exempt you from suffering. The word came when the brook dried up.  That means Elijah saw the supply diminish and disappear.  That means he got thirsty and, perhaps, a bit desperate or uncomfortable.
4. The word of the Lord doesn't exempt you from inconvenience and effort.  Elijah had to travel to Zarephath once the word of the Lord came.
5. The fact that the Lord can send His word doesn't exempt you from seeking it.  I find it highly unlikely that, when Elijah first noticed the brook's getting lower, he didn't dialogue with the Lord about it.
6. Let us live from one word of the Lord to the next.  Elijah went from one word of the Lord to the next (see part 1).  Matthew 4:4.

Then The Word of The Lord Came (1 Kin. 17:1-9) (Part 2)

When did the word of the Lord come to Elijah?  What were the circumstances?  The word of the Lord came to Elijah when . . .

• There was no repentance.  Nothing had changed in either Ahab or Jezebel.  The spiritual climate in Israel was a mess.
• There was no river and no rain.  What would Elijah do now for water, since Cherith had dried up? 
• There were no ravens anymore.  What would Elijah do now for food?  (We aren't told that the ravens stopped coming, but what good would bread and meat be without water?  The ravens also were short on water.  Without water it isn't likely the ravens would have kept on making deliveries.)
• There was no relief in sight.  Elijah seemed to be out of options.  The drought was far from being over.
• There was no reason to stay where he was, except that the Lord told him.  Elijah was true, but thirsty.  He was obedient, yet parched.

Then The Word of The Lord Came (1 Kin. 17:1-9) (Part 1)

In these 9 verses, the word of the Lord came to Elijah three times.

• Verse 1.  The word of the Lord must have come, since Elijah would never have made such a bold proclamation on his own authority.
• Verses 2-4.  The word of the Lord told Elijah were to find water and how he would get bread and meat twice a day.
• Verses 7-9.  The word of the Lord told Elijah where to go once the brook dried up.

Elijah received the next word of the Lord, having obeyed the previous word of the Lord.  Don't expect to hear the Lord speak to you if you aren't willing to do what He says.