Open Mouths

What is your mouth full of? Praise or Critisism? Edification, Exhortation and Comfort? Or destructive, demeaning rhetoric? In this week’s episode we look at how we can open our mouth for the glory of God and what it means to allow the Lord speak through us.

Key Verse: Luke 1:5-64

Point One: Zacharias thr Righteous

We find a family righteous before the Lord. They served God in all they did. Zacharias was a priest and ministered before the Lord in the Temple. We know from Scripture that they were blameless, not in the eyes of man, but before the Lord. We must remember that righteousness (right standing before the Lord) is not a quality giving to us by people or self. God determines our righteousness. “We are the righteousness of God in Christ.” Jesus, secured our righteousness through His sacrifice for our sin. He is the Opening for us to Heaven. 

Zacharias and Elizabeth could not have children. They longed to have children, prayed about it, begged the Lord and yet, He had not reponded to their plea for years. A good test of our righteousness is how we repond to God when He is not reponding to us. These two did not become bitter and angry towards the Lord. They did not step away from their faith. They kept serving the Lord. Their attitude opened a way for the Lord to repsond to them.

God send Gabriel the Arcangel with a divine message. God was going to answer their prayer for a child, even when most would think it is too late. In dibelief, Zacharias declared, “How can this be?” And from that moment he could not speak. His mouth was closed. It is important to note that our doubt and disbelief will close our mouths. Spiritual silence always follows spiritual doubt.

For nine months Zacharias could not speak, but when it was time to name their miracle baby, he agreed with the angel’s message from the Lord, stating that their child would be called John. (Not a family name, breaking with Jewish tradition) The moment John declared in agreement with God’s instruction his mouth was opened and he praised the Lord. When we agree with God’s word, mixing our faith with His declarations, our mouths will be filled with praise to the Lord that will affect people profoundly.