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Luke

Luke 
Day 
Day 13

"LIFE'S GREAT TASKS"

Text: Luke 1:11-20

LIFE’S GREAT TASKS

There are many great tasks in life that should capture our imagination! Life is too short for small endeavours!

The angel Gabriel informed Zacharias that his son John was destined for greatness in God’s sight and in God’s plan! His birth and his task in life are inextricably linked!

John will one day “turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God” ! Surely that is one of life’s greatest challenges, one of life’s noblest tasks – to bring people back to God!

Israel needed to hear stirring and powerful messages that would help the people return to God. They needed to be reconciled to their God. They needed God in their lives so badly, but they were not able to find their way back to Him. They needed one special servant of God to lead them back to fellowship with God. That person destined to help many return to God was none other than John! All these plans had already been determined by God, and he was not even born yet!

A LOFTY DESTINY

John was to be born for a definite purpose in view! His birth was not just so that his parents could enjoy him. His life had greater meaning than to play with lots of toys! If we understand that life has great meaning, and every birth is part of God’s plan, then surely we must re-think, and reconsider, how we are bringing up our children!

We must sow the seeds of great destiny in the hearts of our children. We must teach them to have lofty goals in life, rather than to fire their imagination to make lots of money as their life’s ambition!

“IN THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIJAH” Luke 1:17

Elijah was surely one of the most powerful prophets of God. He was a rare man of great spiritual power and energy! When Elisha stood at the threshold of the ministry that his mentor was leaving behind him, he asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9). That wish was granted! Nobody else displayed the spirit and power of Elijah until this announcement from the angel Gabriel.

What really matters in life? What are the most important things in life? Is it money? Is it health? Is it success? The angel Gabriel highlighted an important truth when he informed Zacharias that God would specially empower John with the “spirit and power of Elijah” .

The power in the life and ministry of Elijah was not his human spirit. It was none other than the special anointing of the Spirit of God! It was the Lord Himself who made Elijah’s life so significant and powerful. Elisha, the disciple, was wise when he pleaded for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit to come upon him.

What are we looking for in life? What are our children looking for in their life? Should we not desire that we have a double portion of the spirit and power of Elijah in our life, so that we can accomplish great things for God?

A DIFFICULT MISSION OUTLINED

The angel Gabriel outlined the task of John’s life and ministry. He would attempt the following:-

1. “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children” (Luke 1:17).

2. “The disobedient to the wisdom of the just” (Luke 1:17)

3. “To make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17)

Obviously, the angel Gabriel was well-informed of the problems that plagued Israel at that time. We are reminded of a passage in Micah.

“Do not trust in a friend;
Do not put your confidence in a companion;
Guard the doors of your mouth
From her who lies in your bosom.
For son dishonours father
Daughter rises against her mother.
Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law
A man’s enemies are the men of his own household”
Micah 7:5-6

Micah well described a highly dysfunctional family. His description was not limited to his era. That same picture is true of many families today. One of John’s tasks would be to bring about healing in a dysfunctional family. It would take the great spirit and power of Elijah to succeed in such a task.

Another of the great tasks to be accomplished was to help the disobedient to return to God. They are to be taught “the wisdom of the just” . One of John’s challenges would be to function as a teacher, guiding people back to God through the powerful teaching of God’s Word.

The third great task was to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah. John’s ministry would be essentially “a preparatory ministry”. The angel Gabriel was right in pointing out the fact that John would need to have the Spirit of God deeply involved in his life, from the time he was conceived in his mother’s womb! Life’s great tasks cannot be performed without the mighty empowering of the Holy Spirit!

ARE WE LIVING IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD?

God has graciously given us the Holy Spirit to indwell us. He lives within us as the seal and guarantee that we belong to the Lord, and we will be kept for all eternity (Ephesians 1:13-14). However, there is more to the Holy Spirit’s ministry than indwelling.

He seeks to empower us. He seeks to fill us with strength so that we can live out our
faith in Christ powerfully. Let us seek to be filled with God’s Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)!