A renewal of prophecy

Simeon Blesses the Child

Illustration from The Children's Friend - Part 1

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 1:39-56

TO CHEW ON: “‘Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things, which were told her from the Lord’” - Luke 1:45

The writer of my Bible’s notes makes this observation about the time around Jesus’ birth:

“Note in chapters 1 and 2 (of Luke) how the new era is signalled by the renewal of the gift of prophecy which has been dormant. The various prophecies and songs of these two chapters reflect the best of OT piety and prophecy. (They) ...reflect a naturalness with and sensitivity to God’s former revelation in the OT” - J. Lyle Story, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 1386.

What are these songs and prophecies?

• Mary’s Magnificat - in our reading today - Luke 1:46-55.

• Zacharias’s Benedictus - Luke 1:68-79.

• Simeon’s Nunc Dimitis - Luke 2:29-32

• Anna’s encounter with Jesus in the temple - Luke 2:36-38 (her words aren’t quoted).

I’m glad I attend a church that is open to prophecy. Prophecies that are given are not considered to have the same weight as scripture. Rather, they are in the line of an utterance made with the Spirit-inspired sensitivity and faith spoken of in Joel 2:

“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh
You sons and your daughters shall prophesy
Your old men shall dream dreams
Your young men shall see visions
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days” - Joel 2:28,29.

Peter interpreted the prophetic phenomena on the day of Pentecost as a fulfillment of these words (Acts 2:15-18). But New Testament writers did not consider the Day of Pentecost a final or ending of prophecies, but rather a new beginning. They are named as one of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10; Romans 12:6), and Paul writes to the Christians in Thessalonica: “Do not despise prophecies” - 1 Thessalonians 5:20.

I believe our passage names a key ingredient in the desire and ability to prophesy. It’s faith. Elizabeth begins her greeting of Mary with “‘Blessed is she who believes for (implying cause and effect) there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.'“ Paul also makes a connection of prophecy with faith in Romans 12:6.

Of course, faith will be tempered with wisdom and good sense, as we view prophetic messages through the lens of scripture. I don’t think it’s by accident that Paul’s instructions not to despise prophecies is followed by “Test all things; hold fast what is good” - 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Holy Spirit, who enlivens both faith and prophecy in us. Help me to have the faith to make every part of me available for Your use, including my mouth to prophesy. Amen. 

MORE: Feast of the Visitation

Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin. The liturgy for today begins with this collect:

"Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The synergy of old and young

"Visitation" by Rogier van der Weyden (1399-1464)

(From the Art and the Bible site)

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Luke 1:26-45

TO CHEW ON: "Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.'" Luke 1:45

(In our church's Wednesday morning women's meeting we've just had a series of lessons on women in the New Testament who interacted with Jesus. The series ended with the story in today's reading.

Gwen, the woman who presented this lesson, is one of our church's beloved matriarchs. For many years she was in charge of our women's ministries and now in her 80s and retired, she still teaches home Bible studies and befriends and mentors women of all ages. She left us with a handout and I credit her and her teaching handout for many of the ideas in today's devo. I have her permission to share.)

We see in this story a beautiful example of an intergenerational relationship. Though the angel never told young Mary to visit elderly Elizabeth, the information he dropped—that Elizabeth was pregnant—was enough, so that after the angel left, Mary hurried to visit her relative.

Her visit was a blessing to both of them. Though the Bible doesn't explicitly state some of these things, we can readily infer them from the what we read and the situation.

Visiting Elizabeth did much for Mary.
- Mary saw for herself that the angel's words were true. Elizabeth was pregnant!
- Mary needed a godly woman to believe her story, believe in her and confirm what God was doing.
- From Elizabeth Mary got godly input, prayer, comfort, encouragement and guidance.
- Together they revisited the scriptures.
- During these three months Mary had time to take in what had happened to her and to prepare for the difficult days ahead.
- Elizabeth modeled focus and faithfulness to her.

But Mary's visit also blessed Elizabeth.
- Humble Elizabeth was amazed that Mary would come to her (Luke 1:43).
- Her welcome was loving and accepting.
- She was sensitive to the Holy Spirit (discerning). On Mary's arrival, Elizabeth gave a word of knowledge (spoke truth) and encouragement to Mary for her faith and obedience (Luke 1:41,42,45).
- Her worshipful and God-centered welcome paved the way for Mary's song of praise (Luke 1:46).
- Mary's visit assured Elizabeth she was part of God's plan and still valuable and useful despite her advanced age.

(I would love to have been a spider in the rafters, watching these two interact during their three-month visit, wouldn't you?)

In the church of today, the story of Mary and Elizabeth illustrate how we as older and younger women can get along and more—can bless each other.

1. We can love each other, and pray together.
 
2. We can share the Bible, listen, and ask God to reveal truth to us.
 
3. We can share experiences in openness and honesty.
 
4. We can affirm each other instead of judging.
 
5. Of course, we know how to do all this in confidence (don't we?).

PRAYER: Dear Father, help me as part of the older generation to be open to relationships with younger women like Elizabeth was with Mary . Amen.
 
MORE: The Feast of the Visitation:
Today the church celebrates the Feast of Visitation. The liturgy of the day begins with this collect:

"Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

For an added treat, here is British poet Malcolm Guite's  "Hidden Joys: A Sonnet for the Visitation."


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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Can we prophesy?

"Mary and Elizabeth"
by Carl Bloch (1834-1890)

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Luke 1:39-56

TO CHEW ON: "And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord… '" Luke 1:46


Tradition has it that Mary was a mere teenager at the time she became pregnant with Jesus. Where did she get the wisdom, power, and insight of the magnificent poem/prayer that rolls off her tongue here?

My Bible's footnotes say about her prophetic utterance:

"Note in chapters one and two (of Luke) how the new era is signaled by the renewal of the gift of prophecy, which has been dormant. The various prophecies and songs of these two chapters reflect the best of OT piety and prophecy. The songs and prophecies of Mary (the Magnificat - Luke 1:46-44), Zacharias (Benedictus - Luke 1;68-79), Simeon (Nunc Dimitis - Luke 2:29-32) and Anna (Luke 2:36-38) reflect a naturalness with and sensitivity to God's former revelation in the OT (see for example the Song of Hannah - 1 Samuel 2:1-10)" - J. Lyle Story, commentary on Luke, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 1386.

Though we believe the prophetic gift for communicating new words of scripture has passed, the promise of the gift of prophecy continues on to us.

• Peter on the Day of Pentecost, interpreted the signs of the Holy Spirit's coming as fulfillment of Joel's prophecy: "… your sons and daughters shall prophesy" - Acts 2:17.

• Jesus predicted that when His disciples went out and testified to hostile hearers, they would be given words to speak (Matthew 19:19-20).

• He said, further, that when resistance intensified, at the time when His second coming was near, so would divine help in the area of knowing what to say: "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contract or resist "- Luke 21:15.

• Paul speaks too of how the Spirit-controlled person can be God's mouthpiece (1 Corinthians 2:10-12) concluding with this bold statement: "These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches…" - 1 Corinthians 2:13.

• Indeed, Paul tells the Christians in Corinth to desire and seek to prophesy. His words also give us a sense of what prophecy consists of: "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy …. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men" - 1 Corinthians 14:1,2.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You that prophecy has not died out with the magnificent words of Hannah and Mary, Simeon and Anna. Please fill my mouth with Your words of encouragement, instruction, and comfort. Amen.

MORE: Feast of the Visitation

Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Visitation. This Collect begins the liturgy for this day:

"Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

God of the impossible

Mary and Elizabeth
by Harold Copping - 1927

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Luke 1:39-56


TO CHEW ON: "He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent empty away." Luke 1:51-53 ESV

Wow - could Bible women pray! The prayer of Hanna, another young mother (1 Samuel 2:1-10), and Mary's prayer in our reading today show that these godly women had keen insights about God and His ways.

A thought that occurs in both of these prayers is that the unlikely person will triumph because God comes to his or her aid.

Hannah prays that God will weigh and evaluate the unworthy actions that are masked by proud and arrogant speech. She boasts about Him giving strength to the feeble as He breaks the weaponry of the mighty. He feeds the hungry while those who were always full before end up hiring themselves out for bread. He gives he barren woman a complete family (seven children!) even as the mother of many is forlorn. She speaks of Him making the poor rich, exalting the lowly, raising the poor and needy to sit with princes - 1 Samuel 2:3-8.

Mary thanks God for raising her, a humble woman, to a position where all people will call her blessed. She boasts about God frustrating those with proud thoughts, bringing down the mighty from their thrones, sending the rich away empty while filling the hungry with good things - Luke 1:51-53.

These aren't selfish, vindictive prayers of needy women who want the tables turned for self-serving reasons. Rather, they are prayers of women for whom God has shown Himself strong in amazing ways (Hannah has borne a son after years of barrenness, Mary has recently become pregnant with Jesus—God in the flesh).

They are also pronouncements of faith saying, in effect, if God has done this for me, He can do this in any and every situation.

They are above all, prayers that proclaim trust in God over riches, position, power or natural ability, to change impossible situations.

What is my impossible situation today? What is yours? From personal needs involving ourselves, our families and friends, to big requests for our nation and the world, let's let the faith of Hannah and Mary inspire us to bring our impossible circumstances to God, who has the power and resources to turn them on their heads.

PRAYER: Dear God, than You for the faith and inspiration of Hannah and Mary, simple women who trusted You to do the impossible. Help me to trust You for my impossible thing (___) today. Amen

MORE: Feast of Visitation

Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin.

The liturgy for this day begins with this collect:

"Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Prophetic echoes

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Luke 1:39-56

TO CHEW ON: "And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.'" Luke 1:46-47

Today is the celebration of the Feast of the Visitation -- commemorating the visit the newly pregnant Mary paid to her elderly cousin Elizabeth, who was herself miraculously with child.

At the sound of Mary's voice on arrival, Elizabeth reported that her baby "leaped in the womb" -- a sign to her that someone very special had just arrived. Elizabeth's greeting was a prophecy which began with a quote from another prophetic song. "Blessed are you among women," is what prophet and judge Deborah sang about Jael -- the woman who craftily killed Israel's enemy Sisera.

Mary answered with her own prophetic "song" (1:46-55) which roughly echoes Hannah's song (1 Samuel 2:1-10).

Three months later when John the Baptist was born, his father Zacharias broke his silence with his own prophetic outburst (Luke 1:67-79). It too is full of Old Testament references. “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, from verse 68 recalls "‘Blessed be the LORD God of Israel" from 1 Kings 1:48  and "He has visited His people (same verse) the words " “I have surely visited you " from Exodus 3:16 . The words  "And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David" (verse 69) reflects the thinking of Psalm 132:17. And there are more.

Still later after the birth of Jesus, old Simeon came to Joseph, Mary and the baby in the temple during Jesus' presentation and blessed the child with another prophetic message (Luke 2:29-32). His blessing also contains allusions to Old Testament scripture (for example his words: "For my eyes have seen Your salvation" vs. 30 remind us of  "And all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God from Isaiah 52:10).

An endnote in my Bible says, "Note… how the new era is signaled by the renewal of the gift of prophecy, which has been dormant. The various prophecies and songs of these two chapters reflect the best of Old Testament piety and prophecy." New Spirit Filled Life Bible p. 1386

What impresses me about these prophecies is how loaded they are with scripture. The speakers, from teenaged Mary to elderly Simeon, had obviously saturated themselves with the psalms and prophets. Which brings me to ask myself -- how familiar am I with scripture? Do I know it well enough for the Holy Spirit to bring it to mind during prayer or in a time when I need to encourage myself or others (in prophecy)?

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to intentionally fill my mind with the stuff of Your word. Amen.

MORE: Scripture Memorization

• What scriptures do you know "cold"? For me this would include verses like John 3:16; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23, Isaiah 53:6, Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 23; the Lord's Prayer.

• What scriptures would you like to know?

• Do a scripture memory project:

1. List the scripture verses or passages you'd like to know.
2. Choose one and write the words of that verse or passage on a file card.
3. Spend 10 minutes a day (use a kitchen timer) memorizing them.
4. Over time, commit all your favourite passages to memory this way.

What methods of memorizing Bible passages have you found useful?

Do your 8-12-year-olds have daily devotions? Point them to Bible Drive-Thru.