THE MESSENGER OF THE ANNUNCIATION

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth” (Luke 1:26 NKJV).

Here we have God selecting a special angel named Gabriel to bring to earth a remarkable, stupendous, and phenomenal announcement – it’s the announcement concerning the virgin birth of the Messiah. This birth would affect the world forever. Thus, we would note two things about Gabriel: they concern his fellow angel and his faithful announcing.

His fellow angel - Gabriel is mentioned by name four times in the Scriptures (Dan. 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19; Luke 1:26). The only other angel named in Scripture is Michael (Dan. 10:13; 12:1; Jude 1:9; Rev. 12:7). This makes Michael the fellow angel of Gabriel in being mentioned by name in the Scripture. However, there are instructive contrasts in their two ministries. Gabriel is chiefly one who announces whereas Michael is chiefly one who acts. Gabriel declares; Michael defends. Gabriel informs; Michael inflicts. Gabriel explains the plans of God; Michael executes the plans of God. We need announcements, but we also need action. We need plans, but we also need performers. Everybody does not have the same calling. Some folks can teach; others can build the classrooms where the teaching takes place. Some can sing; others can play the musical instruments that provide the needed accompaniment for the singers. Some can give large sums of money; others can serve as ministers and missionaries whom the large sums of money will support. Are you fulfilling your ministry?

His faithful announcing – Gabriel’s faithfulness in declaring God’s messages teaches us a lesson about being faithful in delivering the message of God even though the message may be strange and unbelievable as far as the world is concerned. The message Gabriel delivered about the coming birth of John the Baptist was so strange that Zacharias, the predicted father of John the Baptist had a hard time believing it. And the message Gabriel spoke about the coming birth of Christ via the virgin birth is still rejected by most people today. But regardless of how the messages would be received, Gabriel delivered the messages faithfully. Let all God’s messengers do likewise. Many times, folks may not be receptive to the truth, but we need to preach it anyway!

(Adapted from Butler's Studies of the Savior)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“To know God’s will is a treasure; to do God's will is a privilege!”

George W. Truett (1867 – 1944)

American Clergyman and Former President of the Southern Baptist Convention

Word Study

Sent

In Luke 1:26 we read, “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth!” (NKJV).

Sent is the Greek word apostéllō (ἀποστέλλω = ap-os-tel'-lo). It is made up of two words: “apo” which means from, away from, and “stello” which means to withdraw from, avoid. Thus, the word means to send off, to send forth, to send out. In classic Greek apostéllō meant to banish, to dispatch on a mission, to put off or to recede. In the Septuagint apostéllō means to send. In the New Testament apostéllō also means to send. Three things are true of the person sent from God: he belongs to God who has sent him out, he is commissioned to be sent out, and he possesses all the authority and power of God, who has sent him out. Here Gabriel was God’s representative, sent with a commission to give God’s message to Mary.

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“And Samuel said unto the people, fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart” (1 Sam. 12:20 KJV).

Did You Know…

Angels were present when God created the world (Job 38:1-7).

Bible Quiz

Where was Jesus when the wise men found Him?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: What happened to Zacharias because he did not believe the angel Gabriel’s message? He was “mute and not able to speak” (Luke 1:20).

Names For God Found in the Bible

“THE ONE”

"My lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me” (Psalm 144:2 NKJV).

1. Meaning – THE ONE speaks of God as our all-sufficient help.

2. Insights – The psalmist describes what God is to him - his righteousness, his fortress, tower for protection, deliverer, shield, and One who empowers him to subdue the opposition. No wonder the Psalmist can say he trusts in Him. Our failure to trust such a God is not God’s fault but our own foolishness. He is the all-sufficient One who provides the necessary help and protection to enable us to conquer all who oppose our work for the Lord.

Stories of Favorite Christmas Carols

Angels We Have Heard On High

The French carol Les anges dans nos campagnes, now known as Angels We Have Heard on High, is completely anonymous. In A.D. 129, Telesphous, Bishop of Rome, ordained that, “In the Holy Night of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior, all shall solemnly sing the Angel’s Hymn.” With that proclamation the ‘Angels Hymn’' became the first Christmas hymn of the Christian church. Its most common English version was translated in 1862 by James Chadwick, and its most memorable feature is its chorus Gloria in Excelsis Deo! which is Latin for Glory to God in the Highest. It has always been printed with no known lyricist or composer. Further, many years ago shepherds in the hills of southern France had a Christmas Eve custom of calling to one another, singing Gloria in Excelsis Deo, each from his own hillside. The traditional tune that the shepherds used may have been from a late Medieval Latin chorale. It became the magnificent chorus of Angels We Have Heard on High.

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,

And the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains:

Refrain:

Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heav'nly song? (Refrain)

Come to Bethlehem and see, Him whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the new-born King. (Refrain)

See him in a manger laid, whom the choirs of angels praise

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise. (Refrain)

A Little Humor

A little girl was talking with her friend’s after Christmas. One girl commented, “We had grandma for Christmas dinner.” The little girl’s eyes grew wide. “Really?” she exclaimed. “We had turkey!”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Jesus is the gift that perfectly fits the size of every heart!”