And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
– Luke 1:23
What a privilege to be a minister in the vineyard of God! Zacharias’s days of ministration came while the people waited for him to bring them word. The whole multitude of people from all nations of the world had been waiting for the visitation and redemption of God- the Messiah. They had also been waiting for the coming of the child who will prepare the way of the Lord.
After so long a time of silence from God to His people, about 400 years from Malachi, there came a visitation of God in the Temple to meet a righteous man called Zacharias. The whole multitude from all nations that came to the Temple were praying outside in the time of incense and the minister-in-charge of burning the incense was Zacharias and they waited for him to bring them word. Even though he stayed longer, yet the people tarried.
Unfortunately, when he eventually came out to the people he was found to be dumb. The people could not hear from him of the visitation of the Lord after such a long time, after travelling such a long distance to Jerusalem to meet with God.
Zacharias was dumb because of his unbelief in the revival God promised. People were supposed to rejoice at the birth of John. John was to make ready a people prepared for the Lord, but people from different nations did not get to know this and prepare themselves.
Those present at John’s birth and naming ceremony were neighbours and cousins; his immediate environment. They rejoiced with Elizabeth, and to their surprise they heard Zacharias praised God declaring God’s revival plan; his tongue has been loosed! The fear of the Lord came on the people that dwelt around them and these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea, but not to all the nations that came to the temple; he couldn’t declare the revival of God to the nations as a result of his dumbness.
When Mary the mother of Jesus came to his house he most likely could not give any prophecy or even tell her of what God has in store for the child Mary was carrying and for John. But thank God, Elizabeth was a vessel that the Holy Spirit filled and she spoke words that blessed Mary.
As husbands, may our relevance as head not be lost when troubled soul travelled a long distance to our house to seek comfort.
In our days of ministration may we not be dumb as a result of our doubt and unbelief in what God want to do in our days. After many years (‘400’ years) that God has been silenced on souls around us, in the nations and the world, may we not be dumb on those souls that have been praying and waiting on us to bring God’s word to them.
At our workplace and stations, souls are waiting for us. In our churches (temples) souls are waiting on us.
Let us believe God as He comes to us revealing our roles to us in this end time revival movement.
Lord please forgive our doubt and unbelief in your words. Help us to arise to meet the needs of our generation. Amen.
