SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

Luke 1:5-20 TLB

My story begins with a Jewish priest, Zacharias, who lived when Herod was king of Judea. Zacharias was a member of the Abijah division of the Temple service corps. (His wife, Elizabeth, was, like himself, a member of the priest tribe of the Jews, a descendant of Aaron.) [6] Zacharias and Elizabeth were godly folk, careful to obey all of God's laws in spirit as well as in letter. [7] But they had no children, for Elizabeth was barren; and now they were both very old. [8-9] One day as Zacharias was going about his work in the Temple-for his division was on duty that week-the honor fell to him by lot to enter the inner sanctuary and burn incense before the Lord. [10] Meanwhile, a great crowd stood outside in the Temple court, praying as they always did during that part of the service when the incense was being burned. [11-12] Zacharias was in the sanctuary when suddenly an angel appeared, standing to the right of the altar of incense! Zacharias was startled and terrified. [13] But the angel said, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias! For I have come to tell you that God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name him John. [14] You will both have great joy and gladness at his birth, and many will rejoice with you. [15] For he will be one of the Lord's great men. He must never touch wine or hard liquor-and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from before his birth! [16] And he will persuade many a Jew to turn to the Lord his God. [17] He will be a man of rugged spirit and power like Elijah, the prophet of old; and he will precede the coming of the Messiah, preparing the people for his arrival. He will soften adult hearts to become like little children's, and will change disobedient minds to the wisdom of faith." [18] Zacharias said to the angel, "But this is impossible! I'm an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years." [19] Then the angel said, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to you with this good news! [20] And now, because you haven't believed me, you are to be stricken silent, unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly come true at the proper time."

 

Seriously shut your mouth, and keep it shut until the Lord permits you to open it!

We often abort our destiny simply because we can’t keep quiet long enough for God to finish what He started in our lives. Too often, we speak before we’re meant to, or we speak our own desires and doubts rather than what God has said in His Word.

Have you ever wondered why the angel Gabriel shut Zechariah’s mouth?

Zechariah talked too much.

He questioned God’s plan.

He doubted God’s power and mercy.

There’s a Zechariah in all of us: the doubter, the chatterbox trying to drown out God’s voice, the one always questioning God’s ways. Which one are you?

Verse 6 tells us Zechariah and Elizabeth were upright and blameless in their conduct, living according to God’s commands. They knew the God of Israel—the God for whom nothing is impossible according to Matthew 19:26. Yet, when Gabriel brought God’s promise, Zechariah’s response was doubt, not faith. He wanted proof instead of trusting God’s word.

Gabriel’s answer was simple: “Shut your mouth and keep it shut!” in Luke 1:19–20.

Sometimes, the Lord would have us remain silent for a season—until His purpose is fulfilled in our lives.

Do we realize that silence can be our greatest ally? Proverbs 13:3 says, “He who guards his mouth preserves his life.” Ecclesiastes 3:7 reminds us there’s “a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Even in law enforcement, the first advice is, “You have the right to remain silent,” because, as Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Many believers haven’t learned the wisdom of silence. We talk about what we want God to do, what He has said, and what we’re waiting for—but sometimes we share our dreams in the wrong places, at the wrong time, and with the wrong people, risking the delay or abortion of God’s process in our lives.

Joseph is a prime example of a chatterbox (Genesis 37). He shared his dreams with brothers who weren’t happy for him, and it cost him dearly.

The Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:8-28, however, kept her pain and hope to herself until she reached the prophet—the one who could actually help. Sometimes, we need to keep quiet until we get to our “Carmel”—the place where God’s answer awaits.

Proverbs 18:13 says, “He who answers before listening—that is his folly and his shame.” If you don’t have all the facts, keep your mouth shut.

God needs us to know when to be silent and when to speak. Zechariah’s silence lasted until the promise was fulfilled—then, and only then, was his mouth opened in praise in verse 64. Sometimes, silence is the bridge between God’s promise and its manifestation.

Silence is golden! When the Israelites panicked at the Red Sea, Moses told them in Exodus 14:13-14, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Sometimes, the best thing you can do in a crisis is to keep quiet, trust God, and let Him work.

Practical Wisdom:

Don’t speak doubt into your destiny.

Don’t share your dreams with those who can’t handle them.

Don’t try to force God’s hand with your words.

Wait for God’s timing—let Him finish His work in you.

Shut your mouth and keep it shut for God’s promises to manifest!

PRAYER: Lord, help me to bridle my tongue and not speak too much or too soon. Give me the wisdom to know when to be silent and when to speak, so I will not abort Your divine plan for my life. Let my words always align with Your will, and may I wait patiently for Your promises to come to pass. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/womenoflight/episodes/SHUT-YOUR-MOUTH-e3423qa

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