This article was first published on the Revive Israel website
here on February 21st 2018 and on the Kehila News website
here on February 23rd 2018.
In the stories of the birth of
Yochanan (John the Baptist) and Yeshua (Jesus), two people receive a
supernatural visitation by the archangel Gabriel. One is Miriam (Mary), the
mother of Yeshua; the other is Zechariah (Zacharias), the father of John.
Both are told of a miraculous birth about to happen. Both ask a similar
question, "How will it happen?" (Luke 1:18 and 1:34).
Since their questions appear to be similar, why is it that Zechariah is
punished and Miriam is blessed?! What was the difference?
When Zechariah asked his question, he was expressing doubt about such a
miracle taking place. When Miriam asked about her conceiving without
"knowing" her husband, she was concerned about her own purity. She had no
doubt about God's power to make it happen.
So there is the difference. Miriam was concerned about her own purity;
Zechariah was doubting God's power. There is a big difference between
our purity and His power. We are to be concerned about our purity. We
don't have to worry about God's power.
Asher Intrater Director - Tikkun International & Revive Israel
A similar dynamic took place when Yeshua was tempted by Satan (Luke
4:1-13). Satan tempted Yeshua to act in God's power for impure
reasons. Yeshua simply said, "No, no, no." When He said, "No" to violating
God's purity of heart, Yeshua received great anointing of power from
the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14).
The spiritual principle is simple: Purity before Power. Now of course we
need God's power to walk in purity in the first place. But the issue
is one of priorities. Every tyrant, criminal and terrorist has a degree of
power. But they have violated moral purity on the way. Their power is
illegitimate. God is all powerful. He is looking for people with pure
hearts to fill them with His power. There is no shortage of divine power;
there is a shortage of human purity.
God's love is His highest quality; then comes holiness; and thirdly
power. There will be many tests in our lives - to choose purity over power;
integrity over prosperity; loyalty over success. Let us be like Miriam.
Let's be concerned with maintaining purity in the midst of an impure
world; and at the same time be confident that God has all the power needed.
to support the vision of Revive Israel.
There have been comments to this article ...
04:26pm 29Mar18, Liv Hicks: Batting 100, purity, purity ... 'Create in me a clean
heart, O God!'
02:03am 02Apr18, Ron and Darla Ellyson: Such a good reminder. Thank you for teaching the truth.
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In the stories of the birth of
Yochanan (John the Baptist) and Yeshua (Jesus), two people receive a
supernatural visitation by the archangel Gabriel. One is Miriam (Mary), the
mother of Yeshua; the other is Zechariah (Zacharias), the father of John.
Both are told of a miraculous birth about to happen. Both ask a similar
question, "How will it happen?" (Luke 1:18 and 1:34).
