Focus: An Unusual Service!

Text: Lk.1:10,11

"And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense."

It was church time, and the people of God gathered together for their usual or normal spiritual service. Zechariah was the officiating minister. At the time of incense the people were outside praying while the priest was inside carrying out his spiritual assignment before the Lord. It was supposed to be the normal service, but then the supernormal occurred. Heaven came down. 

The Lord's angel was in the temple on the Lord's assignment. His appearance troubled or agitated the minister in charge. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was quite unusual. Luke reports that "when Zecharias SAW him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him." The atmosphere was different because of the supernatural presence of an angel from heaven.

Now guess why the angel came! The angel says to Zacharias, "Thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son… And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth." Something happens when God takes charge of a service. 

Every time God shows up in a meeting lives are changed, prayers are answered, yokes are destroyed, God's people are edified, Satan is terrified, and God is glorified.

The service was so out of the ordinary that the worshippers outside were wondering what was going on inside. Luke reports, "And the people WAITED for Zecharias, and MARVELLED that he tarried so long in the temple." The people waited beyond the normal time and had no idea why the service was prolonged. When God is present and at work for His people, the clock is set aside. In the presence of the eternal, time takes the backseat.

The priest came out of the holy place to the people unable to speak. Luke says that the people "perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple…" The people felt that whatever happened to their pastor must not be unconnected to a divine vision. 

Divine encounter is essential in our spiritual worship.

Pray with me: O, Lord, break protocol in my life! Do the unusual in my life! I am so used to the usual and I'm sick and tired of it. Let everything happening in my life not always be about 'due process.' My heart yearns for out-of-the-box breakthroughs and miraculous testimonies! I want to encounter the incredible from Your throne of grace. I want answers to my prayers. I desire Your touch in the right places. Give me joy and gladness and let many rejoice with me for what You have done for me! Let me encounter the vision of the Lord and be able to minister unto You to perfection. It is time for the unusual in my life. Use me beyond the ordinary! Amen!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter