▪️ The Gospel According to Luke 1:17 ▪️
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He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
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Scripture speaks about John the Baptist, who was not yet born. But God “calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (Rom.4:17), because He is Almighty.
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The angel said that the future prophet would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah the prophet. These words sent Zacharias—and us—about nine hundred years back. Then, through Elijah, God returned many in Israel to true faith, to His commandments and to the way of salvation.
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In the spirit of Elijah — John’s work was similar to Elijah’s work: to turn many people to God.
⁠In the power of Elijah — John’s call was firm and was accompanied by strong convincing power from the Holy Spirit.
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“And God requires an account of what is past” (Eccl.3:15).