Section 2
(Luke 1:11; Exo. 30:6-8; 1 Sam. 2:28; 1 Chron. 23:13; 2 Chron. 29:11). Luke 1:10 says, "And all the multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of the burning of incense." The prayer of God's people affords Him a way to carry out His plan.
According to Luke 1:11 and 12, an angel of the Lord appeared to Zachariah. The angel said to him, "Do not fear, Zachariah, because your petition was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John" (Luke 1:13). This indicates that Zachariah had prayed for his wife to bear him a son. This also indicates that our prayer carries out God's op eration. Moreover, it implies that our natural strength must be brought to an end so that God's operation may begin by His divine act. This was revealed in the case of Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 17:15-19) and in the case of Hannah (1 Sam. 1:5-20). God came in to cause Zachariah and Eliza beth to bring forth a child in a miraculous way. Hence, the conception of John the Baptist was by the divine power in a miraculous way (Luke 1:19-20). In Old Testament times God did this in bringing forth both Isaac and Samuel. Now in the case of John the Baptist, born of parents