December 8, 2024
Morning Service

Last week we had an overview of “The Greatest Love Story Ever Told” as we allowed the scriptures to explain the “Why?” behind Christmas. It is a love story of an all-powerful God sending His Son to the earth to restore the broken relationship between Himself and His creation.  It was in this moment of time that God chose to put into motion His perfect plan of salvation by coming down to His people.  With Jesus’ birth hope was born.  Hope of a brighter future and hope of help along the way to get there because this is a love story and we are assured by God that love never fails!  (I Cor. 13:8) In the next couple of weeks, we will dive in to the “Who and What?” of this love story as God begins to move towards His plan of the Creator becoming like the creation.  It is story filled with a cast of people just like us.  Let’s set the stage as we begin:

It had been 400 years since God’s chosen people had heard from a prophet, but still yet they continued to hold on to the promise of the Messiah coming to deliver them.  Times were not easy as the Roman rule brought taxation and persecution upon God’s chosen people.  They longed for their Deliverer, and held tightly to that hope.  The story begins not with a proclamation to the king of the land, but it was to a simple servant priest whom God had prepared for such a moment.  Let’s meet him and see the role God has prepared him and his wife to play in His love story.

Luke 1:5-7  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.  (6)  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.  (7)  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

            Zacharias was a priest, a descendent of Aaron, and of the order of Abijah.  The priesthood was divided into 24 divisions and each took turns twice a year to serve in the temple.  He and his wife were “both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”  Their story includes the fact that they were childless.  Children were viewed as a blessing from God and the opposite was also viewed as true, even as far as being cursed by God.  Here was a couple who were modeling exactly what we have mentioned many times in our studies.  They did not let their circumstances dictate their attitude or their faithfulness towards God.  Though God had chosen to not to give them children, they continued to follow even to the place of being “blameless” or “perfect.”  They trusted Him even when they did not understand why they had no children.  They placed their eyes and hopes on God and His faithfulness, not what this world had to offer.  They set for all of us an example of how we should react when life is not giving us what we had hoped for; stay the course and keep the faith.  They may have leaned upon this scripture, as we can to, confirming God is in control of our lives.

 

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.

Zacharias and Elizabeth were nothing special, but really very ordinary people.  They had no special skills, but when they were weighed in the balance they were found to be faithful.   God chose them to be the first to know He was on the move.  They were not the most qualified for this task, but they were the ones called to it.  “God does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called.”  We will find this to be a subplot throughout this beautiful story.  You may look at yourself and see only an “ordinary” person, but when we are following Jesus, He makes you extraordinary!  God has a purpose for you.  He will call you to it and then empower you to complete it.  Your job is to faithfully follow and remember you are clay in the hands of the Master and He is molding you into the person He created you to be. This is how Zacharias’ story begins; on an ordinary day doing his ordinary job.

 

Luke 1:8-17  So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,  (9)  according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.  (10)  And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.  (11)  Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  (12)  And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.  (13)  But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.  (14)  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  (15)  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.  (16)  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.  (17)  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."

Zacharias would have considered it a great honor to be chosen to serve in the inner chamber of the temple burning the incense.  Incense was burned twice daily to remind the people to pray.  When they saw the smoke rising to heaven it symbolized their prayers ascending to God’s throne.  This was as close to God’s presence as a normal priest could have ever gotten.  I would think during that time Zacharias would have been praying himself; enjoying this moment of being alone in the presence of God.  It was in this moment that Gabriel appeared to him.  

Angels are spirit beings who dwell in God’s presence and do His will.  This is not a dream or vision, but the angel appeared in visible form and spoke with an audible voice.  His first words are “Do not be afraid, God has heard your prayers.”  He then delivered the answers to Zacharias’ and all of Israel’s prayers.  He and Elizabeth will have a son and he will bring “great joy and gladness” to all the land and was promised to “turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord and their God.” (Mal 4:5-6) He would be guided by the Holy Spirit his entire life and fulfill his purpose “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  In this moment of time, he would set the table for Jesus to begin His ministry just as Malachi had prophesied 400 years earlier and put into motion the greatest love story ever told.  We know their son as John the Baptist.  How do you react when you realize God has heard your prayers and will answer them?

 

Luke 1:18-25  And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."  (19)  And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.  (20)  But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."  (21)  And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.  (22)  But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.  (23)  So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.  (24)  Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,  (25)  "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

            Though Zacharias was a man of faith and faithfulness, he still had doubts.  They were probably doubts in himself more than doubts of his faith.  He, like many of us, don’t feel worthy to be used mightily by God doubting our own abilities.  In moment like this we must always remember; “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  (Phil. 4:13) He is the Potter and I am the clay; He is the Master Craftsman and I am His tool.  Many times I am not sure what God is working on in my life so I need to simply walk by faith and trust Him at His Word.  When He speaks I must be ready to say “Wow” instead of ask “How?” as Zacharias did.  Our job is not always to fully understand but to simply to have faith in the One we are following.  “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.” (Heb. 11:1) This means we will not always see where God is leading us, but we follow by faith trusting fully in our Leader.

            Change and uncertainty are big parts of the world we live in today.  Keep your eyes on the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Heb. 13:8) Stay the course and keep the faith as Zacharias and Elizabeth did even when things were not going as they hoped and were greatly rewarded for it.  Be ready and available listening for the call of God in your life. It probably will not be an angel announcing your future, but it will be through the quiet Spirit’s call.  God speaks to you through His Word, be listening for His voice.  This beautiful love story began with Zacharias and Gabriel but it is still being written and each of us are playing our part in it.  Allow God to mold you into what He has planned and trust Him to “qualify you for the call.”  Stay in the moment with ears wide open and a willing heart knowing He walks with you and has plans for you.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us and empower us to follow You faithfully.