FAITHFULNESS AND PATIENCE, KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL PRAYER
Luke 1:8-20
AN ASSIGNED DUTY OF THE FAITHFUL
V:8-9. " Now it happened that while he was performing
his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9
according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter
the temple of the Lord and burn incense."
A. The Levite priest were divided into 24 groups. Because of
the large number,
a priest would
serve in the temple once in his life time.
1. Zacharias was
chosen by lot to burn incense in the evening.
2. In the Temple
were two rooms, the Holy room and the Holy of Holies
separated by
a Veil.
3. Zacharias
service was in the Holy room of the temple
B. Only the High Priest from line of Aaron could enter the
Holy of Holies.
1. This position
was non functioning starting 175 years before the time of Jesus.
2. Caiaphas was
the Roman appointed High Priest from a wealthy Sadducees
sect.
3. The High priest
office had degenerated to a political position.
C. The incense burning symbolize the offering of prayers for
the Jewish people
including the
priest.
THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS
V:10. " And the
whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense
offering."
A. When the shepherd of the church is in prayer, the church
members should also be in
prayer.
1. The Lord hears
the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs
15:29
2. Our prayers
ought to consistent and continuous.
3. Our prayers
ought not be selfish.
4. We should be in
prayer for each other.
B. There are times when the Church should come together in
prayer
1. The place of
prayer is the assemble of the saints.
2. The entire
Church body should be in prayer for the leaders of our nation
who may not
have God as the center of their activities.
A WORD FROM THE LORD
V: 11-12. : And an angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was troubled when
he saw the angel, and fear gripped him."
A. Angels can bring good news or bad news from the Lord.
1. When we are
serving the Lord faithfully, the news will be favorable.
2. The Angel
position himself on the right side of the altar.
3. The right side
is a favorable side.
4. Jesus sets at
the right Hand of the Father.
B. Fear is a normal human emotion.
1. From time to
time we will be frighten by unusual and unexpected circumstances.
2. But we must
expect God to move in unexpected ways.
3. We can expect
God to do the unexpected.
GOOD NEWS FROM THE LORD
V:13-14" But the angel said to him, "Do not be
afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth
will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 You will have joy
and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. "
A. God hears our prayers, but He answers them in His time.
1. Because our
prayers are not answered when we want, does not mean God
has not heard
them and want answer them.
2. God has a
purpose for delaying the answer to our prayers.
3. God's purpose
for the lives of our children may be different from ours.
4. Zacharias
and his wife had been praying probably
since their marriage ceremony
for a child.
a. God waited
until they were past the child bearing age to give them an answer.
b. God heard
the prayer, but He waited until their prayer fit His agenda.
B. The Angel foretold the birth of son and provided his Holy
name; John.
1. The name
"John" means the grace or mercy of the Lord.
2. To John and to
Elizabeth their son was a favor from God.
3. A blessing to
others is a blessing to us.
4. Our blessings
are blessings to others.
C. This is the fulfillment of the prophecy given in Malachi
3 some 400 years earlier.
1. In Malachi the
mission of this Zacharias's son is given.
2 John was born to
prepare the way for the Messiah.
THE LIFESTYLE OF A GOOD SON
V:15-16. "For he will be great in the sight of the
Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy
Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. 16 "And he will turn many of the
sons of Israel
back to the Lord their God."
A. Can you imagine the years of frustration of a woman
wanting a child and watching
all her friends
have children.
1. Can you imagine
praying, watching and waiting for a child
with no answer from
God for many
years.
2. In his old age,
Zacharias learns the mission and the purpose of his long awaited
son.
3. While other men
had children in their young age, his son would turn many sons
toward God.
4. It should be a
comfort to know in advance that your child is destined to be
obedient and a
servant of the Lord.
a. His son
would be filled with the Holy Spirit and therefore a wise servant of the
Lord.
B. God rewards us for the obedient lifestyle that we lead.
1. Zacharias
reward was the promise of a godly child that would make a positive
difference in lives of others.
2. Zacharias's
reward was the promise of a child that he would not have to worry about.
POWERFUL PREACHING
V: 17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him
in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO
THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to
make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
A. The revelation from the Angel to Zacharias was his son
would be the lead to the
Messiah with the
preaching power of Elijah.
1. It is good to
know that your children are destined for greatness.
2. It good to
know that your children will have a positive influence on their peers.
B. How do you prepare
your children for greatness?
1. The first
thing you do is start with yourself.
2. Are you a
positive influence for those around you?
3. Do you set a
godly examples for others to follow?
4. Are you
committed to following God's commands?
5. Are you
committed to training up your children in the ways of the Lord?
DOUBT IN THE PRESENT OF THE LORD
V:18. " Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I
know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in
years."
A. When God reveals His plan for your life to you, don't
question it with doubt.
1. Zacharias
looked at the physical limitations of his situation.
a. He and his
wife were old and beyond the children age.
b. He probably
didn't know any couples around him that had children
in their
old age.
c. In his brief encounter with the Angel, he
probably didn't remember
that
Abraham and Sarah had a son in their old age.
d. Whatever
God did for someone, He can do for you.
2. Zacharias did
not consider that there is nothing impossible for God.
3. If God can
create, then He can revive that which He created.
B. The job of a
Christian is to act on the Word of God in faith.
1. We don't have to
know how God is going to do something.
2. We must believe
that He can make it happen.
CONFORMATION OF GOD'S WORD
V:19. " The angel answered and said to him, "I am
Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to
you and to bring you this good news."
A. Gabriel spoke with the authority of God.
1. Conformation
of the Word is found in the Word.
2. The Word of God
is full of good news for us.
3. The Word of
God is our authority.
4. God has no
physical limitations.
B. Since we are God's Children, we have no limitations that
God cannot overcome.
1.There is
nothing that we can't accomplish under the power of God.
2. We can do all
things through Christ who strengthens us.
3. Each believer
plays a part in God's plan of redemption.
4. Each believer
has been equipped for success in God's plan.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNBELIEF
V:20. "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to
speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe
my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
A. Unbelief is an enemy to God's children.
1. Unbelief is the
work of the devil in our minds.
2. Unbelief can
cause us not to the seek the blessings God has promised.
3. Unbelief can
cause us to deny the truth of God's Word.
B. What God has for us is for us.
1. Zacharias didn't
lose his promised son, but his unbelief did cost him.
2. He lost his
voice for nine months.
3. He lost the
praise of his lips for nine months.
4. Notice, we don't
hear from Zacharias again until the naming of his son.
C. Even though Zacharias couldn't talk, he acted on the
promise of the Angel
and had sex with his wife.
1. Even though
Zacharias couldn't talk, he communicated with wife the
promised
blessing of a son.
2. Whatever was
dormant in their bodies, God regenerated, revived or made alive.
3. What they
couldn't accomplish on their own was accomplished under God's
control.
4. We must learn
from our mistakes.
5. If unbelief in the Word cost you once,
don't let it happen again.
THANK GOD THAT ALL OUR
BLESSINGS ARE NOT DEPENDANT ON US
Rev M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
For more lessons, visit me on facebook and my blogs
www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment