THE DAY MY BURDEN WAS LIFTED
Luke 1:5-21
GOD’S WAY
IS CHALLENGING
V:1. In the
time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to
the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of
Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the
Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children
because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
A. God loves family.
1. He loves a family that worships
together.
2. He loves a family that is obedient to
His Word.
3. He loves a Family that ministers
together.
4. He loves a family that serves as a
godly example to the community.
5. He loves a family that is devoted to
Him.
6. He loves a family that endures the
ups and downs of life through faith in Him
B. The text says BUT they had no
children because God decided to make Elizabeth barren.
1. They both came from good families
that has been blessed with children.
2. It was God who shut up her womb
thought out the normal child barren ages.
3. It was God who let this couple suffer
the embarrassment of having no children.
4. It was a burden on this godly couple
to see other families flourish with children.
C. They had lived to be old in age.
1. Let me suggest that the bond between
Zachariah And Elizabeth became stronger through the years.
2. According to what I read in the text,
they were old enough to have grandchildren.
3. BUT Elizabeth was barren and they did
not have the joy of having a child.
SERVING
UNDER THE CHALLENGE
V:8 Once
when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into
the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning
of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
A. Regardless of our circumstances, we
are blessed to be chosen to serve God.
1. Our disappointments should never
overshadow the blessings of God.
2. Never should our service to God
slacken because we lack what we hope for.
B. We must remember that those we serve
are counting on us to be dutiful to God.
1. Those we serve, support us with their
prayers and presence.
2. We may be out of their sight in the
Temple, but never out of their minds.
3. Those we serve, know the importance
of our service to them and God.
4. Those we serve are counting on our intercessory
prayers before God.
5. While we are praying for others,
others are praying for us.
6. I need you and you need me.
7. God made us a group of needy people.
AT THE
RIGHT TIME, GOD WILL LIFT YOUR BURDENS
V:11 Then an
angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of
incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer
has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give
him the name John.
A. The altar of the incense represented
the presence of God
1. The right hand represented the grace
of God
2. The Angel is a messenger of God.
3. Any time we offer our service to God
we are in His presence
4. The voice of the angel is the
authority of God.
B. Don’t ever give up on God.
1. Your devotion and dedication will be
rewarded.
2. God never forgets our prayers.
3. He answers our prayers in His time
according to His sovereignty.
4. There is no fear when we reverence
the Lord, only blessings.
C. God’s hand is not too short that He does
not mix our desires with His plan.
1. We are never too old for God to bless
us with the desires of our hearts.
2. In time, people will see the results
of our dedication to God.
3. God can give us more than we can ask
or conceive.
4. People know the hand of God when our
blessing are outside the human
norm.
GOD IS MORE
THAN ENOUGH
V:14 He will
be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for
he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other
fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring
back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit
and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and
the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous — to make ready a people
prepared for the Lord."
A. God’s blessing to us come with joy
and delight.
1. We will have joy because our prayers
are answered.
2. We will be delighted because of the
character and mission of the blessing.
3. John’s Character set by God.
a. Will not drink wine
b. Filled with the Holy Spirit
c. Great in the sight of the Lord
d. Many will rejoice because of his
birth.
4. John’s mission
a. He will bring people back to the Lord.
b. He will turn hearts of disobedience
to obedience to the Lord
c. He will cause others to see the wisdom
of righteousness
d. He will get people prepared for the
Messiah
e. What a joy for God to say good things
about our children.
f. We love to hear that our children
will do well.
g. We love to hear that God has a
purpose for our children.
h. There is nothing like good report
about our children.
THE
BURDEN OF DOUBT, THE GRACE OF RELIEF
V:18
Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and
my wife is well along in years."
19 The angel
answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been
sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be
silent and not able to speak until the day this happens because you did not
believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."
A. Zechariah heard the Word but couldn’t
believe the Word because of his age.
1. In his mind, he discounted the power
of God.
2. He looked at his ability rather than
the unlimited ability of God.
3. He didn’t realize that God is the God
of the living not the dead.
4. What’s dead in us, God have can make
alive.
5. God is spirit, and we must worship
God in spirit and truth
6. The spirit is ageless.
7. Since we have the indwelling of His
spirit, our spirit is ageless.
8. God can do anything with us at any time
in our lives.
B. To doubt the Word of God is to doubt
the power of God.
1. God silenced Zechariah because he
doubted His power.
2. Maybe, God silenced Zechariah because
his doubting tongue would
Corrupt the people he was
to encourage.
C. According to verse 20, Zechariah’s silence
would only be temporary, for 9 months.
1. This temporary silence would let him
experience the power of God he doubted.
2. The first event that happen when
Zachariah left the Temple was a desire to have sex
With his wife.
3. The second event was Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
4. 9 months of silence would give
Zechariah time to cement the power and authority of God in his mind.
5. The birth of His son, John, would be
a miracle and a testimony to the power of God.
6. God gave Zechariah's son a name so he
would not mess it up with tradition.
7. The name John[m1] means Jehovah has been gracious.
8. John would go before the Lord in the
spirit and power of Elijah,
In fulfillment of the Old
Testament prophecy:
Malachi 4:5-6
"See, I will send
you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6
He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the
children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a
curse."
9. God blesses you so others can be
blessed.
GOD CAN GIVE US
EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY MORE THAN WE CAN ASK OR CONCEIVE.
NEVER DOUBT WHAT GOD
CAN DO IN YOUR LIFE
WE SERVE A BURDEN LIFTING GOD
Rev. M.
Mitchell
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