December 2, 2018
Morning Service

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.

·        Luke begins by referencing “the days of Herod.”  In so doing he proclaims that this story is bigger than just the nation of Israel, it would affect the entire world.  This is not only a chronological record of Jesus’ birth, but it was a narrative of world history. 

·        Zacharias was a priest of the division of Abijah.  At this time the temple priesthood was divided into 24 divisions and they would take a turn twice a year to serve in the temple for a week at a time.  He and his wife are described as being both “righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”  Wow! This should be our goal that we are described is such a manner in our walk with the Lord.  What does that really mean though because as we know no one is perfect?

·        Another word that could be used here is “justified” as Paul put it here in his letter to the Romans.

Rom 3:28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

·        This couples’ faith shined brightly through the life that they lived, justifying them before God.  God owned their heart and they willingly followed Him living an outward life that mirrored their inward faith.  They were “all in” with God and walked the walk.  That is what it means to live a “righteous” life; giving God your heart and doing the best you can to follow Him.  The last word in verse 6 is “blameless” or “perfect.”  Does Luke imply then that they were without sin?  No, we all know that is impossible for us, but they had a deep internal faith that following God was who they were and it naturally played out in all they did.  They are an example for all of us to follow.

·        BUT, despite their faithful lives, God had not blessed them with children and they were quite “mature.”  In that time period this was not only a sad situation, but really more of a personal tragedy.  Children were understood as a blessing from God and the opposite was also thought to be true.  They had a great reason to be angry with God, but rather chose to yield to His will and trust His faithfulness.  So God chose them to begin the greatest love story ever told.

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.  I would think during that time Zacharias would have been praying himself; perhaps for a child of his own or for the coming of the Messiah when the angel 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.  He then delivered the answers to Zacharias’ and all of Israel’s prayers.  Their son would 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.”   He would be guided by the Holy Spirit his entire life and fulfill his purpose “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  He would set the table for Jesus to begin His ministry.  We know him as John the Baptist.

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 had great faith, yet there was room for doubt when given this promise from the angel.  I love Gabriel’s rebuttal to him in verse 19.  I wonder how many times that I have doubted God’s Word and would have deserved this same response in my life.  “Isn’t that what your Bible says? Yes.  Then why do you not believe it enough to act upon it?”  Lord help us to believe and act upon it!

·        In the end God was faithful and chose to begin His love story with a simple, ordinary, but faithful older couple.  He turned what the world looked at as a curse into a miracle.  He blessed them beyond their deepest desires and rewarded their faith beyond what they could even understand.

Heb. 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

·        Have faith and trust God with all your heart seeking Him diligently and trust that God will reward you!  We only have to look at this faithful couple of Zacharias and Elizabeth who did not dwell on their circumstance of not having children (a social disgrace), but simply trusted God and kept on living a righteous and blameless life.  In the end God blessed them beyond measure.  They did not let their circumstances define how good God was.

·        What circumstances are in your life that you need to simply trust God for?  Peter just told us to “Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.”  All of us are struggling with something today in our lives that is difficult.  Don’t let those struggles define you or define how good God is.   Choose rather to trust God by faith remaining faithful and walking the path He has called you to with courage and resolve that He is faithful.  Aim for perfection even in difficult times.  God will use your struggles to draw you closer to Him, if you allow it.  Follow Zacharias’ and Elizabeth’s example and wait for God to reward you.