Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Let me start you off with a question.....

What if the Lord sent His messenger, Gabriel to you today, What would you think and how would you feel?

I think there might be some fear, some apprehension; you might just be worried wondering what it all meant...

I think that is how Zechariah and Mary must have felt on the day of their visitation.

They wondered why all this was happening and what did all these words mean?

Zechariah knew the Lord promised a son, but the message of his life… what, really.....

And Mary, while willing....

I am sure she pondered again and again the message of the Lord to her that day...

Now you might wonder why I have said all of this...... to help us, to help us see what was happening, that we might understand and perhaps identify with them some what as the Lord sent his messenger to them.

Now last week we began looking at the Zechariah and the message the angel brought him.

I want us to follow up on him just a bit and see what all happened that day in the temple.

Then we will move to Mary, this young maiden whom the Lord was preparing for an incredible journey....

Now lets take our Bibles.... Did you bring your Bibles today?

Ok… I will move on now.

Luke

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Now remember what we talked about last week.

Zechariah was serving the Lord in the temple.

He was a good man, a good husband, in fact the Lord describes their life as one marked by righteousness and blameless before the Lord, ().

These were two godly people, who lived and served the Lord each day… but there was something missing.

They had no child for she was barren verse 7.

So here is a couple that served the Lord, who had enjoyed a long marriage and were faithful before the Lord yet they were missing one thing, a child, a son.

That is what they desired as they walked with God.

Now God was walking with them, had prepared them for just such a day, they would have a son, but he would be special.

So lets consider this first thought at we consider Zechariah again before the Lord.

So lets consider this first thought at we consider Zechariah again before the Lord.

1.

The Angelic Visitation in the Temple

So that day, the angel appeared to Zechariah as he served in the temple.

What an amazing site to behold, to see the Lord’s messenger and to know… He has come to see me! Wow!

It was the angels who first knew the measure of God’s love and they were entrusted with the message of the coming Son of God into the world.

And it was their joy to also bear the news for Zechariah and Elizabeth, God is giving you a son to you, and he will be special.

The angel told Zechariah that he was to name him John!

And listen at the message Gabriel shared with Zechariah...

Look at what is said… He will be great before the Lord… God has something in store for this life...

And it was said he was to live a life a part from wine and strong drink.

This reference refers to a ascetic lifestyle, one of a Nazirite.

Nazarites are mentioned in Numbers chapter 6 in the Old Testament.

A famous Nazirite was Samson in the OT, although he didn’t always abide by the rules of the obligation God has placed on him.

You see the word itself, Nazirite means to separate oneself.

They were a life that was connected to God in a unique way, for His purposes and not their own.

They had a holy calling in their life.

And finally the angel Gabriel shares John’s true purpose to Zechariah, look at verses 16-17 again

Luke 1:16-17

I mentioned to you last week, John is a man between to covenants, He would truly be the last OT prophet calling the people to repentance under the power and mantle of Elijah.

He would prepare the way for Jesus to come!

This was the news given to Zechariah as he ministered in the temple… then something note worthy happens…

Look at verses 18-23

Luke 1

Gabriel doubted.... but how can I know this for certain… we are old, and my wife, but she is past child bearing years......

Consider this with me my friends, here stands a child of Abraham and he forgot that what God had done so in times past, God could do it again..

Zechariah doubted the word of the Lord.... and so he was made mute until his wife would give birth.

Now friends here is some practical advise for you.... if the Lord shows up in your life, if He choose to speak to you personally or by an angelic visitation… do not doubt the words of the Lord!

This was the first message that Gabriel delivers ......

And this brings me to my second thought for today.... are you ready?

2. The Angel Gabriel visits Young Mary.....

When you look at the text you see that the Lord is keeping His messenger Gabriel busy .... just a few months after visiting with Zechariah the Lord sends Gabriel to a young engaged maiden by the name of Mary!

Now Mary and Joseph are of the lineage of David and also with Elizabeth being a cousin to Mary, she was closely akin to the line of Aaron as well.

So physically Jesus was be born of God through the virgin as both King and Priest with fits with this Messianic title.

, she was closely akin to the line of Aaron as well.

So physically Jesus was be born of God through the virgin as both King and Priest with fits with this Messianic title.

But this day the angel of the Lord comes to this young lady and listen to what is said to her...

Lets look at and verses 26-33

Now there is a lot of information in this passage for you to see my friends.

First off, notice the time that is mentioned, it is the sixth month, so we believe this refers to the 6th month since the messenger of God, Gabriel visited Zechariah and Elizabeth, so its about the 6th month of Elizabeth pregnancy.

And of course we know the location of everything that is happening, the Word of God says that God himself sent his messenger Gabriel to a city in Galilee by the name of Nazareth.

It would have been Mary’s parents home since she was betrothed.

Now this is a big deal, God has sent Gabriel at a certain time to deliver a message on His behalf.

And Gabriel, he is one of the highest angels, a Archangel....

He goes and does what the Lord instructs him to do

Now move forward.... Next is the recipient of the message… a virgin, named Mary who was betrothed to a man by the name of Joseph.

Next is the recipient of the message… a virgin, named Mary who was betrothed to a man by the name of Joseph.

Now Mary is un-married, yet she is under a legally binding contract that mean she was reserved for Joseph.

These marriages were often arranged by the grooms parents.

But the no physical intimate contact would have been allowed until the wedding day.

But before all of this happens… the angel of the Lord visits Mary and look at the greeting...

Listen with me to these thoughts....

A. Mary is the favored one.....

Verse 28a “Greetings favored one, the Lord is with you! ....”

Listen, that is special, for Gabriel calls her “favored”..... the root of that word in the Greek is grace, she is the one to whom great grace has been given…

She is the object of God’s attention for something wonderful and it has been bestowed upon her like a gift!

What wonderful words for this young maiden to hear....

What wonderful words for this young maiden to hear.... oh that they were said of us as well

And then for her to hear those words, the Lord God of Israel was with her… watching over, protecting, helping and yes, He is blessing her life....

But Mary, like Zechariah was a bit scared, afraid for it wasn’t everyday that one saw and angel of the Lord… but the angel tells her do not be afraid, and again reassures her that she has found favor with the Lord.

Gabriel wastes no time speaking to her… Look again at verses 31-33

Can you consider Mary for a moment as she heard this news....

First off young lady, you are going to have a baby! a son! and you shall call his name Jesus!.

Those words are powerful my friends, there are three things that every young maiden desired..

A. Get married....

B. Have Children

C. Have a Son

For a young maiden that was every young girls dream, They wanted to grow up and have a family, a husband, children and yes a Son.... it was in this way that their life was truly fulfilled in those days.

but she is not married yet… so how can all this be...

Suddenly, as fast as those words could be comprehended, Gabriel told her what type of Son this child would be.... in fact the angel tells her 5 things....

A. He would be great B. Be the Son of the Most High

C. The Lord would give Him the throne of His father David.

B. Be the Son of the Most High

D. He would reign over the house of Jacob forever E. Would be no end to His kingdom.

Can you say wow?