Sermon Tone Analysis

The Christmas begins!

*/Luke 1:5-25/**/KJV/*

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife/ was/ of the daughters of Aaron, and her name/ was/ Elisabeth.

6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were/ now/ well stricken in years.

8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord 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 unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.

18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on/ me/, to take away my reproach among men.

\\ \\ We sometimes don’t understand God’s purposes nor His reasons in doing most things!

Still He has a reason for everything that happens!

What was about to happen was the beginning of the Christmas story!

 

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Verse 5-7

Zacharias and Elisabeth were without child, and the jews felt that children were a sign of God’s favor upon a couple being without them showed His not being pleased and they were getting old!

But they were both righteous and God was very pleased with them because He was about to do something with them that would change the world!

Verse 8-10

There were 24 sections of priest, each section took turns for one week, twice a year.

Those who went into the Holy Place were chosen by lot and you could only go in once in your entire life!

Zacharias was in the Holy Place burning incense at the altar of incense which stood before the veil that was before the Holy of Holies.

Verse 11-13

It would be anyones dream to see an angel or hear a voice while in the Holy place!

Zacharias got that dream and he was scared like I would be!

The message he was told was your prayers are answered, your wife shall have you a son and you will call him John!

 

Verse 14-17

The message continues you will have great joy and gladness, many shall rejoice at his birth, he shall be great in the sight of God, he shall be a Nazarite, he shall turn many of the children of Israel back to the Lord their God.

But another important thing he will fulfill prophecy

*/Malachi 4:5-6/**/KJV/*

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Verse 18

What was Zacharias answer?

How shall I know this?

He didn’t think it was possible!

we are just like Zacharias we have little faith.

Verse 19-23

Having little faith was an insult to the angel!

He said I am Gabriel!

Gabriel is an Arch Angel the chief messenger of God!

So Zacharias was struck dumb.When he came out of the temple they knew he had seen something!

The others knew something had happened to him.

When you hear a message from the Lord something changes you