Not Normal

Not Normal Not Normal Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Tradition; Submission; Obedience; Spiritual Growth / Luke 1:57-80 Johns birth was non-traditional, his naming unconventional, and his upbringing uncommon but his life was surrounded with people wondering what his life would be - knowing that God had His hand upon him. John would be the fore-runner for Jesus the promised Messiah and so his life would be not normal. We tend to find comfort, safety and identity in traditions but sometimes non-traditional and non-normal ways is what God uses to bring us out of our comfort to do a new work. Introduction - Not Normal 1. Those who want to get into shape possible do things that are expected a. For instance normal people run when being chased and those seeking fitness run when no one is chasing them b. Normal people enjoy their bed until they wake up restful and those seeking fitness - usually strive to do so first thing in the morning and so their day begins with a run or something to get the blood pumping c. Choosing healthy foods to eat 2. Those who want to be in the best shape do this that are down right not normal a. They not only run, but they find ways to make running harder - hills and parachutes, then they run for distance or time or both b. They not only workout in the morning but they get up at ungodly hours and push themselves to the max c. They speak their own languages while they do this - o us normal people have to ask what they are talking about i. WOD ii. TABATA iii. AMRAP iv. BOX and Box jumps are not talking about the same BOX d. Eating things no one else eats and claiming they like it (we know they dont) 3. Here we come across the birth and upbringing of John a. What read is that John was anything but normal i. If fact he was very much not normal ii. Nothing about his life is normal - his birth, his family, his naming or his upbringing b. It is my understanding that the Lord has Luke record this in his Gospel to remind us that God works in the not normal i. We tend to find our safety, comfort and identity within tradition and normal - we dont want to be seen as not normal we want to fit in ii. Sometimes non-traditional and not normal ways is what God uses to bring us out of our comfort to do a new work 1. Let's read and see what we can glean from seeing John be Not Normal › SLIDE Luke 1:57-59 CSB 57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. 59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. › SLIDE Luke 1:60-64 CSB 60 But his mother responded, "No. He will be called John." 61 Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." 62 So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: "His name is John." And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. › SLIDE Luke 1:65-67 CSB 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the Lord's hand was with him. 67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: › SLIDE Luke 1:68-70 CSB 68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times; › SLIDE Luke 1:71-74 CSB 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us. 72 He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered his holy covenant- 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, 74 since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear › SLIDE Luke 1:75-77 CSB 75 in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. › SLIDE Luke 1:78-80 CSB 78 Because of our God's merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us 79 to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 80 The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. › SLIDE Contrary to Custom › SLIDE Luke 1:57-59 CSB 57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. 59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. › SLIDE Luke 1:60-63 CSB 60 But his mother responded, "No. He will be called John." 61 Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." 62 So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: "His name is John." And they were all amazed. 1. John's birth happened in the normal way but that is about the only thing normal about it a. His parents were older - which goes completely against the custom and conventional wisdom of the day i. Women in those days were married off much earlier in life - 15-16 years old 1. Around the time at which they could bear children 2. This was so that they would have a full lifetime of having children and would have many of them - children were seen as a blessing back then and the more you had the richer and more blessed you were ii. You didnt have children later in life - in fact apart from miracles such as John you couldnt have children that late in life b. His dad was mute - suddenly and completely - as a priest i. Not sure if this affected his priestly duties but more than likely it did 2. The neighbors gathered as was normal a. The neighbors would gather at the house when a child was born and they would rejoice if it was a son and they would depart sullenly if it was a daughter. i. When there was a son born the neighbors and family would gather each night at the house for eight days 1. Rejoicing loudly a. We would do well to learn to rejoice with those who rejoice and avoid the sin of judging those whom rejoice as not being worthy as we are › SLIDE Romans 12:15 CSB 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 2. On the eighth day they would circumcise the child and name him b. Neighbors and family following custom and tradition came to circumcise and name the child Zechariah i. Elizabeth says no - to this name 1. How hard it must be to say no to custom and tradition and stand out - be marked as strange and unusual 2. Elizabeth was telling those closest to her - she was not going to follow tradition or custom because her desire was to obey God ii. Elizabeth says his name will be John 1. The family and friends almost as if dismissing her says none of your relatives has that name a. Dont be silly - why would you do such a thing that would be strange and weird - so very not normal 2. So incredulous was this claim to go against custom and tradition that they dismissed Elizabeth altogether a. They go and ask Zechariah - almost as if to say she is crazy who would do such a thing - we need someone to act sanely here. i. Wow times are different - maddening right moms? › SLIDE When you stand in obedience to God in a way that challenges custom or tradition be prepared to be dismissed - even by those closest to you. b. Zechariah made it very clear - NO his name is JOHN i. He didnt say I think it should be John or anything that suggests anything other than complete obedience in faith - this was Zechariahs point of return from no faith in God to exercising his will in faith to God 1. He gives us all the same chance - if we deny Him or exercise unbelief He will give us a second chance at faith as well ii. Verse 63 ends and says - and they were amazed - astonished 1. The obedience of Zechariah and Elizabeth - amazed those closest to them a. Amazed - thaumazo - be struck with admiration b. They were amazed because Zechariah and Elizabeth went against the norm in obedience to God and they were stuck with admiration by that 2. If they had followed the norm no one would have been amazed or astonished › SLIDE As Zechariah and Elizabeth - we must resist family pressure and social custom and follow God, being willing to be "not normal" › SLIDE Uncommon Upbringing › SLIDE Luke 1:64-66 CSB 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the Lord's hand was with him. › SLIDE Luke 1:67-69 CSB 67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, › SLIDE Luke 1:70-73 CSB 70 just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times; 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us. 72 He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered his holy covenant- 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, › SLIDE Luke 1:74-76 CSB 74 since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, › SLIDE Luke 1:77-79 CSB 77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. 78 Because of our God's merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us 79 to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. › SLIDE Luke 1:80 CSB 80 The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. 1. In the hands of the Lord a. Zechariah at the point of declaration of obedience in faith to God at naming John was set free from muteness i. 9-10 months of silence and his first words are praises to God 1. After a time of discipline from the Lord for unbelief or other - is our first response to praise Him? 2. Could we endure 9-10 months of discipline without becoming bitter towards God? a. It would have been normal to become bitter but Zechariah was not normal in that sense b. As He began speaking and praising the Lord it says that fear came on all those who lived around them i. This fear is a fear of the Lord - I came across a verse the other day in my bible reading that shed some light on what happens when we come under a fear of the Lord › SLIDE Proverbs 8:13 CSB 13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. ii. These people came under a fear of the Lord that caused them to hate evil 1. As we hate evil - we become aware of evil and more so become aware of evil within ourselves 2. This is why the world hates you as you praise Jesus and live for Him - because your life becomes a reminder to them of the existence of evil and the reality of evil within themselves. › SLIDE As you live "not normal" in obedience to God you become a reminder of the truth of evil in the world and within people - and the realization for the need of salvation c. Zechariah then prophesied almost to answer the fear of the people i. The Promised Messiah - verse 69-75 1. The Lord God has visited and provided redemption for His people 2. He has raised up a horn of salvation (horn is the sign for strength and victory) in the house of David just as He spoke in prophecy before - salvation from our enemies and the hand of those who hate us 3. He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant - the oath He swore to Abraham 4. He has given us the privilege - since we have been rescued - to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness in His presence all of our days (eternity and even now in this life) ii. The Ministry of John 1. You child - John will be a prophet of the Most High 2. You will prepare the way of the Lord 3. Giving knowledge and teaching of salvation through forgiveness of sins 4. John would guide us to Jesus - whose return is the dayspring - the dawn from on High a. The light that would remove the darkness and the shadow of death 2. Strengthened in the Desert a. You would think with a prophecy such as that above that John would be raised a certain way right? i. If you want to be the forerunner for Jesus - Messiah you need to have a certain pedigree right? 1. The right colleges, institutions, right discipline - definitely need to be homsechooled, etc ii. Certainly wouldnt leave that to chance by being raised in the wilderness would you? 1. That's exactly where we are told that John grew up and became strong - in the wilderness 2. None of the other stuff matters as much as we think it does when it comes to raising a child - the thing that matters is found in verse 66 a. The Lord's hand was with Him b. The people wondered what the child would be because the hand of the Lord was with Him - not because of His parents, or anything else › SLIDE Nothing matters as much to a child's life as having the hand of God upon that child's life b. Custom for growth is where you are watered and planted - we wouldnt expect something to grow in the wilderness i. John grew up spiritually strong - in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance › SLIDE Most of our growth and strengthening in the Lord occurs in the wilderness and desert places of our lives ii. John would be a prophet as opposed to a priest iii. He would be a Nazarite - this vow alone could make him not normal iv. It is believed that John grew up in Qumran desert with the Essenes - the ones noted for the Qumran caves where the dead sea scrolls were discovered 1. Wearing Camel skins and eating locusts - not many people would come to Johns house for dinner Conclusion John is to be the forerunner of Jesus - he came Not Normal and because of his break with traditions he was completely surrendered to God and used mightily for God. John said when Jesus came on the scene he must increase and I must decrease - his ministry was always to magnify Jesus - the one who removed sins and gave rebirth. › SLIDE John 1:12 CSB 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, As you come to faith in Jesus know this - you have been born again, born anew and as people witness your rebirth and new life lived out in front of them - they will ponder as they did - what then will this child become - for indeed the Lord's hand is with you The Lord's hand is upon you and the Lord is with you - what then will you child become? Sacrifice normal and become not normal to be surrendered to God in obedience and watch the wonders that God wil do in and through your life. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:21 PM July 27, 2019.