Unbelievable

Unbelievable Unbelievable Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Righteousness; Barrenness; Old Age; Faith; Miracles; Prayer; Doubt / Luke 1:5-25 Introduction - Instant Results 1. We have become an increasingly impatient society a. We look for immediate results and quick turn around i. We are hesitant to invest time or energy - unless we know for sure it will work b. Perhaps you are this person or have seen this person in the gym i. Not a gym rat by any sense of the word but after spending an hour at the gym flexing to see their progress 2. Results should be measurable and visible a. If results dont come soon enough - we get discouraged and give up or stop expecting results i. The supposed claims and promises become unbelievable ii. We begin to doubt - possibly looking to quit even trying 3. Here is a story Luke records that can help us get from unbelievable claims to unbelievable promises › SLIDE Luke 1:5-7 CSB 5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. › SLIDE Luke 1:8-10 CSB 8 When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. › SLIDE Luke 1:11-13 CSB 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. › SLIDE Luke 1:14-16 CSB 14 There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. › SLIDE Luke 1:17-19 CSB 17 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people." 18 "How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years." 19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. › SLIDE Luke 1:20-22 CSB 20 Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time." 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless. › SLIDE Luke 1:23-25 CSB 23 When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. 24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 "The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people." › SLIDE Continue Despite Temptation to Quit › SLIDE Luke 1:5-7 CSB 5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. 1. The cultural context was unrighteous a. The days of Herod the Great (later called the Great - Great as in builder) i. Herod increased the size of Solomon's temple to twice as big ii. Herod built Cesarea and other such great sites - Masada - etc b. This is the same Herod who was also known for jealousy leading to murderous rage i. Because of jealousy at the wise men's mention of a baby being born king of the Jews ordered all children to be murdered (yeah anytime babies are legal to be murdered you can bet Satan is behind it) ii. He had 9 or 10 wives and sons and brothers killed because he worried they may desire to take his throne 2. Within this backdrop of unrighteousness we have a couple singled out a. Zechariah and Elizabeth i. Zechariah was a priest of Abijah's division ii. Elizabeth was of Aaron's descendents b. Luke records them as both being righteous in God's sight i. Living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord ii. They would by all means be the ones we expect to be blessed 1. In fact it was open that a priest could marry any other tribe but to marry another Levite was to be truly blessed 3. They had every reason to quit - the temptation must have been strong a. Though they were righteous in the eyes of God - they were whispered about by men i. verse 7 tells us they had no children 1. Elizabeth could not conceive 2. They were now well advanced in years ii. To be childless was seen as a curse from God 1. Because children were seen as a blessing from the Lord - and truly they are 2. Those who had no children were under a curse form God - it was also seen as something with which a woman could be put away and no one would have judged Zechariah harshly for either b. Though Zechariah remained faithful to Elizabeth and the Lord still they remained childless i. The hopeless despair must have crept in at some point 1. Unrealized dreams 2. Unreachable goals 3. the public disgrace as Elizabeth had to walk in the town the whispers and stares and judgment from people because she could not bear children ii. Though they were righteous - God had not given them a child - no sign of receiving a child either 1. Why cant they conceive 2. They go to church everyday, pray three times a day, they tithe on everything - etc but still the Lord has not given them a child a. Some of us have been here - unanswered prayer - though we feel we deserve it b. We sometimes resolve to quit doing what we are doing because God iii. Righteousness does not remove difficulty 1. Good conduct does not remove problems and effort being required or necessary › SLIDE - How do we continue through discouragement? Consistent Routine Will Carry Through Discouragement › SLIDE Luke 1:8-9 CSB 8 When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 1. Zechariah didnt quit when everything said he should - he continued working a. He continued to serve as priest before God - our difficulties and discouragement dont necessitate us to quit serving the Lord i. There were 24 divisions set to serve as priests twice a year along with all priest serving during the feast times ii. An estimate of around 18,000 - 24,000 priests to serve - Zechariah could have faded into the background, quit and not return › SLIDE It is our devotion to God that gets us through the dark, dry and difficult times. b. Not by our own strength, but by having a routine and consistency with the Lord we ensure we do not dry up and burn out 2. After many many consistent and routine years of serving the Lord despite his unanswered prayer and desperation with Elizabeth to have children Zechariah has the day of his life a. he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. i. Lots were a thing of chance used in the old days believed to be controlled by the sovereign hand of God › SLIDE What looks like chance is really God orchestrating within the ordinary to bring about His plan and will ii. Zechariah was chosen by God - to have the esteemed honor to burn incense in the sanctuary 1. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and some never have this esteemed honor 2. The incense was a symbol of the prayers lifting up to God and being a sweet smelling aroma b. Zechariah was chosen for this and experienced this once in a lifetime opportunity because he remained faithful - he remained consistent in routine and devotion before God › SLIDE Results Come in the Work › SLIDE Luke 1:10-17 CSB 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14 There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people." 1. While Zachariah was offering the incense and prayer on behalf of Israel - something unbelievable happened a. An angel of the Lord appeared with a promise from God i. God has heard your prayers!! b. Now had Zechariah not been working - the angel wouldnt have come to him - but since he was working the angel came to him in the midst of fulfilling his priestly duties 2. The angel brought a promise to the prayers of Zechariah a. It had a double fulfillment i. The prayer from those who offered incense always included asking for the promised Messiah to come ii. Zechariah - i cant help but imagine that he would have used this once in a lifetime opportunity to also pray for a child once again 1. The child promised to Zechariah would be easy to raise - obedient - a joy and delight 2. He would be a Nazarite (no beer wine or cutting hair, touching dead things etc) › SLIDE Numbers 6:1-3 CSB 1 The LORD instructed Moses: 2 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When a man or woman makes a special vow, a Nazirite vow, to consecrate himself to the LORD, 3 he is to abstain from wine and beer. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or from beer. He must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins. › SLIDE Numbers 6:4-6 CSB 4 He is not to eat anything produced by the grapevine, from seeds to skin, during the period of his consecration. 5 "You must not cut his hair throughout the time of his vow of consecration. He may be holy until the time is completed during which he consecrates himself to the LORD; he is to let the hair of his head grow long. 6 He must not go near a dead body during the time he consecrates himself to the LORD. › SLIDE Numbers 6:7-8 CSB 7 He is not to defile himself for his father or mother, or his brother or sister, when they die, while the mark of consecration to his God is on his head. 8 He is holy to the LORD during the time of consecration. a. Samson was the other famous Nazarite 3. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit (this would be a first, unfortunately we tend to take the Holy Spirit for granted because we live in the time after pentecost but before pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon and left people 4. Not only will this son turn people to the Lord God but he is making ready for the Lord a prepared people a. This was a promise that their child would be ushering in the promised Messiah b. What would the angels message have been if Zechariah didnt pray, didnt put in the work, wasnt righteous in Gods sight - chose to quit because of a lack of results? › SLIDE Dont Go By Other People's Timelines/Expectations › SLIDE Luke 1:18-23 CSB 18 "How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years." 19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time." 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless. 23 When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. 1. A major source of discouragement - leading to unbelief is when we let them dictate what we trust or why we trust it a. Zechariah didnt believe Gabriel's words because he was old and old people dont have kids anymore i. Its what happens - everyone knows that to be true b. But what about Abraham and Sarah? c. What about God spoke to Zechariah through an angel?!??!??!?! › SLIDE How often do we doubt God's words and promises because it goes against our own wisdom and understanding 2. The people outside thought Zechariah was taking too long a. That usual right - people always trying to dictate how long something should take and how much time should be spent doing something i. Ah you spend too much time at the gym, you know you dont need to go everyday ii. You spend too much time at church, you know you dont have to go to church everyday b. What if Zechariah left before the angel came - because he didnt want to take too long - didnt want to seem too religious 3. Unfortunately Zechariah didnt believe God a. What God was promising was definitely unbelieveable - but Zechariah sinned because he chose to not believe God i. This is truly amazing to me because this is the first time in 400 years that God has spoken ii. The last words of prophecy were spoekn in Malachi 4:4-6 › SLIDE Malachi 4:4-6 CSB 4 "Remember the instruction of Moses my servant, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse." › SLIDE - compare to Gabriels message - differences are attributed to the LXX translation Luke 1:16-17 CSB 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people." › SLIDE - Mark Twain A thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes iii. Zechariah chose to look at his age to determine what God can do I love this story about a man in his nineties who went to his doctor with knee trouble. The doctor said "at your age what do you expect?" "I expect you to fix this knee, my other knee is the same age and works fine" 1. Our age can be a barrier to trusting God and we can believe that since we are restricted by our age in somethings God must be also 2. Zechariahs age was not a factor in his ability to carry out God's purposes - and neither is ours › SLIDE Compare Zechariahs and Gabriels statements I am an old man I am Gabriel and stand in the presence of God iv. Doubt is ok and it isnt sinful to struggle with doubt - but choosing unbelief is a sin Think of a train fact faith and feelings - Fact is the engine, the truth of God's word. Faith is the coal car, and feeling is the caboose- feelings often follow fact and faith. We must trust and follow God DESPITE our feelings. Faith isnt trusting without proof - its trusting without reservation v. Irony in this situation 1. The angel appears to Zechariah - a Levite priest - spiritual leader of Israel a. Announces God is going to perform a miracle and his message is doubted to unbelief 2. This same angel as we will see next time will announce a greater miracle but the young common woman will believe without doubt a. Sometimes those who should trust God the most have been so seasoned in life that they forgot how to trust God or they never learned to, to begin with. b. There are consequences for unbelief i. Zechariah paid a price for his unbelief - he couldnt speak of the miracle God was doing, couldnt speak at all for that matter 1. Unbelief didnt stop God from working - it kept Zechariah from fully enjoying it ii. When we choose to not believe God's promises for us we dont stop God from fulfilling the promises - we just keep ourselves from being able to enjoy the promise. 1. The punishment was so great because Zechariah had such great news to tell but could not share it › dont be the one who says thats not a punishment › SLIDE God's Ways Are Unbelievable but Trustworthy › SLIDE Luke 1:24-25 CSB 24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 "The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people." 1. Elizabeth responds differently doesnt she? Her husband couldnt speak he could make pantomiming motions - but even through that she trusted God - because He was God 2. She conceived and gave God the glory Conclusion Elizabeth's parting words are this - The Lord has done this for me, He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace Elizabeth prayed for the Lord to take away her disgrace from among the people - the disgrace of childlessness God did that and so much more - John takes away Elizabeths disgrace from the people around her Jesus comes next and he takes our disgrace before God - and we are promised He is coming again BUt as with Zechariahs and Elizabeths prayer for a child - for so many years the promise remained unfulfilled As with the nation of Israel the promise of the Messiah being born was unfulfilled for over 400 years Working with no result leads to discouragement and wanting to quit - We must keep working while we wait for Jesus return - at His return He will remove our disgrace from among the people Until then we observe communion Communion › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 CSB 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:59 PM July 6, 2019.