1 00:00:06,510 --> 00:00:10,080 Before Jeff comes and shares God's Word, let's look to the 2 00:00:10,090 --> 00:00:13,660 Lord. The time of prayer, just one 3 00:00:13,670 --> 00:00:15,570 verse. I would like to read Hebrews 4 00:00:15,580 --> 00:00:21,670 chapter 12 and it says this. Let us lay aside every weight 5 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:27,950 and the sin which so easily ensnared us, and let us run with 6 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:32,770 endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, 7 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,630 the author and finisher of our faith. 8 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:41,820 Let's pray. Father God, we come before you 9 00:00:41,830 --> 00:00:47,390 this morning acknowledging Father, the sacrifice that your 10 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,650 Son made for us in the cross of Calvary, and this morning we 11 00:00:50,660 --> 00:00:54,180 were able as a company of your people through the emblems 12 00:00:54,190 --> 00:00:56,830 before us. Remember the body that was 13 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:01,110 broken and the blood that was shed, and because of that great 14 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:04,849 sacrifice that each and everyone who has called upon your name 15 00:01:05,140 --> 00:01:08,550 and come to know you personally as our Lord and Saviour could 16 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:11,850 access your very presence. For this Lord God, we give you 17 00:01:11,860 --> 00:01:16,150 our thanks. And as Mark prayed a prayer of 18 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:21,970 confession earlier. Lord, in this service right now, 19 00:01:21,980 --> 00:01:26,140 a lot I'd like to just bring upon bring to remembrance for 20 00:01:26,150 --> 00:01:29,930 each and everyone of us alone. Sometimes the weight that we 21 00:01:29,940 --> 00:01:34,550 bear, and as Hebrews talks about it here, for each and everyone 22 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,170 of us, the Lord, have a heavy burden. 23 00:01:36,180 --> 00:01:40,150 And the weight that we bear, the weight of family 24 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:46,400 responsibilities, the weight of our jobs, Lord, the weight of 25 00:01:46,410 --> 00:01:51,150 the things that we have to do in this world, and those other 26 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,190 things, the Lord God that can easily sow burden us. 27 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,700 And sometimes as students, the weight of our studies, and as 28 00:01:58,710 --> 00:02:01,000 parents, the weight of our responsibilities towards our 29 00:02:01,010 --> 00:02:06,280 children and Father God the the cares that we have sometimes for 30 00:02:06,290 --> 00:02:09,169 them. All of those things, as Hebrew 31 00:02:09,180 --> 00:02:13,360 says, can be wait. That's can sometimes a lot 32 00:02:13,370 --> 00:02:17,470 hinder our walk with you and our prayer Lord God this morning 33 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,700 that he will help us to cast all of these things upon you as a 34 00:02:21,710 --> 00:02:25,590 scripture says by faith, knowing a law that we cast these things 35 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,390 upon you for we know Lord God that you care for us. 36 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,760 So help us Lord to unburden these things upon you and by 37 00:02:31,770 --> 00:02:34,540 faith to know law that you will take care of all of these 38 00:02:34,550 --> 00:02:37,150 things. So help us a lot, God run the 39 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,910 race that is set before us, Father, to look onto you, to 40 00:02:40,920 --> 00:02:44,280 look onto our Saviour who is the author, and not only the author, 41 00:02:44,290 --> 00:02:47,010 but also the finisher of our faith. 42 00:02:47,370 --> 00:02:51,660 And as the apostle Paul prayed that he knows that which he has 43 00:02:51,670 --> 00:02:55,640 committed to you a lot, his own way of life that you completed 44 00:02:55,710 --> 00:02:58,760 at the day of retention. So help us a lot, God, to know 45 00:02:58,770 --> 00:03:01,660 that, to understand that he is the author and the finisher of 46 00:03:01,670 --> 00:03:04,740 our faith. So we play a lot at this morning 47 00:03:04,750 --> 00:03:09,830 as Jeff comes and shares with us Your word that you are Lord. 48 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,210 God would open our eyes to Your word that Your word may have an 49 00:03:13,220 --> 00:03:16,970 impact in our lives and help us, Father God, to live our lives 50 00:03:16,980 --> 00:03:19,950 that is always conned into Your will and Your plan and Your 51 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,270 purpose. You also pray for our little 52 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:24,450 children here who are going for Sunday school. 53 00:03:24,770 --> 00:03:28,050 Father, we pray for each and everyone of them and our desires 54 00:03:28,060 --> 00:03:32,640 to see all of them grow up a lot to be men and women who are not 55 00:03:32,650 --> 00:03:36,600 only called upon by you, but also men and women a lot who 56 00:03:36,610 --> 00:03:40,260 would rise up to walk with you. So our prayers for each and 57 00:03:40,270 --> 00:03:43,400 everyone of these kids and also the Sunday School teachers as 58 00:03:43,410 --> 00:03:47,100 they teach these kids. We pray a lot that you will be 59 00:03:47,110 --> 00:03:49,630 with them. They do blessed him a lot and 60 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:51,970 bless the ministry, the tremendous ministry that they're 61 00:03:51,980 --> 00:03:54,890 involved with. So we commit all of these things 62 00:03:55,020 --> 00:03:57,990 and we ask these things in the Saviours pressures and it is 63 00:03:58,000 --> 00:03:59,640 worthy name. Amen. 64 00:04:01,410 --> 00:04:04,200 Thanks, Rita. Well, good morning everyone. 65 00:04:05,230 --> 00:04:08,630 We're gonna be after last week's introduction. 66 00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:11,630 You should know where we are. We were in the book of John. 67 00:04:11,820 --> 00:04:13,730 No, I'm only only kidding. It's already been. 68 00:04:13,740 --> 00:04:15,890 A running joke already. This morning we're in the. 69 00:04:15,900 --> 00:04:20,209 Book of Luke so. We're going to go to Luke and. 70 00:04:20,220 --> 00:04:22,470 If you have your bibles. If you can start making your way 71 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,000 there, that would be fantastic. And we're going to look at in 72 00:04:26,010 --> 00:04:28,300 this section, we're gonna. Look at four key characters. 73 00:04:28,310 --> 00:04:32,260 There's gonna be Zechariah his. Wife who was called Elizabeth. 74 00:04:33,010 --> 00:04:34,930 And then the main. Focus of the passage. 75 00:04:34,940 --> 00:04:38,160 Is gonna be on the one that's coming, which whose name is 76 00:04:38,170 --> 00:04:41,060 John, and then we're gonna be looking at an Angel of the Lord 77 00:04:41,070 --> 00:04:43,460 as well. And so that's what we will see 78 00:04:43,470 --> 00:04:45,910 in this passage. And so, yeah. 79 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:50,010 Last week we just covered. From Luke, this is 1 to 4 this 80 00:04:50,020 --> 00:04:52,660 week we're gonna go from 5 to 25. 81 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:54,480 And what I'm going to do this morning is rather than. 82 00:04:54,490 --> 00:04:56,750 Just read through the. Passage and then try and focus 83 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:57,820 on things. We just going to walk. 84 00:04:57,830 --> 00:04:59,850 Through it together. And we're going to comment as we 85 00:04:59,860 --> 00:05:03,150 see and see what you get from the text itself and then in the 86 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,030 end what I'm wanting. To do is really highlight. 87 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,030 Some some things that are in there that I think are just 88 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:10,970 magical that as I've been going. Through the passages. 89 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,950 Seeing some of the connections and it's a really interesting. 90 00:05:14,460 --> 00:05:16,300 Book so if you have. Your Bibles. 91 00:05:16,310 --> 00:05:21,220 We're going to start in verse 5 of Luke chapter 1 and it just 92 00:05:21,230 --> 00:05:23,850 starts in this way. It says in the days of Herod, 93 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,610 king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the 94 00:05:27,620 --> 00:05:31,350 division of Abuja and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron 95 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,630 and her name was Elizabeth. So straight off we were 96 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:38,020 introduced, the two individuals, Zachariah and Elizabeth. 97 00:05:38,660 --> 00:05:40,770 Now what we're told about. Elizabeth is that she's. 98 00:05:40,780 --> 00:05:43,870 From the lineage of Aaron. So that's her. 99 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:45,950 Where she's come from or through the the. 100 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,030 History. But we also read that Zachariah 101 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:51,520 Zachariah was a priest for Zechariah 2. 102 00:05:51,530 --> 00:05:54,850 Have been a priest he means he also was from the line of 103 00:05:54,860 --> 00:05:58,110 Zechariah from Aaron he's from the Aaron priesthood. 104 00:05:58,340 --> 00:06:00,190 You can't be a priest all and the. 105 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:00,990 Tribe. There was a tribe. 106 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,700 Of Levites and then that there was a priestly section under 107 00:06:04,710 --> 00:06:07,770 Aaron, so not all. Levites were priests. 108 00:06:07,940 --> 00:06:10,850 However, the opposite is true all priests. 109 00:06:10,860 --> 00:06:14,260 Are Levites and so we find by the way that they've defined it, 110 00:06:14,270 --> 00:06:18,320 they're both Zachariah and Elizabeth are from the House of 111 00:06:18,330 --> 00:06:21,770 Aaron the through that that line, but we also find another 112 00:06:21,780 --> 00:06:23,250 one. There, that says that Zechariah. 113 00:06:23,260 --> 00:06:25,770 Particularly was from the the division of Abuja. 114 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:28,070 And why does Luke want us to know that? 115 00:06:28,140 --> 00:06:32,220 What's the significance about BJ one-on-one Chronicles 24? 116 00:06:32,230 --> 00:06:34,260 It's actually King David, the King David. 117 00:06:34,270 --> 00:06:37,940 Will divide up the the tribe of. Levi and he'll do it into 24 118 00:06:37,950 --> 00:06:40,200 courses or 24 sections. There will be 1. 119 00:06:40,210 --> 00:06:43,300 High Priest There will be 24. Chief priests. 120 00:06:43,450 --> 00:06:47,980 And then there will be 24 common priests, and each division would 121 00:06:47,990 --> 00:06:51,780 take a turn for a period of about two weeks to take care of 122 00:06:51,790 --> 00:06:54,090 the daily functions that would be in the temple. 123 00:06:54,900 --> 00:06:58,590 Now the duties of the common priests were chosen by lot. 124 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,870 So they'd get it by. Allotments and it would be quite 125 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:03,550 possible. For. 126 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:08,730 A priest to have only 1-2 week stint in his entire lifetime to 127 00:07:08,740 --> 00:07:12,160 serve in the temple. And this is where Zechariah is. 128 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:16,330 Zachariah is of the division of Abuja and it's. 129 00:07:16,340 --> 00:07:17,600 As has his. Period. 130 00:07:17,610 --> 00:07:19,690 That's coming in. So he's a common priest. 131 00:07:19,780 --> 00:07:23,490 Verse 6 then goes on to say and they were both. 132 00:07:23,500 --> 00:07:25,960 Righteous before God they're. Talking about Zachariah and 133 00:07:25,970 --> 00:07:29,440 Elizabeth, now both righteous before God, walking blamelessly 134 00:07:29,510 --> 00:07:31,550 and all the commandments in the statutes of the. 135 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,720 Lord. If you're wanting an application 136 00:07:33,730 --> 00:07:37,280 or an example, here's one in verse. 6 These two are of. 137 00:07:37,290 --> 00:07:39,930 Old like they're advanced in years, as we're going to see. 138 00:07:40,570 --> 00:07:42,540 But it says that both. Of them were right. 139 00:07:42,550 --> 00:07:46,000 Before the Lord, that's their. Position in front of. 140 00:07:46,070 --> 00:07:48,950 God, they're right before the. Lord and they walk to 141 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,210 blamelessly so if you're wanting something. 142 00:07:51,220 --> 00:07:55,050 To follow this is a. Really good example and all of 143 00:07:55,060 --> 00:07:56,650 the commandments and the statutes of. 144 00:07:56,660 --> 00:07:59,160 The Lord. And so it's really interesting, 145 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:01,530 but they didn't have their, they didn't not. 146 00:08:01,540 --> 00:08:03,110 Have life without their difficulties. 147 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:07,020 Because in verse 7 it says but they had no children. 148 00:08:07,740 --> 00:08:10,670 Because Elizabeth was. Barren and both were advanced in 149 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,220 years now while he was. Serving as a priest before. 150 00:08:13,230 --> 00:08:15,150 God when his division was on duty. 151 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,400 According. To the custom of the priesthood, 152 00:08:17,580 --> 00:08:22,990 he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn 153 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,970 incense. So this is Zachariah's job for 154 00:08:25,980 --> 00:08:28,570 two weeks. So Zachary's function. 155 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,630 Would be exactly. That and so every morning. 156 00:08:32,429 --> 00:08:34,340 He would take a hot. Coal from the. 157 00:08:34,350 --> 00:08:36,919 Altar of the Sacrifice outside the building. 158 00:08:37,010 --> 00:08:38,900 Which would be in the courtyard. And he would. 159 00:08:38,909 --> 00:08:42,659 Bring that hot coal. Into the first room of the 160 00:08:42,669 --> 00:08:45,140 temple, it's called the Holy Place. 161 00:08:45,150 --> 00:08:48,760 And then there he would sit down that hot coal on the altar of 162 00:08:48,770 --> 00:08:51,740 incense that would stand in front of the thick curtain. 163 00:08:51,950 --> 00:08:55,640 That separated the holy place. From the holy of Holies. 164 00:08:55,930 --> 00:08:59,580 Then after sitting down the coal, he would drop some incense 165 00:08:59,590 --> 00:09:02,890 on that, causing a sweet smelling smoke, and it would 166 00:09:02,900 --> 00:09:05,840 descend and penetrate through the thick veil that was in front 167 00:09:05,850 --> 00:09:08,730 of him and it would go. Into the Holy of Holies. 168 00:09:09,530 --> 00:09:13,080 Now because of an incident that happened way back in Leviticus 169 00:09:13,090 --> 00:09:15,120 chapter 10. So, Aaron? 170 00:09:15,130 --> 00:09:18,820 Is the first priest of the tribe of of the Levites of Israel. 171 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:21,640 So he's there, but. He has two sons, if you can 172 00:09:21,650 --> 00:09:26,980 remember, 1 was called Nadab, 1 was Abihu, and they offer 173 00:09:27,050 --> 00:09:30,880 incense to the Lord and God's strikes them dead right as they 174 00:09:30,890 --> 00:09:34,560 have the incense and. So because of that, there was a 175 00:09:34,570 --> 00:09:36,120 Jewish. Legend that said that. 176 00:09:36,130 --> 00:09:37,900 Before a priest. Ohh, sorry. 177 00:09:37,910 --> 00:09:40,720 Going back a bit, so there was yeah, what happened to Nadal, 178 00:09:40,730 --> 00:09:43,780 B&B, who and. So the thought was that if you. 179 00:09:43,790 --> 00:09:46,790 Offered and this is actually in the writings of the the tail 180 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:48,790 moved from the time of Zechariah's time. 181 00:09:48,860 --> 00:09:51,580 If you would go there. And you would burn incense. 182 00:09:51,590 --> 00:09:55,290 You had to do it properly because God would strike you 183 00:09:55,300 --> 00:09:56,970 right? As he did with Native and Abbie 184 00:09:56,980 --> 00:09:58,190 who? So that's the pressure on the 185 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,590 person they. They get to this role for two 186 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:02,510 weeks. Okay, so that's him, but. 187 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,470 There's also a Jewish. Legend and you've probably 188 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:05,170 heard. It. 189 00:10:05,260 --> 00:10:07,580 That there was before the priest would go into. 190 00:10:07,590 --> 00:10:09,080 The holy place, he would have a rope. 191 00:10:09,090 --> 00:10:12,810 That would be tied around his leg and he would go in there and 192 00:10:12,820 --> 00:10:15,150 that was just in case he was. Struck. 193 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,950 Dead by burning the. Incense because of. 194 00:10:18,010 --> 00:10:20,430 Again, going back to Leviticus Chapter 10. 195 00:10:20,780 --> 00:10:23,390 But there was also something in their legion, it said before 196 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:24,910 that would happen. What you. 197 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:26,850 Would see is an Angel. Of death. 198 00:10:26,900 --> 00:10:29,670 Standing on the right hand. Side of the altar. 199 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,110 That was what the legend said. So Zechariah is going in. 200 00:10:33,180 --> 00:10:35,340 If he has got. This rope on his leg he goes in 201 00:10:35,350 --> 00:10:39,290 does the incense and then you're always wary to like keep aware 202 00:10:39,300 --> 00:10:41,270 of the things that are happening on the right hand side of the 203 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:44,010 altar. So what was that Chris boomed 204 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:47,040 the incense we see in verse 10 it says and the. 205 00:10:47,050 --> 00:10:50,420 Whole multitude of the people. We're praying outside at the 206 00:10:50,430 --> 00:10:53,630 hour of incidents now. This is really good symbolism. 207 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:56,370 So at the time that he would do this and the smoke. 208 00:10:56,380 --> 00:10:58,640 Would go through it represented. And that's. 209 00:10:58,650 --> 00:11:01,150 What the people did as. Outside of the temple they would 210 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,450 be praying to the Lord at the same time and the symbolism of 211 00:11:04,460 --> 00:11:06,840 the smoke going into the presence of the Lord. 212 00:11:07,170 --> 00:11:09,190 The idea was that the people would also. 213 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,260 Be praying and. Their prayers would reach 214 00:11:11,270 --> 00:11:14,380 through to who God. Is but what is also interesting, 215 00:11:14,390 --> 00:11:17,490 it was done twice a day. Now you can see why guys like 216 00:11:17,500 --> 00:11:19,480 Daniel prayed at the times they did. 217 00:11:19,550 --> 00:11:22,430 One in the morning, one in the evening, but it's ties. 218 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:25,940 In with these two sacrifices. Daniel was even more than that. 219 00:11:25,950 --> 00:11:27,840 He would pray also in the middle of the day. 220 00:11:27,890 --> 00:11:29,740 And that's just another, really. Clear. 221 00:11:29,750 --> 00:11:32,440 Or good way to think? What your prayer life is like. 222 00:11:32,550 --> 00:11:34,640 This is what they did. At the time. 223 00:11:34,790 --> 00:11:36,420 Of just before Jesus. Was coming. 224 00:11:36,430 --> 00:11:39,590 It was this tradition was to pray three times a day and it's 225 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:40,980 just a good thing for us to think of. 226 00:11:40,990 --> 00:11:43,820 We think of prayer. We often just think of praying, 227 00:11:44,010 --> 00:11:47,280 but do you set aside like special times during the day to 228 00:11:47,330 --> 00:11:50,500 to commit to the law just to check in with them as they did 229 00:11:50,510 --> 00:11:53,410 in the ceremonies that we're we're going back then. 230 00:11:53,890 --> 00:11:56,600 So and verse 10 again though, the praying is the people were 231 00:11:56,610 --> 00:11:59,520 outside of the ancients. And then versus 11, we start 232 00:11:59,530 --> 00:12:05,430 seeing this verse 11 and there appeared to him an Angel. 233 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,610 Of the Lord. Standing on the right side of 234 00:12:08,620 --> 00:12:13,380 the altar, what's he going to think if you know the legend and 235 00:12:13,390 --> 00:12:14,800 if the legend is true and especially. 236 00:12:14,810 --> 00:12:18,240 If you have a rope. Tied on your leg and you go 237 00:12:18,250 --> 00:12:20,410 there and then all of a sudden on the right hand side of the 238 00:12:20,420 --> 00:12:22,050 altar, you see the Angel of Death. 239 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,210 Well, you're not gonna. Be too like yeah. 240 00:12:25,220 --> 00:12:29,110 You're gonna know what what the the legend says, but however 241 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:31,390 we'll see what he actually what happens. 242 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:34,020 To Zaki say how will. Zakari respond and verse 12. 243 00:12:34,770 --> 00:12:40,640 And say Zechariah was troubled, That's a really polite way of 244 00:12:40,650 --> 00:12:45,530 saying Zachariah was. Now whatever words came into 245 00:12:45,540 --> 00:12:49,390 your head, shame on you because that's not hell. 246 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:52,970 Zakari responded the way Zechariah responded because. 247 00:12:52,980 --> 00:12:56,660 He's righteous and because he's good, it just troubled him. 248 00:12:57,230 --> 00:13:00,840 But whatever you thought of, yeah was probably more to the 249 00:13:00,850 --> 00:13:01,600 case. Of things. 250 00:13:01,610 --> 00:13:04,420 That you would have thought. If that actually happened, so 251 00:13:04,430 --> 00:13:07,340 troublesome and then. It says that spear. 252 00:13:07,350 --> 00:13:10,370 Fell upon him. However, the message of the 253 00:13:10,380 --> 00:13:14,040 Angel that he's thinking maybe even of death hasn't come to 254 00:13:14,050 --> 00:13:16,540 give judgement and death, but he's actually talking to him 255 00:13:16,550 --> 00:13:20,470 about blessing and new life. It's actually the opposite of 256 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:22,650 the the. Legion or the tradition. 257 00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:26,230 So I'm verse 13. We see these at the verse that 258 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,190 says. But the Angel said to him, do 259 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,470 not. Be afraid, Zechariah, for your 260 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:33,570 prayer has been heard. We don't have in this. 261 00:13:33,580 --> 00:13:36,210 Part of the passage the the record of what's. 262 00:13:36,220 --> 00:13:39,250 Zachariah was praying. But because of the result. 263 00:13:39,260 --> 00:13:41,810 Of what we're going to see, it's not that he's actually doesn't 264 00:13:41,820 --> 00:13:45,470 look like he's actually praying for an ear for himself, but what 265 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,990 it may be that he's praying for his wife. 266 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:51,630 His wife is Baron and his we'll see later on she's. 267 00:13:51,700 --> 00:13:54,060 Like it's a it's a bit. Of a shame to her. 268 00:13:54,900 --> 00:13:57,970 So as it's going on, he may have been praying at the same time 269 00:13:57,980 --> 00:14:01,590 for his wife, and asking for the favour of the Lord upon her. 270 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:03,570 And the reason I say. That is, if we keep. 271 00:14:03,580 --> 00:14:06,200 Reading the way that Angel's gonna answer the prayer is not. 272 00:14:06,210 --> 00:14:10,410 Going to be like Zechariah's. But it's going to come across in 273 00:14:10,420 --> 00:14:13,130 the way that he'll speak. Maybe for Elizabeth, your prayer 274 00:14:13,140 --> 00:14:17,430 has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will be your son and 275 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,900 you will call his name John. Now I just want you to pick up 276 00:14:20,910 --> 00:14:22,100 on that. We're going to highlight this as 277 00:14:22,110 --> 00:14:24,360 we get to the end. But why would God? 278 00:14:24,370 --> 00:14:27,660 Call his name John, or especially the Angel he's 279 00:14:27,670 --> 00:14:29,480 calling. Whenever God gives someone a 280 00:14:29,490 --> 00:14:31,630 name. It's hugely significant in the 281 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,190 Bible. It's not just a random I like 282 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,020 the name of, It's hugely significant. 283 00:14:37,090 --> 00:14:40,630 What is the meaning of John verse 14? 284 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:44,650 It says and you will have joy as talking to Zachariah and 285 00:14:44,660 --> 00:14:47,970 gladness and many. Will rejoice at his birth. 286 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:52,850 John's name doesn't mean to have joy, it doesn't mean to rejoice, 287 00:14:53,180 --> 00:14:54,720 and it doesn't mean to have gladness. 288 00:14:54,730 --> 00:14:56,570 And none of those things is the meaning of John. 289 00:14:56,740 --> 00:14:58,310 That will. Be the response of the. 290 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,800 Parents. But it's not the meaning of 291 00:15:00,810 --> 00:15:03,020 John. And so it's an interesting what 292 00:15:03,030 --> 00:15:06,140 what is why we given him this name And we'll we'll carry on, 293 00:15:06,150 --> 00:15:08,280 but it'll make sense hopefully in a few minutes. 294 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:13,150 So then following on from here, we look at the in a few verses 295 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:16,310 the angels gone into real. Reveal to Zachariah. 296 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,530 Certain things about the sun that he's gonna father so five 297 00:15:20,540 --> 00:15:24,470 times so inverses the next few verses from 15 to 17. 298 00:15:25,670 --> 00:15:28,380 The Angel is gonna say he will or your entitled as well. 299 00:15:28,390 --> 00:15:30,960 You'll see he must, he will, he must. 300 00:15:31,170 --> 00:15:34,570 And then it's going to conclude in verse 17 with the purpose of 301 00:15:34,580 --> 00:15:37,190 why John the Baptist is coming. And so we'll have a look at 302 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:41,360 those in these next few verses. So in verse 15 we have the first 303 00:15:41,430 --> 00:15:44,360 He will. It says he will be great before 304 00:15:44,370 --> 00:15:46,710 the Lord. Now that's something every 305 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:48,410 parent. Would love to hear that God 306 00:15:48,420 --> 00:15:51,330 would say to us that the child would be great. 307 00:15:51,340 --> 00:15:52,520 So that's. The first thing that. 308 00:15:52,530 --> 00:15:54,950 Zechariah here is. This one, John is gonna. 309 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,710 Be great before. The the Lord the second He well 310 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:02,190 has also invested 15. It says he must not drink wine 311 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:06,050 or strong drink. John is gonna be a Nazarite from 312 00:16:06,060 --> 00:16:08,450 Booth. That's the significance. 313 00:16:08,460 --> 00:16:11,110 Of what it actually is. The Nazarite vow was usually a 314 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:13,890 voluntary 1 where someone would. Dedicate their lives to the. 315 00:16:13,900 --> 00:16:16,910 Lord, and it would usually be done on a voluntary basis. 316 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:20,130 Only two people that I can think of and the Old Testament were 317 00:16:20,140 --> 00:16:25,520 ever called to be Nazarites from birth. 1 is Sampson and the 318 00:16:25,530 --> 00:16:28,670 other one is Samuel. Both of those. 319 00:16:28,740 --> 00:16:31,990 And what's interesting about Samuel that is that his mother, 320 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:36,020 Hannah, was also unable to conceive, if you remember. 321 00:16:36,030 --> 00:16:37,380 The story She would go there and she. 322 00:16:37,390 --> 00:16:41,080 Would pray at the temple and then the. 323 00:16:41,210 --> 00:16:44,020 Eli is the high priest. Of the time and then he would 324 00:16:44,030 --> 00:16:45,670 say to. Her what? 325 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:47,800 Whatever. You're praying, I pray that God 326 00:16:47,810 --> 00:16:50,280 would grant you the praise of your heart. 327 00:16:50,510 --> 00:16:53,500 And then she does conceive and she dedicates. 328 00:16:53,510 --> 00:16:55,880 He becomes the idea of the Nazarite. 329 00:16:55,890 --> 00:16:58,010 Val becomes dedicated to the Lord. 330 00:16:58,290 --> 00:17:02,080 And now John the Baptist is the third person appointed to be a 331 00:17:02,090 --> 00:17:05,520 Nazarite from his birth. And that's why he's not to drink 332 00:17:05,530 --> 00:17:09,859 any strong drink or wine. In fact, they they abstained 333 00:17:09,869 --> 00:17:13,170 Nazarov Val abstained from anything from the grape and then 334 00:17:13,180 --> 00:17:14,170 you also. Look at the other 335 00:17:14,180 --> 00:17:16,650 characteristics. Of John and it definitely. 336 00:17:16,660 --> 00:17:19,119 Looks like he's. Following the Nazarite vowels, 337 00:17:19,890 --> 00:17:24,480 the next he will also on 15 it says that he is going to. 338 00:17:24,490 --> 00:17:28,069 Be filled with the Holy. Spirit, even from his mother's 339 00:17:28,079 --> 00:17:30,520 womb. Now we're getting a little bit 340 00:17:30,530 --> 00:17:32,540 closer to the meaning of his name. 341 00:17:32,770 --> 00:17:34,970 He's gonna be. Filled with the Holy Spirit. 342 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:40,150 From inside the womb and so we it's an interesting way that 343 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:44,750 it's saying they're 16 has the next he will and it's actually 344 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:45,990 going to be his. Task. 345 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,870 And it says he will turn many of the children of Israel. 346 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:52,930 To the Lord, to their. God now he's gonna start a 347 00:17:52,940 --> 00:17:55,500 repentance movement as we come in the next few weeks, you're 348 00:17:55,510 --> 00:17:58,590 gonna see him starting. This, this idea of people, the 349 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,210 Jewish people. Turning from their sin by the 350 00:18:01,220 --> 00:18:05,170 means of repentance and the preaching of John, and then. 351 00:18:05,180 --> 00:18:10,090 Lastly, the last he. Was in this first part of 17 and 352 00:18:10,100 --> 00:18:11,250 it says. He will go. 353 00:18:11,260 --> 00:18:14,930 Before him and the spirit and the power of Elijah to turn the 354 00:18:14,940 --> 00:18:18,550 hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to 355 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:22,310 the wisdom of the just. So in some respect he's going to 356 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:24,800 go in the spirit of Elijah. What does that mean? 357 00:18:24,810 --> 00:18:26,050 That he's going to go in the spirit? 358 00:18:26,060 --> 00:18:28,590 Of Elijah Elijah is a. Prophet from the Old Testament 359 00:18:28,900 --> 00:18:31,890 and then in that you can see what he did in the Old 360 00:18:31,900 --> 00:18:35,760 Testament, but there's more of a correlation and that the key. 361 00:18:35,770 --> 00:18:38,120 Is is there's two other. Prophecies in the Old Testament 362 00:18:38,130 --> 00:18:41,240 that talks about John the. Baptist, so Isaiah 40 talks 363 00:18:41,250 --> 00:18:43,210 about. This forerunner that would come 364 00:18:44,070 --> 00:18:47,260 which is identifying John the Baptist, but there's another one 365 00:18:47,270 --> 00:18:50,860 and Malachi chapter 3 verse one. Which also talks about the. 366 00:18:50,870 --> 00:18:55,140 Forerunner The problem with Malachi is that in Malachi 3 367 00:18:55,150 --> 00:18:57,440 verse one it talks about John the Baptist as being the 368 00:18:57,450 --> 00:19:01,060 forerunner but in chapter 4 of Malachi it. 369 00:19:01,070 --> 00:19:03,300 Also says before the Lord's. Coming it's. 370 00:19:03,310 --> 00:19:07,060 Malachi 4-5 it. Says before that happens, Elijah 371 00:19:07,070 --> 00:19:08,720 is coming. So what? 372 00:19:08,730 --> 00:19:10,520 The Jewish people. Have done and it's still. 373 00:19:10,530 --> 00:19:12,420 What they? Do today do you know the Jewish 374 00:19:12,430 --> 00:19:14,960 people and the frame of reference that always expecting 375 00:19:14,970 --> 00:19:18,570 to see Elijah before the Messiah comes? 376 00:19:18,810 --> 00:19:21,140 And it's still today. If you know the Passover meal, 377 00:19:21,190 --> 00:19:24,070 you know the last cup. It's the Cup of Elijah. 378 00:19:24,170 --> 00:19:27,080 But still expecting that. And the reason they expect that 379 00:19:27,090 --> 00:19:30,350 even from the Old Testament is that they've taken one verse. 380 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:33,830 Malachi, 31, seen Elijah's name and. 381 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,650 Malachi 4, verse 5. And gone the one that comes as. 382 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:40,850 Elijah OK, so that's why they have that. 383 00:19:40,940 --> 00:19:43,190 It is. True that Elijah's coming again, 384 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:47,170 but not at this time. He is coming before the second 385 00:19:47,180 --> 00:19:50,590 time that the Lord Jesus comes. But that's how they've made the 386 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,950 correlation between what some Malachi 3124 and they're saying 387 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,370 Elijah comes. This is why the angels sang 388 00:19:57,380 --> 00:19:59,670 this. He says he will go. 389 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,830 Before him in the spirit and the power of Elijah. 390 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:05,610 Their understanding is that Elijah comes first. 391 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:07,530 But the actual key? Verse is actually. 392 00:20:07,540 --> 00:20:11,270 Speaking not of Elijah and this instance, it's Speaking of John 393 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:15,930 both in Isaiah chapter 40 and in Malachi chapter 3. 394 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:17,850 And then next we're going to see. 395 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:19,150 His purpose? What is the? 396 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:22,390 Purpose of John John the Baptist, and that's in the last 397 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:26,630 part of verse 17 and it just says to make ready. 398 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,050 For the Lord of people prepared so. 399 00:20:29,060 --> 00:20:31,270 That the purpose of John's task is going to. 400 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:32,970 Be to have a group of people that would be. 401 00:20:32,980 --> 00:20:37,080 Repentant and they're ready to believe on the Messiah once he's 402 00:20:37,090 --> 00:20:40,230 identified, that's what. His purpose is. 403 00:20:40,540 --> 00:20:42,890 So after being told. All this good news, you've got 404 00:20:42,900 --> 00:20:44,310 the five. What he's going to do? 405 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:46,770 His task, His purpose? How? 406 00:20:46,780 --> 00:20:50,170 Is Zechariah going to be respond from all that news? 407 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:54,830 Well, that's what we read in the next first and verse 18 it says, 408 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,330 and Zechariah said to the Lord, how shall I know this? 409 00:20:58,660 --> 00:21:02,490 For I am an old man and my wife has advanced in years. 410 00:21:02,780 --> 00:21:07,190 And the angels said, answered him and said, I am Gabriel. 411 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:10,530 Now we're introduced to the name of the Angel that's been 412 00:21:10,540 --> 00:21:13,190 speaking to him. But why would he put? 413 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:18,830 His name now, like he's saying, Zachary's asking you a question 414 00:21:19,060 --> 00:21:22,270 and then the answer to the question is I am Gabriel. 415 00:21:22,970 --> 00:21:24,310 Why? Like what is what's? 416 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:28,200 The purpose of saying your name. Well give Gabriel was 2 parts of 417 00:21:28,210 --> 00:21:31,020 Hebrew, so give her our. Give her means man, and all is 418 00:21:31,030 --> 00:21:34,500 the shortened form for God. So give our means the man. 419 00:21:34,570 --> 00:21:37,680 Of God, that's the way. We translate it into the the 420 00:21:37,690 --> 00:21:40,660 English, but that's the meaning of his name. 421 00:21:40,670 --> 00:21:43,090 Now watch what he says next, which will actually expand and 422 00:21:43,100 --> 00:21:48,050 he actually says his name. So I'm Gabriel, I stand in the 423 00:21:48,060 --> 00:21:52,770 presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you to bring this 424 00:21:52,780 --> 00:21:55,510 good news. That's the meaning of his name. 425 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:57,470 Gabriel's. Position is that he stands in 426 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:01,510 the presence of God and at certain times God will speak to 427 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,830 Gabriel and then his message all that's the meaning of his name. 428 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:09,550 His he goes to man to deliver the message that's from God and 429 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:13,740 we see him often in the Bible because that's his primary role. 430 00:22:14,470 --> 00:22:17,370 What's the meaning of his name? And that's why we will see him 431 00:22:17,420 --> 00:22:20,210 throughout the Bible and the reason for it. 432 00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:21,870 And then he says. Yeah, that's. 433 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:24,010 Where I stand, I stand in God's presence. 434 00:22:24,060 --> 00:22:28,750 Now what we also see in verse 20, it says and behold, you will 435 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:31,530 be silent. Ohh sorry, carry on from where I 436 00:22:31,540 --> 00:22:34,290 said I am Gabriel. He said, I stand in the presence 437 00:22:34,300 --> 00:22:37,190 of God and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this 438 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:39,730 good news. And behold, you will be silent 439 00:22:39,740 --> 00:22:43,790 and unable to speak until the day that these things take 440 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:45,890 place, because you did not believe my. 441 00:22:45,900 --> 00:22:48,580 Words which were. Fulfilled in their time, which 442 00:22:48,590 --> 00:22:52,370 will be fulfilled in their time. O what looks like Zechariah's 443 00:22:52,380 --> 00:22:54,870 question in verse 18 that says how will I know this? 444 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:56,540 It seems like a genuine question. 445 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:00,410 It's not actually a question. It's Zachary's expression of his 446 00:23:00,420 --> 00:23:03,490 unbelief. Because the Angel says because 447 00:23:03,500 --> 00:23:07,350 you spoke and unbelief and you responded that Zacharias would 448 00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:10,800 now no longer speak until the birth of his son and the 449 00:23:10,810 --> 00:23:14,230 fulfilment of the promise. Now we're getting even closer to 450 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:18,180 the meaning of John's name. Something to do with all this 451 00:23:18,190 --> 00:23:20,930 waiting for the promise of the fulfilment. 452 00:23:22,090 --> 00:23:24,620 Yeah, so we we get. Closer to that now, because the 453 00:23:24,630 --> 00:23:27,740 conversation with the Angel had taken so long. 454 00:23:27,830 --> 00:23:30,660 That people outside would have. Started thinking ohh like what's 455 00:23:30,670 --> 00:23:33,020 what's actually become of security? 456 00:23:33,030 --> 00:23:34,660 And that's what we see in the next verse. 457 00:23:35,090 --> 00:23:38,650 So in the next verse. It says. 458 00:23:38,660 --> 00:23:41,980 Verse 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah and they 459 00:23:41,990 --> 00:23:44,370 were wondering at his delay in the temple. 460 00:23:45,030 --> 00:23:49,060 So this point you start going. What are we do with the rope? 461 00:23:49,210 --> 00:23:52,750 So if he has this rope. And he's taking a delay. 462 00:23:53,450 --> 00:23:56,440 There's an Angel standing at the right hand side of the altar. 463 00:23:56,450 --> 00:23:59,180 That's the reason nobody wants to go into the Holy place, 464 00:23:59,370 --> 00:24:01,240 especially when you see an Angel of death. 465 00:24:01,370 --> 00:24:03,180 So the idea is that's the the thought. 466 00:24:03,190 --> 00:24:05,130 Of the legend. And so they've got the rope, I 467 00:24:05,140 --> 00:24:06,900 don't know how many. What do you do in there? 468 00:24:06,950 --> 00:24:09,620 Maybe like a diver, you start giving it A tag or flicking it. 469 00:24:09,630 --> 00:24:11,400 I don't know what you do, but you're trying to reference 470 00:24:11,410 --> 00:24:13,860 something to say. Zechariah, what's going on with 471 00:24:13,870 --> 00:24:14,820 you? Are you still? 472 00:24:14,830 --> 00:24:16,720 There sort of thing. Well, verse 20. 473 00:24:16,730 --> 00:24:20,140 Two, we actually see. It says and when he came out, so 474 00:24:20,150 --> 00:24:22,760 that's the good news. And when he came out, he was 475 00:24:22,770 --> 00:24:26,680 unable to speak to them and they realised that they had seen a 476 00:24:26,690 --> 00:24:29,520 vision in the temple. And he kept making signs for 477 00:24:29,530 --> 00:24:33,550 them and they remained mute. And when his time of service was 478 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:37,450 ended, he went to his home. Now there's another Jewish 479 00:24:37,460 --> 00:24:41,470 legion that says that Zechariah. Was a real talker. 480 00:24:41,580 --> 00:24:47,170 He was a babbler, he never was quiet and he talked so much that 481 00:24:47,260 --> 00:24:49,990 like no matter what, whoever came around to his place or 482 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,320 whoever was there, he would just talk so much. 483 00:24:52,330 --> 00:24:54,100 They were just annoy the ears of everyone. 484 00:24:55,140 --> 00:24:59,050 Well, for the first time. Elizabeth could relax. 485 00:25:00,190 --> 00:25:03,200 So after all this time, he talked so much there for the 486 00:25:03,210 --> 00:25:05,550 first time. Because he's now mute, he's no 487 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:07,640 longer able. To speak, Elizabeth. 488 00:25:07,770 --> 00:25:14,050 Relaxes, and then she conceives. No, that's not actually true. 489 00:25:14,060 --> 00:25:16,350 But not in the. It's not actually in the. 490 00:25:16,360 --> 00:25:18,390 Bible neither. Is it a Jewish legend? 491 00:25:18,580 --> 00:25:19,910 It's actually Jeff's. Legend. 492 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:21,680 So I'm trying to start up a new one. 493 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,410 But for whatever. Reason we're not told what that 494 00:25:24,420 --> 00:25:26,290 is. It's more obviously it's the 495 00:25:26,300 --> 00:25:29,430 miraculous, but for whatever happens, we read in the next 496 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:36,070 verse in 24 after these days Elizabeth conceived and for five 497 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:37,330 months. Ohh, sorry. 498 00:25:37,460 --> 00:25:40,790 Conceived and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 499 00:25:40,900 --> 00:25:44,750 Thus says the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on 500 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:47,870 me, to take away my reproach among people so. 501 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:49,430 She did have that representation of the. 502 00:25:49,500 --> 00:25:52,730 Reproach. But now she's pregnant, it's 503 00:25:52,740 --> 00:25:56,860 advanced in years, and now she's yeah able to give it. 504 00:25:56,870 --> 00:25:58,930 And they will. Absolutely rejoice. 505 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,780 So now I just wanted to focus in on something that I found really 506 00:26:01,790 --> 00:26:03,430 interesting, and that's this guy. 507 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:05,790 So again. If we go to Gabriel. 508 00:26:06,340 --> 00:26:10,150 That was quite easy. Give her our meaning, the man of 509 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:12,800 God, the connection between the one that stands in God's 510 00:26:12,810 --> 00:26:16,060 presence and goes to man. No problems, He's alright. 511 00:26:16,070 --> 00:26:19,120 We can deal with him. Now we're going to actually look 512 00:26:19,130 --> 00:26:23,680 at the name that he gives to John, which is John, sorry, not 513 00:26:23,690 --> 00:26:26,540 too John. So the name that he gives is 514 00:26:26,550 --> 00:26:29,430 going to be John. What does John mean? 515 00:26:29,810 --> 00:26:32,740 John's name is in Hebrew, Yochanan. 516 00:26:32,970 --> 00:26:34,970 Ya is the shortened form for God. 517 00:26:34,980 --> 00:26:38,460 Kanan means grace. So it's God is gracious. 518 00:26:38,750 --> 00:26:42,070 Now this this name troubled me for a long time. 519 00:26:42,270 --> 00:26:45,070 It really did like I. Just couldn't put together in 520 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,540 the real basic level I could understand that he was being. 521 00:26:47,550 --> 00:26:50,400 Gracious to Elizabeth. Because she wasn't able. 522 00:26:50,410 --> 00:26:53,280 To bear a child. And so I understand that like 523 00:26:53,290 --> 00:26:56,660 maybe that's the reason that. He was called God is gracious 524 00:26:56,670 --> 00:26:58,360 because of His grace to Elizabeth. 525 00:26:59,870 --> 00:27:02,320 But I think it's far more significant than that. 526 00:27:02,890 --> 00:27:05,320 And so we'll have a look at some of these things. 527 00:27:05,330 --> 00:27:07,240 But yeah, his name means God is gracious. 528 00:27:07,390 --> 00:27:10,080 I mean, you gotta think. God's not very gracious. 529 00:27:10,090 --> 00:27:13,320 To John and the fact that he will die at the same around the 530 00:27:13,330 --> 00:27:16,380 same age as Jesus, he doesn't get a long life. 531 00:27:16,390 --> 00:27:19,230 He's beheaded. And so God doesn't seem very 532 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:24,310 gracious in that respect to John, but even more so, He is 533 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:27,990 the one that it doesn't see the death and the resurrection of. 534 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:31,650 The Lord Jesus Christ O Axe chapter 2 is. 535 00:27:31,660 --> 00:27:33,220 The beginning of the Church. With the holy. 536 00:27:33,230 --> 00:27:37,350 Spirit and dwells the believer. You know John will not be part 537 00:27:37,360 --> 00:27:38,910 of that. That also. 538 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:41,590 Doesn't seem in my eyes that when we're looking at the. 539 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:44,290 Idea of grace. That he wouldn't be part of 540 00:27:44,300 --> 00:27:45,680 that. He would actually be part of the 541 00:27:45,690 --> 00:27:48,640 Old Testament Saints. And so why would God? 542 00:27:48,650 --> 00:27:51,880 Give him the name. He is God is gracious. 543 00:27:51,950 --> 00:27:52,900 And we could. We could. 544 00:27:52,910 --> 00:27:53,500 Use it. Really. 545 00:27:53,510 --> 00:27:55,900 Simplistically again and say, well, you could look at any 546 00:27:55,910 --> 00:27:58,160 period in time and God is gracious. 547 00:27:58,710 --> 00:28:01,200 But then it's very generic, and it's very. 548 00:28:01,210 --> 00:28:01,910 Just like. God. 549 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,220 God is gracious and we use that term all the time. 550 00:28:04,330 --> 00:28:06,860 You know, that's true. But when God gives the name, 551 00:28:06,870 --> 00:28:09,220 it's usually really definitive of why. 552 00:28:09,490 --> 00:28:11,340 So I just want to look at two other names. 553 00:28:11,350 --> 00:28:15,250 Before we go there, Zachariah is Arcadia, so Zahir. 554 00:28:15,260 --> 00:28:18,860 Is to remember Yas the sword and shorten against form of God. 555 00:28:18,910 --> 00:28:22,440 So Zaharia, it means that God remembers. 556 00:28:22,550 --> 00:28:25,680 And then the one I just wanna focus on now is Elizabeth, and 557 00:28:25,690 --> 00:28:28,720 Elizabeth is Ellie Shiva. So that's the Hebrew name. 558 00:28:28,790 --> 00:28:31,450 Ellie is again the shortened form for Elohim. 559 00:28:31,510 --> 00:28:35,020 Ali is God. Shiva means God's oath, so it 560 00:28:35,030 --> 00:28:37,520 means that's what the meaning of her name is. 561 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:41,050 Now she's advanced in years and we've already talked about 562 00:28:41,060 --> 00:28:43,680 Samuel. His mother was Hannah and she 563 00:28:43,690 --> 00:28:46,970 was also unable to conceive. And there are others in the. 564 00:28:46,980 --> 00:28:49,330 Bible like Elijah. That would go to a woman and 565 00:28:49,340 --> 00:28:52,390 then she would conceive. But can you think of another 566 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:56,940 woman in the Bible who was advanced in age that was no 567 00:28:56,950 --> 00:29:01,340 longer able to bear children? This is the case with Elizabeth. 568 00:29:01,730 --> 00:29:04,000 There is someone else in the Bible also. 569 00:29:04,070 --> 00:29:05,970 That has exactly. That same can you think of 570 00:29:05,980 --> 00:29:09,250 someone in the Bible where an Angel or God himself? 571 00:29:09,260 --> 00:29:11,860 Would go there. She would not be able to 572 00:29:11,870 --> 00:29:16,250 conceive, and then there would be a promise made, and that's 573 00:29:16,390 --> 00:29:19,960 this grouping of people, Abraham. 574 00:29:21,710 --> 00:29:25,720 Abraham is promised. That he would receive. 575 00:29:25,730 --> 00:29:29,860 These promises that the the and one of them is that he would 576 00:29:29,870 --> 00:29:32,600 have a a descendant from him who would start and there would be 577 00:29:32,610 --> 00:29:36,360 this Jewish nation. Well, Abraham actually at the 578 00:29:36,370 --> 00:29:39,070 time you know the famous first Abraham believes Gordon was 579 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:42,840 accounted term for righteousness that happens in Genesis chapter 580 00:29:42,850 --> 00:29:46,760 15 at the time of the covenant between God and Abraham. 581 00:29:47,050 --> 00:29:49,420 So Abraham has told that. He believes that he believes. 582 00:29:49,430 --> 00:29:51,600 That God's going to do what he's going to do. 583 00:29:51,810 --> 00:29:55,160 But as we carry on, it's taking a bit long. 584 00:29:55,470 --> 00:29:59,660 And so the idea is yes it. Says from Abraham so Sierra goes 585 00:29:59,830 --> 00:30:03,640 well I know what we can do we can my handmade she can also 586 00:30:03,650 --> 00:30:08,210 marry Abraham and then through Abraham it's and Abraham would 587 00:30:08,220 --> 00:30:09,870 have gone. Yes, God did promise that 588 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:11,580 through me. There would be a seed. 589 00:30:11,590 --> 00:30:14,750 That would come. And so that's the idea of Hagar. 590 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:17,640 Hagar will Mary Abraham, and they'll have a son called 591 00:30:17,650 --> 00:30:21,190 Ishmael, but he is not the one of promise. 592 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:24,570 And then what's even more interesting is that after that 593 00:30:24,580 --> 00:30:28,250 happens, Abraham and Syria, they will carry on and God will say 594 00:30:28,260 --> 00:30:31,820 it's not through Hagar and he says it's going to come through 595 00:30:31,830 --> 00:30:34,300 Sierra. And you know what happens in 596 00:30:34,310 --> 00:30:37,340 chapter, I think it's 17. I think it's the way it is in 597 00:30:37,350 --> 00:30:40,320 Genesis chapter 17. Abraham laughs. 598 00:30:40,750 --> 00:30:43,280 I know, if you remember that we always recognise that Syria 599 00:30:43,290 --> 00:30:45,780 laughed, but Abraham laughs first. 600 00:30:46,420 --> 00:30:49,030 He laughs. Even though he's told that, he 601 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:50,550 said it's not gonna come through. 602 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:53,470 Hagar, but he's got. But you promised me a seed, and 603 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:55,650 I've got one. It's not coming through, Hagar. 604 00:30:55,820 --> 00:30:58,220 And he laughed. Because it was told. 605 00:30:58,230 --> 00:31:00,570 That it was going to go through Sierra the next chapter, I think 606 00:31:00,580 --> 00:31:02,940 Genesis 18 as. We're Sarah also laughs. 607 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:06,330 And So what God? Does is he has the last laugh? 608 00:31:07,260 --> 00:31:09,410 And he names Isaac. Guess what? 609 00:31:09,420 --> 00:31:11,950 That Yitzhak. The meaning of Yitzhak is 610 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:15,110 laughter. That's why Isaac's name. 611 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:18,610 Is what it is. His name means laughter, and 612 00:31:18,620 --> 00:31:20,530 it's exactly the same. And that's the connection. 613 00:31:20,540 --> 00:31:21,710 Now you can. See why he was called. 614 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:23,770 That both of them laughed, and God. 615 00:31:23,780 --> 00:31:26,670 Has the last laugh. And he says your son will be 616 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:28,410 called. And again, it's the same 617 00:31:28,420 --> 00:31:30,270 instance like what happened to Elizabeth. 618 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:32,410 It's not that they're naming Isaac. 619 00:31:32,420 --> 00:31:34,590 It's not Abraham and Sarah doing this. 620 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:38,390 It's actually God's saying that, just like what we're seeing with 621 00:31:38,460 --> 00:31:42,290 what God's doing with Elizabeth. Okay, so that's really good. 622 00:31:42,980 --> 00:31:45,680 But then we've got Abraham. He has his son and his son's 623 00:31:45,690 --> 00:31:49,480 name is Isaac. But Isaac, his wife Rebecca. 624 00:31:49,490 --> 00:31:54,520 Is also unable to conceive now. Isaac will pray for Rebecca. 625 00:31:54,780 --> 00:31:59,090 And it'll be 20 years that she's barren, she is unable to give 626 00:31:59,100 --> 00:32:02,280 birth, and then she will give birth. 627 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:05,720 But what's even more interesting is that Rebecca also has two 628 00:32:05,730 --> 00:32:08,590 sons, but they're not too different. 629 00:32:08,780 --> 00:32:12,440 Or Isaac will have two. Sons with Rebecca, but they're 630 00:32:12,450 --> 00:32:13,960 not going to be from different woman. 631 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:16,820 They're from the same one. In fact they're twins. 632 00:32:17,230 --> 00:32:21,160 It's Esau and Jacob, so from the same bloodline. 633 00:32:21,410 --> 00:32:25,640 But God will only pick one son to be the Son of promise, which 634 00:32:25,650 --> 00:32:27,200 is going to. Be Jacob. 635 00:32:28,340 --> 00:32:30,750 K. So even though it's the same 636 00:32:30,860 --> 00:32:34,250 woman twins, only one son has chosen. 637 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:38,780 And then we get to Jacob. Now, Jacob, Well, he'll have. 4 638 00:32:38,790 --> 00:32:41,040 wives. The first one is Leah. 639 00:32:41,850 --> 00:32:44,020 Then he has. Mary's Rachel. 640 00:32:44,370 --> 00:32:46,760 Rachel is. Baron, another one that's not 641 00:32:46,770 --> 00:32:51,310 able to conceive and so they think something similar along 642 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:52,880 the lines. Of what, Sarah? 643 00:32:52,890 --> 00:32:56,840 Did and they give their ones that were soothing them also to 644 00:32:56,850 --> 00:33:03,260 marry Jacob so Jacobins up with Leah, Zulfa, Bila and then. 645 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:05,650 Rachel was also the other. Wife. 646 00:33:05,660 --> 00:33:11,250 That's of Jacob and she's unable to conceive, but again through 647 00:33:11,300 --> 00:33:16,230 praying and will at the time. Then finally Jacob Rachel will 648 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:18,350 conceive now if I was to. Ask you. 649 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,110 Who is the mother of Israel? When you see it in the Bible 650 00:33:22,070 --> 00:33:24,580 now, you might remember from certain verses. 651 00:33:24,970 --> 00:33:28,640 Or if you were. Asking a Jewish audience who is 652 00:33:28,650 --> 00:33:31,720 the mother of Israel, they're always gonna say. 653 00:33:31,770 --> 00:33:35,040 They're gonna say Rachel. They don't say Sierra. 654 00:33:35,700 --> 00:33:37,810 They don't say Rebecca. Why? 655 00:33:38,100 --> 00:33:41,160 Why do you say Rachel? Because she. 656 00:33:41,170 --> 00:33:43,660 Is the last one that starts it off. 657 00:33:43,730 --> 00:33:47,330 Every son of Jacob. Is part of the Jewish nation. 658 00:33:48,580 --> 00:33:50,590 Abraham has two sons. Only one will be. 659 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:55,850 Chosen Isaac has 2. Sons only one has chosen at the 660 00:33:55,860 --> 00:34:00,430 conclusion of Rachel with the last two sons, all of them the 661 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:02,970 descendants from. Rachel are Jewish. 662 00:34:03,650 --> 00:34:07,560 And this is the point. God made a promise to Abraham, 663 00:34:07,630 --> 00:34:10,800 and he was absolutely. Faithful, but it took. 664 00:34:10,870 --> 00:34:13,480 A few generations for it to see its fruition. 665 00:34:14,639 --> 00:34:17,550 Sierra didn't see it, so she. Wasn't sure what to do. 666 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:23,110 Rebecca also with the the. Delay in the 20 years and also 667 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:25,230 with. Rachel, there was this whole. 668 00:34:25,239 --> 00:34:26,850 Delay. And that's the thing if you ever 669 00:34:26,860 --> 00:34:28,150 wondered. Why God says He's the. 670 00:34:28,159 --> 00:34:32,540 God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It's because you need the three 671 00:34:32,670 --> 00:34:34,480 to connect you to the promises of. 672 00:34:34,489 --> 00:34:37,000 God for it to see. It start working. 673 00:34:37,050 --> 00:34:40,270 It's not just in the Abraham, he's the promises to Abraham, 674 00:34:41,010 --> 00:34:44,280 but then it's not fulfilled until we get to Jacob and 675 00:34:44,290 --> 00:34:45,760 that's. Why those three are so? 676 00:34:45,770 --> 00:34:48,179 Connected and the way that it works and the intertwining of 677 00:34:48,190 --> 00:34:50,739 them. And so also there's many verses 678 00:34:50,750 --> 00:34:52,639 that are given there. I'm just going to go to one. 679 00:34:52,690 --> 00:34:55,500 We don't have time, but one of the verses that are given to 680 00:34:55,590 --> 00:35:01,190 Abraham is this Genesis 12 three, and this still stands 681 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:04,530 today if the Abrahamic covenant is still standing today. 682 00:35:04,820 --> 00:35:07,890 It says I will bless those, they'll bless you. 683 00:35:08,830 --> 00:35:12,280 And in him who dishonours. You I will curse. 684 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:17,160 And end use shall all of the nations of. 685 00:35:17,170 --> 00:35:20,750 The earth be blessed. This is the promise that 686 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:23,730 everyone was waiting for, the anointed One, the promise of the 687 00:35:23,740 --> 00:35:26,790 Messiah. When will this take place? 688 00:35:27,910 --> 00:35:30,320 It's been such a long time for. Sarah to give birth. 689 00:35:30,330 --> 00:35:33,460 Such a long time for Rebecca such does God ever keep his 690 00:35:33,470 --> 00:35:35,920 promises? Does God? 691 00:35:35,930 --> 00:35:37,540 Does he faithful to the things that he? 692 00:35:37,550 --> 00:35:41,310 Says. And then we come back to just 693 00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:44,800 tying it up into the meanings of their names. 694 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:49,930 Zechariah means, God remembers. Elizabeth means. 695 00:35:49,940 --> 00:35:53,410 God's Oath. And John means God. 696 00:35:53,420 --> 00:35:56,200 Is gracious, so just by. Chance will not change it, but 697 00:35:56,210 --> 00:35:59,650 just putting it in God remembers. 698 00:35:59,690 --> 00:36:05,000 His oath, for he is gracious. That's the point of John the 699 00:36:05,010 --> 00:36:07,680 Baptist. God is coming, not. 700 00:36:07,690 --> 00:36:09,900 Because of it, but. He's what he's wanting to do is 701 00:36:09,910 --> 00:36:13,900 start the promises that we're way back in Abraham's time and 702 00:36:13,910 --> 00:36:16,300 all the way through everybody saying we want the Messiah to 703 00:36:16,310 --> 00:36:19,460 come, but he's not coming. And they have all these 704 00:36:19,470 --> 00:36:22,460 different means and we do all lots of things to try and hurry 705 00:36:22,470 --> 00:36:25,540 up the plan of God or do it rather than just trust in his 706 00:36:25,550 --> 00:36:29,790 word. And but God is he does remember. 707 00:36:29,980 --> 00:36:31,670 He remembers the promises that he. 708 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:36,670 Makes because he is gracious. And I think that's why we even 709 00:36:36,680 --> 00:36:38,970 see that Zachariah and Elizabeth and why they're. 710 00:36:38,980 --> 00:36:42,290 The focus of this part of the. Passage is to remind us. 711 00:36:42,410 --> 00:36:45,360 That they were right and. Blameless in front of God, it's 712 00:36:45,370 --> 00:36:46,090 the. Package of the. 713 00:36:46,100 --> 00:36:47,890 Three of them. He's using them as a as a. 714 00:36:47,900 --> 00:36:50,530 Picture like a typology to show us that. 715 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:54,370 He is gracious and now is the one that's coming. 716 00:36:54,380 --> 00:36:57,820 It's not John the Baptist, he's the Forerunner. 717 00:36:58,240 --> 00:37:02,450 But because God remembers his promises and he's gracious, he 718 00:37:02,460 --> 00:37:07,080 sent the Forerunner, which will then herald in for next week the 719 00:37:07,090 --> 00:37:10,020 one that we're waiting for. And I think that's the 720 00:37:10,030 --> 00:37:12,280 significance. Of the passage that we. 721 00:37:12,290 --> 00:37:14,340 Have and I think. It's really good for. 722 00:37:14,350 --> 00:37:17,540 Us to to think whatever you think on things that are still 723 00:37:17,550 --> 00:37:20,860 to come. Don't think of concepts or what 724 00:37:20,870 --> 00:37:24,960 people think or what this family said or what this one know. 725 00:37:24,970 --> 00:37:27,320 What you believe because the tick says it. 726 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:33,400 Trust in the promises of God, not in the thoughts of man or in 727 00:37:33,410 --> 00:37:35,210 the. The groupings of this group says 728 00:37:35,220 --> 00:37:36,290 this. This group says. 729 00:37:36,300 --> 00:37:39,550 That it's a major problem. We've gotta. 730 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:43,370 Trust in the promises of God. Just see what he says and. 731 00:37:43,380 --> 00:37:45,610 See what you can say. Why you believe what you 732 00:37:45,620 --> 00:37:49,070 believe? Just like this from the text, no 733 00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:50,830 other trains of. Thought what does it say? 734 00:37:50,940 --> 00:37:54,550 Those things are great to help us think about text, but you 735 00:37:54,560 --> 00:37:56,170 know when you stand before God, it's going to be. 736 00:37:56,180 --> 00:37:57,770 Like, why do you believe what you believe? 737 00:37:57,780 --> 00:37:59,270 And you can't. Say ohh, Jeff said this. 738 00:37:59,280 --> 00:38:01,720 Or someone else said that or it's going to. 739 00:38:01,730 --> 00:38:04,990 Be What do you believe? The tick says, and that's why 740 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:07,470 it's so important that we actually just remember what God 741 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:09,850 says. God is faithful to his promises. 742 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:12,850 We might not always get it right on how he's going to work that 743 00:38:12,860 --> 00:38:14,450 out. We might try to hurry up God 744 00:38:14,460 --> 00:38:17,090 sometimes. We might try to intervene on 745 00:38:17,100 --> 00:38:20,800 God's behalf sometimes. But God is absolutely. 746 00:38:20,810 --> 00:38:23,760 Perfect in his promises and it's really good for us just to 747 00:38:23,770 --> 00:38:25,260 remember that as we start going through. 748 00:38:25,270 --> 00:38:27,740 Luke God is faithful. He's just. 749 00:38:27,790 --> 00:38:31,180 And he'll keep it exactly the way that he will say it will be. 750 00:38:31,370 --> 00:38:33,920 It's close. And for you, Father, we just 751 00:38:33,930 --> 00:38:36,800 thank you for the yeah, the privilege again to to come into 752 00:38:36,810 --> 00:38:38,340 your word. We thank you for. 753 00:38:38,710 --> 00:38:41,600 The text that's before us. But most of all, Lord, we thank 754 00:38:41,610 --> 00:38:44,200 you for your promises. Lord, we thank you for the 755 00:38:44,210 --> 00:38:46,250 promises that we have that you promised us. 756 00:38:46,260 --> 00:38:48,730 You journal life that you promised us. 757 00:38:48,740 --> 00:38:50,690 The indwelling of your Holy Spirit we thank. 758 00:38:50,700 --> 00:38:55,200 You for Lord, just you're. So many blessings and the things 759 00:38:55,210 --> 00:38:57,450 that you have promised and you are faithful. 760 00:38:57,460 --> 00:38:59,920 To keep them Lord. We're sorry for the things that 761 00:38:59,930 --> 00:39:01,950 we do, Lord and we. Try to hurry up your. 762 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:04,130 Plans. Or we try to to. 763 00:39:04,140 --> 00:39:06,730 Reinvent it or try to do other things with them. 764 00:39:06,740 --> 00:39:09,950 Lord, I just pray that we might just really trust in your word 765 00:39:10,140 --> 00:39:13,110 and that we might just take a deep rooted understanding of the 766 00:39:13,120 --> 00:39:16,610 promises that you've given Lord, and that we can really trust on 767 00:39:16,620 --> 00:39:19,850 those because you are faithful. Lord, it might seem like a long 768 00:39:19,860 --> 00:39:23,190 time as Rachel, as Sarah. Would have waited, or Rebecca. 769 00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:25,830 Or Rachel would. But especially even for 770 00:39:25,840 --> 00:39:29,010 Elizabeth, the passage that we're in where she was waiting 771 00:39:29,210 --> 00:39:32,390 and Lord, you promised that at certain time the Messiah would 772 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:36,510 come and we just ready to see the next week. 773 00:39:36,520 --> 00:39:39,910 Lord, the promise of the one, the anointed one, the one that 774 00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:42,890 was always promised way back. Though as far as we. 775 00:39:42,900 --> 00:39:45,610 See in Genesis. So Lord, we just thank you, help 776 00:39:45,620 --> 00:39:48,260 us to trust in you, and we just. Thank you for all you. 777 00:39:48,270 --> 00:39:50,010 Give us in Jesus name I mean.