1 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,680 Open your Bibles to Luke chapter 1 as we head into Christmas, 2 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:17,360 before we get to Christmas, before Christ's birth, there are 3 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,360 some things that occurred in Luke chapter one that we want to 4 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:25,840 look at tonight. Christmas is is God's plan. 5 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,840 It's God's promise. You know when He promised 6 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:36,960 Christmas, Genesis chapter 3 that far back and actually the 7 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,320 Bible tells us even before that, before the foundations of the 8 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:42,960 earth were laid, Christmas was planned. 9 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:50,200 I love the precision that the Bible declares to us when Luke 10 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:54,920 chapter one that God has embedded into our lives. 11 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:03,040 Psalm 3723 says the Lord directs here this the steps of the 12 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,160 godly. You know we ask for the Lord God 13 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,360 our day, don't we? God our year, God our week. 14 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,840 Guess what, the Lord directs your steps. 15 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,840 He delights in every detail of their lives. 16 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:23,600 Psalm 3723, Psalm 139, that beautiful Psalm, verse 2, it 17 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:28,240 says, you know when I sit down or stand up, you know my 18 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:35,760 thoughts even when I'm far away. In Luke 12, seven, we're told 19 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:41,000 that the very hairs on our head are all numbered. 20 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,680 Numbered. When Jesus was born in 21 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:50,880 Bethlehem, it was precisely at the time the Lord had planned 22 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,800 and promised. You know, nothing in our lives 23 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,200 happens by chance. It's like, oh, good luck. 24 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:02,080 I never say good luck, always say Lord willing, well God's 25 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:06,200 will be done. And Isaiah Chapter 7 verse 14, 26 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,520 Isaiah the prophet said therefore the Lord himself will 27 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:11,200 give you a sign. Do you want a sign? 28 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:15,040 People say I want a sign. If God's real give me a sign. 29 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,080 Well he did. Isaiah the prophet, the Lord 30 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:23,800 himself will give you a sign. Behold the virgin, the the only 31 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:29,840 virgin that has conceived and bore a son. 32 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:34,360 The virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his 33 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,240 name Emmanuel. God is with us. 34 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:42,400 The world in which Jesus Christ was born, remember, was dark, 35 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:47,720 violent, oppressive, wicked, bereft of hope. 36 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:51,160 Israel and Israel has just had that history. 37 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:56,880 The Romans were ruling, people are under oppression and in to a 38 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:01,400 little place in Bethlehem was born a baby. 39 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,720 Nothing much has changed in our world since Jesus came. 40 00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:10,040 Herod the Great, He was called the Great was King of Judea at 41 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,440 the time. He's called Great because he was 42 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:19,440 a master planner and builder and architect from 37 BC right 43 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:23,080 through to AD 4. Herod was in this position as 44 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,520 king of Judea at the time, as a vassal tyrant. 45 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,400 What does that mean? He was like a puppet ruler for 46 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,520 the Roman Empire. They said jump and he jumped. 47 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:39,360 Israel was living under the oppressive iron fist and rule of 48 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:43,200 Rome under Caesar. But tonight, Luke will tell us 49 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:49,800 in our study that the light of God always shines the brightest. 50 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,240 You know, when in the darkest hour, that's what Christmas is. 51 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:57,680 You and I need to realise in the modern scientific world we live 52 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,600 in that God still moves supernaturally. 53 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:05,960 God still moves supernaturally. He's not bound by any laws, the 54 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:12,320 laws of physics. Physics, yeah, He is able to do 55 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:16,399 the impossible. He is and always will be God. 56 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:23,160 God moves supernaturally. In verse 5 of Luke 1 we read 57 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,560 there was in the days of Herod the king of Judah. 58 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:29,280 Luke chapter one, verse five. It wasn't the days of Herod the 59 00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:34,800 king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias of the division 60 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:39,640 of Abuja. His wife was of the daughters of 61 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:45,120 Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth, and they were both 62 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:51,720 righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and 63 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:55,360 ordinances of the Lord, blameless. 64 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,920 So here's a couple who were godly, but they had no child 65 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:06,120 because Elizabeth was barren and they were both well advanced in 66 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,400 years. In other words, they were in the 67 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,760 ages past normal reproductive systems. 68 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,760 So we are introduced to an elderly couple, Zacharias and 69 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,080 Elizabeth. An Angel appears to Zacharias 70 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,880 who was an elderly priest and he was serving his time faithfully 71 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:28,320 in the temple in Jerusalem. Luke calls both Zacharias and 72 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:32,680 Elizabeth righteous before God. Be nice to have someone call you 73 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,400 righteous before God, wouldn't it Doctor? 74 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:39,040 Luke also tells us they were both well advanced in years. 75 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,840 They were elderly, so they were godly and old. 76 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,000 That's a good, good thing for me because I'm getting old. 77 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:52,320 I just need to be godly. Sadly, they have never been able 78 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:55,960 to have a child. But they had no child verse 7 79 00:05:55,960 --> 00:06:00,320 because Elizabeth was barren. So we find Zechariah faithfully 80 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:06,640 ministering in the temple as he always has done since he turned 81 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,720 the age of 25. That's when the ministry started 82 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:15,440 as a Levitical priest, and Zechariah is serving inside the 83 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:17,800 temple. At this moment, in the holy 84 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:22,600 place, the people are in prayer, located outside the temple. 85 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,520 Only the priest could go in. Inside. 86 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,160 Zechariah was burning incense for the whole week of which he 87 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:33,160 was serving. He was rostered on to serve 88 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:35,800 twice a year as a Levitical priest. 89 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:40,040 So twice a year he would serve at the temple and Elizabeth, his 90 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:44,320 wife, also a descendant of Aaron, we find the priestly line 91 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,040 had been Zacharias, faithful, loving wife for many years. 92 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:53,320 Zacharias, his name means God has remembered Elizabeth. 93 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,840 Her name means God is my oath. When you put the two together, 94 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:59,760 their names give us. God has remembered his oath. 95 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,000 In other words, God has remembered his promise. 96 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:07,920 Tonight you and I will be reminded that God always 97 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,520 remembers His promises to all of us. 98 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:17,000 What has God promised you? In other words, God keeps His 99 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,280 promises. You need to know that, and you 100 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:23,240 need to believe that God keeps His promises. 101 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,520 God promised us the Saviour and Christ came. 102 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,920 We celebrate Christmas. God has promised what He's 103 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:38,320 promised to come a second time. Acts chapter one, verse 11 Men 104 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,400 of Galilee, the Angel said to the disciples, as Jesus was 105 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:45,280 ascending into heaven, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? 106 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:52,320 This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so 107 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:57,040 come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven. 108 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,560 Isn't that amazing? I think that's amazing. 109 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:04,800 God will fulfil his promises. But Zechariah and Elizabeth, 110 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:10,120 both godly people who lived and served obediently, faithfully, 111 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:17,200 had no child, now Baron, in their youthful years, married at 112 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,680 an early age. Usually the woman is around 13 113 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,440 to 14 to 15 years of age. It's the time they get married. 114 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,440 She's lived all those years. Now she's gone past the age of 115 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,360 fertility served with her husband. 116 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:35,320 No child now age has taken away all hope. 117 00:08:36,039 --> 00:08:37,640 They're not looking at having a child. 118 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,000 Barrenness was seen in Israel darkly. 119 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:44,000 Remember what happened with Hannah? 120 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,560 The Bible tells us here this. You need to know this because we 121 00:08:49,560 --> 00:08:51,240 don't know what Christmas holds for us. 122 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,520 The Bible tells us the righteous to suffer. 123 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,720 How could a car accident happen to a pastor and his wife? 124 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:03,120 Then we're not immune. Zacharias and Elizabeth were 125 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:05,880 devout. They loved God and served him 126 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,080 faithfully. But Elizabeth remained barren. 127 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:14,200 People at that time considered, as I said, her barrenness. 128 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:18,000 However, as a sign that God was judging her, how many people 129 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,280 were were are quick to leap up? You know why that's happened. 130 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,240 You know how come, why you're going through this. 131 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,280 There's always someone ready to you know why this is happening 132 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:31,080 to you. We know and learn that that was 133 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:35,840 completely false because God wasn't judging her as the Holy 134 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:40,720 Spirit has declared succinctly through Luke, God had called 135 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:45,960 Elizabeth righteous verse 6, verse 6 and they were both 136 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:50,520 righteous before God walking in all the commandments and 137 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,360 ordinances of the Lord blameless. 138 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:57,160 Couldn't have got a better couple, Couldn't have got a 139 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,960 better God fearing God serving couple. 140 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:05,480 But Elizabeth's heart, as was Hannah's, was broken because of 141 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:09,760 her infertility. She wanted to be a mum, have a 142 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:13,040 family. She struggled with this all her 143 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:15,400 life. You see, the righteous do 144 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,320 suffer. Just because both Elizabeth and 145 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:22,600 Zechariah were right before God, he a priest, and they both 146 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:26,840 faithfully served God, did not mean that they were immune from 147 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:31,360 sorrows. Sadly, you deceive yourself. 148 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:36,160 And I think that's a very sad thing that is often poured out 149 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:39,240 from many pulpits, that once you become a Christian, everything's 150 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,920 just going to be great because you fall into depression. 151 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,720 When, oh, how come I'm going through a difficult time? 152 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,680 Why is this happening to me? You know what's going on, God, 153 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:53,720 because that's a false gospel. You deceive yourself if you 154 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:57,560 think if I go to church, if I pray, if I love Jesus, if I'm a 155 00:10:57,560 --> 00:11:00,560 good person, then nothing bad will happen to me. 156 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:05,160 The Bible teaches us that that just is not so. 157 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:12,400 Ask a fellow called Job. God, praise Job. 158 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,480 There's no man on earth like Job, he said. 159 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:20,800 Well, there's another Jesus Christ, Innocent. 160 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,360 Did any bad things happen to Jesus? 161 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:28,880 Oh my goodness. But the Lord will be with you. 162 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,440 God will help you in the fire, as He did with Shadrach, 163 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:38,080 Meshach, and Abednego. The flood He did with Noah and 164 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,600 the storm as He did with the disciples as they rode across 165 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:46,680 the Sea of Galilee. God has a master plan, Ephesians 166 00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:50,680 chapter 1 tells us for your life, things that he has 167 00:11:50,680 --> 00:11:56,600 prepared, good works He has prepared for you and even you 168 00:11:56,600 --> 00:12:02,200 know in my life, in your life. There are even things that he 169 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,520 says Keith needs to go through this time of suffering. 170 00:12:06,680 --> 00:12:09,280 I can look back on my life. That's why the book of 171 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:11,080 Philippians is so wonderful to me. 172 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:15,560 I went through the the worst time of my Christian walk, the 173 00:12:15,560 --> 00:12:20,640 hardest time of my Christian walk really just decimated me. 174 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:25,600 But in that decimation, when I got to a place I thought I 175 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:31,000 couldn't get any lower. It was in that decimation that I 176 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:32,720 really learned about God's grace. 177 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,000 It was the school of grace that I learned. 178 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:43,560 I taught grace to tell you all about grace, to show you where 179 00:12:43,560 --> 00:12:47,440 grace is in the Bible. But I only get by going through 180 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:50,360 that time of darkness that I went through. 181 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:55,880 Did I discover grace in reality? And then once I discovered 182 00:12:55,880 --> 00:13:00,560 grace, I really had the peace of God that passes all 183 00:13:00,560 --> 00:13:05,800 understanding. JC Royals says the grace of God 184 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:15,200 exempts no one from trouble. CS Lewis said God whispers to us 185 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:22,920 in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but God shouts in 186 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:28,360 our pain. It is His megaphone to rouse a 187 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,720 deaf world. I think this is the only thing 188 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:37,240 that can turn our nation. Zechariah and Elizabeth the 189 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:41,920 barren childless continued to faithfully love and serve their 190 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,440 Lord. They did not abandoned their 191 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:45,960 faith. Oh, I've tried, Jesus. 192 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:50,000 I've tried going to church. They did not get mad at God. 193 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,880 Well, God, you know, if you're a good God, how come they didn't 194 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,000 do that? They didn't stop going to 195 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:57,840 church. Well, I'm done. 196 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,920 That's it. I'm going to church tonight. 197 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,600 If you're suffering, hear this. God knows you well. 198 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:06,240 Great. Hang on. 199 00:14:06,680 --> 00:14:10,680 You got to understand this is where you need the word of God. 200 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,680 You need to understand what God is leading you. 201 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,400 He he leads us into these things. 202 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:22,600 He's with us. He wants us to grow and change. 203 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:28,760 God understands his plan and purpose for your life remains. 204 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,960 That's not changing. Keep your heart right. 205 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,880 Continue to serve him, follow him, and love Him just as 206 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:42,160 Zechariah and Elizabeth did. Don't grow weary in this. 207 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:46,360 For this couple, their barrenness was part of God's 208 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:50,240 special purpose and plan, as it is in all of our lives. 209 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,920 Man, did God have a special plan for Zechariah and Elizabeth. 210 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,880 We, we, we, we look at them and go, oh, if only we could be like 211 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,200 them. Have a child like they're going 212 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:05,280 to have you. See for this couple, their 213 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:11,280 barrenness was God's part plan as it is in our lives. 214 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:15,600 There are times when we don't get that job, we don't get that 215 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:19,120 situation or whatever we want and God goes, you know why 216 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,000 you're not getting it Because it will ruin you. 217 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:30,400 Job chapter one verse 12 the Lord said to Satan, behold, all 218 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:33,520 that he has is in your power only do not lay a hand on his 219 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,680 person. Nothing can come into your life 220 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:44,040 except what God allows. Now we may not like it, I don't. 221 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,440 I got to admit that we may not understand it, I don't. 222 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:53,360 This is what the Bible tells us when it declares Romans chapter 223 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:57,240 one verse 17. For in it the righteousness of 224 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:01,960 God is revealed from faith to faith as it is written. 225 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,840 You see, I don't understand. I don't like it. 226 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:06,600 But the just shall live by faith. 227 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,360 You get that? The just shall live by faith. 228 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:12,520 Nothing's changing my faith in God. 229 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:18,200 Habakkuk chapter 3 verse 17 says though the fig tree may not 230 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:20,640 blossom, so the the harvest isn't happening. 231 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:25,440 No, nor is there any fruit on the vines, though the labour of 232 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,520 all of my file. The fields, you know, yield no 233 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:32,320 food, though the flock may be cut off from the fold, there be 234 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:37,680 no herd in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. 235 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:41,880 I will joy in the God of my salvation. 236 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:46,720 See, This is why your joy can't be taken away for you, that 237 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:51,360 godly joy, because your joy is not in things or events. 238 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,560 Your joy in the Lord is in the Lord. 239 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,080 That's where your joy sits in Christ. 240 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:04,000 So we continue to trust God and God is still in control. 241 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:09,200 Zechariah and Elizabeth had no idea God would answer their 242 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:11,800 years of prayer in his time and in His way. 243 00:17:13,599 --> 00:17:17,960 He would give them a baby boy, the name John. 244 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:23,280 They had no idea, however, this would happen, what God had in 245 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:25,760 store for them. Neither do you or I Tonight. 246 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,359 We don't have any idea what God has in store for us. 247 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,720 I love talking to young people. I like talking to anyone who 248 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:33,960 really gets serious about serving the Lord. 249 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:36,920 I go, you get serious about serving the Lord, you have no 250 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,640 idea what God has in store for you, and it's going to be 251 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:43,720 amazing. Don't be discouraged, don't give 252 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:47,280 up. God has a definite plan and a 253 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:53,560 purpose for your life, you as an individual as you live before 254 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,520 him. In time, you'll look back and 255 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,840 see that divine perspective where he's guided you. 256 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:03,560 He's allowed that you've come through, but that's only you 257 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:06,080 know. As a one famous football coach 258 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:08,560 said, everyone has a PhD in hindsight. 259 00:18:11,120 --> 00:18:16,120 So I have learned that my disappointments, my 260 00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:19,640 disappointments are God's appointments. 261 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,400 Back in the temple, we find Zacharias faithfully serving. 262 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:29,800 His job is to look after the incense, burn the incense and 263 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,760 praying. What Zechariah was doing this 264 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:36,400 day. Only once in a lifetime would a 265 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,880 priest have this honour. Not all priests get the 266 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:45,000 opportunity to go into the holy place and to stand before the 267 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:46,640 vial. So it's not the holy of Holies, 268 00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:49,040 it's the next one, the holy place. 269 00:18:49,120 --> 00:18:53,920 The vial separates and before the vow was an altar of incense, 270 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:55,800 which was always positioned and going. 271 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:59,080 What's the altar of incense? It's the prayers of the Saints, 272 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:02,960 it's the prayers of the people, always going up before God. 273 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:08,080 Once finished this task, his job was to exit the temple, come out 274 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:12,160 of the holy place, go out to the people and then give the the 275 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:16,640 Levitical priestly blessing, which we often say after a 276 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:19,440 service here Numbers chapter 6, verse 24. 277 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:23,160 The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine 278 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:27,080 upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countless 279 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,240 upon you and give you peace. That was his role. 280 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:34,120 But this day. Verse 10, it says verse 10, Luke 281 00:19:34,120 --> 00:19:38,040 1, and the whole multitude of the people was praying outside 282 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:41,360 at the hour of incense. Then an Angel of the Lord 283 00:19:41,360 --> 00:19:45,520 appeared to him, That's Zechariah inside standing on the 284 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,000 right side of the altar of incense. 285 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:52,000 And when Zechariah saw him, he freaked out. 286 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,880 He was troubled and fear fell upon it. 287 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:56,360 It's like there's no one in there. 288 00:19:56,360 --> 00:20:03,920 Next minute, the Angel said to him, Don't be afraid. 289 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:12,760 Zechariah, notice this, for your prayer is heard. 290 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:14,960 You need to write that down to yourself. 291 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:21,520 Your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a 292 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:24,640 son. You shall call his name John, 293 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,840 and you will have joy and gladness. 294 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:32,880 Many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the 295 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:36,800 sight of the Lord, shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. 296 00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:41,920 You'll also be filled with the Holy Spirit when even from his 297 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:46,440 mother's womb. Notice that he will turn many of 298 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,720 the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 299 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,880 He will also go before him. This is Jesus in the spirit and 300 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:59,680 power of Elijah prophet to turn the hearts of the fathers to the 301 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:03,120 children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. 302 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:07,640 His job was to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 303 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:12,280 Wow, He was to prepare the way for the coming of the Son of 304 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:16,920 God. Now Zechariah, old man, old 305 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:22,960 priest going about his job was troubled and afraid after 400 306 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:27,280 years because God hasn't spoken to Israel by prophet by anyone 307 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:33,520 for 400 years. Now the silence is broken the 308 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:38,360 first time in 400 years and God speaks. 309 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:44,040 God through Gabriel gives this message. 310 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:49,640 He says don't be afraid for your prayer is heard. 311 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:56,720 How long had Zechariah and Elizabeth been praying for a 312 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:01,800 child? From the day they got together? 313 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:06,600 Even before. Oh God, can't wait till we get 314 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,120 married. We have a family and that's what 315 00:22:09,120 --> 00:22:12,880 couples talk about. Well, imagine that moment. 316 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,520 Zechariah is in the temple alone. 317 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:18,680 The Angel Gabriel appears, speaks to him about Notice, 318 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:20,880 speaks to him about his wife and son. 319 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:28,640 So God knows your family, knows your husband's name, knows your 320 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:31,320 son's name, knows your family's situation. 321 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:38,880 He knows all about your family. All those years of praying now, 322 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:43,360 now it was God's time to answer. You're going to need to note 323 00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:47,360 that it's God's time to answer the prayer. 324 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:52,880 John by the way, means God is gracious. 325 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:57,240 What a son, what a child John would be. 326 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:00,840 God always on you need to hear this. 327 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:09,360 God always hears our prayers. Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for 328 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:12,600 your prayer is heard. You say Keith, well, well, good 329 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:14,000 for you to read that and say that. 330 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:19,560 But God didn't answer my prayer. No, he did indeed. 331 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:25,360 Well, how do you explain that He didn't if he didn't answer how 332 00:23:25,360 --> 00:23:27,320 you wanted it? That's the deal. 333 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,880 If you were living in sin and, and, and many people today are 334 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:34,280 living in sin and praying and thinking, well, that's just all, 335 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,080 all good. I'm reading, as I said, reading 336 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:43,520 through Jeremiah and my devotionals, God says no sin has 337 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:47,880 separated us. It says in Isaiah the very same 338 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:50,120 thing. Behold, the Lord's hand is not 339 00:23:50,120 --> 00:23:54,400 shortened that it cannot save, nor his ear heavy that it cannot 340 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:58,120 hear. But your iniquities have 341 00:23:58,120 --> 00:24:02,840 separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face 342 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:05,880 from you. It happened in Jeremiah so that 343 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:08,560 he will not hear. God says I won't hear their 344 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,560 prayers until they repent and turn back to me. 345 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:18,000 You see, God hears your prayers. But if I allow sin in my life, 346 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:22,960 it may prompt him to refuse to answer my prayers as a man, as a 347 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:25,680 husband. The Bible tells me in Peter that 348 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:30,920 if I allow sin in my life by not treating my wife in a godly 349 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,960 manner, then my prayers are handed. 350 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:40,720 If you know of some sin tonight in your heart, what do you do 351 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:42,600 with it so your prayers can be answered? 352 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:47,360 You simply 1 John 19 and 10, confess it to God right now, 353 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:52,320 right now where you're seated and know that it is forgiven and 354 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:55,880 you will once again immediately have the ear of God. 355 00:24:57,080 --> 00:25:01,240 God always hears your prayers. God's delays and not his 356 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:04,320 denials. But Keith, I've been praying for 357 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:09,240 years. Galatians 69 says let us not 358 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,760 grow weary while doing good. Your husband's not saved, your 359 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:15,840 wife's not saved, your mum, your dad's not saved. 360 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:17,920 Oh well, I'm stopping. Do you stop? 361 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:20,640 No. It's when you're here. 362 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:24,320 You keep praying for in due season. 363 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:28,240 Galatians 69. For in due season we shall reap 364 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:34,040 if we do not lose heart. You're the only one. 365 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:35,400 You're the only Christian in your family. 366 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:37,680 Well, God's got you there for your family. 367 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:43,600 That's your mission field. No one else is praying for your 368 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,320 family, but God has you praying for. 369 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:51,160 God wants to use you. God finally answered Zechariah 370 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:53,680 and Elizabeth's prayer, but when did he answer it? 371 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:58,200 In his time. Jesus was coming. 372 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:01,640 We need, we need John now. John, it's time. 373 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:07,040 The birth of John would be such a time of joy for this godly 374 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:09,480 elderly couple. And I like this too. 375 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:14,920 You know, there's no age in God using you if you're getting on 376 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,760 in years tonight or you think, oh, well, I served the Lord. 377 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,000 I was a Sunday school teacher when I was young, or I did this 378 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:23,640 when I was young. Stop, stop, keep serving the 379 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:26,800 Lord. The very breath that you breathe 380 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,760 is for you to serve him and serve him until he calls you 381 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:35,920 home. The birth of John, Gabriel said 382 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:40,600 of John that this, their son, their child would be great in 383 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:44,600 the sight of the Lord. Notice that great on the side of 384 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:47,320 the Lord, you say, Oh man, the world will just go. 385 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:52,640 John, you're the man. He'll be great on the side of 386 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:54,800 the Lord. That's where you want your son 387 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:56,840 to be great, your daughter be great. 388 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:00,680 Big deal. If they're great on the side of 389 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:05,000 the world, what does that mean? Nothing but to be great on the 390 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:08,360 side of the Lord. Gabriel gives instructions to 391 00:27:08,360 --> 00:27:14,360 John as to how they are to raise this son, John in detail. 392 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:17,760 Read the detail. Do you know that he has done the 393 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,160 same for you and I today in detail. 394 00:27:20,360 --> 00:27:25,920 The Bible is full in detail for every mother, every father. 395 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:29,240 It's all laid out. It's in Deuteronomy, it's in 396 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:33,280 Proverbs, it's in through the Gospels, it's in in Paul's 397 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:36,960 letters. How to raise a family, how to be 398 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:39,680 a father, how to be a mother. It's all there. 399 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:46,880 You don't need any other stuff. It says verse 15 for he'll be 400 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:49,680 great on the side of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor 401 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:51,920 strong drink. That's mom and dad's job. 402 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:57,800 It will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, when even from his 403 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:01,560 mother's 1. John was to be a man with a 404 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:05,440 heart holy after God set apart for holiness. 405 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:11,320 That's what the word St means. Sanctified dads, mums, we are to 406 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:15,360 take note that the most important aspect of your 407 00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:21,000 parenting is to raise a child of God. 408 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:26,120 That's it. Gabriel tells Zechariah that 409 00:28:26,120 --> 00:28:32,680 John as an infant, note Bible says as an infant will be filled 410 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:36,440 with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb. 411 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:39,280 Oh, the kids are too young to understand. 412 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:43,280 Stop that. When did Samuel go and start 413 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:45,080 serving the Lord? When was he hearing from God? 414 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:52,200 He's a little kid. When did David become the the 415 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:56,720 the the chosen 1? David, just a teenager, took on 416 00:28:56,720 --> 00:29:00,600 Goliath. Stop holding back your children 417 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:04,480 from serving the Lord. Stop putting parameters on them. 418 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:11,240 Now. If John is an infant, is filled 419 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:14,440 with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb, with those 420 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:18,320 words from the Angel Gabriel, can you think of the horror and 421 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:30,030 implications of abortion? Just dreadful women say, well, 422 00:29:30,070 --> 00:29:34,110 they demand the right to control their own body, but does one 423 00:29:34,110 --> 00:29:38,070 person have the right to kill and dismember somebody else's 424 00:29:38,070 --> 00:29:43,760 body? Later, John in the womb, when 425 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:50,880 Mary would meet Elizabeth, both pregnant, would leap for joy and 426 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:53,920 praise the Lord. Imagine having that kid in your 427 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:57,880 womb. Where's that organ music coming 428 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:00,440 from? There's a lot of clapping going 429 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:04,840 on in here. So we've seen the supernatural 430 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:07,840 power of God spoken and revealed by Gabriel. 431 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:11,120 We've learnt that the righteous suffer. 432 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:14,960 We don't like that, but there's a purpose, there's a plan. 433 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:21,240 We learnt that God answers prayer, but now we come across 434 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:26,400 an unbelieving silence. Zechariah said to the Angel. 435 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:29,960 Verse 18, How shall I know this? For I'm an old man and my wife 436 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:32,160 is well advanced in years. There's no chance we could have 437 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:33,320 a kid. Whoop. 438 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:38,840 Zechariah's response to the news from the Angel Gabriel was one 439 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:42,120 of unbelief. We don't have a child really. 440 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:48,320 And notice Gabriel's response to Zechariah's words of unbelief. 441 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:52,280 We need to note this the Angel answered, said to him, I am 442 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:57,640 Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God and was sent to 443 00:30:57,640 --> 00:31:02,880 speak to you and bring you these glad tidings, but behold, you 444 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:06,360 will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things 445 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:08,120 take place. Why? 446 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:13,760 Because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled 447 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:17,200 in their own time. Here's the deal. 448 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:24,280 God expects us to believe him. Do you when your kids come up to 449 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:26,840 you and then I well, I don't believe you're going to do that. 450 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:28,240 Dad, Dad, mom, I don't believe you. 451 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:31,880 You go What? You don't believe in us? 452 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:37,040 You don't trust us. God expects us to believe him. 453 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:41,960 I'm going to say that again. God expects us to believe Him. 454 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:44,680 Gabriel means strong, one of God. 455 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:48,520 Gabriel's message had come directly from God to Zechariah, 456 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:53,080 and now Zechariah has questioned the veracity of Gabriel's words. 457 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:58,360 You don't disrespect an Angel of God, and you must trust 458 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:04,600 implicitly God's word. This Zechariah's statement was 459 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:08,240 sadly 1 of unbelief. Do we fall into that trap 460 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:12,400 because of it? He was struck mute because you 461 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:14,280 don't believe my words, Gabriel said. 462 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:19,880 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day 463 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:22,680 these things take place. And they will because you did 464 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:25,400 not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their own time. 465 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:31,480 What God declares will happen, God keeps his promises. 466 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:35,760 So Gabriel says this child, your son will be born. 467 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:40,680 My words will be fulfilled in their own time, but until John 468 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:47,360 is born, Zechariah, not a word. Tonight as we close, are we like 469 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:50,800 Zechariah? We pray and pray for something 470 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,240 for ages and God finally answers. 471 00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:56,360 We don't believe God when this occurs now or that God has 472 00:32:56,360 --> 00:33:00,160 anything to do with it. Zechariah should have believed 473 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:02,920 believed because of what the Bible declares. 474 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:08,560 How is that? Abraham and Sarah he should he, 475 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:13,680 he, he would have known this Abraham and Sarah, Hannah, 476 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:18,080 Zechariah should have known. God always keeps his promises. 477 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:20,160 That's why you and I read the Bible. 478 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:22,200 You know why? Because if God did it then, 479 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:25,480 he'll do it now. If God did did it for them, 480 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:29,240 he'll do it for you. That's why James says Elijah was 481 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:31,960 just a guy like you. He prayed and the heavens 482 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:35,640 stopped. If he doesn't but Elijah, he'll 483 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:40,040 do it for you. He can do it again. 484 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:43,600 Think about that. You see, unbelief robs us and 485 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:51,680 closes our mouth tonight. Do you believe that God answers 486 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:54,920 prayer? Do you believe in the promises 487 00:33:54,920 --> 00:33:57,440 of God? How many promises are there in 488 00:33:57,440 --> 00:34:00,640 you? In the Bible, every time you 489 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:04,120 read the word promise and God, promises of God says you need to 490 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:06,040 go. I said you know what God's 491 00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:08,360 promised, He's coming back. You know what? 492 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:11,159 God's promise. Let not your heart be troubled. 493 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:14,719 You believe in God, believe also in me, in my House of many 494 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:18,800 mansions I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there 495 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:21,880 you may be also. It's coming. 496 00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:26,480 But as we go to pray, believe this. 497 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:31,920 As we pray, as we pray here Wednesday, He will hear our 498 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:33,440 prayers. And what will He do with our 499 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:36,480 prayers? He will answer our prayers.