A sermon preached on Sunday, December 20, 2009 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by pastor Joe Alain.
Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-6 (7-14)
Background Scripture: Isaiah 40:3-5
John the Baptist’s ministry was one of removing the clutter so that people could prepare for the coming of the Lord and in that respect his message has a lot to say to us about how we can experience an uncluttered Christmas.
John the Baptist certainly is one of the most colorful and unlikely characters in the story of Jesus. Apart from sermons that deal with Zechariah and Elizabeth, we don’t usually invite the adult John to our Christmas celebrations. He seems too serious, too rugged, to harsh, to forceful with his message of repentance. John was a man who wore a camel hair coat before camel hair coats were cool and he lived on a lean diet of locusts and wild honey (how’s that for your new year’s resolution diet!). John never took a class on how to win friends and influence people and his marketing techniques would be considered all wrong today, but the power of God was upon John and the Word of God was in him. And even though he went into the wilderness of obscurity, he attracted great crowds.
I. CLUTTER
Our lives and hearts are often cluttered.
We can learn a lot from John’s ministry of uncluttering the message of Christmas because the Christmas season is often a very cluttered time. Our calendars are jam packed, the stores are crowded, the traffic is worse than usual, we’re busy gathering up gifts to give and receiving gifts that often end up in our garages or closets. On top of all that, it sure is hard to be good with all of the holiday foods and goodies around. The waistline gets a little cluttered around this time of the year. The truth is, our lives are cluttered but so are our hearts. The heart clutter threatens to crowd Jesus out. What we need in these few days leading up to Christmas day is to see beyond the clutter of living to the hope that was born many years ago in Bethlehem.
The challenge in John’s word in the wilderness came from the prophet Isaiah spoken at the time Israel was in exile in Babylon. Separating God’s people from their home was a wilderness, a barrier that seemed impossible for them to overcome. In their mind, the path back home was just too cluttered, cluttered with broken promises and broken idols. The way back seemed so rough, so insurmountable. The people of God had lost all hope of scaling the spiritual mountains to come back to God. We too sense that hopelessness at times. We look across the spiritual wasteland of broken relationships, broken promises, unfulfilled dreams, and we wonder, “is there any way back? Is there hope for my marriage? Can the clutter be removed so that we can restore what we once had? Can my relationship with my child be restored?” It seems that there is just too much clutter in our hearts, it’s too hard, it’s a barrier that seems impassable.
The promise in Isaiah 40:3-5, where we find the words John quotes, is that comfort will come to God’s people, that in the wilderness a way will be prepared for the Lord, much like the way was prepared for ancient kings to visit the remote parts of their kingdoms. A king would send out a party to go before him. They would prepare the way, even repairing roads if necessary, for the king’s arrival. John is saying that the way to the King of Kings (the Messiah) is being cleared! The ditches are being filled in, the clutter is being removed, the crooked paths are being straightened, and the potholes are being patched. So John’s messages was a message of incredible hope. God would make a way where there seemed to be no way. That way, John came to announce not only to Israel, but to us too. We too who feel hopeless and who have lost courage, who cannot get beyond the brokenness, we too can find the way home.
As we begin to look at this passage, the context is seen in 3:1-2a.
II. CONTEXT (3:1-2a)
Luke, being a careful historian gives us a wealth of information in his Gospel that helps us set forth the historical setting and accuracy of the New Testament. Here, the information dates John’s ministry and gives us information about the time in which he ministered.
Luke first gives us the political situation of the day.
1. Political Context (3:1)
John’s ministry occurred during “The reign of Tiberius Caesar.” Tiberias was the successor of Augustus and the second of the Roman Emperors. As early as A.D. 11 or 12 Augustus had made him his colleague in the imperial power but he did not become sole emperor until A.D. 14. The fifteenth year of his reign would therefore be around A.D. 28-29.
The next three people mentioned along with dates are connected with the political organization of Palestine. The title tetrarch literally means governor of a fourth part, but later on came to mean governor of any part. When Herod the Great who ruled Palestine from 37-4 B.C. (1:5; see Matt. 2) died, his kingdom was divided between three of his sons. Herod was the ruler during the time of Zechariah and Elizabeth and the birth of John.
Luke dates John’s ministry during the time of “Herod tetrarch of Galilee.” Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great) ruled Galilee and Perea from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39. Jesus’ life was lived in Herod’s reign and mostly in the areas that he controlled.
“His brother Philip” (another son of Herod the Great) was “tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis.” He ruled from 4 B.C. to A.D. 33. Philip built Caesarea Philippi which was named after him.
Luke also dates John’s ministry during the time of “Pontius Pilate . . . governor of Judea.” Herod Archelaus (another son of Herod the Great) ruled over Judea, Samaria, and Edom from 4 B.C. to A.D. 6 but he was such a bad king that the citizens petitioned Rome for his removal. Rome impatient with all of the trouble that was in the area installed Pontius Pilate who ruled from A.D. 25-37.
“Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene.” He ruled in the region northwest of Damascus. We know practically nothing about him.
2. The Religious Context (3:2a)
Next Luke provides the religious context. “During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas.” Annas was the high priest from A.D. 7-14. The office had been hereditary and for life. When Rome came to power the office became political. From 37 B.C. to A.D. 26 there were no fewer than 28 high priests. Four sons succeeded Annas and Caiaphas (18-36 A.D.) was his son-in-law. Annas though was the power behind the throne (See John 18:13). For all practical purposes, the High Priest was the ruling power in Jerusalem. Along with the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Council, they controlled the daily life of the Jewish people.
Why does Luke spend so much time giving us these historical details? All of Luke’s careful historical analysis points out that The story of Jesus is firmly rooted in history. When some knew theory arises that challenges the historical accuracy of the story of Jesus, and they will continue to do so, always know that you have a reliable text in the Bible that you have. Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:16, NIV, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” See also vv.20-21.
Paul warns believers to not be caught up in what he calls “myths” that “promote controversies rather than God’s work – which is by faith” (1 Tim. 1:4). Instead of following “godless myths,” “train yourself to be godly” (1 Tim. 4:7). There’s another new year resolution. Train yourself to be godly.
III. COMFORT (3:2b)
It is in this context that the Word of God comes to John.
1. The Person: “to John the son of Zechariah”
Luke tells us that the “word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.” John lived an uncluttered life – a life of focus. Luke seems to contrast the powerful political and religious rulers over against the humble man who is the “son of Zechariah.” The word of God comes not to the worldly and powerful, but to the lowly and humble, like John.
2. The Place: “in the desert”
John has been in the wilderness for many years. The last time you see John is in Luke 1:80. Several reasons have been suggested why John was in the desert. (1) Some of suggested that John’s parents, being old, died while he was young. It’s possible the Essenes, a Jewish group living by the Dead Sea, may have taken him in. (2) As a son of a priest, he would have taken up training for the priesthood. Perhaps he left to prepare for His priestly work. It’s obvious that John’s desert experiences are tied with his training. He was there to prepare for his mission. A great work is always preceded by grave (serious) preparation. The desert is symbolic of testing and preparation. All great men and women have been to the school of the desert. God has been preparing John for his ministry.
Before God can use you, He wants to know if you’re willing to serve in obscurity.
3. The Proclamation: “the word of God”
The word used here for “word” is not the “logos” but it is the “Rhema.” This word denotes a particular word or message that is spoken or proclaimed. This speaks to the fact that John’s message was sharply focused, clear, uncluttered. John had a focused message. Point 1 – Repent! Point 2 – Repent! Point 3 – Repent! Each of us seeks meaning in life. Each of us want direction, focus, a word from God for the particular situations that we face in life. That word of God that speaks to the particulars of our lives is what we receive from Him, when we listen and hear. The Word of God speaks to the particulars of our lives.
The word “came to John.” The force of the (language) preposition is that of pressure from above. It came upon John. It inspired him, burdened him, spoke clearly to him, effected him. The “rhema” will do the same for us.
There is much that John has to say concerning how we can experience an uncluttered life and an uncluttered Christmas. So what does it mean to have an uncluttered heart?
The Uncluttered Heart . . .
1. Hears God’s Word
John was able to hear God’s Word. God’s word comes to the uncluttered heart. Is our life cluttered? Do we try to focus on too many things? Do we make wise choices so we are able to focus? Clutter in our lives and hearts keeps us from hearing God’s Word. Determine that in the new year you are going to make a conscious effort to spend some quiet time with God so that you can hear His Word and His voice.
2. Receives God’s Forgiveness
After the Word of God pressed upon John, he went to the area surrounding the Jordan and he preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” The NKJV has “remission” which means “forgiveness.” The NLT says it best when it reads that John preached “that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.” John was saying, “get ready, and to show that you are ready, change the direction of your life. Show that you’re making a break with your past and you are going in God’s direction.” John made it clear that the day of obstacles was over. No more excuses could be made. Every obstacle had been demolished between sinful man and a holy God. The highway to heaven had been cleared, John says – get ready!
Forgiveness by its nature is the divine action that unclutters our lives and opens the way for a new kind of life. Forgiveness opens the way to God. Forgiveness is the act of removing the sin, taking it away never to return. Forgiveness is a new start. Repentance, turning to God, prepares our heart for the Lord to come and bring his forgiveness. Daily, we need the clutter removed from our lives.
The uncluttered heart hears God’s word, receives God’s forgiveness, and . . .
3. Embraces God’s Mission
John’s life was changed by the Word of God and in response to that change and in obedience to the Lord, he embraced his task of sharing the “Good News.” Repentance means that we now have a new purpose and a new power to break down the barriers that keep others from coming to the Lord. We too are able to help others see God’s salvation. But to embrace God’s mission is costly for it requires that we be . . .
– Undivided in our loyalty to Christ. John’s loyalty was undivided – it was uncluttered. What about my loyalty to Jesus? If we are to embrace God’s mission, we must live uncluttered lives before God, we must be loyal to Him.
– To embrace God’s mission is costly because it requires that we be undivided in our commitment to breaking down every barrier, every hindrance to the Gospel. Embracing God’s mission means living a changed life. Every response that John gave to the people he shared with who wanted to know, “how shall we live?” was centered on living a new ethical life (see vv.7-14). John was saying, “live a life that shows you have turned to God.” And so as I embrace God’s mission, I commit to embrace a new kind of life. My pride, my prejudices, my unforgiveness, my unloving and hurtful words, all of the clutter must be removed from my heart and life. We must seek to live uncluttered lives so that we can unclutter the pathway for others to journey on. We must in the language of the Msg paraphrase spiritually,
“Make the road smooth and straight!
Every ditch will be filled in,
Every bump smoothed out,
The detours straightened out,
All the ruts paved over.”
Why do all this? We must prepare the way of the Lord. The king is coming, He’s on His way. Are you ready? The clutter has been removed – it’s time to trust Him and for us to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
Monday, December 21, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sharing Christmas Joy, Luke 1:18-25, 57-66
A sermon preached on December 13, 2009 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:18-25, 57-66
The birth of a child brings great joy, it is a joyful event that you want to share with others. But imagine not being able to share your joy? Imagine having been blessed with such good news but you were unable to share your great joy.
Because of unbelief, Zechariah was unable to share his joy in the news that his wife was going to have a son, he would become a father! Zechariah’s privilege of sharing his joy was postponed. Unbelief, fear, doubt, robbed him of the blessing of accepting God’s plan and sharing his good news. Unbelief causes us to miss out on what God is doing in our lives and the blessings of joy that He has for us. On the other hand, trust in Christ and in God’s Word enables us to participate in God’s plans for our life and to share the “Good News” that He’s at work in our world. Faith in Jesus frees us to live a life of purpose, gratitude, and praise.
Jesus and John – Comparison and Contrast
When you look at how Luke unfolds the story of Jesus in these opening chapters, he obviously wants his readers to compare and contrast Jesus and John the Baptist. When you compare the two, we see that both children are announced in advance by the angel Gabriel (1:11, 28). Both births are unnatural or miraculous (Elizabeth is past child-bearing age and Mary is a virgin). And in both cases the angel tells what the name of the child should be (1:13, 31).
But there are also contrasts made between John and Jesus. John was born to an aged woman who was barren, Jesus was born to a young virgin. John was given a name which means “God is gracious,” Jesus was given a name which means “Savior.” John was to prepare the way of the Lord, Jesus was the Lord!
God broke 400 years of silence when the angel Gabriel came to Zechariah and promised that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son (v.13). Zechariah, although a devout believer (v.6) doubted that God would bring this promise to pass. You see his skepticism in verse 18 when he says, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man.” Zechariah is looking at things from the human viewpoint. Zechariah is saying, “from where I am standing, this is impossible, things like this don’t happen.” But from God’s viewpoint, “nothing is impossible” (1:37). And of course, if you noticed Zechariah being a gentleman referred to his wife as “well advanced in years” not an old woman! In that respect, he obviously was a very wise man.
Zechariah and Mary – Evidence Vs Explanation
John Piper reminds us that there is one more contrast, between the announcement of John and Jesus’ birth that is worth noting; that is, how each of them responded to the angel’s message. How did Mary respond to the angel when she first heard the news? Mary said, “How can this be, since I have no husband?” (v.34). Do you see the contrast? Zechariah says, How can I know this – Mary says, How can this be? Zechariah is essentially asking for more evidence, Mary is asking for an explanation. Zechariah says “I cannot be sure;” Mary says “I cannot understand.” There’s a difference between the two responses. God does honor the humble and sincere plea for understanding. It’s not wrong to want evidence for our faith, but Jesus tells us that there is an evil in demanding signs beyond what sincere hearts would require (see Luke 11:29).
It was not that Zechariah “could not” believe, he “would not” believe the good news that Gabriel had brought, although he should have believed considering the fact that Gabriel came straight from God Himself! “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God” (1:19). It’s almost as if Gabriel cannot believe that Zechariah cannot believe. You can almost hear Gabriel saying, “Did you not pray for a child? Your answer is hear.”
Zechariah is experiencing a crisis of faith. Would he believe God or not? He and Elizabeth had prayed for a child, now would he completely trust God to bring it to pass, even if it did not happen as he might have thought it would. When you pray, it is not always the “asking” that takes faith, it is the “receiving.” Why is this? Because God gives us the answer often in a different form than what we would have come up with. They prayed for a child and figured that God would answer them in the usual manner. But God often answers our prayers in a way that stretches and tests our faith. His answers to our prayers come in unlikely ways.
Why does God do that? Why surprise us? For one thing, I think God has a better sense of humor that we do. Zechariah and Elizabeth had to wonder, “you’re kidding, right?” Why surprise us? It’s more than the fact that God does indeed have a sense of humor, who do you think created humor? He does things like give senior saints a baby because he is more interested in making us like Himself for eternity rather than simply satisfying our immediate needs. Remember, his answered prayers are always related to His kingdom purposes. He answers prayer in a way that is always consistent with His purposes and not necessarily ours. God often asks us to simply believe, to trust Him to do the humanly impossible. He wants us to learn to trust Him and live by faith (Heb. 11:1). And the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth reminds us that you never outgrow the need to learn the lessons of living by faith.
From Faithless to Speechless
Because of his unbelief, his stalling for more evidence (v.20), Zechariah would be struck “speechless,” silent, unable to speak, unable to share a word of testimony concerning what God was doing. Think about it. The 400 years of prophetic silence were broken with this revelation to Zechariah (see Mal. 4:4-6), but the good news that the silence was broken would have to wait 9 more months.
Zechariah’s judgement corresponded to his sin. God’s plan and promise was one of great joy (v.14) – you’re going to have a son! But now, because of unbelief, he is unable to share the one thing that means the most to him right now – the incredible news that he is going to have a son, he’s going to be a dad. I think that part of his judgement is that he must watch while others do the rejoicing. Who is doing the praising, the sharing, the rejoicing? It is the neighbors, not Zechariah. He’s missing out on being able to share his joyful good news.
There is a warning to us in this passage, a warning to not demand too much evidence before we will believe God’s promises, because if we do, we might just miss out on God’s blessings. We too need to remember that “With God nothing is impossible” (1:37). God wants us to completely trust Him.
From Speechless to Ceaseless
The judgement would not remain on Zechariah forever. Nine months later, true to God’s promise, Elizabeth brought forth a son (v.57). In Palestine the birth of a boy was an occasion of great joy. When the time of the birth was near at hand, friends and local musicians gathered near the house (v.58). It was customary to name the son after the father (v.59), so the neighbors were amazed when both Elizabeth and Zechariah said that his name will be John (v.61-62). On the supplied writing tablet, Zechariah confirmed Elizabeth’s words when he said, “His name is John” (v.63), which means “Jehovah’s Gift” or “God is gracious.”
Immediately, Zechariah was able to speak, and what did he say? Praise was the first thing that came out of his mouth. His joy that had been bottled up now explodes into praise to God (v.64). Unbelief had kept Zechariah bound up and silent, faith had freed him to praise God. When we believe God’s Word for our lives, we are able to participate fully in God’s plans and to share the “Good News” that He’s at work in our world.
The people were in awe of the events that were taking place (v.65). “What will this child turn out to be?” the neighbors wondered (v.66). The people knew that this miraculous birth was the work of the sovereign God, and that God was up to something special.
Trust in Christ and in God’s Word really does enable us to participate in God’s plans for our life and to share the “Good News” that He’s at work in our world. Do we have preconceived ideas that hinder us from receiving God’s good news? Do we live thinking “this could never happen to me?” Our we open to God’s surprises? Will we believe God for the humanly impossible to occur in our lives? Our family? Our church? Our country? Our world? Faith in Jesus frees us to live a life of purpose, gratitude, and praise. I think you and I have some extraordinary Christmas joy to share this season!
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:18-25, 57-66
The birth of a child brings great joy, it is a joyful event that you want to share with others. But imagine not being able to share your joy? Imagine having been blessed with such good news but you were unable to share your great joy.
Because of unbelief, Zechariah was unable to share his joy in the news that his wife was going to have a son, he would become a father! Zechariah’s privilege of sharing his joy was postponed. Unbelief, fear, doubt, robbed him of the blessing of accepting God’s plan and sharing his good news. Unbelief causes us to miss out on what God is doing in our lives and the blessings of joy that He has for us. On the other hand, trust in Christ and in God’s Word enables us to participate in God’s plans for our life and to share the “Good News” that He’s at work in our world. Faith in Jesus frees us to live a life of purpose, gratitude, and praise.
Jesus and John – Comparison and Contrast
When you look at how Luke unfolds the story of Jesus in these opening chapters, he obviously wants his readers to compare and contrast Jesus and John the Baptist. When you compare the two, we see that both children are announced in advance by the angel Gabriel (1:11, 28). Both births are unnatural or miraculous (Elizabeth is past child-bearing age and Mary is a virgin). And in both cases the angel tells what the name of the child should be (1:13, 31).
But there are also contrasts made between John and Jesus. John was born to an aged woman who was barren, Jesus was born to a young virgin. John was given a name which means “God is gracious,” Jesus was given a name which means “Savior.” John was to prepare the way of the Lord, Jesus was the Lord!
God broke 400 years of silence when the angel Gabriel came to Zechariah and promised that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son (v.13). Zechariah, although a devout believer (v.6) doubted that God would bring this promise to pass. You see his skepticism in verse 18 when he says, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man.” Zechariah is looking at things from the human viewpoint. Zechariah is saying, “from where I am standing, this is impossible, things like this don’t happen.” But from God’s viewpoint, “nothing is impossible” (1:37). And of course, if you noticed Zechariah being a gentleman referred to his wife as “well advanced in years” not an old woman! In that respect, he obviously was a very wise man.
Zechariah and Mary – Evidence Vs Explanation
John Piper reminds us that there is one more contrast, between the announcement of John and Jesus’ birth that is worth noting; that is, how each of them responded to the angel’s message. How did Mary respond to the angel when she first heard the news? Mary said, “How can this be, since I have no husband?” (v.34). Do you see the contrast? Zechariah says, How can I know this – Mary says, How can this be? Zechariah is essentially asking for more evidence, Mary is asking for an explanation. Zechariah says “I cannot be sure;” Mary says “I cannot understand.” There’s a difference between the two responses. God does honor the humble and sincere plea for understanding. It’s not wrong to want evidence for our faith, but Jesus tells us that there is an evil in demanding signs beyond what sincere hearts would require (see Luke 11:29).
It was not that Zechariah “could not” believe, he “would not” believe the good news that Gabriel had brought, although he should have believed considering the fact that Gabriel came straight from God Himself! “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God” (1:19). It’s almost as if Gabriel cannot believe that Zechariah cannot believe. You can almost hear Gabriel saying, “Did you not pray for a child? Your answer is hear.”
Zechariah is experiencing a crisis of faith. Would he believe God or not? He and Elizabeth had prayed for a child, now would he completely trust God to bring it to pass, even if it did not happen as he might have thought it would. When you pray, it is not always the “asking” that takes faith, it is the “receiving.” Why is this? Because God gives us the answer often in a different form than what we would have come up with. They prayed for a child and figured that God would answer them in the usual manner. But God often answers our prayers in a way that stretches and tests our faith. His answers to our prayers come in unlikely ways.
Why does God do that? Why surprise us? For one thing, I think God has a better sense of humor that we do. Zechariah and Elizabeth had to wonder, “you’re kidding, right?” Why surprise us? It’s more than the fact that God does indeed have a sense of humor, who do you think created humor? He does things like give senior saints a baby because he is more interested in making us like Himself for eternity rather than simply satisfying our immediate needs. Remember, his answered prayers are always related to His kingdom purposes. He answers prayer in a way that is always consistent with His purposes and not necessarily ours. God often asks us to simply believe, to trust Him to do the humanly impossible. He wants us to learn to trust Him and live by faith (Heb. 11:1). And the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth reminds us that you never outgrow the need to learn the lessons of living by faith.
From Faithless to Speechless
Because of his unbelief, his stalling for more evidence (v.20), Zechariah would be struck “speechless,” silent, unable to speak, unable to share a word of testimony concerning what God was doing. Think about it. The 400 years of prophetic silence were broken with this revelation to Zechariah (see Mal. 4:4-6), but the good news that the silence was broken would have to wait 9 more months.
Zechariah’s judgement corresponded to his sin. God’s plan and promise was one of great joy (v.14) – you’re going to have a son! But now, because of unbelief, he is unable to share the one thing that means the most to him right now – the incredible news that he is going to have a son, he’s going to be a dad. I think that part of his judgement is that he must watch while others do the rejoicing. Who is doing the praising, the sharing, the rejoicing? It is the neighbors, not Zechariah. He’s missing out on being able to share his joyful good news.
There is a warning to us in this passage, a warning to not demand too much evidence before we will believe God’s promises, because if we do, we might just miss out on God’s blessings. We too need to remember that “With God nothing is impossible” (1:37). God wants us to completely trust Him.
From Speechless to Ceaseless
The judgement would not remain on Zechariah forever. Nine months later, true to God’s promise, Elizabeth brought forth a son (v.57). In Palestine the birth of a boy was an occasion of great joy. When the time of the birth was near at hand, friends and local musicians gathered near the house (v.58). It was customary to name the son after the father (v.59), so the neighbors were amazed when both Elizabeth and Zechariah said that his name will be John (v.61-62). On the supplied writing tablet, Zechariah confirmed Elizabeth’s words when he said, “His name is John” (v.63), which means “Jehovah’s Gift” or “God is gracious.”
Immediately, Zechariah was able to speak, and what did he say? Praise was the first thing that came out of his mouth. His joy that had been bottled up now explodes into praise to God (v.64). Unbelief had kept Zechariah bound up and silent, faith had freed him to praise God. When we believe God’s Word for our lives, we are able to participate fully in God’s plans and to share the “Good News” that He’s at work in our world.
The people were in awe of the events that were taking place (v.65). “What will this child turn out to be?” the neighbors wondered (v.66). The people knew that this miraculous birth was the work of the sovereign God, and that God was up to something special.
Trust in Christ and in God’s Word really does enable us to participate in God’s plans for our life and to share the “Good News” that He’s at work in our world. Do we have preconceived ideas that hinder us from receiving God’s good news? Do we live thinking “this could never happen to me?” Our we open to God’s surprises? Will we believe God for the humanly impossible to occur in our lives? Our family? Our church? Our country? Our world? Faith in Jesus frees us to live a life of purpose, gratitude, and praise. I think you and I have some extraordinary Christmas joy to share this season!
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Serving in the Silence Luke 1:5-17
A sermon preached on December 6, 2009 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:5-17
Focal Verse: “...But they had no child...” Luke 1:7
Background Passage: Malachi 4:4-6
The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is one of great faith and hope. We find their account recorded in Luke chapter one. Verse 5 provides the setting for the story. The reference to “the days of Herod” reminds us that this was a dark time in the world. Herod had been appointed as King of the Jews by the Roman Senate in 40 B.C. Herod the Great was an evil man (see Matthew 2) and a paranoid tyrant who held on to his throne at all costs, even executing family members he felt were a threat to his power. His paranoia led him to kill one of his ten wives and three of his children! This is the same Herod who had the children two years and younger in Bethlehem put to death.
Lights In The Darkness
In contrast to such a wicked person was a “priest named Zechariah...and his wife...Elizabeth.” They were two shining lights in a dark and crooked world. Zechariah was one of many priests in the days of Christ. From the time of David, in the Old Testament, the priests were divided into 24 courses or divisions, approximately 20,000 priests. All of the priests served during the three great Hebrew festivals: Pentecost, Feast of Tabernacles, and Passover. The remainder of each year each division served two periods of one week each. Zechariah was only one of many in “the division of Abijah.” Abijah was one of the heads of the priestly families (see Neh. 12:17 and 1 Chron. 24:10). Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, was also of priestly lineage. Luke 1:6 provides two glimpses into the character of Zechariah and Elizabeth which allowed them to shine in the darkness.
1. Righteous (On how a person is made righteous, see Gal. 2:16; 2 Cor. 5:21)
First, “they were both righteous before God.” To be righteous means to be just, to be in a right relationship with God. God declared them righteous by faith.
2. Obedient
Second, they walked in “all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” They “remembered” God’s law (see Mal. 4:4). The word walk in Scripture has to do with a person’s life, especially their conduct. Zechariah and Elizabeth conducted their life according to God’s Word. They patterned their lives after the divine standard. Biblical righteousness is an inward quality that manifests itself in obedience to God’s word
Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in their character, they were obedient to God’s word in their conduct, and they were steadfast in their confession of faith. They were committed to living out (expressing) their faith. What a testimony of faithfulness! Do we stand righteous before God? Right with God and right in our character? Are we patterning our lives after God’s standard? Do we give consistent and visible expression to our faith?
"But They Had No Child"
3. Childless
Verse 7 provides the first hint of tension in the story, but with it’s revelation we have a theological bombshell dropped which shatters the otherwise perfect world of Zechariah and Elizabeth. “But they had no child.” For a Jewish couple to be childless was thought to be a sign of God’s displeasure. At the very least, it resulted in shame and reproach (Lk. 1:25). To be barren was considered to be a tragedy, personally and socially. Why did they have no child? Elizabeth was barren (lit. sterile) and they were both beyond the age to have children, humanly speaking.
We can be sure they tried to have children for many years. It was probably always on their minds. It was a desire of their hearts. It was their constant prayer request. They tried, they longed for, and they prayed, but all they heard was SILENCE.
Some of you have known that kind of heartbreak. Longing for a child. Praying. Waiting. But only hearing SILENCE. What do you do when God is silent? How do you respond to God’s silence? Zechariah and Elizabeth could have reacted in anger and bitterness. Certainly all their friends had little ones running around. They watched their neighbors kids grow up while they grew old. While their friends counted their kids birthdays, Zechariah and Elizabeth counted wrinkles and saw their dreams of a family fade into time.
What do you do when your dream dies? What do you do when Tragedy strikes? What do you do when you stand on God’s word and nothing happens? Did not God say that he would give us the desires of our heart? What do you do when He does not? You can get angry, bitter, and jealous. You can even give up on God.
“But they had no child.” Insert your situation here. “But he had cancer.” “But they had a divorce.” “But they had big dreams that didn’t come to pass.” Do you know what Zechariah and Elizabeth did? They continued serving God even in the SILENCE.
Nothing had changed except the passage of time. Zechariah and Elizabeth still were steadfast in their devotion to God. Why? They did not let their personal tragedy keep them from loving and serving God. Nothing had changed. They were still right before God. They were still patterning their life after God’s Word. They were still worshipping God! They refused to let God’s SILENCE become a stumbling block.
"But If Not" Faith
Sometimes we inwardly long for a faith that will move mountains. Perhaps we should long for a faith that will keep praying when we can’t see the answer? How about a faith to be content when you have been dealt a hardship? Or a faith to be satisfied when all around you people are getting the things you desire? How about a faith that will hold to God’s word even when years go by? Or a faith to keep serving in the SILENCE? That is faith!
1. Daniel’s Three Friends (Dan. 3:18)
“But if not faith.” That is what three young Hebrew men had. You remember their story from the book of Daniel? Daniel’s three friends were about to be thrown in the fiery furnace. They were given a chance to recant their confession, but this was not an option for these young men of God. They told the king “our God is able to deliver us, but if not, we will still praise God anyway!” That is “but if not faith.”
2. Job (Job 13:15)
Job had that kind of faith. Here was a man who lost his home, his family, and his health. He lost it all. His friends forsook him. Even his wife! After all that he could say, “though He slay me ,yet I will trust in Him!” That is “but if not faith.”
There is a certain “Rose-Colored-Glass” theology today that has left many people disillusioned. The godly do suffer. Christians are not immune from life’s difficulties and heartbreaks. We serve Him in the tragedies and disappointments of life. We serve Him in our suffering, our sickness, and in the SILENCE. Why? Because he is our God! We are inseparably joined to God in Christ! There is a purpose in the silence and the silence won’t last forever.
3. The Heroes of the Faith (Heb. 11:39-40a)
Hebrews 11 is overflowing with people who served in the SILENCE. We often forget that it says about them that they never received their full reward. They died in faith. “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better” (11:39-40a). Some of them died with their prayers unanswered. They served in the SILENCE.
Does it require more faith to trust God and be delivered from the fire then to trust God and go through the fire? All around and in every church there are living flesh and blood epistles that bear the engravings of deeds of great faith and perseverance. The pages of their lives may be tattered but their bindings have been sewn with God’s enabling grace. Some of you have experienced great personal tragedy. You have had every human excuse to give up on God a long time ago but you haven’t. You still keep serving in the SILENCE. Zechariah and Elizabeth were people of great faith. They stuck to it. They learned to serve God in the SILENCE.
Silence Doesn’t Last Forever
Faith knows the SILENCE doesn’t last forever. “While he was serving” (verse 8). Don’t miss what is happening. Zechariah is getting ready to hear from God. What if he had quit? What if he had given up? What if he had said, “God, there is nothing happening.” It was while he was serving that God spoke to him. God broke the SILENCE.
Perhaps our dullness of hearing is due to the fact that we are not in a position where we can hear from God? God speaks in the suffering and the serving. How often do we miss out on hearing God because in our trial we cease serving and worshipping God? It is difficult to steer a car when the engine is not running. Keep your ears open to heaven. The latter rains are coming! Trials are not the time to drop out. They are times to press in even closer to Christ.
One of the highest honors for a priest was to offer incense (Lk. 1: 9). This was done twice a day, when morning and evening sacrifices were made. This represented the prayers of the people. The priest who was to offer the incense was chosen by lot. Since there were probably around 1,000 priests in each division, being chosen to burn incense on this day was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Being selected for this honor would be about as likely as winning the power ball this week! However, when God wants to speak and act he opens doors that no man can shut. Zechariah means “God remembers” and Elizabeth means “God’s oath.” On this day, God was not only remembering Zechariah and Elizabeth, He was remembering His eternal covenant of redemption.
While Zechariah was worshipping and serving, the angel of the Lord (Gabriel, Lk. 1: 19) appeared. Zechariah was understandably afraid. Gabriel announced that they would have a son. Their SILENCE would be broken.
Luke 1: 14-17 emphasizes John the Baptist’s role in God’s redemptive plan. However, there was even a larger purpose at work. God was breaking into the SILENCE of the world and John would be the forerunner who would announce the coming Messiah - Jesus! The fullness of the time had arrived (Gal. 4:4-6).
It is encouraging in our trials to remember that the Lord is working out His eternal purposes. His answered prayers for us are ultimately for His kingdom purposes. The story is always bigger than us. God broke the SILENCE of Zechariah and Elizabeth. But more than this, God broke 400 years of SILENCE. He was about to fulfill the longing of the people for the Messiah!
Zechariah and Elizabeth were willing to be used by God, they learned that God’s “No” is not forever, and they were faithful to the Lord in spite of their circumstance. What about us? Will we continue to serve God no matter what? Will we serve Him in our suffering and in our sickness? Will we serve Him when things are not going the way we thought? Will we serve Him in the SILENCE? That is faith! That is the kind of faith needed today. The kind of faith that will serve in the SILENCE, knowing that the SILENCE will not last forever. What breakthrough could be just ahead to end your SILENCE and bring glory to God? You may never know until you learn to serve in the SILENCE.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:5-17
Focal Verse: “...But they had no child...” Luke 1:7
Background Passage: Malachi 4:4-6
The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is one of great faith and hope. We find their account recorded in Luke chapter one. Verse 5 provides the setting for the story. The reference to “the days of Herod” reminds us that this was a dark time in the world. Herod had been appointed as King of the Jews by the Roman Senate in 40 B.C. Herod the Great was an evil man (see Matthew 2) and a paranoid tyrant who held on to his throne at all costs, even executing family members he felt were a threat to his power. His paranoia led him to kill one of his ten wives and three of his children! This is the same Herod who had the children two years and younger in Bethlehem put to death.
Lights In The Darkness
In contrast to such a wicked person was a “priest named Zechariah...and his wife...Elizabeth.” They were two shining lights in a dark and crooked world. Zechariah was one of many priests in the days of Christ. From the time of David, in the Old Testament, the priests were divided into 24 courses or divisions, approximately 20,000 priests. All of the priests served during the three great Hebrew festivals: Pentecost, Feast of Tabernacles, and Passover. The remainder of each year each division served two periods of one week each. Zechariah was only one of many in “the division of Abijah.” Abijah was one of the heads of the priestly families (see Neh. 12:17 and 1 Chron. 24:10). Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, was also of priestly lineage. Luke 1:6 provides two glimpses into the character of Zechariah and Elizabeth which allowed them to shine in the darkness.
1. Righteous (On how a person is made righteous, see Gal. 2:16; 2 Cor. 5:21)
First, “they were both righteous before God.” To be righteous means to be just, to be in a right relationship with God. God declared them righteous by faith.
2. Obedient
Second, they walked in “all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” They “remembered” God’s law (see Mal. 4:4). The word walk in Scripture has to do with a person’s life, especially their conduct. Zechariah and Elizabeth conducted their life according to God’s Word. They patterned their lives after the divine standard. Biblical righteousness is an inward quality that manifests itself in obedience to God’s word
Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in their character, they were obedient to God’s word in their conduct, and they were steadfast in their confession of faith. They were committed to living out (expressing) their faith. What a testimony of faithfulness! Do we stand righteous before God? Right with God and right in our character? Are we patterning our lives after God’s standard? Do we give consistent and visible expression to our faith?
"But They Had No Child"
3. Childless
Verse 7 provides the first hint of tension in the story, but with it’s revelation we have a theological bombshell dropped which shatters the otherwise perfect world of Zechariah and Elizabeth. “But they had no child.” For a Jewish couple to be childless was thought to be a sign of God’s displeasure. At the very least, it resulted in shame and reproach (Lk. 1:25). To be barren was considered to be a tragedy, personally and socially. Why did they have no child? Elizabeth was barren (lit. sterile) and they were both beyond the age to have children, humanly speaking.
We can be sure they tried to have children for many years. It was probably always on their minds. It was a desire of their hearts. It was their constant prayer request. They tried, they longed for, and they prayed, but all they heard was SILENCE.
Some of you have known that kind of heartbreak. Longing for a child. Praying. Waiting. But only hearing SILENCE. What do you do when God is silent? How do you respond to God’s silence? Zechariah and Elizabeth could have reacted in anger and bitterness. Certainly all their friends had little ones running around. They watched their neighbors kids grow up while they grew old. While their friends counted their kids birthdays, Zechariah and Elizabeth counted wrinkles and saw their dreams of a family fade into time.
What do you do when your dream dies? What do you do when Tragedy strikes? What do you do when you stand on God’s word and nothing happens? Did not God say that he would give us the desires of our heart? What do you do when He does not? You can get angry, bitter, and jealous. You can even give up on God.
“But they had no child.” Insert your situation here. “But he had cancer.” “But they had a divorce.” “But they had big dreams that didn’t come to pass.” Do you know what Zechariah and Elizabeth did? They continued serving God even in the SILENCE.
Nothing had changed except the passage of time. Zechariah and Elizabeth still were steadfast in their devotion to God. Why? They did not let their personal tragedy keep them from loving and serving God. Nothing had changed. They were still right before God. They were still patterning their life after God’s Word. They were still worshipping God! They refused to let God’s SILENCE become a stumbling block.
"But If Not" Faith
Sometimes we inwardly long for a faith that will move mountains. Perhaps we should long for a faith that will keep praying when we can’t see the answer? How about a faith to be content when you have been dealt a hardship? Or a faith to be satisfied when all around you people are getting the things you desire? How about a faith that will hold to God’s word even when years go by? Or a faith to keep serving in the SILENCE? That is faith!
1. Daniel’s Three Friends (Dan. 3:18)
“But if not faith.” That is what three young Hebrew men had. You remember their story from the book of Daniel? Daniel’s three friends were about to be thrown in the fiery furnace. They were given a chance to recant their confession, but this was not an option for these young men of God. They told the king “our God is able to deliver us, but if not, we will still praise God anyway!” That is “but if not faith.”
2. Job (Job 13:15)
Job had that kind of faith. Here was a man who lost his home, his family, and his health. He lost it all. His friends forsook him. Even his wife! After all that he could say, “though He slay me ,yet I will trust in Him!” That is “but if not faith.”
There is a certain “Rose-Colored-Glass” theology today that has left many people disillusioned. The godly do suffer. Christians are not immune from life’s difficulties and heartbreaks. We serve Him in the tragedies and disappointments of life. We serve Him in our suffering, our sickness, and in the SILENCE. Why? Because he is our God! We are inseparably joined to God in Christ! There is a purpose in the silence and the silence won’t last forever.
3. The Heroes of the Faith (Heb. 11:39-40a)
Hebrews 11 is overflowing with people who served in the SILENCE. We often forget that it says about them that they never received their full reward. They died in faith. “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better” (11:39-40a). Some of them died with their prayers unanswered. They served in the SILENCE.
Does it require more faith to trust God and be delivered from the fire then to trust God and go through the fire? All around and in every church there are living flesh and blood epistles that bear the engravings of deeds of great faith and perseverance. The pages of their lives may be tattered but their bindings have been sewn with God’s enabling grace. Some of you have experienced great personal tragedy. You have had every human excuse to give up on God a long time ago but you haven’t. You still keep serving in the SILENCE. Zechariah and Elizabeth were people of great faith. They stuck to it. They learned to serve God in the SILENCE.
Silence Doesn’t Last Forever
Faith knows the SILENCE doesn’t last forever. “While he was serving” (verse 8). Don’t miss what is happening. Zechariah is getting ready to hear from God. What if he had quit? What if he had given up? What if he had said, “God, there is nothing happening.” It was while he was serving that God spoke to him. God broke the SILENCE.
Perhaps our dullness of hearing is due to the fact that we are not in a position where we can hear from God? God speaks in the suffering and the serving. How often do we miss out on hearing God because in our trial we cease serving and worshipping God? It is difficult to steer a car when the engine is not running. Keep your ears open to heaven. The latter rains are coming! Trials are not the time to drop out. They are times to press in even closer to Christ.
One of the highest honors for a priest was to offer incense (Lk. 1: 9). This was done twice a day, when morning and evening sacrifices were made. This represented the prayers of the people. The priest who was to offer the incense was chosen by lot. Since there were probably around 1,000 priests in each division, being chosen to burn incense on this day was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Being selected for this honor would be about as likely as winning the power ball this week! However, when God wants to speak and act he opens doors that no man can shut. Zechariah means “God remembers” and Elizabeth means “God’s oath.” On this day, God was not only remembering Zechariah and Elizabeth, He was remembering His eternal covenant of redemption.
While Zechariah was worshipping and serving, the angel of the Lord (Gabriel, Lk. 1: 19) appeared. Zechariah was understandably afraid. Gabriel announced that they would have a son. Their SILENCE would be broken.
Luke 1: 14-17 emphasizes John the Baptist’s role in God’s redemptive plan. However, there was even a larger purpose at work. God was breaking into the SILENCE of the world and John would be the forerunner who would announce the coming Messiah - Jesus! The fullness of the time had arrived (Gal. 4:4-6).
It is encouraging in our trials to remember that the Lord is working out His eternal purposes. His answered prayers for us are ultimately for His kingdom purposes. The story is always bigger than us. God broke the SILENCE of Zechariah and Elizabeth. But more than this, God broke 400 years of SILENCE. He was about to fulfill the longing of the people for the Messiah!
Zechariah and Elizabeth were willing to be used by God, they learned that God’s “No” is not forever, and they were faithful to the Lord in spite of their circumstance. What about us? Will we continue to serve God no matter what? Will we serve Him in our suffering and in our sickness? Will we serve Him when things are not going the way we thought? Will we serve Him in the SILENCE? That is faith! That is the kind of faith needed today. The kind of faith that will serve in the SILENCE, knowing that the SILENCE will not last forever. What breakthrough could be just ahead to end your SILENCE and bring glory to God? You may never know until you learn to serve in the SILENCE.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
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