FAITHFULNESS AND PATIENCE, KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL PRAYER
Luke 1:8-20
AN ASSIGNED DUTY OF THE FAITHFUL
V:8-9. \” Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.\”
A. The Levite priest were divided into 24 groups. Because of the large number,
a priest would serve in the temple once in his life time.
1. Zacharias was chosen by lot to burn incense in the
evening.
2. In the Temple were two rooms, the Holy room and the Holy
of Holies separated by a Veil.
3. Zacharias service was in the Holy room of the temple
B. Only the High Priest from line of Aaron could enter the Holy of Holies.
1. This position was non functioning starting 175 years before
the time of Jesus.
2. Caiaphas was the Roman appointed High Priest from a wealthy
Sadducees sect.
3. The High priest office had degenerated to a political
position.
C. The incense burning symbolize the offering of prayers for the
Jewish people including the priest.
THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS
V:10. \” And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.\”
A. When the shepherd of the church is in prayer, the church members should also be in
prayer.
1. The Lord hears the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs
15:29
2. Our prayers ought to consistent and continuous.
3. Our prayers ought not be selfish.
4. We should be in prayer for each other.
B. There are times when the Church should come together in prayer
1. The place of prayer is the assemble of the saints.
2. The entire Church body should be in prayer for the leaders
of our nation who may not have God as the center of their
activities.
A WORD FROM THE LORD
V: 11-12. : And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.\”
A. Angels can bring good news or bad news from the Lord.
1. When we are serving the Lord faithfully, the news will be
favorable.
2. The Angel position himself on the right side of the altar.
3. The right side is a favorable side.
4. Jesus sets at the right Hand of the Father.
B. Fear is a normal human emotion.
1. From time to time we will be frighten by unusual and
unexpected circumstances.
2. But we must expect God to move in unexpected ways.
3. We can expect God to do the unexpected.
GOOD NEWS FROM THE LORD
V:13-14\” But the angel said to him, \”Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. \”
A. God hears our prayers, but He answers them in His time.
1. Because our prayers are not answered when we want, does
not mean God has not heard them and want answer them.
2. God has a purpose for delaying the answer to our prayers.
3. God\’s purpose for the lives of our children may be
different from ours.
4. Zacharias and his wife had been praying probably since
their marriage ceremony for a child.
a. God waited until they were past the child bearing age
to give them an answer.
b. God heard the prayer, but He waited until their prayer
fit His agenda.
B. The Angel foretold the birth of son and provided his Holy name; John.
1. The name \”John\” means the grace or mercy of the Lord.
2. To John and to Elizabeth their son was a favor from God.
3. A blessing to others is a blessing to us.
4. Our blessings are blessings to others.
C. This is the fulfillment of the prophecy given in Malachi 3 some 400 years earlier.
1. In Malachi the mission of this Zacharias\’s son is given.
2 John was born to prepare the way for the Messiah.
THE LIFESTYLE OF A GOOD SON
V:15-16. \”For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother\’s womb. 16 \”And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.\”
A. Can you imagine the years of frustration of a woman wanting a child and watching all her friends have children.
1. Can you imagine praying, watching and waiting for a child
with no answer from God for many years.
2. In his old age, Zacharias learns the mission and the
purpose of his long awaited son.
3. While other men had children in their young age, his son
would turn many sons toward God.
4. It should be a comfort to know in advance that your child
is destined to be obedient and a servant of the Lord.
a. His son would be filled with the Holy Spirit and
therefore a wise servant of the Lord.
B. God rewards us for the obedient lifestyle that we lead.
1. Zacharias reward was the promise of a godly child that
would make a positive difference in lives of others.
2. Zacharias\’s reward was the promise of a child that he would
not have to worry about.
POWERFUL PREACHING
V: 17 \”It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.\”
A. The revelation from the Angel to Zacharias was his son would be the lead to the Messiah with the preaching power of Elijah.
1. It is good to know that your children are destined for
greatness.
2. It good to know that your children will have a positive
influence on their peers.
B. How do you prepare your children for greatness?
1. The first thing you do is start with yourself.
2. Are you a positive influence for those around you?
3. Do you set a godly examples for others to follow?
4. Are you committed to following God\’s commands?
5. Are you committed to training up your children in the ways
of the Lord?
DOUBT IN THE PRESENT OF THE LORD
V:18. \” Zacharias said to the angel, \”How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.\”
A. When God reveals His plan for your life to you, don\’t question it with doubt.
1. Zacharias looked at the physical limitations of his
situation.
a. He and his wife were old and beyond the children age.
b. He probably didn\’t know any couples around him that had
children in their old age.
c. In his brief encounter with the Angel, he probably
didn\’t remember that Abraham and Sarah had a son in
their old age.
d. Whatever God did for someone, He can do for you.
2. Zacharias did not consider that there is nothing impossible
for God.
3. If God can create, then He can revive that which He
created.
B. The job of a Christian is to act on the Word of God in faith.
1. We don\’t have to know how God is going to do something.
2. We must believe that He can make it happen.
CONFORMATION OF GOD\’S WORD
V:19. \” The angel answered and said to him, \”I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.\”
A. Gabriel spoke with the authority of God.
1. Conformation of the Word is found in the Word.
2. The Word of God is full of good news for us.
3. The Word of God is our authority.
4. God has no physical limitations.
B. Since we are God\’s Children, we have no limitations that God
cannot overcome.
1.There is nothing that we can\’t accomplish under the power
of God.
2. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
3. Each believer plays a part in God\’s plan of redemption.
4. Each believer has been equipped for success in God\’s plan.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNBELIEF
V:20. \”And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.\”
A. Unbelief is an enemy to God\’s children.
1. Unbelief is the work of the devil in our minds.
2. Unbelief can cause us not to the seek the blessings God has
promised.
3. Unbelief can cause us to deny the truth of God\’s Word.
B. What God has for us is for us.
1. Zacharias didn\’t lose his promised son, but his unbelief did
cost him.
2. He lost his voice for nine months.
3. He lost the praise of his lips for nine months.
4. Notice, we don\’t hear from Zacharias again until the naming
of his son.
C. Even though Zacharias couldn\’t talk, he acted on the promise of
the Angel and had sex with his wife.
1. Even though Zacharias couldn\’t talk, he communicated with
wife the promised blessing of a son.
2. Whatever was dormant in their bodies, God regenerated,
revived or made alive.
3. What they couldn\’t accomplish on their own was accomplished
under God\’s control.
4. We must learn from our mistakes.
5. If unbelief in the Word cost you once, don\’t let it happen
again.
THANK GOD THAT ALL OUR BLESSINGS ARE NOT DEPENDANT ON US
Rev M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Toll Way
Houston, Texas 77041
For more lessons, visit me on facebook and my blogs
www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
