Services | Doubt After Hearing Good News

Bulletin

December 30, 2018

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth.”

SCRIPTURE READING – Psalm 89:1

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”
“Only King Forever”

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
MESSAGE Pastor Joe

“THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS THE MESSIAH”
“Doubt After Hearing Good News”

Time of Reflection
PRAYER TIME –
“Never Once”

GIVING OF SELVES AND OUR OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC – By Pru Hungate

PRAISE AND WORSHIP
“One Step Away”
“Your Promises”
“The Stand”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Benediction “Only Jesus”

SERMON NOTES
Luke 1:5 – 7 The couple described
Luke 1:8 – 17 Angelic announcement of the birth of the forerunner to the Messiah
Malachi 4:5 & 6 Prophesy of the coming of Elijah
Luke 1:18 – 20 Zacharias doubts the message
Luke 1:21 – 23 People wonder about the delay
Luke 1:24 & 25 The message comes to pass, Elizabeth pregnant

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Scritpures

Luke 1:5 – 7 The couple described

Luke 1:5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of 2Abijah; and he had a wife 3from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Luke 1:6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

Luke 1:7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

Luke 1:8 – 17 Angelic announcement of the birth of the forerunner to the Messiah

Luke 1:8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,

Luke 1:9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Luke 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

Luke 1:11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

Luke 1:12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.

Luke 1:13 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.

Luke 1:14 "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Luke 1:15 "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.

Luke 1:16 "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.

Luke 1:17 "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."

Malachi 4:5 & 6 Prophesy of the coming of Elijah

Malachi 4:5 "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.

Malachi 4:6 "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse." 1. Or revere

Luke 1:18 – 20 Zacharias doubts the message

Luke 1:18 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."

Luke 1:19 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.

Luke 1:20 "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."

Luke 1:21 – 23 People wonder about the delay

Luke 1:21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.

Luke 1:22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.

Luke 1:23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

Luke 1:24 & 25 The message comes to pass, Elizabeth pregnant

Luke 1:24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,

Luke 1:25 "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men." Jesus' Birth Foretold

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Transcript of Service

You would be assigned times and so your family in your line would take. Let's say December and so in December. Your family would be the priest who would perform service in the?
Temple area weather would be the burn sacrifices to offer the sacrifices to put the bread in on the table of Shewbread or to make sure that there was oil in the menorah or in Zacharias case too.
Um to enter the temple to offer burn incense. Now the for those of you who are aware. I'll just again in the holy place. There was the on this side. The table of Shewbread, where there's 12 loaves of bread one loaf.
The tribes of Israel on the right side was the menorah a 7 branch candle, which provided light and there would be daily performance of that and then in the middle was the altar of incense there.
Bring the call from the.
The altar outline bring it in and then place in sense, which would then provide a cloud if you will that would fill the holy place and then once a year. Beyond that, with the holy of Holies, where the Ark of the covenant was and they would only go there once and so it's told us that by law.
Nor determine who gets to do what it was determined that Zacharias gets to go in an offer the.
The incense.
The Altar of incense has a specific not only just place, but it's symbolic meaning.
It is where and we're going to see where the prayers of the Saints of prayers of the believers. It's symbolic that this incense placed on this altar and fill in the room is representative of the prayers of the Saints.
In case you think I'm making it up check revelation tells us that and and also in Hebrew, TH and so.
There is this symbolic aspect of it more than just while you throw a bunch of incense on it, and smoke. So it representative of prayers, so Zacharias has been determined to do that and the whole multitude of the peoples were in prayer outside at the hour.
And so again not only is it symbolic its actual people are praying while they're offering the incense offering which is symbolic. So you got actual prayer, symbolic prayers happening all during this time.
And an Angel of the Lord appeared to him standing to the right of the altar of incense and so when Zacharias goes into perform this and place. The instance on the loan behold to the right which would be on this side of that alter things an Angel something you don't see everyday although.
Necessarily know that is, he just gets to do it this day.
But I'm sure that in as well, Reid's pretty troubling because he's expecting to be in there alone.
And there is knowledge that if you were to go into the holy of Holies and God rejects that offering he kills you.
And that was so well known that they would put bells on the priest so they could hear him is if they stop here in the bells, they said. Well, something happened, and then they had a rope tight around them so they can drag the body out so Zacharie shows up.
Where swarthy OK to just show up and there's an Angel standing on the right side of the instance?
Zacharias was trouble when he saw the Angel in fear gripped him and I don't blame him.
He's probably thinking he's a dead man.
Plus it seems that almost every time somebody sees an Angel. There's a reaction and oftentimes it's fear.
And so Zacharias has gripped with fear.
But the Angel said to him do not be afraid Zacharias now notice for your petition has been heard.
Notice he is going in there to the altar of incense to offer prayers symbolically for all the people and Dangerous is but I've it's your prayer has been her.
Not everybody's prayer were not your prayers, Zacharias has been hurt.
And your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you will give him the name John.
And you will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth or 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 and he will turn away many of the sons of Israel to the Lord.
Their God.
It is, he who will be who will go as a 4 runner 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.
So this Angel says you're going to have a son, you're going to name him John but he's not going to be just any boy. He is going to be one who's going to turn his people back their hearts back to God and back to their fathers and he is going to be the one who's going to prepare the way for the Messiah.
Forerunner to that and the Angel gives us a little clue when he says turn their hearts back to the Fathers in the children and to the prepare and if you will take a look at Malachi Chapter 4.
It says this.
As a prophecy behold. I'm going to send you a lie did the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord and he will restore the hearts of the fathers, who their children in the hearts of the children to their fathers that.
I will not come and smite the land with a curse.
Now even to this day, the Jews believe this prophecy.
And if you have ever had passed over at our in our congregation or if ever celebrated it in a Jewish Home. They have a table and a setting for elije.
Because they're waiting for Alijah to come so that the Messiah might come.
The sad thing is.
The lidocaine.
But the scripture seems to always have a duplicate it.
Prophecy.
I believe has a scripture says that in essence. John will come in the spirit and power of Elijah.
I also believe.
Before the second coming of Jesus.
Alijah will come again? So when are Jewish friends have a separate plate and glass for alijah they're not that wrong?
Yes, he'll be coming again, but there's a special baby and the reason that this couple.
Didn't have a child?
Because the timing was in red for them to have a child.
Because it was in ready until the Messiah was ready to come and then this couple would have this son to be a forerunner to the Messiah.
So maybe in our lives.
When things don't go quite the way they we think they ought to or God is not on our timetable.
Maybe that he has a plan.
And maybe we ought to let his plan.
Being works.
Rather than our and rather than saying Oh God is mad at me because this isn't happening. Maybe it's because God knows better and is not a punishment for a sin.
But a part of God's sovereignty.
And so alive Zacharias.
Being a priest being religious and coming from a people.
Who got his appeared to be foreign Angels have appeared reducing for an coming from a people who their first first father, who they're always saying our father is Abraham Well, let's think back about Abraham. When did Abraham have eyes it?
When he was old.
And when did Sara conceiving give birth when she was old God is done this before?
So because God had done this before, and God is God and he's the people of God. He's going to say, Alright Yippee. This is going to be awesome, God do it.
Zacharias said to the Angel how will I know for certain for an old man and my wife is advanced in years.
Here's a great thing. The Scriptures always talk about people just the way they are.
Zach arises just the way we are.
But God the circumstances seem to indicate that this isn't gonna happen is. I'm an old. Dude, my wife. You know, she's she's advanced and ears.
Doesn't matter the gods under before?
Doesn't matter that God is part of the Red Sea. It doesn't matter that God has stopped the sun and distract it doesn't matter that God has done with all the things that God is done. How do I know for sure that you're going to do this?
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.
And behold, you shall not you shall be silent and unable to speak and so the day when these things take place because you did not believe my word, which will be fulfilled in their proper time now want you to notice a couple things here.
Don't get an Angel marriage.
And again.
Praise God that God is God could you know?
If it were me, I might say you know you're right you guys are old think will choose somebody else.
God doesn't say that.
Their lack of faith does not change God's plans and your lack of faith does not change. God's plans your believe does not determine what God does God does? What God is going to do.
It's just that look at the opportunity that Zacharias Lossed because he doubt it.
Think of the stories he could have told.
I went over and there's Gabriel and I had a conversation and it was awesome. And he told me all about what are little boys going to be and he's going to grow up and he's going to be the forerunner of this Messiah, which is good news. Dominic is my boys going to do this. But guess what? The Mathias coming, the one that we've been praying for.
I'm hoping that the Romans will get out of our way, and we're hoping that he will rule and reign forever that guy, he's coming.
But guess what because he doubted he had to be silent.
What's the doubts in our lives silence our testimony.
Instead of having the opportunity to share the good news and be excited about the good news we stay silent.
But again,
It's going to be fulfilled your doubts.
Do not change God's plans.
For the people were waiting for zachariassen were wondering at the delay in the temple. But when he came out. He was unable to speak to them and they realize that he had seen a vision in the temple. He didn't see a vision, he saw an Angel.
And had a conversation.
And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.
He's trying to tell him what's going on, but was unable to.
'cause he doubt it.
And when the days of his priestly service were in did he went back home.
After these days of Elizabeth, his wife became pregnant.
Well, I thought they were advanced in age.
'cause the Angel of the Lord told them what was going to happen and it happened because with God, nothing is impossible.
Your circumstance doesn't dictate what God can do.
So she becomes pregnant and she kept herself in seclusion for 5 months, saying.
This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when he looked with favor appan me to take away my disgrace from among men.
I don't want to be too harsh on Elizabeth.
And we're not told all that she feels and whatever.
To me kind of the sad thing about this praise.
Is it is about her?
God final favor of pawn me and took away my disgrace.
And yes, he did.
But that little baby inside of you.
To this day, we call John.
John the Baptist or John the baptizer.
Who was that if you will the Billy Graham of his day?
Who preached and people repented and got baptized in started following God and prepared the way for several of Jesus' S disciples and some of John's disciples went to be with Jesus as his disciple.
Because John was so effective that he pointed the way to the Lord and not to himself.
That's the little boy be born who's going to be born from Elizabeth and Zachariah is she should be saying it seems to me and maybe but it's not recorded.
Thank you God that you're sending the 4 Runner and I get to be a part of it.
But thank you even more that the Messiah is coming. The prayer that we have been praying day after day after day. That's a Messiah might come and that he might be Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
And that's going to take place.
But instead thank you God for showing favor on me and taking away my disgrace.
But isn't that kind of how we are God will do something miraculous and will be so bioptic to think it's about us.
When it's dead.
It's about his plan and what he's doing and what he's going to do.
So.
This couple.
The world thought.
Something wrong with them.
But God knew better.
So we need to also not judge by circumstances or appearance.
Even David was ignored by his own father and others because his older brothers look the part of the King.
But God sees the heart.
And determined that David should be.
Example after example after example in the scriptures are for us to get our eyes off of circumstances under what God can do.
And if God can bring to this couple a little baby.
Will have the Holy Spirit in him before he's even born?
Can you imagine? What God can do in your life?
And even while you're praying for others.
God can still answer your prayer.
And even while others are praying for other things, God can answer what's needed.
I'm sure a number of people were praying that the Messiah would come.
And God says before the Messiah comes there is a necessary element. It's called the spirit of Elijah.
And I'm doing that.
Today we speak the Second coming of Jesus or other things that need to happen before maybe we should be praying for those things.
And then having the ability to not only pray for them, but to see them coming to path.
And I bet the people who were really excited at this announcement for those who knew the more to God, who said before the coming of the Lord. The spirit of a liges coming and when they heard that they were filled with joy.
Accept that the Haraya's couldn't speak.
So.
Remind you again and again and again.
Your circumstance.
Whether it's wealth or poverty.
Wellness or disease.
Family.
Or loneliness.
Is not determined whether God loves you are as abandoned you?
As never will God abandon you never not want.
He will always be there.
Even when we send he does not abandon us for nothing can separate us from the love of God not even ourselves.
So.
When you get a flat tire don't think we're gods mad at me.
Somebody put a nail out in the street.
Or.
You are diagnosed with some illness.
Not as it's never want stop loving you.
Perhaps he wants to walk with you through that so that you have even more precious relationship.
He's not doing it to you, but he's doing it for you.
That you might realize the joy of being in his breath.
And then the last.
Offering of advice.
If the lane JE love the Lord appears to you.
Believer or if you don't believe him keep your mouth shut.
Is there vault maybe ended up being checked for a long time?
In all of God's People said.