It Is Time!!!
Notes
Transcript
Good morning ABC!
Doxology:
This is my Bible. It is God’s Holy Word. It is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path, and I will hide its words within my heart, that I might not sin against God. Amen!
Scriptural Reference: Luke 1:5-25
Context
Context
Today, we are going to see God begin to lay a foundation for the rest of humanity. It was that time!! That is the title of the message today… “It Is Time!”
God knew from the foundation of the world that His Son Jesus was going to come, but so many things had to take place before that time could come. One of the things that God decreed would take place before the coming of the Messiah, is that He would raise one up to go before Him. In other words, Christ would have a forerunner.
We know this forerunner to be John the Baptist, and today we get to see his story begin to unfold. God had decided it was time to put the last dispensation of time into motion: the dispensation of grace.
God had decided that the world had went long enough without a word from Him. It was time to speak.
God had decided that the world had drifted far enough from Him. It was time for His presence to be known.
God had seen the misunderstandings of His law and the old covenant. It was time for a new covenant. It was time for a better covenant.
Read Luke 1:5-25
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,
according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.
But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.
But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.
So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.
Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,
“Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Content
Content
It Was A Time of Faithfulness
It Was A Time of Faithfulness
Notice again verse 6. It said that Zacharias and Elizabeth “were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”
That is a big statement. Now it does not mean that they were perfect, but it does mean that they were intentional about their faithfulness.
Now let’s take a minute to remember the time in which they lived. They lived in a time where the Word of God had been distorted. The religious leaders of their day had added to the Word of God. They held people to standards that were never stated in the Word to begin with.
They also placed emphasis on the Word of God, meaning they held certain portions of the text to a higher standard than other portions of the text. In layman’s terms, they would pick and choose which commandments had more weight based on which commandments suited them best at the time.
They had also frown prideful in their calling. Because of their religious position, they held themselves to a higher position than they should have. Instead of being ministers of the Word, which is what all men called into the ministry are supposed to be, they considered themselves administers of the Word, which almost placed themselves in the position of judge and jury.
This means that in order for Zacharias and Elizabeth to be considered faithful in all things, blameless even, they would have had to study the Word of God for themselves and live faithfully unto it, not the standards of the current religious system or its self-appointed leaders.
It means they would have had to challenge the status quo and go with God, regardless of where the others landed. These two people were intentional about their faith.
Notice that God could have chosen from a number of people for this life-changing moment in history, but he decided to operate through a group of people who “were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”
If we truly want to be used of God, this is one of the best things we can do to place ourselves in a position to be used of Him. Being intentional in our faith helps to sharpen our spiritual senses so that we might see the opportunities God places in front of us, hear the Word of God as it speaks to us, and understand the guidance of the Holy Spirit as it tugs us in one direction or another.
Let us be faithful in this time, so that we might be equipped for the service of God when the time comes for Him to move.
It Was A Time of Fulfillment
It Was A Time of Fulfillment
Notice in v. 7 that Zacharias and Elizabeth had no children. Up to this point, Elizabeth had been barren. We don’t know how old they were, but we do know they were both “well advanced in years” according to the end of the verse.
We also know that they had both prayed consistently for a child, even up to this very moment.
In v. 13, when the angel spoke to Zacharias in the temple, he started by saying, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer has been heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”
Even in their old age, they were still praying for a child. God has now decided to answer that prayer, but the important thing to see is why.
Many times, we pray for specific things in life but either do not get what we ask for, or have to wait for long periods of time before we do. Why is that?
Now I don’t want to try and put every single scenario into one bucket here, but I do want to point out that many times, it is because of one particular reason: God’s timing and God’s plan.
See, God could have given them a child many years earlier, but then that child would not have been born at the right time to fall into the bigger plan God was working on.
Many times, our prayers our not misguided in what we are asking for, but rather when we are asking for it. God has a bigger plan He is working on that involves so much more than just us. We are all a part of something that is so much bigger than we dare to dream of.
So God answers our prayers in a time that fits His plan and in a way that brings glory to His name.
God was about to change the world, but before He could bring the Christ into the world, there had to be a forerunner go before Him.
It is one thing to get a son. It is another thing to get a son who is prophesied by God Himself to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Though the timing was off, the answer to their prayer was so much greater than they could have ever anticipated.
Many times, our prayer requests are less than they what they should be.
Their prayer was simply, “God, please bless us with a baby boy.”
Because of the day in which they lived, and their knowledge of God’s plan to send the Messiah into the world, their prayer could have been, “God, we desire a son. We pray you would bless us with one. God, we also know that you have promised to send the Messiah unto us. Maybe our son can aid in that process somehow. Father we would be honored to be a part of it, if you would be so gracious to allow it.”
How often do we consider the bigger plan that God is working on when praying for individual things in our life. Do we consider the financial needs of the church and its ministries when praying for individual financial needs? Do we consider the leadership needs of the church when praying for growth in our own spiritual life?
Let us be spiritually minded of the things of God when praying for individual needs in our own life!! Let us also be patient while the prayer requests we are asking for lines up with the will of God!!
It Was A Time of Foretelling
It Was A Time of Foretelling
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
Concerning the birth of John, the angel says first that Zacharias and Elizabeth are going to be filled with joy and gladness. Not only them, but many will rejoice at his birth.
Naturally speaking, this would go without saying. These two faithful people of God have waited for years for a son and now it is actually going to happen. How happy they must have been to receive this news.
On a deeper level, this was wonderful news. Having a child at their age could have very serious health risks. We all know this. So hearing the news that he would be born and that they would be happy is also to say that they could rest easy during the pregnancy and not worry about his coming.
Gabriel goes a step farther than that:
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
John was going to be dedicated to the Lord. Numbers 6, outlines what is known as the Nazarite Vow. The Nazarite Vow was a means of dedicating oneself, or someone else, to the Lord.
This was not a small thing. To take this vow meant that this person’s soul purpose was to live for the Lord. They could do nothing to be considered unclean. They could not be around dead bodies, even for a funeral, even their own parents or relatives. They could not drink alcohol or even grape juice. They could not cut their hair among other things.
Gabriel tells them that John is to be a Nazarite. This means that his upbringing is going to look differently than the normal upbringing of a child. As this child grows, the soul purpose of his life will be to serve the Lord. This means their teaching and training will be solely in preparation of his service to God.
It is also told that He will be full of the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. Wow!!!
What a statement! They have only stories of old concerning those who moved and operated under the leadership of God. Now there very son is going to full of the Holy Spirit even before he is born. What is that going to look like? How will they lead, guide, and direct their son when he will already be lead by the Lord Himself?
But Gabriel doesn’t stop there:
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
Wait a minute. Not only is he going to be a man of God, he is going to bring revival amongst the people. God is going to place him on a platform and use him in mighty ways.
As parents, we all want good things for our children. We all want them to grow up, come to know the Lord, and follow Him faithfully. But who could dream that their child would grow up to be a preacher? There may be a few, but I would say it comes to most as a surprise when their sons break the news that they have been called into ministry or their daughters say that they have been called to be a missionary.
Zacharias just got told that he would have a son, but then finds out he will not only be a blessing, he would bring revival. He would be full of the Holy Spirit of God and proclaim His Word.
What could this mean? Is he going to be a prophet? Is he going to be a preacher? Is he going to be a Pharisee or some other religious ruler? How is this going to take place?
V. 17 sheds some light on that:
He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
It is so much more than they could have ever imagined. He is not just going to be a preacher. He is not just going to be a man of God. He is not just going to proclaim God’s Word. He is going to be the forerunner of Christ!!!
Zacharias, being a priest of God, would have instantly recognized these words from Malachi:
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
Gabriel tells him, “Your son is going to be the forerunner of Christ!”
That is why he will be full of the Holy Spirit. That is why he will take the Nazarite Vow and be completely dedicated to the Lord. That is why he will turn the hearts of many to God.
He is coming to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
When Zacharias hears the fullness of the prophecy concerning his own son, he is taken back. The very thing he has been praying for for years, is now coming to pass, but because of how God has decided to answer the prayer, he is doubtful that he and his wife can accomplish it.
Because of this lapse in faith, Gabriel takes his voice.
Sometimes, in order for God’s voice to be heard, other voices must be made silent. God was about to scream into His own creation that He was still there and that He still cared for them, and nothing would stand in the way of that.
Zacharias had to go for the next 9 months or so without the privilege of speaking.
When God decides that it is time to do something in our lives, let us not be doubtful of what He decrees. God does not mistakes and if He chooses you or I to accomplish His will, let us be thankful for the opportunity to be used of Him, not doubtful that we are capable of accomplishing it.
It Was A Time To Be Frequented
It Was A Time To Be Frequented
The first coming of Jesus will never be repeated, but we are promised in the Scriptures that He is to return. The same book that outlined His first appearance has also outlined His second coming and we can be assured that it WILL take place.
Listen, IT IS TIME!!!
Just as Luke 1 was a time of fulfillment, we are drawing near to another time of fulfillment.
I fully believe the time is drawing near for the second return of Christ, and just as there was a time of preparation the first time, there will be a time of preparation the second time.
“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.
Though we are not given an exact time of Christ return, we are given signs of that second coming. Those signs are playing out before our very eyes and we need to be mindful of it.
Are you being intentional in your faith? Are you aligning yourself to the Word of God so that you might be ready when God decides to move? Are you preparing yourself for service unto God?
Parents, are you teaching your children intentionally the ways of the Lord? Are you making them aware that they don’t have to serve the world, but can pursue a life that is dedicated unto the Lord? Have you ever sat and discussed the possibility of them going into ministry somehow instead of going to a four-year college?
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
In these last days, many people have turned from God. They have given up completely on the thought of there being a higher power.
As the nation moves farther and farther away from God, more and more servants of the Lord will be necessary. More preachers and teachers of the Word will need to be called. More ministers of the Church will have to rise up.
Have you considered that this might be you? Have you prayed to God lately, asking how you fit into His plan, or how you might be of service?
It is time for the Church to be more faithful than it ever has been before. It is time for the Church to be more focused than it ever has been before. It is time for the Church to make a greater impact than it ever has before.
If we, like Zacharias and Elizabeth, will be intentional about our faith, aligning ourselves with the Word of the God, then we can be prepared to be used of God during one of the most crucial moments of the Church Age, the second coming of Christ.
Let us be intentional about spreading the Gospel to every inch of our community. Let us be intentional about raising up young men and women fit for service unto God. Let us be intentional about our willingness to serve, wherever God calls us. Let us be intentional in the constant filling of the Holy Spirit, so that we might move and operate in the willingness of God!
Commitment
Commitment