The Power of Prayer and the Problem of Doubt

The Power of Prayer

The Prayers of the People of Israel

Israel was praying for the restoration of God’s Kingdom promised by many OT Prophets:

Ezekiel 11:18–20 ESV

And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Isaiah 55:3 ESV

Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

Isaiah 59:21 ESV

“And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

Jeremiah 31:31 ESV

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,

For 400 years, the people anticipated the New Covenant promised by God through the prophets (Jeremiah 31:31).

The Prayers of Zechariah and Elizabeth

God used extraordinary births to highlight His covenant faithfulness:

Isaac’s Birth (Genesis 17-18, 21)

Significance: Isaac's birth to the elderly and barren Sarah is a direct fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham. God promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation (Genesis 12:2-3) and to bless all nations through his offspring. Isaac’s miraculous birth reaffirms the covenant promise, showing that God can overcome natural impossibilities to fulfill His word.

Moses' Birth (Exodus 2:1-10)

Significance: Moses' birth was not spectacular, but his protection by God and provision in Pharaoh's house was, prefiguring his importance to the bringing of the Mosaic Covenant illustrating God's providential care in fulfilling His promise to Israel. Moses’ birth and protection in Exodus set the stage for him to lead Israel out of Egypt, through whom God would establish the Mosaic covenant. This shows us God's covenantal faithfulness, God is a God who fulfills his promises to his people.

Samuel’s Birth (1 Samuel 1:19-20)

Significance: Samuel’s birth to the previously barren Hannah is marked as extraordinary. Hannah dedicates Samuel to the Lord, and he becomes a key prophet and judge who plays a pivotal role in Israel's transition to monarchy, an important phase in God's unfolding plan for His people. Samuel, who anointed David as king, played a critical role in the establishment of the Davidic covenant, where God promised that David's lineage would produce an everlasting king (fulfilled in Christ).

John’s Birth (Luke 1)

And just like God blessed Sarah, Hannah, and Jochebed, Moses' mother with the miraculous birth and provision of their sons, God would use the humble Elizabeth to fulfill his promises to Israel.

We must understand the importance of this moment. God is not just fulfilling his promise to Israel, but he is establishing his New Covenant, the last Covenant he would make with the whole world and the fulfillment of all the covenants of the Old Testament.

In the coming of John, who would herald the coming of Christ, God was fulfilling all the previous covenants.

This is the seminal moment in all of history.

Scriptural Fulfillment:

Malachi 4:5–6 ESV

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

And this is what God promises he will do in John in John 1:15-17.

So in the birth of John, and in this answer of to the prayers of Elizabeth and Zechariah, God is answering the prayers of all the faithful of Israel who were praying for God's fulfillment of his covenant promises.

This is an essential part of the coming of John, and ultimately the coming of Christ.

The Covenants Fulfilled in Christ:

Promise to Eve (Genesis 3:15): Jesus is the serpent-slayer, defeating Satan at Calvary.

Noahic Covenant: Jesus is the Ark, saving humanity from God’s wrath.

Abrahamic Covenant: Jesus blesses all nations (Galatians 3:16).

Mosaic Covenant: Jesus fulfills the law and sacrificial system (Hebrews 10:1-18).

Davidic Covenant: Jesus reigns eternally as the King in David’s lineage.John's birth signaled the beginning of the New Covenant, culminating in Jesus (Luke 22:20).

John's coming was the fulfilment of God’s larger redemptive plan. John’s birth signals the beginning of the fulfillment of the New Covenant, culminating in Jesus. Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, inaugurates the New Covenant in Luke 22:20.

And all of that began with the coming of John and the prayers of Zechariah and Elizabeth.

Wow! What an amazing truth!

The Problem of Doubt, but the Victory of God

Zechariah’s Doubt

Zechariah prayed for a child but doubted God’s answer despite Gabriel’s appearance. Despite the appearance of Gabriel in all of his glory, all Zechariah could see was his circumstances. Sometimes we can be in a place where our prayers do not match our expectations. Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed for a child, but they had reached a place where he did not expect it.

Lesson for Us: Sometimes our prayers do not match our expectations, leading to doubt.

James R. Edwards: “A holy heavenly creature appears to a holy priest who is standing in a holy place and performing a holy sacrifice. Holiness might appear as a prerequisite for an encounter with the ineffable, perhaps even suggesting that the angelic vision is Zechariah’s reward. Despite his cultic proprieties, Zechariah lacks the most important quality of a disciple—belief (v. 20).”

Redemption Comes Through Discipline

Zechariah’s doubt resulted in temporary punishment (silence), a remedial grace rather than rejection.

God’s Discipline as Grace:

God’s discipline (Hebrews 12:6) strengthens faith and brings growth. Despite Zechariah’s doubt, God used this discipline to draw him closer and eventually restore him (Luke 1:64).

Application: Even when we doubt, God does not abandon us. His discipline may change how we serve, but it is always redemptive.

Redemption Comes Through Praise

Zechariah’s response after his speech was restored (Luke 1:67-79) was one of praise, showing the result of God's loving discipline.

Luke 1:67–79 ESV

And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

God Redeems and Uses Broken People

John Piper: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him in the midst of pain and weakness. He uses our suffering, our limitations, and our brokenness not as a hindrance but as a means to show His strength, grace, and mercy. Our weaknesses become the stage for His power."

Tim Keller: "The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time, we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope."

Conclusion:

The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth illustrates the power of prayer and the importance of faith in God’s promises. Even when doubt arises, God’s discipline is an act of grace, ultimately leading us back to Him and His purpose. Through prayer and redemption, God’s covenant promises are fulfilled in Christ, starting with the birth of John the Baptist.

Call to Action:

Trust in God's Faithfulness Despite Your Doubts

Just as Zechariah experienced doubt when faced with the miraculous promise of a child, we too may find ourselves struggling with uncertainty. I encourage you to bring your doubts and fears before God this week. Remember, He is faithful to His promises, even when circumstances seem impossible. This week, take a moment each day to pray and reflect on an area of your life where you need to trust God more deeply. Write down your thoughts, and share them with a trusted friend or family member. Let's lift each other up in prayer, encouraging one another to trust in God’s ability to work wonders in our lives.

Pray with Expectation and Align Your Heart with God’s Will

The people of Israel prayed earnestly for the coming of the Messiah, and Zechariah and Elizabeth longed for a child, yet they struggled to expect God’s miraculous intervention. I challenge you to join me in praying with renewed expectation this week. As a community, let’s commit to pray together or gather in small groups to share our prayer requests. Don’t forget our week of prayer for Revitalization beginning November 3. As we lift each other up in prayer, let’s focus on aligning our hearts with God’s will and anticipating His powerful answers. Together, let’s encourage one another to expect great things from our faithful God.