A Life Enterupted
Notes
Transcript
5 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. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. 8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 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. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 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. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
1. what The Lord is doing is not always evident to us in the moment, however almost always evident in hind sight.
1. what The Lord is doing is not always evident to us in the moment, however almost always evident in hind sight.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
We don't always see what God is doing.
In the early time of our relationship with God he moves broadly and loudly. This allows us to see for ourselves the character of God.
The Lord desires for us to trust Him
That trust takes time to build.
if you hang out with me for any length of time you will hear me talk about seasons Zechariah and Elizabeth.
many of us are waiting for things:
Restoration of Children.
Promotion at work.
a vehicle.
a spouse.
a ministry.
2. Zechariah and Elizabeth are the first Ministry Couple. They Teach us the importance of unity in a marriage.
2. Zechariah and Elizabeth are the first Ministry Couple. They Teach us the importance of unity in a marriage.
Zechariah and Elizabeth both came from ministry families.
they had to deal with the disappointment of bareness.
their are disappointments in every life and our marriages are no different.
We have to be able to walk in forgiveness. While understanding that forgiveness is a process, I want to encourage you that the longer that we hold on to forgiveness the harder it is on your spiritual life. bitterness kills grace.
Next as ministers of the gospels we must put our spouse first. (notice this: I didn’t say put our family first i said spouse for a reason.) the spouse comes first then the family then the ministry after that.
Ministry families are not the only families that have to find a way to put family first. Medical staff and emergency workers have find creative ways to put family first. any kind of shift worker has to find ways to put family first. it can be done. it must be done. our spouses should never hate god because of your service to the Lord.
a minister can minister from a place of disunity. it makes it tremendously hard. when you are ministering from a place of disunity it changes a persons personality. which means that it warps gods gift.
The minister cannot get all of their fulfillment from their ministries. spouses have to realize that part of their ministry that encouragement and time is a part of your ministry. I know this because I am married to a pastor. Part of my ministry is being the voice of reason when discouragement rears its ugly head.
3. Zechariah and Elizabeth are prophetic signs of a new beginning.
3. Zechariah and Elizabeth are prophetic signs of a new beginning.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.
before this mornings text God had been silent 400 years.
The last thing the lord said was
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 6 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.”
Jesus called John “Elijah”
9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
God spoke concerning redemption.
He did not speak again until the season had come for fulfillment.
The place where Johns father went to minister was the eighth division. Eight is the number of new beginnings.
The Lord begin to speak and started doing a new thing.
it’s not truly a new thing the Lord is doing. its the thing that he promised to do already.
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
