Lessons From The Wilderness
Notes
Transcript
Open your bibles and turn with me to the book of Luke
1:57-80
I
appreciate your feedback through the gospel of Luke thus
far!
I
have enjoyed preaching through this book of scripture.
Though, I must say, it hasn’t been easy.
Enjoyable….rewarding,
but NOT easy!
That
is true, especially in light of taking a narrative and
seeking
to bring the story of
out of 1st Century and make relevant applications
in 2025.
My goal each week is to communicate the truth
of the text.
I
want to preach the meaning that is there…not bending or making
it fit…
But,
also want to aim it toward the heart of the hearer (that’s me and you)
So that we can make relevant
applications of the text.
I try to write my points in such a way
that drives towards application.
To
get you thinking in that direction while I preach.
So, to help application, begin
to ruminate in your mind.
While also, seeking to leave room for the Holy
Spirit to convict as well as
work in your heart as you hear the word
preached and as you read it.
That was all the more challenging as I work
through last week’s and this morning’s text.
How
do I seek to bring applications from 2 personal songs?
One
of Mary’s about Jesus!
And
the other of Zechariah about John the Baptist.
That takes work – it doesn’t just come.
I
often rewrite my outline, about 3 or 4 times before I settle in a particular
aim and focus!
But as I studied and read this text, over
and over….It became clear of Luke’s burden!
He’s
answering a primary question that perhaps you and everyone
else have been asking!
- Who is John
the Baptist?
I was very intrigued by Luke’s use
of the word “all” in verses 63-66
He
uses this term 5 times in 3 verse….
It
was certainly the talk of the town!
Everyone from everywhere
was asking everything they could.
to understand all they could about who John would
be!
Luke’s answer through His birth announcement,
which is demonstrated in Zechariah’s song
In light of Jesus
In light of John’s Message
In light of John’s arrival
And it’s interesting that Luke answers
this question about John the Baptist!
Through
Zechariah’s testimony and Zechariah’s experience!
Who’s
just gone through a season of 9month of muteness and deafness
Sermon Summary: Some lessons can only be learned in the wilderness.
Because
here is a man emerging from his own wilderness,
singing of his son, whose
life is categorized by a voice crying from the wilderness!
What is God teaching us here through John
the Baptist...
And
really, through Zechariah and the wilderness?
I’ve
got 6 points,
and we are going to FLY!!!
I. God teaches us humility through affliction (v.57-66)
I. God teaches us humility through affliction (v.57-66)
The scene is set…
Mary, has stayed with Elizabeth
until right up the time for her to give birth!
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
The
neighbors know Elizabeth’s story….
They know
this isn’t “supposed” to happen under ordinary circumstances!
But they also clearly recognized that this was no ordinary
circumstance!
Rather,
the Lord has shown Elizabeth, who was barren, GREAT MERCY!!
And apparently, it’s a party – because not only does
the family arrive at the home!
But
the neighbor shows up as well!
And so, accordance
with the Law and the custom in Israel –
The child was to be circumcised in line
with the covenant sign
made with Abraham
and his descendants!
Further, it was custom that often, the
children would receive their name at this time….
perhaps in
keeping with the tradition of a name change at the time of
the covenant inaugurating.
59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,
Now, it’s worth reminding you that Gabriel’s
announcement to Zechariah
wasn’t only
that His wife would have a son!
But also His name was to
be called John!
And leave it to the neighbors and the rest
of the family to concoct a plan for a family name!
JR!!!
Zechariah
– 2.0….
Certainly – noble… certainly honorable to Zechariah….
perhaps even
speaks to the type of man he was!
But it wasn’t
the plan….
Enter
MOMMA bear….60 but his mother answered,
Luke 1:60-61
“No; he shall be called John.”
60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.”
FIRM ENOUGH!! – All right, end of discussion!
BUT IT’s NOT!!
Luke 1:61
61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.”
I
mean, this is going great….like who invited these people anyway!!
Enter Zechariah!!
62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.
And
suddenly, you are reintroduced to his situation!
Of Gabriel’s
words to him in v. 20
20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that
these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be
fulfilled in their time.”
And it’s subtle – but apparently, he was also deaf,
because the people were signing to him, rather than speaking to him!!
And he gets out WRITING
TABLE….This is prior to KINDLE or APPLE!
And HE WRITE IT OUT…..HIS. NAME. IS. JOHN!!!!
HELLO – WHAT MOMMA SAID!!
AND THEY ALL WONDERED!! ….
I mean, doesn’t he thinking Zachariah would have been a better name than JOHN?
I mean, of all the names….we’re going with JOHN?
MMMHMM!! - JOHN!!
Wouldn’t it be nice – to continue the family name?
And
the family history…and legacy….
oh yea, but
not at the expense of ME SPEAKING!!!
AND what we see, is a couple of things!!
One that Zechariah, now has caught up with Elizabeth’s
faith!
HE TOO….now agreeing with ELIZABETH with what Gabriel spoke to them!!
HE NAME. IS. JOHN!!!
Just like my wife said and just like Gabriel told me and I doubt!
But now
I believe!
But Zachariah is also humbled here!
For 9
long months now,
he’s been walking
through hardship
and affliction and suffering because of his unbelief!
And the Lord has taught Him – the
importance of
taking God at His word, and living in
FAITH!!
And not trusting in
the confidence of wishes of his own flesh or family lineage!!
HIS NAME IS JOHN!!!! – He’s not being named after me!
HE’s
being named in accordance with the word of God!!
64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
And the people
respond – they know what is happening!
God is at work!
65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
In the same way that Zechariah feared when the Lord spoke through the angel!
In the same way Mary feared when the Lord spoke through Gabriel!
The people go from wondering what is happening…..
To hear the once mute man speak again……to FEAR!!
They know the Lord is at work!!!
Word begins to
spread about John….he’s the talk of the
town….
WHAT is going on?
WHO is this child
going to be?
For God is at work among HIM!!....the Lord is with HIM!!
And who better to
learn from John, than His own father….
Parent, you know your children teach you lessons all the time!!
And Zechariah learned….of the Lord’s
growth in him, through his 9 month affliction!
Teaching him humility,
teaching him what it means to
believe!
Teaching Him faith!!
And I’m here to tell you, there
are some lessons,
that the only way you can learn what God wants….
is through what feels like a
dessert and isolation
from anything of normalcy!!
Nothing is
going right; constantly frustrated!
I can’t
even speak…..ABOUT TO
PULL MY HAIR OUT!!
GIVE ME MY TABLET AGAIN!!
THIS IS DRIVING ME BONKERS!!
WILDERNESS….that
the Lord teaches us!! Through affliction!!
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II. God teaches us that we always have a song to sing, even in hardship. (v.67, v.64)
II. God teaches us that we always have a song to sing, even in hardship. (v.67, v.64)
This is super
quick….I also didn’t include it, but I just found it to be worth
saying
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
Luke continues the pattern of
the work of the Spirit!
First John, then Elizabeth, then MARY….now
Zechariah…., finally, the PRIEST!
And he just like Elizabeth
and Mary – is about erupt in singing!!
I think that is likely
what he’s doing back in v.64 –
when
His tongue was loosed…his mouth was opened, and HE spoke Blessing God!!
That, but now, he’s
about to be singing a song unto the Lord!!
Luke’s2nd hymn in His gospel…the BENEDITUS!
And here is Zechariah and the
crest of singing!
This
didn’t come from anywhere!
This
came from a place of faith!
It
came from a wilderness wandering!!
And from the silence and
solitude of Zechariah’s hardship…
comes forth a song of celebration!!
And it teaches
us….even though it may get dark and difficult!
We
still have hope!
We,
as I ended last week, always have a reason to sing!!
And I know for me – sometimes
the encouragement that I need….
Because
maybe, like me….sometimes…
And
even right now, personally, you are just going through hardship!
It’s a season of
trial….it’s a season of suffering!!
Beloved, let
me encourage you to NOT WAIT until the trial is over to SING!
BELOVED SING THE SONG of HOPE in the night of
DARKNESS until the morning comes!!
And I cannot tell you the number
of times that I’ve clung to a verse of scripture!
In
valleys of deep darkness!!
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like
a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour…… 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being
experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And
after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called
you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen,
and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever
and ever. Amen.
And it serve
as like a NORTH STAR in the night… in the midst of incredible pain
and difficulty!!
TO REMIND MY HEART AND MIND – I know that morning is coming!
I know that hope is coming!
This isn’t the end….and even
if it is, I’ll be ok, I HAVE HOPE BECAUSE OF
CHRIST!
BELOVED – we always have a song to sing….even
in hardship!!
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III. God teaches us of His faithfulness in our waiting (v.68-75)
III. God teaches us of His faithfulness in our waiting (v.68-75)
Now – enter the Benedictus!
Which
comes from the opening words – BLESSING
or BLESSED!!
I love this –
because Elizabeth and Mary, speak from more experience!
Though, Mary
has theological undertones!
She
modeled much of her song from Hannah’s Pray (1 Sam 2)
Elizabeth, just
sorted belted out in spontaneity!
MARY you are BLESSED!!
Now, here comes my favorite!
ZECHERIAH….THE THEOLOGIAN!! …
The priest is about to sing!!
He is filled with the
Spirit….and prophesized…..and it’s written in a hymn form!
There are essentially
2 parts to the song….. the Benedictus proper…
And let’s call it the Benedictus minor.
The first is
speaking of Jesus (v.68-75)
And the
rest, speaking of John the Baptist (v.76-79)
Again, Part of Luke’s point
is that John the Baptist is known in light of Christ!
But Zechariah
attempts…. moreover successfully connects Christ to both Abraham and
DAVID!
Luke, through Mary –
has
made the connection already of Jesus’s connection
To the
offspring and promise of Abraham!
Now, Luke, through Zechariah
Is making
the connection of Jesus to the offspring of David!!
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
That is and that’s what Zachariah will go on to describe
in eloquent and poetic words!
Of God’s
remembrance and redemption of his people…
In
describing the EXODUS...and thereby pointing to a new, better
one through Jesus!
And
identifying God’s people through the covenant with Abraham….
In addition, connection the Messiah to the kingdom
of David!!
Signified
– even here with the language of the HORN of SALVATION…
A metaphor of STRENGTH and might
mention often by David of the horn
of God’s deliverance!
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
Zachariah had been at least 9
months in silence…
But the silence of Zachariah was in many ways overshadowed
by the silence Israel had experienced since the Lord had spoken,
here by the PROPHETS
from of OLD! (v.70)
Now….nearly 400
years.
And beyond that, hoping and waiting for the messiah of the promise of
old….
going all the way back to Genesis 15, in the promise to Abraham!
And they lived through the EXODUS….
and then the promise made
to David of an heir that would come to sit on his throne!
And
then through CAPTIVITY in BABYLON and ASSRYIA
And the people waited in each generation,
hoping the fulfillment of these promises would come!
And they lived, and they died, clinging to hope that the Messiah would come!
And Zechariah helps us see how each of those
threads come together in
Jesus!
Notice the use of Exodus language –
Of salvation from enemies (v.71 and v.74)….and that Israel might serve the Lord (v.74)
He speaks of God remembering His holy Covenant,
just as God saw Israel
groaning in the Exodus,
and He remembered His covenant with Abraham (Ex 2:24)!
And Zechariah’s point here….is that Jesus will bring a new and better Exodus….
That when the Messiah comes... he will bring a deliverance again from our enemies!
And then we will be
redeemed from the oppression and bondage of sin and death!
And through Jesus, that New Exodus is
coming, and drawing near.
God has not forgotten; he is faithful and will bring it to
pass!
He uses the language of
the COVENANT…
Again, of both David….and the promise given to him, in v.69
And again in v.72….and following,
speaking of the God’s
covenant with Abraham!
In which both the Abrahamic Covenant and
the Davidic Covenant –
Zachariah sees
as being fulfilled in the coming of Jesus the
Messiah!!
Zachariah anticipates the FULFILLMENT of
God’s Promises
to HIS PEOPLE through Jesus! …..God is faithful!
HE is AT
WORK…. accomplishing what He promises he
would – through Jesus!!
He is the offspring of OFFSPRING OF ABAHRMA!
And
He is the offspring of the KING!!
And though they had been waiting
for deliverance…and freedom from
their enemies!
And they had been longing for God to come and defeat
their adversaries!
For Him to come and fulfill the
promises that He had to Abraham!
To look upon His covenant with Israel and Remember!
To bring forth the King from the lineage of David –
to rule and reign over
them in victory as a faithful and righteous
king!!
And they have waited and waited and waited and waited!!
And that waiting is intensified by a PRIEST –
who’s been sidelined…and waiting in AGONY for 9
months….
waiting on GOD to deliver on His promise!
And NOW – God has come!
He is at work!
The Lord is FAITHFUL….HE
HAS REMEMBERED!!
HE CAN BE TRUSTED!!
Zachariah knows the
birth of
His son, is signifying the coming of another SON!!
And Zachariah erupts in song – to say….and God is faithful!
God is on the move!
I
know what this means!!
God’s kingdom is coming!!
The messiah is about to COME!!
HE HAS REMEMBERED….
and He’s about to bring a better
EXODUS,
through a BETTER SON and BETTER
OFFPSRING….
and soon they will
know a better COVENANT THROUGH JESUS!!
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IV. God teaches us the purposes of His plan (v.76-79)
IV. God teaches us the purposes of His plan (v.76-79)
The point I was
pushing towards in the last point was twofold!
God
is faithful in bringing the Messiah, who is Jesus….
even if it is longer than anticipated!
NAMELY - God can be trusted as faithful,
even in our waiting!
But also, that John the Baptist will
be seen and understood
in Light
of the Messiah
That Zachariah’s
son, pointed backward to the promises of God (He would be like a prophet!)
And
forward to their coming
fulfillment through Christ!
And
the Messiah’s coming –
would be announced by a forerunner,
who is John!!
And so – Zechariah’s
song – the majority of it, isn’t even about His own SON!
It’s about Jesus!!
It’s not until v. 76
– that he even begins speaking of His own son, JOHN!
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
That John
isn’t the main actor here…Instead, he points to Jesus!!
And that was God’s design!
In
sending a messenger!
One
who would go before the Lord and prepare the way for
the Lord!!
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
That though John’s place in
the story of God wasn’t first…his role
was vital!
And the announcement
of the arrival of a coming king!!
LADIES
AND GENTLEMENT – MAY I INTRODUCE TO
YOU?
JESUS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH!!
That’s what John’s life was categorized
by….making much of Jesus!
Not trying to be Jesus!!
And God has an intentional
design in sending John first!
He
is preparing the way for the Messiah!!
He is to warn
and make straight….
He is to help people recognize their need
for savior!
He is to help
them have knowledge of salvation
to HIS PEOPLE…
and their need of FORGIVENESS.
And so, John’s arrival,
ministry, and message… weren’t an accident!
BUT WAS PURPOSEFUL
But
an intentional part of the design of work of God!
TO GET READY….THE
KINGDOM OF GOD is AT HAND!!
That they might listen to John’s
voice crying out! - TO REPENT!!
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V. God teaches us the tender mercies of His gospel (v.77-79)
V. God teaches us the tender mercies of His gospel (v.77-79)
I don’t want us to miss
the gospel here in this text.
In
what Jesus brings….and what John prepares us for!!
And what we experience in Jesus
Christ!!
John is to Go
and prepare the way of the Lord –
And
he does that by giving knowledge
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
What Zachariah knows is that
the EXODUS is coming through Jesus!
Is
BIGGER than the deliverance from EGPYT
It’s bigger
than deliverance from the BABLIONANS or ASSARYIANS!
It’s bigger
than getting ROME off your back!!
It’s salvation – expressed by
a greater deliverance from the enemy of
SIN and DEATH!!
The sin that we have
committed before God!
And thereby have earned
a wage and punishment from God!!
This is WHY Paul says in
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
23 For the wages of sin is death (THIS IS WHAT WE DESERVE….WHAT We’ve EARN
because of SIN – DEATH!!), but the
free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And so
we see John announcing Later in Luke 3 – doing what God
assigned him for!
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
How easy it is to presume on the kindness of
GDO!!
How easy it is to presume that
we are in God’s good graces!!
How easy it is to presume on God’s kindness!
Well, God
just accepts us!
For the Jewish people, that was
all the more tempting!!
WE HAVE ABRAHAM as our father!!
And in the same way, we presume on the kindness of God in our culture!!
We don’t understand the goodness of
the gospel,
because we don’t understand what we deserve apart from Jesus!!
But it’s NOT just what we deserve –
It’s what we’ve earned before God – DEATH!
We’ve earned to condemnation!
We’ve
earned rejection form Him….HELL…DEATH!!
And what we need…IS KNOWLEDGE of
our sin!
Knowledge of our condition before HIM!!
THAT WE,
too, might REPENT!!!
AND
SEE THE SALVATION
GIVEN to us through JESUS!!
God doesn’t just merely
extend forgiveness….
But has satisfied His wrath toward sin on HIS SON!!
Beloved, Salvation isn’t a reward to
YOU!..... It’s BEEN
PAID FOR YOU!!
THROUGH CHRIST!!
In which, God was willing to place our sin debt on Christ!
And Christ, willfully and
for the JOY SET BEFORE HIM –
went to the CROSS to PAY your sin debt!!
In who we experience the great mercy of
the Lord!
BECAUSE OF THE TENDER MERCY of OUR
GOD!!
THIS IS LOVE FOLKS-….THIS IS LOVE!!
NOT leaving sinners in despair but rescuing them
from DARKNESS!!
This is the good news of
JESUS!
It is not that God loves you and has a wonderful
plan for your life!!
The GOSPEL is that YOU –
An enemy of God
deserve to be condemned
because of your sin and
offense against GOD!!
AND through AFFECTION –
and GREAT LOVE OF GOD!! - TENDER MERCY OF GOD!
YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED!!
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
And what Zachariah knows….and what John knows….
And what Luke KNOWS….is
that this is ALL OF the GRACE OF GOD!!
ISRAEL had forsaken the covenant!
They didn’t deserve this!!
God could have remained in silence!!
Left them for DEAD!!!
AND HE WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST AND RIGHT IN DOING SO!!
BUT HE DOESN’T – HE REMEMEBERS!!
And Luke shows us this by echoing the theme of mercy all throughout this
text –
That the Lord had shown GREAT MERCY
to ELIZABETH (v.58)
– so much the entire town saw it!
The Lord shows great mercy in remembering His covenant of
old! (v.72)
And
the Lord extends great mercy in forgiving sinners!! (v. 77-78)
THIS IS GREAT MERCY FOLKS!!
IT’s all of grace!
It’s the gospel!
And recognizing God’s kindness towards us….
in not counting our transgression and sin against us….though we earned it!!
Instead, he puts it on
Christ!!
And in great mercy – HE opens our eyes…from spiritual
darkness (v.79)
to see the beauty of Christ and our need for
Jesus!
To guide
our feet toward to the way of peace …..found in Jesus
rather than in continued rebellion against
HIM!!
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VI. God teaches us of His hidden providence (v.80)
VI. God teaches us of His hidden providence (v.80)
After Zachariah’s
song,
The sceneshifts to John... and spans in one verse some 30
years!!
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
It’s like the birth announcement
and grand song – just gets muffled again!
All we know….is
that John grew strong….physically….and He grew strong in
the SPIRIT!!
And He goes –and remains in the Wilderness….and
remains hidden….
Until His
public appearance!!
And as I studied
this text – it was just like the Lord shouting through the
pages of scripture!!
Here is a man – John who is
categorized by the WILDERNESS…
To the degree….he
is the VOICE CRYING in the
WILDERNESS! (Isaiah 40:3)
From the song of a
man – Zachariah – who’s emerging for his own personal
wilderness!!
One
of suffering and affliction!
Declared to a people known by
the Wilderness – Israel!!
WHO ARE in a
PLACE of WAITING on Hope
to COME!
And
the message of salvation to be declared!!
And even though – it appears
that all that is happening is
JUST WAITING AND WAITING AND WAITING!!
Beloved, the truth
of it, is that God’s kingdom is on the move!!
His
plan is unfolding!!
Even, in the waiting
of 30 more years….
as the Messenger of the Messiah, remains
hidden in the wilderness….
NOTICE is it….UNTIL THE DAY!!!
UNTIL THE DAY of His Public apperance
to Israel!
This thing, too,
beloved, were planned!
And they were apart
of God’s design…..EVEN THE WAITING!!
Was
a part of God’s perfect PROVIDENCE and timing!!
Man,
that’s tough isn’t it!!
It’s tough for me!!
Cause I want it, right here…right
now….I don’t want to wait!!
But if – God is sovereign….and
He is!
And If His timing is
perfect….and it is!
And If The
Lord promises to give sustaining grace in the waiting, and
He does!!
And If His way is better
than ours….and it is!!
And if the waiting
is just as much of God’s plan as the MOVING – AND IT IS!!
Then
we must learn to wait and rest and delight in God’s good Providence!
And do what Zachariah learned….and
what the Lord is inviting us
– to BELIEVE HIM in FAITH!!
Even
when it’s not right in front of us!! – Perhaps like we want it!!
When we arent
getting everything, we desire!!
But to instead rest and delight in
the Lord’s mercy and grace….and in His timing!!
You’ve
probably heard it said – we shouldn’t
pray for patience!
That’s
what this feels like, doesn’t it….
I don’t want to pray
for patience….but Beloved, we should pray for
patience!
But I want to give
you an equally difficult prayer to pray….
And that’s praying
for confidence in the Lord’s timing and
providence!!
However long it may be – Lord give me faith to remain steadfast
and confidence to TRUST IN YOU!!
Even if it’s 30 more YEARS –
and
we erupted in SONG because WE THGOUHT it was about to HAPPEN…
.and then, we WAIT again!!
Lord,
give me confidence in your timing and providence!!
CONCLUSION: -------
Because that’s how
the Lord teaches us, isn’t it!
That’s how he teaches us deep
and abiding lessons – that we might grow!
Because we’ve been stretched!
HARDPRESS….AFFLICTED
on every side!!
BUT
NEVER WITHOUT HOPE – Because of Christ!!
You
know in all of these Examples –
What comes after the wilderness….is a place of refuge in God’s
promises….
For
Israel – from the wilderness, to arriving in the PROMISED
LAND!
For Zechariah – it was seeing His son – make a way for the MESSIAH!!
For
John, it was coming from the Wilderness
to proclaim the message that KINGDOM
OF GOD HAS COME!!
AND FOR US – It’s endurance and knowing that through it all
God is working and preparing a final place for
us,
in the NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH!!
The
wilderness isn’t the end;
it’s the place where God
prepares the way.
John
was called
to make straight
paths for the Lord
(v. 76-77),
and that’s what
Christ does for us —
He is the way,
the truth,
and the life.
In the wilderness of our sin, Jesus came to lead us to God,
offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice, the light
in our darkness,
and the Savior
of our souls.
The
wilderness teaches us to trust
God’s promises,
to prepare our hearts for His presence
and to rest in
His faithfulness.
Just
as John
the Baptist
pointed to the coming of Christ,
we too must
look to Jesus,
the ultimate fulfillment of all God’s promises.
He
is the one who brings forgiveness,
salvation, and hope to all who trust in Him.
As
we walk through the wilderness,
let us remember
that it is NOT a place of defeat,
but a place often God is at work!
And
when we feel lost, when the path ahead is unclear,
we are called to look unto
CHRIST,
who is the ultimate waymaker. He has gone
before us,
He is
with us,
and He will lead us safely home.
If you are non-Christian
here today –
that you might look to JESUS today
in repentance
and FAITH and be SAVED!
And for the
BELIEVER IN JESUS-
That you might NOT grow weary –
but that you’d remain confident
in God’s providence!
Sermon Summary: Some lessons can only be learned in the wilderness.
I. God teaches us
humility through affliction (v.57-66)
II. God teaches
us that we always have a song to sing, even in hardship. (67)
III. God teaches
us of His faithfulness in our waiting (v.68-75)
IV. God teaches
us the purposes of His plan (v.76-79)
V. God teaches us
the tender mercies of His gospel (v.77-79)
VI. God teaches
of His hidden providence (v.80)
