Inspiration for Worship

Introduction

Good morning, I want to invite you to open your Bible’s to Luke 1:57-66 that is Luke 1:57-66. If you are using one of the Bibles scattered throughout the chairs that is on page 804, again that is Luke 1:57-66 on page 804.

On June 23, 1940 Wilma Rudolph was born premature weighing only 4 and half pounds. She would spend the bulk of her early years in bed as she suffered from double pneumonia, scarlet fever, and polio. Her bout with polio left her without the use of her left leg, and at age 6 she was fitted for metal braces. It was thought that she would never walk normally again. However, Rudolph said, “… when you come from a large, wonderful family, there’s always a way to achieve your goals.” Her brothers and sisters would take turns massaging her leg and her mother would drive her 90 miles roundtrip to Nashville for therapy once a week. So, at age 9 Rudolph was able to ditch the leg braces and she began to play basketball and run track.

She caught the attention of Ed Temple the track coach at Tennessee State University and was allowed to start attending their practices while still in high school. Temple was an unpaid coach and was actually a sociology professor at the University. He had the track, a plain dirt oval, lined at his own expense and would often drive the team to track meets in his own vehicle. He was also a tough coach and demanded discipline from all of his athletes. He would make his athletes run a lap for every minute they were late to practice. Rudolph was once 30 minutes to practice and had to run 30 laps, the next day she was 30 minutes early.

Rudolph would go to the 1960 olympics and win 3 gold medals. In the 100m she would tie the world record, in the 200m she wold break the world record, and in the women’s 4x100m Rudolph ran the anchor, or last leg of the relay. Despite a poor hand off she would over take the German team and win gold. The relay was made up of women all from Tennessee State University. Her 1960 performance brought her world wide fame and she became an ambassador not only for track and field but also for the USA as she continued to complete internationally. Coach Temple would say, “She’s done more for her country than what the U.S. could have paid her for.”

When she returned home TN Gov. Buford Ellington wanted to host her welcome home celebration. Ellington, ran on a platform as being an old-fashioned segregationists. Rudolph refused to participate in a segregated event and so her parade and banquet became the first integrated event in Clarksville, TN, her hometown.

She became and inspiration and mentor to female African American athletes including Florence Griffith Joyner and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Both incredible athletes in their own right. Bob Kersee, husband and coach of Jackie Joyner-Kersee, said Rudolph was the greatest influence for African-American women athletes that he knows. His wife went further. "She was always in my corner," said Joyner-Kersee, winner of six Olympic medals. "If I had a problem, I could call her at home. It was like talking to someone you knew for a lifetime."

Rudolph is quoted as reminding young athletes. “… the triumph can’t be had without the struggle.”

Inspiration often comes from what we look to outside of us. Whether is be a the support of your family, the self-sacrifice of a coach, the accolades of an athlete that defies your prejudice, or the accomplishments and words of someone who has paved the way before you. Wilma Rudolph was inspired by events outside of herself and she lived an inspirational life. A life that helped others find the determination to keep moving forward.

This morning we look at the birth of John the Baptist and I want us to see how his birth inspired the community around him. His birth like his life did not inspire because of his deeds, but rather because it pointed to something greater. His birth points to the mercy, grace, power, and presence of God. And these aspects of God result in the worship of God through rejoicing, repenting, telling, and remembering. I desire that we be inspired this morning, inspired to worship the Lord. Let’s Read Luke 1:57-66.

God’s Mercy Inspires Rejoicing v. 57-58

Luke 1:57–58 “Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.”

We first meet Elizabeth i Luke 1:5-25 and we learn that she is barren, unable to have children. She and her husband Zechariah are advanced in years… too old to have kids, but they are righteous and blameless before God. While Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah is offering incense in the temple an angel named Gabriel appears before him. The angel promises that Elizabeth will conceive and give birth to a son. They are to name this boy John, and he will prepare the way for the Messiah, who we know to be Jesus. Zechariah, does not believe the angel at first and so the angel strikes Zechariah mute, unable to speak. The angel tells Zechariah that he will remain mute until the child is born and named John. Zechariah exits the temple unable to speak, and then returns home to his wife, where does in fact conceive.

Verse 57 picks up 9 months later and Elizabeth gives birth to a son. In Luke 1:25 after Elizabeth has conceived she says this, ““Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”” In her culture she would have reproached because of her inability to have children. It may have been assumed that her and Zechariah were unfaithful in the Lord in some way, and that would be why they could not have children. So, when God opens her womb in her old age Elizabeth sees it as the Lord removing this reproach and her neighbors and relatives see it as a great mercy to her. The people would would have reproached her are not a people who rejoice with her. The mercy of God results in the rejoicing of this community.

God shows her mercy by removing her suffering. J.C. Ryle says this, “There was mercy in bringing her safely through her time of trial. There was mercy in making her the mother of a living child. Happy are those family circles, whose births are viewed in this light — as especial instances of "the mercy" of the Lord.” God’s mercy produces rejoicing, happiness, in the community or family in which those acts of mercy take place.

I want three examples of where I have seen acts of God’s mercy happen from church member to church member here at Redemption Hill. These acts of love display God’s mercy as you care for one another. It is things like this that make it a joy to pastor you. I don’t mean to elevate anyone beyond what is appropriate nor do I mean to leave out other similar acts, but I do want to honor those who have been a source of joy for me in the way they have cared for other church members. These are examples of God’s mercy inspiring rejoicing here in our church.

Steve had a significant surgery a while back that forced him to be in bed for several weeks. Deb and Dave crashed their community group before his surgery and wrote him a note of encouragement. When I asked them about this, Deb said when she first visited Redemption Hill she was nervous to walk into a place where she did not know anyone. It was Steve who came up to her as soon as she walked to greet her. They both showed mercy and kindness to one another, and as someone watching it brought me joy.

Andrea and Seth Knight were new to Redemption Hill Church and not yet even members when Andrea was be ridden for the last portion of her pregnancy. I learned about this because almost immediately the community group the Knight’s were attending created a meal train. It is a joy to seen the church mobilize and I don’t have to do it. Not because I don’t want to work, I do. I love this work. But because it is evidence that the church loves one another without the prodding of their pastor. It displays you authentic love for one another through an act of mercy by providing meals. I rejoiced when this happened.

Finally, our sister Levmy has been wrestling through some tough things in regards to her immigration status. Her future is uncertain and because she can’t work in the US right now, she had too much free time. When life is worrisome, free time can be dangerous. So, several ladies have reached out to Levmy and asked her to come help with their kids throughout the week. I saw a picture sent from Lyndsie Erdy to my wife in which Levmy was at the zoo with the Erdy’s. Lyndsie wanted a picture with the kids at the zoo and the kids insisted that Levmy get in the picture with them. This picture brought me a lot of joy.

I bring these up because God act through his people. His acts of mercy aren’t always as miraculous as opening the womb of a barren women, but they are present. He is present. When see God’s acts of mercy do we rejoice? Christians can be happy people even in adversity. These moments are often the very thing we need most in order to see the great mercy of the Lord.

T/S- I read this week from on commentator in moments of trial we will either get bitter of get better. This is what I want us to see next. Zechariah, in his time of trial after being struck mute gets better.

God’s Grace Inspires Repentance v. 59-64

Luke 1:59–65 “And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

On the 8th day of John’s life his parents had him circumcised. This was typically done by a priest trained in the procedure and shows us that John is a Jewish boy and his parents are obedient to the God’s law. It is a reminder of the covenant or promise that God made to Abraham, that through Abraham all of the families of the earth would be blessed. It is a suddle reminder to us, that God is keeping His promise through Jesus, and that John will prepare the way for this fulfillment.

It was not typical in broader Jewish tradition to name a child on the 8th day, but rather at birth in the Bible, but it seems like this was a practice here for John and for Jesus. We don’t really know why these events are tied together in Luke’s gospel. But what we do know is that there is one final temptation for Zechariah before he regains his ability to speak. The angel told him to name the child John, and told Zechariah that he would be struck mute until all that the angel said had come to pass. His wife did conceive, she did give birth to a son, but what not yet officially named John, which was commanded by God to Zechariah through the angel, Gabriel.

Zechariah’s family wants to name the child after him. Again, this was not normal in Jewish tradition. Typically a firstborn son might be named after a grandfather, but rarely a father. However, it is thought that Zechariah is so old that he is seen as a grandfather, and maybe this is why the family wants to name the child after him. Elizabeth wants to name the child John, I think it reasonable to believe the Zechariah had been able to communicate to Elizabeth all that had happened to him while in the temple, and she knows that the child is to be named John. However, the family is pushy and tries to pull rank on Elizabeth. They think if they go to Zechariah that he will agree with them and give the child a proper family name.

However, Zechariah take a temple and he writes, “His name is John.” Not that the his name shall be John or I want to name him John, but rather he writes a declarative statement. His name is John. Zechariah responded to the word of the Lord with unbelief. But now, he repents or changes. He follows the words of the angel and names his son John! The name John means God is gracious. Zechariah sees the grace of God in his life. He did not believe the word of the Lord, and yet he was still blessed with a son. A son who would be great in the sight of God! Zechariah is receiving the grace of God, and as he experiences God’s grace in his life it leads to belief. He repents of his unbelief by responding in belief by obeying the angel’s words.

You see, the Bible does not present humans and believing one way and then behaving another. This is a very western and very modern idea. The idea that you can feel and think one way, but then behave another and still be considered authentic. The divorce of internal thoughts from external realities is an invention of modern man. In the Bible actions and beliefs are always linked. Obedience and faith are connected. Therefore, Luke does not need to say Zechariah believed God and then named his son John. Luke can simply record Zechariah’s actions, he wrote His name is John!, and belief in God is assumed. He obeys the words of the angel, because he believes the words of the angel. The angel is a messenger sent from God, thus the angel’s words are God’s word. He believed the word of God, his actions aligned with that belief and the text tells us the words of the Lord were fulfilled. We read Luke 1:64 “And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.”

We need to see that this a moment of repentance for Zechariah. To repent is to go the other way. He disbelieved earlier in Luke, in this passage he now believes. He was going in the direction on unbelief, but no longer. He now lives in the direction of belief which is the direction of obedience to the Word of God.

Zechariah’s heart change is manifested in a physical change before the eyes and ears of the people. They see him go from a mute man, for 9 mine months, to a man who audibly blesses God. The mute man becomes a believing man, and as a believing man he becomes a speaking man. God’s grace in the life of this old couple, a boy name grace aka John, inspires Zechariah’s repentance, and at this belief the people fear the Lord.

As other’s witness the miracle of Zechariah’s speech being restored they in turn fear the Lord. That is they reverance God, they are in awe of God’s work in Zechariah’s life. Zechariah was chosen to be the father of John, and he was chosen to be struck mute in public. This would not have an easy experience for Zechariah, perhaps he felt shame for his disbelief, he was a priest after all and all who tried to speak to him would know that he did not respond to a heavenly vision in faith. He encountered a messenger from God, and he disbelieved. He failed, and his failure was very public. His affliction probably caused consistent frustration as he tried to communicate with others during his wife’s pregnancy. He would be forced to recount the story of his failure each time someone asked, “What happened? Why can’t you speak?” Zechariah was probably humiliated and humbled over the course of 9 silent months.

Yet, his restoration is also public. He declares in writing, His name is John! and he speaks. And after all of that he first words are a blessing to God. The God who struck him mute is praised because Zechariah is changed. He believes all that that the angel has said. His son will be great in the sight of God, his son will return fathers to their sons in Israel, his son will prepare the way for the promised Messiah!!

And in humiliation and exultation the people around him fear the Lord. So what about you? Are you willing to be humiliated for the Lord? In your trials and afflictions in this world will you get bitter or will you get better. Should the Lord strike for 9 months would you respond in a way that puts on display you belief in God? Would others see your blessing of the Lord and fear God?

T/S- God’s grace changes us and leads us to repentance and as we are changed something amazing happens. Our change impacts others.

God’s Power Inspires Belief v. 65-66

Luke 1:65–66 “And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 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.”

God’s power is put on display through this small family. Zechariah sees an angel and is struck mute. Zechariah and Elizabeth are old and barren, and yet through the power of God they conceive a child. The child is born and when he is named his mute father is suddenly able to speak and begins to bless God. God does the miraculous and the people see and hear these things and they do what all small town people do. They start telling everyone about it.

It is the most positive form of gossip you can imagine. All through the hill country of Judea neighbors began to speak to one another… Did you hear what happened to Zechariah at the temple?And now Elizabeth is pregnant… no, no wrong Zechariah and Elizabeth not the young couple… the old couple.. yes really the old lady.. she is pregnant! And the old man he can’t talk. Apparently he didn’t believe the angel… I know, they always seemed so righteous and blameless I can’t believe he doubted either… He hasn’t said a single word in 9 months… I know, don’t we all wish our husbands we struck mute… Listen do you hear the baby was born. They named him John, yeah I know its not a family name, but listen quit interrupting… they named him John. Why? I’m getting to it, they named him John because that’s what the angel told Zechariah to do. And when they named him John, Zechariah spoke and blessed God. Can you believe it?

And that’s the question Luke wanting us to ask isn’t. Can you believe it? Can you believe that God spoke to an old man who didn’t believe and was struck mute. That his wife conceived and gave birth to a son named John would grow up to prepare the way of the Lord. Can you see the grace of God in this true story, grace that is meant to enable your repentance and give birth to your belief. We are meant to read this text and be like these people, we are hear these things speak about this these things and lay them up in our hearts.

The people hear of all the things that God did for Zechariah and Elizabeth and they laid them up in their hearts. They stored these memories up for a later date. They want to know what will this child be? Because one thing they know for sure, the hand of the Lord in on this child. The hand of the Lord is a phrase used over 200 times in the OT and describes God’s activity in creation and redemption. When they acknowledge that the hand of the Lord is upon Zechariah they know that something important is going to happen with this child. Now, it doesn’t seem like they are convinced that John will prepare the way for the Messiah just yet. But they are close.

There is anticipation being something better than John is coming. God is doing something with this child, but what? He is preparing the way of the Lord.

Conclusion

Dear friends this story is a true story. These things really did happen and if you hear this today you are meant to be inspired. You are to be inspired to rejoice in mercy of God, to repent of your sin, and inspired to believe in the God who sent His Son to save us from our sin.