The Sound of a New Season

Introduction

This is our fifth sermon in a ten-part series titled, “The Coming of Jesus, the Son of Man. We are currently in the book of Luke. About Luke, Luke was a disciple of Paul. He was a Gentile. He investigated the accounts of Matthew and Mark. The purpose of this gospel was that his gentile audience would “know for certain the things they have instructed were true,” regarding the life of Christ, his miracles, the gospel of the cross (meaning the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection), and above that, salvation lies only in the Son of Man, Jesus Christ.

In this book, Luke accounts for miracles, healings, and deliverances. We see the power of God through Christ, who touches and saves lives. We see compassion. We see correction.

We see the proclamation of Jesus in Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”

I believe this gospel of Luke is an invitation to see the heart of God, revealed through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen! Amen! Glory be to God! Hallelujah!!

Bridge:

Today’s message is titled, “The Sound of a New Season!”

As we approach today’s passage, which will be found in Luke 1:57-67. I want to describe the scene in the passage for you. We are stepping into a house filled with the sounds of joy and rejoicing, with family and friends present, and there is a sense of awe in the atmosphere at the miracle God blessed Zacharias and Elisabeth.

But I want to present something else to this church; I believe there is tension present as well—a tension borne of silence built up over 9 months. I want to remind this church that Zacharias doubted Gabriel, and as a consequence, he lost his ability to speak. The Word of God tells us that Gabriel said he would become dumb and mute [IOW, his speech was taken away]

Church, let me tell you that before John could prepare the way for the Messiah, silence had to be broken. Open your Bibles to (passage).

Message:

Luke 1:57 “Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.”

Who was this baby? Gabriel informed Zacharias that this baby (Luke 1:17) would be in the Spirit and Power of Elijah, that this baby would turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the Lord, and this child would make ready a people prepared for the Lord!

I am reminded that this was not an easy journey for Zacharias and Elisabeth. The Word of God says about Elisabeth: “She who was called barren!” Another passage says, “They were stricken in their latter years.” In other words, they were past the normal age for childbearing and child-rearing.

And that label of being barren had not gone away just yet. They likely walked through decades of barrenness before Gabriel gave this promise from God to Zacharias. It is easy to understand how Zacharias, who the bible says was “righteous in all ways before God,” had doubt.

Come on, Church, how many of us have doubted the work God was doing in our lives? I feel led to say that doubt is only present when there is a lack of faith or trust in something. A coworker or.... says something to you, and if they have given you a pattern of trust, you will have faith in what they say.

That is why doubt is such a dangerous weapon used by Satan against the church. Doubt becomes a doorway for the devil inour lives to plant seeds and inflict greater harm on us spiritually or physically. But doubt does not automatically mean the devil is victorious.

1 Peter 1:6–7 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

This suggests faith is not truly “found or precious” until it has survived the fire, just as gold cannot be declared pure until it has been refined by fire, so faith cannot be known true until it has been walked through “manifold [which means diverse] temptations [which in GK includes doubt, adversity, provocation, experience, discipline, temptations]!”

Another point is that this birth confirmed God's power. Elizabeth, who was barren, conceived and now has given birth. Zacharias, who was visited by an angel and told exactly what was happening, now sees the promise of God come to fruition. Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Luke 1:58–59 “And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.”

Everyone is gathered to see this miracle and to witness the favor and mercy the Lord has bestowed on Elizabeth.

Psalm 103:17 “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children’s children;”

And on the eighth day, there was a circumcision, and they wanted to name him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

(Point 1: The Conflict of Tradition)

Here we see the beginning of a conflict: “They called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.”​

Notice what’s happening here. The community, the culture, and the neighbors are trying to name the new miracle in line with tradition. They said, "He fits in the lineage of Zacharias. Let’s keep the tradition going. Let’s do what we’ve always done."​ Tradition seeks comfort in repetition. Tradition says, "We name the future after the past." But there is a problem with that. "Zacharias" name means Jehovah Remembers. But "John" means Jehovah is Gracious.​

If you name him Zacharias, you are celebrating memory. But if you name him John, you are celebrating Grace!​ The grace of God in our lives is a supernatural phenomenon. And Christ has given superseding grace.

When God enters into the equation, I promise you the natural is disrupted. Whatever is going on, God can change the paradigm. God does not want a status quo maintained. God allows us the Holy Spirit to birth something new in our lives. As we surrender to Jesus, we are justified by Jesus. For he said on the cross, “It is finished!”

The Holy Spirit births purpose, new life, a new walk, a new spirit, and sanctifies us. The Word of God renews our mind, the Holy Spirit renews our spirit. What a wonderful thing to have something new birthed inside of us.

I am talking about life.

I hear people all the time say they would die for their loved ones, but my question to this church is, would you live!? Would you live for children!? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord, Savior, and Master.....

And Elizabeth—who had been quiet, who had been in the background—suddenly finds her voice in verse 60.

Luke 1:60 “And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.” She shouts, “Not so! He shall be called John.”​ His name means God is Gracious.

(Preaching Riff 1: Not So!)

The world wanted a Zacharias, but Heaven sent a John. The neighbors wanted a repeat based on tradition, but God wanted a transition, one who was prepared to make way for the Messiah!

Church, some of us need that same fire and spirit that Elizabeth had, in our lives and in our spiritual walk. In our communities!

The Word says Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost! l believe the Spirit of God rose up in her to say, "Not So!"

Not so! I am preaching to someone right now..Not so!

To the sickness trying to claim your body... Not so!

To the depression, trying to decide your future... Not So!

To the stronghold that has rooted you in sin and addiction....Not so!

In the name of Jesus! ​​Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing; Now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, And rivers in the desert.”

Church, before a way could be prepared for the Lord, a line had to be drawn in the sand: obedience and willingness versus compromise and acceptance.

A line to stand up for the right thing that is of God.

Church, if there is silence in this season, I can promise you that a new sound and a new season are coming!

Praise be to God! Glory be to God!

(Point 2: The Tablet of Agreement)

Luke 1:61–63 “And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.[In other words, the neighbors did not like what she said.] And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.”

Don't miss the shift. For nine months, Zacharias was silent because of the consequences of his doubt. He questioned the plan. He questioned the miracle. But something happened in the silence. Zacharias—who spent nine months in silence, nine months wrestling with doubt, nine months being reshaped by God—finally steps into agreement with heaven.

He doesn’t whisper. He doesn’t negotiate. He doesn’t poll the crowd. He takes the tablet, and with a transformed heart, he writes: “His name IS John.”

That’s not suggestion—that’s agreement. That’s not hesitation—that’s alignment. That’s no longer doubt—that’s decree.

Something happened in the silence. God broke the debate inside of him. God crushed the doubt that once closed his mouth. And when Zacharias wrote those words, heaven said, “NOW I can open your voice again.”

How many of us have wrestled with God and we had to be crushed and broken, and remade into his image?

Church—miracles break loose when your surrender to God is a reality.

THE DAM ILLUSTRATION

Picture a massive dam holding back millions of gallons of water. On the surface, everything looks calm—still—unchanged. But behind that wall is the deep water and there is all of this pressure, power, and potential.

I want you to imagine that reservoir as the promises of God over your life and in your life. Healing is behind that wall. Deliverance is behind that wall. Breakthrough is behind that wall. Your calling, your purpose, your restoration—it’s all pressing against the barrier.

And just because you don’t see movement doesn’t mean nothing is happening.

Gal 6:9 says your due season is coming. Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Romans 8:28 says God is working all things together. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Numbers 23:19 says He cannot lie. Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

2 Corinthians 1:20 says every promise is YES and AMEN. 2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”

But hear me—the dam doesn’t open until agreement is written. When Zacharias wrote, “His name IS John,” I believe heaven said, “Open the floodgates.”

One of my favorite worship songs is Let it Rain. Open the floodgates of heaven!

(Preaching Riff 2: Write the Vision)

Zacharias didn’t speak it—he wrote it. He etched his agreement into stone. He made his faith visible. He made his obedience permanent.

There comes a moment when you must stop wrestling with God and start writing. Habakkuk 2:2 “And the Lord said to Habbakuk, Write the vision, and make it plain, so that he may run that readeth it.…”

You've been in this room debating with God long enough. You’ve been consulting your friends long enough. You’ve been waiting for confirmation long enough.

Write what God told you. Write what God promised you. Write what God spoke over your children. Write what God whispered in the midnight hour.

Because when you write the vision, you are telling hell, “It is settled.” When you write the vision, you are telling your doubt, “It is finished.” When you write the vision, you are telling your future, “I agree with God.”

Today, I’m writing a new decree: I agree with God. I agree with the Promise. I agree with the Blood. I agree with the Word.

And when agreement hits your spirit, The dam breaks, The flood comes, and the supernatural is released.

Can I get an amen!?

(Point 3: The Loosing of the Tongue)

Luke 1:64 “And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.”

Church—don’t miss this. As soon as the name was written… as soon as his will aligned with the Father’s will… as soon as obedience met revelation—IMMEDIATELY God moved.

Not three days later. Not after a council meeting. Not after he “processed his feelings.”

Immediately. Immediately. Immediately.

The moment Zacharias agreed with heaven, the judgment broke, the silence shattered, and the supernatural rushed in.

And notice this—when his mouth opened, he didn’t waste breath complaining about the nine months he lost. He didn’t rehearse the pain, the frustration, or the embarrassment. My Bible says he PRAISED God.

Because when God touches you, He gives you a new sound. A new purpose. A new perspective. A new fire. A new life.

When God grabs hold of you, something has to change—but that change requires surrender. Surrender your wants. Surrender your will. Surrender your flesh. Surrender your anxieties. Pick up your cross daily. Die to yourself daily.

Because resurrection power only flows where something has died.

(Preaching Riff 3: The Release)

When Zacharias agreed with God, the spiritual lock on his mouth snapped open. When he agreed, the chains fell off.

Psalm 34:1 declares, “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

But church—how many of us complain after a trial instead of praise? How many of us rehearse the pain instead of release the praise?

Have you trained your mind to bless the Lord, or have you trained your mouth to murmur? Because if praise is music to God’s ears, grumbling is music to Satan’s ears.

Praise opens the door for God to inhabit your worship. Complaining opens the door for the enemy to inhabit your atmosphere.

Luke 1:65–66 “And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.”

the whole region was shaken with holy fear. People whispered, “What manner of child shall this be?”

And then the text says, “And the hand of the Lord was with him.”

With who? With John!

And how do we know? Because the very next verse says his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost.

When one man aligned with God, a child was marked, a family was filled, a region was stirred, and a generation was changed.

Agreement with God doesn’t just shatter the silence — it releases the heavenly dam in our lives.

Conclusion

Church… when Zacharias picked up that tablet and wrote, “His name IS John,” heaven didn’t wait. God didn’t delay. The moment his will aligned with God’s will, IMMEDIATELY his mouth opened, his tongue was loosed, and praise erupted out of a man who had been silent for nine long months.

That’s what happens when agreement hits your spirit. That’s what happens when obedience replaces debate. That’s what happens when surrender replaces struggle.

Heaven responds immediately.

And I am here to tell somebody today—your miracle is not waiting on God. Your breakthrough is not waiting on God. Your release is not waiting on God.

Your release is waiting on your agreement.

When Zacharias aligned with God, the chains fell off. When he aligned with God, the silence broke. When he aligned with God, the supernatural flooded in.

And church, the same God who opened Zacharias’ mouth is here right now. The same God who broke the dam of delay is in this room. The same God who filled a father with the Holy Ghost and marked a child with destiny is moving among us.

But hear me— God will not force agreement. He invites it. He waits for it. He responds to it.

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Come, Come to the altar!

Altar:

If you are ready for the dam to break… If you are ready for the silence to end… If you are ready for the chains to fall… If you are ready to stop debating and start agreeing… If you are ready to surrender your will, your plans, your fears, your flesh…

Then this altar is open right now.

Come. Come with your doubt. Come with your questions. Come with your fear. Come with your brokenness. Come with your unfinished story.

And as you step out, heaven steps in. As you move, God moves. As you surrender, God releases.

Lift your hands and declare it with your whole heart: “Lord, I agree with You. I agree with Your Word. I agree with Your promise. Be it unto me according to Thy Word.”