Anticipation: Awaiting the Christ of Christmas

Anticipation: Awaiting the Christ of Christmas  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Waiting for Christ at times means dealing with delay.

Luke 1:5–7 ESV
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
Zachariah (zak-a-ri’-ah) = Remembered of the LORD; whom Jehovah remembers. Remember God. (root = to remember; to make mention of).
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Zechariah, Father of John the Baptist

A priest in the first century AD. The husband of Elizabeth and father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:12–13, 18, 21, 40, 59, 67; 3:2). Zechariah was a priest in the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5),

Please Note their character! They were not just people of Character they were people of holiness.
This was a man who had a holy occupation and he was marked by holy living.
Righteous & Blameless

Righteousness is not a personal vaccine for disappointment.

Luke 1:7 ESV
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
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Righteous & Blameless doesn’t go with barrenness.
Luke 1:7 AV
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

God’s silence is no excuse for disobedience.

Luke 1:8–10 ESV
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
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The tribe of Levi supplied the priests who served in the temple. Because so many priests were available, the tribe was divided into twenty-four divisions, that of Abijah (5) being the eighth in order (). Each division did duty for two weeks in the year, and many priests spent the remainder of their time away from Jerusalem in secular occupations (cf. v 23).

When God’s goodness is not obvious we must press on in faithfulness.

God always blesses spiritual perseverance.

Luke 1:11–18 ESV
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been 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 before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will 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, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
luk 1:

Believe God’s promise.

Luke 1:19–24 ESV
19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 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.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,
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Faith in God is difficult even for the most Godly of men.

God specializes in turning humiliation into celebration.

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