THE MYSTERY OF THE FIRST ADVENT

THIS WEEK

We are going to take a break from our study of the book of Revelation

What I would like for us to do is to begin preparing our hearts for Christmas

To take in all of the details of this story

MANY BELIEVE THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS

What we will do in the next two weeks is look at the details of the Arrival of Messiah

We will look at the wonder of the First Advent

WHAT I DON’T WANT IS FOR US TO BE PASSIVE ABOUT THE DETAILS AND THE MYSTERY

But to be educated in what is true

And to allow the mystery of the Incarnation to fuel our faith.

fromion to fuel our faith.

CAN WE AGREE THAT IT IS HARD TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION?

CAN WE AGREE THAT IT IS HARD TO GRASP THE REASONING BEHIND THE VIRGIN BIRTH?

WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY?

TURN TO

Luke 1:5–10 NKJV

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.

Luke 1:5–7 NKJV

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.

Luke 1:5-

DURING THE DAYS OF HEROD THE GREAT

WHO RULED FROM 37-4BC

A CERTAIN PRIEST, ZACHARIAS, WHO WAS OF THE DIVISION OF ABIJAH

Who was the eight generation of priests from the time of David

THIS ZACHARIAS HAD A WIFE NAMED ELIZABETH

Who was also from a priestly line, the line of Aaron

THESE TWO LIVED IN A TIME WHERE IT WAS RARE TO BELIEVE IN THE GOD OF THE BIBLE

King Herod had been persecuting the Church

There hadn’t been a prophetic word in about 400 years.

It was a spiritually barren time.

YET, ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH LIVED INTO A DIFFERENT POSTURE

VERSE 6 SAYS THAT THEY WERE BOTH RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD

WALKING IN ALL THE COMMANDMENTS AND ORDINANCES OF THE LORD, BLAMELESS IN ALL THINGS.

However, they had no child

This reality was common among many women of the faith

It is no small thing that Zacharias and Elizabeth found themselves in the same situation as that of Abraham and Sarah

Advanced in age

Without a child

But blameless before the Lord.

Luke 1:8

SO WHAT HAPPENED WITH ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH?

Luke 1:8–17 NKJV

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. 17 He will also 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 a people prepared for the Lord.”

IT WAS WHILE ZACHARIAS WAS SERVING AS PRIEST BEFORE GOD IN THE ORDER OF HIS DIVISION

Each division of the priesthood served in the temple twice a year

Each session lasting about a week

ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM OF THE PRIESTHOOD, BY LOTTERY, IT WAS HIS TURN TO BURN INCENSE

As Zacharias would offer up the incense

Multitudes would gather outside of the temple to pray

WHILE HE WAS SERVING GOD, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM AND STOOD A\T THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ALTAR

Like almost everyone in the bible

At the sight of the Angel, he was fearful

BUT THE ANGEL CALMS HIS SPIRIT AND BEGINS TO SPEAK TO HIM:

“Do not be afraid”

“Your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yohaness”

“You will have joy and Gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth”

“He will be great in the sight of the Lord”

“He shall neither drink wine nor strong drink”

This was common among characters who God greatly used

It was called a Nazarite Vow detailed in , , and

“He willed be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his Mother’s womb”

“He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God”

“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”

“And to make ready a people prepared for the Lord”

The Angel is proclaiming to Zacharias that his son will be the fulfillment of & 4

Malachi 3:1 NKJV

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, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 4:

Malachi 4:5–6 NKJV

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.”

JUST LIKE ABRAHAM AND SARAH

JUST LIKE MANY OF US TODAY

MEN AND WOMEN OF GREAT FAITH SOMETIMES QUESTION THE HOW

THE SAYING RINGS TRUE

“LORD, I BELIEVE, BUT HELP MY UNBELIEF”

Luke 1:18–25 NKJV

18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. 23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

LUKE 1:18-

IMAGINE IF EVERY TIME WE DOUBTED GOD?

IMAGINE IF WE QUESTIONED THE HOW INSTEAD OF WONDERED HOW?

WE WOULD ALL HAVE TO LEARN SIGN LANGUAGE

ZACHARIAS STATES THE TRUTH

The fact of the matter was that Zacharias and Elizabeth were in their late 80’s early 90’s

This was going to take a miracle

It would have to be an act of God

But remember, this is normal for the Lord

The God of Zacharias and Elizabeth was a Miracle Maker

It is interesting to me, that this couple did everything right before the Lord

They were used to following God’s Ordinances and Laws

But when the Angel spoke the plans of God for them

Zacharias was a little reluctant

Isn’t that just like us?

We know God is faithful

But do we act like it? No, we freak out

We know God’s Word doesn’t return void

But do we trust it? No, we take things into our own hands sometimes.

GABRIEL, RESPONDS TO ZACHARIAS’ QUESTION WITH SOME CONSEQUENCES.

I LOVE HOW HE SAYS IT:

I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God

Man, I came to bless you

I came to speak to you and bring you glad tidings

AKA Good News

But because you questioned the “How”

You will be mute and not be able to speak the Good News come to pass

Why?

Because you did not believe my words

NOW REMEMBER, THIS IS ALL HAPPENING WHILE HE IS ATTENDING TO HIS PRIESTLY DUTIES

THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE WERE WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING ON

SPECIALLY BECAUSE HE COULD NOT SPEAK WHEN HE CAME OUT OF THE TEMPLE

Normally, the priest would proclaim a blessing over those who prayed with him

Since he didn’t, they knew something was up

AS HIS WEEK OF SERVICE CAME TO AN END, HE DEPARTED TO HIS HOME

AFTER A FEW DAYS, ELIZABETH CONCEIVED, AND SHE HID HERSELF FOR 5 MONTHS

Almost in a form of reflection

She said:

“The Lord has dealt with me”

“In the days he looked upon my barenness”

“Took away my reproach among people”

What Elizabeth is saying is exposing the reality of the culture

Many people saw bareness as a result of sinfulness

Elizabeth, takes some time to reflect on God’s goodness

To honor the Lord in solitude

To retreat and repent of unbelief

Luke 1:26–33 NKJV

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

IN THE SAME WAY

Luke 1:26

GABRIEL WAS SENT TO THE GALILEAN CITY OF NAZARETH

TO A VIRGIN WHO WAS ENGAGED TO A MAN NAMED JOSEPH, WHO WAS OF THE LINE OF DAVID.

HER NAME WAS MARY

THE ANGEL APPROACHES HER AND PROCLAIMS HER STATE BEFORE THE LORD

“REJOICE, HIGHLY FAVORED ONE”

“THE LORD IS WITH YOU”

“BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN”

What a proclamation by an Angel to a Woman.

HOW DID MARY REACT?

She was troubled

DIATAROSSO: CONFUSED AND GREATLY PERPLEXED

She pondered this greeting

What ever could it mean?

Why would the Angel call her blessed?

Favored among women?

THE ANGEL CALMS HER DOWN

ASKS HER NOT TO BE AFRAID

FOR SHE HAS FOUND FAVOR WITH THE LORD

THEN GABRIEL PROCEEDS TO PROCLAIM TO HER THE GOOD NEWS.

Luke 1:34–38 NKJV

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.