Mother's Day

Moms are pretty special people. And sometimes, they don’t get the credit they deserve. You’ve probably heard this before, but it’s said that a stay-at-home-mom’s salary is worth $160K a year. That’s because Moms are incredible!

I’m sure you feel the same way. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if, in the back of your head, you’re thinking, “I hope his sermon is short because we have a mother’s day lunch reservation!” That won’t offend me. You’re wanting to honor and celebrate the special moms in your lives. I’m hoping we can do something special for Janelle after service too! Moms deserve it. They’re incredible.

I’m not sure if you’ve heard the recent update to what a “stay at home mom” is

You may have heard this before, but th

Moms are some of the most influential people in our lives. They help form who we are as a person. They teach us so many things.

Earlier this week, I reached to a few people in our church asking if anyone wanted to share some of the things their mom had taught them. Look at the responses I got...

Janelle.

Kaliq.

Jon.

Jude.

Michelle.

Moms teach us many of life’s most important lessons.

That’s true in the Bible too. This morning, I want to look at an incredible mom’s story. I want to look at the story of Elizabeth. Even though she’s only given a few verses in Luke chapter 1, her story teaches us many numerous life lessons.

If you have your Bible/app, turn to (or follow along). Verse 5 starts off...

Luke 1:5–7 ESV

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. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Luke 1:

Verses 5-7:

When the Holy Spirit inspired Luke to write his own version of Jesus’ story, he starts with Elizabeth’s family. Something the three other gospel writers did not do. Apparently, Luke found Elizabeth’s family important!

Who could blame him? They were amazing people! We just read it. Not only did come from great families (the priestly line; descendants of A-Aron - Moses’ brother), but they were also incredible people. Luke says they were righteous, lived blamelessly, and obeyed God. They were simply incredible!

But look one more time at verse 7...

Luke 1:7 ESV

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

You know what this verse is telling us? It’s saying that even though they were incredible, they were incredibly broken and hurting.

Luke says Elizabeth was barren - meaning she couldn’t have children. You might be thinking, “So what? Lots of incredible women never have children.” And you’re right. But in Elizabeth’s day, a woman’s ability to have children was a big deal. And the fact that she couldn’t meant she lived with incredible guilt and shame. Both personally and publically.

And what Luke says next is telling too. He says they were “advanced in years.” Luke’s not just telling us they’re old, he’s also telling us they’ve lived in shame for a long time. Furthermore, at this point in their lives, it was impossible for these circumstances to change...

And I want us to stop and think about something for a moment: Do you come across certain people and think, “Man, they got it all together. God must really love them. They’re incredible Christians!” On one hand, that’s how we could perceive Elizabeth’s little family. But Luke informs us they were also deeply broken and hurt. And here’s what I want us to consider: You never know what people are going through. And that’s for both inside and outside the church.

And it makes me stop and think about this: You never know what people are going through. Both inside and outside the church. Sometimes we look at people in our churches and think, “Man, they are awesome people. They have it all together. They’re like super-saints.” But the reality is they might be hurting.

I believe this is applicable to places like Glastonbury too. On the outside, this looks like a place that has no needs. It’s awesome. And in many ways it is. But the reality is there is hurt and brokenness, like everywhere else.

We need to be slow to judge and quick to listen, pray, and love. Rarely do we truly understand what people are facing in their lives. Because even visibly “incredible” people, like Zechariah and Elizabeth, can be hurting inside and needing prayer and support, just like the rest of us. That’s why relationships and community are so important. It helps both known and be known.

That being said, they WERE truly incredible. Just look at Zechariah. Look at how he lives. Even in his family’s brokenness and public shame, Luke tells us...

Luke 1:8–10 ESV

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

Verses 8-10:

The man is still taking care of business. He’s still serving God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength. Sure, as a descendant of Aaron, it was part of his “job” to do this, but I get the sense Zechariah was a worshiper. He loved God regardless of his circumstances.

He didn’t blame God for his hardships. He didn’t complain. He doesn’t accuse God saying, “God, I served you all my life. Both my wife and I do everything right. We obey your word. I work in your temple! So why don’t you help us? Why don’t you give us kids? Why is this our life? Don’t you care?”

i don’t think he was that guy. Rather, I get the sense that, despite the pain, Zechariah never stopped trusting God. He never gave up on God. He never stopped worshiping.

I especially see this when I read that as he was working...

Luke 1:11–13 ESV

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 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.

Did you catch that? The angel says, “for your prayer about Elizabeth has been heard!” Think about that! Even though Elizabeth has been barren all her life… Even though she is now past the natural age of that ever changing… Zechariah was still praying for Elizabeth to get pregnant!

They still had hope in God. They still trusted God. They still believed God could do the impossible. How incredible is this family?

And their incredible faith was rewarded. The Bible tells us God rewards those who diligently seek Him by faith, right?. And God decided to answer their prayer and do the impossible - Elizabeth would get pregnant and have a son!

God is good, amen? And anyone experience how when God does something, He goes above and beyond? God didn’t just give them a son, he gave them an incredible son. Just look at the description of their future son...

Luke 1:14–16 ESV

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 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. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,

Luke 1:

And their son was going to transform their culture. He would help turn many people to God. And think about this: At this point, God had been silent for 400 years. Now, the angel was talking about their miracle child would be a prophet! It’s something they had never experienced and it’s something they would’ve never expected. If you will, it seemed impossible to them.

Not only that, but the angel says “they” (Zechariah and Elizabeth) would have joy and gladness. Remember, for most of their life - they experienced brokenness and shame. And… many would rejoice with them. Again, something they had never personally experienced. As awesome as they were, their community never celebrated with them because Elizabeth was barren. Rather, their community probably added to the guilt and shame.

Everything the angel said seemed impossible! It would’ve been hard to believe. No wonder Zechariah responded:

Luke 1:18–20 ESV

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 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. 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.”

Verses 14-16:

Their son would be “great before the Lord.” He would “be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth.”

And their son would be a game-changer. He would turn many people to God. And don’t miss how incredible this promise is! Remember, at this time, God had been silent for 400 years. Now, the angel was saying their son would be the first prophet in hundreds of years! This had to seem impossible to them!

Additionally, the angel says “they” (Zechariah and Elizabeth) would have joy and gladness. Finally, after a long life of shame, things were changing. Also… instead of people making them feel guilty because they had no kids, their community would rejoice with them. God was radically transforming their lives in a moment!

Again, this had to seem impossible! It must’ve been hard to believe. No wonder Zechariah responded:

Luke 1:18 NLT

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Luke 1:18–20 ESV

He was in disbelief. Nevertheless, a short time later, it happened just like God said it would. Luke writes...

He was in disbelief. Regardless, a short time later, it happened just like God said it would...

Luke 1:24 NLT

Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months.

Verse 24:

As we read this story, I want to ask: What impossible things are we facing today? And is God wanting us to learn something from Elizabeth’s story?

Maybe we’ve been living in some type of brokenness for a long time and it seems like change is impossible.

But is it REALLY impossible? Let’s not answer that yet…

Actually, let’s continue because there’s more to learn from this Mother’s Day story. In verse 26, another soon-to-be-mom comes onto the scene...

Luke 1:26–34 NLT

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

Verse 26-34:

Let me translate Mary’s response for you: That’s impossible!

So Gabriel attempts to clarify:

Luke 1:35 NLT

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.

But still, Mary was like, “Uh… that sounds incredible and super spiritual, but it’s still impossible!”

But look what happens next. Gabriel says:

Luke 1:36 NLT

What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.

Luke 1:36-

The angel is like, “You think what I’ve told you is impossible? Look at your cousin. It was impossible for Elizabeth to get pregnant but God radically transformed her life. She ‘was’ barren. But now she’s 6 months pregnant!” Elizabeth’s story is used to teach Mary .

Remember in the beginning of the story Luke said, “This was an incredible family, BUT.... Elizabeth was barren.” Now, it’s the opposite. “Elizabeth was barren BUT, now she’s pregnant!”

And what’s the main lesson Mary learns?

Luke 1:37 ESV

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

It was impossible for Elizabeth to get pregnant. But God did it. And now Mary thinks what the angel is telling her is impossible. But Elizabeth’s story teaches Mary that “nothing will be impossible with God.”

And it connects with Mary. She learns the lesson. She responds:

Luke 1:38 NLT

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Elizabeth’s story taught Mary that nothing is impossible with God. But not just Mary. Through Elizabeth, the entire community learned that “nothing is impossible with God.” After John the Baptist was born, Luke says:

Luke 1:45 ESV

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Luke 1:

And not only did Mary learn, but the entire community learned what Elizabeth was teaching through her incredible experience. After John the Baptist was born, the community observed it and Luke says:

Luke 1:65–66 NLT

Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.

-66

I believe Elizabeth taught them God is still in the business of doing the impossible! And this Mother’s Day, I believe it’s our turn to learn from this incredible mom.

Luke

And this Mother’s Day, I believe it’s our turn to learn from this incredible mom. What’s Elizabeth teaching us this morning? 2,000 years later, I believe the lesson is still the same: That nothing is impossible with God!

What’s Elizabeth teaching us this morning? 2,000 years later, the lesson is still the same: That nothing is impossible with God! Whatever you are facing this morning, know that nothing is impossible with God.

Whatever you are facing this morning, know that nothing is impossible with God.

But before we close, I want to mention a secondary lesson Elizabeth’s story teaches. We find it here in verses 56-62.

Luke 1:56–62 NLT

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home. When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her. When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him.

Everything was coming to pass just like God had promised. Elizabeth bore a son, even though it was physically impossible. And the community rejoiced with her, even though Zechariah and Elizabeth had probably never experienced that before - all they had known was cultural and public shame. And for a collective culture, that’s powerful. But look what happens...

When it came time to name their son, the community asks Elizabeth, “What’s the name?” The culturally appropriate thing would’ve been to name him after his dad. But what does Elizabeth say? “No, his name is John!”

And the community pushes back! “What do you mean John? No one in your family is named that!” It was like, “How dare you do that! That’s not what we do in our community!” And here’s the secondary lesson. Elizabeth stands up in front of her peers and essentially proclaims, “I WILL OBEY GOD over man!” Because remember, the angel already told Zechariah, “You shall name him John.”

When did Elizabeth get that type of bold strength? I believe it was formed in her during the long years of her barrenness. She had lived in public shame all her life and yet served God with all her heart. And now that God did the impossible in her life, no amount of peer pressure was going to make her disobey God.

Here’s the lesson: While we’re waiting for God to do the impossible in our lives, what lessons is He teaching us in the mean time? I know it’s hard to wait. I know the pain is real. The brokenness hurts. But I’m convinced as followers of Christ, God is always forming in us things that will equip us for the future. Will we trust Him with the process?

Secondary Lesson:

As impossible as it seemed, everything God promised to Elizabeth’s family came to pass. It was logically and naturally impossible, but Elizabeth bore a son. Why? Because nothing is impossible with God.

And her community rejoiced with her. And when it came time to name their son, the community asks Elizabeth, “What’s the name?” The culturally appropriate thing would’ve been to name him after his dad. But Elizabeth says, “No, his name is John!” We may not realize it, but culturally speaking, “Thems is fightin words!”

And the community strikes back! “What do you mean John? No one in your family is named that!” It was like them saying, “How dare you do that! That’s not what we do it in our community!” And here’s the secondary lesson. Elizabeth boldly stands up to her community and declares, “I don’t care what you think. I’M OBEYING GOD!” Because remember, the angel told Zechariah, “You shall name him John.”

Where did Elizabeth get that type of bold strength?

I believe it was formed during her long years of barrenness. Because of decades of barrenness, she was used to living in public shame, outside the cultural approval of her community. So by this time, it was n big deal for her to stand alone. Essentially, she had been training for this moment her entire life! And because of it, she glorified God through her obedience and faith.

Here’s the lesson: As children of God, we gotta realize there’s a purpose behind the hard times we’re facing. He’s using the situation to form in us the person He’s calling us to be. So, as we’re facing incredibly difficult times, as we’re waiting for God to do the impossible, we also need to ask: What’s God training me for during this season? What’s He forming in me?

I know it’s hard to wait. I know the pain is real. The brokenness hurts. But I believe this is an important lesson Elizabeth’s story teaches us. That in the hard times, when change seems impossible, God is building hope, endurance, strength, wisdom, and character into us. So that one day, maybe our story will teach others to trust God. That our story would teach that “nothing is impossible with God.”

Response:

As the worship team comes up, this Mother’s Day I want to ask you again: What impossible thing are you facing? And do you believe nothing is impossible with God?

I know there are some incredible families in our church facing some impossible situations. I want to remind you: With God, nothing is impossible.

Believe it. Put your faith in God. Don’t give up. That’s one lesson my mom taught me. She taught me endurance. That’s a great quality to have in difficult seasons. In fact, says

Hebrews 10:36 NLT

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

That’s applicable to us as a church too. As a church, I know you’ve heard me talk about what seems like an impossible mission. I believe God has called TRC to reach Glastonbury with the gospel. To many that seems crazy. But God can do it! Nothing is impossible with Him.

As a church, I know you’ve heard me talk about what may seem like an impossible mission. I believe God has called TRC to reach Glastonbury with the gospel. God can do it! Nothing is impossible with Him.

Today let’s trust the God who makes the impossible possible. Let’s begin to live with an expectation that our incredible God can and will do impossible things.

That’s the lesson the moms in our story teach us on this Mother’s Day. Let’s learn from them, just as we’ve learned from the incredible mothers in our own lives.

Let’s pray.

Gospel?

I know God can do the impossible, because the fact that I’m a Christian, let alone a pastor and church planter is impossible.

Elizabeth’s story also points to the gospel. It was impossible for her to have a baby. That part of her life was dead. But God raised it to life by giving her John. Did you know John means “God is gracious.” We see the dead come to life by God’s grace! That’s the gospel. Our sin left us in an impossible situation. But God gives us his grace, seen in Jesus Christ dying on the cross. I want us to learn an important lesson from this incredible mom: With God, nothing is impossible. Amen?

We pray impossible prayers for incredible famililes.

We expect impossible things from our incredible God.

That’s what moms teach us this Mother’s Day.

Don’t give up. That’s one thing my mom taught me: Endurance. I watched my mom press through the hardest of times and she built that into me. And it’s simila

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