The Disbelief that ushered in the kingdom of Heaven

Have you ever felt like you were either to old or maybe the time had just passed you by, to be able to do what you were created to do?

What if I told you that if you still have breath in your lungs you could still be used for God and His kingdom.

Today we begin our study into the book of Luke. We will encounter different lives that have been turned upside because of the kingdom of God.

Our story today takes place in a small town, with a couple who are well advanced in years. But before we dive into their story lets first meet the author of this wonderful book, and why he has decided to write this book.

[Bible]

1 In as much as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Luke wants us to understand that we have a responsibility to teach with clarity all that we know. He is echoing the amazing gift we all have. We all have Influence

[Bible] Acts 18:25

English Standard Version Chapter 18

25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus,

[Bible] Romans 2:18-21

English Standard Version Chapter 2

and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself?

[Bible] Galatians 6:6

English Standard Version Chapter 6

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

We have a responsibility to teach and teach with clarity all that we know.

What Luke wants us to understand is that we have influence no matter what stage of life you are in. And if you have influence then that influence must be cultivated with responsibility.

Thats what Luke is reiterating to a man named Theophilus.

Luke then does something quite uniques. He begins his book by telling us of a a couple who live in the town of Judea during the reign of king Herod. He even goes a little further by telling us that this couple come from a long line of priests. That they lived as faithful followers of God and then he drops this little sentence at the end of all this good stuff.

[Bible]

English Standard Version Chapter 1

7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren

Why would he do this?

This may not seem like much but this is super crucial to our story because he mentioned how they come from the line of Priest, that they were faithful followers and by Jews traditions having children meant they you were blessed by God and living rightly before him. But here was Zechariah and Elizabeth who had no children, and weren’t going to be able to have any because they both were very old. So to put it plainly, they were just out of luck.

But let me encourage you, that just because the world see’s the outside circumstance’s in your life doesn’t me that your outside circumstances are who you were created to be.

Your outward situation does not dictate what God see’s in your heart and What you do in secret to brings honor to his name will come to light at the appropriate time.

When the Jewish community saw a barren couple God saw a couple with a heart for his Kingdom.

There was a time in my life where everything was going wrong. My car keep breaking down, my checks wouldn’t make it to the following payday, it wasn’t that i was spending money carelessly. I could just couldn’t catch a break, I was in my word, daily, praying, seeking , but it just seemed like things wouldnt look up

The story of when Dietrich Bonhoeffer went to a concentration camp for planing the assassination of hitler.

When the Jewish community said they were cursed God said they would be a blessing to the masses.

You see God knows who you are better than you might even know yourself.

I say this because Luke goes on to tell us that Zechariah was chosen to complete his priestly duties. If you know anything about priestly duties you know that it requires you to be the representation of God’s people before God himself.

Luke then tells us that Zechariah was chosen to complete his priestly duties.

During this time Zechariah does something that makes Him stand out from among the rest.

What you dont know is

You see Judea hand an overpopulation of priest and some would go their who lives without ever having to do anything in the temple. That’s how over populated the Judea was with priest. so for Zechariah to be called to do this would mean that this would be his only chance that he would have to be in the presence of God for the rest of his life.

1) When the moment arises, will you set aside your own desires or will you put God’s will before your own and trust that God will take of you and all your desires?

We are called to be a people who with our influence use it to show others the meaning of true power, and true power is seen through humility and service.

Zechariah humbled himself and prayed for the salvation of God’s people and through his humility God honored him with a desires of his heart that he never could imagine.

This is why the Psalmist can say...

[Bible]

[Bible]

4  Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5  Commit your way to the Lord;

5  Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him, and he will act.

6  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

and your justice as the noonday.

Zechariah being a faithful follower knew that God would take care of him one way or another, he just didn’t know that the way God works is in the impossible.

God loves to do the impossible in our lives to show the rest of the world How God is the King of both the possible and impossible.

The problem is that sometimes we claim to believe in the God of the impossible until he desires to do it in our lives, and then for some reason we tend to not trust him.

Zechariah was not the first person to not trust God to to do the impossible in his life. matter of fact there is a similar story that we all know of. Do you remember the song Father Abraham? How does it go?

The truth is that Abraham had two sons. one where he decided to take into his own hands and do what he believed had to be done and the other God decide to display His crafty work in the impossible.

Sometimes we jump the gun, and we don’t fully trust God to do what he said he would do.

Look how Zechariah replied to the angel when He told him God’s plan.

[Bible]

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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.” 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.”

2) It is never too late for God to use you for his kingdom.

It is never too late for you to join in on what God has put into motion here and now!

You see God loves to work in the impossible with his children. That is why He caused Zechariah to be mute because he wanted to use him but knew that if he left him with his speech he would ruin it for someone else.

Some times we have to learn that our greatest blessing lies in our silence.

What do I mean by that?

Have you ever told someone a dream that you’ve had? And they look at you and say that your crazy, you can never accomplish that. They may be right, but the part they are missing is that you may not be able to accomplish it But God can. But that persons disbelief can cause you to lose faith and maybe just maybe even trust in the God that works in the impossible.

I don’t know about you but sometimes I need God to cause me to go mute like he did Zechariah so that I can see and trust God in what he is doing or going to do in my life.

The story goes on to tell us that God’s plan came to pass. You see Elizabeth did get pregnant, she did give birth to a son and they did name him John. He was a blessing to them and to God’s people. You see John became the for runner for Jesus. he literally paved the road so that Jesus could usher in His kingdom and finish the plan God had in store, which might I add, God’s plan was to redeem his people back to him and provide an opportunity for you and I to enter into this beautiful relationship with him and His community.

God is in the business of flipping our kingdom upside down for His

. Its what he did for this amazing couple. He etched into history their place because of Zechariahs selfless act of obedience and servant hood for God and his people.

If you take anything away from tonight, I hope you take these things with you.

God is in the business of flipping our kingdom upside down for His. Its what he did for this amazing couple. He etched into history their place because of Zechariahs selfless act of obedience and servant hood for God and his people.

It is never too for you to be used by God, and when that moment arrises will you set aside your desires for that of God’s kingdom and his people trusting that God knows what you need and that he will take care of you and will do it in such away that it will leave an everlasting mark in history because you decided to join him in his work here and know.