He didn't change his mind

myah abrams

Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

Luke 5:1–25

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scripture

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord 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 unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. 23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Outline

in our text, we are introduced to an important couple in biblical history.

and this couple happens to be The parents of John the Baptist

& Luke the author of this third synoptic gospel gives a detailed account of Johns birth detailing his parents experience

the parents of John the baptist are a priest who’s named Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth

AND CONSEQUENTLY WE FIND THAT THEIR FAITH GETS TESTED, BECAUSE GOD MAKES THEM A PROMISE THAT HE DELAYS ON DELIVERING

(and can i raise the question this morning have you ever found yourself in this position whereby you trusted God for something or believed God for something or you just flat out stood on the promises of GOD only to find yourself in a position of extended wait? in other words GOD made you a promise and he delayed in delivering )

And thats the position we meet Zacharias and Elisabeth in they are initially in delay but things are about to change for them

and i don’t know who this is for BUT THINGS ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE FOR YOU

IT’S ABOUT TO WORK IN YOUR FAVOR

MATER FACT YOU MIGHT AS WELL TAKE OUT YOUR PHONE AND TAKE A SELFIE SO YOU CAN REMEMBER THIS DAY BECAUSE I PROPHESY THAT BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR

THINGS ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE....

AND SO HERE IT IS WE MEET ZACHARIAS AND ELISABETH IN DELAY

BUT ITS ABOUT TO CHANGE

LOOK @ VS. 6-13 THE BIBLE GIVES US FOUR PERTINENT DETAILS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THEIR DELAY

vs. 6 - blameless - not perfect but (faithful) faithful over a few things.....

vs. 6 - blameless - not perfect but they were faithful (can i suggest that whatever you do in this season REMAIN FAITHFUL

vs. 7a - Elisabeth is barren meaning she was unable to conceive

but according to vs. 13 - they were believing God (for a child)

7b - not only barren but there’s a barrier - (age)

vs. 13 - they were believing God (for a child)

Here’s the blessing that in all this

Here’s the blessing in all this

they have this unusual favor from God on there life ....

how do i know..... because

Zacharias name means - God Remembers

Elisabeth name means - Promise

(here’s the favor that’s on there life) …that God says, (ALTHOUGH YOU IN DELAY) i haven’t forgotten my promise to you!!!

God i wish you saw it

I DON’T KNOW WHO THIS IS FOR..............

BUT WHATEVER GOD PROMISED YOU OVER THIS PAST YEAR ....... HE HASN’T FORGOTTEN

CAN YOU HELP ME PUT IT IN THE ATMOSPHERE SOMEBODY SAY HE HASN’T FORGOTTEN

he’s not a man that he should lie or the son of man that he has to repent

he watches over his word ......to perform it

i don’t know who this is for, but whatever he has promised you IN 2019.....

HE STILL GOT 16 DAYS TO PERFORM IT

OHHH GOD!!! HE HASN’T FORGOTTEN

the struggle with this is … waiting for God to do what he promised

and i know most of you have mastered patience

but for the 50 of us that struggle

because when you waiting for GOD

trusting that GOD

believing that GOD

expecting GOD

is gonna do what he promised... and THEN he delay

you might not admit it but what you wrestle with in your mind is

God you didn’t delay my trouble

heartache

heart break

need you to expedite .......my blessing (WISH I HAD SOMEBODY)

anybody need an expedient blessing

i’m talking God i need it right now !

GOD .......if you don’t do another thing !......

So there Barren BUT BELIEVING GOD STANDING ON THE PROMISE

Age is the Barrier to what their Believing GOD for (which is a child)there believing GOD to open Elisabeth’s womb and God says .... “I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN YOU”

But the Blessing is God say “I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN YOU”

AND God says .... “I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN YOU”

IN SPITE OF ELISABETH’S BARENESS

this is part of Lukes birth narrative of Jesus Christ

AND WHEN GOD GETS READY TO SEND HIS SON, HE SAYS I NEED A MASTER OF CEREMONIES..... A MC (IF YOU WILL)..... TO INTRODUCE MY SON TO THE WORLD

AND AS A RESULT GOD CHOOSES ZACHARIAS AND ELISABETH TO BRING FORTH JOHN THE BAPTIST who is the forerunner for CHris

IN SPITE OF ELISABETH’S BARENESS

IN SPITE OF THE BARRIERS

GOD SAYS IM STILL ABLE TO BLESS

let me park here parenthetically, because the problem in the text is not with GOD

the problem in the text that arises is with Zacharias and i’m going to show you in a minute

because like Zacharias we have a problem at times trusting God to do what his word says he gonna do - when there’s delay

and God says i know you want me to change that situation right now, but my purpose and plan for your life in the delay, is greater than your feelings

IN OTHER WORDS YOUR FEELING DON’T MATTER

THIS HAS TO GO ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE

THAT’S WHY JESUS SAID NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE

you worried about how you feel and GOD says i’m looking at the outcome

i know you want me to save that child

heal that sickness

restore your marriage

but let patience have her perfect work so that you might be perfect and entire wanting nothing!

TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR WAIT FOR IT!!!

ONE OF THE MOST ANNOYING THING IN THIS 5 G SOCIETY IS

( BUFFERING)....

WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO STREAM VIDEOS OR NEWS OR MOVIES

AND THE MOST COMMON CAUSE FOR THIS IS (SLOW INTERNET SPEED)

AND THE ONLY SOLUTION IS AN UPGRADE

AND CAN I SUGGEST THAT AS IT PERTAINS TO GODS PROMISE OVER YOUR LIFE

HE’S NO SLOW CONCERNING THE PROMISE HE JUST AIN’T MOVE WHEN YOU WANT HIM TO MOVE

BUT THE REALITY IS, HE’S GETTING READY TO UPGRADE YOU

TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR GET READY FOR AN UPGRADE

EYE’S HAVEN’T SEEN

EARS HAVEN’T HEARD

NEITHER HAS IT ENTERED INTO THE HEARTS OF MAN

THE THINGS HE HAS IN STORE FOR YOU

SO THERE IN DELAY ---- AND CAN I SUGGEST THAT THE DELAY LED TO DESTINY

LOOK AT vs. 8-10

..... & what he been waiting for......... God’s about to deliver THE PROBLEM IS ZACHARIAH GOT FAITH FATIGUED AND IT CAUSED HIM TO DOUBT

but when he shows up he shows up in normal GOD fashion

but its pressed down shaken together and running over

WHATS FAITH FATIGUE??? HE GOT TIRED OF WAITING

(EXTENDED WAITING CAUSED HIM TO FOCUS MORE ON HIS PROCLIVITY THAN ON GODS PROMISE)

AND IF YOU BE HONEST WAITING CAN WEAR YOU OUT

IT WAS THE WEIGHT OF WAITING THAT CAUSED HIM TO DOUBT

THATS THE REAL REASON WHY THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH

BECAUSE WAITING WILL WAEAR YOU OUT

I KNOW THIS IS TRUE BY ZACHARIAS RESPONSE TO GOD WHEN GOD CONFIRMED THE PROMISE

the text says that as Zacharias was serving as priest, that his lot was chosen to go in the temple and burn incense

the text says that as Zacharias was serving as priest that his lot was chosen to go in the temple and burn incense

NOW HIS SITUATION

stop right there, ITS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT A LOT IS. ITS A SACRED MEANS OF DETERMINING GODS WILL GIVEN TO THE PRIEST

THE PRIEST CARRIED SACRED STONED IN THE BREST PLATE OF THERE GARMENTS CALLED THE URIM AND THUMMIM

AND WHENEVER THEY WANTED TO DETERMINE GODS WILL MORE SPECIFICALLY THEY WOULD TRUST GOD TO SPEAK THROUGH THE CASTING OF LOTS WHICH WAS A TOSSING OF THE STONES

AND HOW IRONIC IS IT THAT THE LOT FELL ON HE WHOSE WIFE IS BARREN BUT HE WHO IS BELIEVING GOD

AND I WONDER IF GOD SHOWED UP TO BLESS TODAY WHO WOULD HE FIND ON YOUR ROW .....BELIEVING GOD IN SPITE OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE

BELIEVING GOD IN SPITE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES AND HIS PRAISES .....

THE REASON WHY I KNOW IT WAS DESTINY IS BECAUSE

there were 24 divisions of priest that helped serve in the temple with thousands of priest

each division served two weeks out of a year

it was a priest dream to burn incense on the incense alter

this task would only happen once in a priest lifetime if that

and the smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of the people

subsequently the incense alter was positioned right before the curtain that separated the most holy place

so in essence when Zacharias showed up to serve HE MET DESTINY IN HIS DELAY BECAUSE WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IS God said come a little closer

his lot is chosen

to burn incense

something that happens once in a lifetime

MAYBE GOD HAS CAUSED YOU TO WAIT IN THIS SEASON SO HE CAN DRAW YOU A LITTLE CLOSER

in order for GOD to bless him ....

he got to come a little closer

and i sense that somebody in here showed up for worship today and GOD is calling you..... to come a little closer

AND YOU SAY PASTOR ABRAMS HOW DO I KNOW WHEN GOD IS CALLING ME TO COME A LITTLE CLOSER

if you came in here today, and you got some BARENESS and some

BARRIERS then GOD is calling you to COME A LITTLE CLOSER

HE CAN’T FILL THE VOID, OR BREAK THE BARRIER UNLESS YOU COME A LITTLE CLOSER

HE THAT DWELLS .... IN THE SECRET PLACE .... OF THE MOST HIGH GOD

WILL ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW … OF THE ALMIGHTY

CAN WE GO OLD SCHOOL FOR A MINUTE....

IT’S ME IT’S ME , IT’S ME O LORD

STANDING ....IN THE NEED OF PRAYER ...

NOT MY MOTHER .... NOT MY FATHER .... BUT IT’S ME O LORD

STANDING........

COME A LITTLE CLOSER!!!!! 3X’S

SO DELAY LEADS TO DESTINY AND DESTINY BRINGS FORTH DECLARATION VS . 13-14

ZACK GOES IN THERE AND UMMM THERE’S THIS THEOPHANY

GOD MANIFEST HIS PRESENCE

AND CAN I SUGGEST THAT UMM THAT’S WHAT WE NEED

WE NEED A VISITATION BECAUSE WHEN GOD SHOWS UP AND MANIFEST HIS PRESENCE

A MANIFESTATION OF HIS PRESENCE

GLORY SHOWS UP

CROOKED THINGS GET STRAIGHT

HIGH PLACES ARE BROUGHT DOWN

WHEN HE SHOWS UP..........

HE GOES IN THERE, AND IN VS. 13 GOD SAYS WHAT YOU BEEN BELIEVING GOD FOR

AND WHAT YOU BEEN TRUSTING GOD FOR … ITS YOURS (I WISH I HAD SOMEBODY)

CAN I ASK THE QUESTION ......HOW WOULD YOU WORSHIP GOD OR

HOW WOULD YOU PRAISE GOD

IF HE SHOWED UP TODAY AND SAID… WHAT YOU BEEN BELIEVING ME FOR OVER THIS PAST YEAR IN 2019 .... IT’S YOURS

WELL HERE’S YOU CHANCE YOU GOT AN AUDIENCE WITH GOD

CAN YOU DEMONSTRATE TO GOD YOUR APPRECIATION (WATCH THIS)..... BEFORE HE DO IT

I WISH SOMEBODY WAS BOLD ENOUGH TO PRAISE HIM LIKE IT’S ALREADY DONE

WOULD YOU GET SOMEBODY BY THE HAND AND SAY NEIGHBOR

MAGNIFY---- THE LORD WITH ME---- LET US EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER

NOW IF THEY ASK YOU WHY YOU PRAISING HIM

LOOK THEM DEAD IN THE EYE AND SAY

GOD SAID ...... IT’S ALREADY DONE

THAT SITUATION WITH YOUR HEALTH … ITS ALREADY DONE

THAT SITUATION WITH YOUR CHILD ---- ITS ALREADY DONE

THAT SITUATION INB YOUR MARRIAGE IT’S ALREADY DONE

TRUST IN THE LORD

WITH ALL YOUR HEART

AND LEAN NOT TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING

IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM

LIKE ITS ALREADY DONE

THE DOUBT vs.13

THE DOUBT

here it is …here it is .... i got a confession to make

ZACHARIAS DOES EVERYTHING BUT

in two parts yall were just a part of my sub point under Declaration

and that was Demonstration

yall were apart of my illustrative portion of the sermon

and ummm yall did good considering we didn’t even rehearse

IM GLAD YOU SHOWED ME THAT BECAUSE IT FURTHER PROVES MY ARGUMENT

AND HUMINISTICALY SPEAKING HE POINTS TO THE BARRIER

and i know … i know ....that wasn’t fair

cause uhhh... ummm i didn’t tell yall first

but i can asure yall that i believe what was just declared that its already done

HE SAYS TO GOD...

i believe yall praise was genuine

but i really shared that point to prove what i suspected in the text and im telling yall , yall did great because

we started with the delay

which led to the destiny

which led to the declaration

now i was amazed because yall responded in faith to the Declaration without evidence

and i hate to be the bearer of bad news but in the text vs. 18 After all that he DOUBTS ZACHARIAS DOUBTS

now i would have thought that he would have responded in faith but the text says in vs 18 that he responds in DOUBT AND DISBELIEF

now i ain’t gonna linger here , i’m just gonna challenge you to do some introspection

because i know we shouted

BECAUSE IN VS 18, ZACHARIAS DOUBTS GOD

and we praised

HE SAYS TO GOD...

and we danced

HOW WE GONNA HAVE A CHILE DON’T YOU KNOW THAT ELISABETH IS BAREN

and you responded in faith to the DECLARATION

HOW WE GONNA HAVE A CHILD DON’T YOU KNOW HOW OLD WE ARE

but don’t act like you ain’t never doubt GOD

AS A RESULT GOD REVEALS TO ZACK HOW HE’S ABOUT TO BLESS HIM IN SPITE OF HIS CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND IN VS. 18-21 IS WHERE GOD DEALT WITH ME

AND IN A MINUTE IM GOING TO LEAVE AN ARGUMENT ON THE FLOOR FOR YALL TO WRESTLE WITH PRIVATELY

IN ZACHARIAS DEFENSE AS DEMONSTRATIVE AS YOUR PRAISE JUST WAS OVER DECLARATION

AS GENUINE AS IT SEEMED

THE REAL PROOF OF YOUR FAITH IS WHAT YOU DO IN BETWEEN THE DELAY AND THE DELIVERY

you came to this alter before with burdens and belief

only to take back what you was supposed to leave here

you’ve made bold declarations in one season only to spew out doubts in the next

you know what its like to say i trust GOD in one moment only to respond in fear in the next

THE DECISION VS. 20

GOD ADDRESSES ZACHARIAS DOUBT IN THE DECISION

BECAUSE WE LOOKED AT THE DELAY

THE DELAY LED TO DESTINY

DESTINY POSITIONED HIM FOR DECLARATION

AND I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT AFTER HEARING FROM GOD THAT HE WOULD HAVE RESPONDED IN FAITH BUT HE DOUBT

AND WHAT BLESSED ME IS GODS DECISION TO STILL BLESS HIM EVEN THOUGH HE DOUBTS

NOW THAT MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL THING TO YOU BUT HE DIDN’T CHANGE HIS MIND

THE BIBLE SAYS WITHOUT FAITH ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM AND HES A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM

WHEN GOD TOLD ZACHARIAS WHAT YOU BELIEVING ME FOR IS ALREADY DONE

I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT ZACHARIAS WOULD HAVE RESPONDED IN FAITH

BECAUSE WHEN I TESTED THE WATERS WITH YALL , YALL HAVE NO PROOF THAT IT’S GONNA HAPPEN BUT THE WORD

BUT YALL RESPONDED IN FAITH

IN VS. 18 ZACHARIAS REMINDS GOD OF ELISABETH’S BARENESS AND THEIR BARRIER WHICH IS THEIR AGE

ZACHARIAS DOESN’T REALIZE THAT GOD IS NOT WORKING WITH THEIR RESOURCES BUT RATHER HE’S WORKING WITH UNLIMITED RESOURSES

AND IN VS. 19 - 20 IS WHERE GODS MERCY ILLUMINATED TO ME IN A WHOLE NEW WAY..

BUT INSTEAD ZACHARIAS RESPONDED IN DOUBT AND DISBELIEF

AND IN VS. 19 - 20 IS WHERE GODS MERCY ILLUMINATED TO ME IN A WHOLE NEW WAY..

IN VS 19 -20 GOD SAYS TO ZACHARIAS “ UNTIL MY PROMISE COMES TO PASS YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO TALK”

AND WHERE I BLESS GOD IS THAT HE DIDN’T CHANGE HIS MIND

ZACHARIA ....

DOUBTED BECAUSE OF DELAY

WHEN YOU DOUT YOU IGNORE DESTINY

WHEN YOU DOUBT YOU DISRESPECT

THE DELAY 5-7

DESTINY 8-10

DECLARATION VS. 13

DOUBT VS 18

THE DOUBT

THE DECISION VS .20

God reveals to Zacharias that what he been believing God for