Your Prayer Has Been Heard

Intro

Luke 1:5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] 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.

Luke - only gospel that starts with birth of John

days of herod - days of oppression - pagan temples - mass murder - throwing parties while people suffer - remember: later murders all the newborn boys - a pawn of satan.

now - this doesn’t sound to different does it?

in this context - hope - Zechariah and Elizabeth - unknown really. but they’re about to make headlines. a priest and his barren wife.

God often works this way - unknowns - “the little people”

Zechariah Wins The Lottery

Temple - two main rooms - inner/holy place alter for burning incense - one priest chosen by lot - a once in a lifetime - high honor

the incense - special recipe - the smoke - represents their prayers rising to God - he is the intercessor on their behalf

he enters the temple with the incense - and those outside watch and wait - no smoke? - no Zechariah?

somethign is happening inside the temple.

Luke 1:11 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.

something we should say here - do you believe in angels?

why does this matter? “angel” appears more often than “love” or “sin” in the NT.

and if you want some sideways glances at your next business meeting or family gathering, find a way to casually bring up that you do believe in angels.

the fact checkers would reject you -

if this were you, would you be embarassed? Maybe you’d prefer to not bring up the creation, or Noah’s ark, or other miraculous events because it might ostracize you from certain circles.

well, just wait. Because Grandmaw is about to have a baby.

We are spiritual beings. This is a spiritual world. We can’t let the scientism, the fact checkers, the god haters, steal our joy and our hope. We know what Christmas means. That God steps in.

the world can make it’s predictions and its plans and it’s methods.... but you and I know. maybe tomorrow will bring an Angel?

so lets prepare by studying this one.

Luke 1:13 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.”

And this angel’s message? Your prayers have been heard

Zech was offering the prayers of the people to God, that’s what a mediator priest in this situation is doing.

but he was old. he had probably long ago stopped praying for a child.

so he wasn’t asking “God give me a kid”

He was asking what all the priests asked -”God remember your covenant with Israel.”

And here’s the intersting part - no doubt in Zech and Eliz life did they fervantly pray for a child. But at this point, their old age, they had surely stopped.

So when the Angel says “your prayer has been answered” he is speaking to both in the same moment.

God will remember his covenant with Israel, he will send John to make the way for the messiah, AND he will do it by also answering the prayer of Zech and Eliz from years before.

See, when we pray in faith - meaning according to God’s word and promises - it’s almost like he files them away. And he will answer, maybe not in the way we expect, or in the time we’d prefer, but he will answer.

Z’s response

Zechariah heard - but didn’t believe - How? I’m too old?

this isn’t being polite here, this isn’t being flabbergasted, it’s doubt.

we often pray through unbelief, and when the prayers are answered, we still sit in unbelief. isn’t it amazing?

abraaham, gideon, and now Z

the Bible tells us ‘the righteous shall live by FAITH”

so what do the wicked live by? disbelief.

and that disbelief is marketed to us as “just being rational, real, honest… etc”

you don’t really believe in angels… right?

but disbelief isn’t rational, it’s irrational.

Look at Z. An Angel just showed up and TOLD HIM what God was going to do. And his response? Irrational disbelief.

the rational response would actually be - to believe the ANGEL GABRIEL OF GOD

When Z gives his “but how? I’m Old” the angel clarifies.

“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 so, because of his lack of faith - discipline. mute.

and now, the whole town is talking. And in 9 months, when Z get’s his voice back, he makes it known that God has answered their prayers, and all of Israels.

This. This is good news.