Messengers - The Message to Zechariah

Angels We Have Heard

Who has finished all their decorating?

Who has an Angel on top of their tree?

Who has a nativity?

Generally our Christmas messages center on that or the prophecies.

We are going to to talk about the Angels and their message.

Angel means messenger

First- we may have a misconception of angels

cute, playing harp

Angels in scripture terrified people - do not fear - who’s afraid of a diaper wearing harpist

So, each week we will talk about what angels are and are not and then look at their message.

What is an Angel?

Created beings - God spoke them

Spiritual beings

Hebrews 1:14 CSB

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?

2 Kinds - Good and Fallen

Only 2 named - Gabriel - messenger Christmas, Michael - leader of God’s army

Bible says in Hebrews 13:2 we may entertain Angels without knowing

Definition - An Angel is a created spiritual being that stands before the presence of God and carries out God’s commands delivering messages, and waging war in the spiritual realm

Today at the Angel’s message to a man named Zechariah

Luke 1

The Message to Zechariah

Some background:

He was an older priest serving in the temple. He was chosen by lot to offer incense (symbolic of the peoples prayer) Only do this once

Married to Elizabeth - no child - prayed for but unanswered

Luke 1:11–19 CSB

An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.” “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.

John the Baptist

Zechariah does not believe - goes mute for 9 months - not an option ladies

Approximately 400 years with no prophet in Israel

Not since Malachi

Now the one who is to make way for the Messiah

God had heard the prayers and in His timing he answered

John’ Message

Turn your hearts to God

Luke 1:16 CSB

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

John’ Message

Turn your hearts to God

Think about it - the message of Christmas is Emmanuel - God with us

God is pursuing us to the point He will enter our world, live a perfect life, die a perfect death for us, and rise again

John’ Message

2. Turn your hearts to your family

Luke 1:17 CSB

And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

John’ Message

2. Turn your hearts to your family

Family will and will always bee the first community God ordained

It is under attack

I think it is important that the bible mentions fathers-

According to 72.2 % of the U.S. population, fatherlessness is the most significant family or social problem facing America.

Carrying John’s Message

Jesus said

Luke 7:28 CSB

I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Carrying John’s Message

Maybe we should try to be like John this Christmas season

Prepare the way - find ways to love and serve your neighbors - Christ mas outreach

Turn hearts to God - invite them to service, watch the movie tonight together, invite to Christmas eve

Turn hearts to Family - model biblical family, pray for your neighbors, step in when possible.

The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity--hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory--because at the Father's will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross.

- J.I. Packer