Announcements from Heaven

Galatians 4:4–5 KJV 1900

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Introduction

We learned a while back in studying through the many highways found in the book of Hebrews that so many things point to God’s Son, Jesus Christ. We look at the priesthood, the tabernacle even, and how the order of everything was a picture of Jesus Christ. We looked at the animal sacrifices and how, even they, pointed to the day when the precious Lamb of God would come.

Now, as we read in our text verses, which is really just a springboard for the message, but as the Bible puts it, the fullness of time had come, and God was about to make three exciting announcements concerning Jesus’ birth, and how the three people He made the announcements to reacted is the topic of tonight’s message...

Zacharias, The Reaction of Doubt

Luke 1:11–20 KJV 1900

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 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 John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 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. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 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. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 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. 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.

The angel of the Lord bring some really great news to Zecharias here, but Zecharias’ response is, “Whereby shall I know this?..”

Ummm. Seeing and hearing an angel isn’t enough? You need more proof Zecharias?

When our eyes are on our problems—in Zecharias’ case, his old age…We will not receive God’s word or trust God’s power.

We can’t think our problems are great and God’s power is great at the same time. We will exalt one a little bit more than the other. We can be so focused on our problems we can’t hear God’s promises and we fail to believe God’s power.

Did you know you can block out the noonday sun with a quarter? All you have to do is bring the quarter right up to your eye. We sometimes hold our problems and limitations to our eyes in that way, bringing them so close to our eyes we cannot see the great, glowing sun of God’s promises and God’s power.

When our eyes are on our problems, we will not remember God’s Word and how it applies to us.

Why did Zechariah not remember Abraham back in Genesis? Abraham was in the exact same situation—wanting a child but he and his wife were far too old. God gave Abraham and Sarah a son when they were nearly a hundred years old!

Zecharias should have remembered God’s Word, but instead, we find him focused on his limitation!

Zecharias paid a price for his unbelief. His unbelief didn’t make God take His promise back; it just kept Zecharias from enjoying it!

When you and I don’t believe God’s promise for our lives, we do not necessarily destroy the promise; but we do destroy our ability to enjoy the promise.

What made this such a severe punishment was that Zacharias had such great news to tell.

When you doubt, you’ll lose your voice just like Zecharias did! He had good news to tell, but he couldn’t; you and I have the good news about Jesus to tell, but when you don’t believe God’s promises for your life, you’ll not enjoy them, and it’ll make you quiet!

I won’t you to notice something else here…Zecharias was in the temple when all this took place, it was right next to the altar of incense where the angel appeared!

I believe this shows us that we can be righteous people in the holiest places, carrying out the holiest acts of worship, and not believe God! Unbelief is that sneaky! It can slither right into the middle of spiritual worship. You can be a preacher preaching the gospel and not believe anyone will be saved. You can be an evangelist on the street corner and not believe anyone will listen. You can be married and not believe your spouse is a gift from the Lord. We can pray for our heart’s deepest desire, and laced in the marrow of our prayer is a sneaky unbelief. That was Zecharias, and that is many of us.

Mary, The Reaction of Dependence

Luke 1:26–38 KJV 1900

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

You know, I really like it when everything in my life goes as planned…But hey, let’s be real, there are times when we sail the calm seas of life, and then there are days when we are in the storm. One preacher said it this way, “You’re either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or getting ready to go into a storm.” Those times in between are the best times though!

When Gabriel makes His announement to Mary, her life is turned upside down immediately! He’s called upon to bear shame, reproach, and humiliation for the glory of God! AND IT WOULD BE THE GREATEST HONOR EVERY GIVEN TO WOMAN!

Despite the shame that was sure to come her way, despite the humiliation she would bear, Mary was willing to submit her life to the will of the Lord. In doing so, she sets an example of obedience and surrender that every child of God needs to take to heart.

What does Mary say to the angel? “…be it unto me according to thy word...”

You and I would do well to learn to submit to the will of the Lord in every detail of life. We need never fear the providential hand of God, for He will never do us wrong! Regardless of what may come our way in life, we can rest assured that God is going to use it to get glory to Himself and to help us learn more about Him. Mary just depended on the Word of God!

I think about Joseph here; not Mary’s Joseph, but the Joseph in the book of Genesis. He was loved by his father and had special privilege in his family, yet God allowed Joseph to be sold by his brothers into slavery and to spend the next 13 years in either servitude or prison. In the end, though, God proved that His plan was the right plan!

Genesis 50:20 KJV 1900

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Joseph, The Reaction of Determination

Matthew 1:18–21 KJV 1900

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

As Joseph pondered what to do about his situation, God sent an angel to tell Joseph that he was about to gain far more than he stood to lose. Joseph finds out that he is the man who has been chosen to raise the Messiah. He had been handpicked by God to provide Jesus with His physical and spiritual training. His was a privilege that was unique to all of humanity. His closeness to the Lord made this situation possible.

Sometimes, the Lord’s assignments are costly, but they always pay back far more than they require from us. In fact, just the privilege of being chosen by God to do anything is a privilege beyond description!

Thank God, He chooses the common man to carry out the dictates and plans of the Lord.

Joseph willingly took the assignment offered to him by God. In spite of the ridicule and the humiliation, he was willing to make the Lord’s will a priority in his life. This is an example that we all need to pay attention to and we need to be like this. It was never a question of “if”. When Joseph knew the Lord’s will, he followed with unquestioning obedience.

Do not fear God’s purposes. Sometimes they may look bad in the beginning, but in the end, He will be glorified and you will be blessed...

Romans 8:28 KJV 1900

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Regardless of what comes your way in life, determine in your heart that you will seek the Lord’s will and will do that which He has called upon you to do above all other things, and He will be glorified!

Conclusion

The way in which these three individuals reacted to the Word of God is still the way men and women respond today!

You can doubt all this or say you don’t need it. Or you can come to Him by faith, totally depending on Him and Him alone to save you. If you’re saved tonight, you should determine to live for Him by faith day by day, no matter what happens. You should depend on Him!

Don’t doubt! Depend and Determine!

Faith - Forsaking All I Trust Him!