ZACH AND LIZ

Luke 1:5-25 (KJV) 5  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 John. 14  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.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT LUKE BEGINS THE STORY OF THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR WITH THE ACCOUNT ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH AND JOHN THE BAPTIST FOR A SEVERAL REASONS.

1. DOING THIS CONNECTS THE OLD TESTAMENT WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT.

2.THERE HAD BEEN NO PROPHET IN ISRAEL FOR 4OO YEARS. SO THERE HAD NOT BEEN A MESSAGE FROM GOD BECAUSE HE WAS SILENT FOR 400 YEARS.

3. JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS THE FULFILLMENT OF OT PROPHESIES LINKING EVEN FURTHER THE OT WITH THE NEW.

4.  JOHN'S BIRTH WAS ALSO MIRACULOUS BUT NOT ON THE SCALE OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

AND GABRIEL USES LIZ'S PREGNANCY AS A SIGN TO MARY THAT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.

5.  THE STORY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST ESTABLISHES THAT HE WAS THE PROPHESIED FORE RUNNER OF THE MESSIAH WHICH ALL OF ISRAEL WAS WAITING FOR.

NAMES    ZACHARIAS MEANS  GOD REMEMBERS

ELIZABETH MEANS HIS OATH OR MY GOD IS AN OATH

JOHN FROM HEBREW JOHANAN   GOD IS GRACIOUS

THE FORERUNNER OF THE MESSIAH HAS THE NAME GOD IS GRACIOUS.

WHOSE PARENTS NAMES MEANS GOD REMEMBERS HIS OATH.

ZACH AND LIZ WERE BOTH RIGHTEOUS AND BLAMELESS BEFORE GOD MEANS THAT THEY KEPT UP THEIR PART OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

THEY LIVED GODLY LIVES AND WHEN THEY MESSED UP THEY WERE CONTSTANTLY DOING THE NECESSARY ATONEMENT SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS FOR THEMSELVES.

FOR GOD TO INPIRE LUKE TO WRITE THIS THEY HAD TO RIGHTEOUS AND BLAMELESS BEFORE GOD.

ZACHARIAS CHOSEN BY LOT?    ZACH WAS CARRYING OUT HIS PRIESTLY DUTIES IN A LITTLE VILLAGE IN JUDEA.   THE PRIESTS WOULD REPRESENT GOD TO THE PEOPLE.   A VERY SACRED RESPECTED POSITION.

THE PRIESTS BROUGHT GOD TO THE PEOPLE AS THEY TAUGHT AND INTERPRETED SCRIPTURE, COUNSELED AND JUDGED THEM.

THE PRIESTS WERE TO LEAVE THEIR LOCAL DUTIES FOR ONE WEEK TWICE A YEAR AND GO TO JERUSALEM AND SERVE IN THE TEMPLE.

PRIEST WERE TO BRING THE PEOPLE TO GOD IN THAT THEY WERE TO OFFER SACRIFICES IN THE TEMPLE FOR THE PEOPLE

THERE WERE MANY MANY PRIESTS WHO WERE DIVIDED INTO GROUPS, POSSIBLY 20,000 PRIESTS IN ISRAEL,.  I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PRIESTS WERE NEEDED AT THE TEMPLE AT ONE TIME,  BUT THERE WERE 24 DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PRIESTS.  THERE WERE SO MANY THAT THE MAJORITY OF THEM WOULD NOT EVER BE CHOSEN TO PUT THE INCENSE ON THE ALTAR THAT IS OUTSIDE THE VEIL THAT SEPARATED THE MOST HOLY PLACE FROM THE HOLY PLACE.

THE INCENSE WAS PUT THERE IN THE MORNING AND THE EVENING AT THE TIME OF PRAYER.   THE PRIEST WHO WOULD PUT MORE INCENSE ON THE ALTAR OF INCENSE WOULD DO SO QUICKLY SO AS TO NOT DO ANYTHING THAT GOD WOULD DEEM AS BLASPHEMY BECAUSE THEY WOULD DIE THERE.

THE BURNING INCENSE WAS PERPETUAL IN THAT IT WAS NEVER TO BE PUT OUT.

THIS PARTICULAR TIME ZACH WAS SERVING ONE OF HIS TWO WEEKS A YEAR AT THE TEMPLE AND HE WAS CHOSEN BY LOT AND WAS BURNING INCENSE DURING THE EVENING PRAYER TIME.  WE KNOW IT WAS THE EVENING  BECAUSE THERE WAS A GREAT CROWD OF PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE THE HOLY PLACE PRAYING.  THE ASCENDING  CLOUD OF SMOKE FROM THE INCENSE SYMBOLIZED THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE.  PRAYERS OF REPENTANCE, CONFESSION , THANKSGIVING, THE COMING OF MESSIAH, THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM, AND ANYTHING ELSE THEY WOULD BRING BEFORE GOD IN PRAYER.   THE BURNING INCENSE ALSO REPRESENTED THEIR DEPENDANCE OF GOD.

SO ZACH IS WORKING IN THE HOLY PLACE NEXT TO THE VEIL THAT SEPARATED WHERE HE WAS FROM THE HOLY OF HOLIES,  AND SUDDENLY GABRIEL,  ONE OF ONLY 2 ANGELS THAT ARE MENTIONED BY NAME IN THE BIBLE, IS STANDING TO THE RIGHT OF THE ALTAR OF INCENSE.

Luke 1:10-13 (NASB) 10  And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11  And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12  Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN STARTLES BY SOMEONE YOU DIDN'T SEE AT FIRST THEN YOU SEE THEM.   OR HAVE YOU EVER HAD SOMEONE JUMP OUT IN FRONT OF YOU TO SCARE YOU.

IMAGINE A MASSIVE WINGED CREATURE BUILT LIKE ARNOLD SWARTZENAGER WITH OUT THE ACCENT AND MUCH TALLER.

YOU SEE AFTER HE GOT OVER THE INITIAL SHOCK OF SOMEONE ELSE BEING WITH HIM, HE WAS STILL GRIPPED WITH FEAR. THE GREEK FOR TROUBLED MEANS TERRIFIED AGITATED, SHAKEN AND STIRRED UP.    THIS IS THE TYPICAL RESPONSE OF FOLKS WHO VISITED BY ANGELS.

Daniel 8:15-18 (NASB) 15  When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man. 16  And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, "Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision." 17  So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end." 18  Now while he was talking with me, I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand upright.

Revelation 19:10 (NASB) 10  Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he *said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

DO YOU KNOW THE FIRST WORDS OF THE ANGELS IN MOST CASES TO THE FOLKS THEY WERE SENT TO?    13  But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.

NOTICE GABRIEL SAYS YOUR PETITION HAS BEEN HEARD.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ZACH AND LIZ?

Luke 1:5-7 (NASB) 5  In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6  They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

THESE TWO WERE JUSTIFIED BY THEIR FAITH AND THEY WERE BLAMELESS IN GOD'S EYES.

THAT IS HOW WE KNOW THEY WERE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH.

Hebrews 11:6 (NASB) 6  And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE GOD WAS PLEASED WITH ZACH AND LIZ

THEY WERE OLD,   LIZ COULD NOT GET PREGNANT.   THIS WAS A THOUGHT TO BE A SIGN FROM GOD THAT GOD WAS JUDGING YOU BECAUSE OF SIN.   WOMEN WHO COULDN'T GET PREGNANT WERE THOUGHT TO BE CURSED FROM GOD.

SO ZACH AND LIZ HAD CONSTANTLY PRAYED FOR A CHILD.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE STILL PRAYING FOR A CHILD THOUGH.

I TOLD RENE THE OTHER DAY THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER BABY,

SHE GIVE ME A LOOK OF ALARM, AND SHOCK AND RESPONDED WITH A HUGE NO!!!!!

GABRIEL SAYS YOUR PETITION HAS BEEN HEARD.

MAYBE ZACH PRAYED THAT DAY FOR LIZ TO GET PREGNANT,  BUT I KINDA DOUBT IT.

I THINK THIS WAS THEIR PRAYER FOR YEARS BUT IN THEIR OLD AGE THEY QUIT PRAYING.

SO WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT GOD'S ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS?

KEEP PRAYING AND TRUST GOD'S TIMETABLE.

GABRIEL HAD NOT COME TO ZACH TO GIVE A MESSAGE OF JUDGMENT, SO ZACH HAD NOTHING TO FEAR.

Luke 1:14-17 (NASB) 14 "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. 16 "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

YOUR WIFE IS GOING TO HAVE A BABY,  NOT JUST A BABY A SON; WHICH BROUGHT SECURITY AND PROTECTION FOR THE PARENTS WHEN THEY ARE REALLY OLD.

NOT JUST A SON, BUT A SON THAT FULFILLS SCRIPTURE.    A SON PROPHESIED IN THE OT.

THE FORERUNNER OF THE MESSIAH.

WHICH MEANS   THE MESSIAH WILL SOON BE COMING.

LET'S LOOK AT ZACH'S RESPONSE

Luke 1:18 (NASB) 18  Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years."

IN GREEK IT READS LIKE THIS

BY WHAT WILL I KNOW THIS.

ZACH DOESN'T BELIEVE GABRIEL AND WANTS A SIGN FROM HIM THAT THEY WERE REALLY GOING TO HAVE A SON.   BOY DID HE GET A SIGN.

Luke 1:19-20 (NASB) 19  The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

GABRIEL QUICKLY EXPLAINS TO ZACH WHO HE IS AND WHAT HIS JOB WAS AND PUNISHES ZACH FOR HIS UNBELIEF.

Luke 1:21-25 (NASB) 21  The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22  But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.

THERE WAS A LARGE CROWD OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE HOLY PLACE PRAYING AS ZACH WAS BURNING INCENSE.    ZACH WAS IN THERE MUCH LONGER THAN NORMAL AND THE PEOPLE WERE STARTING TO WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO ZACH, WHEN FINALLY HE CAME OUT UNABLE TO SPEAK AND HAVING TO WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN.

23  When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home. 24  After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25  "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men."

ZACH FINISHED HIS WEEK OF SERVICE AT THE TEMPLE AND WENT HOME.    LIZ KNOWS NOTHING.   NO FACEBOOK EMAIL.

LIZ IS SHOCKED AND OVERJOYED.

I CAN HERE HER SAYING AGAIN AND AGAIN.   WRITE IT DOWN AGAIN FOR ME WHAT GABRIEL SAID.    AND WHEN?

THEN WOW SHE IS PREGNANT AND

25  "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men."

ZACH WAS RIGHTEOUS AND BLAMELESS BEFORE THE LORD. YET HE WANTED PROOF.

HE WANTED A SIGN FROM GOD THAT LIZ WOULD DEFINETLY HAVE A BABY.

HE GOT A SIGN.

MARY BELIEVED BUT WANTED TO KNOW HOW WILL I BECOME PREGNANT.

NOTICE THAT NEITHER COULD OPT OUT.

BOTH WERE CHOSEN BY GOD TO DO THIS

THERE WAS NO ESCAPE ROUTE. NO TALKING GOD OUT OF IT.

ZACH WAS NOT OPPOSED TO BECOMING A FATHER HE JUST WANTED A SIGN.

MARY  DIDN'T HAVE ASSURANCE THAT WHILE UNWED PREGNANCIES WERE A STONING OFFENCE,   EVERYONE WOULD ACCEPT HER AND THE BABY.

MARY PROBABLY WAS ALL ALONE BESIDES GOD UNTIL GAB WENT TO JOSEPH.

THEN IT WAS JUST GOD HIS ASSURANCE AND PRESENCE WITH THE 2 OF THEM.

EVERYONE ELSE BELIEVED THE VARIOUS SCANDLES EVEN THEIR FAMILIES.

WHEN COMING BACK FROM EGYPT THEY WERE GOING TO SETTLE BACK NEAR BETHLEHEM.

NO FAMILY THERE.