It's What We Always Wanted
The Miracles Before Christmas • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 10 viewsBeginning with a lousy present, the Lord sends an angelic message to Zechariah and Elizabeth to announce the arrival of the best miracle ever. When can rest assured - the Lord is sending us good things before Christmas.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Illustration - Telling the stories of how Christmas gifts under our trees after Mass on Christmas Eve. Santa always knew what I always wanted.
Maybe you’re thinking, good for you, but I don’t always get what I want. Well, there is something to be said about couple of biblical characters found in Luke ch.1 in which they didn’t get want they wanted either.
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, 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.
No one ever wants a lousy present.
Our lousy present relates to our relationships, happiness, and contentment. Sower friendships, sadness and unsatisfied is the definition of a lousy present. But God doesn’t leave us like this before Christmas, rather God wants to change our present.
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 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. 13 But 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.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “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. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And 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. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
Everyone wants a good gift.
God gave Zechariah a gift that left him speechless. Something that he and his wife waited a very long time to receive. The Lord is in the business of giving good gifts to his children.
Not only does he give good gifts but he ones up it.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
God wants to give you the best miracle.
The Lord’ will is to give no just any gift, but a miracle.
"Even when you doubt God's goodness, rest assured - a miracle is heading your way."
The Lord know what you need and want and is able to give it to you. All you have to do is wait and receive it by faith.