"Forever Changed"

It is intriguing to think about the first matter that Luke gives in His full and complete orderly account. Luke, writing to Theophilus wants him to know what had happened and why it is important to our everyday life-so that He/We may be certain of what he/we have been instructed.

Luke 1:5–23 NKJV

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. 8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, 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 to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is 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 in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also 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 He will also 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 a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. 23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.

These were dark days-the days of Herod 37B.C.-A.D. 4. Herod was a tyrant. It is said that he had 9 -10 wives, one whom he had executed for no apparent reason. It had been 400 years since the people had heard a prophetic word from God when Malachi had promised the coming of Elijah (Mal. 4:5-6) .

This story breaks the 400 years of silence!

Zacharias “Jehovah has remembered”

Elizabeth “God is my oath”

Zacharias and Elizabeth were parents who had interesting backgrounds (priestly), who lived righteously. They were certainly not perfect but in comparison to most during these bloody and dark days, this couple stood out.

This couple appeared before the Lord, as faithful. This was not limited to what people saw externally. Still, they had human problems. Therefore they trusted the presence of God through their problems. Their prayer for these matters were consistent.

They had no children.

During these days, if a woman was considered barren it was as if God Himself closed her womb. Some may have questioned if this couple had a “deep dark secret” that only the Lord knew about, and therefore was dealing with them. In the Jewish culture, those who were barren were considered to be “cut off” from God. The appearance of this also said, that “God’s favor was not upon them” .

2. They were getting old

They were fearful that they would never have children.

This story resembles much of what we read in Genesis 17. Abraham Vs. Zacharias:

1. Both were priests

2. Both were men of faith for many years

3. Both had a messenger from Heaven deliver the news

4. Both express incredibility to the message

5. Both of their Son’s were meant to prepare the hearts of people.

6. Both were fixed on the salvation of God and Heavenly destiny.

7. Zacharias doubted and left off where Abraham started. Zacharias should have known better from previous history.

Even through these common humanly trends-God’s providence is greater than our doubts.

Zacharias had been chosen to burn the incense in the temple. This was one of the greatest privilege that a Priest would get to do. This incense was burned to represent the sacrifice and carried it before the throne of God: much like prayer. Some priests never got this opportunity.

Weirsbe: “It was probably the evening offering that was assigned to Zacharias. You have probably noticed that God often speaks to His people and calls them while they are busy doing their daily tasks. Both Moses and David were caring for Sheep, and Gideon was threshing wheat. Peter and his partners were mending nets when Jesus called them. It is difficult to steer a car when the engine is not running. When we get busy, God starts to direct us”.

Zacharias was certainly faithful to God’s call. He was faithful despite his problems and lack of blessings from God. Endurance can be a difficult thing to achieve when you are consistently praying without much change. Oh but change was coming! James 1:12

James 1:12 NKJV

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12 NKJV

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 5:11 NKJV

11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

This couple was certainly a praying couple. Zacharias certainly had been praying for a child, as well as the Messiah to come, and for the nation of Israel to be redeemed from these extreme dark days. Their son was to be a prophet and the forerunner to the Messiah! Vs 17. He was going to be the herald of the coming King!

With the angel appearing suddenly, fear was a great factor. From Zachariah's perspective this could have meant “Judgment was coming”. Fear also usually indicates the typical reaction to and angelic or divine presence.

The ESV study Bible explains that the Holy place contained the lampstand, the table for the bread of the Presence and the alter of incense.An angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias on the right side of the incense alter.

This couple were parents who found it difficult to believe the humanly impossible. Zacharias had a spirit of unbelief. The very word and promise of God should have been enough to convince Zacharias, but he was weak in faith. (Gary Nason example).

Zacharias was approached by the presence of God so that His trust would be built up. He had let his tongue speak instead of his heart. Zacharias was really questioning God’s ability to fulfill His own Word. His ability to share God’s Word with others was taken away. In verse 22, the people outside knew that Zechariah had been in the presence of God.

Typically the priest would have been out a whole lot sooner, and the people began to wonder what was taking place. The fact that prayer inside and outside of the temple happened in the beginning of this event, and worship finished it, made for the perfect ingredients of a revelation to occur.

Although discipline, there must have been so much excitement he was holding back.

Zacharias, would never be the same after standing before the Presence of God! Zacharias would never forget this interaction! Both of the interactions that Abraham and Zacharias experienced brought change through their sons lives. Nothing would be the same. We will never be the same.

Here we learn of a doubting man, a priest even, but in history past, doubting was nothing new.

Following the unbelief of the disciples, nothing would be the same. The interaction that the disciples had and witness would never have them be the same-unbelief or not.

1 Corinthians 11:23–32 NKJV

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Prayer over the bread:

In both Zacharias’ life and Abarahams live nothing would ever be the same after their interaction with God.

His body was broken for us, so that things would never be the same. Broken physically, mentally, and spiritually-in our place.

That night when HE took the bread and explained that His body would be broken for us, it was so that nothing would ever be the same! So that we would remember the divine sacrifice.

Prayer over the cup:

I have to think that Zacharias would be a changed man moving forward. Between the many silent nights, pondering, chastening, Zacharias would never forget-He was changed.

-Gospel Message.

When He took the cup, he explained that “this blood was shed for you”. We are to eternally be changed, saved! We are to never forget the saving grace that He bestowed upon us.

Drink/Eat this in total remembrance of Me!

Elizabeth needed time alone with God to absorb all that God was doing and going to do through. Not only should it be evidently obvious that we have been changed, but we should desire along time with our Redeemer so we can be prepared for the Lord to work in the future!

He took her reproach away from her. The very thing that seemed to be road block with others had been redeemed. It was clear that God’s favor was upon them.

Even in our faithfulness, there can be a need for muteness, chastening, change, and a need for time alone with the Lord.

Let us remember these things on this day. (Lords supper in 4 weeks)- how do we respond to this table?

We shall never be the same from the interaction we have had with our God!