The Promised One: God Has Not Forgotten

The Promised One: God Has Not Forgotten

Luke 1:5-25

 

Illus. Promises, promises.

 

Joshua 23:14, “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. (NIV)

 

2 Corinthians 1:20, For as many as the promises of God are, in Him they are yes; therefore through Him also is our Amen to the glory of God through us.

 

As we turn to Luke 1:5-25 this morning, we look back on a time in history when God’s people had been given certain promises from God surrounding the Promised One, but they had yet to see the promises come to pass.

There were many promises given regarding the Messiah. We call many of these promises, prophesies, which means a foretelling or what is to come and what the Lord will do in the future. Regarding the Messiah, the promises and prophesies began quite early in biblical history.

 

Illus. To Name a Few…Genesis 3:15; 18:17-18, 49:10, 2 Samuel 7:13, Isaiah 53:5. God had not forgotten His promised One!

 

Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel.

 

Isaiah 9:2, The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.

 

Isaiah 9:6, For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

 

In the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi had given a prophesy that the Lord was coming, not only this, but there would also be a messenger who would come before Him to clear a way for Him (Malachi 3:1).  Specifically, there would be one who would come before Him, a forerunner, a voice crying out to prepare the way of the Lord.

There were great promises, and high hopes, but as we turn from the last book of the Old Testament to the beginning of the New Testament…These promises had not yet come to pass.

The nation was in a 400-year season of waiting. Scholars often refer to these years as “400 silent years.” The Lord had not spoken to the nation in 400 years; no word, no prophet, no forerunner, and the Messiah had not yet come as promised.

It is with this in mind that we turn to Luke 1:5-25 this morning!

 

Read: Luke 1:5-25

 

What was given in these verses was and is a timely reminder for the nation of Israel at that time, you and I at this time, as well as for Zechariah, whose name means “God Remembers,” and his wife, whose name means “God’s promise, or, God is my oath.” This story is important for our story because through the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah we see that God had not forgotten and just how He can work all things together for His good and His glory.

As we walk through these Scriptures, I want to point out three things that God had not forgotten in the lives of the people in those days, but also in our lives today…Specifically, your path, your prayers, and His plans.

 

1. Stay on the Path He Has Appointed

Luke 1:5-7, 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. They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. And yet they had no child, because Elizabeth was infertile, and they were both advanced in years.

 

• From verse 5, we understand that Zechariah and Elizabeth were living in difficult days under the rule of a difficult king. Verse 5 begins by revealing the time period they lived in, “during the days of King Herod.” Herod was a wicked king.

 

Illus. Herod.

 

• As we are introduced to this couple, we learn that they are both of the priestly line, their description is striking and for those in that day, their current condition was contradictory.

 

• They were upstanding citizens in the household of God, “they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.”

 

• This would have been a puzzling or contradictory description of this couple for those reading or hearing it in that day because of what we read in verse 7, “And yet they had no child, because Elizabeth was infertile, and they were both advanced in years.”

 

• To be childless 2,000 years ago, was unlike it is today, it came with great social difficulty.

 

• Though not found in the Bible, the Rabbi’s in that day wrongly taught that if a couple couldn’t have children, it was due to sin in their life.

 

• Therefore, the description of Zechariah and Elizabeth, that they were “righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.”

 

• Regarding this couple, God had something completely different to say. The Lord identifies them both as righteous in His sight, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

 

• From verse 7, we understand another description of Zechariah and Elizabeth, they were “advanced in years.”

 

• Though they were advanced in years, though their deepest desires had not transpired, though they likely faced the judgement and questions of others, this couple continued on the path God had appointed.

 

• Zechariah and Elizabeth are noted as those who walked blamelessly. This does not mean they were sinless…but rather their lives were characterized by their obedience to God, His Word, and His law.

 

• They were hoping and praying for something they had yet to see. Based upon their age, it would seem that the answer was not likely, yet they kept living righteously. They kept doing right before the Lord.

 

Luke 1:6, They were both righteous in the sight of God…

 

Psalm 1:1-3;6, Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers… For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

 

Illus. How could this be?

 

Proverbs 5:21, For your ways are in full view of the Lord and he examines all your paths. (NIV)

 

Job 34:21, God watches how people live; He sees everything they do. (NLT)

 

1 Peter 3:12, For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers.

 

• Zechariah and Elizabeth remained on path God appointed.  And their path was in His sight, so too, it is the same for me and you!

1. Hold on Knowing Your Prayers Have Been Heard

Luke 1:8-13, Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 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 name him John.

 

• Zechariah is in the temple for his priestly service. In that day and time, there were roughly 20,000 priests throughout the country.

 

• This was too many to serve in the temple at one time, therefore, the priests were divided into 24 separate groups of priests with around 800 priests per group. This was according to David’s instructions in 1 Chronicles 24.

 

• Each division would serve at the temple in Jerusalem two weeks per year. They had 48 weeks per year since they went by the lunar calendar, this would ensure that the entire year was covered.

 

• It was at this time that Zechariah was chosen by a process of casting lots which was done each day to determine who would enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

 

Proverbs 16:33, The lot is cast into the lap, but it’s every decision is from the Lord.

 

• Offering incense before the Lord was a great privilege. A once in a lifetime opportunity for a priest, it was a high honor which many priests never would have the opportunity to do.

 

Luke 1:13, And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

 

Illus. Incense offering.

 

• Scripture often associated incense with the prayers of God’s people (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4).

 

• As the incense was poured, smoke would rise… The priest would say a prayer on behalf of the nation.

 

• It would be a prayer for the nation, the coming Messiah, of thanksgiving, for families, salvation, and peace in the nation.

 

• The priest would then come out to those outside the holy place and bring a blessing.

 

Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.”

 

• The other priests and people would be outside the holy place praying and seeing the smoke rise and pray as well.

 

• As they saw it rise, they would reflect and center their thoughts on their prayers going up to God as the smoke and aroma from the incense would rise.

 

Illus. As prayer goes up.

 

Luke 1:11-17, Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 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 name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth. 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 still in his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

 

• Zechariah is receiving an answer to his prayer…This particular prayer, seems to be the “big one,” the prayer he and his wife had prayed for many years, for a child.

 

• Not only this, the Lord was going to use Zechariah and Elizabeth to make a way for John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for the Promised One.

 

• God was working all things together for the good of this couple who loved Him and were committed to their call according to His purpose.

 

• The angel Gabriel then quotes Malachi 4:5-6, declaring John the Baptist to be the promises forerunner of the Messiah who would prepare the way and, turn many back to the Lord and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous to prepare people for the Lord.

 

• And after what was perhaps years of praying, and year after year without and answer, it was clear here, that God had heard their prayers all along.

 

• And God’s answer, was bigger than their prayer!

 

• When things don’t seem to be working out your way, or according to your timeline, it is important to remember that when you pray to God, your prayers are being heard by Him.

 

James 5:16, The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (NIV)

 

1 John 5:14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

 

Illus. Did you receive it?

 

• God knows your path, He has not forgotten your prayers, and lastly, He has plans prepared for you.

 

III.   Accept His Plans as Prepared

 

• After the angel reveals the Lord’s response to Zechariah’s prayer, Zechariah has an opportunity to respond.

 

Luke 1:18, Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her years.”

 

• Zechariah, “your prayer has been heard!” “Your wife is going to bear you a son!” Your son is going to be John the Baptist, he is the forerunner that was prophesied in Malachi! God is bringing the forerunner to prepare the people for the Lord, the Messiah, it’s happening!

 

• The response of Zechariah to his answered prayer seems quite similar to the depiction of our way after we pray.

 

• 18, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”

 

• Zechariah looked at the circumstances first, and what God can do last. Zechariah didn’t believe, “how will I know this?” and in his asking for a sign, he showed his unbelief.

 

Luke 1:19-20, 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. 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.”

 

• Zechariah is made mute, and from verse 62, we also understand that people had to make gestures to him in order to communicate with him. He was unable to hear and he was mute. Unable to speak and unable to hear because of his unbelief.

 

• And this seems a picture of what unbelief does in our day as well. We are neither able to hear it, nor speak it.

 

• Zechariah would be unable to speak until the child was born. The Lord was going to do what only He could do. Doubt had no place in the discussion.

 

• And when God’s plan is put forth in your life and mine, it isn’t a doubtful commentary that should remain on the agenda, rather we need to believe and not doubt.

 

• Perhaps your prayer hasn’t been answered. Perhaps you’ve started thinking that it’s too late, your too old, too young, too in-between, that it doesn’t work that way anymore, the times have changed, you have moved on.

 

Jeremiah 29:11-13, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

 

Luke 1:5-25