How can I be
sure of this & that?
sermon by
Manfred Schreyer
>>
Luke 1:5-25 (NIV) In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. :6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. : 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.:8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, :9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. :10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. :11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. :12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. :13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. :14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, :15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. :16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. :17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." :18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." :19 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. :20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time." :21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. :22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.:23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. :24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. :25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."
There was in the days of Herod, the
king of Judea…
This was Herod, the son of Antipater, sometimes called Herod the Great, the king
of Judea; by deputation from the Roman emperor, he had the government of all
Judea, which upon his death was divided among his sons.
Zacharias:was a name famous among the Jews, for a high priest, who was slain by them the court of the temple, (2 Chronicles 24:20,21) , and for one of the later prophets, (Zechariah 1:1) Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was not a high priest
his lot was to burn incense--The part assigned to each priest in his week of service was decided by lot.
praying without: outside the court in front of the temple, where stood the altar of burnt offering; the men and women in separate courts, but the altar visible to all.
the time of incense: which was offered along with the morning and evening sacrifice of every day
right side: the south side, between the altar and the candlestick, Zacharias being on the north side, in front of the altar, while offering incense [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].
I find this part very interesting. I recently had a discussion with someone what worship means and the individual mentioned that church worship service should touch the hearts of the people. To tell you the truth, I question that. If we read the O.T. we find out that there is nothing that identifies worship as a process how to make people feel. It rather proclaims God as the one we adore, praise and give thanksgiving to. In this century we sometimes look in the church for "marketing tools on how we can reach better attendance, how we can make people feel better . . . I believe that the approach should be how can we glorify God more . . .
He is a servant of God, by linage. I wonder how often the lineage recited the experiences of the times of the ancestors and underscored the goodness and the mercifulness of God. The experiences of the Jewish people and the actions of God were the priest’s life.
Here, as the angel comes to Zacharias . . . he only has one question: How can I be sure of this?
The question is stunning because when Mary is confronted with the announcement of her son to be born . . . she only asks: How will this be? She believed the fact, the promise of God, she just asked how it will take it place.
In a way Zacharias failed. In fact he failed horribly.
When we compare him to Sarah, Hannah, etc. the man who sent incense up to the heavens for God failed the one he worshiped and gave glory to. Zacharias must have become legalistic . . . was he a ‘pastor’ who took his position just as such . . . a job . . . a must for the linage he sprang from . . . a priest who followed rituals, but did not understand the depth of God?
And then it raises another question. Why does God on occasions pick people who He knew in advance question Him and His authority? Why does God not always pick faithful people who are assured of God’s will?
Think of the Apostle Paul, the one who persecuted the Jews who believed in Jesus and then was called by Jesus Himself. Why?
Gabriel, ho was the mouthpiece of our God took immediate actions. He ‘zipped’ Zacharias mouth until the child was born. When Zacharias stepped out of the temple and was unable to udder any words the people knew that Zacharias had seen a vision. (Imagine that Gabriel would have not ‘zipped his mouth’ and Zacharias would have given human explanations to his ‘colleagues’, his wife and other faithful Jews.
God took the one thing that would place a hurdle into the path that was about to be unwound.
Why does God choose people like this priest on occasion? I believe God proclaims Himself through those who sometimes have the greatest apathy against God and God implements a strong voice in them so that the wonders of our God may be seen even by those who once had doubts.
When we continue to read, his wife Elisabeth proclaims the mercy of God who had given her a son. In these times they understood that God withheld His blessing from those who were unable to bare children.
Later when the child is born the people demand that the child be named Zacharias, and they point to Zacharias the priest and he asks for a tablet and writes that his name shall be John.
We finally have a believing priest. Because it is at this very moment where his speech comes to him again.
As we often discussed, God often asks from us things, which allow for the human question: How can I be sure of this?
Nevertheless, the answer really should be: God I will take what you have given me and all things have a great purpose.
The purpose was immensely for humankind, because before the Christ was born the prophet said that Elijah must come back. The angel promised Zacharias that John would have the spirit of Elijah Event he prophets asked Jesus later: "How can you be the Messiah, when it is written that Elijah must return?
How can I be sure of this and of that? I don’t think we have the right to ask that question when we hear the word of God or when we read His word.
As we wind down this year and we reflect upon our life in God’s church can you hear God calling you? I know that especially in the last year God has called many of you into the ministry . . . Lisa to children’s church, Sorrell’s, toward the life of the church, Brenda to the Senior group, Mitch to sing for us, and the list goes on . . .
None of them have ever asked: "How can I be sure of that?" None of them have asked what is the benefit for me here in this effort.
All of them were called by our God and they followed our God.
Are you being called to serve? I know this coming year God has many plans for us and He is counting on you. He is counting to give of the gifts you have and He gave you fro a purpose. I invite you to listen to Him and to follow Him.
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