Daily News: A Prophet Is Born #3 Series

Has anyone done something small for you that is highly significant in your life?

Slide #1 Sermon Series Slide

Glen’s stories over the past few weeks have provided us with a cause to pause. The first week it was about the importance we place on Jesus in our lives. Last week it was about what constitutes a miracle. And this week, it’s about the interruptions of our life. An interruption is by its nature an action, an utterance a break in what was the normal flow. The point I liked to explore is the importance of the interruption.

John Lennon once said, “Life is what happens while you are making other plans.”

I used to get incredibly frustrated when life interrupted my plans. When I sure I needed to leave for that appointment early and the kid barfs. Or the dinner we have had planned for a month happens to be on the night with the worst snow storm ever. Or the missions plane get into Miami late, we miss our connection and we have to stay overnight in a hotel delaying our time to serve. While I still get annoyed, I have tried to see these as Holy Interruptions.

SLIDE #2 Holy Interruptions

You see, over the course of time, I have realized that the Lord’s plan and mine do not always sync. I always believe I am following his directions. However, sometimes he needs to stop me in my tracks because there is a real opportunity to learn more about him if I ask the question: what am I to learn by this. By asking the question, the moment turns into a holy moment. What is God’s holy interruption trying to get us focused on? I can remember a time a number of years ago, I was all bunched up about something and I was talking to a dear friend. She looked at me after hearing my dilemma and said, “Bob, be where your feet are.” I said what do you mean? She went on to ask:

• Have you seen that even from the worst events of your life that you have learned powerful lessons? “Yes.” I answered.

• Do you believe that God is present today in your life today through the counsel of the Holy Spirit? “Yes.”

• Do you trust that God love for you means he will be present with you no matter what life brings? “Yes”

Then, “Be where your feet are” and make time for God by remembering the most important moment in this life is the one you are in right now.

I’m sure I’m not alone in looking back as well as ahead in time. I believe people throughout the ages have wrestled with this and it’s what makes prophecy so intriguing to so many. It provides assurance of the future and can be adequately proven and measured. It also speaks of a Holy interruption we need to take notice of. Isaiah prophesied about the prophet John The Baptist and the Messiah. His predictions were well known and respected so as people began to hear about the miracle at the temple with Zechariah, people became very interested in Elizabeth’s baby. They kept asking, What is this child going to be?

SLIDE #3 What is this child going to be? Luke 1:66, 76 & 80

Verse 66 says: Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. What is this child going to be was the question of the day. The people had heard in the temple for over 400 years that the messiah was coming. They knew the scriptures. They understood that one would precede the Messiah. So it was no surprise when Zechariah freed from his angelic sanctioned silence began to prophesy. Verse 76 says, “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,” The implication being that John which means “Jehovah is Gracious,” would be the trumpet for the coming King. The awareness of which creates a dilemma. If the world knows you are destined for greatness they either circle around and paying close attention supporting you or they look for ways to discredit you. In John’s case, he decides to pull a geographic and move to the wilderness. Verse 80 says, “And the child grew and became strong in spirit and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.” It would be another 29-30 years before he would appear on the scene. The people of Israel continued to wait and wonder. Was that real? Did that really happen? In many ways, we are like them. We know Jesus is returning but we aren’t’ sure when. Some people are beginning to doubt and others are wandering away.