Doubting Daddy Series

SERMON SERIES: “The Gospel of Luke”

SERMON #2: “Doubting Daddy”

OPENING TEXT: Luke 1:5-7

(Sermon Expounds on vv.5-25)

OBJECTIVE: To show that when God says something, it can be trusted. He promised Zechariah a son, and Zechariah doubted. He has promised eternal life to all who believe in Christ. Doubt about that fact keeps many from yielding to faith and trusting in Christ. God is trustworthy.

INTRODUCTION: Welcome to our continuing study of Luke’s Gospel

Today I am going to focus on the subject of “doubt”

My primary goal of this sermon is for us to see, within this narrative, that God can be trusted absolutely – what He says will be accomplished, will certainly be accomplished – even if our finite minds cannot grasp exactly how it will be accomplished

The section of Scripture we are going to study deals with the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist, who was to be the forerunner of Jesus Christ

EXPOSITION: (Read the Passage and Explain)

The Ancestry of John the Baptist

[vv.5-7 “5There 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. 6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years”]

a. His parents (Zechariah & Elizabeth) were from the priestly line of Aaron

b. His parents were both considered righteous in God’s sight

i. Righteousness before God comes by faith alone

ii. Habakkuk 2:4b “…the righteous shall live by his faith” (ASV)

c. The text also says that they kept the ordinances of God

i. It says they kept them “blamelessly”

ii. It is important to recognize that “blameless” is not the same as “sinless”

iii. No one is ever said to be totally without sin except Jesus Christ – in fact, just the opposite, Romans 3:23 states that all are sinners

1. The phrase “blameless” used here indicates that no person could rightfully accuse them of any evil

2. They were exemplary and conscientious in the discharge of their religious duties.

iv. QUOTE: They were “righteous before God” because of their faith and “blameless before men” because their faith showed forth by their good works – They were a good example of the balance between faith and works that Christians are called to keep

The Attributes of John the Baptist

[vv.13-17 “13But 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. 14And you wil have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15For 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. 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17He 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.”]

a. God had sent his messenger to give Zachariah the wonderful news that they were to have a baby…and not just any baby, but a baby prophesied about in the OT Scriptures

i. Certainly Zechariah a priest knew the OT Scriptures - - He must have known that the very words spoken by this angel had been prophesied by Malachi

ii. Malachi 4:5,6 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet. Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

APPLICATION:

[vv.18-25]

It is at this point in the narrative that “doubt” begins to play a important role. Zachariah, rather than trusting the Angel, began questioning God’s ability to pull off this miracle

Upon realizing she was pregnant, Elizabeth had no doubts as to God’s involvement. Verses 24 and 25 show her going into a private place for five months and praising God for His work of removing the disgrace of her bareness (in her culture not being able to bear children was considered a disgrace)

But today I want us to focus most on the doubt of Zechariah

***There are three lessons concerning “doubt” that I want us to notice from this passage

I. It is Possible for People of Faith to Experience Times of Doubt