John 1:6-9
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,
7 to tell about the Light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.
8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the Light.
9 The One who is the True Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
*Luke ch. 1 tells us of John the Baptist’s birth.
His father, Zechariah, was a priest. Zechariah was a descendant of Aaron, Moses' brother. He was of that lineage...that family line. So was his wife, Elizabeth.
They had no children. The Bible tells us Elizbeth had been barren and unable to conceive. And, that Zechariah and Elizabeth were both old - “very old” scripture says. They were well past the childbearing years.
One day as Zechariah was in the temple performing his priestly duties an angel appeared to him and said…
…“Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. Luke 1:13
That’s an interesting verse on many levels. First we learn from other verses that it was the angel Gabriel that made that declaration to Zechariah. (Gabriel delivered incredible news to Joseph and Mary as well, if you remember.)
Another interesting thing about that verse is when Gabriel said, “...God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.”
When did God hear that prayer?
Let me submit to you (“Clayton Beck” theory)...I don’t believe Zechariah was praying for a child that day.
This wasn’t a recent prayer request. Remember, scripture says they were “very old”. This specific prayer request was probably uttered/asked previously…a while ago…a request from a younger Zechariah and Elizabeth.
Now, all these years later…the answer to their prayer comes! A prayer request that more than likely had gone by the wayside, (not because they didn’t want it)...but, no longer asked because Zechariah and Elizabeth would have thought it was too late for God to answer that petition.
In Luke 18:1, the Bible tells us that Jesus taught we should always pray and never give up!
Luke 1:18
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
?(Luke 18:1 - Jesus’ Words vs. Luke 1:18 Zechariah’s words - coincidence?)
Zechariah had given up on that prayer! Worse, his “give up” had turned to unbelief!
I want you to understand this morning before you give up on a prayer request…
Your prayers are heard. Your prayers are powerful. Your prayers are not helpless, or hopeless. Your prayers aren’t just words thrown up in the air…hoping that one of them lands and sticks. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord will answer my prayer. Psa. 6:9
Zechariah failed to believe after all the years of wanting/asking God for a child…that their prayer was still out there active, waiting for God to work!
It’s too late God! You had Your chance to answer our prayer! We’re too old now! It’s too late!
Isn’t that what Martha told Jesus when her brother Lazarus had died? …“Lord, if only You had been here, my brother would not have died. John 11:21b
Is it ever too late for God to work? No! Do you really believe that?! Zechariah didn’t.
Luke 1:19-20
19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was He who sent me to bring you this good news!
Gabriel doesn’t like for you to wet blanket his Good News! Zechariah didn’t believe the Word of the Lord!
20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
God hears your prayers.
1 John 5:14-15
14 And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.
15 And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.
How confident are you that when you pray God hears your prayer?
There are two confidences and one stipulation in those verses…
Confidence #1 - God hears our prayers.
Confidence #2 - God will give us what we ask for.
Stipulation/Prerequisite - “...whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.”
What pleases Him? And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:3
How do we ensure our motives are right when we approach God in prayer?
You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. John 14:13
But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:7
You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” Matt. 21:22
Does your prayer request bring glory to God?
Does your request build upon your obedience to His Word?
Do you trust Him for what you are asking?
When you pray, believe (have faith, trust God to answer).
Hebrews 11:6
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.
James 1:6-7
6 But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
When you come to God in prayer…and you should come. He wants you to come! When you pray… believe…have faith!
…be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver…
Know there is a “proper time” for God answering your prayer.
“...my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” Luke 1:20
You and I are not good at knowing His proper time. God is. His “proper time” is always the right time/perfect time!
“...if it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” Hab. 2:3b
You need to trust God’s timing/working in answering your prayer! Pray. When you pray, believe. As you pray… expect God to work…wait, trust God to answer!
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. Psa. 40:1
You can both wait for God to work and expect Him to work at the same time. Don’t let waiting for God’s answer to your prayer turn into unbelief. “waited patiently” - trust while waiting!
Zechariah was unable to speak because he failed to believe the Word God gave by the angel Gabriel.
Imagine Zechariah going home to tell Elizabeth everything that had happened. But he couldn’t tell her. He couldn't speak. He had to either write it all out or Zechariah had to act it out like charades.
That was probably a comical and confusing conversation with Elizabeth. She must have understood because Elizabeth became pregnant. Something that had never happened to her before. Something she had hoped would happen…assumed could not now happen…happened!
Impossible at their age! Possible because of God’s working!
Luke 1:24-25
24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months.
25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”
God loves changing circumstances, turning situations around. He loves to turn doubt, logical reasoning, our understanding of how things work/should work…upside down! God loves making the impossible possible!
If you’ve got an impossible prayer request - God loves that! He wants you to bring those requests to Him!
Don’t give up on those prayers! Don’t quit asking! Don’t quit expecting God to work!
Don’t stop praying! Matthew West has a song out with that message…
Don't stop praying
Don't stop calling on Jesus' name
Keep on pounding on Heaven's door
And let your knees wear out the floor
Don't stop believing
'Cause mountains move with just a little faith
And your Father's heard every single word you're saying
So, don't stop praying
He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” Luke 18:27
Don’t stop praying! Don’t stop believing! Don’t stop calling on Jesus’ name!
Luke 1:57-65
57 When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son.
58 And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her.
59 When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father.
60 But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!”
61 “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.”
62 So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him.
63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.”
64 Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.
65 Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills.
Zach…Elizabeth wants to name the baby John. Don’t you want to name him Zach Jr.? You’ve waited all these years!
“His name is John” - …“Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. Luke 1:13
When God answers your prayer…at His proper time…give Him the glory! John’s name means - “God is gracious”
John 1:6-9
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,
7 to tell about the Light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.
8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the Light.
9 The One who is the True Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
John was a testimony of God’s working
(“God is gracious”) before he ever became a testimony of Jesus’ coming and working (“God saves”)!
Your prayers are heard.
Your prayers are powerful.
Your prayers are not helpless, or hopeless.
Pray…Don’t stop praying!
When you pray…expect God to work, while you’re waiting for God to answer…don’t give up! Trust and believe!
Give God the glory!
