“Torched By an Angel” Dec 9, 2001
Though Matt and Mark give us info on the birth of Christ, I really like the way Luke describes it…Luke takes the approach of a NYC entertainment critic as he gets into the meat of the story
The way Luke tells it, events surrounding Jesus’ birth resembled a joy-filled musical. Characters crowded into the scene: a white-haired great-uncle, an astonished virgin, a tottery old prophetess. They all smiled broadly and, as likely as not, burst into song.
It’s the picture of celebration…celebration with purpose for there are some historical events taking place of the utmost importance for all of us. The author tells us (1:1-4) that he researched many accounts of Jesus’ life. He lets us know that many were writing the “unauthorized biography” and so it felt it important to give us the real story…or as Paul Harvey says...the rest of the story. Intimate details in these first two chapters show he relied heavily on eyewitnesses, for no other Gospel writer picked up so many facts. Careful attention to detail and an under-girding tone of joy characterize Luke’s book.
So we can rest assured that what we read in Luke 1 and 2 is correct, it took place and it would forever change the face of the world that we live in.
I’d like to break it down into 2 stories…2 accounts with similar activity…2 events that we have all become familiar with as we grew up. And we find two completely different results. The first part of this story had to take place before the 2nd part could…so we have to take note of what was going on and learn the life lessons that we can from what happened.
Today we look at the first part of our story…
Luke 1 begins with a man named Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth. They could represent and modern day church couple…
. 6Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
We know Zacharias served in the temple and as was customary, he found himself one day in the temple, burning incense sacrificially as unto the Lord
1:9 It was one of the priest’s duties to keep the incense burning on the altar in front of the Most Holy Place. He supplied it with fresh incense before the morning sacrifice and again after the evening sacrifice (Ex 30:6-8). Ordinarily a priest would have this privilege very infrequently, and sometimes never, since duty assignments were determined by lot. chosen by lot.
So we have a good man, a godly man, doing his duty in the temple.
Suddenly, without warning, an angel.. arrives on the scene…standing on the right side of the altar…startled him so bad that he was scared by the very appearance. One translation says “fear fell upon him”
I think there are times today when we are going about our business for God, praying for things to happen to us and through us…. and suddenly life changes and we have an angelic moment….we’re shocked that God would actually respond to that which we have been seeking. It’s that WOW, I can’t believe this is happening to me moment!
Zach was afraid…though we know he had been praying for “divine help”, he is taken by surprise…and now the angel jumps in and tells him not to be afraid because what he has been praying for is about to happen.
How many of us would just leap for joy today if we knew that what we were praying for was about to happen? Could you use an angelic moment today?
Now before we go on you need to know the truth about angels
…Della Reece, and Roma Downey are not angels…Charlie’s Angels are at all to be compared to Gods angels! Be careful what kind of “angelic” visitation you are praying for!
Angels are active throughout scripture to guide, instruct and protect God’s people.
This angelic appearance was extremely significant…God personally chose Gabriel.
GABRIEL (Heb. gavriel, man of God, Gr. Gabriel). An angel mentioned four times in Scripture, each time bringing a momentous message: twice to Daniel (Dan 8:16-17; 9:21-22)to give insight and understanding; to Zechariah, father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:11-20); and to Mary, the mother of Jesus (1:26-38). The Bible does not define his status as an angel, but he appears in the Book of Enoch (Enoch 9, 20, 40) as an archangel.
4 assignments that Gabe had that we know of and 2 of them are found here in Luke.
Lets review the news…
Gabe says you are going to have that child and I’m even going to tell you what to name him…John. You are going to experience joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth.
When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced
Live in such a way that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice
Gabe goes on to say that He will be great in the sight of the Lord
He won’t drink…and he will be filled with the holy spirit right there in the womb!
But that’s not all…he’ll bring many people back to God and he will be instrumental in
Bringing revival to the family vs 16 and revival to the church!vs 17
Can you imagine a report like that which gives you so much detail…so much news and all of it good!
Zach is enlightened and you would expect him to be happy. But the story takes a different turn…
18Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
19The 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. 20And 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."
We’ve been talking a lot especially on Friday nights about the importance of what we say and how we can guide and even create the events that take place in our lives by the things that come out of our mouth.
What you think…what you believe….what you say….all are important to what God can do in your life. (say what you have vs. have what you say)
Many times we do not know the magnitude of what is being done on our behalf by God. Here God is trying to send into the world the one that would pave the way for his only begotten son.
Perhaps God knew that the world was going to need some prep time before it could receive even greater news.
Every experience that happens to you is a preparation for something else that is coming.
Every experience God gives us, every person He puts into our lives,is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see Corey Ten Boom
(Refining Silver illustration)
We do not know the tone of Zachs response here but judging by the action taken by Gabriel, there must have been sarcasm and cynicism with his question..“now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens”
what’s up with that?
“because you did not believe my words”
You see we have the opportunity to agree with what God says or to cast a shadow of doubt upon it. And since light(God) cannot inhabit the same space as darkness, one of them has to leave. If we can’t be the light, then we will be in the dark. Many times we are the ones that get in the way and the things that we say cause things to turn out the way that they do.(bridgette tries to agree with every negative thing I say)
Remember Jericho…they walked around that city 6 days in a row and on the 7th day they did is 7 times and they never said a word until the 13th trip was completed…maybe God did not want them to speak because it would stop the plan…it would hinder the progress…it would change the result
This holiday season we have the opportunity to listen to what God is saying to us during this very special season.
Clay gave me this last week and it fits well right here…
What we are is God’s gift to us
What we become is our gift to God
We have a choice to agree with His thoughts, ideas and His plans….to bless…to encourage…to take the news that “unto us a child is born and unto us a Son is given” to say…thanks be to God
*for sending us the way out of addiction
*Thank you God for sending the way out of poverty
*Thank you God for sending the key to loving others and loving myself
*Thank you for eternity and the opportunity to spend it with you!
Zach and Eliz were going to give birth…a special baby named John…;later know as John the Baptist…a uniquely different man…who would dress in a camel hair covering and eat locusts and honey. He’d live outdoors and his occupation would be to prepare the people for God.
This child’s would grow up and his mission/ministry would last for 6 months yet the Lord said of him that no one greater has ever been born of a woman. Imagine investing yourself in God’s work for 6 months and having Jesus validate your entire life based on your investment!
Imagine today that you are about to give birth to the greatest thing that ever happened and the words that come out of your mouth can make the delivery easier or cause God to zip your lip!
Zach wasn’t touched by an angel, instead was torched by an angel
9 months his vocal cords were speechless….it was not a moot point it was a mute point…9 months he was given to think about what he had said
Talk about the longest “time out” ever recorded by man.
9 months he would have to come to the realization that what God wants to do is going to happen. His Word will not return VOID.
The time came for her to give birth and she had a son. Everyone was rejoicing with her and on the 8th day they were coming to circumcise him and they were all going to call him Zach after his father. Quickly Eliz spoke up and said his name is to be John. There are no Johns in your family….
So they all looked at Zach…what do you want to name him…he motioned for a tablet to write on…and he wrote
His name is John. Suddenly the tongue was loosed and he started speaking and praising God.
Then everyone was in awe and began to wonder just what the future held for this boy because surely Gods hand was upon him
Why not today start praising God for what He said before He has to silence the doubt in our lives?
Can we let go of your plans and grab ahold of Gods plan for our Christmas?
Will you be able to accept that what He whispers to us is by far the best for us and that it can and will happen?
Are you willing to go through the birth and delivery of some things that will better prepare for the future God has for you? This is a season of miracles
What miracle do you need this Christmas?
How are you talking about it?
Next week we continue to look into Gabriel’s last recorded appearance and see what happens when you .
You can have what you say…you can be touched by an angel during this holiday. You may even be used as an angel to help someone else. Get yourself in the proper frame of mind and the proper place to hear and obey the voice of God’s messengers and make a difference in the lives of those you will come in contact with during this holiday.
Let’s pray….
