A FRESH TOUCH FOR YOU
Luke 1:5-25
S: Seek a fresh touch from God
Th: The Christmas Touch
Pr: GOD DESIRES TO TOUCH US
?: Inductive
KW: Stages
TS: We will find in the story of Luke 1:5-25 five stages that show God’s desire to touch us.
The ____ stage is…
I. SETTING (5-7)
II. SELECTION (8-10)
III. SCOOP (11-17)
IV. SKEPTICISM (18)
V. SENTENCE (19-25)
RMBC 23 December 01 AM
INTRODUCTION:
1. Do you ever get tired of the repetition that happens at Christmas?
Does it ever seem to you to be the “same ol’, same ol’”?
Does it seem to you that we always do the same things every year…
…the same traditions
…the same songs
…the same long waits in line
…the same wrapping paper and bows that were saved from the year before
…the same fattening snacks and cookies
…the “same ol’, same ol’”
ILL Notebook: Christmas (sure beats shopping)
It was a few days before Christmas on the Oregon coast. Two men whose families lived next door opted to go sailing while their wives went Christmas shopping. An unexpected storm surprised the weekend sailors. Before long, the sea became angry, and the two had a difficult time keeping the sailboat under control. While heading toward the harbor, the craft hit a sandbar and grounded. Both men jumped overboard into the icy water and began to push and shove in an attempt to get the sailboat into deeper water. Knee-deep in mud and repeatedly bounced against the hull by the unfriendly waves, the one said enthusiastically to the other, “Sure beats Christmas shopping, doesn’t it?”
Well, that was a sure way to beat the “same ol’, same ol’.”
But you know…
2. For some, Christmas is a time of disappointment.
There are many that have a real difficult time this time of the year.
And it is more than an issue of repetition.
It becomes a time of pain and heaviness.
Perhaps this drama, called “Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh,” will help us understand.
ILL Drama: “Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh”
There are many that are longing for a fresh touch from God.
Today’s study should be of some help to us in this matter…
3. Using Luke 1, let’s examine five stages in the story of Zechariah that describe how he went from disappointment to merriment.
OUR STUDY:
I. The first stage is the SETTING (5-7).
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. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
Zechariah and Elizabeth knew disappointment.
Zechariah and Elizabeth knew the pain of infertility.
Here was a couple that was well into their sixties.
And for years, they went crazy hearing all the lines…
“Just relax.”
“Don’t try so hard.”
“Take an extended vacation.”
“Why don’t you adopt a child?”
“Have faith.”
“Just trust God.”
“There isn’t any unconfessed sin in your life, is there?”
I am sure that they went through all the stages that infertile couples go through.
At first, they deny that it is happening to them.
But, then it becomes evident that children aren’t coming and so they attempt to avoid children altogether.
Then, there is the anger.
At this point, all they really want to do is hide.
Because they are just plain mad.
It just seems so unfair.
Then, somewhere along the line, acceptance sets in.
They come to the conclusion that this is their lot in life.
The text here reveals, the fertility issue, that they are faithful.
Zechariah and Elizabeth were upright in God’s eyes.
You see, the infertility is not the end of the story.
For God delights in working through people who listen and seek to follow Him.
This leads us to…
II. The second stage is the SELECTION (8-10).
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
ILL Notebook: Chance (what number are they on?)
To determine the cause of a kidney problem, Eveline Johnson’s son, Anthony, had to have several diagnostic tests. Upset about a consent form stating that one out of 10,000 people could have a serious allergic reaction, he insisted on speaking to the doctor. His mother asked, “What do you want to ask?” “I want to know,” he replied, “what number they’re on.”
Well, I don’t think the doctor could precisely tell Anthony that information.
So Anthony would have to take the chance.
In a similar way, this is what seemingly faced Zechariah as well.
He was one of out of 20,000 priests in Israel.
He served at the temple in Jerusalem for two one-week periods each year.
Now…when it came to offering the incense at the daily sacrifice, a priest could only do this once in his lifetime.
It was an honored ministry, for the priest stood in the Holy Place alone.
And as the worshippers prayed outside, the priest offered the incense inside, symbolically offering the prayers of the people to God.
This was a task of prestige because there were some that would never have the opportunity to enjoy this privilege.
So…
Zechariah experiences a coincidence that is not one.
On this day, it finally happens to Zechariah.
He was so lucky!
Has that ever happened to you?
Something really unexpected happens, and you say, “I am so lucky!”
And then you realize that luck had nothing to do with it.
You know that you have been amazingly touched by God’s intervention in your life.
And this is what has happened to Zechariah.
The lot has finally fallen on him.
But it is a whole lot more than conincidence.
This brings us to…
III. The third stage is the SCOOP (11-17).
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 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. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 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. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 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.”
It is at this point that Zechariah’s life takes on new meaning.
You know, Zechariah and Elizabeth had probably prayed for a long time for children.
The answer, though, had always seemed to be “no.”
Was it that God didn’t care?
The truth is…God cared more than they ever possibly thought.
He was preparing a surprise for them all along.
But, the time had to be right (and God always get the timing right!).
So…
Zechariah gets some unexpected news.
Can you imagine this scene for Zechariah?
He gets all the proper priestly garb on.
He works to remember all the steps he must follow (because he never has done this before).
He is probably a bit nervous.
And being a faithful man, he was very much humbled by the whole process.
Just as he is in the routine, there is an angel who must have startled the daylights out of him, for the angel says, “Don’t be afraid!”
You know why he says that?
He says it because Zechariah was really scared.
This is not what he expected to face when he entered.
And then, the angel gives the gracious part of this message, “Your prayer has been heard.”
There is going to be a child after all!
Yes, it had looked hopeless, but this is the very thing that God specializes in.
Zechariah and Elizabeth would have a son.
And he was to name him John.
John was shorter form of the Hebrew name, Jochanan.
Jochanan means “God is gracious.”
It was a name full of meaning, for God was not only being gracious to Zechariah and Elizabeth, God was being gracious to all the people of the world.
For this son, John, was going to be a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah.
He was going to prepare the way for the Messiah.
For Zechariah, this was the dawn of a new day.
For 400 years God has been silent, and on this day, he is the first to hear from God.
But now comes…
IV. The fourth stage is the SKEPTICISM (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.”
You know, this is probably not the smartest thing that Zechariah has ever said.
For…
Zechariah gets stuck in the routine.
He’s in a rut.
“How can I be sure?”
He is experiencing the supernatural, but he is stuck in the natural.
So while he is saying, “You can’t really be serious,” the angel is reassuring him that he is.
And while he is saying, “I know biology and we are a wee bit old for this,” the angel is reassuring him that he too has the facts straight.
Perhaps you are here this morning saying, “Hey, I don’t know if I would have said anything different,” that is okay.
Remember this…Zechariah has been faithful.
And faithful people sometimes make mistakes!
But for Zechariah, there is more learning that must be done.
For God teaches us that He often wants us to believe in order to see.
Which leads us to…
V. The fifth stage is the SENTENCE (19-25).
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. 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.”
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 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.
When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “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.”
Zechariah is given the gift of silence.
Yes, it was a gift.
It was exactly what Zechariah needed.
Zechariah had been in the temple a long time.
It becomes evident quickly when he comes out that he could not speak, but the people got the message that something had happened.
There is a sparkle in his eye, but he is quiet as a mouse.
For there is refreshment from being in the Lord’s presence.
Soon the evidence will be there.
Elizabeth will begin to show and the old gossips are going to be at work.
They will have a hey-day at Zechariah’s expense, laughing at his new-found virility.
But he will offer no answers…just a smile.
For humbly, silently, he is learning about God’s awesome and mighty works
His speech is no longer going to get in the way!
And he will celebrate quietly God’s touch on his life.
APPLICATION:
I have asked Jordan A to come today and share his testimony.
As he gives it, I want you to look for God’s touch on his life.
ILL Testimony: Jordan A
1. GOD DESIRES TO TOUCH US.
God wants to make an appointment with you about your disappointment.
I don’t know what lays heavy on your heart today.
But I assure you that God does know and that God cares.
And I know that He desires to touch you with His grace.
Perhaps you feel worthless and useless.
Perhaps you feel barren and lifeless.
There is a spiritual emptiness in your life and you need a rejuvenated spirit.
Perhaps you are weighed down by sin in your life and you need release.
All that you have experienced has not given you satisfaction.
But there is a touch that will make a difference in your life.
It is the touch of the Master’s hand.
For…
2. God breathes hope into the stale air of impossible solutions.
In that old hymn, “Rescue the Perishing,” the third verse refers to our tired spiritual condition with the picture of an old violin.
It goes like this:
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore.
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Cords that are broken will vibrate once more.
There is hope for you and me today.
The hope lies in the touch of God that He desires for each of us.
It is a simple matter of receiving it.
Come to Him quietly, humbly, and see what He wants to do in your life today.
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
“The Touch of the Master’s Hand”
Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who will start bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar” – then, “Two!” “Only two?
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
Three dollars, twice;
“Going for three –“ But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings.
He played a melody pure and sweet
As sweet as a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said what am I bidden for the old violin?
And he held it up with the bow.
A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand twice;
And going, and gone!” said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand
What changed its worth?” Swift came the reply:
“The touch of the master’s hand.
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scattered with sin,
Is auctioned off cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine;
A game – and he travels on.
He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,
He’s “going” and “almost gone.”
But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never quite understands
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.
Let God touch you today…realize that God calls you for something very special; He calls you to meet Him.
Let God touch you today…the Master’s hand wants to touch you because you are a soul of worth and the change is worth the cost.
Let God touch you today…so that you can leave in speechless wonder and find contentment in knowing that the Lord is near.
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Amen.
This series of messages was based on Mainstay Church Resources’, “The Christmas Touch, Making Christlike Connections during the Holidays.” The resources they provided were used in the development of these messages.
