Introduction:
The story is told of a small town in which there were no liquor stores. Eventually, however, a nightclub was built right on Main Street. Members of one of the churches in the area were so disturbed that they conducted several all night prayer meetings, and asked the Lord to burn down that den of iniquity. Lightning struck the tavern a short time later, and it was completely destroyed by fire. The owner, knowing how the church people had prayed, sued them for the damages. His attorney claimed that their prayers had caused the loss. The congregation, on the other hand, hired a lawyer and fought the charges. After much deliberation the judge declared, "It’s the opinion of the court that wherever the guilt may lie, the tavern keeper is the one who really believes in prayer while the church members do not!" We smile at this story, but it suggests how faithless we sometimes are in offering our petitions to God.
There are four aspects to this scripture I want examine.
1) An Unusual Couple
a. V-5 Both were from the tribe of Levi. Priestly stock
b. V-6 Both were righteous before God
The key here is they were righteous before God.
My teen years wild as a buck. Look good on Sunday while no body knew I was out drunk the night before.
My concern was for those that would see me on Sunday morning.
Where I was stupid is that some 7 to 9 years before I had asked God to make a home in my life.
God sees your private life. . . he is who matters
1 Corinthians 2:11
11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
c. They were righteous but not sinless
i. Romans 3:23 All Have sinned and fall short of god’s glory
d. They were suffering
i. Instinct to have children
ii. Jews carried on the family name
1. Proverbs a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches
e. Their suffering was from the lack of children yours could be something else.
i. You may have prayed until your about ready to quit
f. Their names were significant
i. Zacharias = The lord remembers
ii. Elizabeth = My God is an absolutely faithful one
Their names had more meaning than even they could have imagined
2) An abrupt interruption
a. V8 – 24 divisions of the priest
b. V9 – the priest would burn incense 1 time per year for one week
i. Take turns
ii. A very high honor
iii. Once in a lifetime
c. V11 – An angel appeared
d. V12- Zacharias became afraid.
i. 400 years of silence
ii. the 1st time God had revealed Himself even through an angel
iii. Nervous because of what he was doing. He probably thought
1. I might drop the sensor of incense
2. what if the fire goes out?
3. What if I trip and fall
After a number of years preaching I still get nervous every time I preach.
Just imagine being alone and an angel pops in.
e. We are much like Zacharias
i. We pray and when God shows up we get afraid
ii. We sing
1. Take my life lead me Lord (287)
2. I surrender all (275)
3. I am Thine O Lord (290)
f. The Angel said your prayer has been answered
i. Even Righteous men pray without conviction
ii. Why pray if we pray without conviction and expectation
iii. We pray kindergarten prayer
iv. We pray prayer god has already blessed
1. Turn this food to energy
a. It has got calories in it is up to you to make it go to energy
What if an entire body of believers truly prayed for God to take them an make them what he wants.
Could you imagine what the next business meeting would be like. WAR
This has happened People allow sin to enter and crush the movement of God
3) Angel Prophecy
a. V13 the angel says you will have a son and name him John
b. Many will celebrate his birth
i. If your natural birth was not celebrated your supernatural birth was
ii. If you do not know him lets have a party today
Plan of salvation call for those to be saved
Johns message was repentance - a U-turn
c. V-17 - The angel says the spirit will enter him
i. “turn the heart of the Fathers to the children
1. He is speaking of family reconciliation
If you want to measure how in turn you are with God measure how you are with your family
Daddy – how are you treating mother
Mother how are you treating Daddy – respect head of the household
Son or Daughter how are you treating your parents
The last part of verse says He will make people prepared for the Lord
There are people here this morning that needs to make things right
4) An Answered Prayer
a. For Zacharias This was too good to be true
i. We think this about ourselves
ii. We limit God’s power
iii. God has the ability the question is do you have the ability to accept it?
b. Gabriel set him straight Verse 19 read it
i. Sometimes God silences us when we question God
ii. He will punish us
When we disregard what God has set out for us we according to Proverbs are a fool
c. I wander if God Caused them to have john late in life so that they would not mess up his ministry
i. We refuse to pray that God will take our children and do what He desires Because God may:
1. Take them to Irag to begin a Baptist church
2. Send them to Africa
3. Call them to preach
4. run a homeless shelter
d. God answered this prayer in a powerful way
i. When Zacharias came out of the temple people knew he had been with Holiness
ii. Verse 21 The line was getting long at Golden coral
Real Dialogue with God will take longer than allotted time.
I believe god wants to give us much more than we expect. He wants to give and continue to give. John the Baptist was the Herald that paved the way for Our lord to enter into the human race and walk among man and teach us how to live. He healed He expressed love. So much love that He became the ultimate sacrifice for all of our iniquities. He Died, He was buried and he rose on the third day. He snatched the key of death from satan’s hand for each of us. This is important. This entire message is about prayer. The very first prayer God hears from you and will answer the instant you pray it is when you ask Him To take control of your life. Do as John The Baptist said Repent. Confess your sins to him And tell Him that you believe He died on the cross for your sins and was buried and rose again on the third day.
Conclusion:
I recently read a story of where a young president of a major company instructed his secretary t not let any one disturb him because he had a major appointment. He then closed the door to his office, while inside the chairman of the board came by. He was seasoned individual. He told the secretary that he needed to speak to Mr. Jones. She replied that he is busy with a major appointment. The Chairman than began to bang on the door and then abruptly opened it. He found the young man on his knees praying. The chairman softly closed the door and asked the secretary, does this happen often? She then replied everyday. He then said “No wander I ask him for advise”
Pray consistent and with expectation
