Word Of God Speak! - Gospel Of John Series 1c Series

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