The Awe

by Pastor John Lin


Big Idea:
Gifts can be accepted and reshaped

Luke 1:5-9
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. 8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

During King herod reign, he was evil, stop to kill even his own family members.... worst is for that 400 years God was silent, no prophets etc....ppl praying for the promised king.

In those days zechariah and Elizabeth have no children, kids are like security in the culture. If you're childless or barren, it was like to curse from God, or heritage sin etc...

They were old...thinking God forgotten them asking why they're in this state. They could have taken matters into their own hands.

Luke 1:11-17
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

They were righteous and faithful despite.....and God did not forget them.

Luke 1:18-20
And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

Zechariah was not too excited as he chose to look at himself instead, he was stucked in his disappointment. He was disappointed with God

Even when something supernatural or extraordinary happens, we becomes doubtful and cynical over time, because the waiting was soooooo long. We are so used to our pain and disappointment that we find it hard to accept breakthrough when it finally arrives.

Our current state does not have any influence on what God can do in our lives. God did not reject zechariah because of his doubt but He continue to show him a sign....

God was able to deliver His promise even if it means silencing zechariah mouth for 9 months.

Nothing can stand between God's plan and purposes in our lives.

Just because something is not happening doesn't mean God is not working. Continue to seek, pray and wait

Luke 1:57-64
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

"John" represents Yahweh has shown favour or God's greatest gift

Zechariah after 9 months have learn to grow in his faith and trust God. He was no longer doubtful. He understood God's promise and purpose through John's life. It was meant for them to be shared with others, zechariah and elizabeth chose to release this gift to God to prepare the way for the messiah to come.

Luke 1:67-69
And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

Luke 1:76
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

Luke 1:80
And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. Zechariah - The Lord Remembers
Elizabeth - God's oath
"The Lord Remembers His oath"

Acts 2:17
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

We have the holy spirit to guide us to do God's work for others. We don't have to wait for our pastors or leaders.

God remembers His promise. He's able to deliver His promise despite our doubts and difficulties.

The Willing Unknowns

by Pastor Benny Ho


Nehemiah 11:1-2
Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten[a] remained in the other towns. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.


Who are they?
What they do?

Nehemiah 7:1-2
Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.


Even though walls were up, people are few becos the city was unsecured for many years due to no walls, and in ruins. So no one live in it. Nehemiah wants to rebuild the city by bringing ppl back to live then can have ppl to rebuild.

90% of Israelites live around suburbs of the city
10% is the ones who help nehemiah to build the city, they are the willing unknowns akin to today's church volunteers

There are 5 specific groups of people.

In Nehemiah 11

1st group
Willing volunteers
Nehemiah 11:2
And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

These people Willingness to submitted themselves to the work of God


"Volunteered"
Nadab which implied that it is a willing and unforced act. This word is used for one who is wanting to obey God's will from within, and to do it to benefit others.


To the 1st group - may Your tribes increase


2nd group
The temple workers
Nehemiah 11:10-12
Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, ruler of the house of God, 12 and their brothers who did the work of the house, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah,

These are the priest - pastors, elders church board members


3rd group
People servers
Nehemiah 11:15-16
And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God;

Get stuff done outside the temples rituals, look after the affair of the wellbeing of the people

Cell leaders, RL, outreach ministry, mission groups

4th group
The worship team
Nehemiah 11:22
The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God.

Prepares the way into entrance of God's works, media team, light and sound, graphic, creative arts


5th group
Prayer warriors
Nehemiah 11:17
and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader of the praise,[a] who gave thanks, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.

Intercessors, prayer coordinator, power source in the house of God


3 Key Lessons:
1. Our contribution is not by size but by impact

2. Our labour in the Lord may be unknown but not unnoticed

3. Our rewards are determined not by fame but by faithfulness


Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Matthew 10:42
And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

1 Corinthians 15:57-58
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Revelation 4:10-11
the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

These are the purpose of our crowns receive in heaven