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.