Today, on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. Here are the desires of my heart. I cry out to you, Lord, to answer this prayer. And yes, God wants to hear us. And the wonderful fact is, He does hear.
And in his own way. And his own purposes, he will answer it because he's a God who works all things. after the council. of his world. Welcome to the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe, senior pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Today we're stepping into an extraordinary moment in Scripture. After centuries of silence, God is about to intervene, sending an angel to announce the birth of the forerunner to the Messiah. It's a story of faith, doubt, and God's faithfulness.
So, beginning our Christmas study in the Gospel of Luke, here's Pastor John Monroe. We are beginning a special Christmas series in the Gospel according to Luke. It was the gospel I knew the least. But now that I've studied it, it's become my favourite. Luke is a doctor and also a skilled historian.
In the opening verses he states that he is writing an orderly account. About what? He answers that question in Acts 1 verse 1. Because Luke also wrote the book of Acts. He says there that in his gospel he dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when he was taken up.
That is, in his Gospel, Luke covers the circumstances from the birth of Jesus to his ascension. To begin, we have the fascinating account of the birth of John the Baptist. whose parents were Zachariah and Elizabeth.
So let's learn about this godly couple and their prayer. And Luke now begins his wonderful gospel. by giving us information about the birth of two wonderful men. John the Baptist, as we'll read today, and then, of course, our Lord Jesus Christ. As a physician, as Luke is, he appears to have a particular love for children.
And this may be partially the reason he deals with these infancy accounts and gives us details that none of the other gospel writers give. But more fundamentally, he is explaining the background to these highly important persons, John, we often call him John the Baptist, and our Lord Jesus. Since the time of the writing of Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, 400 years, 400 silent years have passed. And now As we read Luke chapter 1, God is intervening in the history of the world and is sending his angel Gabriel to declare these two important births, John and Jesus. These births have been predicted in the Old Testament writings.
Malachi, for example, had prophesied Saying The words of the Lord, Behold, I send my messenger And he will prepare the way before me. John is the forerunner of Christ. He comes to prepare the way for the coming Messiah.
Now the angel, as we'll read, speaking to Zachariah. In the verses we're going to read, quotes from the last two verses of the Old Testament, Book of Malachi.
So, as we come into our text, understand this. There is something. of monumental importance taking place. In a dark world as it was then, After 400 silent years, the voice of God is heard through the angel Gabriel. And this light that comes will shine not only on Israel, but also on the Gentiles.
The forerunner of the Messiah. is about to be born. All of the Old Testament is looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, our magnificent Lord Jesus Christ. But before the Messiah is born, just by a few months, This remarkable man. We call John the Baptist.
is going to be born and today We're going to read about it. And This couple Zechariah and Elizabeth will learn about the answer to their prayers. A prayer Is going to be answered. A prayer. By this couple.
Let me pause there before we read the text. You ever seen The Lord at work. Have you ever had God answer your prayers. Have you ever prayed specific prayers to the Lord and have seen the Lord answer these prayers? Do you believe that God in heaven hears your prayers and according to his purposes and will?
will answer these prayers. What are you asking the Lord for? Are there specific requests that you're asking? This couple, Elizabeth and Zechariah, have a specific request, and we're going to see how the Lord. Answers it.
God. is at work. One now Read with me from verse 15. Through 25. Here's the word of God to us.
This is a wonderful passage of scripture. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zachariah. of the the vision of a banjo. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron. And her name was Elizabeth.
And they were both righteous before God. Walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child. Because Elizabeth was born in and both were advanced in years.
Now, while he was serving as priest before God, when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by Lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him, An angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled. When he saw him, And fear.
fell upon him. But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zachariah. for your prayer. has been heard. And your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son.
And you shall call his name John. And you will have joy. and gladness. And many will rejoice at his birth. for he will be great.
Before the Lord. But you must not drink wine or strong drink. And you will be filled with the Holy Spirit. even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah. to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. and did disobedient to the wisdom of the just. to make ready for the Lord. Are people prepared?
And Zechariah said to the angel, How shall I ignore this? For I'm an old man. And my wife is advanced in years. 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. 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. And the people were waiting for Zechariah. and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.
And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them. And they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived.
And for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me. to take away my reproach. Amon. People. Isn't that fascinating?
Story. We want to think, first of all, the life of this godly couple. We're going to meet as we've done this couple, this remarkable couple. Zachariah and Elizabeth. Luke tells us they were of the tribe of Eli, the priestly tribe.
And Luke records something very important. He says in verse 6 that they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes. of God. That's a great marriage, isn't it? That was our prayer for the couple standing up here as they dedicate their children.
That they would be blameless, that they would walk according to the will and the word of God. Is that true? For those of you who are married, is that true about your marriage? Could you really say that you And your spouse are righteous before God? That you're blameless in your obedience to the Lord.
Some of your singles. What do you look for in a spouse? First and foremost, Are they walking? With the Lord. It's interesting how Singles who are believers say they want a godly person, but it begs the question: are You godly.
Why would a godly man or a godly woman go with you if you're ungodly? Here is a wonderful marriage. Elizabeth And Zechariah blameless before God. Zechariah is a priest, we read, of the divisions of Abijah. According to 1 Chronicles 24, under the instruction of King David, there were 24 divisions of the priesthood.
And Zechariah, we're told in verse 5, was of the division of Abinjah. That was one of the divisions. And on this memorable day, he was of the eighth order, Abijah, on this memorable day that we read of. Zechariah was chosen by Lot to enter the temple of God, Jerusalem. And to burn incense.
Verse 9.
Now there were 24 divisions, as I've said, so each division served approximately for two weeks per year. There were many, many priests.
So, this was a once-in-a-lifetime. Unrepeatable experience for Zechariah. Here, as it were, was the pinnacle of his career, if you put it that way. Won an honor to go actually into the temple of God. There was the altar of incense in the holy place.
along with the golden lampstand and the table of showbread. In the holy place, and beyond the curtain was the holy of holies, and so Zechariah. By lot. Of the division of Abijah is chosen this particular day to go in and offer incense in the temple of God.
Now, secondly, let's think of this prayer, a prayer which was heard. What was their prayer? Scripture tells us That they were old, that Elizabeth was barren. And this is a prayer. for a child.
Here's a couple. They are wholeheartedly following the Lord. Luke tells us. But in their life, there is a heartache, there's a disappointment, there's a shadow over their lives, as it were, because they have no child. And Dr.
Luke is saying that, medically speaking, it is impossible for them to have a child. Number one, they're very, very old. Number two, Elizabeth is barren. They're too old. And so They're serving the Lord.
They are godly couple, a godly couple. But there's this heartache. And they bring it. As we all should, they bring that to the Lord. Do you know being an authentic follower of of Jesus Christ does not eliminate heartaches.
and hurts. and disappointments in life, does it? You can't say, well, it was a lack of faith on their part when they didn't have a child. If they really worship God more, God would have been kind to them. Notice what happens.
Zechariah is in the temple. Offering up the incense. And then the angel appears to him. When he has this unrepeatable experience, something memorable, something miraculous in fact, occurs. Verse 11.
An angel of the Lord is standing on the right side of the altar of incense. What happens? He's very fearful. Imagine if an angel of the Lord stood beside me. You wouldn't say, oh, cool, man.
I don't think so. We would be afraid. And the angel Tells them, Zachary, don't be afraid. Notice what he says. Verses 12 and 13.
Your prayer has been heard. Here is an angel Coming from the very presence of God, sent by God with this message to say to him, Zechariah, your prayer has been heard. Isn't it wonderful to know that when we pray, God is listening to us? Do you think we just go through a form? Whether we're praying here at church.
Whether you're praying with your family, whether you're on your knees alone. Crying out to the Lord in prayer. Isn't it wonderful to know how gracious of our Heavenly Father that the eternal God? Here's our prayers and I'm serving Zechariah and Elizabeth had often prayed for a child. But how could they possibly have a child?
As the years go on and they become older and older and it becomes, humanly speaking, less and less likely that they're going to have a child. How wonderful for Zechariah to hear from the angel your prayer has been heard. And your wife Elizabeth will bear a son. And that's going to be a matter of joy and gladness to many, verse 14. We rejoice this morning with the birth of these wonderful five children.
They are rejoicing with their family. We're rejoicing with them as their church family and praising God for the gift of these children.
Furthermore, says The angel to Zachariah. You're gonna call him John. And this son Notice verse 15. He's going to be great before the Lord. And something remarkable is going to happen.
He is going to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Even when he's in his mother's womb. Incredible. Elizabeth's gonna have a child. And that child.
It's going to be great. before the Lord. Not in terms of great celebrity, but great before the Lord. That's what we pray for our children and grandchildren, isn't there? Not so much success in the world.
not so much academic or career success, but that they will be, as these parents said as they testified, that our children would be great before the Lord. As we saw all of these Children and students lined up here. Singing and playing instruments. That's your prayer, isn't it? that there would be great before.
The Lord. John, of course, is special. John means God is gracious. And he's going to be the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophets. Isaiah had prophesied of the forerunner of the Messiah.
Malachi had. And he's going to come in the spirit and power of Elijah. And he's going to have a tremendous impact, as we read in verses 16 and 17 of. Reconciliation of families. He's going to make ready A people For the Lord, the Messiah is coming, but Before he comes, there's to be a spiritual preparation, there's to be repentance, there's to be humility, there's to be a change of life so that we are ready to receive the Messiah.
And John, that is your task. A unique ministry. highly privileged ministry. of making ready for the Lord a people prepared. The Messiah is coming.
John, your task is to prepare people for him. People have to be spiritually prepared in order to receive the Messiah. There is to be repentance, John is going to preach, evidenced by the transformation of their lives. And Jesus is going to say. Years later.
Among those born of women. There has arisen no one greater than John. Testimony from the Messiah himself regarding his forerunner. What an answer to prayer.
Now, what would be your response? You've been praying for a child. The angel comes from the very presence of God. He says, I stand in the presence of God, and I'm giving you this great news, and people are going to rejoice. Zechariah, the priest no less.
has doubts. Instead of this priest Zechariah accepting the word of Gabriel, who stands in the very presence of God and is sent by God Himself to communicate this good news. Zechariah does not believe. Verse twenty. Bold You, Zechariah, will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place because you did not believe my words.
A priest worshiping God. praying with his wife for a child. And the word comes and he does not believe. A messenger is saying, Your prayer is heard. Your wife Elizabeth.
We know her name. God knows her name and she's going to bear a son and you're going to call him John. And he doubts. He doesn't believe the words of Gabriel standing in the presence of God. You say, Well, he wasn't much of a priest.
Well Luke says he was blameless. Walk in all the commandments of God. What about you? You ever had any doubts? As you read the word of God, do you always obey it?
When God speaks to you, we believe that this is the very word of God, and that God speaks to us through His Word. Isn't it sometimes true? that you and I sometimes doubt the word of God.
So here's Zachariah. People outside are waiting. They're wondering what the delay is. As the priest comes out of the temple, normally he's going to pronounce a blessing on the people. Everybody comes out.
They recognize something unusual has happened. This priest cannot speak.
Something miraculous has happened. Verse 22. He's seen a vision. His prayer is heard. And it will be answered.
but his inability to speak For nine months, is going to be a sign of his unbelief. That's pretty humbling, isn't it? A priest with a voice. What kind of priest is this? Yeah, Zachariah.
God graciously is going to answer your prayer. But you're going to be unable to speak. For nine. months. Not coming from the tribe of Levi.
Zachariah and Elizabeth would be well aware of the Old Testament scripture. There are several examples in Scripture of women who were old, of women who were barren. like Sarah, like Hannah, and God answered their prayers, don't you believe? Isn't it interesting that Elizabeth Isn't that the case, man, that often our wives are more trusting than we are. Notice what it says of Elizabeth.
Inverse. Twenty-five. Thus the Lord has done for me In the days when he looked on me to take away my reproach among people. She knows. Yes, she's old.
Yes, she's barren. She knows this conception is miraculous. It comes from God Himself, and the Lord has looked. on me. That is a look of compassion, a look of grace.
Isn't that wonderful that God does that? Looks on us. It answers prayer. Here are extraordinary events taking place in the lives of ordinary people. Because I want to say Yeah.
We're going to see this over and over again in the book of Luke.
So the living God acts in the lives of of real people. You say, well, that was just a story. No, it's not just a story, it actually happened. And the fact that Zechariah doubted shows. How like us he is.
Yes, he's a priest. Yes, he's a godly man. But yes, he has doubts. This is the verdict with Pastor John Monroe, and a message about God answering the prayers of Zachariah and Elizabeth. John has more to share in just a moment, so keep listening.
From matters of good and bad to right and wrong, and even identity and relationships, our world seems more confused than ever. But to find truth and certainty about who we are and where we're going, we need to tune out all the voices and the noise and look to the Word of God. To help us do that, John wrote a booklet titled Eternal Security: Finding Certainty in a Chaotic World. He shares a bit of his personal testimony, along with a careful examination of scripture, to help you answer the real and important questions you may have about your salvation. This special booklet is completely free by mail or download.
Just visit our website at theverdict.org. Here at the Verdict, our work is to share the truth of God's Word and the good news of Jesus Christ with as many listeners as we can. And during this special time of giving and sharing the story of Jesus, we invite you to partner with us by making a year-end donation. We've made it quick and easy to give online at themverdict.org. And then, as we close, we invite you to join us in person for Sunday worship at Calvary Church, home of the verdict.
were located at the corner of Highway 51 and Ray Road in South Charlotte. To find directions and details, just visit our website at theverdict.org. And now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, was your verdict? What did you think of this first lesson at Luke? Are you ready to continue in Luke's Gospel? I know your circumstances are likely very different from Zechariah and Elizabeth. But are you being faithful?
Are you praying to the Lord in a difficult situation? As you pray, take a look at your life. Are you obeying the Lord in your lifestyle? Be encouraged. God hears and answers prayers.
Join me next time as we see the Lord work. In a miraculous way, in the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
