Our Best Hope
READ: Luke 1
CHALLENGE: Living a Life of Hope
A. HOPE IN LIVING RIGHT
Vv5 – In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
1. Normal People are in God’s Plan
2. Righteousness Counts
v6 – Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly
3. Heartache Is Not a Determiner of Blessings
V7 – But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
Ecclesiastes 3:11-12 – He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.
B. HOPE IN PRAYER (v8-10)
Vv8-10 – Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
It was Scriptural and they continued obeying. In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer. David prayed, “May my prayer be set before you like incense” (Psalm 141:2). In his vision of heaven, John saw that the elders around the throne “were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people” (Revelation 5:8; cf. 8:3). As Zechariah the priest was offering incense in the temple in Luke 1:10, “all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.”
You praying creates an opportunity for God to do amazing things.
1. Prayers Lead to Startling Results
Vv11-12 – Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
Like Jeremiah 29 says…I know the plans I have for you. God knows the future. He knows the plan. You keep doing right and praying and he’ll take care of the rest. God can show up suddenly! Keep the faith.
2. Prayers are Heard
V13 – But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
3. Prayer Leads to Rejoicing
V14 – He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,
4. Prayers Are Answered Above and Beyond
V17 – And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
C. HOPE OF RESTORED RELATIONSHIPS
Vv15-17 – for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 -And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
1. Relationship with the Spirit
Ephesians 5:18 – Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
2. Restored Relationships with God
V16 – He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
Mark 1:4 – And so John the Baptist.
Malachi 2:6-7 – True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.
1 Peter 3:18 – For Christ also suffered once.
This is a role of the church as well – it’s to help connect people with God.
3. Restore Family Relations
This is a quote from Malachi 4:5-6 – “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”
4. Restored Relationship with the Truth