November 27, 2022
The King is Coming!
- Bill Balbach
Sermon Notes
Luke 1:5-7 NIV
"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. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old."
Righteousness is our spiritual aim.
Sometimes life will disappoint, even when we remain faithful.
Life may let us down, but God never will.
Luke 1:8-9 NIV
"Once when Zechariah's division was on duty, and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense."
Don't lose hope when life disappoints: God is still working.
Luke 1:10 NIV
"And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside."
Faithfulness, coupled with focused prayer, leads us to the presence of God. In His presence, the doors are opened to experience our part in His story.
Luke 1:11-13 NIV
"Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 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."
God hears your prayers.
Luke 1:18 NIV
"Zechariah asked the angel, 'How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.'"
Luke 1:19-20 NIV
"The angel said to him, 'I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.'"
The presence of God makes the impossible possible.
Am I faithfully serving?
Do I spend daily time in focused prayer?
Do I make daily time to be in the presence of God?