What to do when you wait?

The David Alliance

TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com 

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is 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 in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also 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 He will also 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 a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

 

What is the longest you have ever had to wait for something?

Wait in line for a Sony Walkman

Waited for a guitar 7 months

Waited a year to marry my wife - to the day BTW.

Waited 5 years trying to have kids

There are things I am still waiting for…  

 

 

 

Wheres God…? 400 years of silence…

 

400 years of silence.. God has not spoken to one prophet, one person one Pharisee or one Sadducee.

But when he does talks to a priest… old man… 

And it seems as if God waited for the world to fall a part… like as if - lets wait for the world to start on fire before we hand out squirt guns. 

 

 

What do you need before God brings you the best news ever? 

What do you need in order to have your world changed? 

Silence…. 

Maybe its that simple… in silence he is preparing you. Watching you… Are you faithful. 

 

Zacharias gets the once in a lifetime job to burn incense in the temple in the Holy place just outside of the Holy of Holies. They take hot coals from the brazen altar and he then pours incense on the coals just outside of the curtain separating the holy of holies. The incense was for two reasons…

  - One to cover up the smell of death… or a lack of life.

Let your prayers fill the void *fill the time - Jesus thanked God for 5 loaves and 2 fish… he was praying and giving thanks over the void. 

  - Secondly to illustrate the prayers going up to heaven like the lingering smoke from the incense. May your prayers be like sweet smelling incense before the Lord. 

Zacharias is here… having lived a life of faithfulness in the midst of no children-no life. His prayers have long since stopped for kids… he is old now. But God heard them.

 

 

And times are dark… much like today. Its hard to live for God, much like today.

And who does God speak to? An elderly couple who have been faithful in spite of not having the desires of their hearts met and being looked down upon by society for not having the desires of their hearts met. (Not having kids many times was seen as a curse from God for sin in your life).

 

But when he speaks… When he does show up to the faithful… 

He not only gives Zacharias a chance to be in the Holy place, but he gives him a word… not just a word, but a son.. not just a son but the greatest prophet up until Christ. He will set the stage! 

 

 

 

Incense was made out of trees. You would cut it and the gum would flow out… you would than capture this, dry it and burn it for the sweet smell. 

 

 

 

Zach stays faithful. Faithful beyond unanswered and unplanned things in life. 

Zach has to wait… those that wait upon the Lord renew their strength. 

Paul waited 13 years before he started his ministry.

Daniel waited 28 days for answered prayer

David waited 15 years before he became King

Moses waited 40 years to get to the promise land

I am 58 years in the waiting of Christ coming back…

 

**Zacharias has to wait a week before he can go home and tell his wife… and he is dumb and deaf.

HOW DOES ONE TELL HIS WIFE IN HER 70’S THAT HE IS GOING TO GET HER PREGNANT - WITH NO WORDS. 

 

 

 

Zach continues on with his priestly duties: (1 Peter 2:9 We are all priests under the new covenant) we draw near to God, we distinguish what is right and wrong, we live as an example to the people, we work in the temple, 

 

Zach Gets the word but not the answer and still doubts.

In the original Greek it does not read as much doubt into his response as much as he is asking for a sign. I believe you, but what sign can you give me. The angels response is literally earth shattering for all of us.

  - Heres your sign - Because God said so!!!

I don’t need a sign when I have Gods word.

 

 

Zacharias gets rebuked and muted.

He is struck deaf and dumb.

Was this a punishment - possibly? But I also think it was a Godly reminder that he was invaded by the presence of God and given a word from heaven. Not being able to speak or hear anything to the contrary was confirmation that this was not just bad pizza, but a real encounter with God. And now he is all the more unable to speak doubt or hear doubt… maybe that is a lesson for us. When we encounter a word from God, an experience from God… he mutes our inner voice of doubt. 

MAY WE PRAY WHEN WE HEAR FROM GOD - He mutes the world to our ears and mutes our tongue to confess otherwise.