We are in the Advent Season and today is the second Sunday. Our word for today is—Love. Advent- means: coming or arrival. Most the theologians believe that it was around 400 years between the time that the prophets had declared that there would be a promised Messiah, and the time that an angel spoke to Mary and said that she would give birth to a child that would be of the Holy Spirit. They believed, but they waited—they waited but they believed—and He came! God in the flesh—Emanuel, God with us. And they called His name Jesus, for He would save His people from their sin. They waited, but He came.
Our reality, as God’s people, is that we are still in a season of waiting. We know the promise of Christ, who has already come, but we wait for God to come and make all things right—but waiting is hard. Today we are reminded, through words spoken by Zechariah in Luke 1, that even in the waiting we have the hope of God’s continued promise. They waited on the promised Messiah and we wait for God to move in our lives in His way and in His time.
This morning I want to talk to you about what we’ve entitled, “Changed In the Waiting.” This a story about Zachariah and Elizabeth becoming pregnant and giving birth to John. They had waited for years and God had not yet answered their prayer, but in this moment he had, and Elizabeth would now become pregnant and they would bring fourth John who would be the forerunner of Christ and would ultimately baptize Jesus in the river, Jordan. Zachariah in this passage goes from “How Can It Be So?” To this is what God did and this is what’s going to happen now. He prophesied about Jesus and prophesied over John. Zachariah went from doubting to proclaiming… He was changed in the waiting.
Anytime that there is a coming or an arrival there is a waiting period. And waiting is never easy and it is often frustrating . However, the waiting period is what allows us time to prepare or to make ready, it is also the time that allows us to change, grow and deepen our faith.
Waiting is usually connected in some way to feeling forgotten.
*(dr. appointment | procedure)
- But here’s what I want you to know: even if God is delayed in moving towards us in a tangible way—He still never forgets us and He always hears our prayers. Luke 1:13– “But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. Your prayer has been heard by God. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a baby boy, and you will name him John.” *he didn’t say your prayer has been answered, he said it has been heard.
Some Things About Waiting:
- Waiting doesn’t change God, but it usually changes us.
- Waiting brings out the best and the worst in us.
- Waiting changes our perspective.
- Waiting deepens our faith.
- Waiting will causes us to prioritize.
Don’t Waste Your Wait! *(how do you waste it)
⁃ If you wait and don’t learn.
⁃ If wait and don’t grow from it.
⁃ If wait and don’t change.
⁃ If you wait and don’t deepen in your faith.
⁃ If you wait and don’t broaden your understanding and perspective.
3 Reasons Why God May Allow Us to Wait:
1. To deepen our trust.
2. To wait for people to change.
3. To give time for situations to align.
What About Elizabeth and Zachariah?
As we unfold Zechariah’s words, we are reminded that pregnancy itself is also about a season of waiting. There is a wait to announce the pregnancy. There is a wait to know the gender. There is a wait to hear the heartbeat for the first time or feel the first kick from inside the womb. Finally, there is a wait for the baby to make their grand arrival during labor and delivery. The words spoken by Zechariah are found in silent waiting.
What About Elizabeth and Zachariah?
Zechariah and Elizabeth waited so long that they had forgotten, but God hadn’t forgotten!
They waited on the promise of their prayer to be answered and now in their old age they were going to be waiting on the arrival of a new baby.
What About Elizabeth and Zachariah?
- They Were Old
– When we wait time passes and we feel like the years are wasted.
– When wait we feel like it’s too late now.
– When we wait we feel like if it hasn’t happened yet—it won’t happen now.
– When we wait we get discouraged and quit believing.
– When wait we get disappointed and give up.
*I want to tell you today—with God all things are possible and it’s never too late and you are never too old.
- They Were Good People vs. 5-7
– They were from a good line and good family
– Zechariah—from Abijah’s group *(king of Judah, judge, priest and Jeroboam’s son)
– Elizabeth—comes from Aaron’s family.
– They were good people who loved God.
– They did everything the Lord commanded them.
– They always followed His instructions completely.
*Why is this important?
*Because there’s a formula to how we feel: when have to wait we forgotten, and we feel forsaken, but we also feel like we did something wrong—like God is mad at us. God is not mad at you. God loves you and His timing is perfect! Zechariah and Elizabeth had to wait and God’s timing was perfect concerning them and the birth of John.
God’s timing is perfect concerning you because He knows what you don’t know and He can see what you can’t see. You see I believe is this: Zechariah and Elizabeth gave birth to John right at the time it was supposed to happen. None of the prophecies could have been fulfilled the way they were if not. John would have not been filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb. He wouldn’t have been the forerunner of Christ and ultimately baptize Jesus in the Jordan. The wait was worth it! *Gods timing was perfect concerning Zechariah and Elizabeth and it is perfect concerning you and me.
What About Elizabeth and Zachariah?
- They Faithfully Served God
– They didn’t waiver in their faith—they kept believing and serving, even when disappointment came and what they prayed for didn’t come when they expected it to come—they still waited on God and served faithfully.
We are in the same position as Zechariah and Elizabeth. We wait and don’t know the outcome. When we read their story, we see God’s faithfulness, but when it was happening in real time they didn’t know what we know now. We have hindsight, but they didn’t and we don’t either for current our situations. They trusted God and waited and we have to do the same.
This is the love of God—that He came to us and Zechariah declares the divine plan and providential timing of God in these verses about Jesus and John.
“Then Zechariah, John’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and told the people a message from God: “Praise to the Lord God of Israel. He has come to help his people and has given them freedom. He has given us a powerful Savior from the family of his servant David. This is what he promised through his holy prophets long ago. He will save us from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us. God said he would show mercy to our fathers, and he remembered his holy agreement. This was the promise he made to our father Abraham, a promise to free us from the power of our enemies, so that we could serve him without fear in a way that is holy and right for as long as we live. “Now you, little boy, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go first before the Lord to prepare the way for him. You will make his people understand that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven. “With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will shine on us. It will bring light to those who live in darkness, in the fear of death. It will guide us into the way that brings peace.” And so the little boy John grew up and became stronger in spirit. Then he lived in areas away from other people until the time when he came out to tell God’s message to the people of Israel.” —Luke 1:67-80 ERV
*God’s love | While we were yet sinners | John 3:16
