Intro: Can you imagine not being able to speak for months and then all of a sudden you open your mouth and praise for God just comes rolling out like a flood? Such is the case with Zechariah; he was temporarily deaf and mute. While he was silent—as a consequence of doubting the Word of the Lord—he had a great deal of time to connect the OT prophecies regarding the coming of the promised Messiah. So, when Zechariah is released to speak and he realizes he is smack dab in the middle of Christ’s revelation, this man of God cannot stop sharing what he has learned about the Lord’s promises.
Life is full of experiences, right? Sometimes we view our experiences as terribly negative, but in the midst of even the most difficult times of life, we can find something positive if we will look for the Lord in the midst of the pain. Zechariah decided if his faith could take him through this difficult and silent time and deliver him on the other side of the challenge, that he would proclaim the goodness of God and help others connect their lives in the fulfillment of prophecy—to proclaim the advent of the Christ.
Our challenge today is to understand we serve the God of Israel—the God of ALL Hope. We are the redeemed who are saved and rescued from our spiritual enemies. We are free to live in Christ’s righteousness. Our hope is not built upon doubt; rather, our hope is built upon the righteousness and faithfulness of God to fulfill his promises—to bless and reward his people. And, always remember not one of God’s promises is impossible for him. ”Praise the Lord, the God of Israel!”
Luke 1:68-75 (NLT)
68
“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited and redeemed his people.
69
He has sent us a mighty Savior
from the royal line of his servant David,
70
just as he promised
through his holy prophets long ago.
71
Now we will be saved from our enemies
and from all who hate us (Ps. 106:10).
72
He has been merciful to our ancestors
by remembering his sacred covenant—
73
the covenant he swore with an oath
to our ancestor Abraham.
74
We have been rescued from our enemies
so we can serve God without fear,
75
in holiness and righteousness
for as long as we live.
Prayer: Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus. To reach out and touch him and say that we love him. Open our ears, Lord, and teach us to listen. Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus! Amen.