“Do you know what you people are? You’re a bunch of hypocrites! You worship God on Sunday, but you live like the devil the rest of the week. You say that you love God, but then you secretly indulge in all kinds of sinful practices. You sing hymns at church, but you use filthy language at work. You faithfully build your retirement account, but you never do anything to help the poor. You are living a double life. You are a brood of slippery snakes! Do you really think that God is going to save you because you’ve been baptized or because you go to church? Listen, unless you turn away from your sins, you’re going straight to hell.”

            This was the type of message that John the Baptist preached in the wilderness. His sermons may not have been very “seeker sensitive,” but they can hardly been faulted for a lack of courage. John wasn’t trying to win friends or improve anyone’s self-esteem: he was trying to get people to repent and to prepare them for the coming of the Lord. Therefore, he spoke with holy boldness, bluntly confronting their sin.

            When I read Luke’s account of John the Baptist’s ministry, I am reminded of the nineteenth-century Methodist preacher Peter Cartwright, who once preached to President Andrew Jackson. Before the service he was warned not to say anything out of line. So when Cartwright got up to preach, he said, “I understand Andrew Jackson is here today. I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks. So here goes: Andrew Jackson will go straight to hell if he doesn’t repent!” The congregation was shocked, but afterwards the president shook Cartwright’s hand and said, “Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world.” (I should have shared this story last week when all of the politicians were here!)

            Like Peter Cartwright—though perhaps unlike most preachers—John the Baptist was not afraid to offend. His outspoken ministry led the great Anglican preacher J.C. Ryle to comment that it would be well “for the Church of Christ, if it possessed more plain-speaking ministers, like John the Baptist, in these latter days…There is no charity in flattering unconverted people, by abstaining from any mention of their vices, or in applying smooth epithets to damnable sins.” If you want to feel better about your sin, just stay home on Sunday morning and watch Joel Osteen on television. But if you really want to know what God thinks, I invite you to listen to the courageous preaching of John the Baptist and allow him to prepare your way to the Lord!

 

The Voice Crying in the Wilderness (1-6)

            Admittedly, John was a little odd. Matthew’s gospel tells us that he lived in the wilderness, wore wild clothes and consumed a diet of locusts and wild honey. (Matt. 3:4) Even in those days, he was considered strange, which is why people were talking about him all over Israel.

            Luke begins his account of John’s ministry by establishing the historical context. Verses 1-2 are the historian’s way of telling us that John began his ministry when he was about 30 years old. John’s divine destiny of preparing the way of the Lord had been revealed to his parents Zechariah and Elizabeth before he was born, and now he had reached the age for his ministry to begin. The “Word of the Lord” came to him and he traveled throughout the Jordan River valley preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

            In the ancient world it was customary for kings to receive a royal welcome. When an emperor or prominent person would enter a city, the citizens would rally together along the road and welcome him with great pomp and circumstance. To make sure that the people were ready to receive him, he would send a messenger on ahead to herald the news of his coming. The prophet Isaiah took this custom and turned it into a prophecy. Seven-hundred years before Christ, Isaiah proclaimed that a great king would come to God’s people, and when it did, his approach would be announced by a herald in the wilderness. He envisioned a massive public works project where mountains would be leveled, valleys would be raised up, and that the crooked road would be made straight so that everyone could see God’s salvation. John the Baptist was the fulfillment of this prophecy. He was called to be the forerunner, the herald, the one who would prepare the people for the arrival of his cousin, King Jesus!

            This passage shows us that God always keeps his promises and accomplishes his plans. It took God 700 years to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy; it took 30 years after John’s birth before he finally began to fulfill his divine destiny. Like John, God has a perfect plan for each one of us. He has called all of us to something! Some of you have already discovered it and some of you are still searching for it. God’s timetable is not always our timetable. He will reveal your calling and accomplish his ultimate plan for your life when he is ready. Until then, be patient and be ready!

The Role of Repentance (7-14)

            John’s calling was to get the people ready, to help them be prepared for the coming of Christ. But how were they supposed to get ready? What does it mean to “prepare the way of the Lord” or “make his paths straight?” These questions can be answered in one word—Repent! Repentance simply means to turn away from sin.

            John’s strange clothing, peculiar habits, and powerful words made him into an ancient spectacle. (In the modern world, Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga have proved that strange looks and behavior still draws a crowd.) Everybody and their brother were going out to be baptized by John because it was the popular thing to do. But John had some strong words for these groupies that were really phonies. He called them a brood of vipers because they were like snakes slithering away from a fire. They wanted to get out of danger, but they still wanted to be snakes. They wanted to get baptized, but they had no interest in living a godly life. They were trusting in their religious heritage rather than an authentic relationship with God. They were going through the outward religious motions, but their hearts were far from God. So, John tells them that if they really want to get serious about God to stop sinning!

            John not only proclaimed the necessity of repentance, but he also preached about the urgency of repentance. He said, “Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (vs.9) This means that judgment would soon be upon them and anyone who did not repent would face the horrors of hell.

            Our lives are rocky and crooked, like the mountains of Israel. Mountains of pride need to be knocked down and valleys of self-pity need to be raised so that God can come in. Christ the King finds easy entrance to any heart that is truly sorry for sin. Or to put it another way, repentance is the on-ramp to salvation. If we want God to save our souls from hell, we have to turn away from our sin.

            A few weeks ago I was stumbled across an article where a young woman made the comment, “You don’t have to repent to be saved! All you have to do is accept Jesus into your heart!”

            John the Baptist would turn over in his grave if he heard that remark. This woman has obviously never read the Bible and has been skewed by a popular heresy. Repentance is absolutely necessary for salvation! Baptism will not save you! Growing up in a Christian family will not save you. Going through the motions at church will not save you! Praying before you go to bed at night won’t save you! Doing random acts of kindness won’t save you! You have to repent from your sin and put your faith in Jesus Christ!

            Therefore, if you want to experience the joy of Christ’s forgiveness and the hope of everlasting life, repent! If have been lying to someone—come clean! If you have been cheating someone in your business—treat them fairly! If you have been sleeping with someone you are not married to—stop it! If you have been taking substances or drinking too much—give it up! If you want to get serious about God, do what you know is right! And do it before it is too late!

A Model of Humility and Courage (15-20)

            Despite the boldness of John’s preaching, he still became so popular that many people began to wonder if he might possibly be the Messiah. As soon as these rumors began to swirl, John quickly laid them to rest. If anybody could be justified in having a messiah-complex, it would be him, but he made it abundantly clear that he was not the Christ and that he wasn’t even worthy to untie the thongs of the Christ’s sandals. John only baptized with water, but the Messiah, who was much more powerful than him, would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire and would judge the hearts of humanity. As a farmer used his winnowing fork to separate the wheat from the chaff, so the Messiah would separate those who had repented and those who did not. John was secure in his role of the forerunner who pointed people to the Christ. He was a man of great humility.

            John the Baptist was indeed humble, but don’t mistake humility for weakness. John was anything but weak. He possessed an uncompromising courage in his character and an unprecedented boldness in his preaching. He was a man who told the truth and he didn’t care who didn’t like it. Verse 18 tells us that he used many words to exhort the people and preach the good news to them.

            John’s courage landed him in prison because he publically rebuked the phony king Herod the tetrarch for his wicked deeds, one of which was taking his brother’s wife Herodias as a lover. Everyone in Palestine know the truth about Herod’s carnal corruption, but nobody would dare speak a word about it for fear of being imprisoned or even put to death. But nothing was going to stop John from speaking the truth of God’s Word. He was a man of great courage, even if he had to pay the price in prison.

            John the Baptist is a model of humility and courage for modern Christians. In a time and culture that is obsessed with self-worship, where everything is about me, myself, and I, John reminds us of our rightful place behind and below Jesus Christ. Like John, we should not seek praise or glory for ourselves; we were placed on this earth to worship and glorify Jesus. Everything that we have—our intellect, talents, skills, abilities, money, and possessions are all gifts from him! Therefore, let us join in John’s humility and point people to Jesus and give him all of the glory and praise!

            Likewise, we live in a culture where courage is increasingly uncommon. We live in a politically correct era where you have to watch every word you say; especially if it is about sin, truth, or Jesus. Talking about those topics can get you in trouble. When the time comes, will you have the courage to call sin a sin, or will you cave to the pressure of placation. When the time comes, will you have the courage to stand alone for the truth of God’s Word, or will you quietly acquiesce with the crowds? When the time comes, will you have the courage to speak the name of Jesus, or will you cower before the consequences? If it came down to it, would you be willing to join John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul and the English Puritan John Bunyan and the Nazi Resistor Dietrich Bonheoffer and the modern Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani in prison for speaking the name of Jesus?

             As we genuinely repent from our sins and become recipients of God’s grace and mercy and eternal life, may we prepare the way of the Lord by humbly and courageously proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ wherever we go!

 

(The first half of this message borrows heavily from Philip Ryken’s brilliant sermon that bears the same text and title.)

            The opening chapters of Luke are like a duet from an oratorio. One voice begins to sing, followed by another, and then the two verses harmonize. For a while the second voice is silent while the first verse sings alone. Then the first voice leaves off and the second voice breaks the silence and carries the music until finally the song ends with a chorus of angels.

            The first melody here belongs to John the Baptist. It is the promise of his birth, given to his father Zechariah by the angel Gabriel, but fully believed only by his mother Elizabeth. Then we hear the song of the Savior: the virgin Mary will give birth to the Son of God. When the two mothers meet, their melodies harmonize into one song. But after a three month visit, Elizabeth is ready to give birth, and Mary returns to Nazareth. It is time again to sing the song of John the Baptist. (Ryken 54)

Zechariah’s Silence is Broken

            After 400 years without any word from God, the Lord broke his silence by sending his angel Gabriel to the old priest Zechariah. The angel appeared to him in the temple and told him that his wife was going to bear him a son in his old age. Like most of us would today, he didn’t believe it. So, Gabriel stripped him of his ability to speak for the long nine months of pregnancy. Marital communication is already difficult enough when the husband and wife can both speak; can you imagine how difficult it would be to prepare for a baby when one couldn’t speak? But Zechariah and Elizabeth somehow survived the quiet maternity phase.

            When the baby was born, the news quickly spread to all of their friends and relatives. One by one they showed up with hot casseroles, newly knitted baby blankets, and encouraging words. Zechariah’s fellow came with a box of Cuban cigars to celebrate in the joyous occasion. Even though his lips couldn’t speak, he could still puff on a big fat stogy. (Well OK, that’s not exactly the way the biblical story goes, but you get the picture.) Everyone recognized how the Lord had shown them great mercy, and the whole town showed up to share their happiness.

            According to the Jewish custom, Zechariah and Elizabeth took the baby to the temple on the eighth day so that he could be circumcised and formally named—a firstborn son was always named after his father, but his mother spoke up and said, “No, his name is John.” Although this was in obedience to the angel’s command, everyone else was shocked and horrified! “John” was a common enough Jewish name, but everyone protested because there was no one in their family with that name. (This is classic! When parents give their child an unexpected name, some people just can’t resist making snide remarks or offering unwelcomed suggestions.)

            Even though Elizabeth was a brand new mother, her friends and family thought she was having a senior moment. So, they gestured to Zechariah to inquire as to the child’s real name. Still unable to speak, he asked for a writing tablet and confirmed that the boy’s name was John.

            As soon as he wrote the name John on the tablet, his tongue was miraculously loosened and he began to verbally praise God. Everyone marveled at these events, and they wondered about the child’s divine destiny; for they recognized that God’s hand was upon him.

1.) Praising God for his Plan of Salvation (68-75)

            When Zechariah’s silence was broken and his speech returned, notice what he did first. He didn’t praise God for restoring his voice. He didn’t even thank God for giving him his own baby boy at such an old age. Instead, he uttered praise for the coming of Mary’s baby. He was thrilled about the birth of his own son and deliverance, but he was more grateful for the news of Mary’s miraculous conception.

            Why would Zechariah’s primary praise God for someone else’s baby before his own newborn son? Because Mary’s baby represented God’s plan of salvation for the world! His son would be the forerunner to Messiah; Mary’s son was the Messiah! Mary’s son was the fulfillment of God’s covenants with Abraham and King David; he would bless all people on earth and establish an eternal kingdom. Zechariah’s son would be wonderful, but Mary’s son would redeem Israel, save her from her enemies, and enable them to live without fear. In the midst of the bleak spiritual darkness that covered the land, Mary’s son embodied a new light was dawning.

            Like Zechariah, our primary praise to God should be for his plan of salvation. Before we praise God for giving us children, restoring our health, or providing for our physical needs, we should praise God for sending Mary’s baby to redeem our sinful souls. Mary’s son would be long awaited Messiah and our great horn of salvation. He would be the king who would deliver us from our enemies.

            Who are our enemies? Contrary to popular belief, our greatest enemies are not Muslim Jihadists in the Middle East, Kim Jong Un in North Korea, or even the Russian Bear Vladimir Putin. Our greatest enemy is not cancer, poverty, or injustice. Our greatest enemy is Satan and his minions of darkness who tempt us to sin and live apart from the grace and love of God. Our greatest enemies are not the one who can harm our bodies, but the ones who can destroy our souls and lead us to hell.

            God did not send his Son to be our political advocate, military liberator, or social supporter! He did not send his Son to deliver us from our financial deficiencies, physical pains, or psychological insufficiencies. Why did God send his Son to earth? To live a sinless life so that he could die a holy death and pay the penalty for our sins and to rescue our souls from the fire’s of hell. This is the salvation that God offers to each of us!

            Have you received God’s greatest gift of love? Have you embraced his offer of salvation? Have you put your faith in his birth, death, and resurrection for the redemption of your soul? Do you praise him for his plan of salvation? 

 

2.) Blessing a Child’s Destiny (76-80)

            After Zechariah praised God for his great plan of salvation through Mary’s baby, he took his own newborn in his arms and blessed the child’s destiny. With love and compassion, he looked into his little sons eyes and told him that he would one day become a prophet of the Most High and that he would go before the Lord to prepare his ways. He would give the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins to the people. He would tell about the tender mercies of God and give light to all who sit in spiritual darkness and wallow in the shadow of death.

            Wow! What a powerful blessing from a father to a son!  It is no wonder the child grew and became strong in spirit until the divinely appointed time for him to begin his public ministry. His father spoke love, peace, and purpose into his son’s life.

            I wonder how many parents pronounce blessings like this on their children today. I wonder how many parents hold their little ones close to their heart and tell them that God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their life. I wonder how many parents tell their kids that God wants to use them to accomplish great things for his kingdom.

            Sure, our children do not have the same divine destiny as little John the Baptist did—his was a one of a kind calling to be the forerunner of the Messiah. But I see many parents today either worshipping or cursing their kids, and these are equally detrimental. Parents who worship their kids put their kids above God. They give them everything, do everything for them, and never tell them “No!” The inherent sin of selfishness is never curbed and it leads to children who are spoiled, arrogant, and exhibit a sense of entitlement. This is really the sin of parental idolatry.

            I also see many parents who curse their kids. They constantly lie to them, berate them, and provoke them, and then wonder why their children are so screwed up.

            One of my childhood best friends was a boy named Barry. His father, Barry Sr., drank a lot and was a difficult man to please. He would often tell his son that he was stupid and that he would never amount to anything. If a kid hears curses like this enough, he eventually starts to believe them. Barry’s father would often beat him and embarrass him in front of his friends.

            When Barry was about19 years old, his dad began to criticize him one night. Barry took a baseball bat and beat his dad to a bloody pulp. Barry Sr. spent five days in the hospital—he suffered a severe concussion, broken ribs, and a shattered shoulder. Barry Jr. spent a few days in jail and has been in and out of corrections ever since.

            Whatever you do, don’t worship or abuse kids! Bless them as Zechariah blessed John! Speak loving words to them! Show them affection! Discipline them when they need it! And most importantly, model and teach them about the love and grace of God.

 

            When Zechariah’s silence was finally broken, he had a lot to say! His song teaches us a lot about the importance of praising God for his incredible plan of salvation and the importance of blessing our children. I hope and pray that we all will respond to Zechariah’s song to God and his little boy!

            For the past ten or so years, there has been a new holiday trend that has literally turned the traditional Christmas celebration upside down. Hammacher Schlemmer, a retail company based in New York, has pioneered a unique yuletide decoration: the Upside-Down Christmas Tree.

            Standing at 7-feet tall and pre-lit with over 800 commercial grade lights, this technological marvel can be yours for the low price of $599.95. But why would anyone want an upside-down Christmas tree? According to Hammacher Schlemmer: “The inverted shape makes it easier to see ornaments, which hang below the dense needles,” while “allowing more room for the accumulation of presents underneath.”

            Other retail outlets are following suit, including ChristmasTreeForMe.com, which offers 5-to-7.5-foot bizarro trees from $280–$504. Even Target is getting in on the action, with upside-down trees ranging from $299 to $499.

Does anyone have an up-side-down tree this year?  Go ahead; don’t be afraid to admit it!  Well, even if you don’t have an up-side-down tree, most of us have begun some kind of preparations for Christmas; whether it is buying reading an Advent book, decorating the house, or listening to Christmas music on the radio.

            In the midst of all of your preparations, have you ever wondered how God prepares for Christmas? Or maybe the better question is how does God prepare his people for Christmas?

            In this morning’s text, Luke gives us a glimpse of how God prepared his people for the very first Christmas. Before Mary and Joseph, the manger, or the shepherds, the story begins with some unlikely people: an elderly couple named Zechariah and Elizabeth.

 

Narrative

The story is set in the days when Herod was the King of Judea and Israel was occupied and ruled by the cruel Roman Empire. Not only was it a time of military conflict and political peril, but it was also a time of spiritual desolation. It had been 400 years since God had spoken to his people. Without any prophets preaching the oracles of God, the Israelites persisted in a state of spiritual complacency, just going through the religious motions. They offered sacrifices to God at the Temple and apathetically waiting for the Messiah to come and deliver them. Little did the people know, but God was about to break his long silence.

Zechariah and Elizabeth’s Inability to Have Children (5-7)

Zechariah and Elizabeth both descended from priestly families and lived holy lives unto the Lord.  Luke actually says that they were “upright in the sight of God and they observed all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.” Their whole lives had been dedicated to the service of the Lord.

But even though they were religious people, Zechariah and Elizabeth lacked the one thing they desired most in this life; they didn’t have any children. This not only caused them profound personal pain, but it was also a source of social disgrace. In their culture, married couples were expected to have children and populate the earth, and if a woman’s womb was barren, it was usually thought that God’s blessing was not on them.  They had endured this disgrace for many years, and since they were now elderly, all of their hopes of being removed from their shameful situation had been dashed.

This just doesn’t seem fair, does it? Do you ever feel like Zechariah and Elizabeth?  Do you ever wonder why when you try so hard to live a life that is pleasing to God yet it seems like his blessing is nowhere to be found?  Why is it that people who go to church regularly still get cancer?  Why do people who pray faithfully still have family conflicts? Why is it that many couples who honor the Lord with their lives can’t have children while so many unfit parents can have as many babies as they want? Why do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper?  Well, as the story continues to unfold, I believe we will find our answer!

           

Zechariah’s Visit from Gabriel (8-20)

Since Zechariah was a priest, he left his home and went to the Temple in Jerusalem five times a year. Three of these were during the major festivals (Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles) as pilgrims swelled Jerusalem’s population and all priestly divisions served the masses at the Temple. Each division had two other weeks a year when they carried out the daily sacrifices and rituals.

With approximately 18,000 priests in Judea, special duties were assigned by lot.  Lots were sacred objects of unknown shape that would give a yes or no answer to questions; they probably resembled modern dice. A priest could only be chosen to enter the holy place and offer incense to the Lord once in a lifetime, but even after all of these years of faithful service, Zechariah had never been chosen. But little did he know that his good run of bad luck was about to come to an end. His lot finally came up.

While Zechariah entered the holy place to perform his duty, pious Jewish worshippers and priests joined together in prayer outside. As he burned the incense inside, he had the most shocking experience of his life: through the hazy smoke, he saw an angel standing on the other side of the altar.

Zechariah responded to the angel just as we would—with pulse-stopping fear and hair-raising terror, but the heavenly messenger gave the usual angelic greeting “Do not be afraid!”  Then the angel told him that his prayer had been answered.  But which prayer was he talking about? Throughout his life, he had prayed thousands of prayers.

God was now answering his most precious personal prayer; the one that he and Elizabeth had uttered for years; the one that he thought had passed him by. The angel told him that he was going to be a father and that he was to name his son John, and he would not be any ordinary son. This son would bring him great joy and many people would delight in his birth. This son would be filled with the Holy Spirit and would reunite families and bring many people back to the Lord. This son would be the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy that Elijah would return and prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah.

Wow! How could Zechariah handle all of this at once? As you can imagine, he was blown away by what the angel said and struggled to understand how this could be possible. In his confusion, he spoke words of doubt and disbelief. He was focused on the natural rather than the supernatural. So, the angel finally identifies himself as Gabriel and he told Zechariah that he would not be able to speak until the baby was born because he did not believe Gabriel’s words. God struck him with nine months of silence. (Most women would love for God to strike their husbands with silence during their nine months of pregnancy! They wouldn’t be able to say anything dumb!)

Zechariah and Elizabeth’s Response to the Vision (21-25)

While all of this was going on inside the Temple, the crowd outside began worrying. “Where is he? What could have happened to him? It never takes this long!  Should we send someone in to rescue him?”

Finally, Zechariah appeared, but something was strange. He was supposed to raise his hands and announce the benediction, but he could not speak!  He kept making signs, nodding his head, and gesturing with his hands, trying to make them understand that he had received a vision from the Lord.

Well, after Zechariah’s priestly duty was accomplished, he couldn’t wait to get home to share the good news with his wife, even if he had to write it out by hand. Can you imagine this old man telling his old barren wife, “Hey honey, guess what, you are going to have a baby?”

Gabriel’s word came true. Elizabeth did in fact become pregnant. What a surprise this would be for all of her family and friends and townspeople! But she did not let anyone know for five months she remained in seclusion. (I suppose if you got pregnant in your seventies or eighties, you might want to remain in seclusion too!) She waited until God was ready to make his plans known.  Apparently, she gave up an expectant mothers’ joy of sharing her news—to wait for God’s timing.

This old peasant couple, who had been denied God’s blessing for most of their lives, was destined to be a part of God’s great plan of salvation history. In the end they realized that God’s favor was on them all along. They were prohibited from having a baby when they were younger because God had a different plan for their lives; a better plan. They would become the parents of John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah!

 

           So, how does God prepare his people for Christmas? He uses this story of Zechariah and Elizabeth to reminds us that his plan is perfect even when we don’t understand it, that we should trust our supernatural God over natural processes, and that sometimes we need to be silent to hear God speaking!

 

1.) God’s plan is perfect, even when we don’t understand it! (7)

            When bad things happen to us, it is easy to get discouraged and doubt God’s plan. We ask questions like, “Why do people who try to live holy lives and do the right things still have so many problems? Why does it so often seem like God is not blessing us?” The answer to this question lies in God’s sovereignty. God’s plan for each of our lives is absolutely perfect. So often we think we know what is best.  God uses problems and difficulties in our lives to accomplish his greater purpose.

            This is exactly the way it happened with Zechariah and Elizabeth. It wasn’t an accident that Elizabeth was barren or that Zechariah hadn’t got chosen to burn incense in the temple earlier in his life. God did not allow them to experience these blessings earlier because he had a different plan for them—a better plan. They had the honor and joy of giving birth to the forerunner to the Messiah! Do you think they would have traded this blessing to have children earlier or for Zechariah to burn incense earlier? I don’t think so!

            This advent season: Remember that God is sovereign over all of your problems!  And when things don’t work out the way you want or expect them to, remember that God just has a different plan for you—a better one!

 

2.) Trust in the supernatural God over natural processes! (18)

            Now Zechariah may not have been a gynecologist, but he knew that women who had gone through menopause could not bear children. But when God told him that his wife was going to have a son in her old age, he doubted and did not believe. He trusted in natural processes instead of the supernatural God.

            Many of us think the same way! We only trust what we can see, hear, and feel. Let us remember that God is not bound by natural processes; he is the creator of them. Let’s keep our eyes and hearts open to experience the supernatural!

 

3.) Sometimes we need to be silent to hear God speaking! (19-20)

            God had been silent for 400 years, but when he chose to speak through his angel, Zechariah wasn’t listening. He was too busy talking. Since he couldn’t be silent on his own, God gave him 9 months of silence. If Zechariah would have been quiet, he would have realized that this was God speaking to him, and he wouldn’t have doubted.

            Do you ever wonder why God doesn’t speak to you?  But the better question is “Why aren’t we listening?” I would like to challenge us to spend some quiet time with God this advent season.  Slow down, sit down, relax, read the first two chapters of Luke, and pray silently to God. And listen God speaking to you!