Also view us on FACEBOOK:

View us on FACEBOOK: http://on.fb.me/1Ps6aEG

Sunday 18 November 2012

'GOD AND PRAYER AND JUDGEMENT'


Rev. George Sinclair
By Rev. George Sinclair                           
 Pastor of the Church of the Messiah, Ottawa, ON.
 www.messiahchurch.ca

_____________________________________________________________

(Podcast of CFRA broadcast on Sunday, November 18th, 2012)
http://proxy.autopod.ca/podcasts/chum/6/9703/good_news_027_nov18.mp3  _____________________________________________________

Broadcast Notes:
*********************************************************
(Abridged notes of a short Sermon on LUKE 1:1 –25

God and Prayer and Judgement’

Luke 1:1-25  (ESVUK)
 

Dedication to Theophilus

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that (A)have been accomplished among us, 2 (B)just as those who (C)from the beginning were (D)eyewitnesses and (E)ministers of (F)the word (G)have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write (H)an orderly account for you, (I)most excellent (J)Theophilus, that you may have (K)certainty concerning the things (L)you have been taught.

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 (M)In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] (N)of (O)the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both (P)righteous before God, walking (Q)blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because (R)Elizabeth was barren, and (S)both were advanced in years.
Now (T)while he was serving as priest before God when (U)his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot (V)to enter (W)the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people (X)were praying (Y)outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of (Z)the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and (AA)fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for (AB)your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and (AC)you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will (AD)rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be (AE)great before the Lord. And (AF)he must not drink wine or strong (AG)drink, and (AH)he will be (AI)filled with the Holy Spirit, (AJ)even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and (AK)he will go before him (AL)in the spirit and power of Elijah, (AM)to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and (AN)the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, (AO)to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, (AP)“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am (AQ)Gabriel. (AR)I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, (AS)you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in (AT)the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in (AU)the temple. And (AV)he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And (AW)when his time of (AX)service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, (AY)to take away my reproach among people.”

Luke is a pagan who became a Christian and he is writing to a pagan.

Luke tells the true story of Jesus

READ Luke 1:5-7

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 (A)In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] (B)of (C)the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both (D)righteous before God, walking (E)blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because (F)Elizabeth was barren, and (G)both were advanced in years.

Footnotes:

a.     Luke 1:5 Greek Zacharias

Cross references:

A.    Luke 1:5 : Matt. 2:1
C.    Luke 1:5 : ver. 8
D.   Luke 1:6 : ch. 2:25


  1. Being God’s child by grace does not mean I will never suffer or be disappointed.

READ Luke 1:8-13.
Now (A)while he was serving as priest before God when (B)his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot (C)to enter (D)the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people (E)were praying (F)outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of (G)the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and (H)fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for (I)your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and (J)you shall call his name John.
Cross references:
B.    Luke 1:8 : ver. 5
I.      Luke 1:13 : [Acts 10:4, 31]
J.     Luke 1:13 : ver. 60, 63


  1. Sometimes God’s answer to my prayer is delayed a long time rather than rejected.

READ Luke 1:14-18.

14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will (A)rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be (B)great before the Lord. And (C)he must not drink wine or strong (D)drink, and (E)he will be (F)filled with the Holy Spirit, (G)even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and (H)he will go before him (I)in the spirit and power of Elijah, (J)to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and (K)the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, (L)to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, (M)“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
Cross references:
A.    Luke 1:14 : [ver. 58]
I.      Luke 1:17 : See Matt. 11:14


  1. God asks us this question. Are my advantages and blessings creating a heart and mind that will not believe God?
  2. Do not say God’s ‘No’ for Him.

Zechariah comes under God’s judgment.

READ Luke 1:19-25.
19 And the angel answered him, “I am (A)Gabriel. (B)I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, (C)you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in (D)the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in (E)the temple. And (F)he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And (G)when his time of (H)service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, (I)to take away my reproach among people.”
Cross references:
F.    Luke 1:22 : ver. 62

The judgment of God that should fall on me will fall on Jesus as He dies on the cross. It is the grace filled means by which we can be reconciled to God by turning to Jesus in repentance and faith.

Let’s close in prayer:

Father,

Thank you for your Word. Thank you Father that we can come to you in prayer; and we ask Father that to help us to accept those times you say “no” and we trust that you are wise and good. Help us Father to have the patience to bear up when you delay answering our prayer with a “yes”, and help us to believe that you will say “yes” to us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.


Rev. George Sinclair
_____________________________________________
To listen to the above broadcast, click on the following link:

1 comment:

  1. Originally Posted on Twitter:
    Joyce Meyer ‏- (@JoyceMeyer on Twitter)
    "We need to be more concerned about 'waiting patiently' than waiting." -Joyce

    ReplyDelete