Sermon: Luke 1:5-25; Significant Folks at Jesus Birth - Zechariah
Date: 11-25-2012
Pastor: Michael Howard

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest
named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of
Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing
all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly.
7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to
conceive, and they were both very old.

8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was
serving as priest before God,
9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the
priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn
incense.
10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all
the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at
the right side of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped
with fear.
13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah;
your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear
you a son, and you are to call him John.
14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will
rejoice because of his birth,
15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is
never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be
filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the
Lord their God.
17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and
power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their
children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous
—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this?
I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

19 The angel said to him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the
presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and
to tell you this good news.
20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until
the day this happens, because you did not believe my words,
which will come true at their appointed time."

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and
wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.
22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They
realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept
making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned
home.
24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for
five months remained in seclusion.
25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these
days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace
among the people."



Cowboy Church of Ennis Texas
A Church of the Western Heritage Culture
Committed to serving people with the Good News of Jesus Christ

website: http://www.cowboychurchofennis.com