GOD TRAINS ZECHARIAH

Passage: Luke 1:18-25

Key verse: 20

NIV

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this?(A) I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”(B)

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel.(C) 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(D) 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(E) 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(F) among the people.”

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ESV

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, (A)“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 (B)Gabriel. (C)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, (D)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 (E)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 (F)the temple. And (G)he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And (H)when his time of (I)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, (J)to take away my reproach among people.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Because you did not believe (18-22)

When the angel Gabriel who stands in the presence of God, told Zechariah that he would have a son, he couldn't believe it--even though he had prayed for a son. He lived an upright life; he prayed and studied the Bible and never missed worship service. He thought he had faith, but in fact, he had become fatalistic. He didn't believe that God could change his situation. So God gave him 'silence training' for nearly a year. Even devout men of God sometimes need to be trained in faith.

2. Elizabeth's joy (23-25)

By faith Elizabeth had accepted her barrenness, and she lived as though she had no problems. But when she became pregnant with John, 'God's gift,' she revealed how deeply this problem had affected her. She praised God for his favor and for taking away her disgrace. God's blessing changed her from a barren woman to a fruitful woman.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your training in faith. And thank you for your grace and favor, which still makes barren people fruitful.

One Word: God disciplines those he loves