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Show "TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE" or "IT CAN'T BE" him, Fear not, for thy prayer is heard; and angel "But the Zacharias: said unto thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee and thou shall call his name Zacharias said unto the John a ... son, And angel, whereby shall I know this? F or I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years." S4M0+1.i'.JV 1ef-:; (Luke 1: 13 & 18) k 'ifcL t!-('{#l5 JP w.rt,l Iv\. \ '-10.51''' ,J t:J,. (?,J. 8(2.. J._,It 'I ...,... ,..&Jl \...<lI,J 1J 'C tI1 I ( oe. -re,IJ As I go about life listening to what people say, I often shake my head and leave the room good to be saying, true" or "That sounds too "it can't be." I hear others say, "If sounds too good to be true, it probably is." Much of what we hear can This hardly be believed. season of the year is filled with 1 'r r: r 0 miracle after miracle. One of those today. Zacharias is a priest and he is on his job serving as a priest in the temple. Today, miracles is what this text is about he has been selected to bum incense on people in the Holy of holies. the temple and while there behalf of the So he enters angel of the Lord appears to him and reports that his wife Elizabeth will have baby despite her being advanced in age. an a Zacharias could not believe it because not only was she old but he was old himself. The two of them had been married for years and had remained childless for many years. They had prayed time and time even again that God would bless them and reward their faithfulness to Him child. Now here by giving them comes 2 a God's messenger announcing that his wife Elizabeth was have a baby at this late time. God had heard their prayers and a boy would be to born to Elizabeth and the child would be named John. Zacharias could not believe what his it's too ears heard and good to be true responded in a attitude. "I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years." It can't be! When it lives, it is comes not hard to good to be true" working in our develop a "too to God attitude. Here are some lessons to learn from Zacharias. First, God answers prayer but not always when we want Him to. 1 read with excitement theat passage in Psalms that says, "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." (Psalm 90: 3 4) It reminds time is me that what limited, is we count not what God that God's timetable is based on as counts, from everlasting to everlasting while ours is limited to a few rears. God always hears cries and either answers, "Yes," "No," or "Later." Sometimes we get the our answer to wait right now. a Others times while. God until the time is never right. does we have anything He created the heavens and the earth when the time right. He made and man woman on was the day when the time was right. He sent Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when the time was right. Here after 400 years of prophetic silence, the time is right and sixth God sends word the Elizabeth and Zacharias would have a baby. Who would believe it? It's too good to be 4 true. Second, God us more than we prayer and expect. Zacharias answer gives was praying that God would answer on behalf of the people when the angel of the Lord showed up and said, "Your prayers is heard." They had been asking for a child and God not only gives them a child but a very special child, not a "Zacharias Jr." but a John, not just another mountain man but a voice of one crying in the wilderness. This baby would grow up disciplined, not caught up in what to eat or wear but in calling the world to repentance. He would be fearless and powerful in his preaching. He would not limit his persuasive preaching to the temple walls but would summons the who world to change in wilderness. God promised to provide our needs but He gives us more than our needs. That's why the birds sing without worry and the flowers are blowing in the wind. It's too good to be true! Third, God comes to our rescue when persistent in our prayers. Jacob wrestled with the angel all night and we are refused to let go until he blessed his soul. Noah built the ark on dry ground, toiling for 120 years and finally the rain began to fall. Jacob work for two terms before he could marry the woman he wanted. Joseph saved grain for seven years so that they could during the lean years. The woman asked for help and when refused she kept on asking until the man eat gave in and blessed her. Zacharias prayed and hoped and had an intense 6 child for years. If God answered us right now all the time, desire for a would not be able to handle what Persistence is not to wear time to get has in store for us. to give us we we get. God down but ready for what He always had this problem with His children, thinking that things are too good to be true. Adam and Even thought the Garden of Eden was too good to be God has true. The Goliath sons of Jacob thinking their battle was were scared of promise to fight good to be true. The God's too children of Israel wandered around in the forty years thinking the promised land was too good to be true. Many of us live in defeat and despair because we think the Master's promise of the "abundant life" is too good to be true. wilderness for 7 point of view, salvation and the blessings of God's grace and mercy are too good to be true. But, with God all things are possible! From a human 8 about:blank Here are the two outlines for tomorrow. I shocked. am a dttle (smile) 8:00A.M. "Too Good To Be True" or early and hope that you are not "It Can It Be" Luke 1:13 Introduction-----Developing 11:00 A.M. an attitude when A. We want the answer B. We want the answer we C. We want the answer we want the answer expect the first time "The One Whom God Can Use" Luke 1: 20-38 Introduction------We have a natural desire to serve A. The Available B. The Listening C. The Submissive 10f1 12/7/20134:00 PM |
