A Critical Encounter

Luke 1:1-25

Luke one of the Lord’s disciples. Luke 1:1-4

Luke’s goal was accuracy, and .

Already – there were stories going around about the of Jesus and His ministry.

Luke’s goal – was to set the straight.

Notice the words, “In the days of Herod”. These were days – days.

To make matters worse, the people of Israel had not heard from God for years.

But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall.
Malachi 4:2

“Behold, I am sending My messenger, and he will clear a way before Me. And the Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of armies.
Malachi 3:1

When John the Baptist on the scene, he was the between the Old and the New Testaments.

Israel longed for someone to them.

Zacharias = “ ”.

Elizabeth = “My God is an .

What Are The Lessons?

1) Zacharias was a man.

Humble = power under !

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6

A humble person sees themselves as they really are – in need of a .

Zacharias was a priest.

We, too, are today.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1 Peter 2:9

We God!

2) Zacharias was a man!

He was just doing his .

Here is the key: be in the things.

You can never be too – but you can be too .

 The one who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and the one who is unrighteous in a very little thing is also unrighteous in much.
Luke 16:10

3) Zacharias and Elizabeth were people.

They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. Luke 1:6

By the way – to be “” doesn’t mean sinless. This means they followed God.

Even with the difficulty of no – they were still faithful.

Do you think in this special , at this special , Zacharias thought of the others that were barren?

Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
Revelation 8:3

God up the prayers of His people.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.
Luke 1:13

4) Zacharias was human and , just like us!

Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,
Luke 1:8

God wasn’t just giving them a – He was working out .

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.
Luke 1:15