December Week 1 “Great Expectation”

I am extremely excited to have my niece, Reverend Lauren Jones lead us for bible study today. Thank you Lauren, for sharing with us through the word of God.

Study Focus: “GREAT EXPECTATION”

Luke 1:1-23 (NRSV)

We live in a world in which it seems like the wicked are prospering, and the people of God are seemingly struggling day-after-day. People see us crying out to God and mock us by saying, “Where is your God?” However, God wants us to hold onto our great expectation. God has not left us nor forsaken us. God hears the cries of his people. We shouldn’t let the negativity in this world break our spirit. We have the victory in Christ Jesus. God will answer our prayers in his appointed time. We can hold onto our sense of expectancy when it comes to the blessings of God.

Luke 1:1-4 outlines the purpose of the account. This account of Jesus is written to Theophilus. Since the author addresses him as “most excellent,” Theophilus was more than likely a person of high status. Theophilus was a common Roman name at the time. The first few verses are a common Greek-style prologue that the Greco-Roman world used regularly.

Zechariah was a priest who faithfully served the Lord (verse 5). Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, was a descendant of Aaron (verse 5). Remember Aaron and his descendants were appointed by God as the priests. Zechariah and Elizabeth come from a godly heritage. The Bible says in verse 6 that they both “lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord.”

However, they were without children. Elizabeth was barren, and they both were “getting on in years” (verse 7). Being barren was looked down upon in their society. We see from this text that you can do everything right and live according to God’s ways, and still be barren, still struggle, or still lack something. It doesn’t mean you’re sinful or are being punished by God. Sometimes God makes us wait for his promises so the glory of God will be major and revealed to others by what God does for and through us.

In verses 8-18, Zechariah goes into the temple to perform his priestly duties before God. He is going into the sanctuary to offer incense. While he’s doing it, the Bible says the entire assembly is outside praying (verse 10.) Suddenly, an angel of the Lord, Gabriel, appears to Zechariah and brings him good news. Gabriel says that Zechariah and Elizabeth are going to have a son, John, and he’s going to bring them joy and gladness and will be great in the sight of the Lord (verse 15). The angel tells him what John will mean to the people and do for the Lord (verse 17).

However, instead of Zechariah celebrating this good news from God, he questions Gabriel. He says, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years” (verse 18.) The angel then reminds Zechariah who he is and that he stands in the presence of God and since Zechariah didn’t believe, he makes Zechariah mute until it all comes to pass (verse 20). When Zechariah leaves the sanctuary and returns to the assembly of people, he tries to explain to them what happened by gesturing, but he can’t completely communicate what’s happened because his mouth has been shut by the angel. The people surmise that he’s seen a vision, and Zechariah doesn’t speak until the promise comes to pass.

The Bible doesn’t say why Zechariah questioned Gabriel, but I can imagine that it was hard for him to believe the good news because he was older and he and his wife probably had been praying for a long time to conceive. The wait probably hardened his heart a little and dampened his spirit of expectation.

My Personal Testimony: There have been times in my life when I felt like it was over for me. I had gone through so many trials and tribulations, I had been let down and disappointed by people, and I had come to the end of my physical and financial means. When my husband died, I thought that I would never smile, laugh, or love again. I thought I would never find joy in this life because my heart was so broken. I didn’t have a great sense of expectation from the Lord. However, the Lord showed me otherwise. He taught me that he can give me beauty for ashes. God taught me that delay does not mean denial. The Lord showed me that although I may think it’s over for me because I’m older or for whatever reason, he still has good things in store for me. The Lord has blessed me with material things that I never thought I’d have, and the Lord has blessed me with those intangible things that I used to think I’d never have - things like peace, joy, and love even in the midst of loss and sorrow. The Lord showed me that only he has the final say in our lives and as long as we are still breathing, God still has good things planned for us. We have a future and expected end in Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 29:11). The Bible says in Psalm 84:11, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: The LORD will give grace and glory: No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Thoughts & Reflection: Sometimes we go through seasons in life when we doubt or don’t believe the promises of God like Zechariah. So many people have let us down, we’ve faced so much hardship, and many years have gone by. We may think that it’s over or too late for us. We may not have a spirit of great expectation. However, God has an appointed time for our blessings just like he had for Zechariah. I imagine that serving in the temple as a priest was very routine for Zechariah. Remember the Bible says that he and Elizabeth were devout followers of God. They spent many days in the temple. They were familiar with the routine of offering incense. However, God had a surprise for him that day. Good news was waiting for Zechariah that day. God wants us to know that our appointed time is coming too. Don’t let the things of this world break your spirit or your sense of expectation. God can do the miraculous - even now and even for you.

Application for the Week: Spend some quiet time reflecting this week on your dreams and goals, and be honest with yourself. What are some dreams that you let go because they haven’t come to pass yet? Write them down in a journal. Give them back to God in prayer. Reclaim those dreams. Add them to a vision board. Remind yourself every day that it’s not too hard for God to make your dreams come true. It’s not too late, and you’re not too far gone.

Thank you, Uncle Tony, for the opportunity to share some insights from the word of God with the “Trust the King” family. I’m truly grateful.

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