When God Broke His Long Silence

Q: What does the Bible say about divine election?

The Bible asserts that God elects individuals for salvation and reveals grace to whom He wills. Divine election is a critical doctrine in Scripture, emphasizing God's sovereign choice in saving some individuals. As seen in the case of Zacharias, God specifically chose him from among many priests to receive the revelation of John the Baptist's birth. This demonstrates that God's mercy is not based on human merit, as Romans 9:15 states, 'I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.' Election affirms that salvation is ultimately God's work, reminding believers that it is not their righteousness but God's grace that brings them to faith.

Q: How do we know the doctrine of original sin is true?

The doctrine of original sin is revealed in Scripture, demonstrating that all humans inherit a sinful nature from Adam. Original sin teaches that all humanity falls under sin due to Adam's disobedience. Romans 5:12 articulates, 'Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.' This foundational doctrine underscores the necessity of divine grace for salvation, as it highlights that no one possesses intrinsic righteousness before God (Romans 3:10). Recognizing our sinful nature leads to an understanding of our need for Christ's righteousness, gifted through faith.

Q: Why is hearing the gospel so important for Christians?

Hearing the gospel is essential as it brings believers to faith and assures them of their election by God. The importance of hearing the gospel lies in the fact that faith comes by hearing, as Romans 10:17 states, 'So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.' For individuals like Zacharias, the announcement of the coming Messiah was a pivotal moment that fulfilled God's promise to His people. The gospel message not only brings spiritual awakening but also affirms one's election as God reveals His grace. Ultimately, this hearing leads to belief, assurance of salvation, and a transformed life dedicated to obedience and worship.

The Lord God said, Behold, I will send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

And then he didn't speak for 400 years, not another word, not another word. For 400 years, there was no prophet in the earth. For 400 years, there was no man to speak for God to men. For 400 years, after giving the revelation of the Old Testament scriptures, having given the types and ceremonies and prophecies of the law, God had established his worship in Israel, his priests, his prophets were there, his sacrifices were there, everything was there. and then God didn't speak for 400 years. Now, if you want to have some idea just how important it is to be blessed of God with the privilege of hearing the gospel, try to consider what happened in those 400 years.

The worship of God in Israel, which God himself had established, degenerated to nothing but just ceremonialism, ritualism, empty base religion, and idolatry. When our Lord Jesus came into the world, after he preached for three and a half years, there wasn't but 120 people in the whole world who believed God. 120 people in the whole world. Because men and women left to themselves, even with the light that is given in the pages of scripture, cannot and must not be left to themselves if we expect them to be guided in light and truth. God speaks to men by men through his word.

For 400 years, God spoke not a word. And when the Lord God looked down upon the earth, he saw the abomination and the ungodliness and the wretchedness with which men who claimed to be following him and worshiping him had degenerated. Can you imagine what it must have been like to have been in the house of God, a man who was few and rare in those days, a man who worshiped God, a man who believed God, a priest, just one of the common ordinary priests of the course of a Baia, goes in every morning and every evening and burns incense at the altar of incense. And one day after 400 years, an angel from God met him right there at the altar. Can you imagine what must have gone through his mind? First time an angel from God had come to anybody in 400 years. We can't begin to imagine what must have gone through his mind. He was serving God in his appointed place, devout and faithful at the appointed time, knowing that no one had heard from heaven until this hour.

And now suddenly the Lord God appears with a word of divine revelation. Our subject this evening is when God broke his long silence. We have our text in Luke chapter 1, verses 5 through 12. Here is the story of Zacharias and the Lord's appearing to him, announcing the birth of this Elijah who must come to prepare the way of the Lord, the birth of John the Baptist. Luke chapter 1, verse 5.

There was in the days of Herod the king of Judea a certain priest. I love the language of scripture, don't you? Not just any priest would do, but a certain priest. A certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abiah, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren And they both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass that while he executed the priest office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled and fear fell upon him. The first recorded thing in Luke's gospel is the appearance of this angel to Zechariah, one of the priests in Israel. And here the angel appears to announce to this old man that his wife, who was also well stricken in years, who had been barren all her life now, would bear a son. And not just any son, but she would bear him a son who was prophesied back in Malachi.

That one who would come with the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way of the Lord, to turn the heart of the people to their God. And so that God might spare some in this world from the curse and wrath that we justly deserve. I'm sure it's impossible for us 2,000 years later to begin to grasp how astounding this thing must have been.

But as we look through the text, I want you to understand that suddenly, without any preparatory work, God sent his angel to this old man. and told him that Daniel's 70 weeks were now fulfilled. Messiah, the prince, is about to be revealed, that the seed of Abraham, in whom all the nations of the earth are sure to be blessed, is about to come. He tells this old man that the desire of all nations who would fill the house of God with the glory of God is about to stand on this earth.

And Zachariah, hears this word as he anticipates what the angel must say, stands before him troubled and trembling. Now though we can't begin to grasp the awesomeness of this great revelation given to such a man in such circumstances, there are several things in the passage that are obvious words of instruction to our souls. First, we have an obvious plain example of divine election here.

Our text tells us that God sent his angel to a certain priest named Zacharias of the order of Abiah. The Lord selected one man to whom he would send his angel. One man who was not the high priest in Israel, nor did he send his angel to all the priests in Israel, but one man of the course of Abiah. One man who was one of the common, ordinary priests.

Now this book, while men and women squirm and wiggle and fuss about it, this book teaches as plainly as the nose on your face, the sovereignty of God Almighty in His electing love in all aspects of His grace. God has mercy on whom He will. He reveals Himself to whom He will. He speaks to whom He will. He gives grace to whom He will.

The Lord God has from eternity chosen a people to be the heirs of his salvation, a people whom he has ordained unto eternal life, a people for whom his son came into this world to bleed and die. And he has appointed a specific time and a specific place called the time of love when he will come in sovereign mercy and bring life to the chosen sinner. He'll send you one of his angels. Oh, not one of those heavenly beings, no, but one who's described as an angel because he's a messenger from God, a messenger with good news for your soul.

And he'll call you to hear the word and you'll believe. And then you'll know, sure enough, he chose me. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and he said, knowing brethren beloved your election of God. How can you know that? How can you know who the elect are?

For our gospel came not unto you in word only. but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance. The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy and he tells us that God has saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to life through the gospel. Now what does that mean? Well, Amy's sitting here tonight.

God's given you life and faith in his son. He gives you life and faith in his son and thus inscribes upon your soul this word of assurance. I've chosen you, I've called you. I gave life to you from eternity and now it is brought to light by the gospel. When you come to believe on him, when the gospel is declared to your soul, effectually that which God has done in eternity is brought to light to your soul. Believing on the son of God, I'm chosen of grace. Believing on the son of God, I know the son of God purchased me. Believing on the son of God, I have been called by his spirit by irresistible power.

Not only is it true that God has chosen some to salvation and eternal life, But it is also true that when God has a special work to do, He has a certain man especially and specifically chosen to do that work. I don't know how to state this any more plainly than it's stated in our text. There was a certain man, a certain priest named Zacharias of the course of Abiah. Usually, those men who are chosen of God for special things are men whom we would consider the least likely to be used for anything. That's usually the way it works. Usually what? Jesse, the Lord sent me down here to anoint one of your kings, one of your sons to be king in Israel. He said, man, I got six of them. Let's go get them. Let's go get them.

Here he is. No, but he's the oldest. He's best looking, he's biggest, he's smartest. That's not him. Then he brings in the next group. No, that's not him. And the next group. He says, Jesse, don't you have any more sons? He said, yeah, but he's David. He's that skinny little old run out in the field. He just keeps the sheep. Go get him. In comes David. That's him. That's him. And that's always the way it is. That's always the way it is.

The Lord chooses this man, Zacharias, and we're told specifically that he is of the course of Abiah. Now, you can look back in First Chronicles 24 later when the temple was established, the priests were set in order and they were given various ranks and classes and orders. There were 24 of them in all. The course of Abiah was the eighth in the course of the priest. This man, Zacharias, while he was a devout, believing godly man, one in whom God had established his grace in his kingdom.

He was a man who went about the priestly function. Day by day, he'd go in and he'd see to it that the incense was burning in the temple, at the altar of incense, every morning, every night. And I just, this is just my two cents worth, but I'll just almost guarantee you, nobody knew who he was. Nobody knew his name outside of a few friends and maybe a few priests he lived with or lived around and associated with him every day. Nobody had any idea who he was.

But God did. God knew where he was. God knew what he intended for him. And at the time appointed, God sent his angel and said, Zachariah, I've chosen you to be the father of him who shall be the forerunner of Messiah and usher in the kingdom of God. What a word of grace. This man, Zachariah, it was too much for him. He didn't believe it. He didn't believe it. And God said, you believe what I get done because you're not going to speak to this boy's boy. And Zachariah was the chosen vessel of God's mercy.

And this is what I'm saying. God almighty saves whom he will and uses whom he will. to accomplish his will in this world, and he knows exactly where to find his servants, he knows exactly what he'll do with them, and he will call them at his appointed time and send them for his appointed purpose, and he will accomplish his purpose for the saving of his people. Secondly, Zacharias and Elizabeth set before us the character of truly righteous people. In verse 6 we read, And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. They were righteous, both of them, before God. Now, it's regrettable that I have to even say this, but the sad fact is, folks hear that and say, well, the Lord chose Zacharias because he was such a good fellow. He chose Elizabeth because she was such a good woman. They were both sinners. They were both sinners. They didn't have any righteousness of their own, and they knew it. They had no righteousness with which to stand themselves in good stead before God, and they were fully aware of it, all believers are.

The Word of God tells us plainly there's none righteous. No, not one. There's none that understandeth. There's none that seeketh after God. We're all going out of the way. We are together become unprofitable. There's none that doeth good. No, not one. Not even old men and women. Brother Tim James, he said, he said, folks, everybody thinks when fellows get old, they get, they get spiritual. He said, no, they're rocking chair rebels. They just can't do what they used to. And that's the way it is. There's none righteous. None.

Well, how does the scripture say here that Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous? God made them righteous. They were made righteous by the grace of God, by the righteousness of Christ being imputed to them in justification, and made righteous by the grace of God, by the righteous nature of Christ being imparted to them in sanctification, in the new birth, in regeneration. And those two things always go hand in hand. No man is ever born of God who was not justified by the imputed righteousness of Christ back at Calvary when the Son of God shed his blood for us, and no one for whom the Son of God accomplished justification shall fail to be sanctified in time, made righteous by grace. All God's people are. These things are common in all who believe. Both Zacharias and Elizabeth, his wife, were righteous before God. Now that's where it counts. That's where it counts.

Their righteousness was not the righteousness of most religions. They didn't put on a show. Their righteousness was not an outward show of righteousness. Their righteousness was not an outward act intended to impress other people with their devotion and godliness.

Isn't it amazing when people start to justify doing certain things, saying things. Take, for example, offering prayer in public restaurants. Go out here to Shoney's and everybody's stumbling around trying to get to the breakfast bar and some religious, pious Pharisee will stand up and start to pray. And, well, we've got to show folks that we love the Lord. That's what the Lord said not to do. That's exactly what it said. Now, read Matthew chapter 6. It's plain as it can be. He said, don't show fellows you're righteous. Don't do it. Well, how would it bear good testimony? Live it! That's exactly right.

Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous before God. Their righteousness was inward. It wasn't an outward show. They didn't do anything to make folks look at them and say, now there's a fine Christian couple. They were righteous in God's sight. Both of them were.

Oh. What a blessed home that is, in which there's a man and a woman who are both recipients of God's free grace, made righteous by the imputed righteousness of Christ, made righteous experimentally by the grace of God being imparted to them, walking before God in righteousness. Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Now that Merle is what the character of righteousness is. That's exactly what it is.

Somebody asked, well, can you describe true faith? Yeah. True faith walks with God. It just walks with him. It's a way of life. It's not an event in life, it's a way of life. Faith walks with God. Believe in God. Walks with God in all the commandments and ordinances of God. That is to say, true faith walks in obedience to the Word of God. The whole thing. Some fellows say, well, we'll pick out ten commandments and we'll say we'll live by the law. No, no. We walk in obedience to the whole Word of God, the whole revealed will of God, beginning to end, putting it all together, understanding it all in Christ Jesus the Lord. The believer walks in obedience to the revealed will of God in His written Word. And the believer, believing on the Son of God, willingly, gladly submits to and keeps the ordinances of divine worship.

This old man, and his wife kept the word and ordinances of God as they were given to Israel as few in Israel did. Most people went through the ceremonies. Most people in Israel, in the very text we've read, all the people on this day were outside while Zacharias was in there burning incense, worshiping God, all the people were outside going through the motions of religion. The whole multitude was out there keeping the Sabbath observance and praying.

But Zacharias was worshiping God. Zacharias saw something in that incense that nobody else saw. Zacharias saw there was one coming who would make intercession unceasingly on behalf of sinners and there they would be accepted because of his intercession. And that's what that altar of incense represented. Zacharias and Elizabeth delighted in the ordinances of God because they saw what they represented. You see, believers, they come to the house of God and they meet together with God's saints to hear the Word and worship God, not because they have to.

I've been pastor of this congregation for 19 years. I've never threatened anybody here to do anything, never. I've never said to one of you, now, if you don't want to come to church, boys, watch out. We don't set up a discipline committee. How many times did you miss last month? That's foolishness. That's foolishness. If you haven't come here to worship God, what you're doing here is just mockery. That's just reality.

Believers keep the ordinances of God because they want to. They worship Him. You say, well, you mean that's what believers ought to do? No. That's what they do. That's what they do. Believers bow to Christ. He says to believers, do this in this ordinance of baptism to fulfill all righteousness.

Symbolically, representatively, yes. But in this we show forth the Lord's death and we worship Him. We'll break the bread and eat the wine just a little bit or eat the bread and drink the wine just a little bit. And as we do, we will keep this ordinance. because we delight to remember him who loved us and gave himself for us.

Moreover, Zacharias and Elizabeth were blameless in their behavior. What a word. What a word. They lived with such Strictness is the wrong word. That's the wrong word. They live, Skip, with such consecration and devotion to God our Savior that the folks who knew them best could not lay any just accusation against their character. That's what it is to walk in this world before God. keeping the ordinances and the commandments of God blameless. All right, thirdly, in verse 7, we see that there is a crook in the lot of every believer. The believer's lot is a blessed lot indeed.

I've been on the other side. I know what it is to live like hell. and have hell in my soul. And I know what it is to walk with God by faith. And I want to tell you, were there no such thing as heaven and hell, were there no such thing as eternity, were there no such thing as everlasting salvation, this is a better life.

The believer's lot is a blessing, blessing at their lot. In this doomed, damned, sin-cursed world, you and I have a good hope through grace to believe on the Son of God. Ron, you go down that factory tomorrow, I doubt you'll run across anybody down there who has a good hope for God. Just find it. Walking in the road to hell and have no idea what's going on. No idea.

Oh, yours is a blessed lot. But there's a crook in the lot. There's always a crook in the lot. God puts trials on his people to prove their faith, to strengthen their faith, to improve their faith. He puts trials on his people by which he is pleased to do us good. Look here in Luke 1 verse 7.

And they had no child. because that Elizabeth was barren. And they were both now well stricken in years. Now today we look at that and we say, well, that's not so bad. Back in these days, no woman could have a more bitter experience than to be barren. It was a shameful thing. No man could walk before men with pride and hold his head high as a man who didn't have a son to carry on his name. It was considered a curse from God. You remember how Hannah, when she was in bitterness of soul, she prayed because she had no child? Well, Elizabeth and Zachariah had no children because God had fixed it to try their faith.

You see, faith in Christ Even exemplary conduct, even devotion to the Son of God, even exemplary consecration does not exempt us from trials and troubles and sorrows in this world. Go ask Brother Joe, Abraham, David, Noah, just ask any of them. Ask any of them. If we follow Christ, we must never consider it some strange thing when God tries our faith. Because this is the portion of our cup, and it's given to us from the infinitely wise, good hand of our Heavenly Father for our good.

And I realize we can't see it like that now. I know that. When you're in the midst of the trouble, you look at it and say, how can this be? But when we get on the other side, and this thing's all wrapped up, well, gee, we're gonna see things with clearer light.

And I'm telling you, anything that drives me to Christ is good for me. Anything that drives me to the Word of God is good for me. Anything that drives me to the throne of grace is good for me. Anything that weans me of this world is good for me. and the trial of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, will at last be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." Now, we also see here the place of divine blessing. We won't read verses 8 through 11 again, but let me be crystal clear.

Zacharias, on the appointed day of worship, was in the house of God, doing what God gave him the opportunity to do, in the place where God said, that's where I'll meet you. And he's an old man now. Now remember, we had the privilege, we come to the church, oh, God has so blessed us. We come here and unless I'm deceived, most of the time, God's pleased to meet with us. He's pleased to reveal himself to us. He's pleased to speak to our hearts. Can you imagine what it'd be like for this old man? He's been going into the temple every morning, every night, every Sabbath day, keeping that incense burning.

Oh God, let me see your salvation. Lord, you said you'd meet me here. And he never had a revelation from God in all those years. Not one. But Lord, you said, if you meet a man anywhere, this is where you're going to meet him. Every day, he kept asking, every day. And one day, God met him there. If you could bend his ear just a little bit, Gary, and ask him, says, Zacharias, you reckon there's any way, looking back at this thing, anything under the shining sun could have kept you out of the temple that day? I don't much think so. I don't much think so. Oh, no. Don't you understand?

The angel of the Lord met me with good news, told me Christ is coming. There's one more thing here. We see in this passage of scripture that which is the single great interest and concern of the holy angels. Reading this book, trying to prepare for tonight's message, I tried to search out, find out what all the angels are represented as being concerned with. You search it out. What are they concerned with? You know what they're concerned with? Just one thing. Redemption. And the glory of God in it. That's all. That's all.

The angels minister to those who shall be the heirs of eternal life. The angels announced the birth of John the Baptist. The angels announced the coming of Christ. The angels sang his praise when he was born. The angels ministered to him when he was tempted.

The angels protect us and deliver us and defend us against our enemies. The angels of God will carry us up to glory. The angels of God meet with the congregation, this congregation, to be instructed by redeemed sinners and the wonders of redemption from folks who've experienced it. That's what Paul tells us in Ephesians 3. What concerns the angels? The glory of God in the saving of Israel. Let us imitate the angels. Nothing else. Nothing else. That's all that matters. That's all that matters.

When God Broke His Long Silence

What does the Bible say about divine election?

How do we know the doctrine of original sin is true?

Why is hearing the gospel so important for Christians?

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When God Broke His Long Silence

What does the Bible say about divine election?

How do we know the doctrine of original sin is true?

Why is hearing the gospel so important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Don Fortner

Comments

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