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Luke 1:13 - But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, your prayer has been heard..." NIV
He had been praying for a child and now that prayer was going to be answered. Zech and Elizabeth were going to have a son and he will be named John. We will come to know him as John the Baptist. How long had Zechariah and Elizabeth been waiting for their prayer to be answered? We don't know exactly how long it has been but we can come up with some educated guesses. Lets say Zech and Elizabeth got married at 18 years of age. In that day getting married at 18 years old would have been easy to accept. Let's say they were married for 5 years before they started to pray for a child. How old are they now? Luke 1:7 says, "But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. In the book of Num. 8:23-25 - Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24 "This is what applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to perform service in the work of the tent of meeting. 25 "But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work any more. We are informed that all the priests had to retire by the time they were 50 years old. Zechariah was considered "righteous in the sight of God" so he couldn't have been serving past 50 years of age or he would not have been considered "righteous in God's sight". I will say Zechariah is 49 years old and if you subtract 23 years (the age when I hypothetically said they started praying for a child) this will leave us with 26 years that Zechariah and Elizabeth have been praying for a child.
God needed to fulfill His prophecies and Malachi said that there would be a forerunner before Jesus and this forerunner would be John the Baptist. God fulfilled the prophecy by having John born 6 months before Jesus. The apostle Paul says, Jesus was born in the fullness of time. In other words, when everything was just right Jesus was born. Humans have known to be impatient and we want things when we want them and having our prayers answered is no different. As a Christian our faith will always say our prayers will be answered exactly when God wants them answered and the timing will be perfect. Don't give up on your prayers. Remember what the angel said to Zechariah: But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard…" Your prayers have been heard and God will answer them when the time is right. Think About These: Bending our knees in prayer keeps us from breaking under the load of cares. Prayer doesn't need proof, it needs practiced. He stands best who kneels most. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Prov. 16:7 - "When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him"
A police car pulled into my driveway and the officer asked for the owner of the house. When I informed her that I was the owner of the house she said, "She received a report that there was a party going on and every one was drunk and very loud." I told the police officer, "This was a Sunday school picnic and there wasn't any alcohol on the property at all." She apologized and said, "Okay, I see what is happening." She then walked over to our neighbor's house and conversed with them. I don't know what she said but it didn't change how they treated us.
When I came to the neighbor who had called the police on us I asked her if she wanted her driveway cleared of the snow. She wanted to know how much I was charging and when I said it was free she said, "Yes." God sent the snow, I cleared her driveway and I had peace with my neighbors from that day forward. The church received a check for $30. from them. Also, I was at the Howard County Fair later that year. When I heard someone yelling my name and it was my neighbors. They gave me a free fish sandwich and lemonade from their stand. We talked for about 20 minutes that night. If I were working in my yard they would come over and talk with me. As they walked away I remembered how I had prayed to God for peace with my neighbors and that He answered that prayer by using a snow storm.
Think About These: Man is that foolish creature who tries to get even with his enemies and ahead of his friends. Kindness is the ability to treat your enemy decently. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 - "…there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." NASU
God goes on to say that His Grace is sufficient for him. WOW! If one of the Apostle Paul's prayers was given a "No" answer what are the chances that some of our prayers may receive the same answer from God? Many times when we pray we are expecting a "Yes" answer from God and if God answers it with a "No" we have a difficult time excepting His "No" answer. One thing we should remember a "No" answer from God may lead to a more productive life.
He then said "Yes" and opened up doors for me to attend Eastern Christian College in 1979. After that He opened up doors for me to start a 20 year ministry in Glen Burnie and Severn, MD. I have often wondered what might have happened had God said "Yes" to my prayer to attend Ozark Bible College. All the friends I have made in Maryland would have never happened. All the people that I have baptized into Christ would not have happened, at least by me. Let me repeat this - One thing we should remember a "No" answer from God may lead to a more productive life.
He really does give us what we need. All one has to do is think about Jesus Christ and how God gave His Son to make it possible that all of our sins are forgiven. If God has said "No" keep your eyes and ears open for the "Yes" answer that He has coming your way.
God said "No" to David being permitted to build the temple for Him, and God said "No" to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Since God has said "No" to those Bible Greats we shouldn't be too surprised when He says "No" to us. It is what God will do with us after He says "No" that really counts. Think On This: Keep your chin up and your knees down. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt. 6:7-8 - “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." NASU
Jesus says God is our Father. He not only makes that declaration but goes on to inform us our Father knows what we need before we ask Him. We don't have to be like the Gentiles and continue to ask for the same thing over and over again believing the more we ask, God may cave into our many demands. Jesus says we don't have to pray that way because God is our Father and He loves us. He gives us what we need, not what we ask for 1,000 times. As an earthly father, I always had a great feeling within my being when I provided something for my children and especially when I knew it was something they desired. Jesus is telling us God already knows what we need before we even ask Him. This has helped to change my prayer life and me. When I pray for something I very calmly and with faith in God know He will answer this prayer exactly at the right time and the correct way. Barbara Jo and I have a house we are trying to sell in Prescott, AZ. Now I know God knows we are trying to sell it. We have hired a Christian lady to be our agent and we have confidence in her and our God the house will be sold when He wants it to be sold and to the person, He would like to have that house. This passage of scripture gives me an enormous amount of comfort because it says my Heavenly Father already knows my/our needs.
If you are a parent you know what I am talking about because how many times have you provided for your children because of your love. Well, guess what? Our love for our children fails in comparison to God's love for us.
How did He do that? He did it by sending His Son, Jesus, to be born as a human and then 33 years later offer His life as a sacrifice to atone for OUR SINS on the cross at Calvary. God knows what we need and He does see our needs are fulfilled. Christmas season is about God providing for His children what we really need and what we really need is "peace" with Him which we have through Jesus Christ - Romans 5:1 - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,… Do you want to change your life? Then believe this: your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Think About This: When we let God guide He will provide. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 - "…for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." NASU
WOW! The apostle Paul was told "no" by God. What do you think our chances are of hearing a "No" to one of our prayers from God? I find it interesting that when I am asking God for an answer to a specific prayer I want the answer to be "yes" but I have found a "no" answer may lead to a more productive life.
All I needed was my five acres of land to sell. So, I could use the money to help support my family while in college. God said, "No." The college semester started and the land had not sold. Needless to say, I didn't accept the "no" from God like a Christian who trusted God should have. It took a few months for me to come to grips with God's will and let me say this, "I regretted the attitude I had for quite some time." Once I got my attitude adjusted and I was back on track it was no big deal God can still use me as a Christian. I don't have to be a preacher to be used by God.
I filled out and submitted the paperwork and left the rest in God's hands. I can honestly say my emotions were neither up nor down this time. It was whatever God wanted. I did attend Eastern Christian College in 1979 as God said, "Yes." I went from ECC to the First Christian Church of Glen Burnie and served the Lord there for 20 years. As I look back I can say, "God knew exactly what the best course for me was." But for me to get there I had to hear God say, "No." If God has said, "No" to one of your prayer requests please learn from my mistake. Don't get upset with God. Say to yourself "God knows best and I will trust Him with all my heart."
David heard God say, "No" to being permitted to build the Temple. Jesus heard God say, "No" in the Garden of Gethsemane. Since all of these Bible Greats have heard God say, "No" don't be surprised if God says "No" to some of our prayers. It is what He will do with you after He says, "No" that counts. Oh, by the way, God sold my five acres of land four weeks after the OBC semester started in 1978. Think About This: Keep Your Chin Up and Your Knees Down. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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