WE BELIEVE: HOPE: THE LORD IS WITH YOU



Sermon Notes, November 27, 2016
Rev. Garry McGlinchy

Pastor Garry started Advent 2016, “We Believe,” with his first sermon, titled “Hope: The Lord is With You.”  The scripture reference was Luke 1:5-25, the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth and the miraculous birth of their son, John. 
Zechariah and Elizabeth’s life wasn’t turning out like they had hoped.  They were childless.  The shame of not bearing children is well documented in the Old Testament, where women would implore God for children.  Elizabeth was barren.  The emptiness of her womb caused shame and despair in first-century Jewish culture.
But emptiness is not the last word.   Advent is not about emptiness, nor does it ignore it.  It is about the fullness of time when Jesus first came.  Advent is about preparing in hope for when Jesus, the source of all hope, comes again.  This story can help us do just that.
Zechariah wasn’t prepared when great news of joy came his way; his hope had left.  Interestingly, his son’s role was to inspire hope.  As a result, we can learn how to hope from this story as we prepare for Jesus’ second coming.  Let us re-experience the hope the message gives and be renewed in the hope that the Advent season inspires.  Here are four steps to renewed hope:
·         To be renewed in hope, we must recognize our fears.
·         To be renewed in hope, we must act in faith.
·         To be renewed in hope, we reject unhealthy shame.
·         To be renewed in hope, we must embrace grace.
We must recognize our fears.  In verses 11 and 12 we read that when the angel first came to Zechariah, he was “gripped with fear.”  But the angel wanted Zechariah to know that his prayer has been answered (v. 14).  He said, “Don’t be afraid!  Take heart!”  It’s important to note that Zechariah was not condemned for being afraid; his fear is natural, expected, and reasonable.  Yet his fear dictates the angel’s first words:  do not be afraid.  Before the angel can move into the good news Zechariah is about to hear, he must address Zechariah’s fear.  Are our fears based on the awe, the dread, of God?  All other fears, while meaningful and even important, are dimmed and decreased as we anticipate the coming of the Lord.  Once we recognized our fears against the greatness of God, our hope is renewed.
We must act in faith.  Fear is not Zechariah’s final response to the angel’s words. (v. 23-24) Unlike Jesus, John the Baptist was not conceived by the Holy Spirit.  He is conceived by Zechariah, out of faith.  Zechariah has been away on service in the temple, and when he returns home, he does not delay.  He risks opening his heart once again to the hope of pregnancy.  He doesn’t let fear of disappointment rule in his life.  He responds in faith.  As we prepare for the Lord’s return, we can strengthen our hope by acting in faith, in line with the Lord’s ongoing mission.  What would give you great joy that lines up with God’s mission in Christ? Giving water in His name? Offering prayer in His name? Welcoming guests into our home, and strangers into our church in His name?  As we respond in faith, our hope will grow.
Reject unhealthy shame.  Elizabeth’s barrenness is her disgrace—it is not something only she knows about.  Everyone knows.  But in the face of this shame, she experiences the glory of the Lord as her own glory is restored. (v. 25)  The grace shown to Elizabeth brought her joy—a joy that she made public.  But not immediately.  Luke tells us that she waited five months in seclusion.  Her public appearance took courage.  She finally rejected an unfounded social shame by pronouncing her pregnancy publicly.  What are you tempted to keep hidden because of fear or sham?  What has God done in your life that has taken away shame and given you hope for greater things?  What will the Lord reveal for everyone when He returns that you can reveal even now?  Hope can be fragile, but it is not meant to be hidden.  It is public!  It can hardly be contained.
Embrace the grace.  Elizabeth said “The Lord has done this for me.  In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” (v. 25)  You are graced by God, too.  He favors you, like He favored Zechariah and Elizabeth.  God could have chosen another way to begin the process of Jesus’ birth announcement.  The birth of John the Baptist is not of necessity, but sheer grace shown to Zechariah and Elisabeth.  Likewise, the gift of Jesus is not necessity, but sheer grace—shown to you.  We all face challenges as did Zechariah and Elizabeth: the disgrace of our previous lives, previous habits, attitudes or failures.  Maybe you have prayers that you wonder if God hears, or hopes that you thought would have been realized by now.  But remember this: it was not John the Baptist who was the ultimate source of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s joy.  The ultimate joy of their lives would be the one whose birth would follow John’s. Jesus is the ultimate joy.
We might hope for many things, but our deepest longing, our deepest hope is already fulfilled in Jesus.  He is her for us today.  He is on His way to be present undeniably.  His grace has made a real difference in our lives.  Will you embrace His grace?

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