Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share The Story Behind the Story
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
The Story Behind the Story
The Story Behind the Story
Luke 1:5-25 (NIV) – [5] In the time of Herod king of Judea…
Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV) – [4] But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
1. God’s timing is always perfect.
Luke 1:5-7 (NIV) – …there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. [6] Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. [7] But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
2. The fullness of time comes to fruition to those who remain faithful.
Luke 1:8-13 (NIV) – [8] Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, [9] he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. [10] And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. [11] Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. [12] When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. [13] But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
3. You have not been chosen by chance; you have been chosen by God!
Luke 1:14-17 (NIV) – [14] He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, [15] for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. [16] Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. [17] And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
4. The fulfillment of God’s promises are always better than what we even expect.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV) – [9] No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
5. God is still looking to make ready a people prepared for Him.
Luke 12:35-38 (NIV) – [35] “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, [36] like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. [37] It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. [38] It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.
Luke 1:18-20 (NIV) – [18] Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” [19] The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. [20] And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”
Luke 1:18 (MSG) – [18] Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.” (The Message Bible)
6. Is it possible that we are still praying but no longer believing?
James 1:5-8 (NIV) – [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. [6] But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. [7] That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; [8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Luke 1:21-25 (NIV) – [21] Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. [22] When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. [23] When his time of service was completed, he returned home. [24] After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. [25] “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
7. Jesus came to take away our shame.
Isaiah 61:7 (NIV) – [7] Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.
View all episodes
By Bakersfield First Assembly
5
55 ratings
The Story Behind the Story
Luke 1:5-25 (NIV) – [5] In the time of Herod king of Judea…
Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV) – [4] But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
1. God’s timing is always perfect.
Luke 1:5-7 (NIV) – …there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. [6] Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. [7] But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
2. The fullness of time comes to fruition to those who remain faithful.
Luke 1:8-13 (NIV) – [8] Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, [9] he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. [10] And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. [11] Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. [12] When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. [13] But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
3. You have not been chosen by chance; you have been chosen by God!
Luke 1:14-17 (NIV) – [14] He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, [15] for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. [16] Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. [17] And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
4. The fulfillment of God’s promises are always better than what we even expect.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV) – [9] No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
5. God is still looking to make ready a people prepared for Him.
Luke 12:35-38 (NIV) – [35] “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, [36] like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. [37] It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. [38] It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.
Luke 1:18-20 (NIV) – [18] Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” [19] The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. [20] And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”
Luke 1:18 (MSG) – [18] Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.” (The Message Bible)
6. Is it possible that we are still praying but no longer believing?
James 1:5-8 (NIV) – [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. [6] But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. [7] That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; [8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Luke 1:21-25 (NIV) – [21] Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. [22] When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. [23] When his time of service was completed, he returned home. [24] After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. [25] “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
7. Jesus came to take away our shame.
Isaiah 61:7 (NIV) – [7] Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.