Today's Sermon, " What God Did Not Reveal"

Scripture: Luke 1:5-37; Hebrews 11:15-16; Galatians 6:9

Good morning Strangers Rest. The title of my message this morning is “What God Did Not Reveal.” This message looks at the story surrounding the birth of Christ and the faith those involved had to walk in based on what God did and did not reveal to them. Remember, Second Corinthians 5:7 tells us “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” The two stories we will examine are examples of people walking by faith and not by sight.

Have you ever considered the fact that Christians sometime have questions and/or doubts about something we believe God has told us to do because we run into problems when we start doing it? It is not that we did not hear or understand what God told us to do, but when we started doing it we ran into so much opposition from other Christians that we questioned if we truly heard from God. So, because of the severity of the trials we go through to do what God has called us to do, we question if we truly heard God correctly. Christians have come to believe, incorrectly, that if God has told us to do something that it will flow perfectly and those helping us will be in total agreement with it and life would be good. That is not the case. What happens is that there are problems when we get started and those collaborating with us get tired and turn back – yet we must continue in what God has instructed us to do. We cannot allow doubt to enter in because of the difficulty we face in completing the task. Our ability to believe what God has told us to do cannot be influenced by the hardships we are sure to face when doing it. It is not the hardships that God measures or looks upon, it is our obedience to following His instructions. With that being said, this morning we will examine the stories of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. In both situations God called upon them to do something special, but He did not reveal everything they would face in their obedience to Him.

Let us begin with Zacharias. Please turn to Luke chapter one and we will begin reading at verse five. “(5) There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. (6) And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (7) But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. (8) So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, (9) according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. (10) And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. (11) Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. (12) And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.” (Luke 1:5-12) Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were advanced in age and were childless even though they had been praying for a child for years. On this day, it was Zacharias’ turn to keep the incense burning on the altar in front of the most holy place. When the priests became so numerous that they could not at once minister at the altar, David divided them into 24 classes or divisions, each one of which officiated for a week. Zacharias was of the division of Abijah. As he fulfilled his responsibilities, the angel Gabriel appeared to him. Zacharias’ first response was one of fear until the angel Gabriel spoke. Let us continue with verse thirteen.

“(13) But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. (14) And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. (15) For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. (16) And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. (17) He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ (18) And Zacharias said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.’ (19) And the angel answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. (20) But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.’” (Luke 1:13-20) The angel Gabriel told Zacharias what would take place with John. Every bit of what he said was true. But look at how Zacharias responded.

Zacharias was a priest, one of the religious leaders who had an angel standing before him telling him his prayers are going to be answered. Not only that, but the angel told him the significant role that his son would play in God’s kingdom. How did Zacharias respond? He asked the angel “How shall I know this?” Zacharias asked him how he would know for certain that they would have a child since both he and Elizabeth were old. Zacharias, naturally doubted, and in his doubt questioned what he was hearing. He did not receive the answer for which he was searching. Gabriel told him that he stands in the presence of God and was sent to tell him the good news. However, because Zacharias did not immediately believe him, he told Zacharias that he would not be able to speak until John was born. Now here is the point I want you to see: we pray earnestly for God to do something and when He is ready, we question Him about it really happening. We pray for something to change and when God starts to move, we start to doubt that it could really be happening. In the case of Zacharias, I believe God closed his mouth so that he could not speak doubt and unbelief into the situation as we so often do. God tells us He is getting ready to do something and then we, who have been praying about it, start speaking against it happening and we wonder why our prayers do not get answered. Because he lost his ability to speak until John was born and named, Zacharias could not speak against what God was doing. One more thing before I continue: Zacharias would have known the account of God’s promise to give Abraham a son, right? How old were Abraham and Sarah when Isaac was born? He was one hundred years old, and she was 90 years old. Knowing this, Zacharias, a priest, should have had no doubts whatsoever that what the angel said would happen.

Now let us examine what the angel Gabriel told Zacharias about John and then we will look at what he did not tell him. Gabriel told Zacharias, “(15) For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. (16) And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. (17) He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Gabriel told Zacharias a lot of things and I am sure Zacharias found a way to relay some of this information to his wife Elizabeth. He told Zacharias that John would be great in the eyes of God; that he would not drink wine or liquor; he would be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb; he would turn many back to God; and most important, he would be a forerunner, one who prepared the way, for Christ. All these things Gabriel told him from God but let us examine what God did not reveal to him.

God did not reveal to Zacharias that his son would live like a wild man; dressing in rough clothes and eating things found in the wild. Can you imagine what Zacharias would have attempted to do had he known this was coming? Can you imagine how he would have tried to raise John differently so that he would not be the talk of the town? God did not reveal to Zacharias that his son would start his ministry at around the age of thirty and only preach for a few months. Had he known this he might have attempted to persuade John to preach a more acceptable version of his message. God did not reveal to Zacharias that his son would lack what some would call “tack” or “finesse” when he dealt with people. He called it as he saw it because he knew what was at stake. Had he been told this he might have attempted to send John to a school that would train him, probably for the priesthood. God did not reveal to Zacharias that his son would tell Herod he was wrong for marrying his brother’s wife and, because of this, be beheaded at the request of Herod’s wife’s daughter. Can you imagine how Zacharias would have counseled his son if he had known all of this was going to take place?

These things were not revealed to Zacharias for a reason. It is believed that Zacharias and Elizabeth had already died by the time John began his ministry, so they did not get to see the fulfillment of the prophecy that Zacharias was given by the angel Gabriel. But here is what I want you to focus on – Zacharias and Elizabeth fulfilled what God had told them to do. He did not give them the ministry that He had for John; their role was mostly complete when John was born and named (besides them being the parents that God wanted them to be to John). They could have stressed like we do and worried about how he would turn out. We worry about our children’s choices; their faith; if they will walk with God; etc. Zacharias and Elizabeth did not have to worry about this because John was anointed while he was still in the womb. But nevertheless, they were still parents and for them to witness what their son would eventually go through would have been extremely difficult. God told Zacharias what his son would do but He did not reveal everything to Him.

Now let us examine what happened to Mary and her response. You have all read and/or heard the story of Jesus’ birth. We know how the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and foretold of Jesus’ birth. As a reminder before we examine what Mary was not told, I want to read to you what she was told. Look down at verses 30-38 of Luke chapter one. It reads: “(30) Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (31) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. (32) He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. (33) And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’ (34) Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ (35) And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. (36) Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. (37) For with God nothing will be impossible.’ (38) Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”

Mary’s response was different from Zacharias’. Zacharias had a question showing his doubt. Mary asked a question for clarification. The angel closed Zacharias mouth because of his doubt, but he went into detail in answering Mary’s question. When Mary’s question was answer she immediately came into agreement with God and confirmed her willingness to obey. Mary asked one question just as Zacharias did, but the response to their questions was different. Now I want to spend just a moment reviewing a few questions Mary could have asked but did not. Remember, Mary was engaged and about to be married so these questions would have been logical, especially if it were one of us having this conversation with the angel Gabriel. The first question she did not ask was “Why me?” With all the wedding plans she has been making this would be a major disruption. Mary also did not ask, “What’s in it for me?” Sometimes we are willing to do the work of the Lord when there is something in it for us – but Mary did not ask that question.

But the most important question that Mary did not ask was “permission.” I need you to understand this because it is still happening today. When Gabriel spoke to Mary and told her what was coming women of that time had very few rights. They were either under the control of their fathers or their husbands. According to Jewish traditions, Mary did not have the right to agree to with what the angel said without talking first to Joseph. Do you see where this is going? Mary received a word from God. She immediately accepted it, and she immediately came into agreement with Him. She did this knowing that she was about to be married and was a virgin. Do you know we have this same situation playing out in Churches today? Men continue to disrespect women simply because they can and because it is accepted. If a woman happens to be in leadership in a business or especially in the Church it gets worse. If they ask a man to do something, that man acts as if he does not have to do it because it is a woman asking him to do it.

I want all the men here and everywhere else to hear this point. If the Lord is leading a woman to do something but her husband shuts her down because he is not comfortable or where he needs to be spiritually, then that is a problem. Also, Strangers Rest, we have women in the Church who are not fulfilling God’s call in their lives because a man is standing between them and God and will not let them. And rest assured, God sees this, and it is not playing out well in heaven for that man either. When this is happening this is the same as what was recorded with the apostles in Acts chapter five. The apostles were arrested for preaching Jesus and the Jewish leaders were trying to decide what to do with them. During this discussion one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the others. He reminded them of men who had come before them making a name for themselves but failed. Then he gave them the advice I want you to see. He told them, “(38) And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; (39) but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest you even be found to fight against God.” (Acts 5:38-39) He told them that if God was behind what the apostles were doing and they fought against it, then in fact they were fighting against God. Men, if a woman is in leadership doing what God has called her to do for Him and you are fighting against it, guess Who you are really fighting against, and it is not the woman!

Now let us look at what was not revealed to Mary, and you will see her faith because it appears that even if she had questions, she did not ask them. Mary did not ask one question about how this pregnancy would impact her. As I said previously, many times when we are called upon to do something in the natural, we want to know what is in it for us or how will it benefit us if we did certain things. We also bring this “quid pro quo” mentality into our relationship with God. Sometimes we do not hear His voice because we cannot determine what is in it for us if we say we have heard from Him and know that there is something we need to do. When Mary received the word from Gabriel, she accepted it immediately. Mary’s response was different from that of Zacharias, and he was a priest. She did not doubt; she accepted what was told to her. Zacharias needed confirmation because he and Elizabeth were old; Mary did not need confirmation even though she was a virgin. All she wanted to know is how it could happen when she had not been with a man. So, let us examine what Mary was not told.

Remember the song the choir sung asking the question, “Mary Did You Know?” God did not reveal to Mary everything she would be faced with or witness with her Son. God did not reveal to Mary that she would be known as an adulteress and that her husband-to-be would plan to divorce her once he found out. Do you think it would have given her a pause? God did not reveal to Mary that people would stare at her in public and whisper behind her back that she was pregnant out of wedlock. Do you think this would have given her second thoughts before she agreed to do it? God did not reveal to Mary what she would experience in raising the child; like Him being in the temple with the scholars when he they thought He would have been with the caravan on his way back home. God did not reveal to Mary that her Son would know Who His Father was and would always have a focus and attentiveness on serving His Father.

God did not reveal to Mary that she would witness the miracles that her Son would perform that would lead to Him being targeted for death. God did not reveal to Mary that she would witness the aftermath of her Son being so physically brutalized and tortured that His face would be unrecognizable and then, without mercy, He would be nailed to a cross. God did not reveal to Mary that she would witness the death of her Son. Had she been privy to any of this information, would it have changed her mind? I honestly do not think so. It could have made it more difficult for her if she knew ahead of time what was coming, but I think she would still have answered in the affirmative. But God, in His infinite love and mercy, told her only what she needed to know.

All these things were not told to Mary and yet each one had an impact on her life. With each situation that she faced, Mary never strayed from what she knew she was supposed to do in giving birth to Jesus and doing her best to raise Him as a mother. Mary noted the differences that she saw with her Son, but she did not fully understand the importance of them. The key things that we note here is that Mary’s role was completed when she gave birth to Jesus other than being a mother to Him. This is what God had anointed her to do, to be a vessel for which His Son could enter into the world. Everything she did for Jesus after His birth was based on what a good mother would do for her child with the additional knowledge that her Son was truly the Son of God. She knew this, but the manifestation of what this meant did not fully come to realization until Jesus started His ministry. The last thing I want to mention briefly is that God did not reveal to Mary that she would see her Son again after He rose from the dead. This was the final life changing experience that she had with Jesus while she was on earth. Everything else she did after His resurrection did not compare to what she experienced when she saw her dead Son alive again after three days.

The Bible is filled with examples of people who heard the voice of God and answered even though they were not told much about how completing the task God gave them would impact their lives. I could stay on this topic for a year and not fully cover all the examples. What I wanted to accomplish this morning was to give you something to think about as you prepare to celebrate this Christmas and prepare for the New Year. If we do not start focusing on what God has told us to do and separate ourselves from the overall impact of that “something” on our individual lives, we will not get to the point of doing what God has called us to do as a Church or as individuals and that failure will impact the lives of people we have yet to meet.

We have all witnessed Christians who serve God out of convenience. I will come to Church when it is convenient. I will serve on a committee when it is convenient. Yes God has told me to do something but right now it is not a convenient time for me. Yes I know the call God has on my life to serve, but I need just a little more time to determine if I can really do it. I am so busy with work and family that I cannot take on any additional responsibilities. And what hurts the most is when we sign on to do something and then realize it is going to require more than we thought or are willing to give and then we stop. Remember what we read often from Hebrews chapter eleven of those of the Old Testament who walked by faith? Hebrews 11:15-16 says, “(15) And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. (16) But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

If they had been thinking about what they gave up when they answered the call of God, they could have stopped their walk and returned to where they came from. For us today this equates to our needing to know everything about what God is calling us to do: the commitment; time requirements; length of time; people we will interact with; etc. before we can sign on. I want to know how my decision to walk with God will impact my life and change how I live today. I want to know that if He is calling me to do something that it is going to be easy to do and I can do it quickly and get back to living like I want. I do not want a long-term assignment. I do not want a long-term commitment. I want to get it done as quickly as I can so I can check the box that it was done. Sadly, this is not how God operates.

If you are alive and breathing, regardless of your age, God can still use you. There is something you can do for Him, even if it is as small as making a phone call to encourage someone. Do not think you can age out of service to God. And remember, when we sign on with God, He tells us what we need to know when we need to know it. Some things He may not reveal to us at all, and we must walk with Him by faith knowing that if He has called us to do something then everything that we face as we work towards that conclusion has been taken care of. God has a plan, and He will reveal it to us in stages as we just commit to walking with Him. When the problems arise, keep walking, and stay focused. When others turn their backs on you because you are following God, keep walking, and do not lose your focus. When it sometimes gets harder and harder for you to see any results, keep walking and do not lose focus. What God has started, He will finish if we do not lose hope. I will leave you with these words from Paul as recorded in Galatians 6:9: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Merry Christmas Stranger’s Rest! I hope you remember the sacrifices that were made so we could celebrate Christ’s birth.

Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.”  (Numbers 6:24-26)