The Characters of Christmas, Week 1, December 8th. Luke 1:5-25. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will 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 for the Lord a people prepared.” And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” Luke 1:39-45. In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Luke 1:57-68. Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,mfor he has visited and redeemed his people Hope is a wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God is making the future better than the past or present. It is substantial and certain; an anchor for our souls. (Hebrews 6:19) God’s gift to you is joy, peace, purpose and grace. When hope seems lost; when God seems silent: when prayer appears to go unanswered : Don’t give up. Faith : we trust God is at work in ALL aspects of our life. (NTCC Core Value) Zacharias and Elizabeth had steadfast faith and devotion. Worship in the waiting. Serve through the silence. When hope seems lost; when God seems silent: when prayer appears to go unanswered : Don’t buy the lie. God hears your prayers. God’s timing is perfect. God moves in perfect alignment with His plans and purposes, not our timetable and feelings. God uses ordinary, every day people, for His glory. God has the power to work through us despite what we see as problems or deficiencies. God is simply looking for availability and willingness; humility and obedience. Kingdom Builder. Every believer is a minister of the Gospel. We do what we do for the glory of God. It’s an honor to serve the Lord. Our mission is to proclaim the Gospel. God has good for you. God has a good word for you. God will show up for you. Psalm 139:16 NLT You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. The Home. Build your family on the Word of God. Plant and water seeds of faith in your children. Exemplify God as priority in how you schedule your lives and conversate. Make the Lord the center. Be consistent in your pursuit of Him. Luke 1:15 …he will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. God has good for you. Your trial will become a testimony. Your hardship will experience the hand of God. Your pain will have a purpose. When hope seems lost; when God seems silent: when prayer appears to go unanswered : Don’t entertain doubt and negativity. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. The Holy Spirit wants to take total control of what comes out of your mouth. Zacharias : “the Lord has remembered.” Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Elizabeth : “oath of God.” Zacharias and Elizabeth : God remembers His sacred promise. Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. John : the mercy of God. Psalm 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.