Between the prayer and the answer

Is God still at work?  Does He still answer prayer?  There was no record of God speaking for 400 years when God spoke to Zachariah.

Luke 1:5-7 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, 

(1)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 

(2)they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had 

(3) no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well 

(4)advanced in years.

1. Zacharias was a priest.

2. He and His wife were righteous.

3. They had no children.

4. They were really old.

It wasn't Zachariah or his wife's fault that they didn't have kids.  

Luke 1:8-10 New King James Version (NKJV)

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.  

1. It was an extremely rare opportunity for a priest to burn incense.  

2. Zachariah was considered a sinful priest by some because he had no kids. 

3. Still Zachariah was given the opportunity by God to do it.

Luke 1:11-17 New King James Version (NKJV)

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.  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.”

What did Zachariah pray?  Did he pray for a son?  Was he praying for a revival among his people?

Luke 1:18-20 New King James Version (NKJV)

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.”

What was in Zachariah's life that made him demand a sign before he'd believe?

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 [a]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.” 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. 

Why was he given a sign that he'd never would want?  God made him mute.  The people suspected that this was due to sin also. 

23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months...57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

Then, it became known that Zachariah's elderly wife was having a baby. They had a healthy baby!  

Luke 1:59-80 New King James Version (NKJV)

59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”

61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.

63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.

First thing out of Zachariah's lips was praising God. 

65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

When Zachariah's prayers were answered, everyone was in awe.  What was Zachariah's prayer?  

67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

Zachariah began by talking about the greatness of God who redeems his people.  Nothing about the baby yet...

In the house of His servant David,
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been since the world began,
71 That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
74 To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

Then, he started talking about a savior who is to come before he ever mentions his child. 

I'd don't think that this elderly priest with an barren wife had the faith to pray for a child for himself.  

He  prayed for his people who needed a Savior because they were in bondage. That was foremost in his mind.  That's when the angel showed up after 400 years of silence.      

76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

God not only answered his prayer for a savior, but gave him an answer that he didn't have the faith to pray for himself which was a child of his own.  

Our God loves to answer prayer.  Not in our time, but in his. God was preparing people's anticipation during those 400 silent years. 

It's easy for me to have my faith to drop a bit in the time of waiting.  Sometimes I stop praying bold prayers.  

Say a bold prayer to God.  Ask God to show up in your life to reveal His presence. 

Reflect on what God has done in your life in your time of waiting and count your previous answered prayers.  

Next, get with people of faith and ask them for God stories of Him working in their lives.  

80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

I don't know what you need, but be diligent about your pursuit of God.  Did you know that you can find Him within this Christmas Story if you'll seek Him in the humility and simplicity of your heart. Say Lord Jesus, I need you to save me.  You're the only one who can.

Notes from Steve Gillen, Willowcreek Church.