Heed The Word

When God Remembers His Promise: The Story of Zacharias and Elizabeth

• Pastor Ken Davis

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The silence had lasted 400 years. From Malachi to this moment, heaven had been quiet. No prophet had spoken God's words to Israel. Then suddenly, in the temple, as smoke from burning incense wafted upward, an angel appeared to an aging priest named Zacharias with news that would shatter not only the divine silence but also the reproach of childlessness that had marked his marriage to Elizabeth.

"Fear not," were heaven's first words after centuries of silence. These words—spoken to a trembling priest—resonate powerfully in our fear-filled world today. What fears paralyze you? What uncertainties keep you from stepping fully into God's promises? The message remains timely: those who fear God need fear nothing else.

When Gabriel announced that Zacharias and Elizabeth would have a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah, Zacharias responded with doubt rather than faith. His punishment—being struck mute until the prophecy's fulfillment—carries profound spiritual implications for us all. As Pastor Ken Davis explains, "When we do not believe God's words, our mouths are shut before Him." Our testimony flows from our faith. When we believe, we speak; when we doubt, we fall silent.

The beauty of this account reaches its pinnacle in the revelation that Zacharias means "God remembers" while Elizabeth means "His promise." Together, their very names proclaim that "God remembers His promise." This wasn't coincidence but divine orchestration—a living testimony that God's timing is perfect and His word never fails, even after centuries of seeming silence.

Whether you're waiting for answered prayer, struggling with doubt, or simply needing assurance that God hasn't forgotten you, this powerful opening to Luke's Gospel reminds us that God is always working, even when we can't see it. Join us in this verse-by-verse exploration of Luke and discover how God continues to break silences and fulfill promises in our lives today.

Speaker 1:

You're listening to Heed the Word with our pastor and teacher, Ken Davis. Pastor Ken is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel, Southwest Metro in Burleson, Texas. Please join us as we study the Gospel of Luke verse by verse.

Speaker 2:

God has come. Jesus has come to take away your reproach, not just among people, but before God. He came to forgive us for our sins. He came to set us free, and he whom the Son makes free is free indeed.

Speaker 1:

The Gospel of Luke is the third account in the Gospels of the life and teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ. As believers, there are few studies that will benefit us more spiritually than studying the life and teachings of the Master. God requires that when we approach Him, that it be in faith. In today's message, zacharias found himself in a position that required him to simply trust God. Unfortunately, he didn't make the right choice and the angel of the Lord caused him to not be able to speak until the word of the Lord was accomplished. A good example to us that faith and trust in God is always the better choice. Don't forget to stay with us after today's message to hear more information about Heed the Word, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. But for now, please open your Bibles to the book of Revelation, chapter 8, verse 1. We'll begin there and then continue in Luke, chapter 1. Now here's Pastor Ken.

Speaker 2:

The Apostle John, as he was seeing the vision that he notes for us in Revelation, says in chapter 8, verse 1, when he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about a half an hour and I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden cens, censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne, and the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints, that's you and I, those who believe in Jesus Christ, ascended before God from the angel's hand. That incense that Zacharias was burning there at the temple was representative of the prayers of the people who were praying right outside there in heaven. As that bowl of incense is being poured out upon the altar before the very throne of God, as that wafts up into the very face of God, as he smells that sweet aroma, he's partaking of the prayers of his people. You say why should I pray? So that you can burn incense in heaven, so that your prayers can rise up to God and to be a sweet smell to him? Don't you think he'd love that, don't? You think he'd be blessed by that? You say what gift can I give to God? You can give him the gift of your prayers. You can give him the gift of that wonderful, sweet-smelling aroma as it comes up before him from the altar. As those prayers have been poured out there, turn back, if you will, to Luke Now.

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From the time of Malachi the prophet, there is no recorded word of the Lord having spoken to his people, israel. A space of some 400 years has passed with no word from God whatsoever. Now, certainly the scriptures were being taught and studied during that time, but from the days of the prophet Malachi, there had not been a prophet in Israel to speak the word of the Lord. In that we have it recorded in scriptures. We find nothing there but silence for 400 years. That silence in verse 11 is about to be broken. Then, as the incense is burning, as Zacharias is there praying, as all the people await outside in prayer, then an angel of the Lord appeared to him. Appeared to Zacharias and he was standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him now. Mark my words. Friends. Hear the first words from heaven in 400 years and those words are do not be afraid. I like the King James version fear not, fear not. 400 years of silence, and the first thing God has to say to his people is fear not.

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There are a lot of us today who are troubled by all kinds of fears Fears of terrorism, fears of the wrong party being elected or the wrong man, fears of sickness and disease, fears of rejection in relationships, fears of financial frustration or failed attempts and broken and lost dreams. Fears of all kinds. Fear, it paralyzes us, it grips us and it prevents us from moving forward into whatever it is that God desires for us. Fear not. Jesus used those words too. He said fear not, for I am with you even into the end of the age. Fear not.

Speaker 2:

I've often said, and will say many times more, that those who fear God need fear nothing else. And when I say fear God, I'm not talking about a trembling quaking oh my goodness, he's going to squish me kind of fear. I'm talking about a fear that is born of the knowledge that the one whom we serve spoke this world into existence. I'm talking of fear that is born of the knowledge that the one who loves us is perfect in all of his ways. You know, god has never had one imperfect thought. God has never done one imperfect thing. Now you say, well, I don't know about that. I look around the world and I see lots of things that are imperfect. That's because of the corruption that has come into the world through sin.

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My wife shared something with me yesterday. She had seen this on a sign as she was driving around town. It said God forms, the devil deforms, but Christ transforms, amen. And when we have the transforming power of Jesus Christ at work in our lives, we need fear nothing and no man. So the angel says do not be afraid, zacharias, for your prayer is heard. Your prayer is heard.

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Saint of God, your prayer is heard. What have you been praying about? What have you been crying out to God? For what have you been praying about? What have you been crying out to God for? What thing in your life has kept you bound and beaten? As you've prayed for deliverance from that thing, you must understand that your prayer is heard when you've prayed for guidance, that God would direct your paths and lead you to the right decision in a given area of your life. Your prayer is heard, when you've asked for God to cleanse you of your sin and to forgive you for the things that you've done wrong in your life. Friend, your prayer is heard and it's answered in Jesus Christ.

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Zacharias, your prayer is heard and and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. The name John means God is gracious. Amen, god is gracious. So the first words from heaven after 400 years could be summed up in the words fear not, for God is gracious. Sweet, sweet words. And you will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. That's speaking of the fact that he would be a Nazarene, someone who had taken the vow of the Nazarite, just as Samson had taken, that he would drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also 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. He will also go before him Now this is gonna sound familiar if you were paying attention when I read from Malachi 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.

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Can I tell you that our ministry is to be the very same ministry as that of John the Baptist. John the Baptist was being sent before the coming of the Lord and we, the church, have been sent before the coming of the Lord. John was sent before his first coming. You have been sent before his second and your job as the church is to bring light and hope and life and the word of God before the rest of the world, that they might see and know that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father, and that, believing that they might turn to him, be cleansed of their sins and be saved. And Zacharias said to the glory of God, the Father, and that, believing that they might turn to him, be cleansed of their sins and be saved.

Speaker 2:

And Zacharias said to the angel how shall I know this? Or, in today's vernacular, how do I know that what you're telling me is actually gonna happen? Now, this is rather ironic, if you think about it, because we have a man who is a man of faith. We have a man who is in the priesthood. We have a man who very obviously has been praying for years that he might have a son. We have him here in the temple, in the holy place, offering up incense on the altar of incense before the Lord, and God sends an angel to answer his prayer and he says how do I know that? I mean, come on, zacharias, get with it. God sent you an angel, what more do you need? But apparently Zacharias was not satisfied.

Speaker 2:

So often we're not satisfied either, are we? We ask for something, we pray for something and God gives us the answer and we see it and we say, yes, lord, that's it. But then we say but wait a minute, how do I really know? In the book of James it talks about if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God and he'll give it to you liberally. But don't ask and not believe that you've received. Because if you're gonna do that, if you ask God for wisdom and then don't believe that you've received it, you're like a person tossed back and forth on the waves. You just can't make up your mind. Don't let that person think they're going to receive any information from the Lord, because if you're going to be unstable in your ways, like that, he's not going to speak. And even as the Lord wouldn't speak in that situation, zacharias is about to not be able to speak in this one. 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. And the angel answered and said to him I am Gabriel. At first it was just introduced as an angel, but now he's asked how do I know this? And the angel says okay, time for some credentials, let me pull out my badge. Okay, this is who I am. I am Gabriel.

Speaker 2:

There are many angels mentioned throughout the scriptures, but of all of those angels, we're only given the name of two of the good ones anyway. One is Michael, the other is Gabriel. Michael is one of the archangels, the warrior, if you will, the warrior, prince, who's going out and leading battles and victories. Gabriel is often seen as the messenger of God, the one who's delivering his word to the prophets and to the saints of God. 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 these glad tidings, but behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day that these things take place, because you do not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their own time.

Speaker 2:

He did not believe and his unbelief was evident to the angel as he stood before him and the angel said okay, zacharias, you need a sign. You got a sign. You can't speak. Think about that. God has not delivered a message in 400 years. And you're a priest of God, so you've got credentials. And you're there in the holy place offering up incense on the altar of incense and you're praying and an angel appears before you Wow, and he brings this incredible news. And now you don't get to tell anybody. How do you like that? You don't get to say anything. And not only does he not get to tell anyone right now when he walks outside, but think about this he was not going to be allowed to speak until all of these things had taken place, all of them, and that baby hadn't even been conceived yet. So this man was not going to get to speak for at least nine months. Can you imagine a preacher not being able to talk for nine months? I can't Nine months. My wife says, please, but he was going to be mute. Behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place because you did not believe my words. Can I tell you, friends, that when we do not believe God's words, when we do not have faith, then our mouths are shut before him.

Speaker 2:

Turn briefly to 2 Corinthians, chapter four, the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians, chapter four, verse seven. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels. What treasure that the excellence of the power of God, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. The treasure that he's speaking of is the Holy Spirit that dwells inside of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed. We are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus. And that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body, for we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake. That the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So, then, death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written. I believed and therefore I spoke. We also believe and therefore speak, knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will present us with you. What he's saying here is I believed, therefore I spoke. When we believe, when we have faith, then we can speak.

Speaker 2:

If you're not talking to people about Jesus, if you're not sharing with people about what Jesus is doing in your life I'm not talking about going out and doing street evangelism Although you could do that, that'd be great. I'm not talking about knocking on doors and saying what's your relationship with the Lord Although you could do that, that would be great. What I'm talking about is in your life, as you bump up against people, is the spirit of God spilling out onto them. When you talk to someone and God gives you an open door to share him with him, do you do it? Do you glorify God with your life and with your mouth? You should be and I'm not saying that because you should be or else you're not going to be blessed of God. Or you should be or you're not going to be. I'm not saying that this is not tied to salvation. This is not legalism, okay.

Speaker 2:

What I'm saying is is when you're in love with somebody, you tend to talk about that person. When you are enamored with someone, they tend to be on your mind quite a bit, and if you truly believe what is written in the pages of scripture, then what you believe will come out of you. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. If your heart is full of the word of God, because you believe the word of God, then what's going to come out of your mouth? The word of God, amen.

Speaker 2:

Zacharias didn't believe, and so nothing was going to be coming out of his mouth for nine months or more. Turn back again to Luke, chapter one. 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. How important is that these things will be fulfilled in their own time? When we pray and seek God for an answer in our lives, we so often want it now. We don't want it even now. We want it yesterday. But God says no, these things will be fulfilled in their own time or in God's time.

Speaker 2:

And the people waited for Zacharias, and they marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. See, the practice at that time was, after the priest would go in and offer up prayers at the table of incense there, he would come out and he would give a blessing to the people, and so they're waiting for the blessing. And oh, did he have a blessing with which to bless them. But he was unable to communicate it because he had not believed. So they marveled that he lingered so long in the temple, 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 beckons to them and remains speechless.

Speaker 2:

An early game of charades, sounds like angle. I don't know. How would he have done that? How would he have tried to communicate that? I mean, can you imagine he's there and I'm burning into the angel or what I don't know? I mean, I don't know. It must have been a comical scene if you think about it, because here's this guy that has just seen an angel. How do you not talk about that? You know anybody who'd seen an angel and didn't say anything about it? Not too many. If you saw an angel, would you tell anybody? And then again. Maybe you wouldn't, I don't know. But he wanted to tell them, but he couldn't do it. He beckoned to them but they couldn't understand him. They couldn't hear him because he was speechless. So it was as soon as the days of his service were completed that he departed to his own house.

Speaker 2:

Now, after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she hid herself five months saying thus the Lord has dealt with me in the days when he looked on me to take away my reproach among people. God has come among people. God has come. Jesus has come to take away your reproach, not just among people, but before God. He came to forgive us for our sins, he came to set us free, and he whom the Son makes free is free indeed. As we end our study today, I want to point out something to you that just blessed me to no end.

Speaker 2:

The closing words of Malachi come with a promise, and the beginning story of the New Testament bring the fulfillment of that promise. And the beginning story of the New Testament bring the fulfillment of that promise. Now I want to show you something here that will let you, and maybe help you just a little bit, realize how perfect the Word of God is and how incredible His divine power is in our lives to move us and direct us and to choose us for his purposes. A promise had been given, a promise was being fulfilled through the lives of Zacharias and Elizabeth. The name Zacharias means God remembers. The name Elizabeth means his promise. Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents of the one who would fulfill the promise, are named. God remembers his promise. God remembered his promise to Israel. God remembers his promises to you. You can bank on it.

Speaker 2:

Turn one last time to 2 Peter, chapter 1. Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior, jesus Christ, grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus, our Lord, as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises that through these we may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue To virtue, knowledge to knowledge, self-control to self-control, perseverance to perseverance, godliness to godliness, brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness, love, for if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never stumble, for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ.

Speaker 2:

As we read through those virtues, one added up to the other, one on top of another, we realize the fact that God is not through with us today, but that we are all very much people in process. We are people who are at varying stages of development as we grow into the person that God wants us to be. I am not today the man that God has in store for me to be, nor are you today the man or woman that God has in store for you to be. But if you draw breath, god is working on you Until the day you die you have not attained. Until the day you meet him and see him and are like him. You have not become all that. It is that he has in store for you to become, but God has given you a what A promise that he who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it under the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the day of salvation.

Speaker 1:

For everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds. And to him who knocks, it will be opened. That's chapter 11, verse 10 of the book we are currently studying here on Heed the Word. Luke Luke's gospel account of the life of Jesus is an invaluable study that we know God will use in your life. We do. Thank you for joining us today.

Speaker 1:

This has been another edition of Heed the Word with our pastor and teacher, Ken Davis. As you likely heard at the beginning of today's program, this message is available free of charge at our website. Simply log on to wwwheatthewordorg. That's heatthewordorg. Once you're there, select the Listen Online page. There you'll find the Heat the Word media player For your convenience. Today's message is available in MP3, podcast and mobile formats.

Speaker 1:

By far the best way to stay current with all the latest teachings from Pastor Ken is to subscribe to the Heed the Word podcast. So log on to heedthewordorg and continue studying with us today. If today's message has ministered to you and you live in the Burleson Texas area or will be passing through, we'd like to invite you to join us for worship area. Or will be passing through, we'd like to invite you to join us for worship. We meet each Sunday morning at 10 30 am and Wednesday evenings at 7 pm. You can log on to heedthewordorg for driving directions and more information, so please stop by and visit us. Well, that's all the time we have for today. We encourage you to join us next time as Pastor Ken continues teaching Through the Gospel of Luke, on the next edition of Heed the Word.