Godsword Season Episode 63 — Ken Graves

There is a war going on a spiritual war a War between truth and deception. Only one thing cuts through all the lies and opinions of man. It is the truth of an ancient book the Bible. It is God's Word God's sword.

Responding to God's Word by Faith

Recognize that God is speaking especially how he speaks out of the scriptures to us. Recognize that the Lord is speaking and respond to God's Word by faith. Zachariah's Reaction was great. Fear fear fell upon him in verse 13.

But the angel said unto him fear not Zacharias. For thy prayer is heard now again. I'm reminding you that Zacharias job is to light the incense and Do this which was very symbolic of prayer ascending.

The angel says don't be afraid almost always the first thing angels got to say don't be afraid because. Apparently if we see them as they are they're quite glorious quite majestic. There's something about them in fact according to psalm 8 man is made a little lower than the angels.

They are a higher form of life, and there is this I guess contrast. The people experience when they see them as they are. Zachariah experiences it. The angel says don't be afraid because your prayers been heard.

The Announcement of John the Baptist

And he says in thy wife Elizabeth Shall bear thee a son and thou shalt call his name John. Thou shalt have joy and gladness. Many shall rejoice at his birth now. I personally got to believe that this angel is smiling.

At the delivery of this news. How could he not be huh? It's like getting to deliver somebody a million-dollar check. How do you do that with a whole puckered-up face? I'm sure you know you get it you can't like you know.

How do you just not bust out laughing as you go? Hey guess what. I think this angel was this angel by the way is a significant angel. His name is Gabriel. We'll see that as we read on Gabriel. He is one who five centuries earlier appeared to Daniel.

He has an interesting job Gabriel. His job seems to be directly connected to the ministry and the announcement of ministry of Messiah. He delivers this news. He said you'll have great joy and gladness in verse 14 and many shall rejoice at his birth for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and Shall drink neither wine no strong drink.

He should be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb. That would be the first indication that John the Baptist would be a Nazarite. Then he wouldn't touch wine or strong drink. That he would be Sanctified that he would be consecrated set apart that he'd be somebody that was given to the very service of God even from his earliest.

He'd be a Nazarite like Samson, and then he'd be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb. Please consider that one. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb.

Human Life and the Sanctity of the Unborn

I'll be clear on this in case you're not in case you're a new Christian. You haven't settled this issue. Let it be settled. Human life begins at conception and no later any attempt to try to fix a date or a point in time.

Where a person becomes fully a person is nothing but criminal. It's illogical. It's the kind of thing practiced by people like Hitler. It's one thing That Hitler had in common with every abortionist and everybody who is pro-abortion.

Is that he believed that there was such a thing as a person that really wasn't a whole person. That really wasn't fully human. That evolutionary thought Allowed him to justify the wickedness the brutality and the attempted annihilation of a whole nation of people the Jews even from his mother's womb.

Zechariah would be filled with the Holy Spirit. He would have an experience. He would have a direct relationship with God even from his mother's womb even from the earliest point of his existence. He says in verse 16 the angel continues and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

They should go before him in the spirit and power of Elias. To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. To make a ready of people prepared for the Lord.

John as the Forerunner of the Messiah

Imagine the news that Zechariah is being given. Imagine the news you guys he's being told. That not only is he gonna have a son. He's gonna have a great son. He will be great. Now isn't that the the wish for every one of us who have babies?

Be the little women or little men. We have a hope and a wish for them to attain greatness. That they would be Everything that they could be that they would reach all of their potential. Here you got an angel announcing think about this.

Announcing that not only will this old man who's never had a child have a son. He's gonna be great. He's gonna have this incredible ministry a ministry of turning people To the Lord turning the hearts of the fathers back to the children.

He would affect people he would affect human relationships. He would affect men's relationship with God. And then the most exciting thing of all He's told us that he's gonna prepare the way of the Lord.

He's gonna be the forerunner. Going to the spirit and power of Elijah. Oh. This is big deal. You guys it's really big because the prophecy about Messiah coming was there before Messiah comes. Elijah would come first.

Understand that that what Gabriel is announcing is that this this one who's gonna be born to this previously childless man and woman. It's gonna be Elijah in the sense that he comes in the spirit and power of Elijah.

Oh man along with this announcement about the birth of John the Baptist is the announcement of Messiah. The one they've been waiting for is coming. Verse 18. Zachariah said unto the angel whereby shall I know this?

I'm an old man. My wife well stricken in years. The angel answering said unto him I Am Gabriel. Let's stand in the presence of God. And I'm sent to speak unto thee and to show thee these glad tidings.

Behold thou shalt be dumb and Not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed. Because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season now. You can't convince me that Gabriel did not go from smiling To frowning.

Well, you gotta be kidding me a little man. He announces like guess what? He announces check it out, man. You gotta be a dad. Oh Yeah, and not just a dad. You're gonna be a dad of one who is great and.

And I guess I get to see the same you're going, huh. Wait for a reaction waiting for a response and the response of all Zacharias. How do I know this isn't some kind of joke? How do I know that'll happen?

I'm old. My wife's old. How about a sign you cannot convince me that angel didn't go on. He didn't just go. Are you kidding me? All right. How about this one? Shut up and stay that way. How about this one and he goes.

It's like I don't know who you think I am. I'm Gabriel. I am Gabriel. I stand in the very presence of God. I've been sent to give you this good news. You don't talk for nine months. I'm out of here. You don't talk.

I mean think about that one struck him dumb every wife's dream every. He doesn't enter. Certainly not let alone win an argument for the next nine months. He doesn't answer back. He doesn't talk back to his wife.

His ability to speak was taken taken. It needed to be. And he's got to explain to Elizabeth with a note. Well, this happened see cuz I was dumb enough to ask for a sign. Questioned. I doubted he had to explain this.

He had to explain that the last thing that came out of his mouth before he lost his ability to speak was unbelief. It was kind of stupid, but I'm still convinced he went out of there smiling smiling and dumb.

Smiling and mute because now they're gone. He wants to yell but nothing comes out. He wants to explain think about all the things that he's coming out of there and He's doing charades all excited. He's doing the whole just trying with every gesture.

I mean, how do you do angel? It in. It is mute that he's absolutely dumb unable to do this thing, but he's trying to describe all that happened finally I'm sure he's. They give him something to write with.

And he tells everybody what happened. This is heavy. It's intense. Isn't it? Verse 21 the people waited for Zachariah. The marble that he carried so long in the temple, it's a simple job just went in and like the incense get back out here.

They're out there going. It's taking the guy so long when he finally comes out. He can't talk. Verse 22 when he came out. He could not speak unto them. And they perceived and he had seen a vision of the temple for he beckoned unto them and remained speechless like I said desperately doing gestures.

When he came to pass that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished that he departed to his own house. Okay, so he's there the temple. He's not planting any seeds. He's away verse 24, but after those days.

After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and hid herself five months saying Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days were and he looked on me to take away my reproach among men. Five months. She just hid herself.

She did not come out of hiding. Until she had something to show. And then imagine that moment for Elizabeth. When she comes out of seclusion and she comes out with a little baby bunch. How sort of vindicating how wouldn't can't you just imagine listen I've observed this phenomenon.

That I Think a lot of forgive me if this is offensive. I don't mean for to be a lot of ladies are apparently Hold in their stomach. Yeah, because it's like as soon as they get a positive test I'm telling you this.

It's like as soon as you receive the news you're pregnant. Just let that thing hang and they like those. Want to announce everybody oh, yeah, and like a month pregnant Elizabeth had something to show.

I guarantee it she was Sporting. She's doing all the things that ladies do. Little shelf. Hold her under her back. Like hey, did you notice? I'm pregnant. I guarantee you Hello, Elizabeth. She went around showing that tummy.

The Lord had taken away her reproach. The Lord did this thing gave her a baby. He gave her a little tummy to show. It's a good thing girl. They say just let it let it hang. Look at what is written next first when he says in the sixth month that is six months after the conception of John the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee named Nazareth and to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David and Virgin's name was Mary.

Mary's Humble Reception of God's Favor

And the angel came in under her and said Hail thou that are highly favored Lord is with thee and Blessed art thou among women. When she saw him she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

She was more blown away by what he said than who he is. That he said hail that he greeted her with respect. And so you're highly favored. Think about what he says to her hail thou art highly favored graciously accepted.

Alternate translation. Good and told the Lord is with you and that you're blessed among all women that Troubled Mary more than the sight of an angel more than his presence or the glory of this angelic being.

What he says what? Tells you something about her tells you what a humble girl. She was she didn't hear that and go you betcha. That's right. I know. She she didn't have that any of that attitude. She was just a humble girl.

See I do maintain based on her response that she was not head cheerleader at Nazareth high and she was not Prom queen or most popular anything in fact I don't think it contrary to all of the paintings and all the artists conceptions that she was probably the most beautiful.

She may have been but her humility comes from something. I think she was a plain girl. I Think the Lord's very plan was to enter this world as a plain man. Highly favored blessed among women. He said verse 30 the angel said unto her fear not Mary for thou has found favor with God.

Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb. And bring forth the Son and shall call his name Jesus. We'll talk about that more in our study tonight. Yeshua, and he shall be great. He shall be called the son of the highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.

Man, check it out brothers what she had just heard was that that her Baby was going to be the heir to that throne and he would be the son of God. Verse 33 he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Faith Versus Unbelief in Zechariah and Mary

Then said Mary unto the angel. How shall this be seeing? I know it on the man. You can tell by the the reaction from Gabriel. This was completely different from the question that came from Zechariah. Same messenger delivers this news to a human girl.

As who delivered the news to Zechariah and you remember what happened to Zechariah you see it came from two different places. Zechariah did something it was an expression of unbelief. Basically Zechariah went no way.

Whereas Mary just said okay. Well, tell me how how. How should this thing be seeing? I know not a man. She meant in the sexual way. She's espoused. Espoused to Joseph that means she's committed. That means she is already as much his as if they were married.

Legally, but because they've not had the wedding they have not consummated their marriage and it didn't happen. It was prohibited. It was completely outside the will of God and everybody knew it a little different today.

Today you shack up and you know each other on every level before. You can get engaged. Everybody that tells me this is my fiancee. Usually I interpret that to me. This is the person I'm having sex with regularly.

I'll be clear on this. Mary said I know not a man. She was promised and yet knew not a man. I want you to know this. She did not know what his lips tasted like even she knew who she was going to marry.

She was as much legally his as she would be as a married woman, but the marriage hadn't happened yet. They were espoused a legal contract bound them together for marriage. She still did not know him in an intimate way.

I think it's a big mistake that their common practice today is to know each other on just about every level. Get way too comfortable way too familiar even the Christians who are committed to and trying to get to their honeymoon Night as virgins trying to make it to the wedding.

Sexual Purity and Delayed Gratification

Even they are still going as far as they legally can. It's a mistake. It's a big mistake to get to know too much physically. Intimately. Mary could say something that I think every single virgin ought to be able to say in fact I know not a man or I know not a woman.

To be able to arrive at your wedding and say that I don't know. Anybody in that way? That's plan a now. You've already blown it. You've already missed plan a. Well in plan B is. As soon as you are right with God as soon as you you become a virgin again in a sense spiritually in the sight of God maintain that virginity.

Maintain that until you're there at that place where God has Blessed the sexual union and that is at your honeymoon and then no not one Hour sooner not a day before it. You know, by the way, take advantage of Christmas.

You're gonna do the tradition. You're gonna wrap gifts for your children and Make them wait let them know they're there and make them wait. You are given the opportunity then to teach the concept of delayed gratifications.

You gotta wait. Teach them that with your gifts. Don't let them open anything early. All right. Some of you guys do Christmas Eve. My my kids have always done that my wife always caves. She wants to bless him Christmas Eve and it'd be in so Christmas Eve becomes this opportunity to sort of experience what's coming tomorrow.

And so it's a little gift. You're like, all right, you can open a little one. I encourage you to teach the concept of delayed gratification. Just remind them. They're there. They're yours pick them up shake them wonder what it is.

Be excited, but don't open it. Do not rip the paper and Then get them to understand this is the very will of God with regard to their body. And the sexual aspect of it. Mary said how? She wasn't doubting.

She just wanted to know how how shall this be? Seeing a note on a man verse 35 and the angel answered her and said unto her the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the Power of the highest shall overshadow thee.

Therefore also the Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. It's quite an answer. The very Spirit of God the prime mover in creation in Genesis 1 verse 2. The prime mover the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the deep the same person the same Holy Spirit would move upon Mary.

As he moved upon all of creation on the face of the deep energized Same Holy Spirit would move. The power of the Most High would overshadow thee. Then the angel goes on and says in verse 36 behold thy cousin Elizabeth.

She hath also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren forth God Shall nothing shall be impossible. Mary said Behold the handmaid of the Lord be it unto me according to thy word and the angel departed from her.

Surrendering to God's Will

I would leave you today with just a reminder of those two very different responses to News from God good news two very different responses. One delivered good news received the good news and doubted it and said What?

No way. You're gonna have to give me a sign before I can believe that. The other Received the good news and just said all right. Just tell me how you know am I supposed to do something. Is it up to me?

The Lord answered through the angel. Gave her the very answer and she said you know what. Then let your words be true. Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me even according your words. Now which one of those two are you which one are we?

You want to please the Lord. Faith is what it takes to please God. Faith is a response to his truth to his message. Encourage you. Recognize that God is speaking especially how he speaks out of the scriptures to us.

Recognize that the Lord is speaking and respond to God's Word by faith. Respond by faith. Just surrender and say Lord you will. You will you can do anything. Be convinced of that that God can do anything.

And I want to encourage you to choose the response of Mary. And humility just say yes, sir. Lord you will. Torn between choices. Go with the will of God and Surrender to it. Let's all stand together. Listen, if you're not right with God you want to do something about that.

The Invitation to Repentance and New Birth

Come and see me right after we pray and dismiss. Other pastors will be right down here the front. Ready to pray with you. Tell you what you got to do. If there is anything that depends upon you, it's good to ask.

I mean, it's like Mary did. How should it be? You know what? God wants to save you if you're not right with God if you're alienated from him. He wants to make you right with him and it's legitimate for you to like Mary ask.

Well, then how? We'll show you in the scripture. Give us that opportunity lead you in a prayer of repentance. And acceptance. You can be born again today you can be so restored to the right relationship with God.

So again, I ask you to give us that opportunity to pray with you. Well, you know the most of you guys are you're Christians. You know the Lord, you know his word. Let him lead you what. And by the way, where does faith come from it?

Faith Comes by Hearing God's Word

We're supposed to just work it up. Faith comes by hearing. Hearing by the Word of God. Choose that you're gonna hear his word. Choose that. Choose to hear what the Lord is saying to you and respond by faith.

Father in heaven, thank you for the time that we've been able to be together. Thank you for the study in your word the way that your word speaks to us. Now pray Lord on behalf of all of those here for those who are among us who may not be where they need to be.

With you, please move upon their heart. To just ask even as Mary did what I got to do. Lord, I pray for All of my brothers and sisters that you would help us to recognize your voice to know your voice and your leading.

And to choose your will help us to to be yielded and surrendered even as Mary was her example inspires us. I pray Lord Jesus. You help us to follow you and have that faith that pleases you. To know the truth that with you.

Nothing is impossible. Nothing. Thank you for this time together and bless our fellowship with each other now as we go in the glorious name.

Grace and peace to you guys. You have been watching God sort the ministry of Calvary Chapel. Central, Maine. If you're in the central, Maine area, please drop by to see us at 154 River Road in, Orington.

We meet Sundays at 830 and 1030 a .m. And again at 6 p .m. Or Wednesdays at 6 p .m. If you're in the southern, Maine area, we meet at the Greater Portland Christian School 1338 Broadway in South Portland Saturdays at 7 p .m.

You can also check us out on the web at www .ccbangor .org. There you will find audio and video teachings by Pastor Ken available for download as well as many other ministry resources.