Sermon Notes: What's It Gonna Be? - Larry Brey

Here are this week’s ‘Sermon Notes: What’s It Gonna Be?’ from Elevation Church preached on June 18, 2023 by on staff pastor, Larry Brey.

Disclaimer: these are just my notes.

Even though I made extra effort to capture as many pertinent points as possible, it is best for you to watch the full message.

Luke 1:62

God has given us naming rights
When did we go from becoming something for God’s glory to doing something for Him? We always ask little children what they want to be when they grow up and it seems we have lost a bit of the wonderment we used to have.
It speaks to the assignment that God has placed on our hearts to remember some of the things He has spoken to us that time has talked us out of.

About Zechariah and Elizabeth

See Luke 1:5

Elizabeth came from the royal bloodline of Aaron, the first high priest and brother to Moses.

Zechariah himself was a priest.

These people came from high spiritual pedigree.

Verse 6 describes them as being ‘blameless’. Pastor Larry pointed out that this word use doesn’t indicate that they were without sin but rather that they were above reproach.

This is important as being blameless means that they were following the decrees and ordinances of God.

In other words, they were abiding.

The Bible is Not a Fairytale

Luke 1:7 carries a whisper of disappointment. Note the ‘but”.

“But” often speaks to a desire that is delayed or denied.

It is significant that they were very old. This means they would have been carrying the bitterness of barrenness for decades.

With all this in mind, recognize that the “but” becomes a foreshadowing of God’s favor.

Don’t let disappointment bury your desire.

Faithful While Disappointed

Zechariah and Elizabeth kept dutifully serving God despite not getting their deepest desire. Consider the yearly trek to make sacrifice, trekking along with families each year, seeing children – the reminder of their barrenness.

It was their duty to do this 5 times a year.

Zechariah was chosen to carry out the temple rituals. it was his duty for approx 70 years.

What the Holy Place Represents – What Zechariah Attended to

The lamp represented God’s light

The altar represented God’s presence

The bread represented His provision

Joy Is A Decision

The word ‘eden’ represents delight

Delight is not a feeling. It is a decision.

It is a duty.

Consider “Do you think it was a delight for Jesus to sacrifice Himself on the cross?

See Psalm 37:4 (NASB)

Delight yourself in the Lord;

And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 (NASB)

If we only delight in our dreams then we will eventually walk away from our duty.

Delighting looks like duty to others.

But pay attention to what God puts in your hands

Pastor Brey’s definition of Real Faith – to keep delighting in your heart when the desires of your heart is unmet.

Are you making unmet desires keep your from being faithful with what He has placed in your hands?

Don’t let disappointment keep you from embracing your duty.

Your Prayer Has Been Heard

Luke 1:11-13

Zechariah’s prayer got answered.

A long forgotten prayer.

He would have first had to enter the darkened holy place to light the lamp. This order is important.

The light needed to eliminate the darkness.
For us, the application is to follow that order in seeking first the kingdom rather than stumbling around in the dark trying to chase after our dreams.

The priest would enter the temple twice on that sabbath to receive the sacrifice and petitions of the people.

There would have been 2 types of prayers: individual and corporate prayers being offered up.

God Hasn’t Forgotten You

But, the prayer he didn’t remember, God never forgot.
Sometimes the dream we have doesn’t match up with the picture we had but there is still delight.

Disbelief Is Corrosive

Luke 1:18-20

The angel shut up Zechariah’s mouth to save him from his own disbelief.
God is more committed to your desire than you are.
Disbelief can be more corrosive to the Christian life than the devil.

Starve Your Disbelief

Look at Luke 1:20

God has an appointed time for our desires to be fulfilled
Is your schedule syncing with God’s?
We need to learn to silence the disbelief – to shut up so we don’t end up poisoning our lives with disbelief-laced words.
If you want something to die, you need to starve it.
Pastor Brey suggests we go on a 21 day opinion fast.

God met the desire of Zechariah’s heart at the same time He met Israel’s needs.

At the same time too, He was doing the miraculous in a 16 yr old virgin.

Look at the difference in Luke 1:38. Mary spoke a faith-filled declaration. Zechariah however had to be silenced. He would have spoken doubt, undoing God’s work.

Settle In The Spirit Of Silence

Learn to be silent!

It will happen at His appointed time, not your appointed time.

Even in the grief you are experiencing is significant, you can have delight in what God has done.

Luke 1:61 – Be careful of ‘they’. Don’t use the labels of a previous generation. Don’t be labelled according to ‘they’

Write it Down

Luke1:62 is a second chance. Zechariah hadn’t spoken in 9 months. He wrote it down. don’t forfeit the revelation because you didn’t capture it.

Last time he spoke, he spoke poison.

Learn to discipline your tongue by remaining faithful with what God has put into your hands.

Going into the temple was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Zechariah had one shot.

Contemplate…

Are you gonna keep labelling yourself according to your lowest moment?

Before You Go

I just launched some faith mugs. I think mugs are such a practical, cute way to kill two birds with one stone. With my mug designs, you’ll be able to share your faith and keep yourself inspired all at once. It can be such a useful way to practice the presence of God in the ultimate mindfulness practice…feeding your soul and your body simultaneously.

Take a look and tell me what you think.

Also, check out our other content here.

Til next week….

Be Blessed

Stating Faith

Sermon Notes: What’s It Gonna Be? – Larry Brey