God Has Heard Your Prayers

Over the past 10 years or so there seems to have been a heightened awareness, obsession and fad on the topic of angels. We have had movies like "Angels in the Outfield" and "City of Angels. Also tv shows like "Touched by an Angel" and "Highway to Heaven". There are angel stickers, stamps, window hangings, candles, cards, etc, etc. There has been this deep interest in looking for angels, worshiping angels, and trying to experience the presence of angels. Much of this pop culture view of angels is far from a biblical basis. In the passage we are going to look at we are going to learn a little bit about just one angel called Gabriel and his message from God.

Luke 1:11 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,’^[b] and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

As we can see from this passage the angel did not rent an apartment near by, hang out on the beach waiting for the sunrise or show someone alternate futures for their life. He simply appeared. He didn't walk in because the crowds waiting outside would have seen him and Zacharias would not have been afraid. As we noted last time the angel did not want Zacharias to be afraid, but to hear the great news he had to share from God. The angel was God's messenger to proclaim what would happen, not what might happen. The focus is not on the angel and his special powers, instead the focus is on God answering Zacharias prayers and proclaiming what God will accomplish through Zacharias' son, John the Baptist.

Last time we heard that Zacharias and Elizabeth were old, but did not have any children. We will see in a later passage that Elizabeth felt reproach from her neighbors because of this. It would appear that this was a subject of Zacharias' prayers. GOOD NEWS ZACHARIAS!!

What is the good news??

• Zacharias prayers have been heard
• He shall have a son and call him John
• You will have joy and gladness
• Many people will be rejoicing at his birth

Now the angel goes on to say that this will be no ordinary miracle of just granting someones desire to have children. This child will be special.

• He will be great in the sight of the Lord, not to be confused with being great in the sight of men. For the prophets in the Old Testament were not well received or live in very good conditions. So it would be with John who will live in the wilderness and dress in a leather jacket.
• He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. This was extraordinary prior to Jesus death and resurrection when all believers receive the Holy Spirit at the time of their acceptance of Jesus as savior.
• John will turn many of the children of Israel back the Lord their God. Notice the word turn, this is where we get the word repentence. I am heading my way and then I turn and go God's way. John will bring people's attention to the need to turn or return to God.
• He will have the Spirit and power of Elijah. Elijah was one of the most revered of the Old Testament prophets.
• John was to prepare a way for the Lord. Later we will learn he was preparing peoples hearts for Jesus.

Can you imagine not having to wait until your kids turn 30 to know if they will walk with God, be a positive influence in the world, and be an adult that you can be proud of. If you are one of my kids don't read too much into this :-). What a joy even now this must have been to Zacharias. However his response was "How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is well advanced in years". The message is to overwhelming for Zacharias. Maybe this really isn't an angel, how can I be sure of what I am hearing?

Gabriel then proclaims his credentials. "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God". This doesn't sound like the wimpy, unsure, confused, bumbling and goofy angels from the movies. You can be sure of what I say.

We all need to know that God does hear our prayers, he is not a standoffish God who winds up the world and lets it go. He wants to have a relationship with us. He wants us to turn to Him. He has sent messengers to prepare our hearts to receive Him. He provides His Son Jesus as a sacrifice to show His love for us. Won't you accept this great news and give your heart to Him.