A minute in God’s Word will change your life. Take a moment to read the text below and then answer the questions at the bottom of the post.
8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.
11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.[a] 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,[b] and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” Luke 1:8-20 (NLT)
What had Zechariah and Elizabeth been praying for?
How long do you think they’d been praying for this?
What was Zechariah’s reaction when he saw the angel of the Lord?
How specific was the angel when he described the baby?
What was Zechariah’s reaction?
When the angel appeared, do you think Zechariah knew it was an angel?
If Zechariah had been praying for a child and an angel appeared and specifically described the answer to the prayer, why did Zechariah doubt?
When I pray for something and God says he’s going to answer or he starts to line up the answer, do I doubt?
Why?
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you in this story?
What are you going to do about it?