Latest / Meadows Baptist Church Podcast / The Sin of Unbelief - 12/14/25 - Pastor Charlie Branch

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The Sin of Unbelief - 12/14/25 - Pastor Charlie Branch · Meadows Baptist Church Podcast

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Welcome to Meadows Baptist Church
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[music] of Walnut Cove, North Carolina.
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We're so glad you joined us today. If
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you enjoy [music] today's message, be
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sure to subscribe, follow, and share
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with your friends. Now, let's join
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Pastor Charlie Branch [music] with a
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word from God.
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I ain't been very down the road alive
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very far, but I can tell you this, what
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I have seen, I know I can't make it
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without him.
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>> Amen. And uh I appreciate them letting
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me sing with them tonight. I was
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honored, too. I appreciate those ladies.
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If you have a Bible, I want you to turn
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with me to the Gospel of Luke. Luke's
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Gospel, chapter number one.
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Luke's Gospel, chapter number one.
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I appreciate the young people of our
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church and uh they've really stepped up
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here the last several months in our
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church and I really do. I mean it. I
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appreciate them and their faithfulness
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and their desire to serve. I tell you
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that's not everywhere, church. And uh
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you ought to thank God for it. And I'll
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tell you this, y'all do more than just
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thank God for it. Y'all to support them.
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Amen.
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>> Amen. Y'all to support them. And uh
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a lot of different things that I could
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say about that, but I tell you this, the
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Lord has blessed our church. Amen.
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>> He's been so good to us. And uh good
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families, good children.
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I bless his name for it. Luke chapter
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number one. And I'm going to read just a
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few verses here and uh really cover a
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lengthy portion of text. Not going to
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read all of it, but I want to read just
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a few verses here and then we'll give
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you the thought tonight. Luke chapter
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number one. Uh let's begin reading verse
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number 57. Luke chapter 1 verse 57.
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Hope that you're familiar with this this
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text. And uh be honest with you, I
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really have never heard any preaching
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out of this chapter uh all that much.
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I've heard some preaching on Mary, but
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the text I'm going to deal with tonight.
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Never heard a whole lot of preaching on
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heard my dad preach on it. Um but never
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really heard much preaching out of this
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text. I pray the Lord will help us
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tonight. Let's look chap Luke Luke Luke
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in Luke chapter number one verse 57.
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And the Bible says, "Now Elizabeth's
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full time came that she should be
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delivered, and she brought forth a son,
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and her neighbors and her cousins heard
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how the Lord had showed great mercy upon
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her, and they rejoiced with her. And it
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came to pass on the eighth day that they
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came to circumcise the child. They
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called him Zacharias after the name of
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his father." And his mother answered and
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said, "Not so, but he shall be called
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John." And they said unto her, "There is
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none of thy kindred that is called by
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this name." And they made signs to his
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father how he would have him called. And
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he asked for a writing table and ropes
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saying, "His name is John." And they
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marveled all. And notice verse number
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64. This where I want to end up tonight
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with the help of the Lord. Look what he
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says. And his mouth was open
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immediately. And his tongue loosed and
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he spake and praised God. And fear came
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on all the all that dwelt round about
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them. And all these sayings were noised
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abroad throughout all the hill country
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of Judea. And all they that heard them
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laid them up in their hearts, saying,
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"What manner of child shall this be, and
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the hand of the Lord was with him."
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Father, I come before you tonight, and I
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want to say thank you for the good
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service we've had thus far. And Lord, I
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pray, Father, tonight that you would
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allow us to worship you tonight. I pray
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that you would, Lord, break the
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hardness, God, of this flesh.
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Lord, the coldness that we get so
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complacent sometimes, God, I I thank you
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for the spirit, Lord, those songs, those
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ladies just sang. God, the fact of the
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matter is, Lord, every one of us in this
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life's been through a lot of things, but
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there's never been a thing we've went
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through that you weren't there with us.
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And I thank you for that. And Lord, I
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pray, God, that you would help us
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tonight as we consider this text, Lord,
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and give us wisdom, give us discernment,
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help us to receive with meekness the
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engrafted word. And Lord, may we lift
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our eyes under the hills from whence
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cometh our help. Lord, I pray you'll
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move. Clothe me in my calling. I pray
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give us liberty and vocabulary. We'll
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give you thanks for what you do because
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we ask it in Jesus name. Amen. Luke
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chapter number one is the introduction
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of a man by the name of John the
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Baptist. Now we know John the Baptist,
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Isaiah chapter number 40 spoke of this
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man that would be the forerunner of our
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Lord. He would come to prepare the way
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of the Lord. the Bible says, "And make
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his path straight." And we are
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introduced first not to John, but we're
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introduced to his family. And I I find
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that interesting in Luke's gospel. Of
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course, when you study the personality
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of Luke in the scripture, we know that
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he was a doctor. Luke was interested uh
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in lots of things. He's very detailed in
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his writings. And that's why there's a
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lot of events that Luke records,
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particularly the birth here of John the
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Baptist, as well as factors concerning
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the birth of Jesus Christ that the other
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gospels do not record. And so I find it
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interesting here in this text to
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highlight some things by way of
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introduction tonight in verse number
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five of chapter number one. The Bible
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says there was in the days of Herod the
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king of Judea a certain priest named
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Zachcharias of the course of Abaya and
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his wife was of the daughters of Aaron
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and her name was Elizabeth. And I want
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to notice four things about this family.
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This husband and wife here in this text.
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Of course, this is the mother and father
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of John the Baptist. And they are aged
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at this point in their life. Both of
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them are elderly at this time and they
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are past the age of child rearing much
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like uh Abraham and Sarah in the book of
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Genesis. Of course, we know we're not
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given their age in this time, but we do
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know that Elizabeth is barren. And and
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we notice in this text some things about
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them is said of them. I want you to
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notice four things said about them in
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this text. The first thing that's
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mentioned here in verses five and six is
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their virtue. And look what the Bible
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says there. He is a certain priest. His
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wife was of the daughters of Aaron.
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Verse six. And they were both righteous
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before God, walking in all the
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commandments and ordinance commandments
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and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
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And so they were walking with God. So
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much so that nobody could bring an
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accusation against their service. They
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were faithful in the ordinances. That
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had to do with the ceremonial law. Of
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course, we know that Moses law had two
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parts mainly, the sacrificial and the
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ceremonial law. And so, or the
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ceremonial law and then the uh the phys
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moral law and then the sacrificial law,
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those three parts. And so, they were
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faithful in all parts, the commandments,
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that moral law and the ordinances have
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to do with that ceremonial law. And they
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were blameless. They were walking. They
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were virtuous in their marriage. Both of
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them. He was a priest, righteous before
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God. and she was a righteous a believing
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wife that was married to him according
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to the text. And we notice not only
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their virtue is highlighted, but we note
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their vice is highlighted in verse 7.
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The Bible says that they had no child
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because that Elizabeth was barren and
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they both were now wellstricken in
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years. And so all their life this man,
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he was coarse raised in the house of
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Aaron. that course of Abaya. That's one
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of the 24 courses that David installed
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in the book of 2 Samuel there to reign
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over the house of Aaron to keep order in
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the house of God. The priest there, the
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course of Abaya and then his wife of the
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daughters of Aaron. And so they had
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lived their whole life in the ministry
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so to speak and they had no children.
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And let me say this to you this this
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evening. And I I was thinking about it
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this afternoon considering this text.
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Just because somebody does not have what
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we have, does not mean that they have
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sinned or some reason has brought their
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vice upon them. Not every person that
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gets cancer is a sinner. Somebody say,
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"Amen." You say, "Preacher, we're all
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sinners." You know what I'm saying? Not
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every person that gets sick, not every
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time a individual gets out of gets out
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of shape physically has to do with the
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sin that's in their life. Now, we know
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many times that's the case. But in this
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text, these people were not barren to
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any fault of their own. But they were
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barren just because God wanted to work a
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miracle in their later years. Amen. I'll
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tell you what, they got to see that
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barrenness bring a blessing in their
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life. Amen. And so I note their virtue
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and their vice here that's mentioned.
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She is barren. But we consider the
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biggest part of this chapter deals with
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the vision that her husband Zacharias
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has. and he is in his office there in
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the the temple and he is offering the
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incense there in verse number nine verse
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number 10 the multitude is praying there
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in this time of incense and in verse
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number 11 as he is offering this incense
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offering there in that holy place the
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Bible says that there appeared unto him
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an angel of the Lord standing on the
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right side of the altar of incense and
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so he has a vision here in this text he
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sees the angel Gabriel and the Bible
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says that out of this vision He is told
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that his wife him he and his wife are
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going to have a son and his name shall
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be called John in verse number 13. And I
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think what I find interesting about this
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is that there was prayer made. Verse 13,
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look what he says. But the angel said
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unto him, "Fear not, Zachcharias, for
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thy prayer is heard." Amen. I'll say
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this. The only prayers God don't hear
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the prayers you don't pray. Amen. That's
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exactly right. Tonight, if you refuse to
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pray, don't expect God to hear it. Amen.
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God is listening. His ears are open unto
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his children. And his heart is attended
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unto the prayers of his people. And God
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has heard the prayer of Zacharias and
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his wife that they would have a son. No
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doubt in my mind probably they have
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decided that at this point in their life
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that they wouldn't be able to have a son
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just simply because their age. But I'm
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thankful that where the flesh gives up,
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God just gets started. Amen. Hey, when
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we get too old, we think we're aged out.
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Hey, that just might be the time for God
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to use you in the biggest way. Amen.
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Hey, if you still GOT BREATH, YOU STILL
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got ability to do something for God.
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Amen. Hey, don't ever quit on God. Don't
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ever give up on him. Amen. Too
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prematurely. And so I consider out of
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this vision there is victory that is
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wrought for them their prayer is
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answered. Verse number 24, the Bible
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says, "And after those days, his wife
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Elizabeth conceived and hid herself five
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months, saying, thus hath the Lord dealt
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with me in the days wherein he looked on
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me to take away my reproach among men."
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And so God has blessed their home. And
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you say, "Preacher, well, where are you
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headed with this?" Well, uh, in this
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vision tonight, what you're going to
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discover, the angel speaks to this man,
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Zachcharias, and there's an event that
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takes place in this scripture that I
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want to zero in on tonight with the help
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of the Lord. Notice this in verse number
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14, 15, and 16. His birth is revealed.
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He is going to bring rejoicing. He's
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going to have a burden of righteousness.
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And he's also going to build the
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religious world of Jesus Christ. In all
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of these verses, his purpose, his
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administration is going to be to prepare
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the way of the Lord and make his path
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straight. And the beginning of the
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church of God begins with this man, John
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the Baptist. Amen. The first preacher,
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the reason why we're Baptist, is because
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everybody else says, "Well, we can trace
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it all the way back to Jesus." Well, we
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go back before him. Amen. To John the
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Baptist. Somebody say, "Amen." Right
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there. I ain't got time to preach that
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tonight, but we will sometime. Amen. But
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I notice in this text, there's an event
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that happens after the angel gives this
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man Zachcharias all these glad tidings.
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Notice Zachchariah's response in verse
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number verse number 18. Look what the
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Bible says. And Zachariah said unto the
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angel, "Whereby shall I know this? For
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I'm an old man and my wife well stricken
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in years." Now, on the surface right
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there, it does not sound like a
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statement that would be doubting. But I
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submit to you this statement is more
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than doubting. This is complete
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unbelief. You say, "Preacher, how is
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that?" Well, notice verse number 19 and
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20. And the angel answering said unto
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him, "I am Gabriel that stand in the
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presence of God, and am sent to speak
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unto thee, and to show these glad
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tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb
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and not be able to speak until the day
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that these things shall be performed."
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Listen to it now. because thou believest
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not my words which shall be fulfilled in
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their season. And tonight with the help
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of the Lord I want to I want to take to
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preach to you on this subject tonight
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the the problems that accompanied
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unbelief.
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Problems that accompany unbelief. You
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say preacher well I'm saved tonight and
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I love Jesus. Well I'll tell you what I
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really believe Zacharias and his wife
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are saved. Amen. Bible says that they
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were righteous. They were righteous
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before God, walking in all the ordices
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and commandments of the Lord, blameless.
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God had blessed their home. No doubt in
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my mind. But I'll say this, just because
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you are saved does not mean that
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unbelief cannot creep into your life.
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>> Amen. And I want to show you tonight
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with the help of the Lord some things
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that happens when unbelief takes
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control.
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Y'all pray for me. My throat's done.
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You see in this text number one we we
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considered this this thought the
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introduction what all this angel reveals
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his birth the rejoicing the burden the
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building all that that John the Baptist
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is going to be able to do and
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Zachcharias has heard all of this but
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he's not focused on that look what he's
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focused on again in verse 18 whereby
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shall I know this all right what's the
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sign what how are you going to prove to
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me that this is really going to happen
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in my life look what He says, "Whereby
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shall I know this, for I'm an old man
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and my wife well stricken in years." And
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what you find in this text is that
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Zachcharias refused to believe the
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message that the angel gave to him. He
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refused to believe it. How is that,
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preacher? Well, I would say first of
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all, he did not believe the messenger.
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Notice verse 19. What does what does the
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angel say? He says, "And the angel
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answering said unto him, I am Gabriel."
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Why did Gabriel feel the need to
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vindicate himself?
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because Zachcharias didn't believe the
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messenger.
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You know, I think a lot of times in this
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day and time, a lot of the reason
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there's a lot of preachers, they may get
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get real uptight, real upset preaching
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because when their congregation will not
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adhere to the preaching, they will not
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submit to that thing. And it's simply
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because they do not they will they are
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not accepting of that preacher. You say,
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"Well, what is that? Who's wrong in that
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state?" Well, I'll say both of them is
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in that place, but in this place,
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Zachcharias is wrong. Amen. You say,
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"What's wrong about it?" Well, he did
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not believe [snorts] that this messenger
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was from God. He believed he saw a
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vision. But you know what? Gabriel says,
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"All right, let's just remove all doubt
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right here. I'm Gabriel." Look what he
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says about himself that stand in the
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presence of God. He vindicates his
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person. He also vindicates his
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authority. Look what he says. That stand
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in the presence of God. Hey, don't be
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casting down on me, Zacharias. I come
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from God above. Look what he says. And
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am sent to speak unto thee and to show
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thee these glad tidings. He said in
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Zachcharias, you should be happy. Boy, I
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can't tell you how many times I preached
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a sermon and the church ought to be
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happy.
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>> Amen. But it don't excite no. It don't
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excite nothing. There's no stirring.
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There's no excitement. There's no
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rejoicing. Amen. Because what? We miss
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the point
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>> of the message. Zachcharias has just
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been told they're going to have A BABY.
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THE PRAYER'S BEEN ANSWERED. EVERYTHING'S
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been done. GOD HAS COMPLETED THE WORK
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AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, but he's so
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focused on himself. I'm too old. And I
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just don't know about you. You know,
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that's our problem, isn't it?
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>> We look too much on the messenger and on
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the one receiving the message and just
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forget about the message.
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>> We look at oursel and the one giving the
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message, but we don't take the message.
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Amen. Just take the message. Somebody
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say, "Amen."
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>> He didn't like the me. He didn't believe
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the messenger, but he also did not
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believe the message. Notice verse 20.
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And behold, thou shalt be dumb and not
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able to speak until the day that these
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things shall be performed because thou
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believest not my words which shall be
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fulfilled in their season. He did not
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believe the Holy Ghost by in inspiration
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the Holy Ghost that's recorded.
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Zachcharias did not believe the message.
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I want to give you four things tonight
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on what unbelief will bring about. The
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problems that come along with unbelief.
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Notice number one tonight I would say
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the Bible says in verse 20 he said
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behold thou shalt be dumb and not be
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able to speak until the day that these
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things shall be performed. I would say
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number one is presented here he did not
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believe the message. He did not believe
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the messenger but he also would not be
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able to speak. What happened out of
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this? Well number one he could not
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respond to the angel.
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Look what the Bible says. He said
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because thou believest not my words
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which shall be fulfilled in their
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season. And the people waited for
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Zacharias and marveled that he terried
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so long in the temple. And when he came
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out, he could not speak unto them. So
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when the angel pronounced this curse on
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him for this time period, you know what
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happened? He couldn't respond. You know
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why people can't say amen in the house
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of God? Because they don't believe what
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the preacher's preaching.
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>> Amen. You know the reason why he
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couldn't talk? Because he didn't believe
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what the preacher said to him. Amen.
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That's real simple, but that's real
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good. Amen. You know, the reason why he
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got shut off, cut off, and zipped up.
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Amen. Is because he did not believe. The
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reason why it gets quiet down at the
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house of God so many times is because
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you really don't believe what the
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preacher's preaching. And you couldn't
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what? What is it? He could not respond
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to the angel. There was no ability to
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respond to the truth that was presented
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to him because he did not believe. There
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was no desire to respond at first. But
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then when he wanted to say something,
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the angel said, "All right, you can't
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say nothing now." You know, here's the
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way this thing works. The Bible says
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that every mouth may be stopped at what?
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The law of God. He's the final
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authority. Let God be true and every man
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a liar. And when the preacher, the
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messenger, the teacher, whoever it is,
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amen, the soul winner gives the message,
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you know what? That sinner, that person
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out of the will of God, whoever it is,
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when they're in the wrong, when they're
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in unbelief, what's the best thing for
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them to do? Not say anything.
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>> And so, you know what? He does the work
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for him here. He's not able to respond
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to this angel. Many of the reason I'll
18:50
say it again, the reason why people
18:51
can't say amen to preaching is because
18:53
they don't believe it. Amen. I noticed
18:56
this. Not only he couldn't he couldn't
18:58
uh respond to the angel, but he also
19:00
could not reveal anything to the people.
19:02
Notice verse 22. And when he came out,
19:05
he could not speak unto them. And they
19:07
perceived that he had seen a vision in
19:09
the temple. For he beckoned unto them
19:11
and remained speechless. Now think about
19:13
this for just a minute with me. He's
19:15
just been told he's going to have a
19:17
baby. This man's old. No doubt his hair
19:19
is gray and he's tired. Amen. He's been
19:22
serving. I believe this feast goes for
19:24
about a week long here that he's been
19:26
serving in. And at the end when he comes
19:28
out, he's been tearing a long time at
19:30
this vision. And he comes out and what
19:32
happens? He can't say anything. He can't
19:34
tell them about the angel. He can't tell
19:36
them about the blessing. He can't tell
19:38
them about anything because he's been
19:41
cut off.
19:42
You know what happens when you're in
19:44
unbelief? Not only it cuts you off being
19:46
able to respond to the message, but it
19:48
also cuts off you being able to reveal
19:50
anything to anybody else. Let me say
19:53
this to you. You say, "Preacher, well, I
19:55
believe the gospel and I believe the
19:57
truth and and this that and the I
19:59
believe what's right, but that one thing
20:01
that you said, there's just one thing
20:02
you said. I just don't believe that."
20:03
You know what happens when it comes down
20:05
to the truth of this word of God? If you
20:07
don't take it all, you lose it all.
20:09
>> Amen. If you do not take God at his
20:12
word, A to Z, front to back, amen,
20:14
beginning to end, you do not have rights
20:17
to any of it. You've got to take it all.
20:20
And so, in order to be able to impart
20:22
truth, you've got to be able to receive
20:23
it. Paul said, "For I delivered unto you
20:25
first of all, that which I also
20:27
received, how that Christ died for our
20:29
sins according to the scripture, and
20:31
that he was buried, that he rose again
20:32
the third day according to the
20:33
scripture." You have to receive it in
20:36
order to give it. AND BECAUSE HE WOULD
20:38
NOT BELIEVE IT, he was not able to give
20:40
it.
20:42
You know, I think the reason a lot of
20:44
people don't witness because they don't
20:46
have anything to witness about.
20:48
>> I think that's true. I think a lot of
20:51
people will not testify of the grace of
20:53
God is because they don't have anything
20:54
to testify about. Amen. What I'm saying
20:57
is Zachcharias got closed off not only
21:00
to the angel, but he got closed off to
21:01
the people. Here's what'll happen to you
21:03
when you get an unbelief. You'll get
21:05
closed off to the church. You'll get
21:07
closed off to the preacher, closed off
21:09
to the people, closed off even to your
21:11
own family members when you're living in
21:14
unbelief. I'm going somewhere. Stay with
21:16
me. He could not respond to the angel.
21:18
He could not reveal anything to the
21:20
people. He couldn't tell the miracle. He
21:22
couldn't tell the message or even about
21:24
the messenger. He couldn't speak about
21:25
the fact that he had saw an angel.
21:27
Notice this. He couldn't only not reveal
21:30
uh anything to the people, but he also
21:32
couldn't rejoice with his family.
21:35
I'm telling you, this is real stuff.
21:37
Notice chapter number one, verse number
21:39
57. A lot of stuff that I could preach
21:41
in between this, but I want to give you
21:43
the message tonight. Look what he says
21:45
in verse 57. Now Elizabeth's full time
21:48
came that she should be delivered. And
21:50
she brought forth a son, and her
21:52
neighbors and her cousins heard how the
21:54
Lord had showed great mercy upon her.
21:56
Notice this. And they rejoiced with her.
22:00
You see, Elizabeth's old, wellstricken
22:02
in years. She's conceived John the
22:05
Baptist in her womb. And they no doubt
22:07
these Jerusalem, these ladies of
22:09
Jerusalem, they knew the scripture. They
22:11
knew what Isaiah 40 said that this
22:13
promised one would be the forerunner of
22:15
our Lord. And they're rejoicing that
22:17
she's pregnant, but they're also
22:19
rejoicing that prophecy is fulfilled.
22:21
And they're also rejoicing that a prayer
22:23
has been answered. You think about the
22:25
blessing of this event, all the
22:27
excitement, all the blessing, all the
22:29
goodness of what's taking place in this
22:31
text. And who's standing on the
22:33
sidelines can't get in on it? Look what
22:35
the Bible says. Verse 59. It came to
22:38
pass that on the eth day they came to
22:39
circumcise the child, and they called
22:41
him Zacharias after the name of his
22:43
father, and his mother answered and
22:44
said, "Not so, but he shall be called
22:46
John." And they said unto her, "There's
22:48
none of thy kind that's called by this
22:49
name." Notice verse 62. There he still
22:51
can't talk. Look what this says. And
22:53
they made signs to his father how they
22:55
would have him called. And he asked for
22:57
a writing table and wrote.
23:00
He couldn't rejoice with them. You see
23:03
what's happened here? Not only is he
23:05
couldn't talk, but he also couldn't
23:07
understand their rejoicing. Notice it
23:10
again, verse 62. And they made signs
23:13
to his father. He was on the outside of
23:16
all the rejoicing. You ever been like
23:19
that? Been to service, people get saved,
23:22
saints getting help, God's moving in a
23:23
big way. You know what? You're sitting
23:25
on the outside of it. You know why?
23:28
Unbelief.
23:32
You say, "Preacher, what is it I don't
23:33
believe?" Well, most time what it comes
23:35
down to is you don't believe the sin
23:36
you're living in is really sin.
23:40
>> It's not. You say, "Preacher, I'M
23:41
SAVED." WELL, I'M GLAD YOU'RE SAVED. But
23:43
if you are living in sin, and when GOD
23:46
POINTS THAT THING OUT IN YOUR LIFE, you
23:48
say, "Well, I just don't know about
23:49
that, Lord." You say, "Preacher, I
23:51
wouldn't say." That's what you say by
23:52
the way you respond to it. Amen. You
23:55
respond. And so, THERE IS NO REJOICING.
23:58
MAN, I HATE it for people when God
24:00
blesses like he did here on last Sunday
24:02
and we had two ladies get saved and yet
24:04
isn't it amazing that still some people
24:06
set stone face and dryeyed not even weep
24:10
and not even bothered a little bit by
24:12
the fact that other people WERE HERE
24:14
LOST IT DOESN'T AFFECT THEM AT ALL
24:16
>> THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO REJOICE THEY'RE NOT
24:18
EVEN ABLE TO WEEP BECAUSE THEY ARE IN
24:21
UNBELIEF well I just don't believe that
24:23
was real preacher
24:25
>> how many times you heard that
24:28
>> what I'm saying is is you can't rejoice.
24:30
You living in unbelief.
24:33
>> He he he didn't know what their
24:35
rejoicing was about. They made signs to
24:37
him. Give you this fourthly and we'll
24:39
move on here. I I consider he could not
24:41
rejoice with his family. I'll say this.
24:43
Unbelief will keep you from rejoicing
24:45
with the people of God. Fourthly, I
24:47
consider this. He also he could not
24:50
rebuke those who are wrong about naming
24:53
his son. You say, "What is that?" Well,
24:56
notice the verse again. Verse 59. And it
24:58
came to pass that on the eighth day, the
25:00
eighth day, all Jewish boys were
25:02
circumcised.
25:03
They came to circumcise the child, and
25:05
they called him Zacharias
25:08
after the name of his father. Notice who
25:10
speaks up in verse 60. Zachcharias knew
25:13
what he was supposed to be called. Amen.
25:15
But you know what? He's still living in
25:17
the consequences of his unbelief. Notice
25:20
verse 60. And his mother answered and
25:22
said, "Not so, but he shall be called
25:24
John." Verse 61. They're arguing with
25:26
her. They said unto her, "There's none
25:28
of thy kindred that's called by this
25:29
name." But you see, none of them's heard
25:31
the promise.
25:33
None of them's heard the blessing. Who's
25:34
the one that got told the promise?
25:36
Zacharias did. But what's his problem?
25:38
He can't tell it.
25:41
Why? He's bound up by unbelief.
25:44
You know what happens? Verse 62, they
25:45
made signs to his father how he would
25:47
have him called. And he asked for a
25:48
writing table and rope saying, "His name
25:50
is John." Here's the miracle of this.
25:53
Verse 63 is where it turns. You see, the
25:57
miracle of unbelief for a child of God
25:58
is you don't have to stay there.
26:00
>> Amen. Boy, ain't that good, Brother
26:03
Rick? Man, I'm telling you, when you get
26:05
when you get out of sorts with God, I
26:07
like old preacher said, you need to keep
26:08
short accounts with God. Amen. Hey, when
26:11
you got sin in your life, the best thing
26:12
you can do is deal with that thing the
26:14
moment that it gets pointed out. Amen.
26:17
Deal with it as quick as you can. If you
26:19
know it's wrong, you confess it and
26:20
forsake it. Amen. Zachariah suffered for
26:23
the consequences of this the entirety of
26:26
his wife's pregnancy.
26:28
>> Notice the text. He asked for riding
26:31
table and wrote, saying his name is
26:32
John. And they marveled. They could not
26:35
understand. You see, he couldn't rebuke
26:37
those that were wrong about naming his
26:39
son. You know what you lose the ability
26:40
to do? And I'm going to get on with the
26:41
message here. You know what you lose the
26:43
ability to do when you are in unbelief
26:46
to correct somebody that's wrong?
26:50
You say, "What is that, preacher?" Well,
26:51
you try to chasen your children when
26:53
you're wrong.
26:56
You try to correct them. I mean, it's
26:58
like that text said Jesus said, "Hey, if
27:00
you got a beam in your own eye, quit
27:01
worrying about the moat that's in your
27:03
brother's eye." Amen. Hey, if you got a
27:05
2x4 sticking out of your head, don't
27:07
worry about the splinter at somebody
27:08
else's God. You ought to try sometime to
27:11
rebuke somebody and you're not right
27:12
with God. You lose all ability to bring
27:15
correction because you're not right.
27:18
>> This good preaching. Amen. If I am doing
27:20
it. Amen. Notice this. I'm not being
27:23
proud tonight. I'm just, you know how I
27:25
am. I'm sorry. Notice this. All right.
27:28
You see, his belief is seen the moment
27:31
that he agrees with his wife. Verse 63.
27:36
He asked for riding table and rope,
27:37
saying his name is John. You know what?
27:41
It's at this moment that the curse is
27:44
lifted. Notice verse 64. And his mouth
27:47
was opened what? immediately and his
27:50
tongue loose and he spake and praise
27:52
God. Could you imagine living the entire
27:54
nine months? Now, I can't verify this,
27:56
but I tell you, I believe it's what the
27:58
text teaches. The entirety of her
28:01
pregnancy, he's an unbelief. She's
28:03
walking around in the 39th week about to
28:06
pop and he's still not believing. Amen.
28:11
John, he makes his entrance into the
28:13
world.
28:16
He still can't talk. Eight days he's
28:19
circumcised. Eight days later,
28:21
circumcised. Verse 61,62 they're asking
28:24
him, "What are we going to name him?" He
28:26
still can't talk. But the moment when he
28:29
writes it down, you know what? That
28:31
manifest is belief.
28:33
I believe. What happens? His mouth was
28:37
opened immediately. His belief is seen
28:40
the moment he agrees with Elizabeth. He
28:41
gives the writing in verse 63. But out
28:43
of that writing, he then gives his words
28:45
in verse 64. What's the first thing that
28:47
he says in verse 64? His mouth was
28:50
opened immediately and his tongue loose.
28:51
What's this say? And he spake and what?
28:54
Praise God. Hey, when you get out of
28:56
unbelief, you know what the first thing
28:57
you'll do?
28:59
>> Bless his name. Amen. Hey, I'll tell you
29:02
what, it's miserable to live and walk in
29:03
unbelief knowing God's dealt with your
29:06
heart about something. Hey, when you
29:07
finally turn loose to that thing and God
29:10
sets your tongue loose, boy, I'm telling
29:11
you, man, I'm saying there's been times
29:13
in my life where I refuse to do or
29:16
believe what God told me to believe or
29:17
do. And man, the moment when I let go of
29:20
THAT THING, IT'S LIKE GLORY OPENING MY
29:22
SOUL AND IN MY HEART JUST A WELLING UP
29:24
OF THANKS UNTO HIM. WHY? BECAUSE WHEN
29:27
I'M SHUT DOWN FOR SO LONG, HEY, I MISS
29:30
THE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE ONE THAT I LOVE
29:31
MOST. I MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PRAISE
29:34
HIS NAME OF THE BEST. THE HALLELUJAH.
29:38
HE'S THE BEST THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED
29:40
TO ANY OF US. And I'm telling you, your
29:42
unbelief will hinder you
29:45
>> from praising him. Oh, but when you get
29:47
it settled, the first thing you'll do is
29:49
you'll bless his name. Amen. His words,
29:52
note the witness in verse 65, look what
29:54
happens out of this. Isn't it
29:56
interesting? This that this is
29:58
completely reversed.
30:00
He couldn't respond to the angel first.
30:02
Now he's praising God.
30:05
Second of all, he couldn't reveal
30:06
anything to the people. But now notice
30:08
verse 65. And fear came on all them that
30:11
dwelt around them. And all these sayings
30:12
were noised abroad throughout all the
30:13
hill country of Judea. Where he couldn't
30:16
talk before, now the people's hearing
30:17
what he's got to say. Notice it again.
30:20
Verse 66. And all they that heard them
30:24
laid them up in their hearts, saying,
30:25
"What manner of child shall this be?"
30:27
And the hand of the Lord was with him.
30:30
You know what? He got to rejoice with
30:33
his family.
30:35
>> Everything you lose in unbelief, you can
30:37
gain back the moment that you choose to
30:40
believe.
30:42
>> Amen. Notice it in the text here.
30:45
There's the witness in verse 65. Fear
30:48
came on all them that dwelt around about
30:50
them. Then there's the wonder in verse
30:52
66. What manner of child shall this be?
30:55
And in verse 67 all the way down through
30:57
verse 79, Zachcharias gives a prophecy.
31:01
And what's interesting about this
31:02
prophecy is Zachcharias is not talking
31:04
about John at first, but he begins
31:07
talking about the salvation of Jesus
31:09
Christ. Look what he says. Verse 68 is
31:12
verse 67. His father Zacharias was
31:14
filled with the Holy Ghost and
31:16
prophesied saying, "Blessed be the Lord
31:18
God of Israel, for he hath visited and
31:20
redeemed his people and hath raised up a
31:22
horn of salvation for us in the house of
31:24
his servant David." That wasn't John the
31:26
Baptist. That's Jesus. He's praising God
31:29
not for his son, but for God's son.
31:32
Amen. Hey, the blessing of John the
31:34
Baptist, you know what John did? EVEN
31:36
BEFORE HE EVER PREACHED A SERMON, John
31:38
the Baptist pointed his own daddy, to
31:41
the real son of God. HALLELUJAH. POINTED
31:44
him to Jesus and said, "He's the one
31:46
that's worthy. HE'S THE HORN OF
31:48
SALVATION. HE'S THE MESSIAH." LOOK WHAT
31:50
HE says in verse 70. as he spake by the
31:53
mouth of his holy prophets, which have
31:55
been since the world began, that we
31:58
should be saved from our enemies and
32:02
from the hand of all them that hate us.
32:05
And through all the way through verse
32:07
number 75, he speaks of Jesus. But then
32:10
in verse 76, he gets to his own son. He
32:13
speaks of the salvation of Jesus, but he
32:15
gives the service of John in verse 76.
32:17
And thou child shalt be called the
32:19
prophet of the highest. For thou shalt
32:22
go before the face of the Lord to
32:23
prepare his ways to give knowledge of
32:25
salvation unto his people by the
32:27
remission of their sins through the
32:28
tender mercy of our God. Whereby the
32:31
dayspring from on high visited us. I'm
32:34
telling you, when you get out of
32:35
unbelief,
32:37
you'll have a shouting spell, a praise
32:40
fest. Amen. For lack of a better way to
32:42
put it, you'll have an oldtime
32:45
bentecostal shouting fit. Amen.
32:48
>> Let me say this to you tonight as we
32:50
close.
32:52
Let me ask you something. What's
32:53
unbelief hindering you from?
32:56
You see, unbelief brings about a lot of
32:58
problems with it. But I tell you, here's
33:00
the number one problem with unbelief.
33:01
You know what what it brings? It brings
33:03
it brings a a disunityity and a lack of
33:05
fellowship. Bible says if we say that we
33:08
have fellowship and we walk in darkness,
33:10
we lie and do not the truth.
33:12
If you're walking in darkness, walking
33:14
in unbelief, let me tell you, he's still
33:16
the light of the world. And if he's
33:18
light enough to save you, he is light
33:20
enough to secure you and to satisfy you.
33:24
>> Amen. There is nothing worth living in
33:28
unbelief. Amen. Every head bowed and
33:30
every eye closed. Father, thank you for
33:32
this time tonight. Lord, I know it's
33:34
been different service, but God, I thank
33:36
you for it. And Lord, I pray tonight,
33:38
Lord, that you would please help us all
33:40
take inventory,
33:42
God. What things is, Lord, these these
33:45
remnants of unbelief are in all of our
33:47
hearts many times. God, help us just to
33:49
be fully submissive to you,
33:52
God. Whatever it is we need to turn over
33:54
to you, Lord. If it's our life, if it's
33:57
our job, if it's our family, if it's our
34:00
time, God, help us not be in unbelief.
34:03
[music] But Lord, let us just simply
34:05
trust you. Cuz Lord, I don't want to
34:08
miss out on fellowship with you. I don't
34:10
want to miss out on fellowship with this
34:12
church and the people that I love, God,
34:15
because of unbelief.
34:17
I don't want to be able, Lord, I don't
34:18
want to be hindered from sharing about
34:20
the blessings that you have given me
34:23
because of my unbelief. [music]
34:26
Lord, I sure love you. I thank you for
34:29
loving me.
34:32
Every head still bowed, every eyes
34:33
closed for just a moment of time. I'm
34:34
going to give you time if you want to
34:36
come pray and come do that.
34:38
I tell you this tonight, unbelief will
34:40
keep us from the blessings of God.
34:44
Unbelief is the cardinal sin of
34:45
humanity.
34:48
Bible says there in the book of John,
34:50
Jesus talked about the country. He re he
34:52
reproved the world of sin and of
34:54
righteousness and of judgment. He said
34:56
because they believe not on me. Let me
34:58
tell you this tonight, child of God. If
35:00
you can trust him for your salvation,
35:01
you can trust him for everything else.
35:03
Amen. If you can trust him to get you to
35:06
heaven, I can promise you you can trust
35:08
him for the small matters of this life
35:10
and he'll be enough. Amen. Father, thank
35:13
you once again for this time. Thank you
35:15
for these truths tonight from the word
35:17
of God. Lord, I sure love you. Thank you
35:19
for our church. Pray you bless us as we
35:21
depart tonight. We ask it in Jesus name.
35:24
Amen.
35:25
>> Thank you for joining our service today.
35:28
We'd love it [music] if you join us in
35:29
person the next time you are able at
35:32
Meadows Baptist Church. Our physical
35:34
[music] address is 2988
35:37
Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North
35:39
Carolina. Our service times are Sunday
35:42
[music] school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday
35:44
morning worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday
35:46
evening worship at 6:00 p.m., and
35:49
Wednesday evening [music] Bible study at
35:51
700 p.m. For more information, visit us
35:54
at meadowsbaptisturch.com. [music]
35:56
Thanks again for tuning in.