Luke 1:5-20
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

God hears and answers the prayers of ordinary people.

1. God breaks the silence in unexpected ways.

Luke 1:11
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

Isaiah 9:2
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.

He is there, and He is not silent.

2. God brings extraordinary news that requires faith to believe.

Luke 1:12-14
Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Some respond in fear and disbelief.

Luke 1:18
Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”

Isaiah 64:4
For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.

“God is too wise to be mistaken. God is too good to be unkind. So when you don’t understand, when don’t see his plan, when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.” – Charles Spurgeon

Some respond in faith and gratitude.

Luke 1:25
“This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

3. God fulfills the greatest dreams imaginable.

Luke 1:57-58
Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.

John 1:6-7
There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.

God often takes people to an entirely new level of trust.

Through ordinary people, the promise is given:
Redemption from slavery is coming.
Rescue from our enemy is coming.
Forgiveness of sin is coming.
The dawn of a new day is coming.
Christ is coming!