Advent's Promise to Zechariah Day 9

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A shaken priest, a startling angel, and a promise that refuses to fit inside human limits. We continue our Advent journey with Luke 1:5–25, walking through Zechariah’s encounter with Gabriel, the sign of silence, and Elizabeth’s unexpected joy. This is a story about more than a miraculous birth; it’s about how God prepares a people, turns hearts, and grows hope in places we had written off as barren.

I share the passage in full and unpack why the details matter: John’s consecration, his Spirit-filled calling from the womb, and his mission to turn fathers toward children and the rebellious toward wisdom. We talk about the shock of unbelief meeting divine certainty, and why Zechariah’s silence is both a discipline and a mercy. In a season crowded with noise, his quiet months invite us to practice attention, let go of control, and allow God’s word to take root. Elizabeth’s secluded gratitude reframes delay as kindness, reminding us that God’s timing often protects fragile beginnings while preparing the way for Jesus.

You’ll walk away with simple, grounded practices for Advent: show up to ordinary duties with expectant hearts, carve out strategic silence to deepen trust, and name God’s kindness in small beginnings. This reflection is for anyone who feels stuck between promise and fulfillment, who needs to remember that hope often grows offstage before it steps into the light. Stay watchful, stay holy, stay renewed with us as we lean into the story that changes every other story.

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The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You. I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:56):
Hey, welcome to Renewed Mindsets.
I'm Rick, and I'm so glad you'rehere.
But this is something special.
For the next 25 days, we'regoing to slow down, we're going
to quiet our hearts, and we'regoing to turn our eyes towards
Jesus as we walk through Adventtogether.
Now every day we'll take a fewminutes to breathe and reflect

(01:19):
and remember the hope that cameinto the world and the hope
that's coming again.
Hey, welcome back to RenewedMindsets.
Day nine of the Advent Biblereading.
We are going to be in Lukechapter 1, verses 5 through 25.

(01:41):
That's the promise to Zechariah.
Of course, I'm Rick, and I'm soglad to be here.
I hate it for y'all that Ashtonand Lauren couldn't be here
today, but I will have Ashtonback tomorrow, I promise.
So let's just get into thereading.
The birth of John the Baptistforetold.

(02:05):
When Herod was king of Judea,there was a Jewish priest named
Zechariah.
He was a member of the priestlyorder of Abijah, and his wife
Elizabeth was also from thepriestly line of Aaron.
Zechariah and Elizabeth wererighteous in God's eyes, careful
to obey all of the laws and thecommandments and regulations.

(02:28):
They had no children becauseElizabeth was unable to
conceive, and they were bothvery old.
One day Zechariah was servingGod in the temple, for his order
was on duty that week.
As was the custom of the priest,he was chosen by Lot to enter
the sanctuary of the Lord andburn incense.
While the incense was beingburned, a great crowd stood

(02:51):
outside praying.
While Zechariah was in thesanctuary, an angel of the Lord
appeared to him standing to theright of the incense altar.
Zechariah was shaken andoverwhelmed with fear when he
saw him.
But the angel said, Don't beafraid, Zechariah.
God has heard your prayer.
Your wife Elizabeth will giveyou a son, and you are to name

(03:14):
him John.
You will have great joy andgladness, and many will rejoice
at his birth, for he will begreat in the eyes of the Lord.
He must never touch wine orother alcoholic drinks.
He will be filled with the HolySpirit even before his birth,
and he will turn many Israelitesto the Lord their God.

(03:37):
He will be a man with the spiritand the power of Elijah.
He will prepare the people forthe coming of the Lord, he will
turn the hearts of the fathersto their children, and he will
cause those who are rebelliousto accept the wisdom of the
godly.
Zechariah said to the angel, Howcan I be sure all this will

(03:57):
happen?
I'm an old man now, and my wifeis also well along in years.
Then the angel said, I amGabriel, I stand in the very
presence of God.
It was he who sent me to bringyou this good news, but now
since you didn't believe what Isaid, you will be silent and

(04:18):
unable to speak until the childis born, for my words will
certainly be fulfilled at theproper time.
Meanwhile, the people werewaiting for Zechariah to come
out of the sanctuary, wonderingwhy he was taking so long.
When he finally did come out, hecouldn't speak to them.
Then they realized from hisgestures and his silence that he

(04:40):
must have seen a vision in thesanctuary.
When Zechariah's week of servicein the temple was over, he
returned home.
Soon afterward his wife,Elizabeth, became pregnant and
went into seclusion for fivemonths.
How kind the Lord is, sheexclaimed.

(05:02):
I love reading that.
It's such a good, solid story inthe Bible.
And I love the fact that hedidn't get cut any slack.
He's just like, nah, you're notgonna speak now.
You didn't believe me once, toobad for you.
Anyway, it's great.
I love it.

(05:22):
Tomorrow is gonna be a lot offun.
We'll be in Luke again.
And uh we're really getting intothe birth of Jesus in the Advent
timeline.
So until then, I love you.
Check back with us tomorrow.
I'm pretty sure it's gonna beAshton.

(05:43):
But if not, you'll deal with meagain.
We all know how wonderful thatis.

SPEAKER_01 (05:49):
Anyway, y'all have a great day.

SPEAKER_00 (07:00):
Thanks for joining me today on Renewed Mindsets.
As we walk through Advent, let'sstay expectant.
Let's stay watching, praying,and keeping our hearts ready for
the one who came and the onewho's coming again soon.
I love you.
Let's keep our minds renewed andour eyes on Jesus.

(07:22):
The executive producer ofRenewed Mindsets is Christy
McCurry.
That's all for today, but I'llbe back with more unfiltered
biblical truth and undeniableprophecy.
The time to wake up is now.
If today's episode challengedyou, don't keep it to yourself.
Tell someone, please, text thema link, share the truth while

(07:47):
there's still time.
Visit renewedmindsets.com tostay connected and to listen to
past episodes.
And check out our merch atrenewedmindsets.store.
Jesus is coming soon.
Stay watchful.
Stay holy.
Stay renewed.
Until next week.

(08:09):
I'm Rick.

SPEAKER_01 (08:12):
Be an encourager, not a discourager.
I love you.

SPEAKER_00 (08:25):
See ya.
The intro and outro music forthe Renewed Mindsets podcast is
Are You Ready by Floodgate.
From the album Are You Ready?
Copyright 2002 MinistriesIncorporated.
Floodgate can be found on AppleMusic and iTunes.

(08:45):
Music used with permission.