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Characters of Christmas

What to Expect When You're Expecting

Bishop Terry L. Hill, Jr.Sunday, December 7, 20251130am
📖 Luke 1:8-26
Luke 1:8–26 challenges us to live faithfully between God’s promise and its fulfillment. Zechariah’s silence and Elizabeth’s seclusion show the value of patience while God’s work develops. We are called to count the cost of answered prayer and prepare for the changes it brings. What God does in our lives should also equip us to encourage others, as Elizabeth’s experience prepared her to support Mary.
Key Points
1.
Learn to handle the “expectation experience,” the space between God’s promise and God’s fulfillment.
2.
Respond to God’s movement with silence and, when needed, self-imposed seclusion so the miracle can mature without being sabotaged by our words or impulses.
3.
Count the cost of answered prayer and prepare for the changes required to carry what God is bringing to life in us.
4.
Expect God’s work in us to become a blessing for others; our miracle can equip us to coach someone else in their season of expectation.

From the Series

Characters of Christmas

📖 Luke 1:8-26
[8] And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, [9] According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. [10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. [11] And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord 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 unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. [14] And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. [15] For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. [16] And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. [17] And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. [18] And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. [19] And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. [20] And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. [21] And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. [22] And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. [23] And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. [24] And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, [25] Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. [26] And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Sermon Summary

Luke 1:8–26 challenges us to live faithfully between God’s promise and its fulfillment. Zechariah’s silence and Elizabeth’s seclusion show the value of patience while God’s work develops.

We are called to count the cost of answered prayer and prepare for the changes it brings. What God does in our lives should also equip us to encourage others, as Elizabeth’s experience prepared her to support Mary.

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