[Read] To be Opened and to be Closed (Luke 1:5-23, 57-66)

Even though Zechariah was a righteous and a faithful person who observed all of the Lord’s commandments and decrees blamelessly, he had to live as a mute for 10 months due to his disbelief. God closed Zechariah’s lips when he did not respond with his faith when God sent His Word to him to “finalize” His Will through him. However, when Zechariah restored his faith, God reopened his lips.

I. To be closed
When Zechariah was serving as a priest, he was chosen by lot according to the custom of the priesthood to burn incense in the temple of the Lord. Suddenly, a messenger of God appeared before Zechariah and shared the news that his wife Elizabeth will bear him a son. However, Zechariah did not respond with joy and faith, but showed his disbelief by saying, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years” (Lk 1:18). The messenger of the Lord that told him of the good news was the Archangel Gabriel, one of seven archangels of God (Lk 1:19). God muted Zechariah who did not believe the Word spoken through Gabriel. My beloved saints! God the Creator has no impossibilities. He is Sovereign God that can kill or revive a person (1 Sam 2:6-8). To this God, Zechariah said “How can I be sure of this?” How? This is a frightening sin committed before God. The promise of God is “yes” in Christ (2 Cor 1:20). Tilting your head in doubt and wondering “why” should never occur. Zechariah used to be a righteous person whose faith was blameless before God (Lk 1:6), yet he did not respond with “Amen” and and instead, asked “how” with a “question mark” when the messenger of God obeyed the command and announced the good news. “How” is a question that demands proof. Zechariah’s question not only demanded “signs and clear evidence,” but at the same time, it originated from disbelief. For the salvation of mankind, God put a “period” with His Sovereign administration that “I will accomplish my Will through you,” but Zechariah removed this “period” and put a “question mark” in its place. My beloved saints! We must put a “period” with faith. If we add a “question mark” of disbelief like Zechariah, our lives will not be successful. Disbelief will close out everything. All sides will be closed for those who rejected the Word of God. Doubts will bring forth unnecessary pain.

II. To be opened
As it was announced by the angel, the wife of Zechariah conceived a baby and gave birth to a son when the time came. The relatives and the neighbors all rejoiced and went up on the 8th day of his birth to have him circumcised. So when the relatives wanted to name him after his father Zechariah, his wife Elizabeth said she would name him John. The people wanted to confirm with Zechariah. He requested a writing tablet and wrote “John” as it was announced by the angel. When God saw that, He was pleased and opened the lips of Zechariah that had been closed. When Zechariah named his son “John”, it meant that he accepted the Word of God. Zechariah removed the “question mark” and placed a “period” in its place. Until when do you think your lips will remain closed? Evangelism is the act of opening one’s lips. When we evangelize, things that were stagnant in the house will be opened. Inability to pray means that he is a mute. Just as the lid of a clay pot should be open to collect rain water, I would like all of you to remove the lids of disbelief and place an empty clay pot. The prayer to pray “Lord! Do as your wish” is the faith to open the lid of disbelief. I sincerely hope that we all put a “period”.

III. Zechariah praised when his closed lips were opened
Zechariah praised when his closed lips were opened. Praise is the proof of true faith. Praises must be sung with truly thankful hearts and joy. Are there any praises that you have “borrowed” from? Borrowed praises are the praises sung with empty hearts with lips merely moving to sing without knowing the meaning or content. The praises sung without knowing the meaning or the content are muted praises. Praise is an act of honoring and glorifying God with thanksgiving. Praise out of formality and hypocrisy is detestable before God. This was an incident that happened at one hotel casino in Macao. An young American man who seemed to be about 25 years old was gambling with an old man. A new game began and while the old man was passing out cards, this young man began to sing “One sweetly solemn thought” (Hymn 230) lyrics written by Phoebe Cary. He stopped passing out cards and looked at him with saddened eyes. This old man suddenly threw those cards on the floor and asked, “Where have you learned that song, young man?” This young man didn’t even realize that he sang. This old man said, “Very well, this was going to be my last game. This is it.” This old man returned all the money that he won from this young man. “Here, Harry, take this money and do something nice. I will do something nice with my money.” He walked down the stairs with this young man. This old man remembered learning this song on his mother’s lap and singing it in Sunday school, and this song awoke him with new faith while he conversed with this young man. This beautiful praise saved a wandering soul that was lost in the worldly lust. This is Rev. Cornell of the Philadelphia Baptist Church. My beloved saints! Praise must flow deep from within your heart like spring water.

Conclusion:
If you lived all your life as a “mute”, I sincerely hope that you completely repent and receive resolution. I sincerely bless everyone in the name of the Lord that all of you will place a “period” with the message you received today so that what was closed before will be opened and your lives will be successful.