Another Elijah

Sermon Summary: Pastor Dale Tunnell’s sermon focuses on Zechariah and the promised birth of John the Baptist in Luke 1. While serving in the sanctuary, Zechariah is startled by an angel who tells him that a prayer he and Elizabeth had prayed many years earlier has been heard: they will have a son named John. Zechariah struggles to believe this because both he and Elizabeth are old, even though, as a priest, he knows the biblical stories of God accomplishing seemingly impossible things. The sermon uses his reaction to challenge us to consider whether we sometimes place our own limitations on God, saying in effect, “God, that’s not possible,” simply because His way does not fit our expectations. John’s birth was about much more than answering an elderly couple’s prayer. He was called to go before the Lord “in the spirit and power of Elijah,” preparing people for the coming Messiah by calling them to repentance and pointing them toward God’s mercy, forgiveness, light, and salvation. The sermon draws a parallel between the spiritual darkness of Zechariah’s time and our own. Just as God raised up John with a special message for his generation, God has given His people today a mission: to pray, serve their communities as Jesus did, share what Jesus is doing in their lives, study His life and teachings, and help others follow Him. The sermon concludes with a personal challenge: Are we prepared to tell others about Jesus when God gives us the opportunity? The pastor recounts the story of a missionary who encountered a man who said he had seen him in a dream and knew that the missionary had something to tell him about Jesus. God is already working in people’s lives and preparing hearts; our responsibility is to be ready to join Him in that work. Like John the Baptist, we are called to help prepare people for the Lord—and, as the sermon concludes, “these are the days of Elijah.” --- Welcome to Mesa Palms Seventh-day Adventist Church! We hope that you will find this sermon to be a blessing to you, as you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. If you would like to learn more about our church, check out our website: https://www.mesapalmssdachurch.com Bible Studies: https://itiswritten.study/home Reading Library: https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library Donations: https://adventistgiving.org/#/org/ANP4CG/envelope/start