Dec 14,2008

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A Season Of Wonder
Open Your Heart’s Door To Silence & Song
Luke 1:5-22; 57-80

Introduction: Hear The Music Of A Silent Night

The unique gifts God gives us open the door to a season of wonder. Such is the lesson that emerges out of a little church in a country far away. The young vicar at the Church of St. Nicholas in Oberndorf, Austria, was devastated. The Christmas Eve service Joseph Mohr had painstakingly planned for his congregation would not be possible. His organist, Franz Gruber, had just informed him that the church organ was broken and couldn't be fixed in time. The music he'd envisioned for this "holiest of nights" would not be sung or heard. It would be a silent night.

To relieve his tension, Mohr called on a poor family in his parish who were expecting a baby. The young pastor happened upon the home just as the wife gave birth. Mohr was struck with how similar the scene he had just experienced must have been to the events of the night Jesus was born. As he walked home, he began to compose a song in his head, capturing the emotion and mystery of the holy child's birth. Remembering the plight of the church organ, he wrote simple lyrics so the congregation would be able to sing them accompanied by only a guitar.

The next day, he handed his text to the church organist and asked if he could create a tune for the lyrics to be sung that night at the Christmas Eve service. Reluctantly, Franz Gruber agreed. And at the midnight service in the Church of St. Nicholas, the most famous of all Christmas carols was sung for the first time. The young pastor led the congregation and the organist strummed his guitar. It was not a silent night after all.

Out of the impending silence, Joseph Mohr used his poetic gifts to write beautiful lyrics. Franz Gruber used his gifts to write a melody and strum a guitar. And I, for one, am glad they did. They praised God for who he is and what he'd done—despite circumstances for which they may not have been grateful. In the process of responding, that young Austrian pastor and his organist participated in a season of wonder. So did their congregation as have countless congregations in the succeeding years.

Not all surprises in life are disappointing. Many surprises are delightful—delightfully unexpected like broken organs on the most important night of the church year. We often call these unplanned interruptions "serendipities." I love the way Chuck Swindoll defines the word serendipity. He says it is "the dip of the serene into the common responsibilities of life. Serendipities occur when something beautiful breaks into the monotonous and the mundane." Serendipity is one of those words that sounds like what it is. A serendipity is a hippity-hoppity dance, a dance in which God leads and we follow . . . with smiles on our faces.

A Christmas Example: Zechariah Worshiped God In Silence

When Gabriel surprised Zechariah, he let the old man in on a secret that took his breath away—as well as his ability to talk. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were going to be parents. Talk about a dip of the serene! The angel's encounter with Zechariah was miraculous serendipity if ever there was one. Almighty God had beautifully broken into the world of an older man and his middle-aged wife that no longer included any hope of having their own child. Taking him by the hand, the Lord of Israel swept him off his feet in a kind of holy two-step.

Luke 1:5-22 from The Message

During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.

It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.

 But the angel reassured him, "Don't fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You're going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He'll achieve great stature with God.

"He'll drink neither wine nor beer. He'll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother's womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he'll get the people ready for God."

Zachariah said to the angel, "Do you expect me to believe this? I'm an old man and my wife is an old woman."

But the angel said, "I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won't believe me, you'll be unable to say a word until the day of your son's birth. Every word I've spoken to you will come true on time—God's time."

Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn't speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.

Wow! What a great rendition of a wonderful episode! It wasn't just a silent night for Zechariah. It was more like a silent year. In silence, he contemplated what God was going to do. What initially must have seemed like a curse eventually turned into a gift—a precious gift. True, the inability to speak was a direct result of Zechariah's lack of faith. Before you judge the old man too harshly, put yourself in his sandals and ask how much you would have believed.

I guess what Gabriel gave him was, in the language of those of those who have preschoolers, a "time out." This was the ultimate "quiet time." And it was probably like any meaningful quiet time of worship you've had. In silence, Zechariah recognized a valuable truth. When God speaks, we'd best just listen, instead of giving our side of the story. No talking back allowed.

Have you ever thought of silence as a gift? Well, it is, you know! It is a gift we leave unopened under the tree most of the time. It is a gift that, if unwrapped more, would help us open the door to a season of wonder that too often is characterized as a season of stress. In the poem "A Cup of Silence", one writer captures the wonder of silence.

I poured a cup of silence
(my afternoon repast).

A needed brew of nothingness

to pace my race with rats.

Just a simple cup of quiet

to still the noise of grown-up toys

some call technology.

Silence . . .

No beepers to buzz off.

No faxes to answer.

No deadlines to bury (for now).

Just a sip or two

from this cherished brew.

Silence . . .

Simon says

(and Garfunkle too)

that silence has its sounds.

I think I would agree.

It's the whisper of a moment

more tastier than tea.

It is when I hear

the still, small voice of God!

There is nothing like a season of silence to contemplate what God is about in our lives. Contemplation cultivates renewed faith.

A Biblical Illustration: Seeking God In Silence

Let me repeat those last two sentences. There is nothing like a season of silence to contemplate what God is about in our lives. Contemplation cultivates renewed faith. There is an account in Acts of an aide to the Queen of Ethiopia who was seeking God. He had been to Jerusalem to worship when we meet him, along with Philip, in his chariot on his trip back home.

This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.                              Acts 8:27b-28 NIV

I don’t see a chariot as my favorite place to read a scroll of the prophet Isaiah, but he was alone with God as he sought understanding.

Philip followed his divinely given instructions to stay near the chariot. As he heard the words of Isaiah being read he asked, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” Explaining he needed someone to explain it to him, he invited Philip to sit next to him. The passage he was reading came from what we identify as Isaiah 53:7-8.

The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
   "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
      and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
      so he did not open his mouth.
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
      Who can speak of his descendants?
      For his life was taken from the earth."

Acts 8:32-33 NIV

A question had grown in the official’s mind as he had been reading by himself. Now, he has someone to ask.

The official said to Philip, "Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or about someone else?"                                                                                            Acts 8:34 CEV

Would that question have developed without time for quiet contemplation? It might have, but I suspect the busyness of his business might have left it unformed and unasked. There are times it seems to take forever to find answers for our questions. This time the answer comes immediately.

Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

                                                                                                Acts 8:35 NIV

Where do you find silence in your life? Were some of you here for the time of silence before the service? What did you think? Was it helpful or did it intimidate you?

It’s good to have some times set aside to be silent. During this Christmas season, could you find 10-15 minutes in your day to turn off all outside sources of sound in order to sit in silence with the Word of God? Spend some time reading the different accounts of Christmas from Scripture. Take time to examine the night time sky and marvel at its wonders as the wise men did. You could be amazed by what you see and marvel at the God Who designed and created it. Ask God to help you see new facets of His love for you—and then just wait to see if you can hear Him.

A Christmas Example: Zechariah Worshiped God In Song

Zechariah didn't stay silent the rest of his life. Just as Gabriel had predicted, on the day his son was born, he regained the gift of speech. Or, from what I see in Luke's account, I guess you could say he was given the gift of song. If "Silent Night" is the most famous of all Christmas carols, Zechariah's "Benedictus" is the most overlooked carol.

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
      because he has visited and redeemed his people.
He has sent us a mighty Savior
      from the royal line of his servant David,
just as he promised
      through his holy prophets long ago.
Now we will be saved from our enemies
      and from all who hate us.
He has been merciful to our ancestors
      by remembering his sacred covenant—
the covenant he swore with an oath
      to our ancestor Abraham.
We have been rescued from our enemies
      so we can serve God without fear,
in holiness and righteousness
      for as long as we live.

“And you, my little son,
      will be called the prophet of the Most High,
      because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
You will tell his people how to find salvation
      through forgiveness of their sins.
Because of God’s tender mercy,
      the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
      and to guide us to the path of peace.”                                         

Luke 1:68-79 NLT

Wow! Sheer beauty. Pure poetry. Amazing, isn't it? His tongue was an inspired instrument of praise. Do you remember the way Psalm 45 begins?

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.                          Psalm 45:1 NIV

I love that verse. Isn't that descriptive?

Such responses to God's open doors of grace are natural. Sometimes silence is called for. Sometimes we just have to sing! In either case, it is the way God has wired us. He has given each of us response-ability. We have the ability to respond to him through the unique gifts each of us have been given. That's part of what it means to be made in the image of God. As rational beings, we can comprehend God in our world. As spiritual beings, we have the ability to respond through reflection, meditation, creation, and the like.  

The unique gifts God gives us open the door to a season of wonder. That's the message to us this morning. Did I say my key sentence too fast? In case I did, let me say it one more time: The unique gifts God gives us allow us to open the door to a season of wonder. I want to free you to take your cues from Zechariah and respond in appropriate ways to what God has done in giving us Jesus.

A Biblical Illustration: Praising God With Rejoicing

Return to the road where we left the Ethiopian official with Philip. Philip has been explaining all about Jesus when they come to some water. The official points to the water and asks why he shouldn’t be baptized right there. Philip takes the official down into the water and baptizes him.

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

                                                            Acts 8:39 NIV

Philip is miraculously transported out of the scene by the Holy Spirit, but the official doesn’t mind. Having found what he was looking for he rejoiced. He’s much like old Ebenezer Scrooge when he finally understood the meaning of Christmas.

I don’t know what to do! I am as light as a feather. I am as happy as an angel. I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!”                                                      (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

Christmas is a season of wonder when we can leave behind our scrooge-like tendencies and revel in the wonder. There are times when we need to target the mind. It’s the primary place where God works His change in us by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). There are other times when we need to target the heart and engage the feelings so don’t miss the wonder contained in the Father’s gift to us of His Son. That means activating our feelings.

When we rehearse what God has done in His world and in our lives, the atrophy of the "feeling muscle" begins to reverse. Rehearsing His activity happens when we are spending daily time in his Word. It doesn’t take long. Ten to thirty minutes is about all it takes. During this month you could sort through the Christmas cards that come each day and slowly read through the statements that have Christian meaning. Look at the artwork.

Finger the detail of those that have a three-dimensional layout. Try to etch the scene in the membrane of your imagination. Ask the Lord to help you experience the emotion of the shepherds, Joseph, the inn keeper, Mary, or the Magi. You may find yourself standing on holy ground.

Some of you have special gifts that you could use to

·                     Write a poem

·                     Compose a song

·                     Paint a picture

·                     Build a nativity scene

·                     Bake some special treats

Here’s the point I’m trying to make: Different people have different gifts, but each unique gift can be used to celebrate God. Those gifts put to use allow you to open the door to the wonder of the Christmas season.

Someone asked a couple of weeks ago if it would be all right to take a hymn book home to play the carols on the piano while singing along. What a great way to celebrate God at Christmas! You don’t even need to worry about how good it sounds. God is far more interested in and delighted by the heart of worship extended to Him as a gift. You will be amazed at how much more your heart will resonate as you unfold each phrase of a carol and contemplate its meaning. Consider this verse.

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given;

So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven!

No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him still the dear Christ enters in.

O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Stanza 3

Silence and song join together in one great note of praise!

Conclusion: Open The Door To A Season Of Wonder

Yes, it is true, isn't it? The unique gifts God gives us open the door to a season of wonder. I want you to leave here this morning determined to celebrate your unique gifts so as not to miss the wonder. It won't just happen. You know that. So many things will steal your time this month that, unless you take steps today to use your gifts tomorrow and the next day, the only gifts you'll be able to account for at the end of the month will be the ones you're tempted to take back to the mall.

Zechariah rehearsed God’s wonders as he endured an enforced period of silence. When it was over and God restored his ability to speak he exploded in song.

A mother-to-be tried to hang around her husband whenever he said his prayers. You see, while she was apt to pray in silence, always speaking the words within her head and heart, her husband sang his prayers to God!

But one morning while she was getting ready for the day, she didn't hear anything coming from her husband's usual prayer spot. Perplexed, she dared to interrupt his quiet time. "Why aren't you singing?" she asked.

"Why is it so important for me to sing?" he wondered.

"Because," the young mom replied, "I want our baby to learn that while we sometimes pray in silence like the prophet Elijah, it's also important to pray by singing, just like King David."

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for the unique gifts you have given your people that allow us to tangibly embrace the wonder of Christmas. Indeed, our hearts are filled with this most noble of themes—your birth that redeems our worth. Please find joy in the expressions of the fruit of our mouths, hands, and creative minds. They are our gifts to you. In the name of the One whose coming we await, we pray. Amen.