Our Advent theme this year is "Getting Ready..." and this morning we continue that theme under the title, "Getting Ready for a New Arrival."  Zechariah the priest and Elizabeth his wife wanted a child.  She had been unable to have children, but they prayed and kept on praying.  In their old age they had probably lost hope, perhaps even given up that their prayers would be heard.  But in His own wonderful way, God answered their prayer.

          And what a child they received, John, full of energy and the Holy Spirit, a source of joy to his aging parents, but also John the baptizer, the prophet, a wild man.  God was willing and able to give them a child, but His answer to their prayer was much more than they expected.  Zechariah at first didn't even believe it would happen, so the angel Gabriel rendered him speechless as a sign.  The lesson here is clear:  God answers prayer and He is willing and able to do what He decides.

          Zechariah had drawn his turn to burn incense in the temple, a job that took him away from home for about six months.  It must have been a long six months when he couldn't talk with other priests or family or friends.  It was a long time for him to think quietly about God's promise through the angel.  When he got back home, his wife conceived their promised child.  But only when the child was born could Zechariah speak again.

          Never doubt it -- God is able to answer our prayers.  He CAN and He WANTS TO!  In Matthew, Jesus said, "If you who are sinful know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your sinless Heavenly Father give you good gifts?"  God is willing and God is able to answer our prayers with good things.  We must get ready for His answers.

          My father was a willing and able father, but not always at the same time.  When I was a senior in High School I wanted to buy a car - a brand new blue 1963 Corvair Spyder convertible, stick shift on the floor, and only $2300.  I used go to the dealer and stare at it for hours.  One Saturday I spent so much time looking at it, Dad got tired of waiting and left me there in town.  I had to walk part of the 10 miles home, and fortunately got a ride with a cousin.  I asked my father to loan me the money to buy my dream car but he said no.  He was able, but he was not willing - a good thing as I look back on it now.

          Another time Dad was willing but not able.  I had just moved to Utah and found a nice small home at the unbelievably low interest rate of 6 3/8% - only $283 a month!  But I needed a $10,000 down payment, so I asked Dad for a loan for just 30 days so I could buy it before someone else did.  Dad wanted to help, but he had no funds to loan at that time.  He was willing but just not able.  It turned out all right because I found another source for the down payment.  But He always felt bad.  "You've never asked me for a dime and then when you did, I couldn't help," he said.  Fortunately he'd forgotten about that blue Corvair!

          Our heavenly Father is both willing and able to grant our requests, even in the face of big odds.  He is able because He can do all things.  He is willing because He loves us.  And in His love He often surprises us, like He surprised Zechariah and Elizabeth.

          I met Joe and Martha Seibel on the 4th of July, 1971.  I remember the date because it was the day their son Clyde drowned.  He was not just their only son, he was a wonderful boy, a nice boy, a compliant, obedient boy, a real joy to know.  His death devastated them.  They weren't members of my church but their priest was gone that day so I helped as best I could.  Later I visited them on their farm near Lincoln Valley, ND, one of those little towns that no longer exist.

          About a year later Martha asked me an amazing question, "Should Joe and I have another child?"  They were both in their 40's, so I told them to pray about it.  About six months later she called to tell me she was expecting and how pleased they were.  Aaron was born a few months before my son Chuck, and what a boy he was - a fiery red head who came out bawling and squirming and demanding.  He was totally the opposite of Clyde, full of the dickens, energetic and almost wild.  They were ready for a new arrival, but not quite the child God gave them - a wild, wiggly red head!

          Zechariah and Elizabeth had it nearly the same.  They prayed for a child and God gave them John.  He was no ordinary man, but full of the Holy Spirit, a fiery prophet who spoke God's Word with power and sometimes even with pain.  When we pray, we must get ready for a new arrival, God's answer for us.  God is willing and God is able to answer us.  He heard Zechariah and Elizabeth and through their son John we were introduced to Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior.  John prepared His way and we all are blessed through him.

          Jesus was born nearly two millennia ago - even secular history books tell us that.  What they won't tell us, however, is why.  As Christians we know He was born to bring salvation to a world lost and without hope.  We know why He came, but we can't rest on that information.

          Each one of us here this morning is responsible to the Lord for our own faith and relationship to God.  We cannot rely on what our parents - or grandparents - have believed.  God has no grandchildren.  He only has children.  Each person of each generation must come to Him in faith in order to be saved.  If your parents and my parents are believers, that's wonderful!  But even more wonderful is that you are a believer, and I am a believer.  There is no other way to eternal life with God except through Jesus.  The baby grew up - He didn't stay in the manger.  How will you respond to Him?  Will He be your Lord, or will He just be Lord of your parents?

          God is willing and able to answer our prayers.  If you ask Him for something, get ready for a new arrival - His answer!  He'll always follow His own timetable, but He's a Father Who loves us and He'll answer our prayers, even when the odds seem against us.

          When I came to Littleton in 1985, I was single but I had no plans to stay that way.  I dated a few women and one of them asked me, "What are you looking for, Bob?"  My answer was simple - a Christian single woman my age and similar values who had never been married and was willing to raise my sons as her own.  She laughed and said, "Good luck!"  But God heard my prayer and answered it in exactly the way I wanted when I met and married Carol.  So God got the last laugh because He is willing and able.

          Last January I and several others prayed for the Lord to give us a place to hold our services, and He gave us Drinkwine Chapel, a beautiful place.  And we must all continue to pray for Him to show us His will.  We prayed for people to come to our congregation and He answered our prayers.  What a God He is!

          So never lose heart!  God hears us and He will answer us.  He is willing and He is able.  When you pray, get ready for a new arrival - His answers.  Consider the prayers that brought about the existence of Epiphany Lutheran Church.  Remember Joe and Martha, and remember Zechariah and Elizabeth.  God hears us when we pray.  And what wonderful blessings He gives because He is willing and able to answer our prayers!

          Pray and get ready - get ready for a new arrival, whether it's a child, a job, or that special person.  We must pray and get ready for a new arrival.  God is willing and He is able.

          Let's pray right now:  Oh Lord, our faithful Savior, we thank You for giving Your life for our salvation.  We thank You for earthly life and for eternal life.  Hear us and grant all our needs, especially faith in You.  We know You hear us, Lord, and are able to do whatever You wish.  Grant us salvation through faith in You.  In Your name we're bold to pray, Amen!

Copyright © 1999 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.