The Christmas Playlist | Part 2 – How to Not Have A Grinchy Heart | Jordan Brawner

Luke 1:5-20 (NIV)

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. ⁷ But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

⁸ Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

¹⁹ The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰ And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick…

[1] When the wait for something important seems to be unusually long… something can happen inside of us… and we can get a

• When we have a Grinchy heart… what should bring us … doesn’t

• When we have a Grinchy heart… what should give us … doesn’t

Proverbs 4:23-27 (NLT)

²³ Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

[2] When our heart isn’t right… we can’t respond in

Luke 1:18-20 (NIV)

¹⁸ Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

¹⁹ The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰ And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

Galatians 6:9 (NIRV)

⁹ Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don’t give up.

• One of the greatest enemies a believer can deal with is… spiritual

[3] If I want to protect my heart from disappointments and delays … I need a faith

• Flexible faith… understands God is using my difficulties to me

Genesis 41:14-16 (NIV)

¹⁴ So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.

¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

¹⁶ “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

• Flexible faith… understands God uses difficulties to get things into

Genesis 50:20 (NIRV)

²⁰ You planned to harm me. But God planned it for good. He planned to do what is now being done. He wanted to save many lives.

• Flexible faith… keeps believing that God is still on something good

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

[4] We all deal with the test of

• I need a faith that can… God’s word… with God’s voice… and with God’s timing

• If I can God while I wait… I’m passing my time test

• If I can faithfully while I wait… I’m passing my time test

[5] Zechariah’s story teaches us… that no matter what state our heart has been in… it can

Luke 1:67-68, 76-80 (NIV)

⁶⁷ His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁶⁸ “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them…

⁷⁶ And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
⁷⁷ to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,
⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
⁷⁹ to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

⁸⁰ And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Malachi 4:5-6 (TLB)

⁵ “See, I will send you another prophet like Elijah before the coming of the great and dreadful judgment day of God.⁶ His preaching will bring fathers and children together again, to be of one mind and heart…

Luke 1:17 (NIV)

¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.