The stunning silence of heaven lasted 400 years. Then, in the humble quarters of the Jerusalem temple, as an aging priest named Zacharias performed his routine duties, divine silence shattered with two powerful words: "Fear not."

This message from Luke 1 reveals a profound truth about God's nature and His work in our lives. When Zacharias and Elizabeth faced the cultural shame and personal disappointment of childlessness despite their righteous lives, they couldn't see the masterful orchestration happening behind the scenes. God wasn't withholding blessing - He was reserving them for something extraordinary beyond their imagination.

The seemingly random selection of Zacharias by lot to burn incense that day wasn't chance but divine appointment. How many of our "random" moments are actually God's careful positioning? Your workplace, your errands, your daily routines - what if these aren't just obligations but divine opportunities to touch lives? That restaurant where your order gets messed up might be your chance to demonstrate Christ's grace to someone desperately needing kindness.

Most profound is the connection between the temple incense and our prayers. That sweet-smelling aroma rising from Zacharias' altar mirrors our prayers ascending to God's throne. When we pray, we aren't launching words into emptiness - we're creating a fragrant offering that God treasures.

Whatever fears grip your heart today, whatever prayers seem unanswered, whatever circumstances appear random - God sees, God works, God transforms. The same God who broke 400 years of silence with "Fear not" speaks that reassurance to you now. Join us as we continue exploring these life-changing truths from Luke's Gospel in our next episode.

The silence had lasted 400 years. From Malachi to this moment, heaven had been quiet. No prophet had spoken God's words to Israel. Then suddenly, in the temple, as smoke from burning incense wafted upward, an angel appeared to an aging priest named Zacharias with news that would shatter not only the divine silence but also the reproach of childlessness that had marked his marriage to Elizabeth.

"Fear not," were heaven's first words after centuries of silence. These words—spoken to a trembling priest—resonate powerfully in our fear-filled world today. What fears paralyze you? What uncertainties keep you from stepping fully into God's promises? The message remains timely: those who fear God need fear nothing else.

When Gabriel announced that Zacharias and Elizabeth would have a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah, Zacharias responded with doubt rather than faith. His punishment—being struck mute until the prophecy's fulfillment—carries profound spiritual implications for us all. As Pastor Ken Davis explains, "When we do not believe God's words, our mouths are shut before Him." Our testimony flows from our faith. When we believe, we speak; when we doubt, we fall silent.

The beauty of this account reaches its pinnacle in the revelation that Zacharias means "God remembers" while Elizabeth means "His promise." Together, their very names proclaim that "God remembers His promise." This wasn't coincidence but divine orchestration—a living testimony that God's timing is perfect and His word never fails, even after centuries of seeming silence.

Whether you're waiting for answered prayer, struggling with doubt, or simply needing assurance that God hasn't forgotten you, this powerful opening to Luke's Gospel reminds us that God is always working, even when we can't see it. Join us in this verse-by-verse exploration of Luke and discover how God continues to break silences and fulfill promises in our lives today.

Pastor Ken Davis examines the biblical teaching on Christian submission to governing authorities, exploring why believers should respect and obey human government as a divinely established institution. He challenges us to rethink our relationship to authority while maintaining our primary allegiance to God.

• Genesis 1:27 establishes that humans are made in God's image, forming the foundation for human dignity and governance
• Daniel 4 demonstrates that God is sovereign over human rulers, as seen in Nebuchadnezzar's humbling
• Romans 13 teaches that all authority comes from God, even under corrupt leadership like Emperor Nero
• Three God-established institutions: family (Genesis 2), church (Acts 2), and government (Genesis 9)
• Four motivations for obeying government: for wrath's sake, conscience's sake, love's sake, and the Savior's sake
• Christians obey law enforcement not merely from fear of punishment but from desire to do what's right
• Righteousness produces boldness while disobedience creates fear, even when no one is watching

Join us at Calvary Chapel Southwest Metro in Joshua, Texas, on Sundays at 10:30 am or Tuesday at 7:00 pm. Visit heedtheword.org for a list of all available podcasts.

Pastor Ken Davis unpacks the biblical foundation for Christian civic responsibility, revealing four motivations for obeying governing authorities while maintaining ultimate allegiance to God.

• Christians should submit to governing authorities as they have been established by God
• Four motivations for obeying laws: fear of punishment, conscience sake, love for others, and honoring the Savior
• Love fulfills both God's law and civil law by preventing harm to our neighbors
• When government commands contradict God's clear instructions, Christians must prioritize obedience to God
• Jesus teaches us to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's"
• While money bears Caesar's image, we bear God's image and must give ourselves fully to Him
• True Christian living involves balancing civic duties with our primary allegiance to God

For more information about Heed the Word, log on to heedtheword.org where you can request a free CD of today's message in its unedited form.

Pastor Ken Davis examines what it means to love without hypocrisy, challenging believers to move beyond words to sincere actions that demonstrate genuine Christian love. He shows how love is not primarily a feeling but a choice and action that reflects God's agape love flowing through us to others.

• Love without hypocrisy means being genuine rather than merely pretending to care about others
• Various Bible translations help clarify that love must be unfeigned, genuine, sincere, and real
• Love is not just a feeling but primarily an action and decision we make
• 1 Corinthians 13 provides the definitive description of agape love that never fails
• Like a quality frying pan, genuine love doesn't let negative interactions "stick" to it
• We cannot be the source of love others need—only God can be the source while we serve as channels
• God desires to be the "crust" of our life's pizza—the foundation of everything rather than just a slice or topping
• Sincere love requires us to utterly reject evil while clinging firmly to what is good

Join us for worship at Calvary Chapel Southwest Metro on Sundays at 10:30 am and Wednesdays at 7 pm. Visit heedtheword.org or call 817-447-5675 for more information.

Sincere love isn't something we generate within ourselves but flows from God as its source and is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

• Abhorring what is evil while clinging to what is good creates the foundation for sincere love
• Treating fellow believers as family members demonstrates love without hypocrisy
• Our Heavenly Father is grieved when His children fight amongst themselves
• Being "fervent in spirit" means allowing God's fire to heat our hearts to boiling love
• Rejoicing in hope strengthens us through tribulations and fuels our capacity to love
• Blessing those who persecute us by speaking well of them and praying for them
• Weeping with those who weep rather than trying to immediately cheer them up
• Associating with the humble and not being wise in our own opinion
• Listening more than we speak shows genuine interest in others

We want to encourage you to not just listen to Heed the Word, but to truly apply what you learn. Take the Word of God and begin applying it to your life every day.

Pastor Ken Davis explores the significance of humility and heavenly perspective in the Christian life, contrasting those who treasure God's Word in persecuted nations with our tendency toward complacency and complaint in affluent societies.

• Setting our minds on heavenly things rather than earthly possessions
• Viewing all resources as belonging to God and seeking His direction for their use
• Making everyday activities acts of worship by doing them "heartily as unto the Lord"
• Understanding that all abilities and gifts come from God, leaving no room for boasting
• Following Christ's example of humility by considering others better than ourselves
• Recognizing the danger of being "wise in our own eyes" rather than acknowledging our dependence on God
• Transforming communities when members care more about others' interests than their own

Pastor Ken Davis explores the transformative power of Romans 12, showing how presenting ourselves as living sacrifices makes every aspect of life an act of worship to God.

• God demonstrated His love by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners
• Receiving what we don't deserve is the definition of grace
• As Christians, our priorities should be heavenly rather than earthly
• Setting our minds on things above transforms how we handle resources and blessings
• Forgiveness isn't optional for believers—it's a requirement that God enables us to fulfill
• Whatever we do—from household chores to our jobs—should be done heartily as unto the Lord
• Even mundane activities like tipping at restaurants can reflect Christ's character
• Every aspect of life becomes holy when we approach it as worship

For a free copy of this teaching, visit heedtheword.org where you can request the full, unedited message on CD.