Luke 1:1-25: “Identity and Dominion”- Certainty in the Duties of Life

Intro:

Review from last week:

ABC with Creation Ministries International

Identity and Dominion

As I get older, I find that there are things that I am less certain about than at once I thought were definitely going to happen, and things that I am more certain about, that I often ignored before.

for example, 1999, this time of year, I was in grade 9 and thought how cool would it be if Jesus did come back in 2000 becasue then I would not have to write an exam!

Identity-who or what someone or something is. The Characteristics, feelings, or beliefs that make people different from others

the distinguishing character of personality of an individual (webster)

the condition of being the same with something described or asserted

Dominion- “Sovereignty or control, the territory of a socereign or government (Oxford)

“Supremem authouity, absolute ownership” Webster

“Luke’s Gospel gives a reader a more comprehensive grasp of the history of the period than the other Gospels. He presented more facts about the earthly life of Jesus than did Matthew, Mark, or John

John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 201.

List of characteristics of Luke from the BKC: Luke emphasizes the universal message of the gospel more than the other Gospel writers (not just Jews), emphasizes forgiveness and prayer, noted the individual’s place in coming to repentance (action must come from each individual who followed Jesus, said more about material things than did any other author in the NT, and often spoke of Joy that accompanies Faith and Salvation”

Outline:

Dominion: “Certainty Concerning the Things you have been Taught” (vs. 1-7)

Identity: “When His Division was on Duty” (vs.8-17)

Faith: “Because you did not Believe my Words, which will be fulfilled in their time” (vs. 18-25)

Summary of the Chapter: I can have certainty concerning the things I have been taught about Jesus in uncertain times

Memory verse of the Chapter:

Illustration: How shall we then live, book and DVD

Prayer:

Dominion: “Certainty Concerning the Things you have been Taught” (vs. 1-7)

A Narritive from the Beginning (vs. 1-2)

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative- “di-eh-g-ehsin” a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurence or course of events. We have a genre!

of the things that have been accomplished among us

Just as those who from the beginning- of the ministry of Jesus (Matt, Mark, John)? From the beginning of the world?

were eyewitnesses

and ministers of the word

have delivered them to us- Luke is recognizing other’s writings as being valid, truthful, and accurate. Luke is not writing to correct error.

An orderly account (vs. 3-4)

It seemed good to me also- Luke, a gentile, Paul’s beloved physician

having followed all things closely for some time past

to write an orderly accound for you

most excellent Theophilus- “Lover of God”

that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught- God, through Luke, wants to give Theophilus and other lovers of God certainty concerning the dominion of God and His great arch of redemptate narrative.

Luke and Acts make up about 28% of the NT.

Dominion (vs. 5-7)

In the days of Herod

king of Judea- Dominion, this gives us a sign post of when during God’s dominion this is taking place.

there was a priest

named Zechariah- “Jehovah is renowned or remembered”, not the prophet “Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi”

of the division of Abijah- Dominion, the 8th priestly division according to David’s arrangement of the priests (1 Chron. 24:1-10)

He had a wife from the daughters of Aaron

her name was Elizabeth

They were both righteous before God

walking blamelessly in all the commandments

and statutes of the Lord

but they had no child- be fruitful and multiply, descendants as the stars of the sky,

because Elizabeth was barren- this theme is seen in the OT several times with the mothers of Isaac, Samson, and Samuel.

and both were advanced in years- both are righteous before God, walking blamelessly, but they had no child, Elizabeth was barren, and they are old.

Have you ever thought, “what good is walking blamelessly before God if I am shamed and judged by those around me”? Whose dominion matters to me the most, because that is likely where I will derive my identity.

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

So what is your takeaway? Well here it is “I can have certainty concerning the things I have been taught about Jesus”. Say it with me…

Whose dominion do you live under? Is it God’s or someone elses? We have a choice that we have to make every day, whose dominion will affect how we see ourselves?

Whose narrative about life gives you the most certainty? There is no end to the amount of narratives you allow to influence your life: political, environmental, finacial, physical, emotional, spiritual, etc. In our culture they are not nessarily called author’s or writers, they are called “influencers”, what an accurate term. They influence the narrative that has dominion over your identity!

Enlist the Body (faith steps):

In the days of Justin Trudeau, how does God want to use you to give an orderly account of the gospel? How might he be using you to give certainty about Jesus in uncertain circumstances?

Transitional phrase: Luke is writing during a very specific time or dominion in history. Now he is going to look at the people that God is going to us.

Identity: “When His Division was on Duty” (vs. 8-17)

On duty (vs. 8-10)

Now- time signature

While he was serving as Priest before God

when his division was on duty- “tazei” order, a sequential arrangement of things. “scheduled”

according to the custom of the priesthood

He was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense- this symbolized the prayers of the entire nation! At this point he is the focus of the nation.

And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense- once again, this is a routinely scheduled event. There is a multitude of people being faithful during all of this.

Answered prayer: son (vs. 11-17)

And there appeared to him and angel from the Lord

standing on the right side of the altar of incense

and Zechariah was troubled when he saw him

and fear fell upon him- this is how everyone reacts when they see an angel.

But the angel said to him

do not be afraid Zechariah

for your prayer has been heard- for a son, for the coming Messiah? Whether he was praying it at that moment, listen to the response of the angel…

and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son

you shall call his name John

You will have joy and gladness

and many will rejoice at his birth: IDENTITY

he will be great before the Lord

he must not drink wine or strong drink (Nazarite vow)- lest anyone think he is drunk or under the control of any other influence than the HS.

he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb

He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God

He will go gefore him in the spirit and power of Elijah (9th Century BC), 1 Kgs 17- 2Kgs 2. Close to 900 years before Jesus

to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children

and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just

to make ready for the Lord a people prepared

Malachi 3:1 ““Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.”

Malachi 4:5–6 ““Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.””

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

What do you see as the duty for which your have been born? Maybe duty is the wrong word because of the connotations of our culture.

In what ways might God use the scheduled things in your life this month to confront you with His glory? Remember they are already considered blamelessa and righteous before God. They both have been living life faithfully. It was during a pattern of routinely or scheduled faithfulness that God steps into their life in a miraculous way.

What news or answer to prayer would give you joy and gladness today?

Enlist the Body (faith steps):

I want God to do this great thing in my life! Are you being faithful with the routinely scheduled things in your life?

Transitional phrase:

Faith: “Because you did not Believe my Words, which will be Fulfilled in their Time” (vs. 18-25)

Dialogue (vs. 18-20)

And Zechariah said to the angel

how shall I know this?- the desire for certainty

For I am an old man

and my wife is advanced in years?- This is not the first time in God’s arch of redemption when this has been a question.

and the angel answered him

I am Gabriel- IDENTITY

I stand in the presence of God- mic drop right there! The one who has dominion over all creation!

I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news

and behold,

you will be silent

and unable to speak until the day that these things take place (time to get pregnant, plus 9 months)

because you did not believe my words

which will be fulfilled in their time- this is a bit of consequence for his lack of belief. But notice, not everyone who lacks faith in God’s word is mute. We have to be careful not to make one person’s specific punishment/consequence for sin everyone’s specific punishment/consequence for sin.

Delay (vs. 21-22)

and the people were waiting for Zechariah

and they were wondering at his dely in the temple

and when he came out

he was unable to speak to them

and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple

and he kept making signs to them and remained mute

with every “sign” from Zechariah, it was a “sign” of the Word of God.

Delivered (vs. 23-25)

and when his time of service was eneded

he went to his home- return to his normal routine of daily duties.

After these days

his wife Elizabeth conceived

and for five months she kept herself hidden saying

thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me

to take away the reproach among people

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

The struggles we face with dominion are always answered in the identity of Jesus.

Enlist the Body (faith steps):

Transitional phrase:

Summary of the Chapter: I can have certainty concerning the things I have been taught about Jesus in uncertain times

Discussion Starters:

How does God want to use me to give an orderly account of the gospel?

What news or answer to prayer would give me joy and gladness today?

Whose dominion and Identity will I live by this week?

Song:

Next Week’s Sermon:

Benediction/Looking ahead: INVITE PEOPLE TO THE CAFE