Luke 1:67-79 Zechariah's prophecy The Benedictus

On average a person will 16,000 words a day Barrett he tries to average 25,000 and Bill Root averages I think tries to average around 4000. But that means a person in a year will say almost 6 million words and in 70 years over 400 Billion words. But we seem to think that the most significant words a person will say are the ones that you say while your in diapers wand that goes for first and last words. Though someone's most significant words are actually ones that come after they have spent time carefully thinking about what make the best impact. Think of FDR’s we have nothing to fear except fear its self, JFK’s Think not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country, or MLK’s I have a dream. What would your first significant words be after over 9 months of silence? Today we are looking at what I think are probably the most significant words ever spoken by Zechariah the father of John the baptist. Zechariah is a priest and while he was doing his priestly duties at the temple the angel Gabriel comes to him and tells him that he and his wife will have a son that they will name John. And John will do great things for the Lord and be in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the people of Isreal for the Lord. The problem was is that Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were advanced in years and had no children. So like Abraham before him Zechariah doubts that they can have children and because of this doubt he is made mute. When the child John is born 8 days later he is going to be circumcised a big important day for a Jewish boy. The they are going to name the child Zechariah after his father but Elizabeth tells them it will be John, After some confusion Zechariah writes his name is John, then Zechariahs tongue is loosed and he praises God. Then Luke says that Zechariah was filled with the spirit prophesied. Of all the words spoken in Zechariahs life none are as significant as the ones recorded here. Think about it he has been mute for over 9 months he has had a lot of time to think about what he will say if he gets the chance to say it, not only that but this is the circumcision of his only child in his old age that he doubted the possibility of, but most important of all these words come from being filled by the Holy Spirit for the first time in 400 years we have the prophetic word of God that enters the World. This is the first prophecy given since Malachi 4:6 and interestingly he sang it. I pray that today you will see how Zechariahs Holy Spirit filled prophecy can show us the reason for celebration this Christmas season as we see him Praise God for the Messiah, Show how the Messiah is the fulfillment of prophesy, Tell how the messiah brings salvation, and how we can prepare the way of the coming Lord. Let us Pray

Lets begin with Luke 1:67-69

In this passage we see Zechariah offer praise to God as he says blessed be the Lord God of Israel. And our first Bulletin point.

1. We should praise God for the Messiah that has come. v. 68-69

We should praise God for the messiah that has come Jesus Christ. When Zechariah blesses and praises God he includes some

2. The Messiah will fulfill the prophecies. v. 70-75

We can have faith in Jesus because he fulfilled prophecy.

Hebrews 6:13-20

3. The Messiah will bring salvation. v. 71-72

We need Jesus’s birth, life, Death, and Resurrection to save us from our sins.

4. John will prepare the way for the coming messiah. v. 76-79

We should be like John the Baptist and point people to the messiah the reason for Christmas.

Malachi 4:4-6

5. Jesus is the coming Messiah who fulfills prophecy and brings salvation . We should be like John the Baptist and point people to the messiah the reason for Christmas.