The Dayspring Hath Visited - Light is Coming

Pastor Justin May

The Coming of Jesus, the Son of Man • Sermon • Submitted a month ago • Presented a month ago

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Luke 1:67–80 reveals Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, breaking nine months of silence to declare that God has remembered His covenant and is sending salvation through the long‑promised Messiah. He prophesies that this coming Savior will shatter darkness, forgive sins, and guide God’s people into the way of peace, while John the Baptist is appointed as the forerunner who prepares the way for the rising light—the Dayspring from on high. The purpose of the series, “The Coming of Jesus, the Son of Man,” is to show how Jesus’ arrival fulfills ancient promises, confronts the darkness of the human condition, restores God’s image in humanity, and inaugurates the kingdom that brings mercy, justice, and redemption. It calls the church to recognize, receive, and respond to the One who still visits His people with light, hope, and salvation.

Notes

Transcript

🔥 THE DAYSPRING HATH VISITED US

Luke 1:67–80

INTRODUCTION

Church, we are in the latter part of our series titled, “The Coming of Jesus, the Son of Man!” We have walked verse by verse through Luke chapter 1, watching God break the silence, reverse barrenness, send angels, stir faith, and prepare the world for the arrival of the Messiah.

Luke reveals the Savior.

Luke shows us miracles. Luke shows us mercy. Luke shows us deliverance. Luke shows us the anointing of the Holy Spirit resting on Jesus Christ.

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” declares:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to preach… to heal… to deliver… to set free…”

Luke reveals the Cross. Crucifixion, death, burial.. Luke reveals the Resurrection.

Why did Luke write this Gospel?

Because he wanted his Gentile brothers to know with certainty that everything they had been taught about Jesus was true.

And church— I believe above all else, the Gospel of Luke is an invitation to see the heart of God revealed through His Son.

Aaaa-men! Glory be to God! Hallelujah.

BRIDGE

Today’s message is titled:

“THE DAYSPRING HATH VISITED!”

Before we read Luke, I want to anchor today’s message with two Scriptures:

Psalm 30:5

Psalm 30:5 “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

Malachi 4:2

Malachi 4:2 “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise With healing in his wings; And ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…”

Church, some of us have been in a season of what feels like a long night. A season where joy felt delayed. A season where prayer felt unanswered. A season where the horizon looked dark.

But I am here to tell someone this morning, the Word of God says:

“Joy comes in the morning.” & “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings.”

I usually do not ask this, but if you can write this down, if you can internalize what I am about to say, then listen:

“THE NIGHT IS BREAKING—THE DAYSPRING HAS VISITED!”

Open your Bibles to Luke 1:67–80. And Let us Pray:

🔥 SERMON

Before Luke gives us angels in the sky or shepherds in the field, he gives us an old priest—Zacharias— a man who doubted the promise of God and had his voice taken for nine months. In other words, he was unable to speak.

Church listen:

Nine months of silence.

Nine months of watching a miracle grow.

Nine months of watching the promise of God unfold, despite his doubt.

Church—can you say:

“Despite my doubt, God is still moving!”

Because He is.

Despite our rebellion, despite our unbelief, despite our inconsistency in our spiritual walk with God — God is still moving!

We have a Shepherd who leaves the 99 to save the one.

We have a savior who was made flesh and dwelt among us.

We have a God who has not nor will ever forget His people.

After 400 years of silence, plus another 9 months, God moved again for the nation of Israel, and through the nation, salvation became available to all flesh. By the Word of God, we are reconciled by the blood of the Lamb.

Luke 1:67

Luke 1:67 “And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,”

“And his father was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied…”

Once Zacharias obeyed God, God removed the shackles over Zacharias’ mouth. God removed the punishment, allowing Zacharias to speak. And as soon as God loosed his tongue, he was filled with the Holy Spirit.

There is a hard truth here, “We want the reward, but we are unwilling to be in obedience to God.” The Word says, “Obedience is better than sacrifice, and it says rebellion is the same as witchcraft.”

It is one thing for unbelievers, but there are Christians who proclaim godliness, but have no power because there is zero obedience in their lives.

Paul says, “Moreover, it is required for stewards to be found faithful.”

My question is: Who is your master? The world or the Word made flesh?

Have you surrendered to God or man? Paul says am I to please God or man!? There has to be an audience of one!

Another point that came to me in prayer, is that when the Holy Ghost is present, silence breaks.

II think of how Zacharias tongue was loosed!

Acts 2:2 “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” Acts 2:3 “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”

When the holy Ghost is present, lives are changd.

Some of you have been in a season where heaven felt quiet. But silence is not absence. Delay is not denial. Distance does not mean defeat.

Isaiah 60:1–2 “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And gross darkness the people: But the Lord shall arise upon thee, And his glory shall be seen upon thee.”

When the light arrives, darkness is shattered. Can I get an amen?

I believe someone needs to hear this: “The season of the long night is breaking, because joy is coming in the morning! The Sun of Righteousness is arising. Come on, church, THE NIGHT IS BREAKING.

Glory, hallelujah, Praise be to God!

Luke 1:68

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people.”

Zacharias is not saying, God will visit. He says God has visited. Amen!!?

Before the manger, before the cross, before the resurrection—

Zacharias is prophesying:

“The Savior is already here.”

Remember Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” The light is come! This is Zacharias prophesying in the present tense, as in right now.

The Word of God says our Messiah is the Author and Finisher of our Faith. That He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. That He is the Captain of our Salvation! Salvation..next verse

Luke 1:69

Luke 1:69 “And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David;”

Think about that. A horn symbolizes strength, power, and authority.

A horn has a deep part and place in the Hebrew culture. The Word of God says the Walla of Jericho at th marching and blasts of trumpet.

Zacharias is prophesying that “God has raised up an unstoppable salvation.

Micah 7:8 “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: When I fall, I shall arise; When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.”

He does not just save you - He strengthens you.

He does not heal you - He delivers you.

He shatters the chains of bondage, He opens prison doors, and He liberates the captives.

He reaches into the infinite, and pours into the finite.

II am here to you that God is still moving, that the night is breaking, joy comes in the morning, the Dayspring has visited. Ooooh.

Luke 1:70

Luke 1:70 “As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, Which have been since the world began:”

“As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets…”

The Messiah was prophesied from the very beginning, even in the Garden of Eden. I present to you there was the tree of life present in the garden. . I present to you Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

I want you to know that— THE DAYSPRING IS MORE THAN JUST A PROMISE, HE IS A PROMISE KEEPER

Hebrews 6:18 says: “It is impossible for God to lie.”

God is not improvising. He is fulfilling.

Every prophet has pointed to this sunrise.

God himself has pointed to this sunrise.

weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

The sun of righteousness is arisen!

Luke 1:71-72

Luke 1:71–72 “That we should be saved from our enemies, And from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;”

Zacharias is not talking about Rome.

He is talking about sin, death, darkness, and bondage.

“That we should be saved from our enemies…”

John 1:5 says:

“The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

Darkness cannot beat the light. Darkness cannot understand the light. Darkness cannot stop the light.

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 “.... Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Listen - Christ has conquered sin. Christ has conquered death. Christ has conquered the grave.

John 11:25 “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

Live...Live...Live...That is the mercy promised of the Dayspring!

“To perform the mercy promised…”

I want you to know that — THE DAYSPRING IS MERCY IN MOTION

Lamentations 3:22–23 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

Church, Every sunrise is a demonstration of his everlasting mercies. Every dawn is a declared victory over darkness.

John 8:12 “ I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Can I get an amen?

Luke 1:73-75

Luke 1:73–75 “The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, All the days of our life.”

“The oath He swore to Abraham…”

Jesus is the seed. Jesus is the oath fulfilled. Jesus is the new covenant wrapped in flesh.

John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”

“Delivered...that we might serve Him without fear.”

Fear is the enemy of worship. Fear is the enemy of our callings, and God’s call. Fear is the enemy of obedience. Fear is the enemy of faith. Listen, fear suffocates faith.

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Fear is a tool of the enemy to paralyze faith in action.

Like a deer in headlights, Satan uses fear to paralyze us. But the WoG says we are delivered, so that there is no fear in our lives. Christ ha conquered death.

“In Holiness and Righteousness..all the days.”

THE DAYSPRING RESTORES YOUR WALK

Holiness is not a burden— it’s a gift.

Righteousness is not a performance— it’s a position.

The Dayspring does not just forgive you— He restores you.

Luke 1:76–77

Luke 1:76–77 “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord To prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people By the remission of their sins,”

“Thou shalt go before the face of the Lord…” John was to prepare the way for the Lord. He was to be a prophet of the Highest. IOW, for the highest. John was to proclaim salvation and forgiveness.

I want you to know that

Salvation is not discovered— it had to be revealed. It is a gift from God. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Forgiveness is not earned— it is given.

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Luke 1:78–79

Luke 1:78–79 “Through the tender mercy of our God; Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

In this passage, we see the salvation of God, the Dayspring visiting us, and giving light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.

THE DAYSPRING IS LIFE AND LIGHT

🌑 ILLUSTRATION — “WHEN THE SUN FINALLY ROSE IN ALASKA”

There’s a town in northern Alaska—far above the Arctic Circle—where every year the sun sets in November and does not rise again for more than sixty days. Two full months. No sunrise. No sunset. Just darkness.

People who move there say the first week feels like an adventure. The second week feels like an inconvenience. But by the third week, something starts happening inside.

Your sleep gets strange. Your emotions get heavy. Your sense of time gets confused. You start forgetting what day it is. You lose track of yourself.

One resident said, “Darkness does not just surround you—it gets inside you.”

Come on, Church, some of us know someone, or is that someone, that the season of dark has got us jumbled.

But then—after sixty long days—there comes a morning.

People will gather outside in the cold, staring at a horizon they cannot yet see. They stand there shivering, waiting, watching.

And then it happens.

A thin line of gold appears. Just a sliver. Just a whisper of light. But the moment that light breaks the horizon, what felt like bondage becomes freedom. People cheer. They cry. They hug each other. They hug strangers. Because after two months of darkness, even a little light feels like a resurrection.

Remember, Jesus said, I am the Resurrection and Life! He said Come unto me all that heavy laden, and I will give you rest. He said, my yoke is easy and burden is light.

He said in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

One Alaskan said, “When the sun rose, it felt like hope itself had walked back into town.”

🔥 APPLICATION — “THE DAYSPRING HAS VISITED US”

That’s what Zechariah is saying in Luke 1:78:

“Through the tender mercy of our God, the Dayspring from on high has visited us.”

Israel had been in a long season of night— 400 years of silence. No prophet. No vision. No fresh word.

But when Jesus came, when the Dayspring rose, when the Light stepped into the darkness —

Hope walked back into town.

And some of us know what that Alaskan darkness feels like.

You have had bad seasons. You have had seasons where the sun did not rise. Where joy did not break through. Where prayer felt unanswered. Where silence felt suffocating.

But hear the Word of the Lord:

WEEPING ENDURES FOR THE NIGHT, BUT JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING!

Your darkness is not permanent. Your night is not eternal. Your silence is not final. The Dayspring hath visited you.

And when the Dayspring rises, darkness loses. When the Sun of Righteousness arise, there is healing in the wings. When the Son of God comes onto the scene, prison doors open, captives are set free, and healing comes to the crushed.

You are not alone in this fight, and the night is breaking.

Luke 1:80

Luke 1:80 “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.”

“The child grew… in the wilderness.”

A final point this morning is — THE DAYSPRING WILL PREPARE YOU IN HIDDEN PLACES

John grew up in the wilderness. Jesus grew in obscurity. You MAY BE growing in silence.

I want you to know that the wilderness is not punishment— it’s preparation.

🔥 FINAL PREACHING RIFF — “THE DAYSPRING HAS VISITED!”

And just because you don’t see the sun yet doesn’t mean the horizon isn’t glowing. Just because you don’t feel warmth yet doesn’t mean the light isn’t on its way. Just because the night has been long doesn’t mean the morning won’t break suddenly.

The Dayspring has visited!

My counsel shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure:” Isaiah 46:10 “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times the things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure:”