The promise of Christmas

Introduction:

The Christmas season is again upon us and our thoughts turn to the giving of gifts. Let us not make ourselves out to be so Holy that we only think of the birth of Christ at this time. You know as well as I do, if your have children or grandchildren, giving them a present is high on the list. But, should this be for us. I say not. Our thoughts should be ever turned to the promises of God, not the latest toy at Walmart.

J. I. Packer comes round to the same point in his book Knowing God: In the days when the Bible was universally acknowledged in the churches as “God’s Word written,” it was clearly understood that the promises recorded in Scripture were the proper, God-given basis for all our life of faith, and that the way to strengthen one’s faith was to focus it upon particular promises that spoke to one’s condition.

Let us then this morning turn our hearts and minds to the Promise of God.

Our text this morning is Luke 1:67-79. This is the Praise Prophecy of Zacharias concerning his son John, Jesus and God’s Promises.

I. God promised a Savior

A. to Eve Genesis 3:15 (thou seed)

B. to Abraham Genesis 12:2-3

C. to David - David would use the very words “horn of my Salvation” in Psalm 18:2. God was going to provide an heir for David to reign on his throne and this heir would be the horn of salvation

II. God prophesied - a Savior

A. by the prophets

B. by Scripture

C. by Zachariah

III. God prepared - People

A. Zachariah and Elizabeth

1. Their story is simple an old couple with no children.

2. They were faithful even though they were seen as cursed.

3. God sent and angel to tell them that they were going to be blessed above measure second only to Mary and Joseph

B. Mary and Joseph

1. An unlikely couple

2. Not yet joined together

3. They were faithful

4. God sent an angel to tell Mary that she was to be the mother of the savior and to Joseph to tell him that it was alright to take Mary as his wife.

C. John

1. Filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb.

2. The Herold of the Messiah.

IV. God performed - what he promised, prophesied and prepared for

A. Jesus

B. Redemption

1. Calvary

2. Salvation

3. Restoration

C. Us

1. Vss 74-75 & 78-79

2. We are given the blessing fo Salvation

3. We are given the ability to please God.

4. We are give the task to share the Light of Jesus Christ with others.