Birth of John the Baptist Foretold (Part 2)

Order of Service

Welcome

Hymn

Psalm 37:34 ESV

34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

Prayer

Children’s Talk

Hymn

Notices

Prayer Meeting - 7:30pm

Friday 7pm - Online

Sunday Morning 11am

Tithes & Offerings - £

Main Prayer

Birthdays

Student

Hymn

Reading

Luke 1:5–25 ESV

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. 8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 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.” 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 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. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

Sermon

Priest

Not an old, timid or passive man, too afraid of upsetting people

Guard of the Word of God

Respected by his Peers

Rightous by Faith

Luke 1:6 ESV

6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

Righteous before God

Lived lives in accordance to God’s Word

Knowledge of God’s Word

Obedience to God’s Word

Not empty enactment of ceremonies, but an active implamentation in all areas of life

Righteousness by Faith

Grace in accordance to God’s Promise

Elizabeth was Barren

Luke 1:7 ESV

7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Wrongly considered by society as unblessed by God

Luke highlights

the normal expectation of human life

the exhibition of God’s Power

superanatural event to testify of God’s special appointment

Zechariah enters the Temple

Luke 1:8–11 ESV

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

According to custom - not Zechariah’s choice

Chosen by God to enter His Presence

Temple - Herod’s additions

Temple

Temple - Solomon (7 - Altar of incense)

Exodus 30:1-10 - Altar of Incense

every morning incense - prayer for redeption of Israel

once a year blood of the sin offering

King Azariah - Leprosy (2 Chronicals)

An Angel appears to Zechariah

Zechariah Troubled

Luke 1:12 ESV

12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

Fear

What was going to happen?

Luke 1:13 ESV

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

Prayer

Singular

not for a son, given his reaction in subsequent verses

Redemption of Israel

Our prayers are not always answered in the way we envisage

You shall call his name John

The Grace of God

Luke 1:14–15 ESV

14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

Joy & Gladness - Many will rejoice

Teacher & prophet

Be great before the Lord

Must not drink wine or strong drink - Samson

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Only mention in New Testiment, of being filled with the Holy Spirit from inception/birth

v41 - Elizabeth

v67 - Zechariah

Luke 1:16–17 ESV

16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 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.”

Redemption of Israel - many will turn to the Lord their God

Go before the Lord in the Spirit and Power of Elijah

A herald before the king

God would work through him as he had with Elijah

Turn the hearts of the fathers to the children

God would united in holy harmony those who had previously be disunited

the disobedient to the wisdom of the just

We may not foolishly allow ourselves to be classed with ungodly men under a false pretence of harmony

Make ready for the Lord a people prepared

Closing Prayer

Hymn

Doxology(read) –

NOT TO US BE GLORY GIVEN but to him who reigns above: Glory to the God of heaven for his faithfulness and love! What though unbelieving voices hear no word and see no sign, still in God my heart rejoices, working out his will divine.