Sermon Tone Analysis

Welcome & Announcements: Daniel

Call to Worship in Song: Chrystal

You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

Scripture Reading:

Old Testament Text: Genesis 15:1-6

New Testament Text: Luke 1:67-80

Offering

We have been very blessed with the support financially to be able to participate in Operation Christmas Child over the last several years.

In 2019 we raised $1,736 to give 74 boxes for boys and girls aging from 2-4.

In 2020 we raised $2,229 to give 64 boxes for boys and girls aging from 5-8 and include discipleship program, "The Greatest Journey".

This year we raised $2,867 and assembled 92 boxes and had 4 already prepared by church members for a total of 96 boxes for boys aging 2-4 and 10-14.

We also donated the shipping cost and were able to have enough left over to sponsor 19 "greatest journey" programs.

What items are in the boxes?

The packing party itself was a great turn out as we had about 30 stay to help pack each shoebox.

The children did a great job decorating the boxes during Kid's Life and really made them each unique.

Many of their decorations included reminding the recipients how much they are loved by God, and by us.

I really feel as though God has been faithful and so good to us and we have been able to honor Him but fulfill this command that Paul instructs Timothy with.

I want to thank each and every one who participated in giving or packing or praying for these shoeboxes.

We would have not been able to accomplish any of it without you and your selflessness.

Thank you!

Pastoral Prayer: Daniel

Adoration

Faithfulness

Confession

Thanksgiving

Mike & Sharon

Supplication

Norman & Kaye

Those who are shut-ins and are in need of

Continue to Worship in Song: Chrystal

Amazing Grace My Chains Are Gone

Blessed Assurance

Prayer

Last week we examined the words of John the Baptist as we examined his identity and message of pointing to Jesus.

We saw how he was preparing the hearts of the people for the coming of the Lord Himself.

This week, we are taking a small step back in time before the birth of John the Baptist.

In doing so, we will examine what his parents (Zechariah & Elizabeth) want us to see about Advent.

Zechariah and Elizabeth are trying to get us to see God’s perfect providence and the correct response to His coming.

Since God is Providential, We Must Remember that He is Faithful

What do I mean when I say “providential”?

The Heidelberg Catechism says this about providence.

The almighty, everywhere present power of God, whereby, as it were, by his hand, he still upholds heaven and earth with all creatures and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things come not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.

Essentially it is like saying that everything is under God’s complete and sovereign control.

Since God is Providential, Remember that He is Faithful

God’s Providence in Surprising Circumstances

Luke 1:5 (ESV)

In the days of Herod, king of Judea,

The author of this “good news” account is painting an extremely bleak picture.

Herod was a terrible King for the Jews.

He taxed the people heavily and abused his power over the people of Judea.

Four hundred years of hearing nothing from God.

Have you ever considered that at this moment in Israel’s history, they had not heard from the Lord in 400 years?

Questions like, “Is God really faithful?”

would have loomed heavily on everyone’s minds.

In an extremely dark time in Israel’s history, there was a couple who was walking uprightly and blamelessly before the Lord.

This couple would not have been “sinless”

Rather they were walking in step with the Old Testament law in comparison to the people around them.

Zechariah’s name means “The Lord remembers”

And his wife, has also been born into the priestly line.

One commentator said that this couple would be like thinking about an older and godly back woods preacher and his wife.

With that said, the next verse should make us take pause...

Just think about those two descriptors for a moment.... “barren” and “old”

I love what Kent Hughes comments on this matter of childlessness in the Old Testament.

“In any culture infertility is an aching disappointment, and for some an almost unbearable stress.

But the burden cannot be compared to that borne by childless women in ancient Hebrew culture because barrenness was considered a disgrace, even a punishment.”

Essentially for Zechariah and Elizabeth to be without a child would cause others to look at her with great shame and disgrace.

The culture around them would likely be tempted to accuse them of being punished by God for something they did wrong.

The Biblical Authors “Winking at Us”

Remember the situation that Abraham and Sarah found themselves in.

They were old and advanced in years, yet God had promised them that He would give them a son.

Abraham responded with faith and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Sarah responded with unbelief and encouraged Abraham to have a child through another means.

The question to ask about suffering is not “What have I done to deserve this?” but “How can I glorify God through this?”

This information may seem meaningless, but it is in the details that the beauty of providence shines forth.

There were 18,000 priest’s divided amongst the people of Israel.

There were only 14 priest’s who would offer incense in one year.

An individual priest could only offer incense at the daily sacrifice once in his lifetime.

Verse 9 shows us that Zechariah is now getting to participate in a once and a life-time opportunity.

He wasn’t chosen because he was the most pious, or the wisest.

He was chosen because God chose for him to offer the incense.

In his old age, Zechariah now has the opportunity to offer incense in the temple.

Since God is Providential, Remember that He is Faithful

There is no “luck” in this world, simply God’s providential hand guiding every instance.

You need to understand the weight of this opportunity before Zechariah was the most momentous occasion of his priestly career.

And God Himself has orchestrated all of it.

The joy he felt by being chosen by lot from among his division to offer incense.

With the anticipation of awe, Zechariah prepared to offer incense on God’s altar.

He put on the priestly robes symbolizing purity.

He walked through the temple courts, passing through the crowds that had gathered to pray.

The people chanting as he passed by, “God of mercy, come into your holy sanctuary and receive with pleasure the offering of your people.”

With a humble posture, he slowly ascended to the place where God’s presence was.

As he entered, he saw the sacred furniture that the Israelites had made according to the instructions God gave to Moses on the mountain.

On his left was the golden lampstand of life, flickering in the darkness.

On his right was the table of bread.

In front of him was the golden altar of incense, up against the curtain that guarded the entrance to the Holy of Holies.

At the height of his most momentous and dramatic occasion of his whole life....

Now remember God has not spoken to these people in 400 years!

Can you imagine for a minute the shell shocked terror that must have been upon him at this time?

Rightly so, Zechariah is struck with fear and is likely completely scared senseless.