The Joy of living for Jesus

Joy comes from praising God for His Redemption (Luke 1:68-72)

Explanation: Elizabeth has come to full-term and her son is born. The birth of a child is a cause for celebration, and Elizabeth’s family rejoiced with her (Luke 1:58). During the naming ceremony, Elizabeth refuses the traditional name and declares he will be named John, which is the name Gabriel gave to Zacharias (Luke 1:13). The naming delegation wants to check this bizarre behavior with Zacharias and he confirms the name John by writing the name on a tablet (Luke 1:63). Upon this act of obedience, Zacharias is released from his nine-month muteness and begins to praise God (v.64)

It seems natural for Zacharias to praise God for having his speech restored, but that is not the focus of his praise; he fails to even mention himself. Instead, Zacharias is all about what God is doing on the behalf of His people.

Zach praises God for His mighty acts of deliverance. He acknowledges the redemption provided by God, the salvation provided by God, the mercy provided by God, and the faithfulness of God as seen through fulfillment of prophecies. It is important to note that Zach is using the past-tense forms: has Redeemed, has Raised up Salvation, we should be Saved; that we being delivered. These are all references to the Messiah who had not yet entered the world at the time of the praise. Zach was so confident in the power of God, he was forth-telling these supernatural occurrences as already having been accomplished by God.

Argument: It is not that difficult for us who look back in time to observe that God actually did do these things. We often overlook, however, that because of who God is, our future has already been secured as well.

Ephesians 2:6 ESV

and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Romans 8:30 ESV

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Application: We aren’t what we ought to be, but we CAN praise God that we aren’t what we used to be. In Christ, we are forgiven, we have been redeemed, we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, sealed for Eternity, and we have been changed - transformed by the Spirit of Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). We CAN and should live like we are on the winning team. There is JOY in being a member of Team Jesus! Let’s Praise God for what He has already done and we can praise Him for what He will do.

Joy comes through Serving the Lord (Luke 1:74-75)

Explanation: As Zacharias continues to praise God for all that He has done, he recognizes that God’s actions free us to serve Him. Zach keys in on the truth that God has already delivered us from our enemies (v. 74). Zach makes this statement as a citizen of an occupied country - He was under the power of Rome, yet God allowed him to know the truth that in Christ we are free!

Zach also underscores a very important note when he stresses the personal nature of our service: we are to be holy and righteous before God. Zach is dealing with the issue of sanctification - the arena of personal holiness. The Believer is secure in Christ from the power of government and satan, but he or she is not free to live in an undisciplined lifestyle or immorality. We who are in Christ have been bought with a price and we are bond-servants of Him who redeemed us.

Zach is also declaring the birthright of all Kingdom citizens - the ability to serve God without fear. Genuine believers have been removed from the possibility of Hell - that particular destination is no longer an option. The Christ-follower, however, remains subject to the limited, but real, fears of this world: loss of employment, physical persecution, verbal persecution, loss of friendships, loss of respect, etc.

Application: The object of your desire will determine your choices. One of the benefits of being In Christ is the power to please God. You CAN please Him as you SERVE Him. You CAN serve Him without allowing the actions and consequences from others to paralyze you IF you consider He is worthy of suffering loss from earthly authorities and relationships (Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Joy comes through preparing others to meet Jesus (Luke 1:76-79)

Explanation: Zacharias ends his praise session by describing the ministry of his son John. Zach points out that John will be called the prophet of the Most High, that he will be the point man for Jesus, and that he will tell others what they need to do so they can personally encounter the Messiah. John was used as a light to those in darkness by pointing them to the source of Light and Life. (cf. John 1:6-8).

Argument: Believers have no greater privilege than sharing the Gospel with lost people. We are are to be a people on mission, to carry out the Great Commission by telling others the truth about Messiah. The meaning of Christmas is not found in a Black Friday deal, nor will it be unwrapped from under a tree. The message and meaning of Christmas is that the Lord of Light has entered the world to give life to mankind.

We can find joy in preparing others to meet Jesus, and we can look to the life of John the Baptist as a model

He was willing to live sacrificially (Matt 11:7-8)

John lived in the wilderness by choice and calling. He could have remained in the city in comfort, but he was willing to do without because it furthered the mission.

We don’t have to give up our jobs, sell our houses and go live in a commune in Idaho, but we can do without a great deal of the stuff that is in our lives. We are loaded down and much of our time, talents, and wealth is spent just keeping up with our stuff. As Pastor Steve Corts says, “too many Christians want a cushion, not a cross.”

He called others to repentance

John was willing to confront others with the truth. His message was plain and to the point: Repent (Matt:3:2) Understandable, but not popular. He also called out the religious hypocrites (Matt. 3:7), and told them that ethnicity was insufficient. He told his audience of the coming judgment, but he also told them how to avoid it.

Many of us are way more concerned about remaining respectable than being used for the Kingdom. We are to remember that Jesus gave up His respectability when He went to the Cross for us

He pointed people to Jesus

John understood that it really is about Jesus. He possessed a Kingdom attitude when he declared, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). John knew his role. Do we know ours? Let’s join the Baptist by pointing others to Jesus and declaring, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)