God Be Praised

Sermon Text: Luke 1:67-80 (NIV)

67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,

because he has come and has redeemed his people.

69He has raised up a horn

of salvation for us

in the house of his servant David

70(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),

71salvation from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us—

72to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant,

73the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

74to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,

and to enable us to serve him without fear

75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

77to give his people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

78because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

79to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

80And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

! I.                   Introduction:

II.                God be Praised For Sending The Messiah To Us

A.                 He Who Was Promised To Us

1.                   The Oath of God

2.                   The Long Wait

3.                   The Visitation

B.                 He Who Is Strong For Us

1.                   Exercising His Power

2.                   Effecting Our Salvation

C.                  He Who Rescues Us From our Enemies

1.                   The Reality of Enemies

2.                   The Reach of Hatred

D.                 He Who Enables Us to Serve God

1.                   Without Fear

2.                   With Holy Hearts

3.                   With Righteous Acts

III.             God be Praised For Sending A Messenger To  Us

A.                 He Who Is a Prophet of God

1.                   Appointed By God

2.                   Inspired By God

B.                 He Who Prepares the Way for the Lord

1.                   Going Before The Lord

2.                   Making The Way Ready

C.                  He Who Preaches Salvation to the People

1.                   Preaching Forgiveness of Sins

2.                   Preaching Mercy of God

3.                   Preaching of the Coming Light From Heaven

4.                   Preaching the Pathway to Peace

IV.              Conclusion: