Faithfulness in the Silence: A Review of Luke 1

[00:08:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
do it with a new song and those words that we just spoke are in there wonderful counselor prince of peace so if you're able i invite you to stand as we open in song this morning with your name

[00:09:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Come play to the earth you came Born into this world to stay Come with us, Emmanuel Now we adore your name Your name is a strong and mighty tower
[00:09:50] Jesus, in your name

[00:12:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Amen.
[00:12:39] Please be seated.
[00:12:39] And at this time I'd like to invite the Minerich family forward for the lighting of the Advent wreath.

[00:13:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
During the Christmas season, it's easy to get caught up in everything happening around us and lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas.
[00:13:09] This is why, at FBC, we celebrate Advent, a time to slow down, refocus, and remember that Christ has come into the world and Christ will come again.
[00:13:20] Today, we light the candle of hope.
[00:13:22] In Luke chapter 1, the Christmas story begins, not with shepherds or wise men, but with a silent, empty temple and a weary priest named Zechariah.
[00:13:32] He was faithful, but hurting.
[00:13:34] He was righteous, but carrying unanswered prayers with deep disappointment.
[00:13:39] He was obedient, but living in a season of silence.
[00:13:43] And it's into that silence that God speaks.
[00:13:46] An angel suddenly appears and declares, Do not be afraid, your prayer has been heard.
[00:13:52] Church, this is the message of Advent.
[00:13:55] God hears, God remembers, God comes.
[00:13:59] God promised that Zachariah and Elizabeth would have a son, a son named John.
[00:14:04] The birth of John the Baptist was God's reminder that hope is never lost.
[00:14:09] But this message wasn't ultimately about Zachariah or even about his long-awaited son John.
[00:14:15] It was about Jesus.
[00:14:17] John's birth was God's way of announcing that hope was about to break into the world.
[00:14:22] John would not be the Savior.
[00:14:24] He would prepare the way for the Savior.
[00:14:26] John was a sign, but Jesus is the salvation.
[00:14:30] John was the messenger, but Jesus is the Messiah.
[00:14:34] John pointed forward, but Jesus is the fulfillment of every promise God has made.
[00:14:41] And this is why we celebrate Advent.
[00:14:43] This is why we talk about hope.
[00:14:46] We have hope because Jesus came.
[00:14:49] We have hope because Jesus lived perfectly and died sacrificially.
[00:14:53] We have hope because Jesus rose from the dead and defeated death forever.
[00:14:59] We have hope because Jesus is exalted at the right hand of God.
[00:15:03] We have hope because Jesus will one day return and make all things new.
[00:15:08] Hear the word of the Lord from Luke chapter 1 verses 16 and 17 describing John's mission.
[00:15:14] He will turn many to the Lord their God, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
[00:15:21] Prepared for whom?
[00:15:23] For Jesus, for the one who brings the true and everlasting hope.
[00:15:27] So today, as we begin this Advent season, we give thanks for a God who sees us, who hears us, and who keeps his promises through his Son.
[00:15:37] We light this candle as a symbol of Christ our hope,
[00:15:41] May the light sent from God shine in the darkness and remind us that in Jesus, hope has come and hope will come again.
[00:15:50] Let us pray.
[00:15:52] Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus, the true light of the world and the source of all hope.
[00:16:00] Thank you for breaking the silence, keeping your promises, and giving us a Savior who rescues, restores, and redeems.
[00:16:08] As we enter this Advent season, turn our hearts toward Christ.
[00:16:13] Fill us with hope, hope for today, hope for tomorrow, and hope for eternity.
[00:16:19] Help us live as people who trust your promises and reflect your love.
[00:16:23] In Jesus' name, Amen.

[00:16:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
I invite you to stand.
[00:16:34] As in response, we sing these words together.
[00:16:37] O come, O come, Emmanuel.

[00:16:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely
[00:17:06] Rejoice!
[00:17:17] Rejoice!
[00:17:22] Emmanuel shall come to thee!
[00:17:35] and Cheer Our spirits by thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight Rejoice!
[00:18:36] Rejoice!
[00:18:45] Rejoice!
[00:18:49] Emmanuel
[00:19:04] All peoples in one heart and mind In any strife and quarrel cease Fill the whole world with heaven's peace Rejoice!

[00:19:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Please be seated.

[00:19:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Well, church, this month we're going to enter into a special offering, and this is to go above and beyond your ties.
[00:20:06] This is what we call the Lottie Moon Offering.
[00:20:10] This is what we call the Lottie Moon Offering.
[00:20:14] And our theme this year is together.
[00:20:15] And you're going to hear more about this just here in a little bit.
[00:20:18] But let me tell you who Lottie Moon is.
[00:20:20] Lottie Moon was a bold and faithful Southern Baptist missionary who gave nearly 40 years of her life to sharing the gospel in China.
[00:20:30] In the late 1800s, she stepped away from literally every comfort she had.
[00:20:37] to cross an ocean to reach people who had never heard the sweet name of Jesus.
[00:20:42] She taught, discipled, she baked bread for children.
[00:20:45] She opened up her home to the hurting and walked from village to village telling people the good news of salvation.
[00:20:53] Her compassion ran so deep that she often sacrificed her own food so others could eat.
[00:20:59] I told you last Sunday when they found Lottie Moon, she was very sick and weighed exactly 49 pounds.
[00:21:06] Lottie's life was marked by the burning desire for people to know Jesus Christ, no matter the cost.
[00:21:14] Now while Lottie was in China, she would constantly write back home and she would challenge all those Baptist churches to pray, to send, and to give money so that even more missionaries could come and join the work.
[00:21:28] And Lottie's letters have become famous throughout Baptist history.
[00:21:33] Those passionate pleas have now given birth to what we call the Lottie Moon Christmas offering.
[00:21:39] Today, 100% of what goes to this offering
[00:21:43] will directly be in the hands of missionaries serving across the world, helping them take the sweet name of Jesus and the gospel to every nation.
[00:21:52] So I want to show you a video.
[00:21:54] You're going to hear some of what Lottie wrote in these letters.
[00:21:58] And if you will, will you just prayerfully consider as you watch this to give extravagantly this month.
[00:22:05] Our go for the Lottie Moon Christmas offering is $15,000.

[00:22:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
I pray that no missionary will ever be as lonely as I have been.
[00:22:48] Here I am, working alone in a city of many thousand inhabitants.
[00:22:54] It is grievous to think of these human souls going down to death without even one opportunity of hearing the name of Jesus.
[00:23:04] How many can I reach?
[00:23:11] We are now a very, very few feeble workers.
[00:23:15] Scattering the grain broadcast according as time and strength permit.
[00:23:20] God will give the harvest out at Nod.
[00:23:32] Please say to the new missionaries that they are coming to a life of hardship, responsibility, and constant self-denial.
[00:23:41] They will be alone in the interior,
[00:23:44] and will need to be strong and courageous.
[00:23:51] Oh, that my words could be as a trumpet call, stirring the hearts of my brethren and sisters to pray, to labor, to give themselves to this people.

[00:24:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
A new generation needs to know her story.
[00:24:06] As I started growing in the Lord, God took that fascination with Asian culture and turned it in more to a longing.
[00:24:13] I want to give them this.
[00:24:15] I want to share with them what God has done in my life, how He changed me.
[00:24:18] And for the longest time, I just started praying, do you want me to live overseas?
[00:24:25] And I remember just a clear yes, like, this is where I want you to go.

[00:24:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Where we have four,

[00:24:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
We should have not less than 100.
[00:24:36] Are these wild words?
[00:24:39] They would not seem so were the church of God to awake her high privileges and her weighty responsibilities.
[00:24:47] You have such a love and burden for the people that there's a certain amount of trust that you have to give away to God and it's hard to do that sometimes, to let go.

[00:25:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
If the joy of the Lord be their strength, the blessedness of the work will more than compensate for its hardships.
[00:25:12] Let them come rejoicing to suffer for the sake of that Lord and Master who freely gave His life for them.
[00:25:27] The needs of these people press upon my soul.
[00:25:35] and I cannot be silent.

[00:26:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Good morning church family.
[00:26:05] I have several exciting announcements that I'd like to share with you as we look forward to the Christmas season, a season of hope, anticipation, and celebration.
[00:26:14] As I read these announcements, this is a great season to invite someone to join us here at church.
[00:26:20] So be thinking of friends, coworkers, neighbors that you can invite to all these things that are going on in our church.
[00:26:27] It starts tonight as we invite you back for our annual Hanging of the Green service at 6 p.m.
[00:26:33] This is a beautiful tradition here at our church where we kick off the Christmas season together decorating the sanctuary, reading scripture, singing, and celebrating the hope of Christ's coming.
[00:26:45] It's a meaningful evening.
[00:26:46] It really sets the tone for Advent.
[00:26:48] We hope you will join us tonight.
[00:26:51] This Wednesday we'll resume our Wednesday night live services.
[00:26:57] We'll start with a delicious meal at 5 o'clock.
[00:26:59] Then at 6 o'clock our ministries begin for all ages.
[00:27:02] Kids 5th grade and under will head to music admissions, and students 6th grade and up will gather on the third floor for our FBC youth activities.
[00:27:13] Adults, we don't forget you.
[00:27:14] There are several Bible studies to choose from.
[00:27:17] Wherever you plug in, Wednesday nights are a great time for you to grow in faith, build relationships, and be encouraged.
[00:27:24] The Mooresville Christmas Celebration is back.
[00:27:27] December 5th will be First Opportunity at 7pm.
[00:27:31] We'll also have another Mooresville Christmas Celebration on December 6th at 3pm.
[00:27:38] Please join us for one of those.
[00:27:41] Great times.
[00:27:42] We have December 14th.
[00:27:43] The songs at the manger will be at 6 p.m. And then our Christmas Eve services, December 24th at 5 p.m. and at 7 p.m.
[00:27:56] We also have plenty of fun events planned specifically for our children and our youth.
[00:28:02] Next Sunday, our student ministry will have their annual Christmas party here at First Baptist.
[00:28:08] Students, please make plans to join us from 5 to 8 p.m. for a fun time of fellowship.
[00:28:15] Be on the lookout for an email tonight with all the details.
[00:28:18] On Wednesday, December 10th from 6 to 7.30,
[00:28:21] Children's ages 3 through 5th grade are invited for annual Happy Birthday Jesus Party in the Children's Church Room and the Fellowship Hall.
[00:28:31] There will be games, crafts, and treats.
[00:28:33] It will be a great time.
[00:28:35] On Sunday, December 21st, the FBC kids will be participating in Pajamas and Popcorn Christmas starting at 9.30 and during our service.
[00:28:45] Kids are welcome to wear their pajamas and enjoy popcorn in a special time celebrating the birth of Jesus in a fun and memorable way.
[00:28:53] Your kids are going to love it.
[00:28:55] As we prepare to receive the offering this morning, we're reminded that giving is an act of worship.
[00:29:01] It's a way to respond to God's generosity by trusting him with our own.
[00:29:06] And especially during this season, we give with gratitude, recognizing that God has already given us his greatest gift in Jesus.
[00:29:15] Let us pray.
[00:29:17] Heavenly Father, we come today with grateful hearts, recognizing your goodness in our lives.
[00:29:24] Everything we have comes from you, and every blessing we enjoy is a reminder of your faithfulness.
[00:29:31] As we give today, we offer these gifts not out of obligation, but out of love and gratitude.
[00:29:38] We ask that you take what is given and use it to further your work here in our church, in our community, and wherever you lead.
[00:29:46] Bless each giver, bless each household.
[00:29:49] In Jesus' name, amen.

[00:30:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Waiting, desperately waiting We long for the day when all is revealed
[00:31:02] The Lord has ascended, all is still, lying there
[00:31:30] Lord of this day Jesus, chosen blessed
[00:31:59] The Old Land God is here Wonderful Counselor

[00:32:52] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia
[00:33:17] Our God is with us

[00:34:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Everlasting, Ever-Living, Ever-Living

[00:35:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
And we're now dismissing Children's Church.
[00:35:42] If you're visiting with us today and have somebody participating, they're heading downstairs with Rita Marie and her staff.
[00:35:49] The quickest way for you to gather them at the end of the service is right up the ramp behind the piano, turn right, down the steps, turn right again.
[00:35:58] Before we move on, just a quick note about the folks sitting behind me that are here every week giving their time and their talents.
[00:36:08] We began preparations for the Mooresville Christmas celebration the last week of August and they have given time and talent and effort over the past
[00:36:21] I hope that you will join us, not only the Sanctuary Choir, the Handbell Choir, the Children's Choir, the Outreach Choir, the Youth Choir, and an orchestra.
[00:36:37] It will be a wonderful time of celebration, and we hope that you will be a part of that, either or and, both Friday night at 7 and Saturday at 3.
[00:36:54] In the back of the church as you come in, we have prayer sheets.
[00:36:58] We email those out.
[00:36:59] Please contact the church office or let somebody on the staff know if you or someone that you know of are in need of prayer.
[00:37:07] It is an important part of our worship.
[00:37:09] And at this time, let's go to the Lord in prayer.
[00:37:14] Gracious God, in this season of waiting and hope, we come before you with hearts both expectant and heavy.
[00:37:23] We long for your light to pierce our darkness and for your peace to calm our storms.
[00:37:30] Lord, we pray for those who are in need, for the hungry who wonder where their next meal will come from, for the homeless seeking shelter from the cold, for those struggling to provide for their families.
[00:37:45] Meet them in their desperation and open our eyes to see them.
[00:37:50] Open our hands to serve them and our hearts to love them as you do.
[00:37:57] Lord, we lift up those who are suffering, those battling illness in hospital rooms and in quiet homes, those imprisoned by addiction or despair, trapped in cycles of poverty or abuse,
[00:38:14] Come as their healer and deliverer.
[00:38:17] Give them strength for today and hope for tomorrow.
[00:38:21] Lord, we lift up some very specific prayer requests for those going through illness and struggles, going through recovery for Marissa Snyder, for Allison Nettleton.
[00:38:32] Lord, we lift up Carrie Beeler, Sybil Myers, Connie Parnell, Don Blake,
[00:38:43] Stacy Pyle.
[00:38:46] Lord, and also we hold before you those who mourn, families who are facing the holidays with an empty chair.
[00:38:54] Comfort them in their grief.
[00:38:55] Remind them that even in the valley of shadows, you are present and that your love endures beyond death.
[00:39:04] We lift up Carol Mitchum, Dewey Bryan, and Judith Lotz.
[00:39:10] And Lord, as we light Advent candles, we remember that you are the God who enters into our suffering, who came as a vulnerable child to walk among the weary and broken.
[00:39:21] Help us to be your hands and feet in this waiting world, bearers of hope to the hopeless, companions to the lonely, and voices for the voiceless.
[00:39:33] Come quickly, Lord Jesus, even so come.
[00:39:37] We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

[00:39:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Well, good morning church.
[00:39:52] That sounded pretty pitiful.
[00:39:55] Good morning church.
[00:39:57] Yeah, thank you for being here.
[00:39:58] For everyone that's in the overflow right now, thank you so much for being here, for being so selfless and giving up your seats.
[00:40:06] Thank you for those who are watching online.
[00:40:09] If you will, will you kindly turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke.
[00:40:13] Today we begin a new series, our new Advent series that we're calling Visitations.
[00:40:18] What we're going to do is track through the book of Luke, and we're going to look at every time God sent an angel to visit someone in the Christmas narrative.
[00:40:29] We're going to look at what the message this angel gave.
[00:40:32] You know, the word angel, angelos literally means messenger.
[00:40:35] So what was the message they gave?
[00:40:37] Who did they give it to?
[00:40:38] And here's the most important part.
[00:40:40] How does that message still affect our lives today?
[00:40:43] So we're going to start with a story about a guy named
[00:40:46] Zechariah and Elizabeth you heard the Meinrich family talk a little bit already about that but I want to tell you this story God used this story in my life personally to to give me a heart for missions now you're going to read this you say what in the world does this have to do with missions but for me this has been one of those stories that has just set me on fire
[00:41:12] To want to make Jesus' name famous in places he's been unnamed.
[00:41:17] So I think it's quite appropriate on this first Sunday of Advent as we talk about the Lottie Moon offering, international missionaries, that we're in this story in Luke chapter 1.
[00:41:30] So let's go ahead and let's start in verse 5 here.
[00:41:33] If you have your Bibles open there, will you say amen?
[00:41:38] If you don't, say oh no.
[00:41:39] I'm joking.
[00:41:40] You don't have to say that.
[00:41:42] Luke chapter 1 verse 5 it goes like this in the days of Herod king of Judah there was a priest named Zechariah in the division of Abijah and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth now this first verse gives us a ton of information we know exactly when this is taking place did you notice that it's in the days of
[00:42:09] Herod the King.
[00:42:10] This is Herod the Great, the dictator, the puppet of Caesar, the lunatic who will ultimately commit genocide in Bethlehem.
[00:42:20] In other words, this is during a time when tensions are high, political tensions are high.
[00:42:24] There's persecution in Israel at this point.
[00:42:27] This is a tough time to live.
[00:42:30] We also know that in this tough time, Zechariah is a priest.
[00:42:35] Did you see that?
[00:42:36] He's serving the Lord.
[00:42:37] Not only is he a priest, but the division that he's a part of is actually kind of a prestigious one.
[00:42:43] There's actually about 20,000 priests at this time, and they was divided up into different groups.
[00:42:49] Well, the group that Zechariah is in is
[00:42:51] They were the group that was serving even David in the temple you can read more about that in 1st Chronicles chapter 24 verse 10 and Zechariah's wife Elizabeth here did you see how Luke introduces her the daughters of Aaron now her lineage is also quite prestigious in other words
[00:43:10] they've got this ministry dna running through their blood so she comes from a priestly family look at this verse 6 and they were both righteous before the lord walking blamelessly in all the commandments and the statues of the lord this is quite high praise luke says they're righteous and they're walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statues of the lord listen the the
[00:43:35] God doesn't use the word righteous casually.
[00:43:39] He doesn't just throw that term around throughout the scripture.
[00:43:42] This is a pretty big deal.
[00:43:44] Now, let me clarify something.
[00:43:45] This does not mean that Zachariah is sinless.
[00:43:51] This doesn't mean that him and Elizabeth are perfect.
[00:43:54] They most certainly have sin in their life.
[00:43:55] They most certainly are in need of a Savior.
[00:43:58] But what this does tell us is that they have good hearts.
[00:44:02] They have a heart for the Lord.
[00:44:03] And they want to be obedient to God.
[00:44:06] So this is a great couple.
[00:44:08] But, verse 7, they had no child because Elizabeth was barren and they were advanced in years.
[00:44:19] Really good couple.
[00:44:21] but no children if you want to take out your sermon notes maybe you should know this about Zachariah number one Zachariah is a faithful man but he's in a painful situation
[00:44:34] Him and Elizabeth cannot have children, and that is quite painful.
[00:44:38] Listen, infertility is always painful, and we recognize that right now.
[00:44:42] There's people, couples in this sanctuary, some in the overflow, perhaps some watching online who are struggling and going through the process of this right now.
[00:44:51] Our hearts ache for you.
[00:44:52] We pray for you.
[00:44:53] We're here for you.
[00:44:55] It's always painful, but in the ancient world, particularly in this time, infertility came with a particular sting.
[00:45:02] Listen, there's two things about this that you should know.
[00:45:05] The first issue is one of security.
[00:45:10] Listen, in the ancient world there's no nursing homes.
[00:45:13] There's no 401Ks, no Social Security, no retirement homes, no assistant living.
[00:45:18] Your children are the ones who take care of you.
[00:45:21] So not to have children means that one day you're essentially going to die alone and no one's going to take care of you.
[00:45:29] The Old Testament scholar Walter Bergen says it this way, Barrenness in the ancient text symbolized hopelessness.
[00:45:38] For without children there is no foreseeable future.
[00:45:43] When they first got married, I am sure that people said to this newlywed what they say to all newlyweds when you're having kids.
[00:45:52] But then after a couple years, their tone began to change and they would say things like this, praying for you.
[00:46:00] But you could hear the concern in their voice.
[00:46:01] But now they're to the point in their age, they're advanced in years, that no one mentions it anymore.
[00:46:09] Now people just talk about them behind their backs.
[00:46:13] You know they don't have any children.
[00:46:15] By the way, this is a family in ministry.
[00:46:18] How tough must it have been for Elizabeth, the pastor's wife, to celebrate everyone else's pregnancy while dealing with the sorrow of her own barrenness?
[00:46:30] There's this element of security, not just in the future, but even security in the present.
[00:46:35] The more children you have, this is a Megarian culture, the more workers you have, the more income you have.
[00:46:41] Also, in a sense of national security, the more kids you have, the more soldiers you can ultimately have.
[00:46:47] Listen, in Israel, women who had lots of babies were like national heroes, and they were praised and celebrated.
[00:46:54] But women who could not have kids were seen as hopeless,
[00:46:59] and a disgrace.
[00:47:00] Now that might seem like strong language but that's exactly what Elizabeth herself said in verse 25 we'll get there later on but later on in verse 25 she's going to say Lord thank you for taking away my disgrace or my reproach which leads me to the second thing it's not just security it's also this sense of shame now I got to be real careful because Wendy told me right before I stepped up that she counted all the fill in the blanks and that there's 22 of them and then she just smiled at me like you got to hurry this morning okay
[00:47:29] So I don't want to camp out on this, but I do want to mention this just quickly.
[00:47:36] There's this Israelite ideology, and I say ideology because it's not biblical and it's not true, but there was this ideology that if you did something bad, God's going to pay you back.
[00:47:47] It's almost like a monotheistic sense of karma, right?
[00:47:51] You mess up and you're going to get sick or something terrible is going to happen in your family.
[00:47:55] And you see that woven in and out of stories all throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament.
[00:48:00] Do you remember in John chapter 9 when Jesus and his disciples are walking and they see a man who's blind?
[00:48:05] Remember what the disciples ask him?
[00:48:07] Jesus, why is this man blind?
[00:48:09] Did he sin or did his parents sin?
[00:48:11] Who messed up for him to have trouble?
[00:48:14] Remember what Jesus said?
[00:48:16] He said, that's stupid.
[00:48:18] Jesus actually didn't say that's stupid, but he's much nicer than that.
[00:48:22] Jesus said, no, this man is not blind because he sinned or his parents sinned.
[00:48:26] He is blind so God alone may get the glory.
[00:48:30] Let me tell you something about your suffering.
[00:48:32] And I don't have this in your sermon notes, but if you want to write this down, you can.
[00:48:35] Not all suffering is a product of certain sin, right?
[00:48:39] Nor is any suffering a product of God paying you back.
[00:48:44] Never.
[00:48:46] Never is God doing that.
[00:48:47] So when I say it's not God paying you back, listen, can there be things in your life that God allows to happen because there's an undealt with, unrepented, unconfessed sin in your life?
[00:48:58] Of course.
[00:48:59] God will allow you to go through some things, but here's the way we say it.
[00:49:02] It's not to pay you back, it's to bring you back.
[00:49:06] It's to open up your eyes.
[00:49:08] He's not trying to punish you because Jesus Christ already took that punishment on the cross.
[00:49:13] Amen?
[00:49:14] So sometimes God will allow things to happen to open up your eyes so He can bring you back into the flock.
[00:49:20] And you say, well, how do I know if I'm going through that?
[00:49:23] That's the question.
[00:49:24] Well, here's my answer.
[00:49:26] It's pretty easy.
[00:49:26] God will tell you.
[00:49:28] Listen, I have three kids.
[00:49:30] Not once, never, have I walked into one of my kids' rooms, disciplined them, and then looked at them and said, all right, y'all figure out what that's for, and then walk out.
[00:49:40] Never done that.
[00:49:41] You ever done that?
[00:49:41] You ever spanked one of your kids and just look at them and say, you figure out what that's for?
[00:49:45] No.
[00:49:46] Listen, if we as imperfect, sinful parents want to communicate well to our kids, how much more does our perfect Heavenly Father want to communicate to us?
[00:49:56] So if you're going through something and it's God trying to open up your eyes to get your attention, you already know it.
[00:50:02] It's already on your heart.
[00:50:03] It's already on your mind right now.
[00:50:05] But listen to this.
[00:50:07] Sometimes you go through things and it's not because God's trying to open up your eyes.
[00:50:12] Sometimes it's just for His glory.
[00:50:14] It's not because God's trying to bring you back.
[00:50:16] Sometimes, sometimes, listen, you can be loving the Lord with all your heart and walking righteously and still go through some pain.
[00:50:26] That is why, brothers and sisters, when Luke starts this story, he tells us that this couple who's barren is also a couple that's righteous.
[00:50:35] The one that's going through pain is also the one who's walking blamelessly in the ways of the Lord.
[00:50:42] You know why I write this down?
[00:50:44] Because faithfulness does not remove pain.
[00:50:48] That's why I get so stinking mad with all those smiling preachers on TBN.
[00:50:53] And it's why I get so irritated with all the megachurches in Charlotte and around Mooresville preaching that stinking prosperity gospel.
[00:51:01] That is not true!
[00:51:02] You can be faithful and you can be righteous and you can still go through pain.
[00:51:08] Don't believe me?
[00:51:09] Read Luke chapter 1.
[00:51:11] Amen?
[00:51:12] That's what's happened to Zechariah and Elizabeth.
[00:51:15] Write this down.
[00:51:17] You can be righteous and still have unanswered prayers.
[00:51:22] And now they're suffering.
[00:51:24] They've been praying for decades that God would give them a child.
[00:51:28] And for decades, God has not answered their prayers.
[00:51:33] But they're still serving.
[00:51:35] And we picked this story up where Zechariah is serving in the temple.
[00:51:38] Isn't that interesting?
[00:51:39] By the way, side note, sometimes those who are hurting the most are the ones who are serving the most.
[00:51:48] and you never know it.
[00:51:50] Look at this, verse eight.
[00:51:52] Now while he, Zechariah, was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by law to enter the temple of the Lord to burn incense.
[00:52:05] So what they did is they would pick one person to go into the innermost parts by themselves to essentially light the candles.
[00:52:13] They did this by law.
[00:52:15] essentially they roll the dice but it wasn't by chance because the Holy Spirit was blowing on it just to make sure that Zechariah's name was going to be called verse 10 and with a whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense and there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar Zechariah goes in there by himself he's lighting the candle boom there's this angel standing right there look at this
[00:52:44] Verse 12, And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
[00:52:49] You're going to learn throughout this series, every time someone saw an angel, their first emotion was fear.
[00:52:55] They were scared to death because they're in the presence of God Almighty.
[00:52:59] Verse 13, But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayers have been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
[00:53:11] and you will have joy and glass and many will rejoice at his birth for he will be great before the Lord and he must not drink wine or strong drink and he will be filled the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God and he will go before him in the spirit and the power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and to the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready for the Lord a people
[00:53:39] Amen.
[00:53:40] God has still heard Zechariah's prayer.
[00:53:43] Listen, God breaks his silence right here in this moment.
[00:53:47] See, for 400 years there's been no prophet.
[00:53:50] For 400 years there's been no vision, no sign.
[00:53:54] For 400 years God has been silent.
[00:53:56] The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, between Malachi and the New Testament, that's 400 years.
[00:54:01] But now, all of a sudden, after 400 years, this angel shows up.
[00:54:06] This angel's name is Gabriel, and he begins to speak to Zechariah.
[00:54:09] Now you say, wait a second, you mean God wasn't doing anything for 400 years?
[00:54:13] No, not at all.
[00:54:14] That's not what I'm saying.
[00:54:15] I'm saying God was silent but just because he was silent does not mean he wasn't working I can prove that because if you jump ahead and read Luke chapter 3 or Matthew chapter 1 you see the genealogy and how God was working all throughout humanity to bring his son Jesus to this world it's just now he's announcing it and how does he announce it write this down well an angel appears and says your prayers have been heard
[00:54:41] This whole time, you didn't think God was listening, but He was.
[00:54:45] Brothers and sisters, can I tell you, God still remembers prayers you forgot you prayed?
[00:54:49] Listen to this.
[00:54:51] The angel gives a clear promise to Zechariah.
[00:54:55] Everything we just read, let me have you kind of break it down here real quick.
[00:54:58] This is what the angel's going to tell Zechariah.
[00:55:00] You're going to have a son, and you need to name him John.
[00:55:04] Wait, we don't get to pick the name?
[00:55:06] Nope, you don't get to pick the name.
[00:55:07] The Lord's picking the name.
[00:55:08] His name's John.
[00:55:09] which none of you you're not this immature but I think this is hilarious because I'm kind of immature Zachariah's dad's name was Berechiah the other grandpa's name was Jehochiah and now you're going to name him John because it's like we're just done with all the Achaia stuff okay we're going to keep it simple just name him John so you got to name him John here second thing you know he will be great in the sight of the Lord now not great in the sight of the world
[00:55:38] But great in the sight of the Lord.
[00:55:41] And this is the most important.
[00:55:42] He'll prepare the way for the Messiah.
[00:55:44] I thought Matt said it so well earlier.
[00:55:46] John is not Jesus.
[00:55:48] John is not the Savior.
[00:55:50] He was just a sign pointing to the Savior.
[00:55:54] He's not the Messiah.
[00:55:55] He's a messenger telling people about the Messiah.
[00:56:00] By the way, is this at all what they were praying for?
[00:56:03] Well, no.
[00:56:04] All they were praying for, God give us a child.
[00:56:07] And God doesn't just give them a child, God gives them a prophet.
[00:56:11] You know why?
[00:56:12] Because God's promises are always even greater than the prayers you're praying.
[00:56:17] Amen?
[00:56:18] Now what would you do if you were Zechariah?
[00:56:20] You're sitting here, you're lighting the Advent candle, kaboom!
[00:56:24] It's not really an Advent candle, but you're lighting the candle and an angel appears, says you're going to have a child, and not just a child, but a child that's going to tell people about the Savior to come.
[00:56:32] What would you say?
[00:56:33] I don't know, maybe, thank you?
[00:56:37] Right on?
[00:56:39] Yes!
[00:56:41] What does Zechariah say?
[00:56:43] Verse 18.
[00:56:44] Zechariah said to the angel, How shall I know this?
[00:56:48] For I am an old man.
[00:56:50] and My Wife has advanced in years.
[00:56:53] I think it's funny, you know, he's in there by himself.
[00:56:55] Would he have said that if Elizabeth was standing beside him?
[00:56:57] I don't know.
[00:57:00] I'm owed and my wife's owed.
[00:57:01] How can this be?
[00:57:03] There's a problem here.
[00:57:06] Zechariah responds with doubt.
[00:57:08] And I want to show you throughout this series, doubt's not a bad thing if it's wrapped in curiosity and understanding.
[00:57:14] Zechariah's doubts not wrapped in curiosity or understanding.
[00:57:19] He had unbelief.
[00:57:22] What he's asking for is proof.
[00:57:25] I need the proof.
[00:57:26] You know why?
[00:57:27] Because he looked at a circumstance instead of God's promise.
[00:57:32] I'm too old.
[00:57:33] Isn't that what he says?
[00:57:34] Write that letter A.
[00:57:35] We are too old.
[00:57:36] This just physically doesn't make sense.
[00:57:38] How can
[00:57:40] Go back to verse 18.
[00:57:43] Zechariah said to the angel, How shall I know this?
[00:57:46] For I'm an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.
[00:57:50] By the way, will you just repeat after me real quick?
[00:57:53] Isn't...
[00:57:55] Okay, just real quick.
[00:57:57] I got 10 minutes.
[00:57:58] Let's do this quickly.
[00:57:59] Isn't that enough?
[00:58:03] It's a good question.
[00:58:05] It's a good question.
[00:58:07] An angel's popped up.
[00:58:09] It says, I stand here in the presence of God.
[00:58:12] Shouldn't that alone be enough proof for you, Zechariah?
[00:58:17] How will I know this?
[00:58:18] We're owed.
[00:58:18] Verse 19, And the angel answered, I am Gabriel, and I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
[00:58:28] And behold, you will be silent.
[00:58:32] Did you see that?
[00:58:32] You're going to be silent, unable to speak.
[00:58:35] until the day these things take place because you did not, look at this, believe my words.
[00:58:42] This wasn't curiosity, it's a lack of faith, a lack of belief which be fulfilled in their time.
[00:58:48] Verse 21, and the people were waiting for Zechariah and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.
[00:58:53] Verse 22, and when he had come out he was unable to speak to them and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple but he did not see a vision, he just had his tongue muted by the angel Gabriel.
[00:59:06] And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.
[00:59:11] And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
[00:59:15] Well, that's an awkward turn, isn't it?
[00:59:18] You ask the angel a question, and all of a sudden you're punished?
[00:59:22] You're disciplined?
[00:59:22] And that's exactly what it is.
[00:59:24] Zechariah is being disciplined here.
[00:59:26] Now, I want to point out something.
[00:59:28] This is God's discipline, but it's not God's rejection.
[00:59:31] Okay, God's not going to say, you know what, forget it, Zechariah, I want to pick someone else.
[00:59:35] No, he said, I'm still going to use you.
[00:59:37] I've got to teach you a lesson here.
[00:59:39] Why?
[00:59:41] Well, listen, write this.
[00:59:42] If God said it, it settles it.
[00:59:44] It's settled.
[00:59:45] Isn't that what the angels said?
[00:59:47] I stand in the presence of God.
[00:59:49] God himself is saying this.
[00:59:51] What else do you need?
[00:59:53] Isn't that enough?
[00:59:56] What other proof do you need?
[00:59:57] Write this now.
[00:59:59] Zechariah becomes silent until the fulfillment.
[01:00:02] because he did not trust in God's Word.
[01:00:06] Now I want to show you something that I think is the most interesting thing here.
[01:00:10] There is a huge contrast in comparison between what's happened with Zechariah and what's going to happen.
[01:00:16] And I've got to be quick about this because I want to preach more on it next Sunday.
[01:00:20] And what's going to happen six months from this story with Mary.
[01:00:25] Because an angel is going to come to Mary.
[01:00:26] I want to just show you this real quick.
[01:00:27] Jump to verse 26.
[01:00:29] This is a separate story about six months down the road.
[01:00:32] Look at this.
[01:00:33] In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth.
[01:00:39] Angel Gabriel, same angel that visits Zechariah, right?
[01:00:42] Look at verse 30.
[01:00:43] And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, because every time you see an angel, that's your first emotion is fear.
[01:00:50] Mary, for you have found favor with God.
[01:00:53] And behold, verse 31, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
[01:01:01] Look at this, verse 34.
[01:01:03] And Mary said to the angel, How will this be since I'm a virgin?
[01:01:07] She asked a question.
[01:01:09] Verse 35, And the angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will call on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
[01:01:16] Therefore the child to be born will be called Holy, the Son of God.
[01:01:21] Isn't that interesting?
[01:01:22] Do you see the contrast here with Zechariah and with Mary?
[01:01:26] Write this down.
[01:01:27] Same angel, similar message, same question.
[01:01:34] Same angel, Gabriel,
[01:01:37] By the way, two people who have extraordinary character.
[01:01:42] Mary, you are highly favored.
[01:01:44] Zechariah, righteous, walking blamelessly before the Lord.
[01:01:49] Has a very similar message.
[01:01:51] You're going to have a child, a son.
[01:01:53] Zechariah, name him John.
[01:01:54] Mary, name him Jesus.
[01:01:58] And then they both ask a question.
[01:02:01] Zechariah says, how can this be, for I am too old?
[01:02:05] Mary says, how can this be, for I'm a virgin?
[01:02:08] But when Zechariah asked his question, what happens?
[01:02:11] He gets disciplined.
[01:02:14] When Mary asked her question, she doesn't get disciplined.
[01:02:18] She gets an explanation.
[01:02:22] What's up with that?
[01:02:24] Why is that?
[01:02:26] Listen.
[01:02:28] Mary asked how, not whether.
[01:02:32] Mary's not asking for proof.
[01:02:34] Listen.
[01:02:36] The miracle she had, her miracle had never been done before.
[01:02:41] That's why she needs an explanation.
[01:02:43] y'all not one time in the Old Testament had a virgin ever got pregnant not one time since Mary has a virgin ever got pregnant and brothers and sisters there will never be a virgin who miraculously gets pregnant that is never that was a John Calipari one and done it's never ever happening again never okay but what happened with Zachariah well his miracle had been done before
[01:03:11] y'all Zachariah is the preacher he's the priest he knows the stories of Sarah and Hannah and Rachel and Samson's mother he knows he knows that his God can fill the womb of a barren woman he knows that that's why he didn't need an explanation he needed faith how dare you pretend that God can't do something
[01:03:40] But you very well know he's already done before.
[01:03:44] Amen?
[01:03:46] Look at this.
[01:03:47] Jump back to verse 24.
[01:03:48] And after these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived.
[01:03:53] You know why?
[01:03:54] Because God always keeps his word.
[01:03:58] Elizabeth conceived, and God fulfilled his promise.
[01:04:02] Write this down.
[01:04:03] God doesn't need our permission, just our trust.
[01:04:09] It isn't your permission to trust.
[01:04:10] I don't ask Bethany.
[01:04:11] She'll come and start wrapping this up.
[01:04:13] Listen, the key takeaway I want you to get for today.
[01:04:16] By the way, was that quick enough?
[01:04:17] 22, fill in the blanks.
[01:04:19] Here's the key takeaway I want you to get for today, okay?
[01:04:23] Why does Zechariah discipline?
[01:04:27] Because he doubted that God could do something he knew God had already done before.
[01:04:37] I want you to write this down.
[01:04:39] God can do what you know He can do.
[01:04:43] I know that sounds a little bit simplistic.
[01:04:45] I don't want to insult your intelligence, but God can do what you know He can do.
[01:04:49] So here's the real question.
[01:04:52] What do you know He can do?
[01:04:54] What do you know about Him?
[01:04:58] You know that God can save sinners, right?
[01:05:03] I don't want to divide the congregation, but I'm going to have to this morning.
[01:05:07] I want just for a second to talk to every person here who's a Christian, who's a born-again, baptized believer.
[01:05:16] You've given your heart to Jesus.
[01:05:18] You trust Him.
[01:05:19] I want to talk to you.
[01:05:21] You know that Jesus can save sinners.
[01:05:23] You know how you know that?
[01:05:24] Because He saved you.
[01:05:26] Look what Paul says here.
[01:05:29] You were dead in your trespasses and sin.
[01:05:33] You were dead.
[01:05:35] Y'all, dead doesn't mean kind of dead.
[01:05:37] Dead doesn't mean a little bit dead.
[01:05:40] Dead means dead.
[01:05:42] That doesn't mean that you were a good person with a good heart.
[01:05:47] You just needed a little bit of extra Jesus or religion in your life.
[01:05:50] No, it means you're dead.
[01:05:52] Dead doesn't mean that you got on the wrong path and you needed Jesus to get you on the right path.
[01:05:59] You wasn't walking on any path.
[01:06:01] You were dead.
[01:06:03] Dead doesn't mean that you were drowning and trying to keep your head above the water until Jesus came along and threw you a life preserver for you to grab onto.
[01:06:12] Dead people can't grab onto anything.
[01:06:14] You were dead in your trespasses and sins and you were hell bound until
[01:06:24] In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work, and the sons of the disobedience, among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and in the mind, and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind.
[01:06:43] You're dead, and there was no hope for you but God.
[01:06:49] These are the best two words you will find in the New Testament.
[01:06:53] God, being rich in mercy because of great love which He loved us.
[01:07:02] Even when we were dead in our trespasses.
[01:07:04] Oh, look at this.
[01:07:06] He made us alive.
[01:07:08] You didn't make yourself alive.
[01:07:09] He made you alive.
[01:07:11] Together with Christ, by grace, you have been saved and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
[01:07:23] You know that because you've experienced it.
[01:07:28] So let me ask you a question, Zachariah.
[01:07:33] Why are you living life pretending you don't know what God can do when you've already experienced it?
[01:07:42] And you say, Seth, that's a rude thing for you to ask me.
[01:07:46] How do you know that?
[01:07:47] Well, here's the follow-up question.
[01:07:49] If you know that God can save sinners, then how many people have you witnessed to this week?
[01:08:00] How many people have you told the gospel to if you know He can save sinners like you?
[01:08:08] How many gospel conversations have you had with your neighbors?
[01:08:12] How many gospel conversations have you had with your siblings, with your parents, with your children, with that waiter or waitress, with that guy you see at the convenience store every single day?
[01:08:22] How many people have you told the good news if you know He can save sinners?
[01:08:27] Zechariah, then why are you living?
[01:08:30] As if God can't do what you know He can.
[01:08:32] Amen?
[01:08:36] You know this, Romans 8, 1, There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
[01:08:42] you know that wherever you're at right now he loves you and nothing can take you away from that that love look at this Romans chapter 8 verse 31 what shall we say of these things if God is for us who could be against us he who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all how will he not also with him graciously give us all things who shall bring any charge against God's elect and it's God who justifies
[01:09:06] Christ Jesus is the one who died and more than that who was raised who is at the right hand of God who indeed is interceding for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword as it is written for your sake we are being killed all the day
[01:09:27] to slaughter but no no no no that isn't true because in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us for i am sure that neither death nor life nor angels nor rulers nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor death or anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of god in christ jesus our lord and if that be true if you know that then why have you not went with courage to tell people the good news of the gospel
[01:09:59] God can do Zechariah what you know he can do.
[01:10:03] Now let me talk to the other half.
[01:10:06] In a crowd this size, I am not naive enough to believe that every person in this room is actually a Christian.
[01:10:14] And some of you come just because it's a part of tradition, because it's a part of habit, or because it's getting close to the holidays you're here this morning.
[01:10:22] And to you, those who have not surrendered your life to Jesus, let me ask you this.
[01:10:26] Do you believe it?
[01:10:28] That God can do what He says He can do?
[01:10:32] Maybe you haven't experienced this, but He says it, and He keeps His promises.
[01:10:37] What is those promises?
[01:10:39] Well, look at this, 1 John 1, 6, If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie, and we do not practice righteousness.
[01:10:47] Truth but if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sins if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves you think you're good
[01:11:03] You think you've been a good enough person to make it to heaven?
[01:11:06] Maybe you think you're good because you're comparing yourself to everyone else.
[01:11:10] We do that all the time.
[01:11:12] We watch the news and we see the news story about the guy who went crazy, murdered his family.
[01:11:16] We're like, okay, I'm not like that guy.
[01:11:18] So I'm doing pretty good.
[01:11:20] But compared to a holy, perfect, just God, you're like filthy rags.
[01:11:27] You've deceived yourself, and the truth is not in us.
[01:11:31] But look at this, if we confess our sins, oh, He is faithful and just, forgive us of our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[01:11:41] He says, I will forgive you, but you gotta ask first.
[01:11:46] Paul puts it this way, confess with your mouth, believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised His Son from the dead in salvation.
[01:11:53] shall be yours.
[01:11:54] You believe what God says?
[01:11:56] You believe he keeps his promises?
[01:11:59] Here's the third one.
[01:12:01] Faith is believing God will do what he promised.
[01:12:06] He's already kept his promise by dying on a cross for you.
[01:12:09] He who was innocent became guilty, so now you who are guilty can be innocent.
[01:12:15] Well, it's not the only promise he made.
[01:12:17] Listen to this.
[01:12:19] Revelation 21, verse one.
[01:12:23] Look what John says, Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
[01:12:26] For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
[01:12:31] And I saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, adorned for her husband.
[01:12:38] And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
[01:12:43] He will dwell with them, and they will be his people.
[01:12:47] And God himself will be with them as their God.
[01:12:52] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
[01:12:58] Death shall be no more.
[01:13:01] Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.
[01:13:11] For the former things have passed away.
[01:13:14] That's a promise.
[01:13:17] And He is faithful, Zechariah, keeping His promises.
[01:13:21] So if that be true,
[01:13:23] If you know that God has saved you, you know that He is with you, and you know that one day He's prepared a home for you, that this life is just a temporary stopping point, but eternity is forever.
[01:13:41] If you know that is true, here's my question.
[01:13:44] Why have you and I not leveraged our lives for the sake of mission to share the gospel with every single person?
[01:13:54] We come in contact with.
[01:13:56] So here's what I want to ask you to do today.
[01:13:59] For every person in here who is saved, like Zachariah, you've got a good heart, but you've struggled in taking the Lord serious, doing what you know He can do for you.
[01:14:13] I'm just going to ask that today you come and repent and say, Lord, during this Christmas season,
[01:14:20] God, stir my heart for mission.
[01:14:22] Stir my heart to go tell people the good news.
[01:14:25] Y'all, I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but I do want to let you in on something that I think we forget about in the church.
[01:14:31] And it's simply this, that Christmas is not about you, nor is it about your family.
[01:14:39] We're going to learn in the weeks to come that, well, during the first Christmas, that didn't bring families together, it actually tore them apart.
[01:14:49] Mary is going to leave her home.
[01:14:54] Joseph is going to want to get rid of Mary, divorce her quietly.
[01:14:59] Even when they go to Bethlehem, there's not enough family who will even let him stay.
[01:15:03] There's no room for them.
[01:15:06] This is not a season where it's just about us getting together with our family and, you know, being charitable with our kin.
[01:15:15] This is a season where we take very serious what we know God said he can do.
[01:15:21] What can he do?
[01:15:22] He can save sinners because he saved you.
[01:15:25] So I want to ask you to come, come, come to the altar and say, Lord, I just recommit my life to you this morning.
[01:15:33] I renew my relationship with you this morning.
[01:15:34] I want to start taking serious this call to mission.
[01:15:39] I want to do that through my conversations by the way witnessing don't make any excuses say I'm kind of awkward in speech or I'm kind of introverted y'all faithfulness has nothing to do with personality amen has everything to do with obedience so I want to ask you this month commit to be faithful to have intentional God conversations be faithful in your generosity as we give to missionaries across the world and for those of you in here
[01:16:08] who have not surrendered your life to Jesus.
[01:16:10] I want to ask you something very simple today.
[01:16:13] This first Sunday of Advent, will you just come and die?
[01:16:16] I mean, that's the best way to put it.
[01:16:19] Just die.
[01:16:20] Die to yourself.
[01:16:22] Die to your own dreams.
[01:16:24] Die to your own aspirations.
[01:16:27] Die to your sin so you can be raised back to life in, through, and for Jesus and Jesus alone.
[01:16:34] Here's what that looks like.
[01:16:35] You coming, you saying, Jesus, I do trust you as my Savior.
[01:16:39] I really do believe you did what you said you did 2,000 years ago by dying on a cross for me.
[01:16:44] And I really do believe that you're going to do what you said you're going to do by one day, taking me in as your own, as an heir into the kingdom, an adopted son, an adopted daughter.
[01:16:54] And now I trust you, and I give my life to you.
[01:16:57] That's all it takes.
[01:16:58] Remember what the Bible says?
[01:16:59] Remember what God says?
[01:17:00] He is just and faithful.
[01:17:03] to forgive you won't you stand right where you're at let's pray together father i pray today i pray today that there would be some who come lord some who know you but they have been like zachariah they have forgotten to take you serious and doing what they know you can do that today father we would just recommit our hearts to you that during this advent season we would go and share good news we would be generous
[01:17:34] We would long for people to hear the sweet name of Jesus and for Him to be named in unnamed places.
[01:17:42] My Father, for those here, for those watching right now in the overflow, for those who don't know You, who have never really trusted You, Father, they don't need to renew a relationship with You.
[01:17:54] They need to start a relationship with You this morning.
[01:17:58] I want to ask, Father, that You give them enough courage and enough boldness
[01:18:03] To come, to confess their sins, to repent, and to trust you as their Lord and Savior, because you are just and faithful to forgive us.
[01:18:15] Lord, we thank you for being here.
[01:18:16] You didn't promise us a sign.
[01:18:19] You didn't promise us good health or children.
[01:18:21] You promised us something better than that.
[01:18:23] You promised us something better than you even promised Zechariah.
[01:18:26] You promised us salvation if we would trust in you.
[01:18:29] You promised eternity with you if we would trust in you.
[01:18:34] So Lord, help us this morning, on this Sunday of hope, trust in you.
[01:18:39] We pray this in your holy and your most exalted name.
[01:18:42] And those who agreed said...

[01:19:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
and more.

[01:20:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Lord Jesus, we just ask you today that as we leave here, we leave here as a people renewed.
[01:20:40] Father, that we would leave here passionate, excited because we know, we know that you can do what you say you can do.
[01:20:50] We know, Father, what we've already experienced, that you can save sinners.
[01:20:55] That means no one is too far away from the bounds of grace.
[01:20:59] That means no one, Father, is too far away from your mercy and from your love.
[01:21:03] So let us, let us be passionate in our faith.
[01:21:06] Father, I pray that there is someone here who has not trusted you.
[01:21:11] That Father, even as we begin to walk out these doors, that they would stay.
[01:21:15] That they would not leave this building until, Father, they surrender their lives to you.
[01:21:21] Father, I ask that as we leave, that you would bless us and keep us, make your face shine upon us.
[01:21:27] Father, that we would be so on fire for you, if nothing else, people would come just to watch us burn.
[01:21:34] Father, that we would be zealous, that we would be, Father God, faithful and obedient.
[01:21:40] Father, make your face shine upon us.
[01:21:42] Bless us and keep us and give us travel of mercies until we meet again.
[01:21:47] We pray all of this in your holy and exalted name and all those who agreed said, Amen.
[01:21:54] You are dismissed.