TEXT: Titus 2:11-15
INTRO: When was the last time you stopped and simply thanked God for wonderful stories? Stories come in many fashions, shapes, and sizes. Some are in the present (Ex. Tiger Woods), some are from years past (Ex. childhood), some are perpetual (stood test of time).
ILLUS: The following story of errors actually appeared in a newspaper several years ago. First Day: FOR SALE—R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Phone 958-3030 after 7 p.m. and ask for Mrs. Kelly who lives with him cheap. Next day the ad was “corrected” to read: NOTICE—We regret having erred in R.D. Jones’ ad yesterday. It should have read: One sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone 958-3030 and ask for Mrs. Kelly who lives with him after 7 p.m. That correction was “corrected” the day after. It read: R.D. Jones has informed us that he has received several anonymous telephone calls because of the error we made in his classified ad yesterday. His ad stands corrected as follows: FOR SALE—R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone 958-3030 after 7 p.m. and ask for Mrs. Kelly who loves with him. Finally, the day after, Mr. Jones “corrected” the ad himself with a second ad: NOTICE—I, R.D. Jones, have no sewing machine for sale. I SMASHED IT. Don’t call 958-3030 as the telephone has been taken out. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Kelly. Until yesterday she was my housekeeper, but SHE QUIT!
PROP. SENT: The Bible teaches us that the story of God’s grace is amazing. Why? It is the saving grace of God that breaks the penalty of sin, power of sin, and eternally the presence of sin as we will abide with the Lord forever. The amazing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that brings salvation to our lives as sinners also brings transformation into our lives making us more like the Savior!
I. IT IS THE STORY OF A GREAT SAVIOR – (Line 1)
A. Great in His Graciousness – Grand Titus 2:11a
1. Titus was a man whose life had been changed by God’s grace – everyone is in need of “saving grace.”
2. Titus had heard of the amazing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ through the preaching of the Apostle Paul.
3. We know that Titus took God’s call on his life very seriously because he was willing to leave behind everything – serving with the Apostle Paul in the gospel ministry.
4. BY FAR the greatest story in the history of this world is the story of God’s amazing grace – demonstrated personally and perfectly in the Lord Jesus Christ.
a. John 1:14, 16-17, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
5. There are many definitions of grace that have talked about for years.
a. GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
b. God giving us what we do not deserve (No one deserves God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, Holy Spirit, heaven, etc.)!
c. The unmerited favor of God
6. These definitions are all wonderful for grace helps us to see that a right standing with God does not depend on who I am or what I’ve done, but on who God is and what God has done!
ILLUS: J. Vernon McGee tells the story of a certain man who wanted to join the local Baptist church. The deacons were unsure of his character and began asking him questions. Their last question was regarding his personal salvation. They asked, “How did you get saved?” His answer was, “God did His part, and I did my part.” They thought there was something wrong with his doctrine, so they questioned further, “What was God’s part, and what was your part?” He said, “God’s part was the saving, and my part was the sinning. I ran from Him as fast as my sinful heart and rebellious legs could take me. He ran after me till He ran me down.”
B. Great in His Goodness – Gift Titus 2:11
1. God’s grace is amazing because it extends to all people!
2. The people of Crete that Titus was called to minister to were not the classiest of people on the block.
3. To call someone a “Cretian” was a great insult in these days!
4. They were known to have the character of:
a. Liars
b. Cheaters
c. Gluttons and Drunkards
d. Unfaithful and untrustworthy
5. This is the story of God’s amazing grace!
6. It wasn’t the goodness of these folks that qualified them for God’s grace, it was totally 100% the goodness of God.
7. Perhaps some of you feel there is no way God could relate to you by His grace this morning.
a. You’ve been unfaithful sexually
b. You’ve lost your temper one too many times
c. There is an addiction that you can’t seem to find victory over.
d. You feel everyone else could be blessed by God – but you are so unworthy because of sin, guilt, shame.
ILLUS: Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. —Jerry Bridges
5. Salvation is not a matter of your goodness, but of God’s grace.
6. Titus 3:4-5, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy HE saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
ILLUS: Salvation is a gift and you can't boast about a gift. You can only be thankful. —D. James Kennedy
II. IT IS THE STORY OF GREAT SINNERS – (Line 2)
A. Great in Our Guilt Titus 2:12a
1. Saving grace is also “strengthening grace.”
2. From the time you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior until the day He takes you home, you will face spiritual struggles.
3. One of the greatest spiritual struggles you are going to face is which place God is going to have in your life.
4. Another is by the constant pull of worldly pleasures, passions, pursuits.
a. You may have wonderful clothes – the world will not want you to enjoy them – but desire better.
b. You may have a cell phone that works just fine – the world will tell you that you must have one with phones, radios, high speed internet, etc.
c. You may have a wonderful family – the world will tell you that you deserve something much better – and try to lead you into a lifestyle of being unfaithful to the Lord and family.
4. It is natural state for those who do not love God to love the world, for this is their home.
5. It is not normal for the child of God to live a life dominated by sin and worldliness– they have another home they long for in which Jesus reigns.
6. Victory is won because of God’s strengthening grace!
7. What kind of difference would it make in this world if every pastor longed to live holy before God and led His congregation to live holy and righteous in the Lord, too!
a. Too many churches are seeking to be “happy” without being “holy.”
b. God desires that each of us look to Him first – as our relationship with the Lord is strengthened – the things of this world begin to lose their stronghold on our lives!
ILLUS: Could the United States be headed down a path similar to that of ancient Rome? Let’s look at the five reasons for Rome’s downfall, as set forth by Edward Gibbon in his classic work The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. They are: 1. The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home. 2. Increasing taxes and spending of public money for bread and circuses. 3. The mad craze for pleasure, with sports becoming more exciting and more brutal. 4. The building of gigantic armaments, when the real enemy is the decadence of the people. 5. The decay of religion, with faith fading into mere form. See: Revelation 3:1-5,
B. Great in Our God Titus 2:12b
1. To deliver us from sin and bring us into God’s kingdom we need saving grace.
2. To help us say no to sin and its continual pull we need that strengthening grace of God.
3. To help us look more like Jesus in this present age we need God’s sanctifying grace – the total process of becoming more and more like Christ!
4. Too many Christians think of victory in Jesus as something that will only happen once they reach heaven – but victory in Jesus is what everyone of us needs in the nasty and now!
5. Beth Moore had a book out not too long ago called, “When Godly People Do Ungodly Things.”
6. Remember, God doesn’t work overnight to make you more like Himself…He’s at work on you all the time…this is a process!
ILLUS: Grace seeks to help people reach their potential. Grace does not condemn those who have not arrived. Grace focuses on solutions – not just the problems. Grace is the lubricant that eases friction in any relationship. Grace celebrates success and keeps no record of wrongs. – Henry Blackaby, Gracisms
7. Through God’s sanctifying grace we are separated not only from sin…but unto a living, loving relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ that begins to make us look less like the world and more like Him!
8. Embrace God’s call to total devotion to holiness and godliness!
9. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:17 - In Ephesians 5:25, we read, “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, that HE might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word.”
ILLUS: E. Stanley Jones, Methodist doctor and missionary to India, writes: The early Christians did not say in dismay: “Look what the world has come to,” but in delight, “Look what has come to the world.” They saw not merely the ruin, but the Resource for the reconstruction of that ruin. They saw not merely that sin did abound, but that grace did much more abound. On that assurance the pivot of history swung from blank despair, loss of moral nerve, and fatalism, to faith and confidence that at last sin had met its match. —Leadership, Vol. 19, no. 4.
III. IT IS THE STORY OF GREAT SATISFACTION – (Line 3)
A. Great in Guidance Titus 2:13
1. God’s saving, strengthening, sanctifying grace is also…Second Coming grace.
2. The “blessed hope” belongs to every child of God and focuses our attention on the truth that we will see the Lord Jesus Christ one day and we’ll be with Him forever.
3. That blessed hope gives us strength and confidence to live our lives with purpose and meaning – a better day is coming!
ILLUS: In his book Winning Life's Toughest Battles, psychologist Julius Segal told about the 25,000 American soldiers who were held in POW camps during World War II. Some died, some survived. There was no reason to believe that there was a difference in stamina between the two groups, but there was one major difference: Those who survived were the ones who held on to the hope that they would someday be released. They talked about the jobs they would have, the kind of person they would marry, the homes they would build. Many of them drew pictures on the wall to illustrate their dreams. Segal goes on to say that researcher have found that a hopeful attitude can lead to physiological changes that improve the immune system -- the body's ability to fight disease.
5. Knowing we have this hope in God does not lead us to just sit back in our pajamas and wait on the Lord like children wait for Santa on Christmas Eve!
6. This hope in Jesus leads motivates and encourages us to live our lives for His honor and glory now!
7. Aren’t you thankful today your hope is not built on:
a. A Political leader or party
b. Never encountering any problems
c. The hope of winning the lottery
d. Perfect religious system
8. The difference between the world’s hope and biblical hope is that worldly hope is unsure of what it hopes for (Hope I’ll find the right person, hope it doesn’t rain on my day off, hope I’ll make more money next year) – Biblical hope is sure of what it hopes for – because God has promised!
ILLUS: The Holman Bible Dictionary defines our blessed hope as...
"Trustful expectation, particularly with reference to the fulfillment of God's promises. Biblical hope is the anticipation of a favorable outcome under God's guidance. More specifically, hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future. This contrasts to the world's definition of hope as “a feeling that what is wanted will happen.”
B. Great in Glory Titus 2:14
1. Think of the various forms of God’s grace we’ve mentioned – saving, strengthening, sanctifying, second coming…think now of serving grace.
2. When you truly begin to understand what God’s done for you, it will motivate you to serve the Lord with fresh passion!
3. While we were here in the muck of sin, headed straight for hell and death, God came and brought rescue and everlasting life!
4. Knowing how much God loves and cares for you leads you out of the lifestyle of living for self only…now you are living for the Savior!
ILLUS: Bo Barredo, a missionary who advocates an indigenous missionary strategy, shares the following about his family life: I belong to a relatively prosperous family of lawyers. My mother died of cancer at age 45. Our family buried her a few days before Christmas. My father was never the same again. He turned his back to the world, left his business and law practice and became a full-time missionary evangelist among our own people. To date, per written decision slips, God has used my father to bring to His feet more than 200,000 souls. Seeing our father’s great love for God and God’s beautiful love for him, three of my brothers and I and our wives, plus our youngest sister also became missionaries, pastors and evangelists. God gave us much grace. Where before as lawyers we represented the criminals before the judge, now as missionaries, we represent the Eternal Judge before the “criminals.” —A Mission Letter, from Advancing Native Missions, P.O. Box 5036, Charlottesville, Va 22905.
CONCLUSION: The story of God’s amazing grace brings salvation that leads to total transformation of our lives. The Lord Jesus paid the ultimate price by laying down His life for each of us…now He has freed us to live new lives in passion and purpose unto Him! 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s.”
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
The Grinch That Tried to Steal Christmas
TEXT: Revelation 12:1-11
INTRO: It is so reassuring and confidence building to know that God and good will ultimately triumph over Satan and evil. Satan’s mission has always been to steal, kill, and destroy – while the Lord Jesus came that we might have life to the full (John 10:10). We cannot trust in what we see only with our physical eyes in order to determine victory or defeat. In the present time, it appears that Satan has the upper hand and that he will triumph. Yet, we know on the testimony and truth of the Word of God that Jesus has already overcome through His coming to this earth as baby in Bethlehem – death on the cross – ascension to the Father and ultimately He is returning as Victorious King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Don’t let anything take away the joy of victory in Jesus this Christmas or any other time of year!
ILLUS: "Christmas day is in our grasp so long as we have hands to clasp." The Grinch could hardly believe his ears. He begins to get furious, but then something happens. He suddenly “puzzles” how Christmas came. "It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags." Suddenly the Grinch realizes that Christmas is about more than presents, or decorations, or a feast. He has a thought he’s never thought before: "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn’t come from a store; Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more." SOURCE: "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Suess
PROP. SENT: The Bible teaches through God’s plan, providence, and power the Lord Jesus Christ and His followers will have eternal victory while Satan and his demons will be utterly vanquished. Make sure you are on the winning team by belonging totally to the Lord!
I. THE OVERSEEING OF THE SOVEREIGN
A. Great Sign Rev. 12:1-2
1. Throughout the years there have been many speculations as to the identification of the woman.
a. Mary, the mother of Jesus. We know from the Scriptures Mary gave birth to the Son of God, but this is not Mary in Revelation 12.
b. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ – the Church did not give birth to the Lord Jesus, rather the Lord Jesus gave birth to His church!
c. Mary Baker Eddy – founder of the Christian Science movement claimed she was the woman in Revelation 12 and the dragon was “mortal mind of man” which was ready to devour her new teachings.
2. The woman in Revelation 12 is a picture of Israel.
3. In Genesis 39, God gave Joseph a dream that Israel would be saved from destruction through him. Genesis 39:9, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”
a. Jacob – the sun
b. Rachel – the moon
c. Eleven stars are the sons of Israel – in Rev. 12, Joseph is included in the tribes of Israel.
4. In Romans 9:4-5 we find, “…Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed of God. Amen.”
5. Dr. Grant Richardson explains, “Israel birthed Jesus in His first coming (Romans 9:5). Satan has always attacked the line of Judah, the line of the Messiah. The Devil did everything in his power to prevent the first coming of Christ.”
6. The picture in Revelation 12 is also concerning the Second Coming of Christ – Israel rejected the Lord Jesus as Messiah the first time He came. At His Second Coming, many will receive Him as Messiah and Lord!
ILLUS: “Down the years (Israel) has failed repeatedly, she has failed miserably, but that does not diminish the fact that she belongs to God. He has not written off the nation, he has not eliminated her from his prophetic agenda. Her glory is the glory of the heavens and that explains why Abraham’s seed is likened to the stars in Genesis 15:5. It is not wonder the old devil hates this nation for she is a powerful reminder to him of all that once was his and of the dizzy heights from which he fell.” - Sam Gordon, A Walk through Revelation
7. How many times have we failed repeatedly and miserably – yet God still claims us as His own!
B. Gruesome Satan Rev. 12:3-4
1. The picture Revelation gives us of Satan is of murderous, ferocious dragon. Red, perhaps, symbolizes his murderous motives.
2. Jesus said of Satan in John 8:44 that he was a murderer from the beginning.
3. In 2 Corinthians 4:4 and 1 John 5:19, Satan is described as the “ruler” and “god of this world.”
4. 1 Peter 5.8 describes him as prowling about as a great lion seeking whom he may devour.
5. If you were to ask the average person about Satan, they would probably tell you about a red man with pointed ears, long tail, with some kind of pitch-fork in his hand. That is man’s invention and is not a biblical description of him at all!
ILLUS: “The Bible teaches that the devil is a real person and that he controls the affairs of this evil world. His great objective is to defeat the will of God in the world, in the church, and in the Christian.” – Billy Graham
5. While we must understand that Satan does have power, it is a limited and he is in no way as powerful and strong as the Lord Jesus Christ!
6. No matter how strong Satan’s attempts have been to destroy the Lord Jesus Christ, they have always failed!
a. Satan led Cain to kill Abel – yet God gave brought forth Seth.
b. Satan led Pharaoh to kill all the male babies in Egypt, yet God gave Moses.
c. Satan led King Herod to kill all the babies under the age 2 in Bethlehem – yet God told Joseph and Mary to escape with the newborn Son of God.
d. Satan led the people of the world to put the Lord of Glory, our Savior Jesus Christ, on the cross to die – yet God raised Him from the dead!
7. Everlasting victory belongs to our God and victory also belongs to the child of God.
8. Through the Spirit of God’s indwelling, the Apostle John reminds us in 1 John 4:4, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
ILLUS: American writer Wilson Mizner was himself a talented fighter. One night he and boxer "Mysterious" Billy Smith visited a San Francisco bar, where Mizner started a fight with some sailors. At the end only one sailor was left standing. This sailor would not go down, in spite of the fact that Mizner was hitting him hard constantly. Suddenly, Billy Smith noticed what was happening. "Leave him alone, Wilson!" he shouted. "I knocked him out five minutes ago." On investigation it turned out that a punch from Smith had indeed knocked the sailor out cold, but had also wedged him vertically between two pieces of furniture. Here's an accurate picture of our already-defeated but still standing enemy Satan! Today in the Word, April 3, 1993
9. It ought to fill us with joy and confidence in the Lord today God is greater than the devil and is always victorious.
10. We reverently worship with thanksgiving and awe the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
II. THE OVERTHROWING OF THE SERPANT
A. God’s Son Rev. 12:5-6
1. These verses summarize the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Verse 5 tells us that the devil has failed to overpower the Christ-child in history past.
3. Verse 6 enlightens us to the fact that the devil will fail to overpower the Christ-child in the future as well, particularly the future time of the Tribulation.
4. Satan will once again unleash his fury and wrath attempting to destroy the Jewish people during the second half of the Tribulation period, but God will protect the nation of Israel.
5. God’s continual power over the devil is a matter of historical record.
6. The world in which we live needs this reminder constantly, because we know that destruction, disease, depression, defeat, and discouragement are real foes.
ILLUS: “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior.”
7. Let me urge you to receive the free gift of salvation the Jesus died and rose again to give you.
a. If you are without Jesus Christ before the Rapture of the church – Hell will be your home.
b. If you are alive after the Rapture of the church – you will face tribulation like you’ve never known on this earth - and there is no guarantee of eternal life.
c. “Today is the day of salvation,” 2 Cor. 6:2
B. Great Struggle Rev. 12:7-9
1. These verses are showing us a preview of future events – a great battle will take place during the period of the Tribulation.
2. Michael and his angels vs. the Satan and his angels.
3. Archangel Michael is one of the highest ranking angels is God’s army and in the Scripture is seen as coming to the aid of the people of God.
4. Michael’s name means, “One like God.”
5. Satan has always wanted to be God and Isaiah 14:12- 14 tells us this is what God him kicked out of heaven; His selfishness and pride, wanting to take the place of God.
6. No believer can afford to grow weak in their walk with God, because spiritual warfare is very real today!
7. Positionally we are already more than conquerors through Him (the Lord Jesus) who loved us – practically we must also put on the armor of God daily (Romans 8:35-39, Ephesians 6:10-18).
ILLUS: The devil is an artist. He paints sin in very attractive colors.
8. The Bible speaks of Satan presently having access to God – yet there is coming a day when he and his angels will be cast out of heaven once for all.
9. Satan is known as the “accuser of the brethren,” constantly bringing up our sins and failures to God.
10. When he reminds you of your past – you remind him of his future! (Rev. 20:10)
III. THE OVERCOMING OF THE SAVIOR
A. Glorious Shout Rev. 12:10-11
1. Just as you get excited when something wonderful happens in your life – salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ is truly something to shout about!
2. Because of Jesus – Satan is on the way down and we are on the way up!
3. Note how the victory is won, “by the blood of the Lamb and the word their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
4. If you and I are to live in the victory Jesus brings, we’ll need these three victory guarantees – the cleansing (blood), the confession (Jesus and what He’s done for us), & the courage to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love!
ILLUS: There is a saying among Italian sculptors, who often miss the chisel and hit their own hands with the hammer: “When the blood flows out, the mastery enters.” It was so with Jesus Christ. It was his death on Calvary that made him the master of our souls. “There is power in the blood.”
B. Gift of Salvation Rev. 12:10
1. God has a plan for every man, woman, boy, and girl and that plan is to know Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.
2. Of all the gifts you could receive in your lifetime, this is the most important and necessary.
3. The name of Jesus Christ is the only name by which we must be saved!
4. HE is the One who was born of a virgin, suffered on the cross of Calvary, is risen and alive today!
ILLUS: A little girl was helping to nurse a sick gentleman whom she loved very much. He said to her, “Ellen, it is time I should take my medicine; measure just a tablespoonful, and put it in the glass.” She quickly did so and brought it to his bedside. He made no attempt to take it from her, but said, “Now, dear, will you drink it for me?” “Me drink it! What do you mean? I am sure I would in a minute if it would make you well all the same; but you know it won’t do you any good unless you take it yourself.” “No, I suppose it will not. But if you cannot take my medicine for me, I cannot take your salvation for you. You must go to Jesus, and believe in him for yourself.” Each human being must seek, repent, believe and obey for himself. —Rev. Elon Foster, New Encyclopedia of Prose Illustrations
CONCLUSION: Don’t just look outwardly to see if there is victory available today. The outward look will tell you all hope is lost, doom and gloom! However, take the inward look to the Word of God and the upward look to the Son of God! This Christmas remember that although there is a grinch who tries to steal Christmas…there is a God who sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ who longs to give you life to the full. Nothing and no one can stop His plan. Today, His plan is to give you a new life if you call upon the saving name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
INTRO: It is so reassuring and confidence building to know that God and good will ultimately triumph over Satan and evil. Satan’s mission has always been to steal, kill, and destroy – while the Lord Jesus came that we might have life to the full (John 10:10). We cannot trust in what we see only with our physical eyes in order to determine victory or defeat. In the present time, it appears that Satan has the upper hand and that he will triumph. Yet, we know on the testimony and truth of the Word of God that Jesus has already overcome through His coming to this earth as baby in Bethlehem – death on the cross – ascension to the Father and ultimately He is returning as Victorious King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Don’t let anything take away the joy of victory in Jesus this Christmas or any other time of year!
ILLUS: "Christmas day is in our grasp so long as we have hands to clasp." The Grinch could hardly believe his ears. He begins to get furious, but then something happens. He suddenly “puzzles” how Christmas came. "It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags." Suddenly the Grinch realizes that Christmas is about more than presents, or decorations, or a feast. He has a thought he’s never thought before: "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn’t come from a store; Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more." SOURCE: "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Suess
PROP. SENT: The Bible teaches through God’s plan, providence, and power the Lord Jesus Christ and His followers will have eternal victory while Satan and his demons will be utterly vanquished. Make sure you are on the winning team by belonging totally to the Lord!
I. THE OVERSEEING OF THE SOVEREIGN
A. Great Sign Rev. 12:1-2
1. Throughout the years there have been many speculations as to the identification of the woman.
a. Mary, the mother of Jesus. We know from the Scriptures Mary gave birth to the Son of God, but this is not Mary in Revelation 12.
b. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ – the Church did not give birth to the Lord Jesus, rather the Lord Jesus gave birth to His church!
c. Mary Baker Eddy – founder of the Christian Science movement claimed she was the woman in Revelation 12 and the dragon was “mortal mind of man” which was ready to devour her new teachings.
2. The woman in Revelation 12 is a picture of Israel.
3. In Genesis 39, God gave Joseph a dream that Israel would be saved from destruction through him. Genesis 39:9, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”
a. Jacob – the sun
b. Rachel – the moon
c. Eleven stars are the sons of Israel – in Rev. 12, Joseph is included in the tribes of Israel.
4. In Romans 9:4-5 we find, “…Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed of God. Amen.”
5. Dr. Grant Richardson explains, “Israel birthed Jesus in His first coming (Romans 9:5). Satan has always attacked the line of Judah, the line of the Messiah. The Devil did everything in his power to prevent the first coming of Christ.”
6. The picture in Revelation 12 is also concerning the Second Coming of Christ – Israel rejected the Lord Jesus as Messiah the first time He came. At His Second Coming, many will receive Him as Messiah and Lord!
ILLUS: “Down the years (Israel) has failed repeatedly, she has failed miserably, but that does not diminish the fact that she belongs to God. He has not written off the nation, he has not eliminated her from his prophetic agenda. Her glory is the glory of the heavens and that explains why Abraham’s seed is likened to the stars in Genesis 15:5. It is not wonder the old devil hates this nation for she is a powerful reminder to him of all that once was his and of the dizzy heights from which he fell.” - Sam Gordon, A Walk through Revelation
7. How many times have we failed repeatedly and miserably – yet God still claims us as His own!
B. Gruesome Satan Rev. 12:3-4
1. The picture Revelation gives us of Satan is of murderous, ferocious dragon. Red, perhaps, symbolizes his murderous motives.
2. Jesus said of Satan in John 8:44 that he was a murderer from the beginning.
3. In 2 Corinthians 4:4 and 1 John 5:19, Satan is described as the “ruler” and “god of this world.”
4. 1 Peter 5.8 describes him as prowling about as a great lion seeking whom he may devour.
5. If you were to ask the average person about Satan, they would probably tell you about a red man with pointed ears, long tail, with some kind of pitch-fork in his hand. That is man’s invention and is not a biblical description of him at all!
ILLUS: “The Bible teaches that the devil is a real person and that he controls the affairs of this evil world. His great objective is to defeat the will of God in the world, in the church, and in the Christian.” – Billy Graham
5. While we must understand that Satan does have power, it is a limited and he is in no way as powerful and strong as the Lord Jesus Christ!
6. No matter how strong Satan’s attempts have been to destroy the Lord Jesus Christ, they have always failed!
a. Satan led Cain to kill Abel – yet God gave brought forth Seth.
b. Satan led Pharaoh to kill all the male babies in Egypt, yet God gave Moses.
c. Satan led King Herod to kill all the babies under the age 2 in Bethlehem – yet God told Joseph and Mary to escape with the newborn Son of God.
d. Satan led the people of the world to put the Lord of Glory, our Savior Jesus Christ, on the cross to die – yet God raised Him from the dead!
7. Everlasting victory belongs to our God and victory also belongs to the child of God.
8. Through the Spirit of God’s indwelling, the Apostle John reminds us in 1 John 4:4, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
ILLUS: American writer Wilson Mizner was himself a talented fighter. One night he and boxer "Mysterious" Billy Smith visited a San Francisco bar, where Mizner started a fight with some sailors. At the end only one sailor was left standing. This sailor would not go down, in spite of the fact that Mizner was hitting him hard constantly. Suddenly, Billy Smith noticed what was happening. "Leave him alone, Wilson!" he shouted. "I knocked him out five minutes ago." On investigation it turned out that a punch from Smith had indeed knocked the sailor out cold, but had also wedged him vertically between two pieces of furniture. Here's an accurate picture of our already-defeated but still standing enemy Satan! Today in the Word, April 3, 1993
9. It ought to fill us with joy and confidence in the Lord today God is greater than the devil and is always victorious.
10. We reverently worship with thanksgiving and awe the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
II. THE OVERTHROWING OF THE SERPANT
A. God’s Son Rev. 12:5-6
1. These verses summarize the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Verse 5 tells us that the devil has failed to overpower the Christ-child in history past.
3. Verse 6 enlightens us to the fact that the devil will fail to overpower the Christ-child in the future as well, particularly the future time of the Tribulation.
4. Satan will once again unleash his fury and wrath attempting to destroy the Jewish people during the second half of the Tribulation period, but God will protect the nation of Israel.
5. God’s continual power over the devil is a matter of historical record.
6. The world in which we live needs this reminder constantly, because we know that destruction, disease, depression, defeat, and discouragement are real foes.
ILLUS: “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior.”
7. Let me urge you to receive the free gift of salvation the Jesus died and rose again to give you.
a. If you are without Jesus Christ before the Rapture of the church – Hell will be your home.
b. If you are alive after the Rapture of the church – you will face tribulation like you’ve never known on this earth - and there is no guarantee of eternal life.
c. “Today is the day of salvation,” 2 Cor. 6:2
B. Great Struggle Rev. 12:7-9
1. These verses are showing us a preview of future events – a great battle will take place during the period of the Tribulation.
2. Michael and his angels vs. the Satan and his angels.
3. Archangel Michael is one of the highest ranking angels is God’s army and in the Scripture is seen as coming to the aid of the people of God.
4. Michael’s name means, “One like God.”
5. Satan has always wanted to be God and Isaiah 14:12- 14 tells us this is what God him kicked out of heaven; His selfishness and pride, wanting to take the place of God.
6. No believer can afford to grow weak in their walk with God, because spiritual warfare is very real today!
7. Positionally we are already more than conquerors through Him (the Lord Jesus) who loved us – practically we must also put on the armor of God daily (Romans 8:35-39, Ephesians 6:10-18).
ILLUS: The devil is an artist. He paints sin in very attractive colors.
8. The Bible speaks of Satan presently having access to God – yet there is coming a day when he and his angels will be cast out of heaven once for all.
9. Satan is known as the “accuser of the brethren,” constantly bringing up our sins and failures to God.
10. When he reminds you of your past – you remind him of his future! (Rev. 20:10)
III. THE OVERCOMING OF THE SAVIOR
A. Glorious Shout Rev. 12:10-11
1. Just as you get excited when something wonderful happens in your life – salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ is truly something to shout about!
2. Because of Jesus – Satan is on the way down and we are on the way up!
3. Note how the victory is won, “by the blood of the Lamb and the word their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
4. If you and I are to live in the victory Jesus brings, we’ll need these three victory guarantees – the cleansing (blood), the confession (Jesus and what He’s done for us), & the courage to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love!
ILLUS: There is a saying among Italian sculptors, who often miss the chisel and hit their own hands with the hammer: “When the blood flows out, the mastery enters.” It was so with Jesus Christ. It was his death on Calvary that made him the master of our souls. “There is power in the blood.”
B. Gift of Salvation Rev. 12:10
1. God has a plan for every man, woman, boy, and girl and that plan is to know Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.
2. Of all the gifts you could receive in your lifetime, this is the most important and necessary.
3. The name of Jesus Christ is the only name by which we must be saved!
4. HE is the One who was born of a virgin, suffered on the cross of Calvary, is risen and alive today!
ILLUS: A little girl was helping to nurse a sick gentleman whom she loved very much. He said to her, “Ellen, it is time I should take my medicine; measure just a tablespoonful, and put it in the glass.” She quickly did so and brought it to his bedside. He made no attempt to take it from her, but said, “Now, dear, will you drink it for me?” “Me drink it! What do you mean? I am sure I would in a minute if it would make you well all the same; but you know it won’t do you any good unless you take it yourself.” “No, I suppose it will not. But if you cannot take my medicine for me, I cannot take your salvation for you. You must go to Jesus, and believe in him for yourself.” Each human being must seek, repent, believe and obey for himself. —Rev. Elon Foster, New Encyclopedia of Prose Illustrations
CONCLUSION: Don’t just look outwardly to see if there is victory available today. The outward look will tell you all hope is lost, doom and gloom! However, take the inward look to the Word of God and the upward look to the Son of God! This Christmas remember that although there is a grinch who tries to steal Christmas…there is a God who sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ who longs to give you life to the full. Nothing and no one can stop His plan. Today, His plan is to give you a new life if you call upon the saving name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow!
TEXT: Luke 1:5-25, 57-80
INTRO: It’s easy to get caught up in the “busyness” of the Christmas season that we fail to appreciate the “blessings” of our Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God! We tend to take for granted the incredible gift of salvation God brought down to mankind in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can get so wrapped up in all our “Christmas duties” that we neglect the “consistent devotion” in worship that belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
ILLUS: Someone has written that people use Xmas and it means Xhaustion, Xcuses, Xchanges, Xcesses, Xtravagances, Xasperations, Xhibitions and worldly Xcitement. How much better to make the Lord Jesus Christ the very center of our Christmas observance. Let’s keep Christ in Christmas!
PROP. SENT: The Bible teaches that Christ followers are a “chosen generation,” a “holy nation,” “His own special people,” that we might proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2.9). Christians must be known for their lifestyle of worship to the King of Kings and Lord and Lords!
TRANS. SENT: A look into the life, struggles, faith of priest Zacharias, his wife, Elizabeth, and their miraculous/mission called son, John the Baptist, will give us great inspiration to continually “praise God from whom all blessings flow!”
I. ANSWERS TO PRAYER
A. Faultless Devotion Lk. 1:5-6, 8-10
1. Just one look at Zacharias and Elizabeth and you can tell this is one married couple with a heart for God and the things of God.
a. Zachariah’s name means “Yahweh remembers” and Elizabeth’s name means “God is my oath” or “worshipper of God.”
2. To say they are “righteous” does not mean they were perfect or sinless – rather their lives were totally devoted to serving the Lord.
3. They loved and obeyed God…doing what He willed, not what they willed for their lives.
4. That’s where worship of the Lord really begins!
a. It’s not about me…It’s about HIM!
b. Understanding that God has sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ – to be the total Lord and Savior of your life should lead you to worship and serve Him!
c. Romans 14:7-9, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died (crucifixion) and rose (resurrection) and lived again (exaltation), that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
d. The word “worship” is shortened from the old word “worth-ship” - showing God the worth He deserves from your life!
B. Fortitude Developed Lk. 1:7, 25
1. In spite of the fact that Zacaharius and Elizabeth loved God with all their heart, soul, and strength…they still had problems in life!
2. Ex’s: They lived under and oppressive government, Elizabeth was barren, they were both well advanced in years.
3. The Bible teaches that children are a gift from the Lord.
a. Many people in these days believed that being barren meant God’s frowning displeasure was upon you.
b. Think of the pain and shame Elizabeth felt.
Perhaps other ladies of faith looked down on her because they had been blessed by God and Elizabeth had not.
c. Be aware of attributing your blessings to your own personal godliness!
d. God in His grace gives us what we do not deserve. God in His mercy does not give us what we do deserve!
4. Perhaps this morning, you find it hard to praise the Lord because of difficult circumstances, guilt, pain in your life.
5. Let’s remember we praise Him first and foremost because He is GOD…not because life is always GOOD from our limited standpoint!
ILLUS: I shall meet tomorrow bravely, I am stronger now, The disappointments that befell me Strengthened me somehow. The dawn shall find my face uplifted, Serene, in the sun, And with Him my problems sifted, One by one.
C. Fears and Doubts Lk. 1:11-25
1. God came to Zacharias in the form of the angel, Gabriel with good news and answer to their most heartfelt prayer!
2. God would supernaturally enable them to conceive a son whose name would be “John.”
3. Lk. 1:15-17 tells us John would bring “gladness,” be “great,” “godly,” and “gifted.” Ultimately, His life would bring much GLORY TO GOD!
4. Zacharias and Elizabeth were so blessed of God! Answer to prayer! A godly son who would serve the Messiah!
5. Instead of being overcome with praise, Zacharias us overloaded in unbelief!
6. Because of his unbelief, he would have to go a full 9 months before he would be able to speak again!
ILLUS: Once, an unbeliever visited Isaac Newton, the great English scientist and Christian. Newton had a mechanical model of the solar system in his study. The unbeliever asked, “Who made this?” “Nobody,” Mr. Newton replied promptly. “You must think I am a fool!” the unbeliever said, “It would take a genius to make this.” Newton said, “This is only a puny imitation of a much grander system. I cannot convince you that this mere toy is without a designer, yet you profess to believe that the great original from which this design is taken has come into being without a Designer or a Maker.”
7. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that, “without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God MUST BELIEVE that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
8. You and I have God’s Holy Word to build our faith upon – yet we must believe and act upon His Word to enjoy the full benefits of it!
II. ASSURANCES FROM THE PAST
A. Family Feud Lk. 1:57-66
1. Time came for Elizabeth to bring forth her son.
2. The neighbors and relatives got all happy for Elizabeth, but then they tried to take control by forcing her to name the baby after Zacharias!
3. They can’t make Elizabeth change her mind, so they go to John! John’s been waiting 9 months for this day and he writes down on the tablet, “HIS NAME IS JOHN!”
4. Family is one of life’s greatest blessings from God, but don’t let them keep you from being obedient to the will of God!
5. Think of the sheer joy and happiness that Zacharias had as the Lord opened his mouth miraculously and he began to praise God!
B. Filled and Focused Lk. 1:67
1. Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit to speak God’s praises and to tell glad tidings of salvation for all people!
2. The purpose of the Holy Spirit filling our lives is not mainly for an emotional experience where we go into some kind of trance and fall out!
3. The purpose of the Holy Spirit filling our lives is that we will be witnesses unto the Lord of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ!
ILLUS: Dr. Jack Graham is one of my favorite pastors and in a sermon recently he said, “Far too many of us are more interested in the “feeling of the Spirit,” over the “filling of the Spirit!”
4. Ephesians 5:18, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
5. Being filled with God’s Spirit is for every single child of God…not just “the elite.”
C. Forever Faithful - Our Fortress Lk. 1:68-73
1. Zacharias praised God for visiting and saving His people!
2. The Jews were primarily interested in a “political deliverer” – one who would free them from the oppressive Roman government - Yet the primary purpose of Jesus was not political in agenda, rather personal, peaceful, and powerful in assuring us that our sins have been forgiven by a Holy God!
3. The coming of the Baby Jesus through the lineage of David, in a lowly manger in Bethlehem to be our Savior is certainly reason for praise to God!
5. As the Prophet Isaiah tells, “…of His kingdom there will be no end!
6. Zacharias also recalls God’s covenant promises to Abraham.
7. Genesis 22:16-18 - Abrahm was faithful to obey God to the point of being willing to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. God promised by Himself that Abraham and all his descendents would be forever blessed and Zacharias is rejoicing in God’s
forever faithfulness!
7. Looking back at the faithfulness of God in times past brings great assurance to our hearts that He is just as faithful now!
ILLUS: A missionary returned to the little village which had been destroyed by the enemies of the gospel. He found the people weeping over the ashes which were previously their thatched roofs. One of the natives said to him, “They even burned my Bible and my hymn book!” And then in the ruins he saw a little white paper not totally burned. He picked it up and read it. The only thing that remained was “Joy to the World, the Lord is come.” He stopped for a moment and then he said, “That’s enough for me.”
III. ANCHORS IN THE PRESENT
A. Anchor #1 - Freedom from Fear Lk. 1:74
1. With Zachariah, we can praise God today because in the coming of Jesus we’ve been “delivered from the hand of our enemies,” (Sin, Satan, Death) that we might “serve Him without fear.”
a. Because you have a Savior in the Lord Jesus Christ – without fear you can look at people in the eye and say, “Merry Christmas!” rather than Happy Holidays.
b. Because of Jesus - You can go to bed at night without fear that whatever “bad news” you’ve heard through the day will over take the “good news” that Jesus is Lord
and you belong to Him!
c. Because of Jesus - You can look at death without fear and say, “I know the One who was dead, yet now is alive and I will reign with Him through all eternity!" Rev. 1:17-18
2. Does fear or faith control you today? Fear is a choice and faith is a choice and the only way to break free of fear is to know the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ!
ILLUS: One writer said it this way: “The greatness of our fears shows us the littleness of our faith.”
B. Anchor # 2 - Forgiveness of Sins Lk. 1:77
1. John the Baptist would preach about salvation and remission of sins.
2. As sinners what we need more than anything else is a Savior.
3. There is nothing that you and I can do to become good enough or somehow “earn” God’s forgiveness.
ILLUS: One of my pastor friends, David Lyle, recently wrote in our evangelism blog that the one thing he must never forget is that he is a sinner in need of a Savior. It’s so true, but so easily forgotten!
4. Have you come to Jesus for forgiveness of your sins and an everlasting salvation?
5. Jesus is the “horn of salvation” for us.
6. The word “horn” has come to signify a figure of beauty, power, and dominion.
a. One has said, “In speaking of Christ as a Horn of Salvation, Zechariah meant to emphasize the glory and beauty of the Savior, His supreme and universal dominion and His infinite and divine power. It is coronation, singing, “Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.”
C. Future that is Bright Lk. 1:78-80
1. We look at our world today and these words seem more real than ever before.
2. It is a world full of “darkness” and “death.” People need the light of Jesus Christ today just as much as they ever did.
3. Aren’t you thankful this morning that no matter how dark it gets…no matter how real death is…that there is the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
5. Malachi 4:2, “But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.”
ILLUS: As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said to his wife, “Dear, something is wrong. Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us? Here this man comes back from a big game hunting expedition and everybody makes much of him, but nobody gives two hoots about us…If God is running this world, why does he permit such injustice?” When the ship docked, a band was waiting there to greet the president. The mayor of New York was there, along with other leaders of the nation. The papers were full of the president’s arrival, but no one even noticed this missionary couple…that night the man’s spirit just broke. He said to his wife, “I can’t take this; God is not treating us fairly.” His wife replied, “Why don’t you go in the bathroom and talk to the Lord about this whole thing?” A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. His wife asked him, “Dear, what happened?” “Yes,” he said, “the Lord has settled it with me…I told him how bitter I was that the president should receive this tremendous homecoming, who no one met us when we returned home. And you know, when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put his hand on my shoulder and simply said, “But you’re not home yet!” –Ray Stedman, Talking to My Father
5. It’s so easy to get caught up in the momentary pains and strains of life…sometimes even to the neglect of how great our hope in the Lord Jesus is!
CONC: The Bible teaches that Christians are called to continually be “praising God from whom all blessings flow. This is not always easy because our circumstance or struggles can make it difficult to worship Him faithfully. However, God has answered prayer, assured us of His work in the past, and anchored us in freedom, forgiveness, and a forever future with Him. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
INTRO: It’s easy to get caught up in the “busyness” of the Christmas season that we fail to appreciate the “blessings” of our Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God! We tend to take for granted the incredible gift of salvation God brought down to mankind in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can get so wrapped up in all our “Christmas duties” that we neglect the “consistent devotion” in worship that belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
ILLUS: Someone has written that people use Xmas and it means Xhaustion, Xcuses, Xchanges, Xcesses, Xtravagances, Xasperations, Xhibitions and worldly Xcitement. How much better to make the Lord Jesus Christ the very center of our Christmas observance. Let’s keep Christ in Christmas!
PROP. SENT: The Bible teaches that Christ followers are a “chosen generation,” a “holy nation,” “His own special people,” that we might proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2.9). Christians must be known for their lifestyle of worship to the King of Kings and Lord and Lords!
TRANS. SENT: A look into the life, struggles, faith of priest Zacharias, his wife, Elizabeth, and their miraculous/mission called son, John the Baptist, will give us great inspiration to continually “praise God from whom all blessings flow!”
I. ANSWERS TO PRAYER
A. Faultless Devotion Lk. 1:5-6, 8-10
1. Just one look at Zacharias and Elizabeth and you can tell this is one married couple with a heart for God and the things of God.
a. Zachariah’s name means “Yahweh remembers” and Elizabeth’s name means “God is my oath” or “worshipper of God.”
2. To say they are “righteous” does not mean they were perfect or sinless – rather their lives were totally devoted to serving the Lord.
3. They loved and obeyed God…doing what He willed, not what they willed for their lives.
4. That’s where worship of the Lord really begins!
a. It’s not about me…It’s about HIM!
b. Understanding that God has sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ – to be the total Lord and Savior of your life should lead you to worship and serve Him!
c. Romans 14:7-9, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died (crucifixion) and rose (resurrection) and lived again (exaltation), that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
d. The word “worship” is shortened from the old word “worth-ship” - showing God the worth He deserves from your life!
B. Fortitude Developed Lk. 1:7, 25
1. In spite of the fact that Zacaharius and Elizabeth loved God with all their heart, soul, and strength…they still had problems in life!
2. Ex’s: They lived under and oppressive government, Elizabeth was barren, they were both well advanced in years.
3. The Bible teaches that children are a gift from the Lord.
a. Many people in these days believed that being barren meant God’s frowning displeasure was upon you.
b. Think of the pain and shame Elizabeth felt.
Perhaps other ladies of faith looked down on her because they had been blessed by God and Elizabeth had not.
c. Be aware of attributing your blessings to your own personal godliness!
d. God in His grace gives us what we do not deserve. God in His mercy does not give us what we do deserve!
4. Perhaps this morning, you find it hard to praise the Lord because of difficult circumstances, guilt, pain in your life.
5. Let’s remember we praise Him first and foremost because He is GOD…not because life is always GOOD from our limited standpoint!
ILLUS: I shall meet tomorrow bravely, I am stronger now, The disappointments that befell me Strengthened me somehow. The dawn shall find my face uplifted, Serene, in the sun, And with Him my problems sifted, One by one.
C. Fears and Doubts Lk. 1:11-25
1. God came to Zacharias in the form of the angel, Gabriel with good news and answer to their most heartfelt prayer!
2. God would supernaturally enable them to conceive a son whose name would be “John.”
3. Lk. 1:15-17 tells us John would bring “gladness,” be “great,” “godly,” and “gifted.” Ultimately, His life would bring much GLORY TO GOD!
4. Zacharias and Elizabeth were so blessed of God! Answer to prayer! A godly son who would serve the Messiah!
5. Instead of being overcome with praise, Zacharias us overloaded in unbelief!
6. Because of his unbelief, he would have to go a full 9 months before he would be able to speak again!
ILLUS: Once, an unbeliever visited Isaac Newton, the great English scientist and Christian. Newton had a mechanical model of the solar system in his study. The unbeliever asked, “Who made this?” “Nobody,” Mr. Newton replied promptly. “You must think I am a fool!” the unbeliever said, “It would take a genius to make this.” Newton said, “This is only a puny imitation of a much grander system. I cannot convince you that this mere toy is without a designer, yet you profess to believe that the great original from which this design is taken has come into being without a Designer or a Maker.”
7. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that, “without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God MUST BELIEVE that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
8. You and I have God’s Holy Word to build our faith upon – yet we must believe and act upon His Word to enjoy the full benefits of it!
II. ASSURANCES FROM THE PAST
A. Family Feud Lk. 1:57-66
1. Time came for Elizabeth to bring forth her son.
2. The neighbors and relatives got all happy for Elizabeth, but then they tried to take control by forcing her to name the baby after Zacharias!
3. They can’t make Elizabeth change her mind, so they go to John! John’s been waiting 9 months for this day and he writes down on the tablet, “HIS NAME IS JOHN!”
4. Family is one of life’s greatest blessings from God, but don’t let them keep you from being obedient to the will of God!
5. Think of the sheer joy and happiness that Zacharias had as the Lord opened his mouth miraculously and he began to praise God!
B. Filled and Focused Lk. 1:67
1. Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit to speak God’s praises and to tell glad tidings of salvation for all people!
2. The purpose of the Holy Spirit filling our lives is not mainly for an emotional experience where we go into some kind of trance and fall out!
3. The purpose of the Holy Spirit filling our lives is that we will be witnesses unto the Lord of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ!
ILLUS: Dr. Jack Graham is one of my favorite pastors and in a sermon recently he said, “Far too many of us are more interested in the “feeling of the Spirit,” over the “filling of the Spirit!”
4. Ephesians 5:18, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
5. Being filled with God’s Spirit is for every single child of God…not just “the elite.”
C. Forever Faithful - Our Fortress Lk. 1:68-73
1. Zacharias praised God for visiting and saving His people!
2. The Jews were primarily interested in a “political deliverer” – one who would free them from the oppressive Roman government - Yet the primary purpose of Jesus was not political in agenda, rather personal, peaceful, and powerful in assuring us that our sins have been forgiven by a Holy God!
3. The coming of the Baby Jesus through the lineage of David, in a lowly manger in Bethlehem to be our Savior is certainly reason for praise to God!
5. As the Prophet Isaiah tells, “…of His kingdom there will be no end!
6. Zacharias also recalls God’s covenant promises to Abraham.
7. Genesis 22:16-18 - Abrahm was faithful to obey God to the point of being willing to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. God promised by Himself that Abraham and all his descendents would be forever blessed and Zacharias is rejoicing in God’s
forever faithfulness!
7. Looking back at the faithfulness of God in times past brings great assurance to our hearts that He is just as faithful now!
ILLUS: A missionary returned to the little village which had been destroyed by the enemies of the gospel. He found the people weeping over the ashes which were previously their thatched roofs. One of the natives said to him, “They even burned my Bible and my hymn book!” And then in the ruins he saw a little white paper not totally burned. He picked it up and read it. The only thing that remained was “Joy to the World, the Lord is come.” He stopped for a moment and then he said, “That’s enough for me.”
III. ANCHORS IN THE PRESENT
A. Anchor #1 - Freedom from Fear Lk. 1:74
1. With Zachariah, we can praise God today because in the coming of Jesus we’ve been “delivered from the hand of our enemies,” (Sin, Satan, Death) that we might “serve Him without fear.”
a. Because you have a Savior in the Lord Jesus Christ – without fear you can look at people in the eye and say, “Merry Christmas!” rather than Happy Holidays.
b. Because of Jesus - You can go to bed at night without fear that whatever “bad news” you’ve heard through the day will over take the “good news” that Jesus is Lord
and you belong to Him!
c. Because of Jesus - You can look at death without fear and say, “I know the One who was dead, yet now is alive and I will reign with Him through all eternity!" Rev. 1:17-18
2. Does fear or faith control you today? Fear is a choice and faith is a choice and the only way to break free of fear is to know the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ!
ILLUS: One writer said it this way: “The greatness of our fears shows us the littleness of our faith.”
B. Anchor # 2 - Forgiveness of Sins Lk. 1:77
1. John the Baptist would preach about salvation and remission of sins.
2. As sinners what we need more than anything else is a Savior.
3. There is nothing that you and I can do to become good enough or somehow “earn” God’s forgiveness.
ILLUS: One of my pastor friends, David Lyle, recently wrote in our evangelism blog that the one thing he must never forget is that he is a sinner in need of a Savior. It’s so true, but so easily forgotten!
4. Have you come to Jesus for forgiveness of your sins and an everlasting salvation?
5. Jesus is the “horn of salvation” for us.
6. The word “horn” has come to signify a figure of beauty, power, and dominion.
a. One has said, “In speaking of Christ as a Horn of Salvation, Zechariah meant to emphasize the glory and beauty of the Savior, His supreme and universal dominion and His infinite and divine power. It is coronation, singing, “Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.”
C. Future that is Bright Lk. 1:78-80
1. We look at our world today and these words seem more real than ever before.
2. It is a world full of “darkness” and “death.” People need the light of Jesus Christ today just as much as they ever did.
3. Aren’t you thankful this morning that no matter how dark it gets…no matter how real death is…that there is the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
5. Malachi 4:2, “But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.”
ILLUS: As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said to his wife, “Dear, something is wrong. Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us? Here this man comes back from a big game hunting expedition and everybody makes much of him, but nobody gives two hoots about us…If God is running this world, why does he permit such injustice?” When the ship docked, a band was waiting there to greet the president. The mayor of New York was there, along with other leaders of the nation. The papers were full of the president’s arrival, but no one even noticed this missionary couple…that night the man’s spirit just broke. He said to his wife, “I can’t take this; God is not treating us fairly.” His wife replied, “Why don’t you go in the bathroom and talk to the Lord about this whole thing?” A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. His wife asked him, “Dear, what happened?” “Yes,” he said, “the Lord has settled it with me…I told him how bitter I was that the president should receive this tremendous homecoming, who no one met us when we returned home. And you know, when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put his hand on my shoulder and simply said, “But you’re not home yet!” –Ray Stedman, Talking to My Father
5. It’s so easy to get caught up in the momentary pains and strains of life…sometimes even to the neglect of how great our hope in the Lord Jesus is!
CONC: The Bible teaches that Christians are called to continually be “praising God from whom all blessings flow. This is not always easy because our circumstance or struggles can make it difficult to worship Him faithfully. However, God has answered prayer, assured us of His work in the past, and anchored us in freedom, forgiveness, and a forever future with Him. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
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