Luke 1 — Luke 1

0:00 Good morning everyone. And may I be one of the first to say Merry Christmas. Isn't that fun? Oh, my goodness. It's so much fun singing Christmas carols.

0:10 Now just so you know, for those of you who want to dress up like a missionary, this is the first time I've worn a suit in five years, alright? My wife made... No, she she said, honey, what do you think? I said, why are there suits hanging in my closet this morning? Well, maybe you can still fit into it.

0:25 No, she didn't say that, but that's true. I praise the Lord that I don't have to button it, that's all. Anyway, good morning. It's a pleasure to be here. Since we've already prayed, I'm not going to ask the Lord's blessing on it but I am going to ask you a question.

0:39 A question. Alright. This time of year, you hear people talk about, just believe, just believe. But kids especially, what are you asked to believe in? What are they asked to believe in?

0:52 What are kids asked to believe in this time of year? Santa Claus. Santa Claus. That, you know, sorry if I'm hurting anybody's feelings here, but that really is kind of a distraction, don't you think? It's kind a distraction because what we're told in scripture is to believe, And the difference between believing and not believing in Santa Claus is, I don't know, maybe the reindeer won't fly high enough.

1:14 I don't know. But when it comes down to believing or not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, we're talking life and death. We're talking salvation or stealing one's sins. And so, today, we're gonna be looking at the question, do you believe? And maybe this isn't for you specifically where you say, you know what, I have to confess, I've never put my faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:36 I've never believed on him for my salvation. Maybe that's not you, but if that's not you, maybe you know someone that it is. And hopefully what we talk about today, straight out of Luke chapter one, is maybe something you could share with someone during this particular season of year when everybody's singing about the Lord, whether he really is their Lord. I mean that song, I'm sure if you went to the mall today, you could probably hear some of the carols that we sing here in church. It's so it's an opportune time, it's a right time, and I just would encourage you to capitalize on it.

2:12 Capitalize on it, and I do pray that you would be encouraged today. So, we're going to Luke chapter one. And we're gonna just whip right through this. But I I'm ask I'd like to just focus right now on three things. First of all, three adults, two babies, and one question.

2:34 Three adults, two babies, and one question. I could also put one angel, but you know, the question to me is more important than the angel because the angel is one of the reasons that we have the question. So as you think about these three adults, two babies and one question, the question is, do you believe? And as we read through Luke chapter one, I pray the Lord would really bless the reading of His Word and the presentation thereof. Well, anytime you have something where you're reading it, the kids have to know, is it fiction or non fiction?

3:02 I've been substitute teaching a lot in the last four weeks since Miriam and I committed to say when it comes down to December, we're staying here at home. We're gonna thank, Lord willing, we'll be here the next five Sundays. We feel like we're guests here sometimes. Last week, that was the first time we've been back in a month. But it's so nice to be here.

3:22 And and yet during this period of time, we've also had some opportunities to get into the classrooms. I'm in four districts right now, Westlake High, I've been in, I'm sorry, Westlake City Schools, Sheffield City Schools, I've been there the most, right outside the Dones Driveway, also Rocky River And Fairview Park, And I'm having wonderful experiences there, being able to testify to staff and students alike about what the Lord is doing in my life, and I've been able to pass out some cards and encouraging people, hey, you're interested in our ministry, just email us, we'll add you to the prayer list, you know, the the newsletter list, and so hopefully some people will do that, but I've had opportunities to share with kids about what it's like to live in The Philippines, which we'll talk about that a little bit tonight, but more importantly, talking to some adults about trusting the Lord to the point where, how do you get paid? Well, and then I tell them the story and they go, wow. But that's not about us, that's about Him, right? That's what we're talking about today.

4:25 It's all about him. And so, as I said in in my language arts class, he said, are we talking fiction? Are we talking non fiction? Well, Aesop's fables, well, that'll be fiction with a lot of non fiction truth. That's what we've been studying a lot in the younger kids.

4:40 And when it comes down to the math classes, we're talking about, well this is assumed to be the truth. That five times three is gonna be 15. It has been since I was a kid and and still it is, know. That's pretty cool. So that we got fact and fiction.

5:20 In as much as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed them down to us, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus, so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. So what is this? Well this is Doctor. Luke saying, I'm going to tell you about what happened with this man named Jesus Christ. And so that is the only thing right there that I think that most people would just kind of throw out of the Christmas story and say, okay, well everything else now has everything to do with Christmas.

6:07 But you know what, if it's not the truth, why are we reading it? If it's not the exact truth, then it's just someone's idea. But that we're told in scripture that this word of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit. It's not up a matter's relative thought. It's not up to someone saying, today I think this is truth, tomorrow I don't think it is because I've had these experiences.

6:31 Okay. And I've talked to this person, I've talked to that person. We're reading the word of God, the truth. As we read this, I just pray God's Holy Spirit would just bless us and anoint us. Well, you have to have your characters in any story, even fiction, right, and non fiction, right?

6:45 You have to have your characters. The characters, as I said, are three adults. Well, characters are an old man by the name of Zacharias, and we read about him in verse five. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias of the division of Abijah, and he had a wife and the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. So you have an older couple, okay, I should read a little bit more because it does say that they are older, and they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord, and they had no child because Elizabeth was barren and they were both advanced in years.

7:22 Okay, there, now we know, they're older. Okay? So they're an older couple, no children, and yet there's something special about them. It says that they were both righteous in God's sight, which is really the only place it matters, right? In God's sight, we were declared righteous by the blood of Christ.

7:39 Well, here, this was before the blood of Christ, and yet they were righteous in the sight of God. They walked blamelessly in all the commandments. So that means they were following the law of God, the requirements of the Lord. They were doing everything the way God wanted them to do. In fact, they actually had an amazing heritage.

7:57 Both Zacharias and Elizabeth were of the priestly line. And if you go all the way back to when God set up the priesthood, you have the first priest named Aaron. Right? And Aaron had a couple sons, and and those, you know, it it goes on till you get to this guy by the name of Abijah. Okay.

8:17 Interesting name. Alright. But he was of the priestly line, and what the people who were of his descendants, their job was to serve approximately two weeks a year in the temple. There were 24, you gotta go back to second, I'm sorry, first Chronicles 24. We're not going back there, but first Chronicles 24, if you wanna research it, say how was this all set up by the Lord that these 24 priests would serve the Lord and do the work in the temple during the year?

8:49 Twelve months of the year, 24, do the math, you've got about two and a half, two to two and a half weeks a year. And in the midst of all that, there was also this little thing called casting lots. Casting lots, where someone would would pull out a lot and they say, oh, you're the man, you're the priest this year, or this particular day that is going to go into the Holy of Holies and burn incense. So we read about that in verse eight. Now it came about, while he, being Zacharias, was performing his priesthood service before God in the appointed order of his division, according to the custom of the priestly service...

9:48 It wasn't just any anything that people come up with. It was a very specific mixture that God had appointed through Moses and those very very interesting and tedious verses back in Deuteronomy. Right? Where you go, why am I reading this? Okay.

10:01 Well, all those details meant a lot to God and someday we'll figure out why. Alright? But right now I'm not going there. I'm just saying that was his job was to burn the incense and he did it in a very unique place where no one else could go. And so what do they do?

10:16 They pray. Now what are they praying? Are they praying, dear God, I sure hope that guy that's in there right now is safe because he's entering in the presence of the Almighty God, and from our heritage we know that God can that God can be a man of a God of wrath. Of course, God can be a God of love. And so they're praying, so I don't know exactly what they're praying, but the bottom line is they're praying.

10:36 But it does say in verse 11 that he got a visitor. He got a visitor. Okay? And an angel of the Lord appeared to Zachariah standing to the right of the altar of incense. Now, people when they think of angels, especially this time of year, are usually adorable little cute little girls, usually.

10:59 Okay? Because the girls wanna put on the white gowns and put the little butterfly wings on their back. Am I? Is it, it's true, they're shaking their head, yes. Okay.

11:07 I wanna be an angel. Okay. And you can see Christmas special ad nauseam if you go to library and just check them out. They're everywhere. They were out the whole Christmas season, especially now probably cable, you can probably watch 10 a day if you want to.

11:21 And when it comes to angels, they're cute little kids dressed up in white gowns with big butterfly feathers or wings on their back. That's not what angels really are, is it? Why is it that every time an angel shows up in the Bible, even the most powerful, strong, brave, scary guys called guards or you know, when you look at the the tomb of of Jesus after his death, were afraid of them. They were afraid of them. We have no idea how big they were or how...

11:51 What they looked like, but they were amazing creatures made by God for the purpose of what? To be his messenger. We read about it in Hebrews. In fact, angels have been so studied that people think even that when you die, you become one. Well, there's this one verse that says they become...

12:11 It's what Jesus is talking about when Jesus is talking about when you die, you don't have a wife in heaven. And people have taken that one verse that says they become like the angels. It's like, no, they're not becoming an angel. They're just like the angels. They don't have these worries that we worry about with human things.

12:27 They are only there to worship the Lord. So what happens? This angel shows up. It says, verse 12, and Zacharias was troubled when he saw him and fear gripped him. What happens?

12:44 Verse 13, but the angel said to him, do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you'll give him the name John, and you will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth. I'm gonna stop there just for a second. What is the petition that Zacharias has been giving to God? He's an old guy. He's a priest.

13:13 What do you think he's been praying for? It says God's heard your petition and your wife is gonna have a boy. Do you think this old man's been praying for a boy? Probably not recently. But, probably at one time he was.

13:33 Especially in the culture that we read about, where having a baby was having a lineage. In fact, we read about it further on where Elizabeth talks about the fact that she was no longer ashamed. That not to have a son would bring shame to the father. And if it was quote unquote the woman's fault that she couldn't bear children, it would bring shame to her. So probably, we can assume that he wasn't doing it most recently, not last week, but he probably was years ago.

14:13 Years ago, coming to the Lord. And if you are a couple that have never had kids, you know exactly what that feels like. Praying daily, Lord, please, we just want one child. There's how many children born every day that are out of wedlock or unwanted. How many abortions take place every day around the world?

14:35 We just want one. So you can imagine this petition, this prayer had to been fervent, had to take a long time, but eventually, even without medical technology to intervene and say, sorry, you can't have children. He stopped praying probably. But the Lord waited for that time to bring glory to his name, and he chose at that time to send his angel. And he came to this old man, doing his job, faithfully serving the Lord, and he says, you're going to have a son.

15:14 Now you'd think that he would be pretty excited about that, because maybe he forgot that he prayed that, you know, I'm getting old too and sometimes I forget what happened years back. Maybe he forgot about that. Bottom line was though he doesn't quite respond in the way that the angel wanted him to respond. Let's keep describing this baby that's coming his way. He will, verse 16, he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.

16:13 Where does that sentence come from? What does this angel quoting? He's quoting the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi. As he... This is the message that has been hovering for four hundred years over the people of Israel.

16:28 That God is still gonna send his messiah. And that the hearts of the fathers would turn back to the children. For a hundred years they've been waiting and waiting. Those who study the scriptures that is, the other people forgot about that and they're just living their own lives in the world. But those that study the scriptures and continue to live righteously like the Zacharias, like Elizabeth, like Mary, we're gonna read about soon, knew that that statement right there was critical.

17:02 And when he continues on, the angel continues on and says, and the disobedient, the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous. So as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. So this entire purpose, the angels spelling out, Zacharias, you and Elizabeth are gonna bring forth by the power of God a son who's gonna prepare the world, prepare Israel for the Lord. The Messiah is coming. The long awaited chosen one is coming and your son is gonna be the forerunner, the prophet that goes before.

17:45 Now, the only thing I can think of when it came out, what would it be like to be the person that's coming before somebody? Alright. I was just thinking of, you know, maybe a presidential victory speech. And you have some guy that steps up to the platform, and he's not the president. But he's up there and he's just going, blah blah blah blah blah, how wonderful this person is, and now without any further ado, I present to you the president.

18:11 And everyone stands up and cheers. Well, how about someone that's announcing a king? How about someone that's announcing a victor? I mean, you fill in the blank. It'd be an honor.

18:22 What if you're in a parade? What if you're a parade and your job is to hold the banner of the people they really care about behind them? They don't really care about you, but you still got a job. Well, he's got a job because look what the problem of the people is. The problem of the people is they've got an attitude that's disobedient.

18:42 And it says, your son is going to help take the people from disobedient to an attitude of righteousness. The fathers who... Folks, that's a number one problem in our culture. The number one problem in our culture is sin. Right?

18:58 But where does the sin show up the most? In the fathers. Go to any jail and ask the people who are in that jail, how's your relationship with your dad? You guys, I'm sure you've heard the story about the greeting card company that gave out free greeting cards to the prisoners at a prison one time and they did mother's day and it just, oh, was huge success. So they're, great, we'll do it for father's day too.

19:27 And hardly anyone showed up to get the free card to send to their dad. Terrible relationships between fathers and sons all over the world. In our church back in The Philippines, the number one ministry I think that we have or have had because our kids were there, is just how we parent our kids. Just being there. Even though I don't even understand what they're saying, you know.

19:53 Just being there. They know, well you're faithful to us because you're here. You're faithful to your kids because you've helped them through a difficult transition of being here when you could be a lot of other places. Just being there sometimes is all that matters. Is that the same for us, if I could parenthesis here, of our ministry here at Westlake Bible Fellowship?

20:14 Just being at Awana? Well, I don't know how much I could do with that. Well, how about just show up and find out what the Lord could use you to do? How about vacation bible school? We do really well with that.

20:24 Well, maybe it's not my time for that anymore. Maybe I'm too old or maybe I can't help. You know what? Be there. I bet the Lord will use you.

20:31 How about prayer meeting? Something weekly. You don't have to even wait for anything to to have to get a t shirt or or show up. It's just show up at prayer meeting. Be there.

20:40 See what the Lord can do with you. Alright. Parenthesis over. Okay. So we're we're still getting this description from from the angel.

21:16 Do you see the doubt? It's doubt. And where does doubt... What's the source of doubt? It's fear.

21:25 It's fear. If I believe you, what you just said, my whole life's gonna change. If I believe what you said, all these hopes and dreams that I've always wanted are gonna come true. And if it's not true, I'm gonna be disappointed again. Isn't that what doubt really, the source of doubt is?

21:42 It's fear. It's fear of I don't really trust blank. And the number one reason that people don't put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ is they say, I'm afraid I'm gonna lose the privilege of doing what I wanna do. I'm gonna lose the privilege of being independent. Not realizing they're enslaved to their world, they're enslaved to sin, and what Jesus says, I came to set you free.

22:08 And they're afraid that this Jesus whole this whole Jesus thing is not gonna pan out for me. And so, I'll just keep him at bay. I'll just continue living my life because I'm comfortable in that. But we have to cast out. It says perfect love casts out all fear.

22:24 Right? And we have to allow that fear to go away, and when the fear goes away, the doubt will go away, and faith comes in, but right now, that's not where Zacharias is at. And so he responds with how shall I know this for certain? And then he gives his reasoning, for I am an old man. You think God didn't know that?

22:43 And my wife is advanced in years. Now, just to be fair to Zacharias, he's a righteous man. He's being logical. I am an old man and I know how the biological clock works on my wife. This is ridiculous.

22:56 Why am I talking with you? Alright? So maybe I'm just filling in the blanks, but that is true. You can give him grace here and say that it's not that ridiculous of a statement. And and but he just, that's all he can come up with.

23:09 And look how the angel responds. Verse 19. The angel answered and said to him, I am Gabriel. Now no one knows who Gabriel is at that time. So okay, he's got a name.

23:18 Who stands in the presence of God. Woah. This is not just any angel. This is Gabriel who stands in the presence of God. And thereby he's saying that right at that moment, what I'm have told you is straight from God himself.

23:39 And I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. The gospel. Now this part of the gospel is really not talked about very often. Because it's the person who comes to prepare the way for the savior. Right?

23:57 But he's starting the good news, started long before the angels appeared to the shepherds in Bethlehem. It starts now. Right now. Luke one. So the Christmas story needs to be modified in some homes.

24:09 I can tell you mine. It starts here. The good news has already appeared. And he says, and behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place because you did not, keyword, believe. My words, Which shall be fulfilled in their proper time.

24:32 There's the end of conversation. End of conversation. Now does this angel have power? Well, we'll find out in a moment. Does the angel have some power?

24:44 Yes, he does. It says in verse 21, the people, what have they been doing right outside? Praying, right? The people, it says in verse 21, were waiting for Zacharias who were wondering at his delay in the temple. But, when he came out, he was unable to speak to them.

25:00 And, they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple, and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. And it came about, when the days of his priesthood service were ended, that he went back home. The story continues. And after these days, surprise, Elizabeth, his wife, became pregnant. And she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, and this is what I was referring to before, this is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when he looked with favor upon me to take away my disgrace among men.

25:50 Alright? She she pondered these things and recognized that this was an incredible thing that happened to her and obviously somehow her husband had communicated what happened to him. It doesn't say he can't write, in fact we know he can write because later on he writes something. Okay. So he's not able to speak, but he's able to write, he's able to communicate to her.

26:08 Honey, you would not believe what happened, that's why I can't talk. Then, can you imagine that conversation? Would have been amazing. And then it happens. It happens.

26:18 She is pregnant and she gets to ponder this for five months and just rejoice in that. Now we go to the second lady. The second lady. Let's learn a little bit about her. Well, it doesn't start with the lady this time, it starts with Gabriel.

26:40 We're at verse 26. Now, in the sixth month, so where is the sixth month? Okay, we're talking pregnancy, we're talking end of second trimester. Alright? Second trimester, Gabriel is sent from God to a city in Galilee, that's up North of Judea, we got Judea down here, we got Samaria in the middle, we got Galilee up north, called Nazareth.

27:04 To a virgin, that's critical, virgins, they're like the lady, well no, it's a little bit different than the old lady, well you guys can talk about that at home. Okay, a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph. Engaged. Engaged in that culture was equal to being married without the husbandly wifely duties thing. Okay.

27:25 They're already committed to each other. It was almost equal to marriage except the actual wedding hadn't been consummated and finalized. So that's the scenario. She's a virgin, she's engaged to be married to a unique man. Now why did I say four people?

27:41 Because he never shows up, but his name does, his name is Joseph. Now, what's critical about him is that he's of the descendant of David. Why is this so important? Why is this so important? Because the Messiah was prophesied to be of the...

28:00 A son of David. So, God didn't pick anybody. He picked a virgin, which fulfilled prophecy, who was engaged to a descendant of the king, Who then would become, the baby born to her would become the king of kings. Kinda cool, Alright. And the virgin's name was Mary.

28:26 And coming in, he said to her, hail, favored one. Okay. What do we know right away? She's pretty special. That God has told...

28:35 Sent his angel, who stands at the right hand of God, and to call this lady favored one. Hail favored one, the Lord is with you. There's another description of Mary. Over here earlier we learned that they were blameless, they in the commandments, they were requirements of the Lord, they had no child, they were barren, and they were righteous in the sight of God. Well, is favored in the eyes of God, and the Lord is with her.

29:04 It says in verse 29, but she, Mary, was greatly troubled. Again, that's an angel. What's he saying? Okay. She was greatly troubled at this statement and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be.

29:18 And the angel said to her, do not be afraid. Here we go again. Don't be afraid. Get rid of that. This is good stuff, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

29:28 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Salvation. Oh, sorry. Jesus. Don't name him Jesus. By the way, what was the name of the first baby to be born?

29:51 John. What does John mean? Oh, let's see. What does John mean? I've got to find that out here in my notes.

29:59 Oh, I have it. Wow. This is what happens when you don't study your notes. Thank you. God is gracious.

30:11 Alright. It's in here, but it's harder to find. Alright. God is gracious. Oh, wow.

30:15 So every time, hey God is gracious, it's time for lunch, come on in. Isn't that cool? Hey, salvation, it's time for lunch, come on in. That's what Mary and Joseph were calling out to Jesus. So every time he said his name, they reminded the world, and everybody heard him, about how wonderful God is.

30:35 God is gracious and this guy is the savior. This guy right here is... Now did other people come up with it, have the name Jesus Jesus? Yes. Yes.

30:45 Yes. Yes. But this was the son of God. Right? We learned that here.

31:01 He will be great, will be called the son of the most high, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. We talked about that already. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end. Now, quickly flashback. How does Zacharias respond to all that wonderful news?

31:22 Well, how can this be since I'm an old man and my wife is bare? How does Mary respond? Well, again, from a practical standpoint, she's, how is this gonna happen? Alright. Mary said to the angel, how could this be since I'm a virgin?

31:39 Okay. Again, we know that that is a miracle. And so, the question I have when I stop right here, I say, well, what's the difference between Zacharias and Mary here? It's gotta be something that only the Lord saw. Alright?

31:53 Because I do, in all defense, to Zacharias, when he says, well, how can I know this for sure? How can I know this for certain? I'm an old man, my wife is advanced in years. I don't see a whole lot of sin showing up there, but God knows the heart and it says later on that because you did not believe, that's what Gabriel said. You didn't believe, and thereby you're gonna be silent.

32:14 Well, Mary, she doesn't get this judgment when she asks the question, how can this be? Alright. Instead, he answers. The angel answered in verse number 35. He said to her, the Holy Spirit will come upon you.

32:31 The power of the most high will overshadow you. And for that reason, boy is it critical to know this. For that reason, the holy offspring shall be called the son of God. Why is that critical? Do you know there's entire religions out there that don't give credit to that statement?

32:57 The religion of Islam will not acknowledge Jesus Christ anything more than a prophet. And Mohammed is God's prophet, not Jesus when it comes to the ranking. And if you say that Jesus Christ is the son of God, they won't they won't buy that. Because that puts him above Mohammed. That puts him above the entire religion.

33:22 I'm just using that as an example. There's so many other things, but to to understand that Jesus Christ was born to be the son of God and is still the son of God, and is still God, is the whole basis of Christianity. It's the relationship that those Father, Son, Holy Spirit have, and the relationship that says, and we can be one with them. That's the basis. It's not religion, it's the relationship.

33:50 Alright. So how does she respond to that? Oh, we're not done yet. Hold on. Verse 36.

33:55 Proof, I'll give you some proof, says Gabriel. And Gabriel says, and behold, even your relative Elizabeth, relative. So somehow, it's interesting, these two ladies are related to each other. Okay, kinda cool. Has also conceived a son in her old age.

34:09 And she who is called barren is now in her sixth month. In other words, you can go with your own two feet, go check it out for yourself that your cousin Elizabeth is pregnant and she's showing. For nothing will be impossible with God. So if there was any little smidge of doubt, He's saying, don't even worry about it, I got proof. Go check out your cousin.

34:39 Alright? And how does Mary respond now? It's really beautiful, isn't it? Mary said in verse 38, behold the bond slave of the Lord. Be it done to me according to your word.

34:51 Gabriel's cool with that, and he says bye. No, it doesn't say that. It says the angel departed from her. So, his job is done. Her job has just begun.

35:05 What is amazing though is the fact that she received this statement and called herself a bond slave. We've talked about that many times. You know, the whole ear thing, boom, that, you know. She says, I'm submitting to this. I'm willing to be impregnated by the Holy Spirit.

35:28 Folks, that's not a normal thing. Okay? It's never happened since, never will happen again. Right? So the fact that she's saying, I receive this, shows her humility, shows her faithfulness, and boy, it really shows that God picked the right one.

35:44 Picked the right one. Alright? And I cannot speak on behalf of the ladies what that would be like to say, wow, I'm not even married yet. What are the implications here? She didn't bring that up.

35:56 She said, I'm your bond slave and I will do what you told me to do. So now, this next section, I call it the mother's meeting part one and part two. The mother's meeting part one and part two. Let's read what happens. Okay.

36:33 There's two things happening. What did John, what was the description of John earlier that the angel Gabriel had given to? Zacharias, he said, the baby will be filled with the Holy Spirit. Now, is before the Holy Spirit abided in believers. Right?

36:47 This is before the Holy Spirit was given on the day of Pentecost. And thereby, the Holy Spirit, we read throughout the Old Testament, came and went. Was with Saul, left Saul. Was with David, okay, got the idea? So here the Holy Spirit is imputed to John in the womb, six months in the womb, and he does a back flip inside when he hears Mary's voice.

37:10 Second thing that happened was Elizabeth was filled with the holy spirit. And all of a sudden, she understands things more than just, I'm still pregnant at six months and I'm gonna have a baby boy. This is so cool. Alright? But now, she's got something to tell Mary that would only be known supernaturally, because Mary did not send an email and say, or a phone call and say, I'm coming.

37:33 She showed up. She hasn't had time to send a messenger. And what does Elizabeth say? Verse 42, she cried out with a loud voice and said, blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. How'd she know that?

37:55 Supernatural. The Lord by the Holy Spirit. And how has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who, keyword, believed.

38:24 Blessed is she who believed. That's how we know that why Gabriel did not silence Mary for the next nine months. Because she believed. The difference between doubt based upon fear and belief is what? Faith.

38:43 Even though he was righteous, Zacharias didn't have faith. I bet you, we're gonna read that later. He'll get it then. Oh, my. Okay.

38:52 Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord. And Mary said, the Magnificat. We've got a high school named up right down the street. Alright. No.

39:02 But seriously, that's what they call this next section. It's called the Magnificat. It's Mary's praise based on the first phrase, my soul exalts the Lord. That's Magnificat. Okay?

39:13 So what does Mary say? Now in the Holy Spirit, she says, my soul exalts the Lord, my spirit has rejoiced in God, my savior. Now look, who is this? This is the mother of a baby in her tummy who's just starting to grow. And she says, this is my Lord in my tummy.

39:30 Amazing. And he's my savior. For he has regard for the humble state of his bond slave. There she is again. So just a reminder.

39:40 For behold, from this time on all, from this time on, all generations will count me blessed. Little parenthesis there. It's a sad story. It's a true story. All generations call her blessed, but she's not divine.

39:56 She's not divine. And Jesus talked about that so many times. If you wanna just refer to that, you can go online and say, was Mary divine? And you'll get so many excellent, excellent bible studies on that. I I I don't wanna...

40:09 But if you look at 11 of Luke, Luke chapter 11, just look it up later on, verses twenty seven and twenty eight, you find out that even Jesus himself did not treat her divine. He said, who are my mother and my brothers and sisters? It's those who believe. Those who have faith. And he did not slam on Mary, he just did not lift her up anymore above anybody else.

40:30 She needed a savior. She was a sinful person, just like all of us, except for Jesus himself. Right? And so he doesn't lift her up any higher so unfortunately the country that we serve in, The Philippines, they don't have that truth. They don't have that knowledge and they're worshiping her and doing all kinds of weird things for Mary.

40:49 And she never deserved it and I guarantee she didn't want it. Her savior was in her womb. She knew that. Verse 49, for the mighty one has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And she starts quoting the Psalms now.

41:06 His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear him. He has done mighty deeds with his arm. He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones and has exalted those who are humble. So she's she's prophesying what Jesus is gonna do.

41:24 What does it say in scripture? That God resists the proud and exalts the humble. She's prophesying what his ministry will be. We continue in Psalm, it's now 107. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent away the rich empty handed.

41:39 He has given help to Israel, his servant, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever. How did it say in scripture that God spoke to Abraham? How did God receive what what... How did Abraham receive what God told him? By faith.

41:57 How are we children of Abraham? It's not that silly song, we do weird things. It's by faith. By the faith of Abraham, it said it was considered, it was reckoned to him as righteousness. And we are children of Abraham not by blood, not by the descendants of Israel.

42:12 We are children of Abraham by faith that he had. And that's what she's prophesying here. She's talking about this Abrahamic covenant way back when is now being fulfilled in her womb. And she is blessed because of that. End of Mary, the meeting.

42:37 Verse 56, Mary stayed with her about three months. So, where's she at now? Six plus three equals nine. Delivery day. Right?

42:44 And she says, I gotta go home. Think this is gonna be private between you and Zechariah. See you. I'm going back home and how much... She's starting to show now too.

42:50 She's got three months along and she's heading back to Nazareth and dealing with that stuff. Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned her home. It is that time. Wow. I'm just gonna have to stop.

43:04 I I thank you very much for this. I I just encourage you. Read the rest of the story. Alright. Read the rest of the story.

43:11 Some quick highlights. You know, when when John is born when John is born, what's the first thing that Zacharias finally says? He doesn't even say it, he writes it. His name is John. He showed obedience, didn't he?

43:29 Because the angel said, you're gonna name him John. They said, no, his name is gonna be Zacharias, named after his father, bringing glory to the father. He said, no, no, no. We're gonna bring glory to the father. His name is John.

43:41 Because that's what the angel who stood at the right hand of God said. So he showed that he learned his lesson. He's now gonna be obedient, he's now gonna cast fear out, he's not gonna walk in doubt, he's not gonna walk in fear, he's gonna walk in obedience, and trust, and live by faith. I I conclude today by just asking a question. What do you fear when it comes to your relationship with the Lord?

44:16 If you said, well, I'm willing to go this far in my relationship with you Lord. But the reason I don't want to go any further, because I fear how people are gonna talk about me, I fear the time I'm going to lose. I'm fearing that I might not get to do some of the things that I wanna do. Are those pretty common thoughts? I think they are.

44:40 I think when it comes out every morning when we wake up in the morning, we don't say, I think today I'm gonna disobey God. But I bet you, if you came, woke up every morning and said, Lord, I'm gonna do my best right now just to focus on you. I'm asking, I'm praying that in the midst of the schedule that I've set up for my life, I want your Holy Spirit to have free reign. And sometimes that free reign means like a horse, reign, r e I n. I think that's how it's spelled.

45:10 Yeah. Okay. Anyway, to hand them over and say, yeah, you're gonna guide now. You're gonna take me where you want me to go. Do you think Zacharias woke up that morning and said, I'm gonna be obedient to God.

45:23 I... Today's the day, honey. Today I get to burn incense. Pray for me. Okay?

45:28 Like, I think everything's cool. Shouldn't get fried while I'm in there. You know? Instead, he meets an angel and life changes. It's all good, but it's scary, but it's good.

45:40 And then you got Mary. And then you got Mary. Mary gave birth we know. We know that she went to the temple on the eighth day. But what did she hear on that eighth day?

45:54 She heard that the the child will bring forth a sword. That even your own heart will be pierced. Did that come true? Do you think your heart was pierced when his body was pierced? When his arms, his hands, and his feet were pierced?

46:13 Yes, it's not always warm fuzzy stuff with the Lord. But he will bless you as you are obedient to him. If you are willing to say, Lord, you have the reins, you have the control, I want to obey you by the Holy Spirit. Of course, the most critical one, and again, I'm not saying anyone here is not saved, but if you've never come to the point where you go to that verse back there that says, nothing will be impossible to God, and you never said, Lord, is it possible that I could be saved? You don't know what I've done.

46:46 Well, I actually do know what I've done, and you'd still forgive me? Lord, I am saved. I am saved. I know that. But I am unworthy to blank, because of the sin of my past.

47:01 I can't do that. Is that true? Is that true? Could God say, no. Because the scars from the wounds you have from your sinful background, you will now be able to minister to so many people because you've been where they were, where they are, and you can show them the savior.

47:51 As these two people, Zacharias and Mary responded, they had had different responses. But what was so neat, which I didn't get to, was that Zacharias, all he could do when he finally could talk was praise you. All Mary could do when she responded to Elizabeth's greeting was to praise you. It's not about us, Lord. It's about you.

48:23 Father, especially this time of year, may we please be empowered by your Holy Spirit to tell that to others, not to be afraid of what they'll think, what they'll do. Father, instead, help us to go boldly wherever we are, to be your bond servants, your bond slave, to say, not my will, but yours be done. Please use us, Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

48:47 Thank you.