The birth of John the Baptist… (5 things) vs. 57-80

• 1^st – Standing up for God’s Word… vs. 47-61
  • After 9 months – Elizabeth delivered the promised son…
  • Sharing what God has done…
    • Elizabeth had hidden herself after becoming pregnant – Luke 1:24…
    • So very few people knew she was pregnant – but all knew she had been barren…
    • So when they found out she had a son – they were surprised – and amazed!
    • They rejoiced with her and celebrated what was no less than a miracle – Luke 1:14
    • When God does a work in our lives – we can be hesitant to share with others…
    • We don’t want to seem to be boasting – we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves…
    • But it is a blessing for others to hear what God is doing in our lives…
    • Not to give credit to us – but to show the goodness and faithfulness of Jesus!
    • Psalms 26:7 – “Proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, tell of all Your wondrous works.”
  • No compromise…
    • According to the Law – a son had to be circumcised on the 8^th day – Genesis 17:7-14
    • It was at the circumcision – becoming part of God’s promise – a child was named…
    • The common consensus among the relatives was to names him after his father…
    • But Elizabeth refused – he was to be called John…
      • John was the name that the Angel Gabriel told Zacharias to name him – Luke 1:13
      • It would seem that Zacharias had shared the details of the vision with his wife…
      • We husbands sometimes have a hard time communicating with our wives…
      • We tend to think of ourselves as men of few words – we speak with actions…
      • The average man might use 10,000 words (at best) in one day…
      • The average woman uses over 25,000 words (at least) in one day!
      • But our wives need to hear from us – most importantly about Jesus….
      • We set the tone for our family – we are the example our wives will follow after…
      • * I Peter 3:7 – “You husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. If you don’t treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard.”
    • Elizabeth would not give into the pressure of family – she stood for God’s Word…
      • Elizabeth knew from Zacharias what God expected – and she would not compromise
      • It can be VERY hard to stand up for the Lord – when family it not standing with us…
      • But if we give into the pressure – follow their example – where are they leading us…
      • In contrast if we follow God’s Word – we have the opportunity to lead them to Jesus!
  • The difference in a name…
    • Zacharias means – ‘God remembers’ / John mean – ‘God is gracious’…
    • There is nothing wrong with the name ‘Zacharias’ – but God had a purpose for ‘John’…
    • God was not ‘remembering’ His Old Covenant with Israel – the Law…
    • God was going to do something new – He was going to pour out His ‘grace’ on all men!
    • The Old Covenant – the Law – was all about what we had to do to get to heaven…
    • It required us to be perfect – never make one mistake – Matthew 5:48 – impossible…
    • All of us have sinned – all of us fall short of God’s standard – Romans 3:23
    • The New Covenant – grace – that God gave through Jesus – was about what He did…
    • We are saved – able to go to heaven – not because of what we do…
    • But by grace – a free gift – received by faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross!
    • John was not coming to point back to the Law – but to point forward to Jesus!
      
• 2^nd – Boldness for the Lord… vs. 62-66
  • Breaking tradition…
    • It is traditional among the Jews to name their children after close relatives…
    • John was a common name among Jews – but there were none in Zacharias’ family…
    • So the relatives looked to Zacharias to know what name to give to the child…
    • He still could not speak – Luke 1:20 – because he had not believed Gabriel…
    • He wrote down on a tablet – ‘John’ – breaking tradition – and the people were amazed!
    • There is a common ‘tradition’ – you cannot look into the mouth of Kanlaon – death…
    • We took a group of men on a 2 day hike last week up to the top – and looked in…
    • When people heard where we were – they could not believe it – refused to believe…
    • When we came back safe and sound – these same people were amazed!
    • When we break tradition – follow God rather than the world – people are amazed…
    • We are not called to follow the pattern of the world – we are called to follow the Word!

• Believing God’s Word…
  • Zacharias lost his ability to speak because he did not believe the Word of God…
  • By calling his son – ‘John’ – he showed he now believed – and his words returned…
  • Not to question God’s Word again – but to Praise God!
  • Often we feel shy about sharing God’s Word – standing up for Jesus…
  • The reason is we are not absolutely certain – convinced – God’s Word is true…
  • We tend to be more certain of other people’s opinions – than God’s judgment for sin…
  • If were absolutely convinced people were going to hell if they did not believe in Jesus…
  • No peer pressure – no ridicule – nothing would be able to keep us from sharing…
  • When we choose to believe God’s Word – nothing will be able to keep us quiet…
  • Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…”
  • When we realize all that God has given to us – grace – the free gift of salvation…
  • II Corinthians 3:12 – “This new covenant gives us confidence, we can be very bold.”
• Shining for Jesus…
  • Zacharias – saw a vision of an Angel – and afterwards lost his ability to speak…
  • His old wife – who was barren – became pregnant and had a son…
  • The moment Zacharias called his son – ‘John’ – he could speak again…
  • God was moving among His people – and everyone was stirred up and talking about it!
  • When we are bold for the Lord – believing in His Word – the world will notice…
  • They will begin to talk about it – not because of what we have done…
  • But because of what God is doing in our lives – they will see Jesus in us!
    
• 3^rd – The power to be bold… vs. 67
  • Zacharias was filled with the Spirit – and began to boldly preach God’s Word…
    • Often we don’t want to conform – we believe God’s Word – we want to shine for Jesus…
    • But we still just don’t feel like we are strong enough – we just don’t have the power…
    • We find in spite of our best efforts – we fail to be bold for the Lord…
  • An Acts 4 – the disciples had been arrested and beaten for preaching the name of Jesus…
    • The result was there were intimidated – they were afraid to stand up for Jesus…
    • So they gathered together and prayed – for GREAT boldness to keep preaching!
    •  * Acts 4:29 – “O Lord… give your servants great boldness in their preaching.”
    • And God answered them by giving them the Holy Spirit!
    • * Acts 4:31 – “After this prayer… they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they preached God’s message with boldness.”
    • The number one result of being filled with the Holy Spirit – is boldness to share Jesus!
    • When the world comes against us – challenges us – we run to God and ask for help…
    • When we have a hard time being bold for the Lord – we simply need to pray…
    • God will give us His Holy Spirit – empower us – to be VERY bold for the Lord!

• 4^th – Standing up in a dark world… vs. 68-75
  • Zachariah prophesied – the salvation of Israel…
    • Israel was a conquered nation – they had been for hundreds of years…
    • The Assyrians had conquered the Northern 10 tribes of Israel – 722 B.C.
    • The Babylonians conquered the Southern kingdom of Judah – 585 B.C.
    • Then Israel changed hands several times – from Medo-Persia – to Greece – to Rome…
    • They had not known freedom in over 800 years – they were looking for a savior!
  • A horn (strength) of salvation in the house of David – the promised Messiah – Jesus…
    • As God had promised by the Holy Prophets – Isaiah – Daniel – Ezekiel…
    • The messiah would save Israel from those who hated them (e.g. Rome)…
    • Remembering the covenant God had made with Abraham…
    • That Israel would be free to serve God without fear – all the days of their life…
    • Rome was a depraved and cruel master – persecuted those who believed in God…
    • It was full of immorality – homosexuality – human trafficking – corruption…
    • Roman religion – revolved around the worship of 100’s of gods – the pantheon…
    • But Jesus did not come to conquer Rome – or to save Israel from Rome…
    • God does not take us out of an evil and depraved world – He tells us to shine in it!
    • If you light a candle in daylight – no effect – in a pitch-black room – shines!
    • The darker the world is around us – the brighter the light of Jesus shines…
    • The darker the world gets – the greater the need to be a light to the world…
      
• 5^th – A light to the lost… vs. 76-80
  • Zachariah prophesied – John would be the prophet of the Highest…
    • John would be the greatest of all the prophets – the greatest of men!
    • Matthew 11:11 – “Of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist.”
    • Because he would have the privilege of preparing the way for the Messiah – Jesus…
    • Telling people about the way to salvation – through the forgiveness of sins!
    • The real reason why Jesus came – His true purpose – not to conquer the world…
    • But to conquer sin through the work of the cross!
    • That is how He would save Israel – that is how He would save all who believe!
  • Jesus would be – the light of the world…
    • The one whom John will prepare the way for – is the ‘rising sun’…
    • Who will give light in darkness – that will guide our feet into the way of peace…
    • People are lost in the darkness of sin – blinded – they don’t know they need Jesus…
    • They don’t see the destruction sin causes in their lives – both now and eternally…
    • If a boat is lost in the fog at night – there is no way for it to see dangers coming…
    • The purpose of a lighthouse – it to shine so that a boat can see the way to safety…
    • As we stand up for God’s Word – don’t compromise – follow the example of the world…
    • As we are filled with the Holy Spirit – making us bold for Jesus – believing in His Word…
    • We will shine like a lighthouse in the dark – to a world that cannot see…
    • Like John we will be great – because we will show people the way to salvation – Jesus!
  • John grew and became strong in the Lord – living in the desert…