“Embracing Change To Experience Life!”

“Embracing Change To Experience Life!”

Luke 1 : 5 – 25Luke 1 : 5 – 25

In the Old & New Testaments,

we encounter a

very different culture.The culture of the Jews was

such that “NAMES” were of

incredible importance.

… means

“Jehovah Will Remember”

… means

“Jehovah Will Remember”

“It was the time of the morning sacrifice. As the

massive Temple-gates slowly swung on their hinges, a three-fold blast from the

silver trumpets of ….

“It was the time of the morning sacrifice. As the

massive Temple-gates slowly swung on their hinges, a three-fold blast from the

silver trumpets of ….

In his “Jesus the Messiah” gave usan insight of the incidence here….

In his “Jesus the Messiah” gave usan insight of the incidence here….

…. the Priests seemed to waken the City, as with the Voice of God, to the life of another day. As its echoes

came in the still air… up the slopes of the Upper City, down

the busy quarters below, or away to the new suburb

beyond, they must, if but for a moment, have brought ….

…. the Priests seemed to waken the City, as with the Voice of God, to the life of another day. As its echoes

came in the still air… up the slopes of the Upper City, down

the busy quarters below, or away to the new suburb

beyond, they must, if but for a moment, have brought ….

…. holier thoughts to all. For, did it not seem to link the

present to the past and the future, as with the golden

chain of promises that bound the Holy City to the Jerusalem that was above, which in type

had already, ….

…. holier thoughts to all. For, did it not seem to link the

present to the past and the future, as with the golden

chain of promises that bound the Holy City to the Jerusalem that was above, which in type

had already, ….

…. and in reality would soon descend from heaven?

Patriot, saint, or stranger, he could not have heard it

unmoved,as thrice the summons from

within the Temple-gatesrose and fell.”

…. and in reality would soon descend from heaven?

Patriot, saint, or stranger, he could not have heard it

unmoved,as thrice the summons from

within the Temple-gatesrose and fell.”

• your “PROMISE” Jehovah• your “PEOPLE” JehovahIt has been 400 years that Jehovah has not spoken to

His people – not even once!

It has been 400 years that Jehovah has not spoken to

His people – not even once!

Remember….Remember….

At that moment, Zechariah was ALONE…

At that moment, Zechariah was ALONE…

• Zechariah approached the altar.

• He spread the incense.• He waited as it kindled on

the coals.

As Zechariah

opened his eyes, he was aware that

he was

NOT ALONE!

… means

“Mighty One of Jehovah”

… means

“Mighty One of Jehovah”

Gabriel had come,

the “Mighty One of God”to deliver a message,

but before he could deliver the message he had to calm

the fears of those to whom he had appeared.

The last words of God were recorded over 400 years ago

by the prophet Malachi, people had come not to

expect to hear from God.

The angel had come to

inform Zechariah that his

prayer had been heard

and that his wife would

now bear him a son,to whom the name John

would be given.

Zechariah would indeed have a son in his old age.

The son will be the immediate forerunner to the

promised Messiah.

Whether from fear or doubt, Zechariah dared to

challenge Gabriel with the question…

“How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in

years.” (Luke 1:18)

“How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in

years.” (Luke 1:18)

… means

“Jehovah Is An Oath”[Jehovah, the

Absolutely Reliable One]

… means

“Jehovah Is An Oath”[Jehovah, the

Absolutely Reliable One]

Elizabeth was a descendantof Aaron of the priestly line

and she had married a priest, their union was said by

tradition to have a double blessing, but things just didn’t

seem to turn out that way.

Elizabeth was a descendantof Aaron of the priestly line

and she had married a priest, their union was said by

tradition to have a double blessing, but things just didn’t

seem to turn out that way.

The DESIRE of every Jewish

woman was to be mother

of the Messiah who would

restore their nation and

fulfill the promise of God.

The DESIRE of every Jewish

woman was to be mother

of the Messiah who would

restore their nation and

fulfill the promise of God.

Elizabeth and her husband

were UPRIGHT in the sight of

God, OBSERVING all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.

Elizabeth and her husband

were UPRIGHT in the sight of

God, OBSERVING all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.

Zechariah and Elizabethdid not concern themselves

with the whispers and

questions of their neighbors,

they knew whom it was they

were meant to please, and

that was the Lord. They were

blameless in the sight of God!

Zechariah and Elizabethdid not concern themselves

with the whispers and

questions of their neighbors,

they knew whom it was they

were meant to please, and

that was the Lord. They were

blameless in the sight of God!

Elizabeth became

pregnant after

Zechariah’s silent return

and then

she secluded herself for

a period of five months.

Elizabeth became

pregnant after

Zechariah’s silent return

and then

she secluded herself for

a period of five months.

The name which seemed so long to be misplaced on her

now took on itsfullest meaning….

The name which seemed so long to be misplaced on her

now took on itsfullest meaning….

What must it have been like for Elizabeth, to gaze at this miracle child, to gently caress the little hands andfeet or to look into the child’s eyes ofone announced bythe angel Gabrielhimself.

What must it have been like for Elizabeth, to gaze at this miracle child, to gently caress the little hands andfeet or to look into the child’s eyes ofone announced bythe angel Gabrielhimself.

Those things which we call

“SUPERNATURAL”because they are outsideof our regular experience

God calls “NATURAL.”

Those things which we call

“SUPERNATURAL”because they are outsideof our regular experience

God calls “NATURAL.”

… means

“Jehovah Is Gracious”… means

“Jehovah Is Gracious”

The day of circumcision arrived for Elizabeth’s son

eight days after he was born…the male child was set apart

with the sign of God’s covenant with Israel.

The day of circumcision arrived for Elizabeth’s son

eight days after he was born…the male child was set apart

with the sign of God’s covenant with Israel.

An unusual event – the dedication of a miracle child.

An unusual event – the dedication of a miracle child.

NAMING of the child… NAMING of the child…

As old Zechariah could no longer speak it was assumed

that the name Zechariah would be given to this child, that he might model his life

after his father’s andserve as a priest of God.

As old Zechariah could no longer speak it was assumed

that the name Zechariah would be given to this child, that he might model his life

after his father’s andserve as a priest of God.

Suddenly Elizabeth

interrupted the ceremony…

Suddenly Elizabeth

interrupted the ceremony…

“No, his name willnot be Zechariah,

he will be called John.”

(Luke 1:59,60)

“No, his name willnot be Zechariah,

he will be called John.”

(Luke 1:59,60)

Why the name

“JOHN?”

It was the name given to him by the command of God

through the angel Gabriel.

It was the name given to him by the command of God

through the angel Gabriel.

What’s in aWhat’s in a

Surely there must be some reason for God choosing the

name “JOHN” rather than allowing the parents

to name the son.

Surely there must be some reason for God choosing the

name “JOHN” rather than allowing the parents

to name the son.

The name “JOHN” means,

“Jehovah is Gracious.”

The name “JOHN” means,

“Jehovah is Gracious.”

to an elderly couple in giving

them a son, but to really

understand the fullness

of his name we have to

revisit the words of Gabriel.

to an elderly couple in giving

them a son, but to really

understand the fullness

of his name we have to

revisit the words of Gabriel.

He is a “sign” given to

the Jews of the coming arrival of their king.

He (John) will precede the coming of the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah.

He (John) will precede the coming of the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah.

Gabriel tells us that he (John) will turn many people back to the Lord their God.

Gabriel tells us that he (John) will turn many people back to the Lord their God.

John the Baptist forms

the “BRIDGE” between

Old Testament and

New Testament for us.

John the Baptist forms

the “BRIDGE” between

Old Testament and

New Testament for us.

Malachi 4:5-6 ….the final words God

spoke in theOld Testament before400 years of silence.

Malachi 4:5-6 ….the final words God

spoke in theOld Testament before400 years of silence.

“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of

the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to

their children, and the hearts of the children to their

fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a

curse.” (NIV)

“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of

the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to

their children, and the hearts of the children to their

fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a

curse.” (NIV)

Malachi 4:5,6….Malachi 4:5,6….

John …. the last prophetof the Old Covenant.

John …. the last prophetof the Old Covenant.

It was an Old Testament prophet who was needed to

come and graciously turn the people of Israel back to their God and to prepare the way

for the promised One.

It was an Old Testament prophet who was needed to

come and graciously turn the people of Israel back to their God and to prepare the way

for the promised One.

It is to John that the announcement of the

Messiah falls… “Behold the Lamb of God who take away

the sins of the world.”

It is to John that the announcement of the

Messiah falls… “Behold the Lamb of God who take away

the sins of the world.”

Jesus would later sayof him, “No greater

prophet has ever lived.”

Jesus would later sayof him, “No greater

prophet has ever lived.”

John comes to turn the hearts of the fathers to

their children, to restore right family relationships.

John comes to turn the hearts of the fathers to

their children, to restore right family relationships.

John comes to turn the disobedient back to

the way of the righteous.

John comes to turn the disobedient back to

the way of the righteous.

As I conclude this message, I want to remind you that we serve …

A God who A God who

A God who isA God who is

A God who isA God who is

A God who isA God who is