Because we Doubt
Series: WHY DO WE STILL NEED CHRISTMAS?
Speaker: John Lau
Date: 7th December 2019
Passage: Luke 1:5-25
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Do you see what I see?
00:00:04 --> 00:00:05 A rabbit or a duck?
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 What seems impossible to work out at first,
00:00:10 --> 00:00:13 but you'll get it eventually with some help.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:14 How about this one?
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 Imagine a duck is eating a rabbit.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 Can you see both of them now?
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 It works as an illusion, but in real life,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:29 can someone be both righteous in God's eyes,
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 but unbelieving and not sure of themselves at the same time?
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 There are a couple in the Gospel of Luke,
00:00:37 --> 00:00:38 which we just read out.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 Zechariah, the husband, is a priest,
00:00:41 --> 00:00:42 and his wife, Elizabeth.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:47 And this couple is identified in verse 6 of chapter 1
00:00:47 --> 00:00:51 as both of them were righteous in the sight of God,
00:00:51 --> 00:00:57 observing all the Lord's commands and decrees painlessly.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 But they were childless
00:01:00 --> 00:01:04 because Elizabeth was unable to conceive,
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06 and they were both very old.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 Righteous in God's eyes
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 and blameless in obeying the law,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:13 but childless.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:18 The reason is because Elizabeth was unable to conceive,
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 and they were both very old.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:24 The word but, at the beginning of verse 7,
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 highlight that this is out of expectation,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 something somewhat unusual.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 What would you normally expect
00:01:34 --> 00:01:38 for someone who are considered to be righteous in God's eyes
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 and blameless in obedience?
00:01:42 --> 00:01:46 Chinese greet each other in the new year by saying this.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:47 James, can you help us?
00:01:47 --> 00:01:53 So, sin is our heart,
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 xian is wishes,
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 si is things,
00:01:58 --> 00:01:59 and chen is fulfilled.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:01 So if you put that together,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:02 we actually wish each other
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 whatever we wish for will come true.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 We might expect the same for someone
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 who finds favor in God's sight.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 They will get whatever they wish for,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 but this couple did not have any child.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 What do you think about them?
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 Are they really righteous and blameless?
00:02:25 --> 00:02:29 If obeying God will get blessing,
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 they do not have the blessing of child.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 Is there something wrong about their obedience?
00:02:36 --> 00:02:37 Let's look at Zechariah.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:39 His name,
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 his name after a prophet
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 that written the second last book of the Old Testament.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 From what we have just read,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 he is old,
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 and he was called to serve in the temple
00:02:49 --> 00:02:50 by burning incense.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 And then in verse 11,
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 then an angel of the Lord appeared to him,
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:02 When Zechariah saw him,
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 he was startled and was gripped with fear.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 He was startled and gripped with fear.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:10 Fair enough to be startled.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 I will be somewhat startled
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 if someone appeared in front of me suddenly.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:17 But gripped with fear,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:18 terrified.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:22 What was the reason of that response?
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 One of the reasons for his fear
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 would have to do with his knowledge
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 attached to his own name and the angel.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 His name means God remembers.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 If I think that God remembers
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 both my good and bad deeds,
00:03:40 --> 00:03:41 I would be fearful.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:44 And in the Old Testament,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 angels were often sent to execute God's judgment.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 In Genesis 19,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah
00:03:53 --> 00:03:54 by an angel.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 In Exodus,
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 the angel of God brought Israel out of Egypt,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 led them through the wild wilderness,
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 and drove out all the people in the promised land
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 for them to settle there.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 Many examples of angels
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 carry out God's judgment
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 on individuals and ordinations
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 in the book of Zechariah
00:04:15 --> 00:04:15 Zechariah
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 and also in the Old Testament.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 His fear may have to do with
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 focusing too much on what someone would call
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 the scary side of God.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 They see God as an unrelenting
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 punisher of wrong
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 and the all-powerful,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 sovereign ruler
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 that does not care.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 One that allows all the suffering and pain
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 without giving any explanation.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:43 However,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 the Bible also talks about
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 how God sent angels
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 to look after widows
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 and those in trouble
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 like Abraham's servant wife Hagar
00:04:54 --> 00:04:55 in Genesis 16.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 Or in Judges 13,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 Samson's mom was barren
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 and visited by an angel
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 before she conceived him.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 We pick and choose
00:05:08 --> 00:05:09 the image of God
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 that most of the time
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 is not the complete picture
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 of what God really is
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 and we become fearful.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 Evangelist and apologist
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 Ref. Zechariah says
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 people always tend to have an idea
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 that
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 malevolence is God's doing.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 Benevolent is evolutionary wisdom,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 which means
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 when we have a natural disaster,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 tragedies,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:38 or
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 a climate-like event,
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 those are the acts of God.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 But if you have a bumper crops,
00:05:45 --> 00:05:46 a beautiful day,
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 a close brush
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 with what should have been death
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 but wasn't,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 a wonderful joy
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 and pleasure of life
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 are not given
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 such beneficent source.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 Even though Zechariah is a priest,
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 he is fearful
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 because he did not see
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 God
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 as how God
00:06:06 --> 00:06:06 see himself,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:07 see him.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 Like many of us,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:11 he obeys God
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 out of fear,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:13 out of routine
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 and tradition.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 The fact that
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 they are childless
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 would also contribute
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 to their uncertainty
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 and fear.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 When I marry
00:06:23 --> 00:06:23 Vivian,
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 my wife,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 we plan to enjoy
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 a couple of years
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 with our kids.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 After that,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 we try for a whole year
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 without any success.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 So our GP suggested
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 that we should do
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 some tests
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 started with me.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 And I remember
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 a very mixed feeling
00:06:39 --> 00:06:39 of waiting
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 for that test result
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 about my health.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 And in one sense,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 I want a healthy report
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 so that I was not
00:06:48 --> 00:06:48 the source of the problem.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 But that would mean
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 that all the weight
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 of that problem
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 will fall on Vivian.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 And if it's what's me,
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 it's a problem fixable.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 What if it's not?
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 What other option
00:07:03 --> 00:07:03 do we have
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 to have children?
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 Millions of questions
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 went through my mind.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 Even though
00:07:09 --> 00:07:09 they have concluded
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 that it was
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 Elizabeth's barrenness
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 and her old age,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 Zechariah would also
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 have questioned
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 whether there's
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 something wrong
00:07:19 --> 00:07:19 with him.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 We were told
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 he observed
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 all the Lord's commands
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 and decrees
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 blamelessly.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 But we weren't told
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 why.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 Did he try
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 to fix his problem
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 or that uncertainty
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 about himself
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 by being ridiculous
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 in everything he does?
00:07:39 --> 00:07:39 Did he do
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 everything blamelessly
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 hoping to win
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 the favor of God
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 in getting a child?
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 In Zechariah,
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 the book,
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 chapter 7,
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 verse 5,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 the word of the Lord
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 Almighty
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 came to Zechariah
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 the prophet
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 to ask his people
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 when they were
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 performing
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 their religious duty,
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 was it really
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 for the Lord
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 that they are
00:08:04 --> 00:08:04 doing them?
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 Are you not just
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 doing the duty
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 for yourself?
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 I used to approach
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 religion
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 with the same
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 kind of mindset,
00:08:14 --> 00:08:14 treating it
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 like a tool
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 to better my life,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 treating it
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 as a moral compass
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 to live a good life.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 I still fall back
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 into traps
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 of being religious,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 having an upright,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 blameless life,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 but fearful,
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 not 100% sure
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 whether I have
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 done enough.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 Do you sometimes
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 feel the same way?
00:08:37 --> 00:08:37 Not sure
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 whether you
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 or what you do
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 are acceptable
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 by God.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 knowing his state
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 of mind,
00:08:46 --> 00:08:46 the angel
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 said to Zechariah
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 back in Luke 1.13,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 Do not be afraid,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:52 Zechariah.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 Your prayer
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 has been heard.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 Your wife,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 Elizabeth,
00:08:57 --> 00:08:57 will bear you
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 a son
00:08:58 --> 00:08:58 and you are
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 to call him
00:08:59 --> 00:08:59 John.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 He will be
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 a joy
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 and delight
00:09:03 --> 00:09:03 to you
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 and many
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 will rejoice
00:09:05 --> 00:09:05 because of
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 his birth.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:07 The angel
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 goes on
00:09:08 --> 00:09:08 for another
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 three verses
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 focusing on
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 what his son
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 will become
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 and the great
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 things he will
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 achieve
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 and what he
00:09:16 --> 00:09:16 needs to do
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 his whole life.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 The message
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 of the angel
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 is clearly
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 about his son
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 who will call
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 John and the
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 Lord that he
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 will serve.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:27 But the way
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 Zechariah replied
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 so that deep
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 down he did
00:09:31 --> 00:09:31 not believe
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 that God
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 can do the
00:09:33 --> 00:09:33 impossible
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 of using him
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 in his old age
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 and giving him
00:09:37 --> 00:09:37 a son
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 to bring back
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 many
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 of the people
00:09:40 --> 00:09:40 of Israel
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 to the Lord
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 their God.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 Zechariah
00:09:43 --> 00:09:43 answered the angel
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 how can I
00:09:45 --> 00:09:45 be sure of this?
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 I am old man
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 and my wife
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 is well alone
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 in years.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 The angel
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 said to him
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 I am Gabriel
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 I stand
00:09:55 --> 00:09:55 in the presence
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 of God
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 and have been
00:09:57 --> 00:09:57 sent to speak
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 to you
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 and tell you
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 this good news
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 and now
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 you will be
00:10:02 --> 00:10:02 silent
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 and not able
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 to speak
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 until the day
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 this happens
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 because you
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 did not believe
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 my words
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 which will
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 come true
00:10:11 --> 00:10:11 in there
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 upon the time.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:14 The angel
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 Gabriel
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 took offense
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 of Zechariah's
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 question
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 and the statement
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 about himself
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 and his wife.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 What was wrong
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 with his reply?
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 How can I
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 be sure of this?
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 I am an old man
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 and my wife
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 is well
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 along in years.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 When Gabriel
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 was clearly
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 focusing on
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 the great work
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 that God
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 is going
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 to do
00:10:38 --> 00:10:38 through his
00:10:38 --> 00:10:38 son
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 and the
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 Lord,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:40 Zechariah
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 was focusing
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 on himself
00:10:42 --> 00:10:42 and his
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 wife.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 He is
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 beyond doubting
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 or questioning.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 He had
00:10:48 --> 00:10:48 decided that
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 God is not
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 going to give
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 him a son
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 or restore
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 Israel
00:10:52 --> 00:10:52 in his
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 lifetime.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:54 He asked
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 for proof
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 to counter
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 his unbelief.
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 Another
00:10:59 --> 00:10:59 apologist,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:00 Os Guinness,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 pointed out
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 if people
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 are torn
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 between
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 options,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 unable to
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 make up
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 their minds,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 or if they
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 are up
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 in the air
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 over something
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 and unsure
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 which side
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 they should
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 come down
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 on,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 or if they
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 are furiously
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 debating
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 with themselves
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 or hanging
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 back,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 waiting up
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 their reservation.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:23 There are
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 nothing if
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 not in two
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 minds.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 This condition
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 of doubleness
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 is the
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 essence of
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 doubt.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 But
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 Zacharias
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 seems very
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 resolute
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 with his
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 statement
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 about himself
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 and his
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 wife that
00:11:37 --> 00:11:37 it is
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 impossible
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 for them
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 to have
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 a child
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 at their
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 conditions.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 Zacharias'
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 unbelief comes
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 from looking
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 at his
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 ability and
00:11:46 --> 00:11:46 condition
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 instead of
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 listening to
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 and believes
00:11:49 --> 00:11:49 that word
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 of God.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 He relies
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 on his
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 own understanding
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 about his
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 situation,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 how he
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 sees himself
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 instead of
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 how God
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 sees him
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 and his
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 wife.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 So when
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 the angels
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 are pleased
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 to say
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 that it's
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 going to
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 happen right
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 then,
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 then he
00:12:05 --> 00:12:05 asks for
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 proof.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 He asks
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 for proof,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 a sign of
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 what is
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 going to
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 happen.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 So God
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 gave him
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 a sign by
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 taking away
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 his ability
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 to speak
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 until the
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 day all
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 that God
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 has said
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 comes true.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 He literally
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 becomes what
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 he asked
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 for.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 He asked
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 for a sign
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 and God
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 made him
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 mute so he
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 has to keep
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 signing for
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 nine months.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 God
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 listened to
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 what
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 Zachariah
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 asked of
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 him and
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 he
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 became part
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 of the
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 answer to
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 what he
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 asked.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 People
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 often ask
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 or question
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 whether the
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 Bible is
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 the truth,
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 whether God's
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 way is a
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 way of life
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 we should
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 adopt and
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 embrace.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 And Jesus
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 said in
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 John 8,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 31,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 32,
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 to those
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 who believe
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 him,
00:12:52 --> 00:13:03 hold to
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 Jesus'
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 teaching,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 not making
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 an excuse
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 even before
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 you even
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 tried.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 Listen carefully
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 to what the
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 Bible tells
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 us about
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 God and
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 how our
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 relationship
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 with God
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 and with
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 others
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 mean to
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 be.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 Live it
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 out in
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 your life
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 is a
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 way to
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 know the
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 truth and
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 understand how
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 God can
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 do the
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 impossible
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 in your
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 life.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 Life has
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 changed for
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 both
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 Zachariah
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 and Elizabeth
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 after
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 Zachariah
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 encountered
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 God.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 And new
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 life has
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 started in
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 and among
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 them,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 growing in
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 Elizabeth's
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 tummy.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 It's a
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 matter of
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 time before
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 the good
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 news of
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 God
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 will
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 fill.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 We have
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 just seen
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 how the
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 husband
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 responds.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 Let's
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 now look
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 at the
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 wife
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 Elizabeth.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 After
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 this,
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 his wife
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 Elizabeth
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 becomes
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 pregnant
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 and for
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 five months
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 remains in
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 seclusion.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 Why
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 Elizabeth
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 remains in
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 seclusion
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 for five
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 months?
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 It will
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 be because
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 she is
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 very cautious
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 and careful
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 about her
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 pregnancy.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 A general
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 rule for
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 a Chinese
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 couple is
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 not to
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 tell anyone
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 about any
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 pregnancy
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 up to
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 three months
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 until the
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 new life
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 is fully
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 formed and
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 settled within
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 the mom.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 But why
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 remains a
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 Christian
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 for five
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 months?
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 For
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 what she
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 said in
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 verse 25,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 she seems
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 to feel
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 her new
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 situation
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 like
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 Zechariah.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 The Lord
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 has done
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 this for
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 me.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 She seems
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 to be
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 focusing
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 on herself
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 and her
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 own
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 condition.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 Her
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 pregnancy
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 was great
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 news for
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 new life,
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 but too
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 good to be
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 true for
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 her old
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 age.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 In
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 these days,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 he has
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 shown his
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 favor.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 She is
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 also
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 concerned
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 about how
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 people
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 see her.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 She considers
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 herself as
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 a disgrace
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 and says,
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 God now
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 has taken
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 away my
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 disgrace
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 among the
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 people.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 Having a
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 new life
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 is a great
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 thing,
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 but she
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 was too
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 worried to
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 be seen
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 as someone
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 who had
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 been touched
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 by God.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 Every
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 encounter
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 with God
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 will result
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 in changes.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 The changes
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 are done
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 by God.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 like a
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 baby
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 growing
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 in a
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 woman's
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 tummy.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 But it's
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 so easy
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 to be
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 caught up
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 and worry
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 about what
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 is happening
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 and forget
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 that you
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 are part
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 of God's
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 great plan
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 of the
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 salvation
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 to this
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 world.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 Two
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 self-focused
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 persons,
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 one is
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 unbelieving,
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 another ashamed
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 of their
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 own condition,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 seen by
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 God as
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 righteous and
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 blameless
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 in their
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 obedience,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 because it
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 was what
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 God does
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 in and
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 through us
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 that make
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 us righteous
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 and blameless.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 God is
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 never wrong
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 and he
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 never makes
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 mistakes.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 That is a
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 truth we
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 should hold
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 on to,
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 even though
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 at times
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 we are like
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 Zechariah
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 and Elizabeth,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 not sure
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 about ourselves
00:16:00 --> 00:16:03 or God
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 sees us
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 differently
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 to how
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 we see
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 ourselves.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 When it's
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 time for
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 Elizabeth to
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 have her
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 baby,
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 she gave
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 birth to
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 a son.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 Her
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 neighbors
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 and relatives
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 heard that
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 the Lord
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 has shown
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 her great
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 mercy and
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 they shared
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 her joy.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 On the
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 eighth day,
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 they came
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 to circumcise
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 his crowd
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 and they
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 were going
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 to name
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 him after
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 his father
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 Zechariah.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 But his
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 mother spoke
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 up and said,
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 No,
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 he is to be
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 called John.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 They said
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 to her,
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 There is no
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 one among
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 your relative
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 who has
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 that name.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 She
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 overcome
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 her shame
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 and shared
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 her joy
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 with others
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 at the
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 birth.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 But most
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 importantly,
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 eight days
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 after the
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 birth,
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 she repeated
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 what the
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 angel Gabriel
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 said,
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 He is to be
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 called John.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 Means God
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 is gracious.
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 I can imagine
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 Zechariah not
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 able to speak,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 still has
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 gotten through
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 to her
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 about the
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 significance
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 and the
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 meaning of
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 the birth
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 of their
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 son and
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 the importance
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 of trust
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 and obedience
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 towards the
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 message of
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 God.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 She can only
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 rely on
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 Zechariah
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 signing God's
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 message to
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 her to be
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 encouraged and
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 God spoke to
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 her through
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 her muted
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 husband by
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 signs.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 Then they
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 make signs to
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 his father to
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 find out what
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 he would like
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 to name the
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 child.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 He asked
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 for a writing
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 tablet and to
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 everyone's
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 astonishment.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 He wrote,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 His name
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 is John.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 Immediately,
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 his mouth was
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 opened and
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 his tongue set
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 free and he
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 began to speak
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 and praise
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 God.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 Zechariah had
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 nine months
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 to face how
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 he used to
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 live his life
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 and to become
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 ready to
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 receive a new
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 life.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 God addressed
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 his unbelief,
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 his fear,
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 his self-reliance.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 A self-centered
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 priest,
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 a husband of
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 a barren wife,
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 become father
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 of the one
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 who bring back
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 many of people
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 to God and
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 go on before
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 the Lord to
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 make people
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 ready for
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 him.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 God's words
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 through the
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 angel did
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 come true at
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 that appointed
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 time.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 Eight days
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 after a son
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 was born to
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 them,
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 Zechariah wrote
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 on the
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 tablet,
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 his name
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 is John.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 He fulfilled
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 the proof
00:18:31 --> 00:18:35 that he
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 asked for.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 He became
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 the answer
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 to all his
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 questions about
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 whether God
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 can do the
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 impossible in
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 using him.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 All the
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 answers to
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 our questions
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 about God
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 is often
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 found in
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 the question
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 and the
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 questioner.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 His name
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 is John
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 means God
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 is gracious.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 It is
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 declared three
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 times in this
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 passage,
00:18:55 --> 00:19:01 God is
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 gracious to
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 Zechariah and
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Elizabeth by
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 doing the
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 impossible to
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 give them a
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 son at their
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 old age.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 God is
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 gracious to
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 this world
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 and his
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 people,
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 you and
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 me,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 by coming
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 into this
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 world to
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 deal with
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 the curse
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 that humans
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 brought on
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 themselves.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 Zechariah,
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 after following
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 God's instruction
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 to declare,
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 God is
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 gracious,
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 become a
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 prophet himself,
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 speaks of
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 God's great
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 works throughout
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 history to
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 raise up a
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 saviour for
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 us, to
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 enable us to
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 serve him
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 without fear
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 in holiness
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 and righteousness
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 before him.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 Zechariah
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 means God
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 remembers.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 We still
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 need Christmas
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 because it
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 tells us that
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 God remembers
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 us and
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 sees us
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 differently.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 God
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 enables us
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 us to
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 serve him
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 without
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 fear.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 God
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 remembers
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 his promise
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 to his
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 people that
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 is recorded
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 in the
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 Bible and
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 fulfilled in
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 the life of
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 Jesus.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 Learning and
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 remembering
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 God's
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 word,
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 holding to
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 his teaching,
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 you will
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 know the
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 truth and
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 be able to
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 see what
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 God sees
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 in you and
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 understand how
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 God do the
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 impossible in
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 your life
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 through Jesus.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 We still
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 need Christmas
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 to remind us
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 that we
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 treat God
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 like what
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 Zechariah
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 is with
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 did.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 Unbelieving,
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 self-focused
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 and ashamed,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 but God
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 never see us
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 in the same
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 way as how
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 we see
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 ourselves.
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 In Zechariah
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 2, verse 8,
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 it says that
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 the God,
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 our Father
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 in heaven,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 sees us
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 as the
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 apple of
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 his eyes.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 The apple
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 of his eyes
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 are very
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 dear and
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 close to
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 him.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:52 God's
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 word about
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 how he
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 is going
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 to save
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 us and
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 this world
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 did come
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 true at
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 the appointed
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 time at
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 the first
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 Christmas and
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 continue to
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 do so.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 Our
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 gracious God
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 did the
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 impossible by
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 turning disgrace
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 and shame
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 to joy.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 Gracious God
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 did the
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 impossible,
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 changing
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 unbelieving
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 heart to a
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 heart full of
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 praise.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 Towards the end
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 of chapter 1
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 of Luke,
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 joy and
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 praise is a
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 life that God
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 intends for us
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 to live,
00:21:26 --> 00:21:29 not unbelieving
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 and ashamed
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 of ourselves.
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 So praise
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 be to the
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 Lord, the
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 God of
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 Israel,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 because he
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 has come to
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 his people
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 and redeemed
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 them.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 He has
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 raised up a
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 strong king
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 of salvation
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 for us in
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 the house of
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 his servant
00:21:43 --> 00:21:45 David, as
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 he said
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 through his
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 holy prophets
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 of long
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 ago.