Song of Salvation
Series: Songs of Hope
Speaker: John Lau
Date: 19th December 2020
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 2020 has been an unusual year,
00:00:04 --> 00:00:08 but a good year for us to learn Agile as a church.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 We had just experienced some easing of restriction
00:00:12 --> 00:00:17 still due to another outbreak of COVID-19 in the Northern Beaches.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 We are moving back to online gathering this morning.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 Another good thing out of such a strange year
00:00:24 --> 00:00:29 would be fewer people would have lost their voice
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 because we cannot meet together.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:33 I remember when I was much younger,
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 I would meet up with friends over the weekend
00:00:36 --> 00:00:40 and we would go karaoke to sing at the top of our voice
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 and drink for the whole night till dawn.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:47 On Monday morning, we are often very quiet
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 because we have lost our voice.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 We would gradually get our voice back over the week,
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 but we lose it again in the weekend.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 We are terrible at saving our voice,
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 let alone saving ourselves.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 We can lose our voice over sininess,
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 and we can lose it due to sickness.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:12 It can also happen to us due to some exceptional reason.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 In our passage today, we meet Zechariah,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 who lost his voice for about 10 months.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:24 And it was because God has something special planned.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 Imagine what would daily life be
00:01:28 --> 00:01:32 and relationship between Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 be like during the 10 months of pregnancy.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 They have been married for a long time
00:01:38 --> 00:01:42 and would have gotten used to communicating with each other.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 And now they have found a new way to communicate.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:51 We see Zechariah at the point of him getting his voice back after 10 months.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 He was unable to speak in silence.
00:01:56 --> 00:02:00 It is a time also where God starts to speak to his people again
00:02:00 --> 00:02:04 after being in silence for more than 400 years,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:09 since he has last spoken through the couple of minor prophets,
00:02:09 --> 00:02:10 including Malachi,
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 towards the end of the Old Testament.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 God broke his silence through the angel Gabriel,
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 as Eve has shared with us.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 He spoke to Zechariah and Mary
00:02:23 --> 00:02:27 to foretell the birth of two significant people,
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 John the Baptist and Jesus.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:36 We are at the point of significant changes in human history.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 The birth of John the Baptist and Jesus
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 also means significant changes
00:02:42 --> 00:02:47 to whoever will believe in the message they bring and in Jesus.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 I want to give voice to three changes
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 to highlight them from today's passage.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 Change from fear to anticipation.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:01 From loss in sin to serving him.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 And from darkness to light.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 God broke his silence through the angel Gabriel
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 to tell Zechariah that he and his wife
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 will have a son while in their old age.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 And Zechariah won a sign
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 as proved that it will happen,
00:03:19 --> 00:03:20 as the angel Gabriel said.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 So he was silent
00:03:23 --> 00:03:24 and not be able to speak
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 until the pregnancy is fulfilled,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 until the prophecy is fulfilled.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 This questioning of God's power and instruction
00:03:33 --> 00:03:37 is typical of humans all through the ages.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 After God created the first couple of humans,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 Adam and Eve,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 they were presented with a question,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46 did God really say?
00:03:46 --> 00:03:50 They were tempted and encouraged
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 to question what God has said.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 And they failed to uphold God's word
00:03:55 --> 00:03:59 and other things that did not come from God's mouth
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 and end up doing what God asked them not to do.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 The result was when they heard the sound of God,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 they hide from God.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 They were afraid and ashamed to see God.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 People become fearful of God
00:04:14 --> 00:04:18 because they know they have not obeyed God's word
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 and have broken their relationship with God.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:23 And it is impossible for anyone
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 to fully obey God from that point onward,
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 except Jesus, the Son of God.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 The whole Bible is about
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 how God worked on keeping his relationship
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 with his people
00:04:36 --> 00:04:40 and how people keep turning their back on God.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 Instead of treachering their relationship with God,
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 they treasure each other people
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 or things more than their creator.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 Things such as traditions,
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 reputations, fame and fortunes.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 Instead of carefully listening to
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 and following his words,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 they put words in God's mouth
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 and follow a God of their own imagination.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 God is the one who speaks to his people,
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 who lay out everything to his people
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 to ensure that they have a working relationship with him.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 But we are the one
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 that keeps doing things our way
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 and breaking that relationship.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 We try to silence God
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 and we refuse to listen.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 God gave his people the silent treatment
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 because they did not believe
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 or obey God's words and prophecy.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 They even questioned God's love for them.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 They questioned in Malachi 1-2,
00:05:42 --> 00:05:42 after God said,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 I have loved you,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 they asked,
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 how have you loved us?
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 Humans do not honor or respect God.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 The whole Bible shows us
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 how people are going back and forth with God
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 in their questioning.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 And that questioning still happens today.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 When we hold disrespect
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 and disregard towards someone,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 it will not be easy
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 to build a relationship.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 What is often left
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 would be fear and contempt.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 Especially when we deliberately disobey
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 someone or twist their words
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 or misrepresent them.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:28 Whatever relationship
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 we think that we share
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 would be very shallow
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 and superficial.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 So how is your relationship
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 with God and others?
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 Luke 1-6 told us that
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 Zechariah and his wife
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 had a good relationship with God.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 Both of them were righteous
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 in the sight of God,
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 observing all the laws,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 commands, and decrees blamelessly.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 God had so mercy
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 towards Zechariah and Elizabeth
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 by granting them a son
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 at their old age.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 And they seemed to have
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 a good relationship
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 with their neighbors
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 and relatives as well
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 because they came to share
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 the joy in the birth of their son.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 However,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 1st 12 still tells us
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 that even Zechariah,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 righteous in God's eyes,
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 was gripped with fear
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 when the angel appeared to him.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:26 We should maintain a sense of fear
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 and respect towards God,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 our Creator.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 Our healthy kind of fear
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 and respect
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 will stop us from being contempt
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 and becoming a fool.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 Prophet 1-9 says,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 The fear of the Lord
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 is the beginning of knowledge,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 but fools despise wisdom
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 and instructions.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 A healthy kind of fear
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 will help us to listen up
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 with attention to details.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 It will not paralyze us,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 but help us to do the right things.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 The right kind of fear
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 is enabling,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 is attentive.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 Zechariah was kept
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 from speaking for 10 months,
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 but he made sure
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 Elizabeth got the instruction
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 of the angel
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 regarding what name
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 to call their son.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:17 He made sure
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 history did not repeat itself,
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 that his wife upheld
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 God's instruction
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 and did not add anything
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 to it like Eve.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 As both Elizabeth and Zechariah
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 confirmed their son's name
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 in his John,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 Luke says in verse 64,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 immediately his mouth was opened
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 and his son set free.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 He began to speak,
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 praising God.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 All the neighbors
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 were filled with oil.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 And throughout the hill country
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 of Judea,
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 people were talking
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 about all these things.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 Everyone who heard
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 his wonders about it,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 asking,
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 What then is this child
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 going to be?
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 For the Lord's hands
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 was with him.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 Can you imagine
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 what kinds of anticipation
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 Zechariah and Elizabeth
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 have been through
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 up to this point?
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 They did not have
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 any outro sound back then,
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 even though they may be able
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 to tell from different signs,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 such as the shape
00:09:20 --> 00:09:20 of the belly,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 whether the baby
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 is a boy or a girl.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 Was it run for girls
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 and pointed for boys,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 or terrible morning sickness
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 in the first three months
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 for boys
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 or the other way around?
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 I have to ask my mom.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 They would not know
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 that firstborn
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 is a son or not
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 until he was born.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 But when he was born,
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 great anticipation
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 awaits them.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 And the neighbors
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 and the relatives
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 share their anticipation.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 The anticipation
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 of what is to come,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 what is this child
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 is going to be.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:57 More so,
00:09:58 --> 00:09:58 the anticipation
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 of what God will do
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 with humanity
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 through Jesus our Lord.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 We'll move from fear
00:10:06 --> 00:10:09 and an uncertain relationship
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 to a great anticipation
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 of what he will do
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 with our life.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 The key to that change
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 is our Lord Jesus.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 His arrival
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 repairs our relationship
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 with God.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 He placed his Holy Spirit
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 in those who believe in him
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 to help us
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 to turn and obey
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 the command of God
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 so that we can change
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 from fear
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 to anticipation.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 And we will also change
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 from loss in sin
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 to serving him.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 At the birth of his son,
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 when Zechariah
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 holds firm
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 to the instruction of God
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 by naming him John,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 God broke his ten months
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 silence.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:54 And Zechariah
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 was filled
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 with the Holy Spirit
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 and unable to speak again.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 He prays and prophesies
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 from verse 68.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 Praise be to the Lord,
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 the God of Israel,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 because he has come
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 to his people
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 and redeemed them.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 He has raised up
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 a horn of salvation
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 for us
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 in the house
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 of his servant David,
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 as he said
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 through his holy prophets
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 of long ago.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 Salvation
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 from our enemies
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 and from the hands
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 of all who hate us.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 God is no longer silent.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 He has spoken
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 and he deserves
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 all our praises
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 because he has come
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 to his people
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 to redeem them.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 A horn
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 can also mean
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 a strong king.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 So he has raised
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 a strong king
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 to save his people
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 from their enemies.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 The greatest enemies
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 of humans
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 are sin
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 because it breaks
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 our relationship
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 with God.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 However,
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 with the birth
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 of Jesus,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 our Lord and Savior,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 our enemies
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 have been dealt with,
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 we can get back
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 to a great relationship
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 with God.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 As I have indicated before,
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 God's plans
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 of salvation
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 was foretold
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 in the whole Bible,
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 spoke through
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 his holy prophets
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 all through the ages
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 from long ago.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 We need to be safe
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 because of our
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 broken relationship
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 with God.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 We need God
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 to come
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 and save us
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 because we are
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 bad at saving ourselves.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 We cannot save ourselves.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 And like Adam
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 and Eve,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 after realizing
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 what they have done,
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 we are running away
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 and hiding
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 from God
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 instead of running
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 towards him.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 How do I know that?
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 Because we still
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 try to hide
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 from the sound
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 of God.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 We tend to spend
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 lesser and lesser
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 time
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 to read the Bible,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 to let God
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 speak to us.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 we are letting
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 other people
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 or things
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 to be our
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 small letter G,
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 God,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 instead of making
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 sure God,
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 the creator of the world,
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 is truly the ruler
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 of our life.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 We spend
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 less and less time
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 into reading
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 God's word,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 but more and more time
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 in social media,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 checking out
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 the latest posts.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 We spend
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 less and less time
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 in praying to God,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 but more and more time
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 in replying emails
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 or checking out
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 the latest Netflix.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 Do you really need
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 your Netflix account?
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 For some who read
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 the Bible
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 and pray,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 it was more
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 to cock in
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 and tick the box
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 that we have done so,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 to make us feel
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 at ease
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 with ourselves.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 But there's no growth
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 in our relationship
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 with God.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 How do I know
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 that
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 some of us
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 still lost
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 because
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 we cannot
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 confidently
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 cry out,
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 come,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 Lord Jesus,
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 come.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 We worry about
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 how God
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 looked at us.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 Our eyes
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 still fix on
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 what we have
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 or have not done.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 And we serve
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 God
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 out of fear
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 or to earn
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 God's favour
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 and the
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 acknowledgement
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 of others
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 instead of
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 serving out
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 of gratitude
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 of our hearts.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 But God
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 had come
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 to change
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 all that.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 He comes
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 to save us.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 He has come
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 to us
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 to remove
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 our fear
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 by doing
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 with the
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 roots
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 of the
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 problem,
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 our sins.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 He has
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 overcome
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 our enemies
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 and set
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 us free
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 for a purpose.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 Verse 72
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 say,
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 He come
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 to show
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 mercy
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 to our
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 ancestors
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 and to
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 remember
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 his holy
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 covenant,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 to rescue
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 us from
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 the hands
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 of our
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 enemies
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 and to
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 enable us
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 to serve
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 him without
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 fear,
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 in holiness
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 and righteousness
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 before him
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 all our
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 days.
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 we are
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 saved
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 to serve
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 him,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 to become
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 God's
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 full oneness
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 like
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 Zechariah's
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 son John
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 the Baptist.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 It reads
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 on from
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 verse 76,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 6,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 and you,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 my child,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 will be
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 called a
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 prophet of
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 the Most
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 High,
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 for you
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 will go
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 on before
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 the Lord
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 to prepare
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 the way
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 for him,
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 to give
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 his people
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 the knowledge
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 of salvation
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 through the
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 forgiveness
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 of their
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 sins.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 We are
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 called to
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 give God's
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 people the
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 knowledge of
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 salvation
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 through the
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 forgiveness
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 of their
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 sins.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 What do
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 you know
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 about how
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 people are
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 saved?
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 How are
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 our sins
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 being forgiven
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 by God?
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 How does
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 someone get
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 right with
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 God?
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 The answer
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 to these
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 questions are
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 the most
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 fundamental
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 for any
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 Christian.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 Peter
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 urges
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 in his
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 letter in
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 1 Peter 3,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 13-15,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 who is
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 going to
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 harm you
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 if you
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 are eager
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 to do
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 good?
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 But even
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 if you
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 should suffer
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 for what
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 is right,
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 you are
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 blessed.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 Do not
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 fear what
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 they fear.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 Do not
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 be frightened.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 But in
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 your hearts,
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 reference
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 Christ as
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 Lord.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 Always be
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 prepared to
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 give an
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 answer to
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 everyone who
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 asks you to
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 give the
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 reason for
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 the hope
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 that you
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 have.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 But do
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 this with
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 gentleness
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 and respect.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 We are
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 saved to
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 serve by
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 telling others
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 about the
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 great salvation
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 that awaits
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 them.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 We are
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 saved to
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 serve by
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 answering
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 questions about
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 our hope.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 If you are
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 not sure how
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 to do it,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 please speak
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 up.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 Don't remain
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 silent and
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 treat God
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 with contempt.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 Stop living
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 in fear,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 but instead
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 live in
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 anticipation of
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 the great
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 things God
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 will do in
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 your life.
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 Cling to
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 Jesus.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 Look into
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 his word.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 Speak to
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 him in
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 prayer,
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 so your
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 sin will
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 be removed
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 and you
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 will be
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 safe and
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 free to
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 serve him.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 Speaking up
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 is very
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 important.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 Imagine
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 Elizabeth did
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 not speak up
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 about the
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 name of
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 their child.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 The relative
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 and neighbors
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 would not
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 have asked
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 Zechariah to
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 confirm the
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 name, and
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 he would
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 not have the
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 chance to
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 demonstrate
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 his determination
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 to obey
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 God's
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 instruction
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 fully.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 What
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 Zechariah and
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 Elizabeth
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 were instructed
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 to do
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 was groundbreaking
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 and
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 atonish
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 everyone there,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 because what
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 they were
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 doing was
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 breaking with
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 tradition.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 Instead of
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 following the
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 tradition to
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 call their
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 son Zechariah,
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 which means
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 God remembers,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 their son's
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 name is
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 John, which
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 means God
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 is gracious
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 and merciful.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 Holding on
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 to tradition
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 could be one
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 of the signs
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 of someone
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 living in
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 darkness
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 instead of
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 the light.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 Instead of
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 being guided
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 by God
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 to live a
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 daily renewed
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 life,
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 they remain
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 in the
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 dark by
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 thinking that
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 they are
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 okay because
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 of their
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 tradition.
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 Because they
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 have done
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 religious deeds
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 or because
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 my family
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 has always
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 been Christian.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 It's like
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 saying,
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 God has
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 been quiet
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 for 400
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 years now.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 We are
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 used to
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 the silence.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 God broke
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 the tradition
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 with John
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 the Baptist.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 He is
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 appointed
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 from birth
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 to speak
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 up for
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 God,
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 to bring
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 light into
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 darkness
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 of this
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 world.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 And you,
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 my child,
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 will be
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 called
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 prophet
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 of the
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 Most
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 High.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 For you
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 will go
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 on before
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 the Lord
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 to prepare
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 the way
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 for him,
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 to give
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 his people
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 the knowledge
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 of salvation
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 through the
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 forgiveness
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 of their
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 sins.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 Because the
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 tender mercy
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 of our
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 God,
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 by which
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 the rising
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 sun will
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 come to
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 us from
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 heaven,
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 to shine
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 on those
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 living in
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 darkness
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 and in
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 the shadow
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 of death,
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 to guide
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 our feet
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 into the
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 path of
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 peace.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:25 the
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 rising
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 sun
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 has
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 come
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 to us
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 from
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 heaven
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 to shine
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 on those
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 living in
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 darkness
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 and in
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 the shadow
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 of death,
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 to guide
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 our feet
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 into the
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 path of
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 peace.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 The
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 rising
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 sun
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 is referring
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 to Jesus,
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 who is
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 soon to be
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 born at
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 this point.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 The birth
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 of Jesus
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 offers
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 transformation
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 to those
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 lost
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 people who
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 are living
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 in
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 darkness,
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 meaninglessly
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 porting
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 through life
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 to a
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 life with
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 abundance.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 One of
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 the ways
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 we know
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 people are
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 living in
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 darkness
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 is when
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 we value
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 tradition
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 and
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 convenience
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 more than
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 God's
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 instruction
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 and
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 commands.
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 When we
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 hold the
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 way we
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 used to
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 do certain
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 things
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 with greater
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 significance
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 than
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 obedience
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 towards
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 God's
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 instruction
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 through
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 his
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 appointed
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 messenger.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 it's at
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 the time
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 that we
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 step away
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 from
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 light
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 and
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 step
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 into
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 darkness
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 if we
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 value
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 tradition
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 and
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 convenience.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 To deal
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 with COVID-19,
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 we need to
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 go online
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 to keep
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 each other
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 safe.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 We need
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 to be
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 agile
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 and follow
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 the health
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 advice and
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 guidelines
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 of our
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 government
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 and our
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 diocese.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 We are
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 having church
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 online
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 only today.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 it's a
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 testimony
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 of how
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 hard we
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 have
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 worked
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 in keeping
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 each other
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 safe
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 at St.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 Paul's.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 So,
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 when it's
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 safe for
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 us to
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 meet face
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 to face
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 again,
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 what will
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 be your
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 anticipation?
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 It's,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 of course,
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 more convenient
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 to stay at
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 home to
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 watch a live
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 streaming of
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 church.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 Some of
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 us will
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 have to
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 continue
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 meeting with
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 us online
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 because of
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 health
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 reasons.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 But will
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 you be
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 choosing to
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 stay home
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 and not
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 coming to
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 church together
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 face to
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 face because
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 you cannot
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 have your
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 usual cup
00:21:27 --> 00:21:29 of tea or
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 have to
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 wear a
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 mask to
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 sing?
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 It's your
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 usual way of
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 doing things
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 stopping you
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 from obeying
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 God together
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 together to
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 worship him.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:42 one of the
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 ways for us
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 to get from
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 darkness to
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 light is to
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 speak up about
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 things.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 Things that are
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 not right
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 according to
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 God.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 To confess
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 the wrong
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 doings,
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 the sins in
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 our life
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 and repent.
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 Repentance
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 means turning.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 Turning from
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 your tradition
00:22:03 --> 00:22:05 and look back
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 to God's
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 words and
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 instruction.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 Turning
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 from being
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 a consumer
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 to live
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 a life of
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 a disciple,
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 a follower
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 of Jesus.
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 Turn to
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 pursue
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 discipleship.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 When Paul
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 speaks up
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 about his
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 life and
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 the works
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 of God
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 at the
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 end of
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 Acts in
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 chapter 26
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 verse 20
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 he said,
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 first to
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 those in
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 Damascus,
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 then to
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 those in
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 Jerusalem
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 and all
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 Judea,
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 and then to
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 the Gentiles
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 preach that
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 they should
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 repent and
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 turn to
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 God and
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 demonstrate
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 their repentance
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 by their
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 deeds.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 To change
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 from darkness
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 to light,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 we need to
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 acknowledge our
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 sin and
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 repent.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 True repentance
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 is not done
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 in the dark.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 It's
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 demonstrable.
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 It's not
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 saying sorry
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 and keep
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 going without
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 any changes.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 Jesus
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 offers
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 transformation
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 from living
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 sinful,
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 unholy
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 life to
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 lives of
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 righteousness.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 The birth
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 of Jesus
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 is much
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 more than
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 giving us
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 a reason
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 to get
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 together,
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 to eat
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 food and
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 exchange
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 gifts.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 The birth
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 of Jesus
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 is a
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 reminder
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 of the
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 monumental
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 changes
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 that God
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 is bringing
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 into all
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 of us,
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 which
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 begins in
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 salvation.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 God
00:23:33 --> 00:23:36 saves us
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 from a
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 life of
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 meaninglessness
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 to be
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 his servants.
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 How is
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 your
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 relationship
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 with God
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 and others?
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 Jesus
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 comes to
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 change out
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 your life.
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 What
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 changes and
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 growth have
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 you got to
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 show that
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 Jesus is in
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 your life?
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 What
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 anticipation
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 do you
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 hold?
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 What
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 service
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 have you
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 offered
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 to God?
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 Is a
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 life full
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 of light
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 as bright
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 as a
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 new dawn
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 sun?
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 It will
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 if you
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 stop hiding
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 and run
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 towards the
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 light.
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 Let the
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 Son of
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 God,
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 Jesus,
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 take hold
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 of your
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 life today
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 and let's
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 walk on
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 the path
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 of peace
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 that God
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 offers us
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 all.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 Amen.