1 00:00:02,500 --> 00:00:09,400 Gospel According to Luke. Meet me there in the first 2 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,400 chapter. Of Luke. 3 00:00:20,900 --> 00:00:23,600 And Lord, as we come now before your word. 4 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:30,900 You know, the hearts of every man, and woman in this place. 5 00:00:32,900 --> 00:00:34,600 And Lord, we need a touch from you. 6 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:40,500 Because we are prone to fall into routine. 7 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:43,500 Especially this time of the year. 8 00:00:43,500 --> 00:00:47,200 We pray that you would rescue us from familiarity and that you 9 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,400 would Lord. Give us fresh eyes to see the 10 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:52,500 beauty of the birth of our savior. 11 00:00:54,100 --> 00:00:56,100 And what with this particular message though may not be 12 00:00:56,100 --> 00:00:59,700 traditional, we ask that it would nonetheless bless and that 13 00:00:59,700 --> 00:01:02,000 it would awaken our hearts. It would bring Faith. 14 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,900 Hope joy into every life who would receive it by faith. 15 00:01:08,100 --> 00:01:12,000 And so upon the delivery of this word, would you grant a Grace 16 00:01:12,700 --> 00:01:15,600 and Upon Our Hearts? Would you give us an openness to 17 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,700 receive an attentiveness that would honor you? 18 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,800 We look to you now in these days, especially Lord, we look 19 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:30,300 to you with great expectation and longing for your return and 20 00:01:30,300 --> 00:01:32,500 Jesus name we pray. Amen. 21 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,100 Amen. As you know this is the time of 22 00:01:35,107 --> 00:01:37,300 the year. When Christians generally 23 00:01:38,100 --> 00:01:40,900 rehearse the truths around the Glorious and marvelous 24 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:49,700 miraculous birth of the Messiah. And As we look to that with that 25 00:01:49,700 --> 00:01:54,500 theme in most of our minds, I would like for us to highlight, 26 00:01:54,500 --> 00:01:57,800 some precious insights from the word of God that are found 27 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,900 leading up to that Monumental event. 28 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,000 Our time together is going to be different. 29 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,700 This this afternoon it's not going to be traditional, it's 30 00:02:06,700 --> 00:02:08,900 not going to be. That kind of familiar approach 31 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,600 with the familiar message that we are prone to receiving. 32 00:02:13,500 --> 00:02:18,000 instead, I want us to look at The person work of the Holy 33 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,300 Spirit. The person and work of the Holy 34 00:02:21,300 --> 00:02:25,800 Spirit apart, from the obvious participation that he had in the 35 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,800 Incarnation of the Son of God, I think for many Believers, the 36 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,800 perception of the holy spirit's involvement around the events of 37 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:39,100 the entrance of Christ into the world is pretty narrow, but my 38 00:02:39,100 --> 00:02:42,400 prayer is that as you and I come to this text that our vision 39 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,300 would expand. And that our understanding of 40 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:50,800 just how present he was when it comes to the Arrival of Christ 41 00:02:51,300 --> 00:02:53,000 would be something glorious to us. 42 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,000 Would be something that we would be moved by and this is going to 43 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:00,500 be a very practical message. It's not going to be any 44 00:03:00,500 --> 00:03:03,200 theological, but it's not going to just be commentary about who 45 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,200 the holy spirit is and and what purpose he played in this 46 00:03:07,300 --> 00:03:10,100 occasion. I want to speak directly to your 47 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:13,100 hearts. I want your minds to be 48 00:03:13,100 --> 00:03:16,000 illuminated to realize what is possible. 49 00:03:16,700 --> 00:03:20,100 When the person of the holy spirit is invited into your 50 00:03:20,100 --> 00:03:25,000 life, to make the investment that he is able to make, if you 51 00:03:25,008 --> 00:03:29,200 would just believe it, if you would just trust in it and trust 52 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:34,000 in him and this goal will be accomplished as you and I turn 53 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:38,800 our attention to a very special family that played an integral 54 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:42,800 part in the occasion of Christ's arrival. 55 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,600 And that's in Luke 1. In Luke 1, we read of a couple 56 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:52,800 named Zechariah and Elizabeth and we were given a description 57 00:03:53,100 --> 00:03:56,500 as we are debuting in this gospel account. 58 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:58,700 They were both from the tribes of Levi. 59 00:03:59,300 --> 00:04:03,200 They were righteous before God and they kept all the 60 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,400 Commandments and statutes of the Lord. 61 00:04:05,900 --> 00:04:09,200 They were people who loved God. They were people who honored the 62 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,000 word of God. There are people who wanted to 63 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,600 please God. In addition to that we learn 64 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,500 about this couple All that Elizabeth was Barren, they had 65 00:04:18,500 --> 00:04:20,899 no children and she could not have children. 66 00:04:21,399 --> 00:04:25,200 And to add to that sorrow, they were advanced in years. 67 00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:30,100 But on a day, a special day for Zacharias, a priest would enter 68 00:04:30,100 --> 00:04:33,100 into the temple. Something unusual happens, the 69 00:04:33,100 --> 00:04:36,700 angel Gabriel appears, he visits Zechariah. 70 00:04:36,700 --> 00:04:41,700 And he informs this man, that he would have a son that his wife 71 00:04:41,700 --> 00:04:46,700 would indeed conceive. And the conception of this child 72 00:04:46,700 --> 00:04:49,600 would be a miracle in itself. But more than that, the angel 73 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,700 reveals that this child is going to play a special role in 74 00:04:53,700 --> 00:04:59,000 preparing a people for the Lord. He was fulfilled prophecy. 75 00:04:59,100 --> 00:05:03,100 He would be the Forerunner for the Messiah, and Zechariah is 76 00:05:03,100 --> 00:05:06,500 absolutely stunned. Before, even considering the 77 00:05:06,500 --> 00:05:10,300 role that his son would play. He can't even fathom how his 78 00:05:10,300 --> 00:05:14,500 wife could even conceive. And so he does act in unbelief 79 00:05:14,500 --> 00:05:16,300 and we'll get to that in a moment. 80 00:05:16,700 --> 00:05:20,000 But is clear just from that brief biography, that this 81 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:24,400 family was special and they played a very special role in 82 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,400 this narrative. This important chapter in 83 00:05:27,500 --> 00:05:31,100 Redemptive history. And so much can be said about 84 00:05:31,100 --> 00:05:34,500 this family. But what I want to highlight to 85 00:05:34,500 --> 00:05:38,800 you, this afternoon is the partnership of the Holy Spirit 86 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,600 or the role of the Holy Spirit, the activity of the holy spirit 87 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:46,800 in each of their lives, with each member of this family, I 88 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:50,100 want you to see how the Holy Spirit Works in them. 89 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,100 And then from there you and I are going to be able to just 90 00:05:53,100 --> 00:05:57,200 glean some truths that I pray with all my heart would really 91 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:01,800 move your soul this afternoon. And so look briefly with me at 92 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:08,500 Luke 1, 14 to 15. And we read as the angel speaks 93 00:06:08,500 --> 00:06:11,700 this message from Heaven to Zechariah and you will have joy 94 00:06:11,700 --> 00:06:15,800 and gladness and many Will Rejoice at his birth. 95 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:17,800 This is John, the Baptist is not Jesus. 96 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:22,400 We're speaking of here in verse 15 for he will be great before 97 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,400 the Lord pause there. If you're going to be achieving 98 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,700 any greatest, be great before, God, don't be great before, men 99 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:33,600 be great before the Lord, he will be great before the Lord 100 00:06:33,900 --> 00:06:38,600 and He must not drink wine, or strong drink, and he will be 101 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:44,900 filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb 102 00:06:45,700 --> 00:06:50,800 highlight that he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 103 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,500 Now, scroll down in your Bibles to Luke 141. 104 00:06:55,000 --> 00:07:00,400 And what do we read? And when Elizabeth heard the 105 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:07,000 greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth 106 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:12,800 was filled with the Holy Spirit. Interesting. 107 00:07:14,500 --> 00:07:17,100 Only gets more interesting as you come to the same chapter and 108 00:07:17,100 --> 00:07:19,900 verse 67. And what do you see? 109 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:28,800 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and 110 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:35,100 prophesied saying, Three times in close proximity to one. 111 00:07:35,100 --> 00:07:39,700 Another Luke was led by the spirit of God to tell us how 112 00:07:39,700 --> 00:07:45,300 Zechariah Elizabeth and their son, John were filled with the 113 00:07:45,300 --> 00:07:49,800 Holy Spirit at different times. Now you may be wondering why 114 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,500 this is important especially in connection to the theme of 115 00:07:53,500 --> 00:07:55,600 Christmas and I'll tell you why it's important. 116 00:07:55,600 --> 00:08:00,900 Because one important reason is the fact that the empowerment of 117 00:08:00,900 --> 00:08:06,100 the Holy Spirit and his work in the human life because of the 118 00:08:06,100 --> 00:08:09,000 work of Jesus Christ on the cross that was dependent upon 119 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:14,500 his Incarnation is available. Now, not just the Kings, not 120 00:08:14,500 --> 00:08:18,900 just to priests not just to some profits and not just to some 121 00:08:18,900 --> 00:08:25,200 special households he would be made available to everyone and 122 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:29,700 anyone who would believe on the Son of God, the prophet Joel 123 00:08:29,700 --> 00:08:33,200 spoke of a day that there. Would be an unusual outpouring 124 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:36,500 of the Holy Spirit and the objects of the reception of the 125 00:08:36,508 --> 00:08:39,100 Holy Spirit would be sons and daughters. 126 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:44,500 Young and old male and female servants. 127 00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:48,000 They would all know a touch from the holy spirit. 128 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,700 That would Empower them in a way that was only limited to a 129 00:08:51,700 --> 00:08:56,800 select few throughout history. And so, as much as what we're 130 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:00,800 going to see today is unique to this family and that there are 131 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:04,300 some realities that are not to be necessarily repeated. 132 00:09:05,300 --> 00:09:09,800 The application of the presence of God being with us still 133 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:13,600 applies. Today it still applies today. 134 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,500 And so when you and I look at what's happening here with this 135 00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:20,100 family and how the holy spirit is working in and through them, 136 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:24,600 I want your hearts to believe, I want your hearts to see that the 137 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:28,400 same Holy Spirit who is not merely a force whose not merely 138 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:33,100 the extension of God's power. Who is a person himself can be 139 00:09:33,100 --> 00:09:36,400 known in your life in a very special way in a way that is 140 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,600 only made possible because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 141 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,100 And the way we're going to do this is simply looking at a few 142 00:09:43,100 --> 00:09:46,000 thoughts, very simple, very straightforward, but they're 143 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:49,200 going to be anchored in what we just read those three verses. 144 00:09:50,300 --> 00:09:53,800 And the first thing that I want to say to you today as you hear 145 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:58,400 these truths, is that everything that you hear mention today is 146 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,600 only possible because of Christ. And that is certainly true for 147 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,600 this first point from what you just heard, I want to declare to 148 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:05,900 you with all the authority that I have. 149 00:10:05,900 --> 00:10:10,300 In Jesus name that God, the Holy Spirit desires to fill our 150 00:10:10,300 --> 00:10:14,600 families. God, the Holy Spirit desires to 151 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,000 fill our families. It is not an unusual thing, to 152 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,800 reading your Bibles, at the Holy Spirit fills, someone or filled 153 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:25,800 someone it's throughout the Bible, but what is very special 154 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:29,300 about the verses that I just read to you is that unless you 155 00:10:29,300 --> 00:10:32,800 know of a different place in scripture, this is the only 156 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:36,800 place in all of the Bible where God the Holy Spirit explicitly 157 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:41,200 tells us that every member of One household was filled with 158 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,200 the Holy Spirit. You. 159 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:48,300 And I even use this vocabulary and we are familiar. 160 00:10:48,300 --> 00:10:52,900 With the idea of Spirit-filled people, that man is filled with 161 00:10:52,900 --> 00:10:55,400 the holy spirit. That woman is filled with the 162 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,900 Holy Spirit and beyond that, we are comfortable and we are 163 00:10:58,900 --> 00:11:04,700 familiar with saying that that is a Spirit-filled church with a 164 00:11:04,700 --> 00:11:07,500 Spirit-filled leadership in a Spirit-filled people. 165 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:10,600 But you know, what's very uncommon, at least to me is 166 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,800 hearing about Spirit-filled families. 167 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:20,500 Spirit-filled families households, where the members 168 00:11:20,900 --> 00:11:25,100 have the Holy Spirit working in and through their marriage, the 169 00:11:25,100 --> 00:11:29,200 siblings and the Dynamics of the household all together. 170 00:11:30,500 --> 00:11:33,500 And although again, we see that this is a unique description of 171 00:11:33,500 --> 00:11:37,700 a household. The reality of it is not 172 00:11:37,700 --> 00:11:41,200 supposed to be unique. You see what the Holy Spirit has 173 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:46,300 done here in Zechariah who was a husband, and then a father and 174 00:11:46,300 --> 00:11:52,400 an Elizabeth who was a wife, and then a mother, and even in John, 175 00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:55,600 who was their son? And who had Parents, what he did 176 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,200 in them. He wants to do in US. 177 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,300 He wants to do in every single family in the church. 178 00:12:01,300 --> 00:12:05,700 Today, he Longs for it, he desires it and we should desire 179 00:12:05,700 --> 00:12:08,300 it just the same. And I think that is a very 180 00:12:08,300 --> 00:12:12,000 important message during this time of the year because apart 181 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,300 from focusing and rehearsing the truth about Jesus, this is very 182 00:12:16,300 --> 00:12:20,400 much a time that we enjoy family that we think about family and 183 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:23,500 for some of you in this place, that is a great thought. 184 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,300 Families associated with joy, with blessing, with healing, 185 00:12:27,300 --> 00:12:32,300 with, with, with heartfelt, safety and encouragement. 186 00:12:33,300 --> 00:12:36,500 And four, others family is synonymous with trouble. 187 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:44,100 It's painful, there's trauma as Brokenness and this time of the 188 00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:47,500 year is not to be looked after with great excitement, it's to 189 00:12:47,508 --> 00:12:50,900 be dreaded. And I want to tell you that if 190 00:12:50,900 --> 00:12:55,100 you are part of a fractured family, all of us are in perfect 191 00:12:55,100 --> 00:12:56,300 here. All of us have challenge. 192 00:12:56,300 --> 00:12:59,800 I'm talking about severely, fractured families, know that, 193 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,100 that is not God's design. That is not God's design. 194 00:13:03,100 --> 00:13:09,100 Nor is it, his will God desires to make a mark on each household 195 00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:13,300 with the promised Holy Spirit. And if you want belief for that, 196 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:18,100 then understand that, so much is built upon that foundation of 197 00:13:18,100 --> 00:13:20,800 the activity of the Holy Spirit In Our Lives. 198 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,600 When we think about that, famous passage in Ephesians 5, right? 199 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,500 22 down to verse 33, about how husbands and wives should relate 200 00:13:28,500 --> 00:13:31,300 to one another and serve one, another and love one another and 201 00:13:31,300 --> 00:13:33,100 respect. One another, and how those 202 00:13:33,100 --> 00:13:37,100 instructions for the household bleeds into Ephesians 6, where 203 00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:40,200 you have Now instructions for children, how they should obey 204 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,800 and honor their father and mother and how the father should 205 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:44,400 not provoke their children to wrath. 206 00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:47,400 We look at those instructions as though we're supposed to do it 207 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,200 in our own might and strength and wisdom as though it is 208 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,400 separated from the grand context of Ephesians. 209 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,200 What people don't realize when they jump over that at their 210 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,900 weddings and they put it on their little paintings at their 211 00:13:58,900 --> 00:14:02,400 homes, or they go over those truths and Judge counseling or 212 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:04,200 in family, what they don't realize. 213 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,400 I believe most of the time is that all of those truths are 214 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:11,300 built upon Ephesians 5:18 and what's Ephesians? 215 00:14:11,300 --> 00:14:15,400 5:18, you know it very well do not get drunk with wine. 216 00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:21,300 For that is debauchery, but be filled with the Holy Spirit. 217 00:14:22,700 --> 00:14:25,700 Be filled with the Holy Spirit Paul starts there. 218 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,300 Before he tells husband's how to be Godly husband's. 219 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:32,000 He starts there before he tells wives, how to be Godly wives. 220 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,700 He starts there before, he tells children how to honor their 221 00:14:34,700 --> 00:14:37,300 parents. We all need the holy spirit. 222 00:14:38,100 --> 00:14:42,000 With this tells me here is that the Divine standard for 223 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:46,400 sacrificial, love for submissiveness, for service to 224 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,700 one another that we all long for in our homes that we all ache 225 00:14:49,700 --> 00:14:53,300 for and our relationships with the closest people to It is 226 00:14:53,300 --> 00:14:58,300 absolutely and utterly impossible without the Holy 227 00:14:58,300 --> 00:15:01,400 Spirit. That's what Paul's Chain of 228 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:05,600 Thought teaches us. True Harmony in the home will 229 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:09,200 never be realized if the holy spirit is not truly honored. 230 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:16,700 But when dependency on him is realized Miracles can take place 231 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:21,000 and if dependency on him, is lacking the know this Division 232 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:26,400 and Devastation won't be. You see the filling of the holy 233 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:29,700 spirit in zechariah's family was for the purpose of proclamation, 234 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:31,900 right? When Zechariah was filled, he 235 00:15:31,900 --> 00:15:35,200 prophesied when Elizabeth was filled, she proclaimed an 236 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:38,800 outburst of Praise when John, the Baptist was filled, he was 237 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,900 consecrated in the womb so that he would be raised up to be that 238 00:15:41,900 --> 00:15:46,600 prophet of the Old Testament points to But the the role of 239 00:15:46,608 --> 00:15:50,900 the holy spirit in our lives today, expands beyond the 240 00:15:50,900 --> 00:15:53,800 purpose of proclamation and faithful witness to Christ. 241 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,900 Marriage is not easy. Raising children is challenging 242 00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:02,500 rebelling against your parents as a Temptation that visits 243 00:16:02,500 --> 00:16:05,600 early on. But here's the Holy Spirit who 244 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:10,400 has been granted through Jesus Christ as an ever-present help 245 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,300 for those who would believe and for those who would realize they 246 00:16:13,300 --> 00:16:16,700 need him, you know, Paul's order of thought there in Ephesians 247 00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:21,900 proves to us that the mark of a person who is filled with the 248 00:16:21,900 --> 00:16:24,200 Holy Spirit is not just faithful. 249 00:16:24,700 --> 00:16:28,300 Ation of the Gospel. It is shown in how we relate to 250 00:16:28,300 --> 00:16:32,200 people. Especially our families. 251 00:16:32,500 --> 00:16:34,500 You want to see a spirit filled man, you want to see 252 00:16:34,500 --> 00:16:36,500 Spirit-filled woman? You want to see Spirit-filled? 253 00:16:36,500 --> 00:16:38,800 Anybody look how they treat people? 254 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,100 Look how they treat. Others, look how they serve. 255 00:16:43,300 --> 00:16:44,400 Don't just look at what they say. 256 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,400 Don't just look at the depth of their sermons, the depths of 257 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:47,900 their teaching, the depths of their witness. 258 00:16:48,300 --> 00:16:53,100 Look at how they move and act and react and initiate and 259 00:16:53,100 --> 00:16:56,200 refrain. It's so practical. 260 00:16:56,300 --> 00:17:00,600 It's so easy to understand the very difficult to grass in 261 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:02,500 reality. And I know what some of you 262 00:17:02,500 --> 00:17:05,599 might be thinking in this place if it is true that the holy 263 00:17:05,599 --> 00:17:09,900 spirit is the key to seeing. I'm not just talking Talking 264 00:17:09,900 --> 00:17:13,900 about things going along fine, I'm talking about exciting 265 00:17:13,900 --> 00:17:17,700 fruit, being known in the home. There are non-believers, they 266 00:17:17,700 --> 00:17:21,500 who have better, household, Dynamics and Christians, but 267 00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:23,700 that's not the standard you getting along and not trying to 268 00:17:23,700 --> 00:17:26,200 kill each other. That's not the standard of 269 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:29,300 Christian households. We're talking about partnership, 270 00:17:29,500 --> 00:17:32,200 we're talking about, we're talking about righteousness 271 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,800 being passed down from generation to generation. 272 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,200 That's what we're talking about. And I know what you might be 273 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,700 thinking if that is the case, then why is it that it is so 274 00:17:41,700 --> 00:17:45,000 difficult to identify a stable Christian home? 275 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,400 Can I tell you why this answer might shock you? 276 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,300 It's because being Christian isn't enough. 277 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,400 No, wait there. Put your Stones back in the 278 00:17:56,400 --> 00:18:04,500 pocket. being Christian isn't enough and the counseling slots 279 00:18:04,700 --> 00:18:09,900 will prove that it's being a Christian with a certain 280 00:18:09,900 --> 00:18:13,000 attitude. Certain realization. 281 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:18,800 It's to have a heart that realizes I really want to honor 282 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:20,800 God. It's not just about having a 283 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:24,300 peaceful home, a fruitful marriage, a lovely relationship 284 00:18:24,300 --> 00:18:26,500 with your kids. It has to come to a place where 285 00:18:26,500 --> 00:18:29,900 your heart says, I really want to glorify God. 286 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:34,400 And if God called me to be a father, a husband, a wife God 287 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:36,300 called me to be single, but to be a young adult in my 288 00:18:36,300 --> 00:18:39,200 household, I really want to honor the Lord. 289 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:42,000 And it's Spirit-filled Christians. 290 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,900 I see Spirit-filled results in their lives and not every 291 00:18:45,900 --> 00:18:47,200 Christian is Spirit-filled or else. 292 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:49,800 Why would Paul instruct us to be filled with the Holy Spirit? 293 00:18:50,700 --> 00:18:55,700 You can be Christian and be empty to the day you die, or you 294 00:18:55,708 --> 00:18:58,000 can be a Christian. Who knows what it means to be 295 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:02,500 overflowing with the power of God, And it requires again, a 296 00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:05,700 certain attitude, a certain Faith, a certain realization. 297 00:19:05,900 --> 00:19:08,700 And I think when you look at Zechariah Elizabeth's life, you 298 00:19:08,700 --> 00:19:11,200 get a hint of it. Look at verse 6 of, Luke 1. 299 00:19:12,900 --> 00:19:14,800 You heard me describe them earlier, but here's the 300 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:19,400 reference. And they were both righteous 301 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:23,000 before God walking blamelessly in all the Commandments and 302 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:27,100 statutes of the Lord. This does not mean, of course 303 00:19:27,100 --> 00:19:31,200 that their performance, their moral performance, earned them. 304 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:33,500 Some spiritual upgrade, you know how? 305 00:19:33,500 --> 00:19:35,800 I know that. Zacharias unbelief when the 306 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:39,000 angel told him about the conception of his son is enough 307 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,300 proof to show me that this man was far from perfect. 308 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,300 They were human. Just like you and I, they fell 309 00:19:44,300 --> 00:19:46,400 short. They made mistakes, they were 310 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,800 disciplined by God. Namely Zechariah. 311 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:51,100 But you know what? That verse that I just read 312 00:19:51,100 --> 00:19:53,900 proofs to me. That although they did fall 313 00:19:53,900 --> 00:19:56,100 short, oh they had a heart for God. 314 00:19:56,900 --> 00:20:00,400 They really wanted to obey God. They really wanted to live for 315 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,500 his glory, even in their destitution, even in their dire 316 00:20:03,500 --> 00:20:07,300 situation of barrenness. I love how we see here that this 317 00:20:07,300 --> 00:20:10,700 righteous couple still honored. God though, they didn't have 318 00:20:10,700 --> 00:20:15,300 what they really wanted. That was a son, a child They 319 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:18,500 were just determined to live for him and that's very important in 320 00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:20,800 light of the fact that Zechariah was a priest. 321 00:20:20,900 --> 00:20:23,600 Zachariah was not like those other priests, and religious 322 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:26,300 leaders, who are hypocritical and superficial, he was 323 00:20:26,300 --> 00:20:28,300 different. He was the real deal. 324 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,800 And what I want to tell you today is that any couple or 325 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:37,100 their families, their children who have no interest in living 326 00:20:37,100 --> 00:20:40,500 for the glory of God should have zero expectation of God, 327 00:20:40,500 --> 00:20:44,200 providing them what they need in order to glorify him and enjoy 328 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:47,200 his blessings. What I'm trying to tell you. 329 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:49,900 Today, there needs to be an attitude of desperation, and 330 00:20:49,900 --> 00:20:52,300 attitude of longing. I realization of your dependency 331 00:20:52,300 --> 00:20:55,200 on something Supernatural because the things that we try 332 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:56,900 to do in the natural always fail. 333 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:00,300 So here's what I want to ask you in light of this first point of 334 00:21:00,300 --> 00:21:04,500 this portrait of a man, his wife and their one, son all being 335 00:21:04,500 --> 00:21:09,800 filled with the Holy Spirit. Whoever you are at today, no 336 00:21:09,808 --> 00:21:13,100 matter what position you occupy, no matter what role God has 337 00:21:13,100 --> 00:21:18,200 called you to operate. In when was the last time that 338 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,800 you started your day, knowing the great difficulties that were 339 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:25,100 going to await you just in the front, step outside of your 340 00:21:25,100 --> 00:21:26,500 bedroom. When was the last time you said, 341 00:21:26,500 --> 00:21:32,700 oh God, if you don't fill me, I will fail, I will fail. 342 00:21:33,500 --> 00:21:35,600 I will not be the man that you called me to be. 343 00:21:35,900 --> 00:21:37,700 I will not be the woman that you called me to be. 344 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,200 I will not be the son or daughter that you called me to 345 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,900 be. In the beautiful, we have to 346 00:21:42,908 --> 00:21:47,200 hear it again. When was the last time that you 347 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,900 pleaded with the Lord, I'm talking about pleading with the 348 00:21:49,900 --> 00:21:55,000 Lord, to have your selfish, heart conquered by the spirit of 349 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,800 God. When was the last time you 350 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:02,500 caught yourself for a series of days, being impatient or so 351 00:22:02,500 --> 00:22:05,200 easily. Agitated for no justifiable 352 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:07,200 reason. When was the last time that you 353 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:11,600 paused pulled yourself away. Humbled yourself before almighty 354 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:16,100 God said oh God please. I don't want to be like this 355 00:22:16,700 --> 00:22:20,800 subdue where I lack control. I need your help. 356 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,700 I need you to help me. That is the kind of heart 357 00:22:24,700 --> 00:22:30,500 posture that opens up wonderful possibilities and Graces in the 358 00:22:30,500 --> 00:22:32,900 person of the Holy Spirit if we Endeavor to do that. 359 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,200 Listen I know counseling is important. 360 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:39,900 It helps we need the church, we need wisdom but I'm pointing you 361 00:22:39,900 --> 00:22:41,800 to the counselor of counselors today. 362 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,100 I'm pointing to the person of the Holy Spirit. 363 00:22:45,100 --> 00:22:48,800 He can really change things, but it requires the first step of 364 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:52,500 saying I can't do this. I know that it sounds like a 365 00:22:52,500 --> 00:22:57,100 wonderful reality but it will require every member of each 366 00:22:57,100 --> 00:23:00,800 household to at least do this one thing and saying, Lord, fill 367 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,700 me. I'm going to fill my heart with 368 00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:08,000 your word and I'm going to ask as a child would ask a father 369 00:23:08,300 --> 00:23:10,800 for a gift and that is the gift of the Holy Spirit. 370 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:17,000 If you Endeavor to do that. It will not only be realized in 371 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,200 our faithful witness to Christ like this family. 372 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:21,800 But also, in the way that we treat one another and love one, 373 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,800 another and serve one, another, with our with our Silent Witness 374 00:23:24,900 --> 00:23:27,300 to the world. Here's what I want to tell you 375 00:23:27,300 --> 00:23:29,600 this Christmas season. God, the Holy Spirit wants to 376 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,200 fill our households and he's able to do it all. 377 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,700 I can say so much more, but let's move on to the second 378 00:23:34,700 --> 00:23:39,300 thought that I have for you, God, the Holy Spirit offers an 379 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:43,200 otherworldly Joy. God, the Holy Spirit offers an 380 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:48,000 otherworldly joy, and I find that here in Luke 144, this is 381 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:54,800 when Mary visits Elizabeth And Elizabeth experience has an 382 00:23:54,800 --> 00:24:00,300 unusual movement in her womb. You want to text to prove the 383 00:24:00,300 --> 00:24:01,800 sanctity of human life in the womb? 384 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:07,000 Here it is. Luke 144 for behold, when the 385 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,600 sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb, 386 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:18,800 leaped for Joy, leapt for joy. Things don't have joy. 387 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:25,600 People have joy. We have a person in this womb, 388 00:24:26,500 --> 00:24:31,100 he has a name, he has a purpose and he has feelings. 389 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:36,400 And at this point, the sound of the vessel that would host and 390 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:40,300 mother of the Messiah. Made the bb-baby leap with 391 00:24:40,300 --> 00:24:44,000 excitement and realization of the near presence of the Savior. 392 00:24:44,300 --> 00:24:47,700 You know, people come to this verse this unique biography of 393 00:24:47,700 --> 00:24:51,200 John the Baptist, and they make it a matter of much debate only 394 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:53,500 and I think that's a great disservice to our 395 00:24:53,508 --> 00:24:55,800 sanctification. If we just use this as a talking 396 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:59,400 point about different schools of thought, and how God works 397 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:02,200 before were born and our destiny before were born and what 398 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:05,000 happens and look that's, that's fine and dandy. 399 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:06,600 That's great. I think it's important to have 400 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:09,700 these conversations and maturity, but don't miss what 401 00:25:09,700 --> 00:25:12,400 this is implying apart. From there, the realization that 402 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:17,000 this is a truth that undeniably declares that the life of The 403 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:20,300 Unborn is precious and cherished by God himself. 404 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,800 I was meditating on this and I thought and I thought there's 405 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,200 something interesting here. There's something very 406 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,300 interesting here on a practical level and here it is. 407 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:34,100 John experience Joy. Even before he entered in the 408 00:25:34,100 --> 00:25:39,600 world, John experience a joy even before he entered into the 409 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:42,900 world. What I mean by that is before 410 00:25:42,900 --> 00:25:45,300 John experienced anything in this life. 411 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:48,300 Before anything of this world was offered to him. 412 00:25:49,100 --> 00:25:52,400 There was exuberant Glee in that little heart. 413 00:25:53,500 --> 00:25:56,700 There was a delight there were satisfaction. 414 00:25:56,700 --> 00:26:01,000 There is gratification there was, there was wholeness, there 415 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:06,300 was an overflowing of love. And contentment. 416 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:14,000 John knew a joy that only God can give a joy. 417 00:26:14,100 --> 00:26:18,600 That is not Reliant upon any kind of connection to this life. 418 00:26:19,300 --> 00:26:25,100 A joy that solely came from God, the Holy Spirit Is that your 419 00:26:25,100 --> 00:26:29,300 joy? Or is your joy heavily depended 420 00:26:29,300 --> 00:26:33,300 upon the Affairs of this life? Going in your favor? 421 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:37,900 I see a principal here. Here is, John cut off from the 422 00:26:37,900 --> 00:26:42,500 world and he's still joy-filled. Here's what I want to tell you 423 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:45,400 today. You can know a joy at this world 424 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:47,800 does not have to offer, and cannot offer. 425 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:53,200 That's yours in the Holy Spirit and what was the object of this 426 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:56,300 Baby's Joy? The arrival of the Messiah, the 427 00:26:56,300 --> 00:27:01,700 near presence of his master. That is what filled his heart, 428 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:05,000 that is what awaits you. And I in the Holy Spirit, listen 429 00:27:05,300 --> 00:27:09,500 Christ, really satisfies. He satisfies you to the point 430 00:27:09,500 --> 00:27:11,900 where it calms. You it settles you. 431 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:17,200 It keeps you at sustains you and it surpasses every other trick 432 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,500 of this world. Every other trinket, every other 433 00:27:20,500 --> 00:27:24,500 little toy that this world has to offer, comes not even near 434 00:27:24,500 --> 00:27:27,300 the reality of the joy. The holy spirit in the person of 435 00:27:27,300 --> 00:27:31,300 Jesus Christ, and I see that here, I see this, man, this 436 00:27:31,300 --> 00:27:35,400 little boy, who was to be a mighty man of God who knew this 437 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:38,400 unusual joy that was directly inspired by the holy spirit 438 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:40,600 because you heard it, he would be filled with the Holy Spirit 439 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:43,800 from the womb, because the holy spirit is the one who opens your 440 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:45,800 eyes and mind to the immeasurable greatness of 441 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,600 Christ. His wisdom, his power, his 442 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:51,700 majesty, his grace, his Fellowship. 443 00:27:52,100 --> 00:27:53,800 He's the agent that makes it known. 444 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:55,800 He's the agent that makes it real. 445 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:58,600 He's the one that today is moving and hearts and wants to 446 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:02,200 make them. Leap for joy in Christ. 447 00:28:02,500 --> 00:28:04,500 There's a lot of miserable Christians out there. 448 00:28:05,500 --> 00:28:08,600 There's a lot of Christians out there that their Joy fluctuates 449 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:12,300 based on the stock market or what they bought, what they 450 00:28:12,300 --> 00:28:14,700 filled their closets with what newest and not. 451 00:28:14,700 --> 00:28:19,700 What addition, there's a joy in the Holy Spirit purely from the 452 00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:23,500 Holy Spirit. And if you think that this Joy 453 00:28:23,500 --> 00:28:26,500 is just designated for a special child that has special time in 454 00:28:26,500 --> 00:28:31,500 history, you're wrong because this phrase leap for Joy is 455 00:28:31,500 --> 00:28:35,600 found in one other place in the Gospel of Luke and when you 456 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:38,500 discover it your realize that this Joy is not just reserved 457 00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:42,300 for a profit but available for all the children of God, look at 458 00:28:42,300 --> 00:28:45,600 Luke 6, very quickly and verse 22 to 23. 459 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:55,100 Here's the Lord, Jesus. And he says in Luke 6:20, 2223 460 00:28:55,100 --> 00:28:57,800 blessed. Are you when people hate you and 461 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,000 when they exclude you and when they revile you and spurn, your 462 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:05,200 name as evil on account of the son of man notice on account of 463 00:29:05,208 --> 00:29:08,700 the son of man, not because you're a rude person on account 464 00:29:08,700 --> 00:29:12,400 of the son of man. Now, look at verse 23 rejoice in 465 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:17,200 that day, and leap for joy. The same wording. 466 00:29:18,900 --> 00:29:25,600 Leap for Joy for behold, your reward is great in heaven for so 467 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:27,700 their fathers did to the prophets. 468 00:29:28,100 --> 00:29:32,500 Do you see it the sacred joy that this baby experience in the 469 00:29:32,500 --> 00:29:37,100 womb is the same joy that you and I can know in this very dark 470 00:29:37,100 --> 00:29:41,400 world That's what Jesus is saying that this Spirit 471 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:45,900 generated gladness is so profound that it can be enjoyed 472 00:29:45,900 --> 00:29:49,500 and realize not just at the revelation of Christ, not just 473 00:29:49,500 --> 00:29:51,900 after you discover something in the word or you see him moving 474 00:29:51,900 --> 00:29:54,600 in real life in your life, not beyond that. 475 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:58,700 You can know the same joy that John, the Baptist knew in that 476 00:29:58,700 --> 00:30:04,000 special place at that special time as you face, as you face, 477 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:08,400 the ugliness of life. The Despicable unjust treatment 478 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:12,300 of others, you can know that joy and I think about it either. 479 00:30:12,300 --> 00:30:14,800 The Lord is teasing us or this is real. 480 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:20,200 He can actually command us to leap for Joy when people are 481 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:25,600 slandering your name when people are ruining your reputation when 482 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:28,500 people want to destroy your life. 483 00:30:28,900 --> 00:30:31,200 He says, you know what leap for Joy means, it actually means 484 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:32,400 leap. I'm not going to do it for you. 485 00:30:32,500 --> 00:30:34,200 I'm gonna let you use your imagination. 486 00:30:34,300 --> 00:30:38,000 Literally, your joy is so overpowering that it moves your 487 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:43,400 physical being That is available, that is what is 488 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:46,900 possible in the holy spirit. That is something that you and I 489 00:30:46,900 --> 00:30:49,400 must realize that this time of history as well. 490 00:30:50,100 --> 00:30:52,100 Although there's another phrase, I want to point you to, and it's 491 00:30:52,100 --> 00:30:55,800 in Luke as well. Luke 1021, look at this passage 492 00:30:55,800 --> 00:31:01,000 very briefly with me. And Luke 1021. 493 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:04,400 Here is another place where we are. 494 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:08,900 Explicitly told that Jesus rejoiced. 495 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:12,800 You'd be hard-pressed to find another place where the the Holy 496 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:15,500 Spirit tells us. That Jesus rejoice. 497 00:31:15,500 --> 00:31:17,300 And here it is. And Luke 1021. 498 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:19,500 This is a sermon in itself. What made? 499 00:31:19,500 --> 00:31:22,600 Jesus Rejoice. That's not what I want to show 500 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:23,500 you. I just want to show you that he 501 00:31:23,500 --> 00:31:28,000 did. And then the special way in that 502 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:33,300 same hour, he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank 503 00:31:33,300 --> 00:31:37,500 you, Father, Lord, of Heaven and Earth that you have hidden these 504 00:31:37,500 --> 00:31:40,400 things from the wise and understanding and revealed them 505 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:41,600 to Little Children. Yes. 506 00:31:41,900 --> 00:31:48,000 Father for such was your gracious will He rejoiced in the 507 00:31:48,008 --> 00:31:52,600 holy spirit that word rejoice in the English does not help us 508 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:57,900 understand that the profound real at reality of this Joy, it 509 00:31:57,900 --> 00:32:01,600 means exceedingly glad it's talking about a bubbling over a 510 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:04,700 just to be overjoyed. This is what's happening here 511 00:32:04,700 --> 00:32:07,300 with the Lord. It's visible, I was observable. 512 00:32:07,300 --> 00:32:10,800 It was tangible, it was contagious, it was there. 513 00:32:12,100 --> 00:32:14,400 And this is not just a show us that the holy spirit is the 514 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,700 source of that kind of quality of Joy. 515 00:32:17,100 --> 00:32:20,600 What is meant to show us here? Is that the holy spirit is the 516 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:26,200 one that can bring us to a supernatural joy rejoiced in the 517 00:32:26,208 --> 00:32:29,200 Holy Spirit, the holy spirit is a supernatural being and he 518 00:32:29,208 --> 00:32:32,600 produces a supernatural Joy. That's what's happening here. 519 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:36,100 It's a level that the human emotion cannot bring you to. 520 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:39,300 It's a level that no experience in this life, no matter how 521 00:32:39,300 --> 00:32:41,700 great it is can bring you to its average. 522 00:32:41,900 --> 00:32:46,100 Voicing in God, caused by God for God and you want to know? 523 00:32:46,100 --> 00:32:48,000 Well, how do I know if I have joy in the Holy Spirit. 524 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,700 I'll tell you one mark of it. Look at what Jesus does. 525 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:53,500 He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said I? 526 00:32:53,500 --> 00:32:56,400 Thank you. Father, you can appraise God. 527 00:32:56,400 --> 00:32:59,400 When you're filled with the Holy Spirit, you're gonna thank you 528 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:02,500 gonna have this personal relationship with God. 529 00:33:02,500 --> 00:33:04,500 That is living. That is spontaneous, that is 530 00:33:04,500 --> 00:33:07,800 real, that a step, by step day by day, that's how you know that 531 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:09,300 you're filled with the joy of God. 532 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:13,900 Here's Jesus exemplifying that. I thank you. 533 00:33:14,500 --> 00:33:19,200 I thank you Father. If you like gratitude, you lack 534 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:22,700 the filling of the spirit. But if you have the Holy Spirit 535 00:33:22,700 --> 00:33:26,300 and you desire, this kind of a joy then realized, it has been 536 00:33:26,300 --> 00:33:28,700 made available to us because of Christ. 537 00:33:28,900 --> 00:33:32,400 And I want that for your life. God wants that for your life. 538 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:35,000 Jesus knew it in his Earthly life. 539 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:37,700 Why would you not want to know it in yours? 540 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:43,600 And so the Holy Spirit offers us an otherworldly Joy. 541 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:46,900 So real. So profound. 542 00:33:46,900 --> 00:33:50,200 So powerful. We come to the final fight. 543 00:33:51,500 --> 00:33:56,600 Which is related to the second. The god, the Holy Spirit enables 544 00:33:56,600 --> 00:34:01,900 us to bless God at all times and I find that in zechariah's life. 545 00:34:02,900 --> 00:34:04,700 Because you heard it earlier in the beginning of the message 546 00:34:04,700 --> 00:34:06,900 that Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and he 547 00:34:06,900 --> 00:34:11,699 prophesied, he prophesied. Now, hearing about John though, 548 00:34:11,699 --> 00:34:15,500 even a baby that's a very unique thing left for Joy, leap for joy 549 00:34:15,500 --> 00:34:18,900 in the womb, that's obvious in principle, the messiah's coming, 550 00:34:18,900 --> 00:34:22,300 he's coming to save, he's near he's close, there's 551 00:34:22,300 --> 00:34:23,900 relationship. There's intimacy there. 552 00:34:23,900 --> 00:34:28,000 That, that makes sense. But the holy spirit's work in 553 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:30,500 Zechariah is especially challenging to us. 554 00:34:31,500 --> 00:34:35,100 Yes, he prophesied and he gives his glorious series of profound 555 00:34:35,100 --> 00:34:36,900 truth. Concerning who Jesus is and who 556 00:34:36,900 --> 00:34:39,000 his son John would be in what's purpose? 557 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:40,699 He would serve. But when you know, the 558 00:34:40,699 --> 00:34:44,500 predicament of Zechariah right before we are told he was filled 559 00:34:44,500 --> 00:34:47,000 with the Holy Spirit, then you have an insight to just how 560 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:49,900 marvelous. This is what happened to 561 00:34:49,900 --> 00:34:51,699 Zechariah when the angel visited him. 562 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:57,300 He did not believe and he was disciplined by God and the same 563 00:34:57,300 --> 00:34:59,600 mouth. That proclaimed unbelief was 564 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:02,700 muted by God. You're not going to be able to 565 00:35:02,700 --> 00:35:07,200 speak until the birth of your son for a minimum of nine 566 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:09,600 months. You're not going to be able to 567 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:12,500 utter a word and the factor. That's going to loosen your 568 00:35:12,500 --> 00:35:15,600 tongue is when the word of the Lord is fulfilled before your 569 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:18,500 eyes. And so, here's this man of God, 570 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:22,900 who did not believe that, God, that he trusted, who did not 571 00:35:22,900 --> 00:35:25,900 believe what God had done before through men, like Abraham. 572 00:35:27,100 --> 00:35:29,800 Who is disciplined and he would not be able to say anything. 573 00:35:29,900 --> 00:35:33,400 Now we you we know that but like many things in the Bible we 574 00:35:33,408 --> 00:35:36,900 don't pause to meditate the implications of that or how that 575 00:35:36,900 --> 00:35:38,800 must be Zechariah was a real man. 576 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:43,500 Can you imagine not being able to say one word for almost a 577 00:35:43,500 --> 00:35:46,300 year? Think about how frustrating that 578 00:35:46,300 --> 00:35:49,000 is. Think about how difficult that 579 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:52,300 is, think about your day-to-day activity in your Affairs, in the 580 00:35:52,300 --> 00:35:53,500 things that you need to get done. 581 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:56,200 Think about just basic things like asking for something so 582 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:58,200 simple, with a few words that you cannot do. 583 00:35:58,300 --> 00:36:01,000 I mean, if you want a glimpse of it, look at verse 62 of Luke 1, 584 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:03,500 you get an idea of how frustrating it must have been 585 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:12,500 and Luke 162. And they made signs to his 586 00:36:12,500 --> 00:36:16,000 father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called, John was born, 587 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:18,100 they want to know Zechariah, what do you want to name your 588 00:36:18,100 --> 00:36:20,400 son? And they made signs to his 589 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:24,200 father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called and he asked 590 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:27,000 for a writing tablet. And wrote his name is John and 591 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:28,900 they all wondered they made signs. 592 00:36:28,900 --> 00:36:30,700 So they were treating him as though he was deaf, he wasn't 593 00:36:30,700 --> 00:36:34,100 deaf. He just couldn't speak, but here 594 00:36:34,100 --> 00:36:36,400 they are making signs to them, trying to communicate something 595 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:37,600 and he's just give me the tablet. 596 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:39,000 So he asked for the tablet, right? 597 00:36:39,100 --> 00:36:41,200 And he writes I imagine imagine trying to communicate in this 598 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:43,500 way. Imagine being treated in this 599 00:36:43,500 --> 00:36:44,800 way, imagine how infuriating that is. 600 00:36:44,808 --> 00:36:48,800 Imagine how annoying that is. Just just just like, let your 601 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:52,300 imagination flow. A request. 602 00:36:53,900 --> 00:36:57,000 When you're hurting and you want to do what you want, some kind 603 00:36:57,000 --> 00:36:58,900 of help and you have to fend for yourself. 604 00:36:58,900 --> 00:37:01,200 Instead of requesting for somebody to come to your 605 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:04,600 assistance you can just imagine it on a human level. 606 00:37:04,700 --> 00:37:07,300 The pent-up frustration as time goes by. 607 00:37:08,100 --> 00:37:11,200 And then one day, everything changed, the birth of his son. 608 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:15,200 It would all be altered and the man would finally be able to 609 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:17,800 speak. He be able to now, for the first 610 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:20,700 time here is own voice and people for nine months, you 611 00:37:20,707 --> 00:37:22,700 haven't heard him hear his voice as well. 612 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:26,500 What would be your first words? After 9 months of not, being 613 00:37:26,500 --> 00:37:30,900 able to say anything? What would you express? 614 00:37:31,800 --> 00:37:33,900 What would you communicate? What would you utter? 615 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:39,500 I think many of us are thinking very Pious thoughts, but for 616 00:37:39,500 --> 00:37:41,100 honest, maybe, there'll be some groans. 617 00:37:41,100 --> 00:37:46,100 Some moans Maybe vomit out, complaints about the dealings of 618 00:37:46,100 --> 00:37:49,100 God in our lives. But that is not what you find 619 00:37:49,100 --> 00:37:53,200 here with Zechariah. Zachariah here by the power of 620 00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:56,200 the spirit. Look at Luke 164 and 621 00:37:56,200 --> 00:37:59,300 immediately, his mouth was opened and his tongue. 622 00:37:59,300 --> 00:38:05,700 Loosed and he spoke blessing, God That's the first thing that 623 00:38:05,700 --> 00:38:10,300 Zechariah does. When God lifts off that burden 624 00:38:11,100 --> 00:38:14,300 and enables him to speak. Again, the first thing Zechariah 625 00:38:14,300 --> 00:38:19,800 does is bless God. You're saying how was he able to 626 00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:22,000 do that? We'll look here at verse 67 and 627 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:25,300 his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and 628 00:38:25,300 --> 00:38:29,600 prophesied saying, blessed. Be the Lord God of Israel for. 629 00:38:29,600 --> 00:38:31,500 He has visited and redeemed his people. 630 00:38:34,100 --> 00:38:37,900 By the Holy Spirit. That even after that 631 00:38:37,900 --> 00:38:41,800 uncomfortable season of suffering debilitation 632 00:38:42,500 --> 00:38:46,900 restriction alteration. The first thing that this man 633 00:38:46,900 --> 00:38:51,700 does is praise praise. He doesn't squeal, he doesn't 634 00:38:51,700 --> 00:38:56,500 even PSI Imagine that nine months, finally, your will speak 635 00:38:57,500 --> 00:39:03,600 about time. Not even a sigh praise. 636 00:39:05,300 --> 00:39:07,700 How is that humanly possible? It's not. 637 00:39:07,900 --> 00:39:11,500 That's the point. It's the spirit of God in you. 638 00:39:12,100 --> 00:39:16,900 On you, through you, that can take circumstances that are 639 00:39:16,900 --> 00:39:19,400 beyond our control, like this man experienced. 640 00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:24,200 And for you to be so overwhelmed by the spirits influence in your 641 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,300 heart that you can, you can bypass even the hard things that 642 00:39:27,300 --> 00:39:30,700 God allows you to experience, and to see the goodness of God 643 00:39:30,700 --> 00:39:34,400 and to rejoice in God, it's as though if you heard this man 644 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:36,800 speaking at this time, it's as though nothing had happened in 645 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:38,700 the past, nine months. How can that be? 646 00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:43,500 Well, because of the Holy Spirit, Uncontrollable 647 00:39:43,500 --> 00:39:45,700 circumstances do not have to control this if you're 648 00:39:45,700 --> 00:39:52,000 controlled by the spirit. so even if your family is not like 649 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:55,600 zechariah's family, which is very, very likely where there 650 00:39:55,600 --> 00:39:58,200 are 12 many people who are not filled with the spirit of God, 651 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:03,400 You can still know. You can still know this kind of 652 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:07,800 a praise in your heart, joy in Your Heart, A Song In That 653 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:11,000 season, that can only be inspired by God himself. 654 00:40:12,300 --> 00:40:15,700 You can know the stability of this feeling of wholeness, even 655 00:40:15,700 --> 00:40:17,900 if in the natural there's something missing. 656 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:21,000 There's something missing in your life. 657 00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:26,500 So in this Christmas season, I want to just turn your attention 658 00:40:26,500 --> 00:40:30,100 to what has been made possible because of Jesus Christ coming 659 00:40:30,100 --> 00:40:34,400 into this world. The Holy Spirit awaits to fill 660 00:40:34,400 --> 00:40:38,900 your families and if he's not gonna, if he's not going to fill 661 00:40:38,900 --> 00:40:41,500 your families because some members not say there's some 662 00:40:41,500 --> 00:40:43,600 members not serious, let him fill you. 663 00:40:45,500 --> 00:40:49,000 Let him fill you and let the fragrance on you. 664 00:40:49,300 --> 00:40:52,100 Let the salt in your life cause others in that household to be 665 00:40:52,100 --> 00:40:57,200 thirsty. God, the Holy Spirit has a gift 666 00:40:57,700 --> 00:41:01,000 and it's to offer you otherworldly joy in this 667 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:04,100 miserable. Bleak life realize that there is 668 00:41:04,100 --> 00:41:09,100 something from Heaven that awaits to stir your heart even 669 00:41:09,100 --> 00:41:13,200 though you have nothing in this life like John In that womb 670 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:16,600 vacuumed and in the dark yet, leaping with joy, you have 671 00:41:16,600 --> 00:41:19,400 people in palaces, you have people who can drive whatever 672 00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:21,400 they want. You have people who can purchase 673 00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:23,900 anything and did not affect their bank account. 674 00:41:24,300 --> 00:41:27,000 Who don't have what this baby had in that little womb. 675 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:31,600 You could have it and it can be so profound that when people 676 00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:35,000 mock you and Scorn you, you can actually leap for joy. 677 00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:40,000 And lastly, the Holy Spirit can do a work in you that even 678 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:43,100 though you are dreading December 24th. 679 00:41:43,300 --> 00:41:45,800 And December 25th, you are going to that house. 680 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:48,100 And you know, it's going to be a very difficult. 681 00:41:48,100 --> 00:41:50,800 Few hours. There's going to be people 682 00:41:50,900 --> 00:41:53,100 missing that you want to be there. 683 00:41:54,200 --> 00:41:56,000 There's going to be circumstances that are going to 684 00:41:56,000 --> 00:41:58,500 cause you to remember things of the past that are going to break 685 00:41:58,500 --> 00:42:02,800 your heart regardless of those things like, Zechariah God can 686 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:06,100 fill that. Mouth with praise, he can fill 687 00:42:06,100 --> 00:42:09,000 your heart with joy. He can take you to another 688 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:10,700 place. He can, he got allow you to soar 689 00:42:10,700 --> 00:42:12,300 above all these things in this life. 690 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:17,800 This is all real, by the way. This isn't pretend, this isn't 691 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:20,000 Hallmark stuff. This is an imagination. 692 00:42:20,300 --> 00:42:23,400 This isn't a superhero story. This is Christianity. 693 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:28,000 This is Christianity with the real Christ and so I offer him 694 00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:30,100 to you. In Jesus name that if you're a 695 00:42:30,100 --> 00:42:32,200 person in this place, who may not even be a Christian, you 696 00:42:32,200 --> 00:42:34,400 haven't even done the ABCs of this whole thing. 697 00:42:36,100 --> 00:42:38,400 The Holy Spirit, also has another job, and he does it very 698 00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:41,000 well. He convicts the heart of sin. 699 00:42:42,100 --> 00:42:44,300 And even with a message of Hope like this, your heart could be 700 00:42:44,300 --> 00:42:45,300 stirred. Oh man. 701 00:42:45,300 --> 00:42:48,200 I don't have what this preacher just said, but I long for it, 702 00:42:49,100 --> 00:42:53,000 he's ready to give it but you have to repent, you have to turn 703 00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:55,500 from the sin that Grieves the Holy Spirit and you have to 704 00:42:55,500 --> 00:42:59,600 embrace what Christ has done. Let him wash you and forgive you 705 00:42:59,600 --> 00:43:02,900 and cleanse you because that is the work necessary for the Holy 706 00:43:02,900 --> 00:43:04,900 Spirit to come now and abide in you. 707 00:43:05,500 --> 00:43:08,000 And then to animate you in the things that I just said, and 708 00:43:08,000 --> 00:43:11,200 this is just the peak of a great Iceberg of Glorious truths. 709 00:43:12,300 --> 00:43:15,600 So, do you know Christ today? Do you know Christ today? 710 00:43:16,400 --> 00:43:20,200 What is your life? What is your life, really? 711 00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:25,000 What has this life under your own authority and sovereignty 712 00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:32,700 offered you Christ has come to give life and life more 713 00:43:32,700 --> 00:43:37,600 abundantly and let me say this to the Christian Perhaps, you're 714 00:43:37,600 --> 00:43:40,800 in need of Revival. The holy spirit is the reviver 715 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:45,600 But it's not going to come by you coming into this place week 716 00:43:45,600 --> 00:43:47,900 after week saying. Okay, let's see what God's got 717 00:43:47,900 --> 00:43:50,200 for me next. That is not the attitude, that 718 00:43:50,200 --> 00:43:53,800 moves the heart of God. You come broken and bring your 719 00:43:53,800 --> 00:43:57,000 broken marriage with you. You come broke and bring your 720 00:43:57,000 --> 00:44:02,200 broken children with you. And you say, you know what, I 721 00:44:02,200 --> 00:44:04,500 don't Wednesday night. I usually binge on Netflix, but 722 00:44:04,500 --> 00:44:08,400 I'm going to go to the house of God and lay on my face before 723 00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:12,100 his presence and plead with him to do a miracle in my life. 724 00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:16,500 To do a miracle of my marriage, to do a miracle in my kids 725 00:44:16,500 --> 00:44:20,200 lives, the Holy Spirit waits to partner with you. 726 00:44:21,100 --> 00:44:26,600 He moves by faith, he moves by your faith and I plead with you 727 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:30,300 that as we come upon the new year, that you would seek God, 728 00:44:30,300 --> 00:44:33,200 in a way that you never saw him before and watch what he'll do 729 00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:36,500 in 2023 and beyond for the glory of his name. 730 00:44:36,800 --> 00:44:39,900 For the good of his child. That's my message to you this 731 00:44:39,900 --> 00:44:41,200 afternoon. Let's pray. 732 00:44:59,700 --> 00:45:01,600 Lord Almighty. We pray. 733 00:45:01,600 --> 00:45:04,100 We really pray from the bottom of our hearts. 734 00:45:07,500 --> 00:45:11,900 Oh lord it's so possible that there is more Brokenness in this 735 00:45:11,900 --> 00:45:20,600 place than there is wholeness. Forgive us for not seeking the 736 00:45:20,600 --> 00:45:24,200 Holy Spirit. His wisdom, his power, his 737 00:45:24,200 --> 00:45:27,300 guidance. Forgive us for not having the 738 00:45:27,300 --> 00:45:29,600 faith to believe that he can do miracles. 739 00:45:31,300 --> 00:45:40,400 Even with the most stubborn. Lord, what was just said, was An 740 00:45:40,400 --> 00:45:43,500 imperfect presentation of your truths. 741 00:45:44,500 --> 00:45:49,900 But take what was imperfect. Take the stumbling words, the 742 00:45:49,900 --> 00:45:54,600 stammering lips and take even the distracted mind. 743 00:45:57,100 --> 00:46:01,500 And Lord meet us with the little faith that we have. 744 00:46:02,600 --> 00:46:04,400 Meet us here. Lord, we pray. 745 00:46:05,500 --> 00:46:08,200 We do pray that you would make every marriage whole at 746 00:46:08,200 --> 00:46:12,400 Maranatha, Bible Church. We pray that you would bring 747 00:46:12,400 --> 00:46:17,000 Salvation to the children. That mothers are praying for who 748 00:46:17,000 --> 00:46:20,600 have been praying for years. Lord, let there be that kind of 749 00:46:20,600 --> 00:46:24,900 a Christmas miracle. We pray for Family Worship to be 750 00:46:24,900 --> 00:46:28,500 known again in the living room and the dining table. 751 00:46:31,300 --> 00:46:36,700 Lord, fill our families. Lord renew our joy in the Holy 752 00:46:36,700 --> 00:46:42,100 Spirit. Lord, renew a happiness in God. 753 00:46:44,600 --> 00:46:47,900 That makes us look out into this world and say I have everything 754 00:46:47,900 --> 00:46:52,000 in Christ. I have all I need in Jesus. 755 00:46:54,800 --> 00:46:57,600 And Lord in the times of difficulty, Lord of Zechariah 756 00:46:57,600 --> 00:46:59,600 and Elizabeth teaches. Anything is that you can be 757 00:46:59,600 --> 00:47:04,200 righteous and still hurting. And Lord if there are things in 758 00:47:04,200 --> 00:47:07,100 this life, that we've prayed for like this couple and not realize 759 00:47:07,100 --> 00:47:10,900 it yet, may we still have the power to honor you and worship 760 00:47:10,900 --> 00:47:13,100 you and serve you as this couple did. 761 00:47:14,200 --> 00:47:19,000 And Lord, even if we are enduring trials, Temptations 762 00:47:19,000 --> 00:47:21,900 difficulties. Lord, may we be able to praise 763 00:47:22,000 --> 00:47:25,300 and bless you. Through it all. 764 00:47:26,500 --> 00:47:30,000 And so Lord, this Christmas. Week. 765 00:47:30,200 --> 00:47:35,200 We now stand in faith with Hearts Alive, to worship you, 766 00:47:35,400 --> 00:47:38,100 with the truths that we have heard that are available to us. 767 00:47:38,100 --> 00:47:40,000 Thank you for reminding us of these things. 768 00:47:40,500 --> 00:47:43,400 In Jesus name, we pray. Amen, I stand and Worship the 769 00:47:43,400 --> 00:47:44,100 Lord together.