WEBVTT

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 Today is the start of Advent, and so we always have an Advent series.

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 This year we are going through Luke's gospel,

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 because, yeah, in Matthew and Luke there's this wonderful stories of Jesus' birth,

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 and just kind of Luke's gospel leading up to it.

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 So, yeah, that's exciting.

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 In a moment, Julie's going to read for us.

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 Very impressive with her fractured ankle.

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 But let's pray together.

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 Father, we do pray for Julie that she'll be healed soon,

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 but pray for her as she comes up to read your word,

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 and then later for me as I preach.

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 Please would you be speaking to us?

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 Thank you that these words are yours,

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 that you want to speak to each one of us in your love and your grace.

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 So would each of us hear your voice,

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 and do the work by your Spirit in each of our hearts today.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 The reading today is from Luke chapter 1, verses 1 to 25.

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 You can read it in your bulletin,

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 or it should be behind me for you to read up there.

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 Luke 1, 1 to 25.

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 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative

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 of the things that have been accomplished among us,

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 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses

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 and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,

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 it seemed good to me also,

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 having followed all things closely for some time past,

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 to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

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 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

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 In the days of Herod, king of Judea,

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 there was a priest named Zechariah,

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 of the division of Abijah,

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 and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron,

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 and her name was Elizabeth.

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 And they were both righteous before God,

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 walking blamelessly in all the commandments

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 and statutes of the Lord.

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 But they had no child,

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 because Elizabeth was barren,

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 and both were advanced in years.

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 Now while he was serving as priest before God,

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 when his division was on duty,

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 according to the custom of the priesthood,

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 he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord

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 and burn incense.

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 And the whole multitude of the people

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 were praying outside at the hour of the incense.

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 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord

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 standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

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 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him,

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 and fear fell upon him.

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 But the angel said to him,

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 Do not be afraid, Zechariah,

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 for your prayer has been heard,

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 and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,

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 and you shall call his name John.

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 And you will have joy and gladness,

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 and many will rejoice at his birth,

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 for he will be great before the Lord.

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 And he must not drink wine or strong drink,

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 and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,

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 even from his mother's womb.

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 And he will turn many of the children of Israel

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 to the Lord their God.

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 And he will go before him

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 in the spirit and power of Elijah

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 to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children

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 and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,

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 to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.

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 And Zechariah said to the angel,

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 How shall I know this?

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 For I am an old man,

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 and my wife is advanced in years.

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 And the angel answered him,

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 I am Gabriel.

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 I stand in the presence of God,

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 and I was sent to speak to you,

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 and to bring you this good news.

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 And behold,

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 you will be silent and unable to speak

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 until the day these things take place,

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 because you did not believe my words,

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 which will be fulfilled in their time.

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 And the people were waiting for Zechariah,

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 and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.

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 But when he came out,

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 he was unable to speak to them,

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 and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple,

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 and he kept making signs to them and remained mute.

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 And when his time of service was ended,

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 he went to his home.

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 After these days,

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 his wife Elizabeth conceived,

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 and for five months,

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 she kept herself hidden,

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 saying,

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 Thus the Lord has done for me

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 in the days when he looked on me,

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 to take away my reproach among people.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Great.

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 Thank you, Judy.

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 Let's keep that passage with us,

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 as we're going to look at it together.

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 It's been very clear, right?

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 Christmas is coming.

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 Of course, we have this thing now here,

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 but we've been selling Advent stuff for weeks,

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 and even in the shops, right?

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 As soon as Halloween is over,

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 they put up the Christmas decorations,

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 and start selling Christmas stuff.

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 Maybe you bought some presents yesterday,

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 with Friday, with Black Friday.

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 I don't know.

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 Christmas is coming.

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 And I don't know,

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 Christmas is,

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 it always feels very traditional for many of us, right?

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 It's like Simon alluded to,

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 we have these traditions,

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 maybe in our family,

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 that we do every year.

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 Other countries have their own traditions, right?

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 If you're German,

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 there's the Weihnachtsmarket,

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 all these Christmas markets.

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 The British,

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 they always have the same meal,

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 with sprouts,

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 and all the standard things.

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 Yeah, maybe,

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 I don't know,

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 different countries have different traditions,

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 but I don't know how you,

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 even here in church, right?

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 It feels so nice and old, right?

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 So comfortable with the tree,

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 and the nativity scene,

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 and we don't sing modern songs,

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 but sometimes we sing these really old carols,

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 from three,

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 four hundred years ago,

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 or O Come O Come Emmanuel,

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 from, you know,

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 eighth century.

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 It's like,

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 wow,

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 this is so old, right?

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 So,

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 traditional.

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 And in a way,

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 we like that,

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 because it feels comfortable,

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 maybe people like to come to church again,

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 right?

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 Maybe people like it,

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 when they come to a carol service,

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 and it feels familiar.

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 Now,

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 I don't know what we should think about it,

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 as Christians, right?

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 Is it good that it's traditional,

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 that it all goes back a long time?

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 Or should we update Christmas?

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 Should we make it more new,

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 and modern,

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 for Gen Z,

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 and right?

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 Should we,

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 what should we do?

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 Well,

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 today is going to be a really helpful passage for that,

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 as we look at Luke's Gospel.

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 Now,

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 in a way,

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 we're doing this for Christmas,

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 but Luke didn't decide to write a Christmas book,

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 right?

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 This is a,

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 he's writing a gospel,

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 the gospel according to Luke,

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 is volume one,

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 Acts is volume two,

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 and why did he write this?

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 Well,

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 he wrote it for a guy called Theophilus,

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 right?

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 Verse three,

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 as seems good to me,

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 it seemed good to me also,

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 having followed all things closely,

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 for some time past,

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 to write an orderly account for you,

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 most excellent Theophilus.

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 So,

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 he's writing a nice orderly account,

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 ahead of what happened,

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 or what happened with Jesus,

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 for Theophilus,

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 who is,

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 I think,

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 some very rich guy,

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 who is kind of paying him to,

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 you know,

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 not be a doctor,

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 but be a historian,

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 and write this gospel.

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 And why?

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 Verse four,

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 that you may have certainty,

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 concerning the things you have been taught.

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 He wants Theophilus,

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 that to have certainty,

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 confidence in the gospel,

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 confidence in Jesus coming,

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 in the salvation,

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 confidence in this movement,

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 right?

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 Because,

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 you know,

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 it all looks so different,

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 right?

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 For Theophilus,

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 you know,

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 there's the Roman Empire,

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 all these little Gentile churches,

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 is this really from God?

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 Is this the real thing?

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 And,

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 yeah,

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 this is the real thing.

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 That's why Luke wrote Luke and Acts.

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 So,

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 that's what we're going to look at.

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 And we want confidence.

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 I mean,

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 last week,

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 we thought about that as well,

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 right?

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 we're putting our trust in Jesus,

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 but we can only do that if Jesus is reliable,

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 right?

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 It's only worth hoping in something,

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 trusting in something,

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 if it will happen.

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 And so,

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 confidence is what we need.

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 And that is what Luke wants to give us.

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 And so,

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 that's where we're going today,

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 among others.

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 Now,

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 in a way,

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 the story is,

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 I guess,

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 familiar.

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 It's not that difficult to understand,

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 unlike maybe to Samuel,

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 right?

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 You know,

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 here's Zechariah,

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 a priest in a temple,

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 and the angel Gabriel shows up and tells him that they're going to have a baby boy.

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 Wonderful news.

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 But,

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 there's two themes that I wanted to highlight,

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 that I think Luke wants to highlight.

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 And the first thing is that Christmas is old.

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 Christmas is old,

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 by which I mean it's not new.

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 It's got a long history.

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 It's got a long background.

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 It's very old.

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 Because Luke,

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 you know,

00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:15.240
 as he writes this,

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 he wants to take us on a journey.

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 He takes us,

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 well,

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 back then,

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 70 years back.

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 For us,

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 like 2,000 years back.

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 Right?

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 To a different world.

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 Thousands of kilometers away.

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 To Jerusalem.

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 The atmosphere is really Old Testament.

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 Verse 5.

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 In the days of Herod,

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 king of Judea,

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 there was a priest named Zechariah,

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 of the division of Abijah,

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 and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron,

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 and her name was Elizabeth.

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 And they were both righteous before God,

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 walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:52.480
 It's a priest and his wife from the right family,

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 and they're walking in the commandments of the Lord.

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 It just feels very old,

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 right?

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 Even the writing style is very old.

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 If you read this in Greek,

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 then it's very clumsy.

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 It's very wooden.

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 It sounds exactly like the King James Version,

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 basically,

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 because that's what people were reading.

00:10:10.160 --> 00:10:12.980
 Their Old Testament was a very wooden translation.

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 And so Luke really wants you to feel,

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 hey,

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 this is Old Testament.

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 This is old.

00:10:19.800 --> 00:10:20.820
 This is clunky,

00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:21.700
 right?

00:10:21.940 --> 00:10:23.500
 Because that's where Jesus comes from.

00:10:23.640 --> 00:10:24.960
 We go to a temple,

00:10:25.400 --> 00:10:27.680
 a temple where for 1,500 years,

00:10:27.780 --> 00:10:30.360
 that's been the heart of the Jewish life,

00:10:30.900 --> 00:10:32.920
 where they're burning incense,

00:10:33.180 --> 00:10:37.740
 with a priesthood going back all the way 1,500 years ago to Aaron,

00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:38.980
 for us 3,500.

00:10:39.560 --> 00:10:40.980
 But that's where Jesus comes from,

00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:41.140
 right?

00:10:41.860 --> 00:10:43.500
 And it's not just the Jewish culture.

00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:43.920
 Of course,

00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:45.920
 this is God's history.

00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:49.019
 And this is clearly about what God is going to do.

00:10:49.099 --> 00:10:49.439
 Because,

00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:50.219
 you know,

00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:52.919
 where does the angel appear to Zechariah?

00:10:53.199 --> 00:10:54.279
 It's in the temple,

00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:56.439
 as he is meeting with God.

00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:58.360
 It's not like Zechariah is washing the dishes,

00:10:58.659 --> 00:10:58.759
 and,

00:10:59.099 --> 00:10:59.259
 you know,

00:10:59.299 --> 00:11:00.879
 the angel shows up or something like that.

00:11:00.939 --> 00:11:02.259
 This is in the temple.

00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:03.799
 This is about God,

00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:05.939
 and the relationship with his people,

00:11:06.419 --> 00:11:06.439
 and,

00:11:06.439 --> 00:11:08.500
 you know,

00:11:08.579 --> 00:11:10.219
 the God who speaks and saves.

00:11:10.359 --> 00:11:12.359
 And it's so clearly God's planning.

00:11:14.099 --> 00:11:14.479
 I mean,

00:11:14.599 --> 00:11:15.000
 we think,

00:11:15.079 --> 00:11:15.199
 okay,

00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:16.699
 Zechariah goes into the temple,

00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:17.359
 you know,

00:11:17.359 --> 00:11:18.219
 just another day.

00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:19.659
 Apparently,

00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:22.399
 there were about 18,000 priests around that time.

00:11:23.699 --> 00:11:24.219
 And,

00:11:24.319 --> 00:11:26.740
 every division was on twice a year,

00:11:26.859 --> 00:11:27.839
 which basically means,

00:11:28.219 --> 00:11:30.000
 this only happens once in your life.

00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:34.240
 This was the only time in his whole life that Zechariah actually went into the temple,

00:11:34.899 --> 00:11:36.240
 on behalf of the nations,

00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:37.259
 to offer incense.

00:11:37.419 --> 00:11:38.759
 And exactly at that time,

00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:41.019
 here is the angel Gabriel,

00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:42.059
 sent from God,

00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:43.220
 with a message.

00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:45.240
 And that message,

00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:46.820
 the theme of the service,

00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:47.879
 is about hope.

00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:52.080
 Because their relationship with God is about hope.

00:11:52.659 --> 00:11:53.919
 And because we need hope.

00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:54.639
 The whole Bible,

00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:55.000
 in a way,

00:11:55.059 --> 00:11:55.759
 is about hope.

00:11:56.460 --> 00:11:58.600
 It's everything went wrong in the beginning,

00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:00.779
 when Adam and Eve rejected God.

00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:01.800
 But God,

00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:02.399
 well,

00:12:02.460 --> 00:12:03.580
 would make things right.

00:12:03.800 --> 00:12:05.680
 And the heart of that,

00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:06.960
 the first thing,

00:12:07.040 --> 00:12:08.540
 it was the promise to Abraham.

00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:11.300
 Maybe you remember that from the beginning of the year,

00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:12.860
 when we did an overview of the Bible.

00:12:13.659 --> 00:12:16.440
 God promised to Abraham that he would make the world right.

00:12:17.040 --> 00:12:18.620
 He would make everything right again.

00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:20.639
 And he gave a sign.

00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:22.120
 And that sign was,

00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:23.120
 well,

00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:24.080
 Abraham,

00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:26.460
 you are going to have many descendants.

00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:28.180
 As many as the stars.

00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:31.019
 which I think was quite hard for him to believe,

00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:31.259
 right?

00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:33.100
 Because he was 75 years old.

00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:34.700
 And his wife was 65.

00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:36.120
 And they didn't have kids yet.

00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:40.680
 And how are they going to become this really massive family?

00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:41.600
 So many descendants.

00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:44.540
 But God said,

00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:45.560
 I will do a miracle.

00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:47.019
 And indeed,

00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:48.360
 25 years later,

00:12:48.460 --> 00:12:49.540
 when Sarah was 90,

00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:50.620
 and Abraham was 100,

00:12:51.180 --> 00:12:51.340
 yeah,

00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:52.360
 they had a baby boy,

00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:52.820
 Isaac,

00:12:52.920 --> 00:12:53.100
 right?

00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:54.300
 A miracle.

00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:56.379
 A symbol of new life.

00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:58.019
 A symbol of hope.

00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.040
 Right?

00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:01.100
 Because that's what a baby represents.

00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:03.600
 That's why barrenness is so hard.

00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:03.779
 Right?

00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.700
 People who struggle to conceive.

00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:06.879
 That can be so painful.

00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:07.720
 Because it's,

00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:08.420
 yeah,

00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:09.519
 you want to produce life.

00:13:09.700 --> 00:13:11.279
 And we are powerless.

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:12.159
 Right?

00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:13.139
 That's how it feels.

00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:13.960
 That's so sad.

00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:16.620
 But in this barrenness,

00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:16.900
 yeah,

00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:17.920
 God says,

00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:19.420
 I can bring life.

00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:20.940
 And that's why he gave them a baby.

00:13:21.560 --> 00:13:22.240
 And in a way,

00:13:22.280 --> 00:13:23.580
 that's exactly what he's doing now.

00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:23.860
 Right?

00:13:24.420 --> 00:13:26.280
 Just to remind us of that promise here,

00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:27.500
 we have another old couple.

00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:29.620
 They're probably in their late 50s,

00:13:29.680 --> 00:13:30.300
 nearly 60,

00:13:30.400 --> 00:13:31.900
 which was retirement age for priests.

00:13:32.680 --> 00:13:33.100
 And,

00:13:33.180 --> 00:13:33.560
 uh,

00:13:33.900 --> 00:13:34.740
 they were barren.

00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:35.720
 But God says,

00:13:35.780 --> 00:13:37.000
 you are going to have a baby.

00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:38.400
 Uh,

00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:39.279
 a child,

00:13:39.459 --> 00:13:39.939
 a child.

00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:40.879
 And,

00:13:40.959 --> 00:13:41.100
 uh,

00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:41.319
 yeah.

00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:42.379
 In a way,

00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:43.379
 a child that they were,

00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.079
 well,

00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:45.139
 more than any child.

00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:45.399
 Right?

00:13:45.939 --> 00:13:46.240
 I mean,

00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:46.740
 it says,

00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:47.100
 uh,

00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:50.600
 it is what Zechariah was praying for.

00:13:50.699 --> 00:13:50.840
 Right?

00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:52.779
 The angel starts,

00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:53.779
 verse 13 with,

00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:54.100
 uh,

00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:55.039
 don't not be afraid,

00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:55.720
 Zechariah,

00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:57.899
 for your prayer has been heard.

00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:00.340
 Now we hear that and we think,

00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:00.559
 okay,

00:14:00.579 --> 00:14:01.779
 they were praying for a baby.

00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:03.939
 My guess is late 50s,

00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:05.399
 they had stopped praying for a baby.

00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:06.460
 No,

00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:08.379
 what have they just been praying for?

00:14:08.939 --> 00:14:09.159
 Well,

00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:10.659
 he is in the temple.

00:14:10.819 --> 00:14:12.039
 He is offering incense.

00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:12.759
 Right?

00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:14.100
 Incense has to do with prayer.

00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:17.000
 He was here in the temple praying for the nation.

00:14:17.199 --> 00:14:17.480
 God,

00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:18.699
 please save us.

00:14:19.079 --> 00:14:20.480
 Please fulfill your promises.

00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:21.539
 Right?

00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:24.779
 You don't pray in the nation for personal stuff.

00:14:25.459 --> 00:14:28.360
 Imagine Sherman coming up here a moment ago and praying.

00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:28.959
 And she says,

00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:29.159
 oh,

00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:29.659
 Lord,

00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:30.399
 my foot hurts.

00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:31.019
 Please heal me.

00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:31.240
 And,

00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:31.439
 uh,

00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.720
 Simon has knee pain.

00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:35.220
 And please help Esther to settle into her marriage.

00:14:35.319 --> 00:14:35.480
 And,

00:14:35.579 --> 00:14:35.620
 uh,

00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:36.779
 we're going to travel with Christmas.

00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:37.720
 That'd be weird.

00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:37.960
 Right?

00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:39.780
 If you're up in front,

00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:42.019
 you pray for the nation.

00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:42.920
 You pray for the people.

00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.800
 And that was what Zechariah was doing.

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.500
 He was praying for God to fulfill his promises.

00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:50.720
 And God sends an angel and says,

00:14:50.780 --> 00:14:52.060
 your prayer has been heard.

00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:52.920
 Right?

00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:54.179
 salvation is coming.

00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:57.199
 The fulfillment of the promise is here.

00:14:58.139 --> 00:14:58.559
 And that,

00:14:58.559 --> 00:14:58.799
 that,

00:14:58.799 --> 00:14:58.839
 that,

00:14:58.839 --> 00:15:00.019
 that is the feeling here.

00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:00.860
 Right?

00:15:00.959 --> 00:15:01.919
 You will have a son,

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:02.919
 but not just for you.

00:15:03.079 --> 00:15:03.439
 No,

00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:07.399
 he will be a national figure who will bring the people back to God,

00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:08.539
 back to the Lord,

00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:09.039
 their God.

00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:10.839
 But I hope you see the point,

00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:11.039
 right?

00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:11.779
 All of this is,

00:15:11.839 --> 00:15:12.959
 is fulfillment.

00:15:12.959 --> 00:15:13.860
 It's old.

00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:18.699
 It's the old Testament of all these thousands of years coming to completion.

00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:19.639
 Right?

00:15:19.719 --> 00:15:20.480
 Christmas is a,

00:15:20.699 --> 00:15:22.120
 God hasn't just shown up recently.

00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:29.059
 God has been at work in the world and coming down and speaking and promising and saving for ages.

00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:30.959
 This is old.

00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:31.859
 This is a,

00:15:32.119 --> 00:15:32.219
 yeah,

00:15:32.299 --> 00:15:32.699
 Christmas.

00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:33.759
 It's not new.

00:15:34.819 --> 00:15:35.459
 It is,

00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:35.959
 uh,

00:15:36.539 --> 00:15:36.759
 yeah,

00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:37.859
 it has a history.

00:15:37.979 --> 00:15:39.159
 It has a track record.

00:15:39.339 --> 00:15:41.039
 It has a very long CV.

00:15:41.439 --> 00:15:41.699
 Right?

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.479
 That makes sense.

00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:43.739
 I mean,

00:15:43.739 --> 00:15:45.699
 we talk about the first coming of Jesus,

00:15:45.839 --> 00:15:45.979
 right?

00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:47.399
 Christmas was the first coming.

00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:49.379
 And in some ways that is true.

00:15:49.979 --> 00:15:50.179
 Yeah?

00:15:50.179 --> 00:15:55.119
 Because the incarnation was special because at this time God took on a human nature,

00:15:55.239 --> 00:15:55.419
 right?

00:15:55.439 --> 00:15:57.239
 And God walked around in a human body.

00:15:57.599 --> 00:15:58.559
 That was amazing.

00:15:59.059 --> 00:16:02.299
 But it's not the first time that the son of God came to earth.

00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:05.639
 The son of God has been to earth hundreds of times,

00:16:05.739 --> 00:16:05.859
 right?

00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:08.619
 He appeared to Abraham a couple of times and to Isaac,

00:16:08.739 --> 00:16:12.359
 to Jacob and to Moses in the burning bush and a Mount Sinai.

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:16.859
 And later again with Moses on the Mount Sinai and to Joshua,

00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:17.500
 et cetera.

00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:18.319
 And in the desert,

00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:21.079
 God had been there hundreds of times.

00:16:22.439 --> 00:16:25.119
 And so when he says fulfillment is here,

00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:27.079
 the son of God will come.

00:16:27.479 --> 00:16:27.879
 Well,

00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:28.699
 we can trust it,

00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:28.879
 right?

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.799
 We can believe it.

00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:32.240
 It's because he's done it so often.

00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:36.039
 Like a silly illustration,

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.500
 but we often have visitors here.

00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:38.100
 That's wonderful.

00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:39.039
 If you're a visitor,

00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:39.980
 you're very welcome.

00:16:40.580 --> 00:16:42.100
 And you speak to them and they always say,

00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:42.220
 well,

00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.059
 see you next week.

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:43.820
 Actually,

00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:45.620
 most of them don't come back because,

00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:45.960
 you know,

00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:48.759
 maybe they don't like the church or Ebenezer is too far.

00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:50.240
 And that's perfectly okay.

00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:50.620
 You know,

00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:51.620
 there's other good churches,

00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:52.159
 no problem.

00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:56.219
 But why do I know I'm not upset?

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:56.480
 Well,

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:58.379
 because they've only been here once.

00:16:59.019 --> 00:17:01.259
 And so doesn't mean they'll come back.

00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:03.019
 But if Celeste would say,

00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:03.899
 see you next week,

00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:04.400
 I mean,

00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.720
 she's been here for 12 years,

00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:05.940
 right?

00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:07.339
 Or more,

00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:08.259
 more at 13 years,

00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:08.900
 14 years.

00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:10.599
 Okay.

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.419
 So if she says,

00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:12.259
 see you next week,

00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:16.500
 I really know she'll be back because she has been here for so many years.

00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:20.500
 She has been so committed and God has been so committed to these people.

00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:22.599
 He's been so committed to his salvation plan.

00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:24.019
 When he says,

00:17:24.219 --> 00:17:25.419
 Jesus will come,

00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.399
 he will come,

00:17:26.459 --> 00:17:26.619
 right?

00:17:26.659 --> 00:17:28.659
 Because he's come so many times already.

00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:30.259
 That's the feeling here.

00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.240
 That's wonderful.

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:34.159
 And it's so different from some other religions,

00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:34.459
 right?

00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.399
 You know,

00:17:35.419 --> 00:17:38.500
 you go to the bookshop and there's this section of new age books.

00:17:38.679 --> 00:17:40.359
 And every year there's someone,

00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:42.159
 who shows up and says,

00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:42.419
 okay,

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:45.019
 God appeared to me and he told me the truth.

00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:46.199
 And I wrote a book about it.

00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:46.959
 Please buy it.

00:17:46.959 --> 00:17:48.079
 If you want to know the truth.

00:17:48.719 --> 00:17:50.879
 And I always feel really,

00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:51.899
 right?

00:17:52.459 --> 00:17:54.519
 If God cares so much about us,

00:17:54.579 --> 00:17:55.719
 why didn't he do that earlier?

00:17:55.919 --> 00:17:58.500
 Why did he only show up now and tell you this message?

00:17:59.359 --> 00:17:59.599
 All right?

00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:02.159
 I find it very hard to believe.

00:18:02.939 --> 00:18:03.139
 Now,

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.799
 you need a bit of a track record,

00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:05.079
 right?

00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:09.379
 And the fact that Christmas goes back in a way to the garden of Eden,

00:18:10.179 --> 00:18:10.299
 right?

00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:11.500
 All the way to the beginning.

00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:13.299
 Always God has been speaking.

00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.319
 God has been at work.

00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:16.700
 It should give us confidence.

00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:19.079
 If you're a visitor here,

00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:20.319
 you're looking into Christianity.

00:18:21.099 --> 00:18:23.539
 Was this just one guy with crazy ideas?

00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.000
 No.

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:26.579
 It's got an incredibly long history.

00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:28.399
 2000 years.

00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.299
 And before that,

00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:30.980
 Old Testament Judaism.

00:18:31.159 --> 00:18:32.159
 And even before that,

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:34.200
 it's so reliable.

00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:35.200
 Old Testament.

00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:36.240
 And it's the same in a way for,

00:18:36.340 --> 00:18:37.960
 that's why I like Christmas to feel old.

00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:38.740
 Because,

00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:38.900
 hey,

00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.960
 this is not a new thing.

00:18:40.080 --> 00:18:42.600
 It's not something Watermark has invented to,

00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.360
 you know,

00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:44.960
 present the gospel.

00:18:45.600 --> 00:18:47.259
 Christmas goes back so long.

00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:48.819
 This is reliable.

00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:49.759
 This is real.

00:18:49.860 --> 00:18:50.720
 You can trust it.

00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:52.519
 We can trust this God.

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:55.779
 And it doesn't mean that everything that's old is true.

00:18:56.379 --> 00:18:58.000
 There's lots of superstitions.

00:18:58.639 --> 00:19:00.119
 And folk religions that,

00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:00.660
 you know,

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:02.160
 go back for a long time.

00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:04.180
 Just because it's old doesn't mean it's true.

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.240
 But if it's not old,

00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:06.240
 if it's brand new,

00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:07.400
 and no one's heard it before,

00:19:08.120 --> 00:19:09.900
 why would we trust it,

00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.080
 right?

00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:10.940
 Why would it be true?

00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.220
 Now,

00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:14.580
 you're trusting in something solid,

00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.980
 and reliable,

00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.200
 with a long history.

00:19:18.620 --> 00:19:19.860
 And that's a wonderful thing.

00:19:21.040 --> 00:19:21.120
 Yeah?

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:23.300
 It does mean we need to read the Old Testament.

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.320
 That is why we just went through Samuel.

00:19:26.040 --> 00:19:26.440
 Because,

00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:29.240
 that's the hundreds of times that God has come before,

00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:30.400
 the coming of Jesus.

00:19:30.620 --> 00:19:31.380
 And we need to,

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:33.340
 we need that to have confidence.

00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:36.400
 Now,

00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:36.680
 in a way,

00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.380
 that's encouraging.

00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:39.840
 At the same time,

00:19:40.040 --> 00:19:41.600
 Christmas is not just old,

00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:41.920
 though.

00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:44.019
 Because when you read this,

00:19:44.320 --> 00:19:45.320
 at the same time,

00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:47.300
 Christmas is new.

00:19:48.280 --> 00:19:50.680
 It's in line with everything that's come before,

00:19:51.060 --> 00:19:51.660
 and yet,

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.340
 it's new.

00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.900
 It's different.

00:19:54.280 --> 00:19:56.340
 It's a change from what came before.

00:19:57.380 --> 00:19:58.060
 Of course,

00:19:58.140 --> 00:19:58.360
 in a way,

00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:58.860
 it's new.

00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.840
 That's why the people were praying.

00:20:01.040 --> 00:20:01.960
 That's why they were waiting,

00:20:02.100 --> 00:20:02.240
 right?

00:20:02.280 --> 00:20:05.220
 They didn't want things to stay the same way they were.

00:20:05.340 --> 00:20:07.019
 They wanted God to come and do,

00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:09.259
 deal with the Romans and do something,

00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:09.519
 right?

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.660
 They wanted something new.

00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:12.139
 But,

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:13.220
 it's more than that.

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.700
 Because,

00:20:14.139 --> 00:20:14.319
 yeah,

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:18.259
 this passage is the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist.

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.759
 And he has a job to do.

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.099
 So,

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:21.480
 look with me at verse 16.

00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:22.799
 What will John do?

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:29.119
 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:34.220
 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah,

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:37.180
 to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,

00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:40.400
 and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,

00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:43.860
 to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.

00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.400
 Now,

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:48.299
 you hear all that language of bringing people back,

00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:49.279
 bringing,

00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.220
 making people ready,

00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:53.059
 making people prepared for the Lord,

00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:55.920
 which kind of applies there currently not ready.

00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:57.800
 I mean,

00:20:57.840 --> 00:20:58.080
 in a way,

00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:58.779
 this is not,

00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.700
 this is not new.

00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:01.440
 This is fulfillment of the Old Testament.

00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:02.779
 I mean,

00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:04.400
 let's go to Malachi.

00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:06.680
 Let's go to chapter four,

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:09.340
 the last verses of the last book of the last,

00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:12.100
 the last chapter of the last book of the Old Testament.

00:21:12.820 --> 00:21:13.580
 Malachi four.

00:21:14.580 --> 00:21:14.980
 Behold,

00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:17.220
 I will send you Elijah the prophet,

00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:20.340
 before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:24.379
 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of

00:21:24.379 --> 00:21:25.639
 children to their fathers.

00:21:26.439 --> 00:21:28.240
 That is John the Baptist.

00:21:28.419 --> 00:21:31.779
 He is this Elijah who will turn the fathers to the children,

00:21:31.959 --> 00:21:32.279
 et cetera.

00:21:33.199 --> 00:21:34.459
 Why fathers and children?

00:21:34.899 --> 00:21:37.079
 Basically because family is kind of,

00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:38.500
 it's the heart of society,

00:21:38.699 --> 00:21:38.879
 right?

00:21:39.419 --> 00:21:41.039
 Where do people learn to love others?

00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:43.879
 That starts when you're a child and you need to get on with your siblings.

00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.839
 Where do you learn to obey?

00:21:46.179 --> 00:21:46.299
 Well,

00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:48.399
 you learn it when you obey your parents,

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:48.599
 right?

00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.819
 When families are right,

00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:51.779
 all of society will be right.

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.359
 It's the idea.

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:54.699
 So at the heart of society,

00:21:54.919 --> 00:21:56.000
 John will,

00:21:56.939 --> 00:21:58.339
 this Elijah will sort out.

00:21:59.539 --> 00:21:59.779
 But,

00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.899
 but why is that important?

00:22:01.419 --> 00:22:01.699
 Well,

00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.179
 the rest of verse six,

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:03.379
 right?

00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:07.039
 Lest I come and strike the land with utter destruction.

00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:14.879
 And there's going to be judgment and people need to get ready because they are rebels.

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.740
 They are sinners.

00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:17.219
 They need forgiveness.

00:22:17.219 --> 00:22:18.199
 They need to turn.

00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:19.039
 Otherwise,

00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:20.480
 they will not stand in a judgment.

00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:21.859
 And Jesus,

00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:24.459
 the coming of the Messiah is not the salvation.

00:22:24.719 --> 00:22:25.579
 It's also judgment.

00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:29.059
 And it can only be salvation if people repent.

00:22:30.199 --> 00:22:31.559
 And the people aren't ready.

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.819
 They didn't,

00:22:33.699 --> 00:22:33.859
 yeah,

00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.339
 they deserve judgment.

00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.179
 And so far,

00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.379
 God has been,

00:22:37.719 --> 00:22:38.579
 has overlooked it.

00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:39.319
 So far,

00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:41.299
 he's done not much about it.

00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:42.940
 But that's going to change.

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.500
 This is the real thing.

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.279
 This is the fulfillment.

00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:46.059
 This is different.

00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:46.819
 This is new.

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:49.339
 And now they really need to be ready.

00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:51.319
 And that is why in his love,

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:55.180
 God sends John to go and preach,

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:55.740
 right?

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:57.139
 To a prophet,

00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:58.639
 to tell people to get ready.

00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:00.860
 But that's very important.

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:02.080
 Christianity is old,

00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:03.720
 but it's also new.

00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:07.600
 Something dramatic and different has happened with Christmas.

00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:09.280
 It's in line with the old,

00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:10.020
 but it changed.

00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:11.480
 And so we need to respond.

00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.120
 It's not automatic.

00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.940
 It wasn't for the Jews,

00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:16.700
 like automatic.

00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.900
 They needed to respond.

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:19.420
 I mean,

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:21.720
 we think of Jesus bringing us back to God,

00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:22.860
 but here it says,

00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:24.779
 John will bring people back to God.

00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.360
 Why?

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:27.740
 Because he will call people to respond.

00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:29.860
 He will tell people to repent,

00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:31.339
 to turn back.

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:32.579
 Right?

00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.500
 Christmas is great.

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.519
 It's worth celebrating,

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:36.000
 but it's not automatic.

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.839
 You need to respond.

00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:43.159
 And it's so easy to just think your background makes you okay.

00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:43.399
 Right?

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.240
 All the Jews,

00:23:44.459 --> 00:23:45.139
 they thought,

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:45.339
 well,

00:23:45.419 --> 00:23:46.000
 we're ready.

00:23:46.159 --> 00:23:46.779
 We're the Jews.

00:23:46.919 --> 00:23:47.519
 But no,

00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:48.000
 they were not.

00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:52.299
 And that's why Christianity looked so different from before.

00:23:52.459 --> 00:23:52.619
 Right?

00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:55.240
 That's why you have all these churches with Gentiles,

00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.240
 because they responded.

00:23:56.879 --> 00:24:00.480
 And the Jews generally often did not respond in Jesus' time.

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.019
 I mean,

00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:04.139
 you get that partly with Zechariah's response.

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:04.419
 Right?

00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:07.439
 Because I don't know if you've noticed,

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:10.640
 this story sounded very similar to Mary in some way.

00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:11.820
 And the next story,

00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.940
 next week will be Mary.

00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:13.799
 And again,

00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:15.000
 here is someone,

00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:19.700
 and the angel Gabriel shows up and talks about a baby boy going to be born.

00:24:19.820 --> 00:24:19.940
 Right?

00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:20.900
 Very similar story.

00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.660
 But very similar,

00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.779
 very different responses.

00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:24.080
 Right?

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.700
 Because we know Mary,

00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:27.220
 and Mary gets told,

00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.320
 she's a virgin,

00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.500
 but she's going to give birth.

00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.620
 And she says,

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:30.820
 well,

00:24:30.860 --> 00:24:31.960
 I'm the Lord's servant.

00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:34.080
 May it be according to your word.

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.059
 Yeah?

00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:36.279
 Verse 45 says,

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:38.379
 blessed is she who has believed.

00:24:39.619 --> 00:24:40.700
 But here's Zechariah.

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.799
 And the angel says,

00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:43.639
 you're going to have a baby.

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.259
 And verse 18,

00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:47.279
 how shall I know this?

00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:48.639
 For I'm an old man,

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:50.220
 and my wife is advanced in years.

00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:50.500
 Right?

00:24:50.819 --> 00:24:51.859
 He doesn't believe it.

00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:53.160
 That's what the angel says.

00:24:53.399 --> 00:24:53.660
 Okay,

00:24:54.399 --> 00:24:56.299
 you won't be able to speak for nine months,

00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.500
 because you didn't believe it.

00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:58.940
 Which in a way is a shock,

00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.180
 right?

00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:00.079
 Here is the priest.

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:00.779
 You know,

00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:02.200
 he's nearly 60.

00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:05.099
 He's been the priest for most of his life.

00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.920
 He is in the temple,

00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:08.420
 praying for the nation.

00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.420
 And God says,

00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.440
 your prayer is answered.

00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:11.039
 And he says,

00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:11.819
 I don't believe it.

00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:12.480
 Right?

00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:12.960
 That's,

00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:14.339
 isn't it a shock?

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.379
 And here is the poor teenage girl.

00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:18.960
 And she is told a similar,

00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:20.200
 an even more difficult message.

00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:21.059
 And she believes it.

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.700
 It's a contrast,

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:23.980
 right?

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.539
 You need to respond.

00:25:25.879 --> 00:25:27.200
 And you can be the priest.

00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:29.940
 But if you don't respond well,

00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:30.399
 well,

00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:32.700
 you get a slap in the face,

00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.139
 kind of,

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.359
 right?

00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:35.079
 You can't speak for nine months,

00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:36.159
 or worse.

00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.799
 But that's the thing,

00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:38.039
 right?

00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:40.240
 You need to respond.

00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:42.159
 And it doesn't matter whether you're the priest.

00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:44.259
 It doesn't matter that you're from the family of Aaron.

00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:45.099
 Right?

00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:45.839
 Or for us,

00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:47.779
 it doesn't matter that you come from a Christian family.

00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:50.980
 It doesn't matter that you come to church all your life.

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:53.039
 It doesn't matter that your dad is a pastor,

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.579
 or whatever.

00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:55.059
 It doesn't matter.

00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.619
 Did you respond?

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.740
 That is what this passage says.

00:25:58.879 --> 00:26:00.039
 We need to respond,

00:26:00.159 --> 00:26:00.339
 right?

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.859
 God says,

00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.480
 John the Baptist,

00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.940
 because people need to respond.

00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.480
 Christmas is new.

00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.759
 We need to respond.

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.420
 And so,

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.180
 yeah,

00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:10.899
 are you ready for Christmas?

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.619
 Which doesn't mean,

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.920
 are the presents in the post?

00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:14.659
 No.

00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.779
 Are we ready for Jesus coming?

00:26:17.159 --> 00:26:19.480
 Have we responded to Jesus?

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:21.759
 And no matter who you are,

00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:22.279
 yeah,

00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:22.960
 have you responded?

00:26:23.399 --> 00:26:24.960
 Tradition is not enough.

00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.099
 You know,

00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:28.879
 being comfortable in church is not enough.

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.700
 Have you responded to Jesus?

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.359
 Have you,

00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.000
 well,

00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:34.180
 have you seen your needs?

00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:34.639
 That's,

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:34.879
 well,

00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:36.819
 there'll be utter destruction

00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:38.819
 because of our sin.

00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:39.420
 That's actually,

00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:41.180
 we may not have committed big sins,

00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.200
 but actually,

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:44.240
 we've been going our own way all our lives,

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:46.299
 and we're just not in relationship with God.

00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.039
 And wonderfully,

00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.759
 Jesus wants us back.

00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.399
 He died,

00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.700
 he became a human being,

00:26:51.820 --> 00:26:53.360
 so he could die on the cross

00:26:53.360 --> 00:26:54.880
 to bring forgiveness to us,

00:26:55.780 --> 00:26:58.700
 and that is ready for us to receive it.

00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.980
 But we need to ask for it.

00:27:00.040 --> 00:27:02.380
 We need to turn away from our sin.

00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:03.080
 We need to,

00:27:03.080 --> 00:27:03.519
 well,

00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:03.940
 repent,

00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.440
 and come back to him,

00:27:05.780 --> 00:27:07.860
 and start a new life with him,

00:27:08.080 --> 00:27:09.100
 where we trust him,

00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:10.140
 where we follow him,

00:27:10.820 --> 00:27:12.860
 becoming a Christian.

00:27:13.860 --> 00:27:15.620
 That is what we need to do.

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:18.179
 And that is what this passage makes clear.

00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:18.519
 Look,

00:27:18.919 --> 00:27:19.779
 right at the start,

00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:20.059
 yes,

00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:20.719
 this is old,

00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:22.439
 but we need to respond.

00:27:22.659 --> 00:27:23.559
 It's not automatic.

00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:27.039
 I hope we've done that.

00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:27.939
 I hope you want to do that.

00:27:27.979 --> 00:27:28.719
 If you want to know more,

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:30.099
 come and talk to me after the service.

00:27:30.179 --> 00:27:31.439
 I'd love to help you respond.

00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:35.259
 At the same time,

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.239
 most of us here,

00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:36.659
 we have,

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:36.959
 right?

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:38.019
 We have responded.

00:27:38.159 --> 00:27:39.279
 We have turned from our sin.

00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.939
 We're walking with Jesus.

00:27:42.239 --> 00:27:42.619
 Well,

00:27:42.719 --> 00:27:43.859
 here's another application

00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:46.599
 that I think flows naturally out of that.

00:27:46.699 --> 00:27:48.859
 How about getting others ready?

00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.639
 Not just us,

00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:52.059
 but others too,

00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:53.539
 because there's a whole world

00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:55.299
 that is not ready to meet with Jesus,

00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:55.539
 right?

00:27:56.399 --> 00:27:57.479
 And they need to hear,

00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:59.000
 and they need to turn.

00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:00.859
 In a way,

00:28:01.179 --> 00:28:02.479
 Jesus has a first coming

00:28:02.479 --> 00:28:03.419
 and a second coming,

00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.699
 and they are very similar,

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:07.219
 just that the first coming was to Israel,

00:28:07.699 --> 00:28:09.500
 the second coming is to the whole world.

00:28:10.459 --> 00:28:11.779
 But in both cases,

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:13.960
 we have something very similar.

00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:15.660
 But before the first coming,

00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:18.240
 God sends a spirit-filled prophet,

00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:18.839
 John,

00:28:19.399 --> 00:28:20.720
 to warn people,

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.680
 to help them get ready.

00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:23.180
 Well,

00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:24.799
 we get exactly the same thing

00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.420
 in Acts,

00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:26.180
 in volume two.

00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:28.160
 What does Jesus do?

00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:28.339
 Well,

00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:30.039
 this is actually another Old Testament quote,

00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:30.319
 right?

00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.740
 In the last days,

00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.420
 it shall be,

00:28:32.619 --> 00:28:33.359
 God declares,

00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:35.700
 that I will pour out my spirit

00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:36.680
 on all flesh,

00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:38.440
 and your sons and your daughters

00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:39.440
 shall prophesy.

00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:41.820
 We'll all be spirit-filled prophets.

00:28:42.820 --> 00:28:43.220
 When?

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:43.600
 Well,

00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:43.940
 again,

00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:45.480
 before the day of the Lord comes,

00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.980
 the great and magnificent day,

00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.820
 and it shall come to pass

00:28:48.820 --> 00:28:50.420
 that everyone who calls upon the name

00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:50.880
 of the Lord

00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:51.660
 shall be saved.

00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:54.019
 In his love,

00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:56.340
 God sends spirit-filled prophets

00:28:56.340 --> 00:28:57.400
 throughout the world

00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:59.600
 to warn of the coming day

00:28:59.600 --> 00:29:00.160
 of the Lord,

00:29:00.840 --> 00:29:02.680
 so that everyone who calls

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.640
 on the name of the Lord

00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:05.059
 will be saved.

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:07.680
 It's exactly the same thing.

00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.420
 And who is that?

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:08.580
 Well,

00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:08.720
 yeah,

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.240
 that's us,

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:09.440
 right?

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.880
 Us Christians.

00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:13.000
 God's given us the spirit

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:14.460
 to empower us

00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.519
 to share the gospel

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:17.560
 so that people can be ready.

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:19.039
 Christmas is great,

00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:20.120
 but it's not automatic.

00:29:20.340 --> 00:29:21.640
 People need to hear,

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:24.039
 and they need to hear it from us.

00:29:25.060 --> 00:29:25.279
 So,

00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:26.360
 I don't know,

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:28.039
 have you used these cards?

00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:29.180
 Have you invited your friends

00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:30.279
 to the Christmas day service?

00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.880
 It would be a great thing to do.

00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:33.700
 Are you doing maybe something

00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.380
 with your CG

00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:36.160
 to get people together

00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:37.300
 and introduce them

00:29:37.300 --> 00:29:38.020
 to Christians?

00:29:38.360 --> 00:29:38.760
 Are you,

00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.440
 you know,

00:29:39.540 --> 00:29:40.820
 there's an explore course

00:29:40.820 --> 00:29:42.040
 coming up again in February.

00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:43.720
 Let's make sure

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.600
 we share the gospel

00:29:44.600 --> 00:29:47.040
 that people can hear,

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.560
 that people can respond,

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.700
 that people can be ready.

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.080
 That is,

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:51.480
 I think,

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:54.060
 a very natural application

00:29:54.060 --> 00:29:54.980
 of this passage.

00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:55.840
 And then Christmas

00:29:55.840 --> 00:29:56.480
 can indeed

00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:58.600
 be joy to the world

00:29:58.600 --> 00:30:00.520
 for everyone who responds.

00:30:02.520 --> 00:30:04.080
 Why don't we pray for that?

00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:04.780
 Amen.

00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:16.140
 Our Father,

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.940
 thank you that

00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:19.660
 this message is true

00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.340
 and reliable.

00:30:20.780 --> 00:30:21.520
 Thank you that

00:30:21.520 --> 00:30:23.900
 for thousands of years

00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:24.700
 you've been at work

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.160
 in the world,

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.540
 and we know

00:30:26.540 --> 00:30:27.360
 you will come again.

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.300
 You will send your son

00:30:28.300 --> 00:30:29.840
 to make everything right.

00:30:30.580 --> 00:30:30.820
 Father,

00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:31.500
 help each of us

00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.360
 to be ready for that,

00:30:32.359 --> 00:30:34.699
 to surrender

00:30:34.699 --> 00:30:35.359
 while we can,

00:30:35.479 --> 00:30:37.159
 to turn to Jesus,

00:30:37.339 --> 00:30:38.459
 to find new life,

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.379
 to find forgiveness,

00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:40.219
 to find hope.

00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:41.419
 And Father,

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.759
 we want many people

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.559
 to hear that news

00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:44.299
 this Christmas day.

00:30:44.379 --> 00:30:45.199
 We want many people

00:30:45.199 --> 00:30:47.259
 to come to hear

00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:48.959
 and to have new life.

00:30:49.099 --> 00:30:51.159
 We want to share this.

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.619
 We want to see

00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:54.179
 you save people.

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.319
 So please do that work.

00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:57.079
 Use us as you want

00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:59.139
 and would we see

00:30:59.139 --> 00:30:59.799
 great fruit.

00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:00.839
 Lord,

00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:01.899
 in Jesus' name.

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:02.559
 Amen.