ARE YOU READY FOR CHRISTMAS?

 

Luke 1:5-17 

Amazement of Zechariah 

v. 13  “You will have a son”—wife no longer barren—great news! 

v. 14 “You will have joy and gladness—many will rejoice with you”—sounds true of birth of a normal child. 

v. 15

·        “great in eyes of LORD”—maybe a priest or help with Temple

·        “no alcoholic drink”—set apart—Nazirite vow—good.

·        “filled with HS even before birth”—Whoa!

o     Only filling of Spirit in OT was for special service to Lord—not everyone--prophets

o     Before birth—amazing 

v. 16  “persuade many Israelites—turn to God”—turn back, repent—message of prophet 

v. 17

• “spirit and power of Elijah”—great prophet—but is there more—prophecy of Elijah’s coming
• “precede the coming of Lord”—predicted in Isaiah 40:3—fulfillment of prophecy—Whoa—my son—the forerunner?
• “turn hearts of fathers to children”—Mal. 4:5-6  Further fulfillment of prophecy—the one coming before Messiah
• Does this mean Messiah is NOW coming?

Do you know any families where the hearts of parents and children need to be restored again? 

Know anyone who needs minds/hearts changed—turn away from sin and turn to God?  Return to God they once served? 

Zechariah amazed—message from angel of who and what his son would be and do. 

Gradually sunk in—gradually revealed 

Message of repentance—salvation—missions

Lottie Moon—message of missions—a forerunner—preparing the way of the Lord in China—now all over world 

Amazing what God has done throughout the world! 

Is He done yet? 

Amazing what has happened through Lottie Moon offering. 

In giving and praying, we are “forerunners”—aid in turning people to God—aid in restoring family relationships 

Going too—Is everyone you know ready for Christmas—real meaning? 

             Show it—by your life 

             Pray it—individually by name/situation 

             Tell it—as opportunity arises 

Missions is not just in China, Nigeria, Iraq or Brazil—missions is here. 

International luncheon is missions—worldwide

Ministry/witness/missions in community—among families—near is missions worldwide also. 

Are you ready for Christmas?

• Amazed at God
• Heart turned to God
• Relationships with loved ones restored
• Living/giving/telling the message of Jesus

Till these are present, maybe you’re not ready. 

What could God do—this Christmas—that would amaze you?