The Birth of John the Baptist Luke 1:56-66 // 1-23 16 December, 2018 Mamlaka – Rwaka Fred Nyabera Prepare Him Room

INTRODUCTION The Christmas Story is a story about God Vs. 66 'For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.' The story is a story about God. God is the main player in this drama. God is the main actor. It is the hand of the Lord that Luke wants us to see here. This is true of everything in Scripture. Psalm 19:7 calls the Bible the testimony of the Lord. First and foremost, the Bible is the revelation of God. It is His own word on Himself. INTRODUCTION The Christmas Story is a story about God What you think about God shapes your whole relationship with Him.

The Real God: How He Longs for You to See Him by Chip Ingram We will look at how God reveals himself in in four ways In 4 ways we see the hand of God in this text. Prepare Him Room Until you know God as he is, you'll never become all that he’s created you to be The Real God: How He Longs for You to See Him by Chip Ingram

First, the promise of God is true. When God speaks, he speaks the truth. (Contrast vs 13 & 57) See - Numbers 23:19, 1st Kings 8:56, Hebrews 6:18 &John 17:17 You can rely on him 100% to fulfill his promises…He will never let you down. Prepare Him Room First, the promise of God is true.  Because God’s character is faithful , the statements he makes are always true.

Secondly, God’s timing is perfect. Vs 57 "The time had come.” Verse 57 says, "The time had come." What god promises, he delivers in time 400 years of silence seemed as if God’s plan of redemption had come to a grinding halt. God had promised his people in the very last book of the OT, before the 400 years of silence…in Malachi 3:1a, “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.” John the Baptist was that messanger. Prepare Him Room Secondly, God’s timing is perfect. God’s delays are not God’s denials

Thirdly , God’s unfolding purpose is gracious. Vs 60, ”but his mother spoke and said. "No! he shall be called John." John… in Greek… means "God is gracious" God wanted that child named "God is gracious" because God's purpose through that child and the Messiah he would declare was gracious. God is being gracious to the world. He's sending His grace and John is key in that sending. Prepare Him Room Thirdly , God’s unfolding purpose is gracious.  Grace is the free, undeserved goodness and favor of God to mankind. Matthew Henry

Fourthly, God’s power is wondrous. Vs 64, "And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he began to speak in praise of God." 1. Now, this is a miracle. 2. This is God's power on display. 3. His power is defined in Scripture as great and strong and glorious and everlasting and sovereign and effective and irresistible and incomprehensible and incomparable and unsearchable. Prepare Him Room Fourthly, God’s power is wondrous.  "Nothing is impossible for the people of God who trust in the power of God to accomplish the will of God." ~ David Platt

Application: Prepare Him Room THREE WAYS TO RESPOND First in Worship: Vs 64 Secondly be a witness: Vs 65 Thirdly create time to meditate on God’s word vs 66. Prepare Him Room Application:

CONCLUSION The message of Christmas is that the main character is God “For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him." The message of Christmas is that the main character is God The inescapable conclusion Luke makes is that…God is acting preemptively and graciously in human history.