Luke 1  Blessed Christmas for Believers  2019

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I. Righteous and Blameless Believers can receive negative consequences by not acting in Faith (whatever is not of faith is sin -Rm 14:23)

Lk 1:4 that you may know the certainty...instructed. 6 Zach/Liz were both righteous before God, walking in all the  commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 9 acc his lot fell to burn incense  13 "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 16 he will REturn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God  18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years. 19 Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time

II. Blessed Believers have a Biblical view of God, His promises, and Respond in humble submission, trust, and obedient following

A. Sought to understand God's will and ways; found favor with God;  knew His word, ie 1Sam 2; 15 OT allusions; rejoiced in God

30 Angel: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 you will conceive...a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Mary: "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"

B. We must humbly submit to God's will/plan for our lives, trusting Him for the “impossible” fulfillment of His Revelation/promises

35 The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Elizabeth conceived a son in her old age; 37 For with God nothing will be impossible."

38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant/slave of the Lord! Let it be to me acc to your word."  And the angel departed from her. 

45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." 

C. Humbly worship God with words, will/actions, and emotions acknowledging need for a Savior (so much for Immaculate Conception heresy) 

46 Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.  APP: Focus on Person, not just provision

D. Accurately understand His purposes, character, acts, Hesed and promises as revealed in the Scripture; Personal praise for blessings 

48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant/slave;  henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.       APP: What thingS has God done for you?

D1. His Hesed (covenantal loyalty) is for those who fear Him and fulfill the requirements of faithful obedience

50 And His mercy/hesed is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. (as explained in vv51-52)

51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. (deluded/deceived) 

52 He has put down the mighty from thrones, and exalted the lowly 53 filled the hungry with good things..rich He has sent away empty

Rm 3:17 ”And the way of peace (cov't blessing) they have not known. Isa 59 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes” Ps 36:1

D2. His Hesed is expressed in remembering His (OT) promises to fulfill His covenantal obligations (ie help)  as we fulfill ours

54 He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy/hesed 55 as He spoke to our fathers, Abraham and his seed forever

72 To perform the hesed promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,  73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham

III. Blessed believers experience God's hesed/covenantal promises: redemption, light and guidance into paths of peace/blessing

67 Zach filled HS, prophesied: 68 “Blessed Lord God of Israel, He has visited and redeemed His people 69 and raised horn of salvation for us in house of His servant David 2Sam 7 Davidic Cov't,  70 as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago NIV  71 That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, 72 to fulfill hesed.. remember cov't 74 to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, (?His part:Our part?)  might serve Him without fear (of enemies), 75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life  76 you (John), prophet of the Highest; go before the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, 78 thru the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" 

Isa 9:2 (Galilee) people in darkness have seen a great Light...shadow of death, Light has shined 6 To us a Child is born, Son is given;  rule-government will be upon Him. His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His rule and peace be no end, Sit on throne of David/kingdom, to order and establish it with justice and righteousness...forever

Jn 1:1...Word was impft God 3 All things were made thru Him, 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men 5 Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 7 (John) bear witness of the Light, that all thru him might believe. 12 as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name 14 And Word became flesh...

Lk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men on those on whom: His favor rests/He is pleased Ps 147:11

IV. Being a Blessed Believer doesn't spare us from the heartbreak of other's sin (but the God of all grace can comfort and sustain us).

Lk 2:30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,  

32 a Light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and (bring?) the glory of Your people Israel."

34 Simeon blessed them, said to Mary, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce thru your own soul also), that the thots of  many hearts may be revealed

APP: What is your response to the Person, Words, and Works of Jesus? What does it reveal about your heart/values?