Songs of the Season: A Song of Faith
Minister: Rev. Olon M. Lindemood
November 26 and 27, 2011
Luke 1: 67-79
Zechariah’s Prophecy
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
68 ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a mighty saviour* for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us 74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon* us,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.’
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Soon the bells will start
And the thing that will make them ring
Is the Carol that you sing
Right within your heart
There are SONGS OF THIS SEASON!
Zechariah is the father of John The Baptist. He and Elizabeth are the opener to the story of the Birth of Jesus Christ. Zechariah is holding his son in his arms… (remember what it is like when a father is holding a baby?) Big old Zechariah with this tiny infant in his arms… Luke’s Gospel in Chapter one shows the integrity of this great ancient man of faith… he reminds the baby … John:
Remember the promises of God…
God sends a savior for our souls.
We can serve God
without fear and
in holiness and righteousness…
And as he holds his little child he whispers the faith of the ages…
“you will go before the Lord and prepare his ways.
You will give knowledge of salvation that the people seek.
You will teach them that their sins will be forgiven.
And as the prophets of old spoke… so shall you: “those who lived in Darkness have seen a great light …that will be the savior who you are preparing us for…”
A father of the faith passing along the faith:
The promise
Preparation
Teaching
Salvation
Light in Darkness
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Soon the bells will start
And the thing that will make them ring
Is the Carol that you sing
Right within your heart
LET ME ASK YOU THE SIMPLE QUESTION:
What is the core of this Christmas season?
Are you ready to whisper the faith story into another heart?
Are you ready to welcome the salvation of the LORD?
I don’t know about you, But I just Love to hear the songs:
- “Joy to the world! The Lord is come…”
- “Oh Little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie…”
- “What child is this who laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping…”
- “Away in a manger no crib for a bed…”
- “The first noel, the angels did say…”
- “O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel…”
Which songs whisper the faith of the season for you?
Yes…
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Soon the bells will start
And the thing that will make them ring
Is the Carol that you sing
Right within your heart
This is the season to whisper the faith like that of the father Zachariah:
A father of the faith passing along the faith:
The promise
Preparation
Teaching
Salvation
Light in Darkness
There is wisdom in the sharing of the faith: This week I read the words of a great man of faith:
“All my life I was taught how to die as a Christian, but no one ever taught me how I ought to live in my latter years. Old age has it’s challenges and it’s not for wimps.” Billy Graham (age 93)
Young or old, ours is to share the good news of Jesus Christ …
You know the PROMISE: God loves you!
You know the PREPARATION: Prepare your heart for the love of Jesus
You know the TEACHING: Jesus Christ shows us God’s love.
You know the SALVATION: Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection has freed us from our guilty lives
You know the LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS:
“There’s a song in the air,
There is a star in the Sky,
There’s a mother’s deep prayer,
And a baby’s low cry…”
There are songs in this season like none other. These songs of faith bring us into the joy of Christ’s love for our souls and lives… listen / sing / share the story:
Lyrics to Come Thou Long Expected Jesus:
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel?s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart
TNIV words of Zechariah:
“76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Soon the bells will start
And the thing that will make them ring
Is the Carol that you sing
Right within your heart
