the morning light

The Morning LightLuke 1 & 3 – John the Baptist

The Veracity of Luke

"Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy . . . this author should be placed along with the very greatest historians in Roman history.”

Sir William Ramsay, The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1953), p. 222

And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. Luke 3:3-4 (NASB)

Something Great is Happening

“Because of God’s tender mercy,

the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

and to guide us to the path of peace.” Luke 1:78-79 (NLT)


For 400 years, no prophet has appeared in Israel…

'Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it…Let them declare the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place. Isaiah 44:7

Something Great is HappeningWhen Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. Luke 1:5-20 (NLT)

Something Great is HappeningOne day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.

While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. Luke 1:5-20 (NLT)

Something Great is HappeningBut the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.

Something Great is HappeningAnd he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. ‘He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children’, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” Luke 1:5-20 (NLT)

“Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6 (NLT)

Something Great is HappeningZechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God! It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! “But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” Luke 1:5-20


Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary. Luke 1:21-22 (NLT)


Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” Luke 1:24-25 (NLT)

Something Great is HappeningWhen it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. When her neighbors and relatives heard the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her. When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” Luke 1:57-66 (NLT)

Something Great is HappeningSo they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God. Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” The hand of the Lord was surely on him in a special way. Luke 1:57-66 (NLT)

Something Great: Rescue!“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” Luke 1:76-79 (NLT)

We Need

RescueThe

Darkness

Shadow of Death

‘World of Warcraft’

God Rescues

!Revelation

Eternal Life

Peace by Forgiveness

While we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son Rom. 5:10

Something Great: Rescue!And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the lord, make his paths straight. Every ravine will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be brought low; the crooked will become straight, and the rough roads smooth; and all flesh will see the salvation of God.'" Luke 3:3-6 (NASB)

‘Rescued’ Means Everything New“…Every ravine will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be brought low; the crooked will become straight, and the rough roads smooth…”

Mary: "He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. "He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. “He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed. Luke 1:51-53 (NASB)

‘Rescued’ is NOT “Change”

‘Rescued’ Means New Life!

SPIRITUAL ReligiousJohn said to them all, "I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16


SPIRITUAL Religious


SPIRITUAL• SET FREE!

Religious

But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away. 1 Cor. 7:29-31


SPIRITUAL• SET FREE!

Religious• Uptight


SPIRITUAL• SET FREE!• LOVING

Religious• Uptight"Give, and it will be given to

you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. " Luke 6:38


SPIRITUAL• SET FREE!• LOVING

Religious• Uptight• Snobbish


SPIRITUAL• SET FREE!• LOVING• GREATNESS

Religious• Uptight• Snobbish

"I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." Luke 7:28


SPIRITUAL• SET FREE!• LOVING• GREATNESS

Religious• Uptight• Snobbish• Weenies!


SPIRITUAL• SET FREE!• LOVING• GREATNESS• JESUS-

CENTERED

Religious• Uptight• Snobbish• Weenies

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30


SPIRITUAL• SET FREE!• LOVING• GREATNESS• JESUS-

CENTERED

Religious• Uptight• Snobbish• Weenies• My Well-Being-

Centered

SOMETHING GREAT IS HAPPENING“What you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.

In those days I will pour out my Spirit on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy. Acts 2:17-18 (NLT)

A Taste of the Good Life

the morning light

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