Advent series
Getting ready for Christmas
Developing…
an expectant heart
a willing spirit
a new world view
a life vision
Picking up
Zechariah’s
story…
Luke 1: 57 - 80
57 When
it was time for Elizabeth to have her
baby, she gave birth to a son.58 Her neighbours
and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her
great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the
child, and they were going to name him after his
father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and
said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 They said to her, “There is no one among your
relatives who has that name.”
62 Then
they made signs to his father, to find out
what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked
for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s
astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his
tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising
God. 65 All the neighbours were filled with awe,
and throughout the hill country of Judea people
were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone
who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What
then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s
hand was with him.
67 His
father Zechariah was filled with the Holy
Spirit and prophesied:
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and
redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets
of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us -
to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all
our days.
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,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from
heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
And the child grew and became strong in
spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he
appeared publicly to Israel.
Developing a life vision
What are we born for?
People have always questioned
the meaning of life.
Often with the wrong starting
place - ourselves.
We don’t find life’s meaning
by looking internally.
Rick Warren: The Purpose Driven Life.
The purpose of our life is far greater than our
own personal fulfilment, our peace of mind or
even our happiness. It’s far greater than our
family, our career, or even our wildest dreams
and ambitions. If we want to know whey we were
placed on this planet we must begin with God.
We were born by his purpose and
for his purpose.
Ephesians 1:11 (the message)
It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and
what we are living for. Long before we first heard
of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on
us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of
the overall purpose he is working out in
everything and everyone.
Zechariah had learnt this in his
nine months silence.
Immediately his mouth was
opened and his tongue set free,
and he began to speak,
praising God. v64
1. Life vision - to worship God
The ultimate goal of everything is to show the
glory of God. The heavens declare the glory of God Ps 19
We don’t add to his glory.
But we – like Zechariah - can recognise it, honour
it, praise it, reflect it and love it.
You are worthy O Lord our God to
receive glory, honour and power.
For you created everything. Rev 4:11a
Zechariah begins by worshipping. Praise be to
the Lord… v68
Worship is our highest calling – this deep need is
inbuilt within us.
If we don’t worship God,
we’ll find something else
to worship.
Like a diamond, worship
is multifaceted.
We’re talking about more than music…
Worship is not for our benefit.
It’s to bring pleasure to God not to ourselves.
These people come near to me with their
mouth and honour me with their lips, but their
hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is
based on merely human
rules they have been
taught. Isaiah 29:13
Worship is a lifestyle.
Loving God and giving ourselves to be used by
his purposes.
Everything we do becomes an act of worship.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God. 1 Cor 10:31
This enabled Zechariah to
dedicate his son to God.
And for John to live a life
that served God.
The secret of this life vision
– do everything as if you
were doing it for Jesus.
So here’s what I want you
to do, God helping you:
Take your everyday,
ordinary life – your
sleeping, eating, going-towork, and walkingaround life - and place it
before God as an
offering. Rom 12:1
2. Life vision – to
become like Jesus
It’s what God always intended.
Becoming like Jesus in the way
we think, feel and act.
In cooperation with the Holy Spirit.
Zechariah: filled with the holy Spirit v6
John: became strong in spirit v80
And then by John 3:30: He must
become greater; I must become less.
The goal of our life isn’t our
comfort but our character
development.
God can do anything, you know
– far more than you could ever
imagine or guess or request in
your wildest dreams! He does it
not by pushing us around but by
working within us, his Spirit
deeply and gently within us.
Eph 3: 20 (the message)
3. Life vision – to serve God
We were put on earth to
make a contribution - to add
something, not to simply
consume.
To serve him without fear v74
Zechariah to his son declares
a life vision: And you my
child.. v76
We serve God by serving
others.
The world demands
greatness through power,
possessions, prestige and
position.
Jesus measures greatness in
terms of service.
Whoever wants to become
great among you must be your
servant. Matt 20:26
How real servants act…
• Seeing others’ needs
• Doing the best with what
we have
• Faithful perseverance
• Having a low profile
• Think more about others
than self
• Seeing ministry as
opportunity not obligation
• Knowing our identity in
Jesus
4. Life vision – to tell others
God doesn’t want his love and purposes to be
kept a secret.
Once we know the truth we share it with others.
For you will go on before the
Lord to prepare the way for
him, to give his people the
knowledge of salvation… v76
We were made for this mission.
We have a story to share –
what has Jesus done for you?
We have an invitation to offer.
Life vision & forks in the road
Jesus faced these big questions too.
Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say?
‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for
this very reason I came to this hour. Father,
glorify your name!” John 12: 27 - 8
Anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys
that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love,
you’ll have it forever, real and eternal. John 12:25