Luke- The Forerunner of Christ (Luke 1)

Luke- The Forerunner of Christ

Intro

- The people in Luke did not believe

- Even the witnesses that saw Christ do miracles 

- Luke was able to take us back further than any other Gospel, maybe b/c of more first hand accounts

- It was a distinct time in history

    - Herod was a brutal ruler; his people hated him

    - Herod made times tough for his people

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- Zechariah is chosen by lot to serve in the most holy place v. 8-9

    -this was a high honor to burn incense to God

- Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous people before God

    -However there were without a child 

    -v. 13- they are praying for a son

    -to be childless, it was considered to be a punishment by society

        - viewed as being unrighteous b/c something was wrong with their life (not the case with these guys)

    -However Zechariah and Elizabeth still worshiped God

**This is a note worthy time for God to enter

-v.11 An angel of the Lord appears to all of them who were praying and burning incense

    - In Zechariah's case, he never would have thought to see an angel (given his circumstance with being childless)

    - He was not prepared for this, he was confused and scared (v. 12)

    - Probably thinking, is God here to Judge? scary moment

    - v. 19 the Angel is Gabriel 

    - Zechariah became "mute" ; did not talk about seeing Gabriel 

        -odd b/c wouldn't anyone want to tell this amazing story?

    - The Angel says do not be afraid, and that Zechariah's prayers will be answered! And that their child's name will be John

    - John the Baptist (v. 13-17) God is setting him apart to be great!

    - He will be filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother's womb (v. 15)

    - This is the only case in the bible for infant conversion (child is saved)

    -First thing John is going to do, illicit repentance (v. 16)

- Now a days- we preach repentance!

    -This started with John, right here! pretty cool

    - v. 17 This will start the passing on of repentance to the fathers of children once again

        -all this was not happening in Israel in this time

        -John was going to prepare these peoples' hearts for the Lord (v. 17)

- v. 20 Gabriel says I am to speak to you and you will say nothing

    - Now we know why he remained mute 

    - The people in the temple would not have believed Zechariah so the Lord made him mute

-v. 80 John lived in the desert for many years until he was ready to spread the good news

*** Today's worship song! Whom Chall I Fear? - Chris Tomlin (Click Here)

Apostasy - Hebrews 5+6

Paths of Apostasy Hebrews 5-6

Apostasy- The abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief.

• The root of apostasy is in us all

1. Dullness

• Many will turn away after confessing Jesus is Lord
• It takes doing nothing to fall down this path
• Every believer goes through a season of apostasy

• Hebrews 5:11 Says we have become dull in our hearing

• This is a warning so to the Hebrews that they have become dull and sluggish which is step 1 to apostasy
• This dullness must be dealt with
• The Hebrews here have gone backwards in their faith without knowing it
• v. 14 The spiritually mature have their discernment trained and sharp
• Path to sluggishness, leading to bigger sin
• When we become sluggish, we start to not care if we sin anymore

2. Complacency 

• staying neutral with no spiritual growth and no back sliding; comfortable where you are as a “Christian”
• Also puts you on the path of apostasy
• You will ruin yourself unless you seek more wisdom, without more wisdom we get comfortable in our sin
• If your are complacent, you are excusing the need for growth and obedience

• Instead you look for emotional conformation- you feel forgiven
• We listen to our heart

• Bad move; our heart is corrupt with no biblical assurance

3. Apostasy (Hebrews 6:4-8)

• Once you are at this point, there is no way to restore repentance
• v.6 shows is one who experiences the truth and tastes salvation, then falls away
• Once you get to this dullness and and accept sin after hearing and experiencing His love, what is left? Nothing. There is no where else to go. Repentance is impossible v. 4-6

**We must consider long and hard our relationship with Christ

• The path to Christ:

*diligence with no dullness

*Hebrews 6:9-12* 

• The author of Hebrews was simply warning them of their dullness out of love
• This warning was to drive them (us) back to assurance of salvation (assurance of their faith)
• The author was pointing the Hebrews to the power of God

- We need to repent of of negligence 

*Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:35)

*** Song of the day. This was Marissa and my wedding song... enjoy : ) Click Here 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

Anthropology- The Study of Man

Study of Man- Anthropology 

- Created to fellowship with God permanently 
- There are 7.1 billion human beings on earth

Man- The most significant creature:
1. In order, man is the climax and end of six days of preparatory creating
    - Genesis 1 :14,20,24,26

2. God's expression for making man is unique


3. Man alone is described as having been created in the image of God
    - Genesis 1:26 -no other being is made in the image of God


4. Man is created in dominion over creation
    -Gen. 1:26; 28-29
    -Gen. 2:18 - God shows Adam all the other creatures first before he jumps the gun and makes Eve
    - God calls the human race Man
    - He appoints man to have dominion over all creation and now Adam is giving these creatures names- an example of authority


5. Genesis 2 is a unique amplification on Humanity

6. Man is distinguished from animals in a very special way in Genesis 2; he is their ruler, he receives the breath of God into their nostrils
    - spiritual comprehension of God and his moral law (Job 32:8)
    - gives man conscience (Proverbs 20:27)
    - no other animals have these


7. God gives man the capacity of rational speech 
    - no other animal has rational speech

8. God enters into covenant with man

Psalm 8- More praise for God who created us to rule over earth
    - God made us an incredible being!
    - Ecclesiastes 3:11 - "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Implications of Anthropology
1. Every human being bears God's image
    -emotional and relational aspect of man and his dominion
    -each human being has intrinsic value
    -priority of people- more important to learn an individual , expressing care, working, etc.


2. Only humans bear God's image


3. You are uniquely created for God's glory
    -Genesis 1: 26-30 God said "let us" us being the trinity
    -Isaiah 43:7 "everyone who is called by my name,    whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
    -1 Cor. 10:31 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
    -Humans will even judge angels, we were created very unique 
    - MORE than any other creature, we have the capacity to glorify God


4. Disease, deformity, developmental delays, and death are not a part of being human, but of being cursed
    - Ecclesiastes 7:29 "See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes."

5. Learn your place as creature


6. Scripture is sufficient for your immaterial needs


7. As the image of God is renewed in us, we ought to see that image in our marriages and relationships

*** Song of the day: Awake My Soul ft. Lecrae