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Sunday Worship 28 November 2021 : “In the spirit and power of Elijah”

Text: Luke 1:5-17
28 November 2021

INTRODUCTION

1. Prophecies of the Messiah were many

a) His Virgin Birth   (Isaiah 7:14)
This was fulfilled   (Luke 1; Matthew 1:23)
b) His birthplace   (Micah 5:2)
This was fulfilled   (Luke 2:1-7; Matthew 2:5-6)

2. A prophecy of a Fore-runner

a) This was prophesied   (Isaiah 40:3-5)
b) Another prophecy   (Malachi 4:5-6)
c) These were fulfilled too   (Luke 1:15-17)

A SPECIAL BABY FOR A SPECIAL MINISTRY

1. Zacharias and Elizabeth

a) They had no children in their marriage
b) Both of them were very old   (Luke 1:18)

2. The Announcement of the angel Gabriel to Zacharias

a) That Elizabeth would bear a son   (Luke 1:13a)
b) He was to be called “John” (Johanan)   (Luke 1:13b)
i) Focus: The Grace of God
ii) This baby has been “graced by God”
c) That they would be able to have a child at all would highlight the giving of the grace of God
d) Zacharias struggled to believe this word   (Luke 1:18)

THE SPECIAL WORK OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN JOHN’S LIFE

1. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit   (Luke 1:15a)

2. Even from the mother’s womb   (Luke 1:15b)

a) Protection
b) Power

THE MINISTRY OF JOHN

1. He will go before Him

In the spirit and power of Elijah   (Luke 1:17a)

2. This is in fulfilment of Malachi’s prophecy

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”   Malachi 4:5-6
a) Elijah the prophet   (1 Kings 17- 2 Kings 2)
b) Mighty ministry of Elijah

3. The Ministry of John described

a) Spirit and Power   (Luke 1:17a)
His power is likened to that of Elijah
b) Effect of Ministry
i) Turning the hearts of fathers to children   (Luke 1:17b)
ii) The disobedient to the wisdom of the just   (Luke 1:17c)
iii) To make ready a people prepared for the Lord   (Luke 1:17d)
Zacharias struggled with unbelief   (Luke 1:20)

WHEN FAITH WAS FINALLY RENEWED IN ZACHARIAS

1. He prophesied about the future ministry of John

2. Features:

a) He will be called “the prophet of the Highest”   (Luke 1:76a)
b) He will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His way   (Luke 1:76b)
c) He will give knowledge of salvation by the remission of sin   (Luke 1:77a)
d) He will speak of the tender mercy of God   (Luke 1:77b)

THE ACTUAL MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER

1. John’s fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy

He was a voice in the wilderness   (Luke 3:4; Isaiah 40:3-5)

2. Effectiveness of John’s Ministry

a) Multitudes came to be baptized by him   (Luke 3:7a)
b) He preached powerfully and fearlessly   (Luke 3:7-18)

THE WITNESS OF JOHN

1. John as a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ   (John 5:33)

He bore a powerful witness

2. He spoke of the Lord Jesus   (Luke 3:16-17)

a) He is mightier   (Luke 3:16a)
b) He is greater than John   (Luke 3:16b)
c) He is not worthy to attend to the sandals of the Lord Jesus   (Luke 3:16c)
d) He will baptize with the Holy Spirit   (Luke 3:16d)
e) He will gather the wheat to the barn   (Luke 3:17a)
f) He will gather the chaff to be burned   (Luke 3:17b)

CONCLUSION

1. Certainty of Faith through the Testimony of John

2. Certainty through the Spirit of God working in our heart

3. Finding Faith in the Lord Jesus

a) A new Faith
b) A renewed Faith