Self on the Shelf: The Christmas Calling

2016-12-18 
Matt Willmington 

Memory Verse:
Luke 1:76 (NKJV)
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.”
God gave His Son at Christmas as a baby. But He also called another baby to be His Son’s announcer. He calls us to do the same – to announce Jesus’ salvation to those people who need it the most. Will you answer His call?

“God has called you to announce Jesus in His timing.”

57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”

61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.

63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them [fear 3x in ch.1]; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

1. Answer God’s Call

67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, [3x in ch.1] and prophesied, saying: 68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, 70  As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, 71 That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, 72  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, 73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: 74 To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

2. Announce Jesus

Isaiah 40:3
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert, A highway for our God.”

Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me.”

Malachi 4:5
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”

80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

3. Accept His Timing