Sermon notes by Lyengamuwa Wakung’oli

Sunday, December 5, 2021

Campus Community Church

Text: Luke 1:67-79

I. INTRODUCTION

Luke 1:1-4: Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. -NIV

Luke was not the disciple of Jesus as was John and Matthew. Thus, why he writes as an investigator of everything from the beginning of those things fulfilled among the people of his time “as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.” So, what Luke is accounting to us is a historical event, not a mere story that we like for a good night’s sleep.

The main aim of the preaching is to re-emphasize the purpose of Luke’s gospel that is “to know the things that have been fulfilled so that we may know the certainty of the things we have been taught.” In other words, to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that we are standing on the solid rock when it comes to our God and His promises not on sinking sand. As the word of God bears witness to the promises of God it also bears witness to the Character of God.

If anyway the word of God would not point to any fulfillment of the promises of God, then God would not be trusted at all. So, for those who are servants of the word as Luke says shows of those who have seen the word of God come true and labor to make known of the trustworthiness of the word of God pointing to the very character of God. Because God is trustworthy His word is also trustworthy.

With the prophecy of Zechariah, we are going to see how God fulfilled His word in the story of redemption. The prophecy can be divided into two major sections: Introduction to who God is and His promises and second, The ministry of John the Baptist

II. INTRODUCTION TO WHO GOD IS AND HIS PROMISES, HIS WORK

We are introduced to the person of the Holy Spirit as the one through whom men receive prophecy and also as the one who makes clear of what was said in the past. We are introduced to the truth that salvation is from “the Lord, God of Israel” and later John is said to go before the Lord, showing that it is the Lord, God who has come to redeem His people.

A.    The ministry of the Holy Spirit

“His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied (v. 67)”:

Zechariah spoke after the word of the angel concerning John the Baptist was fulfilled. It is good to note from here that Zechariah’s unbelief did not prevent the Lord, God from fulfilling what He promised a long time ago through His servants the prophets. This shows how God is sovereign over our unbelief. His promises of redemption are not dependent on us but wholly on God. And we are going to see this as we learn of our Faithful God.

Let us addresses the nature of the prophecy: It recalls the previous prophecies, confirming what is happening as the fulfillment of what the servants of God prophesied. This emphasizes how Luke addresses this gospel “things fulfilled among us.” The ministry of the Holy Spirit shows:

• The faithfulness of God in His promises because of this, the Character of God brings hope to His people. We can trust Him.
• The word of God is trustworthy: we can trust the Lord when He has spoken

The Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of the prophets is truthful: His work is trustworthy throughout generations. Mic 3:8 “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin” -NIV. He is the witness to the fulfillment of what was spoken. He makes clear what was spoken through the prophets, hence removing any man’s interpretation of scripture.

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