Intro: Question : How many of you have every really studied this gospel either in Church somewhere or personally.

1. The writer of Hebrews is giving us there an exhortation to consider Jesus

1. Consider = word used by the astronomers who studied the stars

2. For me there is nothing more enjoyable /I love to study the life of Christ & to read things on the life of Christ / best of all I love to study the gospels.

1. Something I believe we should do regularly./ For me in my personal reading something I try to read thru a gospel every six months

3. I was praying about what the Lord would have us study here on Sunday mornings after we finished Romans

1) the Lord impressed on my heart this gospel.

4. I felt the Lord saying - I want the body at CC Vista to spend some time gazing at Jesus / taking a good long look at Jesus

1. I believe there are some radical things the Lord desires to do in our hearts as we study this book .

1. Two reasons - 1^st & foremost is I think the Lord knows our need of being reminded .

2. His way of saying I want you to get this down, so I am going to give it to you four times .

2. Realizing & never losing sight of the fact that the most important thing in life is Knowing Jesus

1. It is not principles for marriage / or how to be successful - or even how to get over this thing or that

4. The most important thing in life is Knowing who Jesus is / magnitude of what He did / how it relates to you

1. It is growing in our Knowledge of Him / loving Him / serving Him & waiting for His return.

1. Matt. Gospel presents Jesus as the Messiah - the King of the Jews & the redeemer . He was writing to a Jewish Audience

2. Mark purpose in writing was to reveal Jesus as the servant of men - His audience was gentile readers especially those throughout Rome.

3. John’s Gospel revolves around 7 specific miracles & the 7 I am Statements Jesus made about Himself. And focuses on the Deity of Christ

1) Revealing very clearly that Jesus is the Son of God

4. Luke’s Gospel presents Jesus as the perfect man / The Son of God who came to live among sinners, love them, help them, and die for them.

5. Luke’s gospel has a universal appeal - focus is to present the good news of Jesus Christ to all men - Proclaim the hope men can find in Jesus alone

E) Luke is the gospel of Joy - Joy is a word mentioned a lot in this book

1. We will read in Ch. 2 :10 announcement of Christ Birth - 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

6. That is Luke’s message There is good news for all people every where to know there is a savior

1. Been suggested that Luke’s theme verse is 19:10 "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

32. Luke’s Gospel vividly portrays Jesus seeking after lost sinners the way a shepherd would seek after a lost sheep - Great joy when He finds one.
7. This tells us that the gospel of Luke is also a very evangelistic gospel

1. No matter how bad the circumstances of your life may be / if you know the source & giver of life Jesus - you can have Joy.

1. He was also the writer of the book of Acts which means he was responsible for writing ¼ of the N.T. -

1. In fact in sheer volume he wrote more than even Paul

2. Here in v. 1-4 Luke reveals who he is writing to - His purpose in writing as well as his method.

3. v.3 tells us who - Man by the name of Theophilus - who was he ?

1. Actually not sure - some believe Luke’s former master - Most excellent - seems to indicate he was a High ranking official

4. Others suggest - He was just a friend of Luke who was a high ranking official

5. Still others - secret name for an underground Church. Theophilus = friend of God or lover of God

1. Since Luke was writing during a time a persecution - / they believe writing to believers who were in hiding

6. I personally believe it was the first one - Former master

2. Luke’s’ Gospel is the most detailed & the most Chronological approach to the life of Christ .
3. Luke has the longest & most detailed account of the virgin birth of Jesus of any of the Gospels. /

Cc) Only gospel that gives any detail into child hood of Jesus

D) He gives us twenty-three parables, / 18 of them are found nowhere else.

1. Luke gives us twenty miracles of which six are recorded in no other Gospel.

5. He also gives us the most detailed account of the death & Rez of Christ

1. So first of all his purpose was to give an orderly account …Christ

2ndly - V.4 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

1. 2^nd purpose was so that Theophilus and us could know for certainty what we believe about Jesus .

2. As if Luke was saying I want you to know who Jesus is what He did / how

He ministered - & how that relates to you now!!!!

1. Luke having never met the physical Jesus personally - went around &

interviewing those who had

2. Inspired & directed by the H.S. he put those accounts down on paper.

1. The days prior to the birth of John were dark days in the nation of Israel

1. Known as the silent yrs because for 400yrs there was no prophetic voice in Israel

2. Now since it was primarily thru the Prophets that God communicated to His people - / that was a long time to go w/ no word from God.

1. Talk about a dry time - 4 centuries

3. In that 400 yr. Time the idolatry & heathenism of other cultures expanded & the spiritual climate in Israel was cold.

1. Many of the religious leaders were corrupt - led by the Pharisees & Saducees who heaped heavy burdens on God’s people

4. They took the 10 commandments & the Law of Moses & expanded it to 615 commandments - making it virtually impossible to do anything right

E) Despite the fact that most of the religious leaders were corrupt - there were some priest who remained true to God & John’s father Zach. Was one of them

1. As was his mother Elizabeth/

We are told in v. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments ( Moral law) and ordinances ( Ceremonial Law )

IN THESE THEY WERE BLAMELESS.

1. Now you would think that 2 people like this would have been radically blessed by the Lord - lacking in nothing

B)Yet we read in v. 7 that they had no Children & now they were old

1)To be childless was a disgrace for a Hebrew woman, mentioning of

their age seems to indicate they were past the age of being able bear kids

3. Now I point this out because some have the tendency to believe that if I am right w/ the Lord & have a good walk everything will be Ok

1. No problems & I will lack in nothing .

4. But then they have major problems when Christians get diagnosed w/ cancer -or a child gets sick & dies

1. The truth of the matter is that being a Christian doesn’t in any way mean that your life is going to be problem free

5. In fact - Jesus specifically said that in the world you will have Trib.Word that means affliction - We live in a world that is plagued by sin -

1. Result of sin is evil - suffering sickness & death are a part of every day life .

6. As a result of sin in the world our bodies don’t always work right -

1. Meaning that w/ Him in my life - I can be an overcomer - I can make it through I can keep on going - because He is w/ me ! He is there

2. And in the very mist of affliction I can have Joy - because I know that my life is in His hands .

1. I may not know what the future holds but I know Him who holds the future .

3. Becoming more spiritually mature doesn’t mean that you are going to have less problems

1. But it means your perspective is going to Change as to how you are

A young college gal had two problems common to many students: low grades and no money. She was forced to communicate both problems to her parents, who she knew would have trouble understanding. After considerable thought she used a creative approach to soften the blow of reality and wrote:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Just thought I'd drop you a note to clue you in on my plans. I've fallen in love with a guy named Jim. He quit high school after grade eleven to get married. About a year ago he got a divorce.

We've been going steady for two months and plan to get married in the fall. Until then, I've decided to move into his apartment (I think I might be pregnant).

At any rate, I dropped out of school last week, although I'd like to finish college sometime in the future. On the next page, she continued:

Mom and Dad, I just want you to know that everything I've written so far in this letter is false. NONE of it is true.

But Mom and Dad, it IS true that I got a C in French and flunked Math. It IS true that I'm going to need some more money for my tuition payments.

Even bad news can sound like good news if it is seen from a certain vantage point.

So much in life depends on your perspective

1. We need to see things in light of Him who said He would never leave us or forsake us .

1. They were righteous & blameless

1. The passion & priority of their hearts were to serve honor & please God

2. And I am sure that others were impressed by the godliness of this couple !

1. But more importantly - the one who sees in secret was pleased as well

3. That is something I want us to take a few minutes to consider is that the Lord sees & knows our hearts . Knows our thoughts

1. If you are here today & you have been fooling around w/ carnality - hiding some secret sins - Know this they are not hidden from Him

4. You may be fooling others but you are not fooling the Lord.

1. Some even go so far as to begin to scheme & plan w/ in their mind as to how they might indulge in that desire.

2. Yet we are exhorted in 2Cor.10:5 To take every thought captive unto Christ How do you do that suggestions

3. 1^st Confess that those thoughts are sin & forsake them. Isa. 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

4. 1 JN 1;9

2^nd You need to refuse or purpose in your heart not to entertain those thoughts

Phil. 4:8 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.

3^rd Feed on the word . Psa 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!

4^th Make a cov. W/ your eyes Job 31:1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?

5^th Make your self accountable to others Gal. 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

6^th Seek those things which are above Col 3:1,2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

1. Jesus said in Matt. 6:21 Where your treasure is your heart will be there also

2. Put it another way where your affections are set your thoughts will be there as well .

1. Each division took a turn to serve for one week

2. The priests on duty drew lots to see which ministries they would perform, and Zacharias was chosen to offer incense in the holy place.

1. This was a high honor that was permitted to a priest but once in a lifetime.

3. The incense was offered daily before the morning sacrifice and after the evening sacrifice, about 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

1. It was probably the evening offering that was assigned to Zacharias.

4. Have you ever noticed that when God calls His people He often speaks to them while they are doing their daily tasks.

1. Both Moses and David were caring for sheep, and Gideon was threshing wheat.

5. Peter and John & their brothers were mending nets when Jesus called them.
6. As we noted in our study on Wed night that although we are to be waiting

for the Lord to return - it is an active wait . Do business until I come.

1. It has been said that It is difficult to steer a car when the engine is not

1. Ever wake up in the middle of the night and wander down into the Kitchen

Imagine running into an Angel - Hi there ! Freaked out

2. Common reaction in Bible - Zach. Was no exception ! Angel was Gab.

3. Notice what He says v. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard;

1. I love this don’t fear - I’ve got good news - YOUR PRAYER IS HEARD !!!!!

4. What Prayer ? If an Angel were to appear to you today & say - Be of good cheer - Your prayer is heard - what prayer would it be

1. For Zach. & Eliz. It was a prayer that they hadn’t prayed in a long time - for yrs - a prayer for a son !!!!!!

1. Isa 30:19 19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you.

2. Prov. 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

1. Psa. 34: 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.

3. God knows your heart - He hears your prayers - but sometimes He delays His answers for A reason

1. One His timing is perfect -
2. You couldn’t handle the answer if He did answer at that time
3. Also Sometimes like in this case w/ Zach. & Eliz. He likes to blow our minds in reminding us that He can do the impossible

4. When situations look hopeless & you want to hang your head & look down the Lord says don’t look down look up - Look to me

1. He answers .

1. It is so easy for us to forget that our God is a God who works miracles - He is The God who is into doing the impossible

2. If we really believed that we would pray more fervently & consistently ! If we really believed nothing is too hard for Him!!

3. Our tendency too often is to look at things rationally !

1. Too look at the obstacles - to get hung up to much on things like age

4. I love the story of a man in his 90’s who went to his doctor w/ some knee trouble . His doctor said at your age what do you expect

1. The man answered I expect you to fix this knee - my other knee is the same age & it works fine!

5. Some times our age can be such a barrier - Some think they are too old - others think - too young

1. Problem is we get focused on ourselves instead of the Lord .

6. One of Israel’s greatest kings Josiah started when he was 8 - David killed Goliath - 13-15

1. Moses didn’t get started in the ministry until he was 80 yrs old

1. We complain about why we can’t go there or do that -

1. Notice Zach. Lack of faith made it so He couldn’t pass it on

2. Our lack of faith does the same thing .

Closing Focus on v. 16,17 Description of John ministry 4 fold 16 "And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

Gab. Mentions 4 things about the ministry of John

1^st Turn people back to the Lord - People eyes back to God

2^nd Hearts of the Fathers back to their children / Family relationships will be restored - Fathers assuming their roles in leading families

3^rd Those who are disobedient & living in sin will get their acts together - by turning to the wisdom of the just

1. In other words they will stop rationalizing sin / and rebellion and turning to the word - will seek to live for the Lord

4^th He will exhort people to get ready for the coming of the Lord - To prepare their hearts for Him to come

A) Johns message still holds true today.