Intro: Have you ever been in one of those situations where someone tells you a secret or something incredible - yet says but you can’t tell anyone.

1. Maybe a guy is going to pop the question to his girl or a husband is buying a new car for his wife’s birthday - someone’s pregnant / surprise

2. They let you in on it but then say - but you can’t tell anyone

1. Isn’t that the worst - You have this great news welling up inside of you and you - can’t do anything about it.

3. I think Most of us find another trusted soul - and put the same burden on them - they in turn do the same thing to someone else. (Secrets don’t last)

2. One of them couldn’t tell because no one would have believed her if she did . To tell would have ment to risk her own reputation.

1. The other couldn’t tell because he couldn’t speak because of his own doubt & lack of faith.

3. The two people I am referring to obviously are Mary & Zach.

4. But in this passage today - we will see both of them are given the opportunity to express their hearts at this news

1. What comes out are two beautiful songs of Praise / two incredible anthems of Worship .

5. Two out burst of Joy & celebration at this good news that was given to them.

1. As well as an example of how our hearts should respond in relation to the good news that has been entrusted to us- by the Lord

1. She would miraculously conceive by the H.S & give birth to the Messiah.

2. Now This was the incredible news that Mary couldn’t tell anyone because she was not married at the time - betrothed to Joseph

1. But upon hearing of Elizabeth’s own miraculous conception in her old age we read in v. 39

3. At last here was someone she could talk to - someone who would understand - someone w/ whom she could rejoice

1. And this was confirmed to her as she entered the home - we pick up

As Mary entered the house, Elizabeth heard her greeting, was filled with the Spirit, and was told by the Lord why Mary was there.

1. It is interesting to note that Eliz. used the same exact greeting that Gab. Did in coming to Mary -Blessed are you among women.

2. Which brought further confirmation to Mary - Since she had just heard that.

1. The thing that Elizabeth emphasized was Mary’s faith: "Blessed is she that believed" (Luke 1:45).

3. Because Mary believed the Word of God, she experienced the power of God working in her life . God’s power & God’s word go hand in hand.

1. Same is true in our lives We believe the word of God & when we do the door is opened for the power of God to work in us.

Notice There was John the Baptist six months along, and yet there was some kind of a recognition for when Mary spoke, he responded it to it in the womb.

1. There had not been much to sing about because for 400 yrs God ‘s voice had been silent.

2. In these 2 songs we are given some neat insights into the true nature of praise & worship. 1^st Look at Mary’s v. 46

She was one who hid God’s word in her heart

2. And that also gives us some insight into a quality of a good worship leader they are someone who is grounded in word.

1. Someone who enjoys - digging in

1. This is God’s inspired word . ( Great way to learn scripture)

2. The soul speaks of the mind & the emotions . The spirit is the real you who will live forever. The Spirit relates to God

1. - it is the vehicle by which we communicate to God. It is the essence of where our hearts are at in relation to God.

C) The spirit is the deepest part of your being.

1. But Both the soul & the Spirit are essential in worship!

4. See True worship of God is to be intellectual. We need to know who we are worshipping ! And Why?

1. That is based on facts that we have attained concerning the nature, attributes & character of God.

5. The more we grow in that knowledge of the Lord the deeper our worship becomes .

1. When we are first saved We might start off praising God because He is loving & we have experienced His love in our lives - (saved)

6. Yet we have no real understanding of God’s holiness - yet over time & through study - we come to see - He is a Holy & righteous God.

1. Which only magnifies His love & sacrifice for us to a greater degree

7. And w/ each bit of new information concerning who He is & what He does - OUR GOD GETS BIGGER - and the basis of our worship expands

1) Proclaiming His attributes in song after song.

1. Worship = Proskuno in the Greek - to turn & to kiss
2. That is another aspect of worship - through it we are displaying affection & love to God who is so awesome & has done so much for us.

1. W/ out emotion feeling & Passion - it is just Liturgy - words on paper

3. Imagine - your marriage w/ out emotion. Imagine if your husband never told you he loved you .

1. Never held you - never kissed you - no affection what so ever

4. Ladies how would you have responded if your husband would have come to you in purely an intellectual manner in proposing.

1. Now Denise I have calculated the mathematical possibilities of our union being able to last into the millenium

5. And have studied the ancestral data on both of our families as well as the social & economical backgrounds of our families / compatibility study

1. And I have concluded that we have an 80% chance of having a healthy relationship - so I think we should get married

6. What do you think ? GET LOST !!!!!!

1) Balance in love of info & emotion

2. Better have a deeper understanding of her needs than you did - when after your first yr. Of marriage

3. But I can guarantee you that if there is not a certain degree of emotion & affection w/ in your marriage it is not going to last.

4. And like wise w/ in our walks w/ the Lord - it is not all knowledge & info

1. But God wants us to know Him - To know Him is to love Him

1. And true worship also involves the spirit .
2. The spirit of the man reflects the very core of who that man is . And a man or woman who life has truly been touched by God will be a Worshipper

3. Because from the very depths & core of their being will be this over -whelming desire to express w/ their mind & emotions their love for God

1. Their gratitude for all He has done for them / all He has done in them.

4. Out of the inner depths of their hearts Praise will burst forth.

1. Spirit in cries out Abba - Daddy !

1) She focuses the nature of God & His past dealing w/ Israel

3. 1^st she mentions that God is v.49 holy is His name.

4. 2^nd thing she mentions is He is merciful v.50 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.

1. Mercy = not getting what you do deserve -

5. Mankind deserved hell for our rebellion against God & His ways - yet from Gen. To Gen. God has been merciful to those who feared Him

1. In the OT system He set up the sacrificial system of worship so that by the substituting of a spotless lamb - receive atonement/ covered

1. Not as a Judge but to be the final sacrificial lamb - not to provide a covering / but complete Atonement

2. OT atonement - covering by the blood / NT atonement - means at one ment / MADE AT ONE W/ GOD

1. Sins red as scarlet - white as snow!

1. Her song was a celebration of What God had done in the past.

F) But it was also a picture of What God was about to do in His Son.

1. God was going to reveal His heart & His character His mind & His attitudes in an even clearer way.

C) He was going to speak through His son! Heb. Continues

1. See the Holiness of God coupled w/ His mercy - Jesus came full of grace & truth .

2. See His strength & power - in the miraculous - and the greatest display would be upon the cross.

1. Display God’s provision - feed the 4 & 5 thousand - but then declare I am the bread of life

3. Ultimately He would provide for man’s complete salvation - through His work on the cross.

1. So her Song was a celebration of the past Acts of God - but also a future Prophecy of what he would do - through the Baby in her.

B) The Jews looked on children as a gift from God and a "heritage from the Lord" (Ps. 127:3-5; 128:1-3), and rightly so, for they are.

3. Traditionally, a baby boy would be named on the 8^th day when he was circumcised & after his father or someone else in the family;

1. so the relatives and neighbors were shocked when Elizabeth insisted on the name John.

4. Asked Zacharias wrote "His name is John" on a tablet, and that settled it!

Immediately God opened the old priest’s mouth, and he sang a hymn that gives us a beautiful picture of what the coming of Jesus Christ to earth really means.

2. For 9 months it was building up inside of Him & now He gets to let it out.

3. Do you ever feel that way - ever had days where you are at work - and God is just ministering to your heart . / Want to praise Him

1. You want to just break forth into song . Awesome God - at top of your lungs .

4. Days over - and you are in the car pop in the CD - In the throne room on the way home.

1. Friday night - taught at CC South Bay - Bible College & singles group . rushed / unprepared & God blessed .

5. Excited - song came on the radio - love - I am just singing at the top of my lungs - look down I am going 85 miles a hr.

1. College once pulled over by a policeman - thought I was drunk - walk

6. Sir Just came from church - singing in the car . Swerving a little.

v.68

1. First we see that Zach. is Blessing God for fact He has visited His people. Jesus Christ is God, manifested in the flesh.

2. So through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Zach is prophesying, the first declaration is that, God, the Lord God of Israel has visited His people.

1. the purpose of His visit was redemption. He was visited and redeemed His people.

2. The word redeem means "to set free by paying a price." It can refer to the releasing of a prisoner or the liberating of a slave.

1. Jesus Christ came to earth to bring "deliverance to the captives"

3. To release those who were in the prison of Guilt because of their sin

1. And to set free those who were the slaves of sin & satan

2. In Scripture, a horn symbolizes power and victory - the enemy is defeated.

3. In redemption the captives were set free; but in this picture, the enemy is defeated so that he cannot capture more prisoners.

1. It means total victory for the people of God.

4. The word salvation (Luke 1:69, 71) carries the meaning of "health and soundness."

1. No matter what the condition of the captives, their Redeemer brings spiritual soundness.

5. So When you trust Jesus Christ as Savior, you are delivered from Satan’s power, moved into God’s kingdom, redeemed, and forgiven

1. Salvation is more then being saved from something Yes God has delivered us from the hand of our enemy & from sin

B) But He has saved us for the purpose that we might serve Him, without fear in holiness, and in righteousness.

3. Now both holiness, and righteousness have as their root idea that of being right.

1. But holiness is a rightness of character, whereas righteousness is a rightness in conduct.

4. One springs out of the other. But Holiness is the root & Righteousness is the fruit that springs forth from the root.

5. The difficulty that so many people have today, is their endeavor to be right without holiness.

1. God declares us holy in His son - and thru His Son equips us to walk in righteousness as we rely upon Him.

F) Any endeavor to live right apart from Him will break down, for there is no motive strong enough to maintain righteousness.

1. Some people try to clean the outside of their lives / but that leaves a problem on the inside, you have a righteousness without holiness,

G) That is the work that God does within our heart, changing our character,

our life, in order that we might also serve Him in righteousness.

3. . Interesting side note - Zach’s name = God Remembers / Elizabeth’s name = the Oath of God .

1. John’s name = The Grace of God

4. That is basically what Zach is making reference to here in v.70-75 as he looks back into OT / - God remembers His Oath & sent grace .

1. Like Mary Zach celebrates the faithfulness of God in sending His salvation & keeping His Promises.

5. True worship will involve praising the Lord for keeping His promises

2. All of us are in debt to God because we have broken His law and failed to live up to His standards

1. all of us are spiritually bankrupt, unable to pay our debt. But Jesus came and paid the debt for us

1. Dayspring means "sunrise."

2. The people were sitting in darkness and death, and distress gripped them when Jesus came; but He brought light, life, and peace.

C) It was the dawn of a new day because of the tender mercies of God

The old priest had not said anything for nine months, but he certainly compensated for his silence when he sang this song of praise to God!

1. And how joyful he was that his son was chosen by God to prepare the way for the Messiah

2. John was "prophet of the Highest" (Luke 1:76), introducing to Israel "the Son of the Highest"

1. who was conceived in Mary’s womb by "the power of the Highest"