Best Of- Luke Chapter 1 Part#1

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Enjoy it, share it, but most of all, thank you for listening and for choosing The Truth Podcast Network. This is the Truth Network do you feel like a religious treadmill. Christianity is just a system of regulations, I can do for us. I can't do that. Do you feel like your efforts to reach God.

Find God, and please God do you feel like your faith is dead or alone. Today Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose of local tribal ministry glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living. For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@purpose.net connect with us on Facebook. Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious, the highest honor, the priest to be chosen to go into if you understand the temple you come in and you are in the holy place and then you come to a thick veil when she's down across the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom is about the width of your hand takes a team of team of horses at each you cannot tear apart his thick and right behind the veil is the Ark of the covenant that contains the 10 Commandments and will talk top of the ark is what seat the mercy seat and that's where the high priest would come in on the day of atonement with the blood of the lamb and he would point you could only go there once a year and they would know what else was to go in there and they were taught) is like him because he died they pull amount as the butter was going there and he would pull that blood on the altar to make atonement for the sins of the nation. That's not what soccer is doing here. He's coming here to burn incense and so it all happen because the lot exact what a lot look like some of you may know, but I think a dice. They rolled a lot in Zachariah's name you like, you won't get seven Zachariah pops up had that happen, was behind that your that's called in the Bible, the providence of God. God is sovereign and listen. He rules in the affairs of men. And nothing happens by chance, particularly if you're walking with Jesus. Your path is ordered by him Vince Hafner who was a evangelist I think in the early 1900s in western North Carolina. He went all over the was a great evangelist and he once said this is Vance and he said I thank God for the unseen hand sometimes urgently own board, sometimes holding me back, sometimes with a caress of approval, sometimes with a stroke.

Of reproof, sometimes correcting sometimes comforting. My times are in his hand whose hand or your times in let me ask you a question for you young men… Another you want to go through life on your own. Make it all your decisions and choices without God. How would you think you're doing any old Minamoto to testify, but how much trouble you get into you know what you are doing applicable investor. This pillowcase real estate over here even though I'm having to borrow 99% of money and then you you get it you say Lord I pray that you pray that you will bless that we know what God says well you should ask before you bought it or you know Lord, who do you want me to marry will universe you guys go to the barn just to get the best looking one, there is a get drunk. You know, and then you get married you think I would want this thing and work out limited learn from others old ball hit a minute here with we made all the mistakes you make. You may want to go through life knowing that the creator of the universe is got you by the hand and he just got in your long Housing Authority 21 says what you turn to the right or the left you will hear a voice behind you saying this is the way walk in it, he walks with me and he talks with me and he guides me along the way this when you choose to follow Jesus. I'm telling you he will direct your path. He will close the door. She should be going through and he will open the doors. You should go through only once-in-a-lifetime was a priest allowed to receive the honor of porn incense on the altar and the temple. There were 24 divisions and each division numbered about 300.

That's over 7000 priest had a distinct phone. Zachariah IT Watt because he was God's appointed man Zachariah receive this honor only because God was directing his life proper, three, five and six is trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on whose understanding your own. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths. What straight.

So let me ask you this course are the three things you got a day.

Trust God, don't trust yourself and give him glory acknowledge him. You want to acknowledge Jesus. Jesus is if you acknowledge me before men, that one day I'll acknowledge you you before my father was in heaven. But if you're not willing to acknowledge me. I will not be willing to acknowledge you before my father in heaven. Pretty conflicting that it Zachariah the proper time headed into the temple were at the right moment he poured the incense on the burning coals on the altar, and as soon as the that and since it is burning coals smoke arose.

It was just symbolic of his prayers for the nation and suddenly a powerful messenger from from heaven appeared it was the angel of the Lord Gabriel who is an archangel. The only two angels I believe mentioned in the Bible who appear to mankind. Gabriel who is the other one. Michael anybody know a book of the Bible. He appears in long Daniel member Daniel was praying he pray for 21 days he was fasting. Michael finally arrived and said it took him three weeks because he was fighting in the unseen world against the demonic forces we have no idea what was going on in the unseen realm.

There is where we are just the visible manifestation of the tremendous battle is taking place in the unseen world did you know that Satan forces God and guess who they're both after you and me, so Gabriel appears and he's like on a new messenger that God chose to bring a message of good news. Not only would suck Rob McGinnis son, but the nation will be getting a prophet can't hear his rights. Whatever the case, Gabriel spoke in prophecy which it ceased at the close of the Old Testament occurred for the first time in over 400 years and it was ordered by Gabriel Allied had known on the people who are walking in darkness, a prophet by the name of John it would be John the what the Baptists would be born, and he would prepare the way of the Lord in the power of Elijah. Just as who had prophesied his Jeff only one listening you message Joel could've stayed. I'm sorry to say that I looked I got a red, white shirt and light the city go to Carolina you don't have to go to class's of malic acid to hold. I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and awesome day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children in the hearts of children to the father and that some people believe that before the Lord returns he's going to send Elijah and Moses back into the world. I don't know if that's true or not, but what he said, referring to here is that John the Baptist was not Elijah, but he came in the power of Elijah. Remember what Elijah did. He was on Mount caramel and he got in altar and he challenged 800 prophets of Dale to a little show down on Mount caramel left settlement, Hill in 2018 is just unbelievable to look at your full amount and you can oversee the of the valley below you that that the Valley of Armageddon and the wind was blowing and he got his 800 prophets consider kill you caught your your God am a collective mind. This is God answers his as they cried out day and all day long six hours and got lunch was over the mocking them how you got must be asleep maybe is your vacation is okay enough. This is my God does or so. Then he ordered him not.

This is not a Muslim but I will tell you what the order like 15 gallons huge like those checks were used drink beer from that 15 of those bounced altar with water – the completely site which is flooded and run it over and then he called out to his God is the God a few of their strike this altar with fire and lightning came down and lit it and then he ordered. I don't know who but somebody to capture all 800 of those false prophets, and you know what he did with them killed him time seem dark men. If you truly walking with the Lord, don't you know this truth.

The light always shines the brightest when is the darkest God is faithful, but sadly we are not look at verse 18 and Zechariah said to the angel, how shall I know this, I'm an old man to my wife is advanced in years, and they glanced him in Gabriel test will hit the side.

I stand in the presence of God that you think you want to say this with a little bit of anger I was sent to speak to you to bring you good news, and the whole seat you can believe you will be silent and unable able to speak into the day that these things take place because you do not believe my words which we fulfilled in their time and do meanwhile outside of people were waiting for Zachariah and they were wondering at this delay in the temple because normally they were counting in and out but he's been in there while it when he came out he was unable to speak and so the people all knew that he must something happen and there he must've seen a vision and when his time of service ended, he went to his home and after these days his wife Elizabeth conceived for five months. She kept herself hidden saying can you see her.

She's alone with the Lord. She knows the miracle. She says thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked only to take when my reproach among the people because in closing I will chortle notice this Zachariah knew the Scriptures.

He also he was acquainted with how God had to intervene in the last of Sarah Rachel and Leah all in the Old Testament who all barren and God gave him all three of sunset so Zachariah knew that you got done it before. Plus he was a priest is not an atheist. He was offering prayer on the most important day of the sheet of of of his life dear this one. Santa God cannot forgive is this virtuous blast from the Holy Spirit unit is issues unbelief.

If you don't believe he can't forgive you. That's the only sin they cannot be forgiven. This Zachariah didn't have that kind of unbelief.

His problem was, he believed, but he wouldn't live completely. So I'm asking this, she would throw stones or Zachariah have we not done the same thing just worst. We been given a lot more than Zachariah. Think about it. We have the completed canon of Scripture the entire Bible. Zachariah did not wish to know this. The resurrection of Jesus Christ. Zachariah did not we have the evidence of countless fulfilled prophecies and all the eyewitness accounts contained in the New Testament in 2000 years of church history document about thousands upon thousands of change lives and Zachariah had none of this, and yet with all of this. Most people right here in Raleigh still refuse to believe. What about you see, here's the problem with our world in a particular country. Jesus said in John chapter 3 skews me John writing in John three verses 19 through 21. Since this is the verdict light is come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

Everyone who does evil hates the light, it will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed as well. Some of our friends will come here. They are afraid the sum the batch will happen. I guess not realizing that this is the best place they can come if they want to express life.

Everyone who does evil hates the light, it will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed, but have a list by the truth comes into the light, so it may be seen plainly that what he has not been done for God made every time you pick up your Bible this year and do this to these questions, you go to be given light lights Cornish the flood your mind and your heart and every time you sit here in the sanctuary and you listen to the sermon, and you listened to the hymns we sing God a shining light into your mind and your heart and so this is the question what is your response to the light.

What is your response to the truth.

Belief or unbelief in John 318, Jesus says, who have the catalyst of this whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he is not believed in the name of God's only son the people walking in darkness have seen a great light on those living in the land of the shadow of death like this doll.

Our nation, United States of America.

We have had more light than any country in the world did you know that churches on every street corner Billy Graham for 75 years book Christian bookstores Bibles galore. We were choking on all the light we had and yet our country probably has the lowest rate of growth of Christianity than any country in the world you know why you got too much money we get too much education and we got too much religion your good Afghanistan growing Christianity in the on the underground church you go to a Ron Swanson is the fastest growing church in the world. You know they're praying for first to have hit America persecution. In John 812 Jesus says I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life survey will take your Bible and open up to Luke chapter 1. Unfortunately, given the time I'm only going to focus on versus 26 through 38. I just really decided that I would rather go deep in a few verses and give your birds eye view from over a lot of verses so on. Luke chapter 1 verses 26 to 38. I want to begin or not but telling you the story about a person is a very dear friend of mine.

She wrote a book and in her book is entitled sugar in a shoebox sugar in a shoebox is bye-bye dear friend Joyce McFarland and in this book she tells the story of her incredible birth.

Joyce was born to a very sick and frightened 18-year-old girl 67 years ago in the town of Dunn, North Carolina. She was born at a time in the 50s when racism was very much a part of life. She was born premature and weighed only 2 pounds and the doctor's words to her grandmother were take this thing home and let it die. In her book, Joyce writes, so my grandmamma took her poor little sick daughter, my mother with her poor little puny grandbaby back to Rachel so that she and the good Lord could begin the work they had not had to do to make me remand the doctor out to be a liar. My grandmamma was a woman feel with wisdom. She trusted the Lord, she took me this 2 pound lump of quivering flesh and put me in the only thing that would accommodate my size shoebox grandma little land that shoebox with the softest material she could find neck.

She filled a medium-size Mason jar with warm water and wrapped in cloth, so it would not burn the delicate skin of the steamy baby into this homemade incubator I went the barely viable form of a tiny human clinging to life struggling to live every inch of that shoebox from top to bottom, from side to side, inside and out was filled to overflowing with an everlasting love fortified saturated with prayer grandmamma would empty and refill the Mason jar every hour replacing cool water with warm water and every hour grandmamma would feed me from an eyedropper field with formula made with evaporated milk all throughout the days and alter the nights, grandmamma and grandma Susie nursed and prayed saying and pray and praise and pray so that a death sentence pronounced at birth would not come to pass. My mama was very sick, but no one knew just how sick she was three months after bringing me into this world, she slipped peacefully away into the waiting arms of Jesus, leaving her precious gift made to her mama and family.

So from that point home grandmamma, Mary Florence became mama.

After many months mama's efforts were rewarded when she took me back to the place where I was born and asked to see that same doctor. She stood face to face with him. She asked in this question. Dr. do you remember who this baby is is brisk and curt reply was simply no.

Then she proudly proceeded to hold up for his inspection.

The prettiest job yes happy slow cooling baby.

Whatever city and with these words.

She pierced the innermost chamber of his heart. This is that thing that you told me to take home and let God my mama said she could see the years of his holiness and his great swelling arrogance crumble as he stood there staring in the shining's of this precious child who unwittingly held out her hands to him as the tears of shame and humility cascaded down his cheeks. Joyce writes God has a way what he means to be will be what he purposes the Billy will come to pass. What he starts.

Rest assured he will finish if you don't believe it just asked the little shoebox girl that's my friend Joyce McFarland. Jesse came to work for my family and helped us raise my two little boys and they to this day called her mommy.

I called her this morning. She struggled from diabetes, but she's got the greatest fate. She lives in a little apartment by herself and I told her I was only talking about her in course and hurting humility. She wanted none of it. So men when it comes to genuine saving faith. God in his wisdom before he did before he created the world determine his providence that he was going to give faith to the lowly to the poor to the humble and contrite in James chapter 2 verse five it says listen, my dear brothers has not God chosen those who are poor in the rest of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom which he promised those who love him. And Paul writes in first Corinthians chapter 1 verses 27 and 28 but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him. So let me ask you do you come here tonight.

Humble lowly in spirit, feeling insignificant and knowing that you are in need. Do you come you consider yourself poor in the eyes of the world. If you do not want to tell you this. You are the perfect candidate for God to show his favor to however loving if you come here tonight feel as though you are doing pretty good on your own thinking of yourself more highly than you should take great comfort in your wealth and your sense of self-reliance and limitation of the U of his fall from God. As you can get you to wake up call. You need a reality check is let me ask you this question.

Would you all like to experience the favor of God.

I know I would. I want to walk in God's favor.

Every day that that just means I want him to shower me with his grace, not that I deserve it. The we serve a God who who who wants to shower us with his grace, he when he wants to give you his favor. He wants to wants to place his favor over you. So if you want to have God's favor than I want you to listen carefully to what I want to share with you tonight as we read about a woman who was truly humble and lowly in the eyes the world and yet she was rich in faith and because of her rich faith in her humility.

She was highly favored by God to look chapter 1 is taken with verse 26 is what Dr. Luke writes in the six month God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel want to greetings you a highly favored, the Lord is with you. Mary was greatly troubled his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be for the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, you found favor with God, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and your to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the song of the most high, the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over Jacob's descendents.

For how long. Forever his kingdom will never end. How would this be married asked the angel since I'm a virgin and the angel answered the Holy Spirit will come on you in the power of the most high will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the son of God, even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age and she, who was said to be unable to conceive is now in her six month for nothing is impossible with God and then listen to Mary's answer. I am the Lord's servant may be to me as you have said, and then the angel left her name in his question on what answer might what it what can a man is God looking for really what is God looking for in a man. First of all I want you to understand this truth that we learn from the Bible, God does not look at the outward appearance of us was you look at he looks at the heart. He looks inside of us.

That's the real you. For single 16, seven, says the Lord does not look at the things man looks at.

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the horse.

Let me ask you what is God see me listen to your heart. Being a Christian is not about being religious but about having a dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders local triangle ministry glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living. You can discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources finding purpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local tribal men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net.

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