The Benefits of Believing in God's Promises (Luke 1:57-80)

1. Belief in God’s promises leads us to joy (57-66) – When God declares something, it comes true.

a. Joy when we realize God’s mercy (v.57-58) – Elizabeth was a recipient of God’s mercy because she was old and didn’t think that she was able to bear children. Barren women now can go through procedures where they can have children if they were previously unable to. However, in Elizabeth’s time if a woman was barren, there was nothing she could do except have faith that God would do a miracle. Sometimes the best blessings from God come when we allow him to be merciful to us and when we are patient. We can have joy when we realize how God blesses us through his mercy.

b. Joy when we realize our mistakes (v.59-64) – The eighth day of birth was when the parents took the child and circumcised him and gave him his name. The people assumed John would be named after his father or a family name. Zechariah asked for the writing tablet, which he was probably very familiar with, and stated what John's name was going to be. When we realize our mistakes and repent and ask forgiveness, we realize joy, like Zechariah.

c. Joy when we realize God’s plan (65-66) – For the neighbors it was a reverent fear. But you can realize how joyful John’s parents were when everyone talked about that the hand of the Lord was with him. I remember after Jackson was born the doctor told me that he was smart. For the first time I realized what it felt like to be proud of my son. I had tremendous joy over this little comment about my child so I can only imagine the type of joy that John’s parents had in hearing what people were saying about their child and knowing that he was going to prepare the way for Jesus. They had joy when they realized God’s plan.

2. Belief in God’s promises leads us to praise (67-75)

a. Praise God because we are redeemed (v.67-68) – Zechariah is thanking God and these are the first words that he has uttered in 9 months. The redemption that Zechariah is talking about is the redemption from sin. What redemption is: God buying you back from a slave owner. Before we accept Christ, we are slaves to sin. Sin owns us and the only way we can break away from this owner is by Christ redeeming, or buying us back. Z was praising God because now that John was here, Jesus was soon to follow and he would redeem everyone who believes in Him.

b. Praise God because we are rescued (v.69-71) – God also rescues us when we accept Christ. This horn is a symbol for the horns of a great leader (military term) who has rescued us from our enemies. This leader is Jesus.

c. Praise God because we are able to serve (v.72-75) - The purpose of God’s rescuing us is so that we would truly serve him. The Jews couldn’t truly serve God at that time because they were being oppressed by the Roman Empire. Some Jews thought that the Christ was going to win a great war with Rome. Non-Christians cannot serve God. It’s impossible. We have to be rescued and delivered from the bondage of sin before it is possible to serve God.

3. Belief in God’s promises leads us to understanding (76-80)

a. We understand God’s forgiveness (v.76-77) – There had not been a prophet for 400 years. Now, Zechariah says that John will be the prophet of the Most High…that’s quite a prediction! Malachi 3:1, 4:5-6. John gave knowledge to his people by forgiveness of sins. John would preach that only through repentance can sinners find forgiveness.

b. We understand God’s guidance (v.78-80) – the sunrise that will visit us is God’s son coming down to the lowly earth. And by his light he gives light to those who are living in sin, sitting the darkness and cannot see. Then once we can see, his light guides our path into a way of peace. One attribute of accepting Christ is that he gives us peace in a world filled with uncertainty, anxiety, and turmoil.