Faith is a complex subject… The Scripture defines it this way:
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. ~ Hebrews 11:1-3
Faith in the context of Advent is very specific…It is not faith in humanity, or science, or politics or even a general idea of a god…For the church Jesus authored, Christmas / Advent is defined by who HE IS!
So faith in regard to Christmas and what we celebrate durning Advent is:
FAITH IN WHO JESUS OF NAZARETH!
FAITH IN THE CHRIST!
FAITH IN THE BIBLICAL MESSIAH!
FAITH IN GOD INCARNATE!
So let’s be clear about what I am talking about…
Believing wholeheartedly that the Biblical person, Jesus of Nazareth, was in fact: The God of the Hebrew Scriptures, personally fulfilling HIS promise of Messiah. He was born in the most unique and fantastic way. He was entirely human physically… YET He was GOD @ the same time. Can you believe that? But wait there is more…HE lived about of 33 years with people and problems and HE NEVER SINNED!!THEN after explaining the deal of salvation though HIM…He is captured, killed, He came back from the dead and lives forever For YOU!
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!
Truth is, none of us, on our own, possess the faith required to believe all of this enough for it to change the course of your life…
Thank God for the gift of saving faith, ie: Faith In Christ as God, Savior & Lord!
Our text today shows us some of the first people to received that gift of faith in Christ: 3 Women: Elizabeth, Mary and Anna.
May God’s Word inspire us with how He first gave the gift of faith in Christ…
If you believe Jesus of Nazareth is God, Savior & Lord I encourage you to celebrate that Gift today as you hear God’s Word. UNDESERVED…HUMBLING
If you believe Jesus is anything less than God, Savior & Lord, I encourage you to ask God to give you a full blown faith in Christ Jesus TODAY!
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias…and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years…9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense…11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before HIM [Christ] in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord [Christ].”
18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. 23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”
26 When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, 27 to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” 29 She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. 31 Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. 33 He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. 36 Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. 37 Nothing is impossible for God.” 38 Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
39 Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands [Ein Karem]. 40 She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 With a loud voice she blurted out, “God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry. 43 Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.”
Luke 2:22-38 NASB 1995
22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel [Messiah]; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; 30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” 33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
FAITH IN CHRIST
Elizabeth: The Gift of Faith In Christ is the work of The Holy Spirit
Mary: The Gift of Faith In Christ is received by Your obedience
Anna: The Gift of Faith in Christ results in You sharing that Gift
Romans 5:1-2 NLT
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
Philippians 3:9b NLT
I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith.
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NASB 1995
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
The Gift of Faith In Christ Jesus:
Open Yourself to God’s Grace
- Repentance / Turn away from You, Turn to God
- Recognition that Jesus is God dying to save you
Do What Jesus The Christ Says
- As His You lay down your life
- Whatever He says goes: ‘Lordship Salvation’
Give Away What You Have Been Given
Sharing Christ results from faith in Christ
Your belief drives attitudes and actions