WEBVTT 1 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:09.000 Welcome Just hand Away Tagalog Sermon Podcast, your daily dose 2 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:11.599 of inspiring from heartfelt tagalog. 3 00:00:11.199 --> 00:00:14.519 Sermons from different factors and speakers all over the Philippines. 4 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:17.320 We hope that this podcast finds you in good shape. 5 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:24.280 And now here's your message. 6 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:29.239 You're listening to a message from Victory. We hope it 7 00:00:29.320 --> 00:00:36.520 inspires you to honor God and make disciples in your community. 8 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:40.840 This week, we'll be looking at a song that was 9 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:45.880 written by most probably you know this guy, Zechariah. All right, Zechariah, 10 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:47.600 as you would remember, this is more of a rica 11 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:51.960 for all of us that he is a priest, an 12 00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:53.679 old priest who have been. 13 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:55.039 Faithfully serving God. 14 00:00:55.119 --> 00:01:00.000 In fact, if you read Zechariah, he's really an ordinary, 15 00:01:01.079 --> 00:01:05.319 an ordinary guy who have been serving God through the years. 16 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:10.400 But what makes him different in a sad way is 17 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:15.000 that even if he has been serving God through the years. 18 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:20.719 To Mandana Shanghaka Goda, imagine that maybe for some of 19 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:23.560 us who were thinking that Lord, I've been faithful through 20 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:26.840 the years, but the twenty eighteen, but the blessing that 21 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:29.239 I've been crying out for, maybe it's not a child, 22 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:30.159 maybe it's something else. 23 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:33.599 Lord doesn't the Lord, will you bless me. Will you 24 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:35.480 be with me? Lord, I've been faithful. 25 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:38.599 And then all of a sudden, as we all know, 26 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:43.040 the Angel Gabriel appeared, the same angel that appeared to Mary, 27 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:48.400 and told Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth, who as we know, 28 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:54.959 is a relative of Mary, said Zachariah, Elizabeth, you will 29 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:58.000 have a son. Remember that it's in the Old Testament, 30 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:02.120 similar to Abraham and his wife Sarah when he had 31 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:04.719 the son, even though in their old age. And that's 32 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:07.760 the start of my confidant, guess what I'm about to do, 33 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:12.159 something new, and you, Zachariah and Elizabeth will have a son. 34 00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:15.319 He's gonna be it's going to be John the Baptist, 35 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:19.719 the last prophet before the the great Prophet comes Jesus, 36 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:20.599 and he's. 37 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:22.560 Going to prepare the way of the Lord. You're gonna 38 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:23.080 have a son. 39 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:28.919 And we all know how Zechariah responded, right he men, Lord, Amen. 40 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:33.120 You know that's not how he responded. He responded with doubts. 41 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:39.240 He was doubtful. Look and what was the consequence of 42 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:46.719 his doubt. He was silenced for probably nine months. Imagine 43 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:50.759 my own since Zakariah for nine months. 44 00:02:51.479 --> 00:02:55.639 Can't help but thinking married Chila n. 45 00:02:57.719 --> 00:03:01.439 Then after that, when the son was born, John, when 46 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:04.840 he held it, held him to his arms. In his arms, 47 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:08.360 he was able to speak once again, and he was 48 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:12.879 able to write this beautiful song most probably known as 49 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:17.439 Benedictus in his original language and its Greek. It's just 50 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:21.840 one long Greek song. But now we're going to read it, 51 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:23.560 and you're going to see something amazing. 52 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:24.439 It's so packed. 53 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:28.879 That's read from Luke one, verses sixty seven to sixty eight. 54 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:32.479 It says, here and his father Zachariah was filled with 55 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:36.120 the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord 56 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:37.360 God of Israel. 57 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:39.960 For he has visited and redeemed his people well. 58 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:45.280 His verse the very first word blessed in Latin natum Benedictus, 59 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:49.719 the very first thing that that Zechariah rather did. 60 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:52.280 When he was able to speak, when he was able 61 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:53.240 to write. 62 00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:58.120 After see his son, John was declared that God is blessed, 63 00:03:58.439 --> 00:04:00.159 Blessed be the Lord God. 64 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:01.680 He was worshiping God. 65 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.360 He was worshiping God with what he has experience in 66 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:09.039 his life. You know, what, come to think of it, 67 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:12.439 what can we offer God? Can we offer him our riches? 68 00:04:13.159 --> 00:04:16.360 He's richer than us. He owns everything. Can we offer 69 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:20.560 him our achievements? He doesn't need it, He has achieved 70 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:24.800 infinitely more than us. Can we offer him our success? 71 00:04:25.160 --> 00:04:28.079 He's more successful than us. Can we offer him our 72 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:30.959 good works? And as we know, our good works are 73 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:33.759 like filthy ragsibah? So what can we offer God he 74 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:38.720 doesn't already have. But here's something amazing. We can't bless God. 75 00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:43.040 We can bless him in the sense that Lord, I 76 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:43.680 thank you. 77 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:45.800 We can thank God. 78 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:49.480 Imagine that we get to give something to God, and 79 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:55.040 that's us blessing him, thanking him, acknowledging what he has done. 80 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:58.000 And that's what Zechariah did. The very first line is 81 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:01.839 saying God, thank you, Blessed be the Lord God. 82 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:07.240 And then afterwards it's being followed by two small words 83 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:16.279 that most probably did not Inita for he preposition prepositions, 84 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:18.000 did not in not appreciate it. 85 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:20.680 But when I was studying this, I was amazed. 86 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:25.839 These two words can also be translated because blessed be 87 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:30.360 the Lord God of Israel, because Lord, I worship you. 88 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:35.240 Because you know what the sad part is, especially with worship. 89 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:38.959 You know when we come here every Sundays, you get 90 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.680 the sing songs. That's just one aspect of worship. Everything 91 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:44.920 is worship, from giving to serving and aill. But sometimes 92 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:51.480 the weakly grind of worship strips us of the essence 93 00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:56.519 of worship. Isn't it true that we we we can 94 00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:00.079 experience or we can have a more meaningful worship and 95 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:03.040 we not only know the person, but we know what 96 00:06:03.079 --> 00:06:04.560 he does and what he did to us. 97 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:09.720 Mis Gig religion, Alan worship, worship, worship. 98 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:16.279 Every Sunday. But for Zaca Riot it's different. Blessed be 99 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:18.240 the Lord God, because. 100 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:21.920 There's a meaning behind it. 101 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:26.120 You know what the sad part in our society right now, 102 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:31.319 especially for the younger generation, is that God is separated. 103 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:36.439 God is just a concept, a subject, especially ku among 104 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:43.279 religious schools Tiba religion, math science, see God, Pank religion, 105 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:46.879 James God. Well that's just a math. Well that's just 106 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:51.360 a science. God is just in a day Sunday one and. 107 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:54.519 A half hour. Well that's just a school. Go well, 108 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:56.759 that's just a business. Go well, that's just a family. 109 00:06:56.839 --> 00:07:07.160 Got family or church. 110 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:12.839 And has a sad part. God is not just a concept. 111 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:16.319 God is not just isolated in a subject. The same 112 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:18.800 God who is here in religion is the same God 113 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:21.959 of math and science. The same God who was present. 114 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:23.519 To our gent, to our. 115 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:29.040 Grandfather's mothers, fathers, is the same God is present today. 116 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:34.480 And God is not just an idea or a concept. 117 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:39.639 It's different from knowing someone to experiencing someone. And that's 118 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:44.639 what Zacharai experienced. Imagine know God for the longest time. 119 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:47.040 He's a priest, he's. 120 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:53.240 Been serving God to man, but it all changed when 121 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:59.839 he experienced God, because it's all knowledge until he experienced God. 122 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:03.439 And my prayer is for this generation, for all of 123 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:07.240 us here, that we don't just know God here it's important, 124 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:10.279 of course, but we experience Him in our lives, that 125 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:13.040 he's not just a concept. He's not just an idea. 126 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:16.800 He's not just a subject. He's not isolated to one nation, 127 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:20.319 he's not isolated to one generation. But God is a 128 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:23.079 God who is active. God is a God who acts. 129 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:29.199 He's on the move, He's doing something. In the Potamadzi Lord. 130 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:33.559 In fact, in the next couple of verses, you would 131 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:39.399 see eight verbs action words in almost every verse. 132 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:42.000 What does it show? What does it communicate? 133 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:45.480 That God is on the move, that God is a 134 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:50.879 God who acts, what's the two the first two verses 135 00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:53.919 of the first two verbs, rather that God used for 136 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:58.879 this Oneito blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for 137 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:01.200 he has visited. 138 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:02.639 And redeem these people. 139 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:05.559 The first two verbs or action words that we could 140 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:09.600 see are the verbs visited and redeem. 141 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:13.159 Now Bacina be going visit or visited? Isn't it true? 142 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:15.960 The first thing that comes to our mind our visitors? 143 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:18.879 What long you hear? You love having visitors in your house? 144 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:20.360 Right and maybe for some. 145 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:23.360 Of you you find joy that maybe you know because 146 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:29.159 you get to talk to someone. And especially in this Christmas, 147 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:30.919 do you have relatives who are staying with you? 148 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:32.720 Tva, you host them. 149 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:39.600 Christmas and it's a joy for us. They will come, 150 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:42.519 they will stay here for a while, and then they 151 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:43.519 will eventually leave. 152 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:58.600 May besitazabay because we're very hospitable people. Sububan dessert. 153 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:03.039 First, you know, one day, one week, month, but imagine 154 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:12.159 having a guest for one year. Now he'll pick kind 155 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:20.799 and the reaction at what happened to sert we don't 156 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:24.399 want that because we know a visitor is someone who comes, 157 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:28.039 stays here for a while and then leaves. And the 158 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:31.240 problem with that When we read that verse, maybe we're 159 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:35.600 thinking God comes here, stays here for a while, and 160 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:36.120 he'll leave. 161 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:40.279 But that's not what the verse actually really means. 162 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:45.000 If you unpack it, the more appropriate meaning is that 163 00:10:46.279 --> 00:10:50.000 visited means someone who is looking after because he's concerned 164 00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:54.960 with oneself. Or a more appropriate description is having gathered 165 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:59.759 and made ready the things necessary for a journey. See 166 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:04.879 the sayyadito, not try your bown family. Not out of 167 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:08.320 town or out of the country right, So out of town, 168 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:14.159 out of countryhang full production. I mean the GISTI and 169 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:16.879 all and with my wife and I when we go 170 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:19.679 out from time to time for out of town. 171 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:22.200 Or go home to our home in Mariquina and her family. 172 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:29.879 I am the one who usually packs first, So same bag, 173 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:36.440 So put all my things, I will put my wife's clothes. 174 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:40.200 I would put uh the things needed me Jedi. I 175 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:45.320 would put Jedda in the bag. And then afterwards, I 176 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:49.960 would say, you know what my wife, because she's a 177 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:56.039 responsible wife, would do. She would revisit the things I 178 00:11:56.080 --> 00:12:01.480 would pack. You would visit the things that your husband 179 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:13.000 packed and really anti mosquito repellent. And then she would 180 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:15.720 see and she would look at the details of the bag, 181 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:19.559 and she's concerned about it because it's something personal that 182 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:21.559 she would use and we would use in our journey 183 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:22.200 as a family. 184 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:25.000 You know what's something interesting. 185 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:32.720 When God visited look at the details of men, looked 186 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:34.399 at the status of mankind. 187 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:40.080 You know what he saw. He saw the need for redemption. 188 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:44.519 He saw the sins the way that's down, He saw 189 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:46.039 the need of a savior. 190 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.879 You see the big. 191 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:51.519 Problems that we have right now in the world, Poverty, 192 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:57.879 lack of education, war, disunity, terrorism, climate change, and all 193 00:12:57.960 --> 00:13:01.200 those things are legitimate problem. But if you look at 194 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:06.399 its very core, it's sin. Sin destroys our relationship with God. 195 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:12.360 Sin destroys our relationship with people. Sin destroys our relationship 196 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:19.039 with God's creation. Sin destroys and separates. And when God 197 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:22.960 saw that, he saw the need to pay the penalty 198 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:26.840 for our See, since that's why it says they're redeemed. 199 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:31.879 The word redemption means God paid the penalty for our 200 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:35.720 sins through Jesus Christ, so that we could live a 201 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:39.559 free life, no longer under the slavery of sin, but 202 00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:43.679 under the freedom of the price that Jesus Christ is paid. 203 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:49.000 So Lord, when he visited, he saw that the need 204 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:53.279 to be redeemed, and then let's continue the verse. Avidito 205 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:56.360 Verses sixty eight sixty nine. Less it be the Lord 206 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:58.799 God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed the 207 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:02.799 people and has raised up a horn of salvation for 208 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:04.799 us in the house of his servant. 209 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:05.320 David. 210 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:09.080 You phrase now horn of salvation is another way of 211 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:12.759 saying the Messiah. Now a horn of an ox looks 212 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:17.279 something like this. The horn that the ox has it 213 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:23.600 he it uses it to defend oneself against any predators, 214 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:28.200 and at the same time it uses these horns to attack. 215 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:33.039 What is God saying here, sa Verso he has raised 216 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:37.320 up a horn of salvation. God has raised up the Messiah. 217 00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:41.679 We could run to him as our defender. We could 218 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:43.919 run to him as our warrior. 219 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:44.879 Who would fight for us. 220 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:50.279 A new application astin do you need someone to fight 221 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:55.919 for you? Do you need defending? Before we even tap 222 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:58.320 our connections, let me encourage you. 223 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:01.639 God has raised up the Messia. We can run to 224 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:04.919 him as our defender. We can run to him as 225 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:07.360 our warrior, and he will fight for us. 226 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:10.759 And the Bible says, okay, that we are more than 227 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:12.919 conquerors through him. 228 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:14.759 If God is for us who. 229 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:18.399 Could be against us. He has raised up a horn 230 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:22.279 of salvation. He could be our defender, he could be 231 00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:26.639 our warrior, and we are victorious in him. Look at 232 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:30.559 the other verses seventeen to seventy two, as he spoke 233 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:32.840 by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 234 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:36.240 that we should be saved from our enemies and from 235 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:39.120 the hand of all who hate us. To show the 236 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:43.759 mercy promise to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. 237 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:48.080 At the very heart of God's redemption was his mercy. 238 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:51.679 Can you tyrnity diem case? 239 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:53.840 That is a mercy. 240 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:58.840 Mercy is God's goodness for those people in distress. When 241 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:04.120 he looked at the condition of mankind, he saw scram a. 242 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:07.440 The sin is going to destroy them. 243 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:11.159 Their sin is going to separate them from a relationship 244 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:11.440 with Me. 245 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:14.000 And because of his mercy. 246 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:21.200 He chose to redeem us. And that's what God's mercy is. 247 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:25.639 God's mercy is always meant to bring us to repentance. 248 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:33.919 And Lord wowin goodness for those who are in distress. 249 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:36.960 That's God's mercy in our lives. And then look at 250 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:43.000 this action words or verbs almost every. 251 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:43.919 Verse Maron. 252 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:48.279 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets 253 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:50.679 from of old, that we should be saved from our 254 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:52.960 enemies and from the hand of all will hate us. 255 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:55.720 To show the mercy promise to our fathers, and to 256 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:59.080 remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to 257 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:03.480 our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered 258 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:06.680 from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear. 259 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:15.640 What can we see here? God spoke, God promised, God remembered. 260 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:20.240 And then God acted. Question my word bussy guid the 261 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:24.240 binni gay seo. Maybe through your quiet time, through your 262 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:29.640 victory group prayer and fasting my word dong nigay slor 263 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:36.039 my promise, bussy God satin. It's a family, natin's business. 264 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:40.240 It's a school. Let me encourage you with this. 265 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:46.400 If God said something, if God promised something, he will 266 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:50.160 remember it and he will fulfill it at his own time, 267 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:55.480 in his own ways, in accordance to his will. That's 268 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:59.880 what we can see here. Not only that, what else? 269 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:11.640 And we notice most of the verses are in the past, tense, redeemed, visited, delivered, spoke. 270 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:13.799 That's hard. 271 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:18.880 Zacharai here was saying, Lord, thank you for the redemption 272 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.880 that we already have. 273 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:23.440 Thank you for delivering us. Thank you for raising up 274 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:27.200 the horn of salvation. Someone who will fight for us, 275 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:30.519 someone who will be our defender, Lord Salamata. 276 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:33.759 You know why that is interesting? Remember because when Zachariah 277 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:37.440 wrote this down, they were still under the Roman Empire. 278 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:41.519 The whole nation is still being abused, the whole nation 279 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:43.799 are still being enslaved. 280 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:46.160 What does it mean? 281 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:50.759 Zechariah was making a declaration in a past tense. It's 282 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:56.400 as if already God did it, But in reality it's not. Lord, 283 00:18:56.440 --> 00:19:01.680 thank you for redeeming us, redeem they're under the Roman Empire. 284 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:06.759 In fact, mammatizes Zakara magrestoxy Jesus. 285 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:09.480 Lord, thank you for delivering us. 286 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:14.880 Deliver in fact, couple of chapters after there's going to 287 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:17.440 be a census and babies are gonna get killed. 288 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:22.880 What delivered? And you know what for some of us here? 289 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:26.880 And let me tell this, even me versus, this is hard. 290 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:30.400 When we declare things that are not as if they are, 291 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:34.480 when we declare things that are already done, when in 292 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:39.079 fact the situation in front of us says otherwise. Lord, 293 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:44.119 thank you for providing for us, providing Look at you 294 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:54.160 what's in front of you, Uda Bayaren eighteen papers the paylists. Lord, 295 00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:57.880 thank you for reconciling my family, reconcile you just had 296 00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.839 a fight last time. 297 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:06.759 Lord, thank you for healing me healing And that's that's 298 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:07.359 why it's hard. 299 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:12.680 And I think it's hard also for Zachariah. Remember he 300 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:15.000 doubted the first time the angel showed up. 301 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:18.279 But what made but what was different? 302 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:22.640 What made him not just see what's in front of 303 00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:27.039 him but focus on God. It's in the first verse 304 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:30.559 that we read, and his father Zachariah was filled with 305 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:35.680 the Holy Spirit and prophesied kuntay Lampo. Would you agree, 306 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:38.440 it's so natural and easy for us to look at 307 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:43.039 the problems, It's so natural and easy for us to 308 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:47.160 look at the reality. But let me tell you this, 309 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:51.839 when the Holy Spirit comes and fills us up, he 310 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:56.480 changes our perspective. We don't disregard what's in front of us, 311 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:02.160 but we take into account what God said He do 312 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:05.400 the spotlight and the Holy Spirit shifts from the problems to God. 313 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:09.759 And my prayer is for me and my family and 314 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:12.519 from all for all of us here this Christmas, Lord, 315 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:14.599 I pray that we will be filled with the spirit, 316 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:18.079 so that we may have a change in our perspective, 317 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:22.240 that we can declare things that are not as if 318 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:22.720 they are. 319 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:25.160 That's why we can go to the campus. 320 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:28.400 If you're a student, Napaka, when you go there, you 321 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:33.039 see immorality, you see the the rise of unbelief. You 322 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:36.039 can declare, Lord, thank you, because leaders are coming. 323 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:36.920 From this campus. 324 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:40.519 That's why when when there's there's there's a problem in 325 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:44.599 our family, through the grace of God and by being 326 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:47.519 filled by the Spirit, we can declare, Lord, thank you 327 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:53.480 for providing for us. Lord, thank you for healing me. Lord, 328 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:56.400 thank you for going ahead of me, for fighting for me. 329 00:21:58.680 --> 00:22:01.400 Again. It's hard. That's why we need to ask God 330 00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:04.920 fill me with the spirit. Lord. I need it. I 331 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:07.400 need that it's going to be a change in my perspective. 332 00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:11.079 But got the next couple of verses seventy four to 333 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:14.200 seventy five. It says here that we, being delivered from 334 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:16.759 the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, 335 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:22.319 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. The 336 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:26.279 result of mercy and redemption is not a license for 337 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:29.960 us to sin, but rather to serve Him without fear 338 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:34.799 and live a holy and righteous life, Na's. 339 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.480 Tiny God lip a macasala. 340 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:40.480 But to use our life for His glory and to 341 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:43.039 use our lives in holiness and redemption. 342 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:45.680 Let me encourage for some of us here. 343 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:51.319 Maybe for some of us here, we're just afraid of 344 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:54.440 being a part of what God is doing. A joomunagmaging 345 00:22:54.559 --> 00:23:01.839 under discipleship, and for whatever reasons, mahmasiras is go besita. 346 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:05.480 Let me encourage you in view of His mercy and redemption, 347 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:08.039 Serve Him without fear. 348 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:15.960 Serve Him without fear. For some of us here, Christmasah, 349 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:19.680 there's a sin, there's an issue. Let me encourage you. 350 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:22.799 Maybe this season is a time that we align ourselves 351 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:26.039 to God and say, Lord, enough of this. I want 352 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:30.000 to live a holy and righteous life. Serve Him without fear. 353 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:33.319 Let me read the last couple of verses. 354 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:37.319 He says in verses seventy six to seventy nine, And 355 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:44.640 you child, for the longest time, the majority of the verses, 356 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:48.599 we're all focused on God. Now it shifts to his son, 357 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:52.799 and even this he needed, it's still about God. It's 358 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:55.799 still it's about the next generation and how they can 359 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:58.880 be a part of what God is doing. And you 360 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:02.039 child will be called the prophet of the Most High. 361 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:05.000 You will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 362 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:08.079 to give knowledge of salvation to his people and the 363 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:11.319 forgiveness of their sins because of the tender mercy of 364 00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:14.480 our God. Whereby the sunrise shall visit us from one 365 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:17.279 high to give light to those who sit in darkness, 366 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:20.079 in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into 367 00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:25.559 the way of peace. That's John the Baptist's rule. He 368 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:27.920 is the last prophet. He will prepare the way of 369 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:31.759 the Lord. He will preach the message. And that message 370 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:34.000 is the same message that you and I are still 371 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:34.880 preaching today. 372 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.839 What's the message about. 373 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:43.039 Forgiveness of sins, the tender mercy of God, the light 374 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:47.559 coming through, breaking in the breaking through the darkness, the 375 00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:53.039 light guiding us, the light giving us peace. Same message, 376 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:56.599 and that's what we have right now. That's what we 377 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:58.400 are being reminded. 378 00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:59.240 Of every Christmas. 379 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:04.440 The message that was declared, forgiveness of sins, the mercies 380 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:07.759 of God, the light that guides the peace that we have. 381 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.960 But while I was studying. 382 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:16.000 These verses, I came to see two words that just 383 00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:16.839 made me sad. 384 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:26.240 It's the words sit in. Look at the verse. 385 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:32.839 The sunrise by the way, your sunrise is another symbol 386 00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:37.079 for the coming of the Messiah. The sunrise shall visit 387 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:39.440 us from one high to give light to those who 388 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:43.599 sit in darkness. The words sit in can still be 389 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:46.119 if you study in its original language. Can also be 390 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:52.160 translated as Duell's tagalog to mambai, not settel. 391 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:56.240 And here's the sad part. 392 00:25:57.640 --> 00:26:01.200 God came with the forgiveness of our sins in his 393 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:06.160 tender mercy, guiding us light breaking through. But there are 394 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:13.799 people who chose to sit in darkness, dwell in darkness to. 395 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:15.400 Mumbaness the darkness. 396 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:18.839 In the Bible, if you study the word light, it 397 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:23.839 usually means God's presence, God's goodness, God's holiness, God's truth. 398 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:29.680 And of course, oppositely or on the other hand, darkness 399 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:32.720 is ungodliness, immorality. 400 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:34.720 Falsehood, evil. 401 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:41.279