Initiating The Turn-10(2024)

‘INITIATING The TURN’-X—Luke 1:23(:5-25)

Attention:

My wife & I have ‘key fobs’ for use of one of our cars. We have to have it close to the car in order to open the car door. The fob not only allows us to open the door but also allows us to start the car.

And starting the car is something that is pertinent to our examination of the passage we’re looking at.

*In order to use our car, there are all manner of things that have to work in sequence &/or simultaneously. A process has to begin!

The key fob communicates to our vehicle, activating the electrical system. Power to the electrical system is continually available & engaged by the battery.

The ignition switch sends a signal to the starter motor. The starter motor engages with the engine's flywheel to turn over or crank the engine.

When I press the ignition switch, the ignition coil, & spark plugs are engaged. This system generates a high-voltage spark required to ignite the air-fuel mixture that runs to the engine cylinders, so the pistons will move.

But in order to do that, the fuel pump has to become activated, drawing fuel from the tank & delivering it to the engine. The fuel injectors spray the fuel directly into the combustion chamber of the cylinder.

As the engine turns, some pistons move up, compressing the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders. When the piston reaches the top of its stroke, the ignition system fires the spark plugs, that ignite the now compressed mixture.

That ‘contained explosion’ creates a rapid expansion of gases, that pushes the piston down & creates power by moving the crankshaft that multiple pistons are connected to. The starter motor then disengages.

As the engine runs, the alternator physically begins to generate electricity to recharge the battery & power the vehicle's electrical systems, so the battery is no longer drained of electricity....

*All of this dance is choreographed by the crankshaft & camshaft. They are geared together to precisely time the position of the pistons in the cylinders with the proper positioning of intake & exhaust valves, to create the compressive strokes, so that fuel & spark can be delivered at the precise time, a thousand-+ times a minute, so that your car runs smoothly.—from an internet Q&A response

*And I said all that, to say this:

*There are a lot of interconnection & involvement in any process. But the process must be ‘INITIATED’ at some point!

Likewise, God accomplished the promised ‘turning of people’ to Himself, by INITIATING the actions that were necessary to bring about mankind’s eventual salvation & glorification in Christ Jesus(Eph. 1:6-8, 13-14; Rom. 8:17-21, 30; Heb. 2:9).

*The title of this sermon series ‘turns’ on Lk. 1:16-17.

Need:

Whether they admit it or not, every person has a deep-seated need for certainty, settled peace, & confidence in their lives. And many if not most never experience those things in this life....However...that peace, certainty, & confidence can indeed be yours! But ONLY IF you willingly & unconditionally TURN to God, by trusting Christ Jesus as Savior & Lord.

Luke informed his audience of the initial steps that God took to turn His people toward Himself.

God began the process of turning of His people toward Himself.

And we are answering the question...

...?What principles does God use to begin turning people toward Himself?

12 principles God used & uses to begin turning people toward Himself.

So far in Luke’s Gospel, we have found that:

In initiating the Turn to Himself, God uses...

1. RIGHTEOUS FAITHFULNESS(:5-7)

2. PRIVILEGED DUTY(:8-9)

3. CONCERTED & DUTIFUL PRAYER(:10)

4. HEALTHY FEAR(:11-12)

5. DIVINE COMFORT(:13a)

6. DIVINE PARTNERSHIP(:13b-17)

7. DIVINE CHASTISEMENT(:18-20)

8. An ENHANCED PERSPECTIVE(:21)

9. An ENHANCED Or SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY(:22)

Today we’ll find that:

10—In Initiating the Turn to Himself, God ALSO uses...

An ENHANCED CONTINUANCE(:23)

Explanation:(:23)

:23—“And so it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.”

This verse assures us that after Gabriel’s appearance to him, Zacharias still fulfilled his priestly duties for the remainder of the week.

*Zacharias completed his priestly duties, & continued his life, having experienced a prophetic encounter with Gabriel, an angel whose very purpose requires that he stands in the very presence of God(:19-20)!

Following the completion of his temple duties, Zacharias then “departed” from it to return to “his own house.”

It is not known WHERE Zacharias made his home, other than it being in or near an unnamed “city of Judah” in “the hill country of Judea”(Lk. 1:39-40).

Lk. 1:39-40—“Now Mary arose in those days & went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, & entered the house of Zacharias & greeted Elizabeth.”

Zacharias went about his regular ‘priestly business’ at home, that did not involve his direct service in the temple in Jerusalem. He continued to do what was expected of anyone in the priestly line. However, Zacharias now conducted his ‘priestly business’ at home, with ‘enhanced’ insight.