Observing God At Work-2

STILL OBSERVING GOD At WORK—Luke 1:57-80

While the brokers were busily calling potential customers to drum up business, the president of the firm stopped to eavesdrop on a new employee. He listened as the young man talked eight consecutive contacts into moving their stock portfolios to him.

The boss approached the young man & said, "I’ve been listening in, & I must say I’m impressed with your ability.

Where did you learn so much about talking to investors?"

"Yale, sir," the young man answered.

Impressed, the boss said, "Oh, that’s fine, just fine.

And what’s your name?"

"Yackson," he replied.

Observing someone at work can reveal some interesting things...

Likewise, Observing God at work reveals the needs in our own lives.

John the Baptist’s parents knew with certainty the implications of their son’s birth.

The events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist have implications for God’s people.

What is implied from observing God at work?

Implications drawn from seeing God at work.

Previously we have seen that Observing God at work implies a need for Expanded...

1. SATISFACTIONs(:57-59)

2. BOUNDARIES(:59-63)

3— Observing God at work implies a need for...

Expanded CONVERSATIONs(:64-65)

Explanation:(:64-65) Perceptions

:64—“Immediately his mouth was opened & his tongue loosed, & he spoke, praising God.

Immediately upon his writing the words, Zacharias’ tongue was freed whereas before it had been bound.

Upon having his mouth/tongue opened/loosed, Zacharias began praising God before those present. He spoke in praise of God. This was in answer to Gabriel’s promise(:19-20).

Prior to your being set free in Christ, your tongue was mute regarding God’s truth. If God was praised at all, He was praised distantly & generally.

:65—“Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; & all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.

This action by God upon Zacharias caused all those who lived near him(& Elizabeth) to fear. It also caused a great stir among the people so that the miracle & word was the topic of conversation in all the hill country of Judea.

Judah (:39) is 1)The area occupied by specifically by the tribe of Judah;

Judea(here) is the entire area west & South of the Dead Sea. distinguished from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, & Idumaea.

Argumentation:

Deut. 6:6-9—““And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, & shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, & when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, & they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house & on your gates.”

Our Conversations are guided by the affairs of our heart. And physical reminders speak of the importance of these spiritual Conversations.

*Col. 4:6— “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.”

Col. 3:12-17—“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy & beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, & forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; & be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching & admonishing one another in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Php. 1:27— “Only let your conversation[conduct/lifestyle] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:...that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;...”

Eph. 2:1-3—“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses & sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh & of the mind, & were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

Mat. 12:34-37—““Brood of vipers![Pharisees] How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, & an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, & by your words you will be condemned.””