The REALIZATION Of GOD’s GUIDANCE-III—
Luke 1:65-67(:57-80)
Attention:
'Daddy Wouldn’t Like It'
A man is on vacation driving thru Pennsylvania’s Amish country.
He drives over a hill & spies a huge wagon that had spilled it’s entire load of hay.
A young boy was picking up handfuls of hay & placing them back on the wagon.
The tourist gets out & offers the boy help.
The tourist says, ‘Son, it’ll be simpler with the pitchfork, watch this!’
The boy immediately stops the man & says, ‘Oh, no sir, Daddy wouldn’t like it!’
The tourist was incensed that a father would punish such a small boy in such a way.
The tourist then says “Step aside son & we’ll have this done in no time. You won’t have to touch it, & nobody will be the wiser. Your Daddy won’t know a thing about my helping you.”
With fear in his voice, the boy maintains, ‘Daddy wouldn’t like it!’
The tourist brushes off the boys concerns & slams the pitchfork into the hay pile. And immediately a blood-curdling scream comes out!
The boy says, ‘I told you Daddy wouldn’t like it!’
The man who helped the boy needed much better Guidance than the boy was able to provide!
*And every person, of all mankind, stands in need of the Guidance that only God can supply!
1:76-79—““And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness & the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.””(cf.-Isa. 9:6-7; Isa. 40:3-5;)
God’s ‘GUIDANCE’ ultimately comes to an individual, a person, thru their willful & conscious, personal trust in Jesus Christ.
And that personal trust comes to a person, thru their accepting Jesus as their Savior. And the evidence of the Savior’s saving is seen in in a person’s trust in Jesus as the Lord of their life. And thru such a person living a godly life, God’s GUIDANCE thru Jesus, also becomes ‘tangible’ for others to discover, by their personal faith.
But The ‘touchstone’ for the arrival of God’s promised GUIDANCE, was the birth of John the Baptist. With his birth, God’s promise began to be realized in that generation, & it’s results carried forward to all generations beyond, including our own.
So GOD’s ‘GUIDANCE’ is always, actually, & readily available to & for everyone thru Jesus!
Need:
To really KNOW the direction you should go, in anything you undertake, is something you can WILLINGLY DISCOVER.
•And that discovery will give a beautiful clarity to your life!
On the other hand, to really KNOW the direction you should go, in anything you undertake, is something you can WILLINGLY AVOID altogether!
•Willingly avoiding God’s Guidance & direction, leaves your life devoid of real substance & real answers to all the troubling quandaries that you will ever face.
Luke records prophetic events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist.
The means towards God’s ‘guidance’(1:79) was realized thru the birth of John the Baptist.
God’s ‘guidance’(in the way of peace) has been realized.
But:
?How is God’s guidance realized?
We are attempting to answer that question by examining...
...6 Realizations that bring God’s Guidance to us.
So far, in our examination of verses :57-80, we’ve found that
‘God’s Guidance is realized thru a...’:
1. Prophetic BIRTH(:57-58)
2. Prophetic RITUAL/CUSTOM(:59)
& a:
3. Prophetic ENCOUNTER(:60-64)
And TODAY we’ll find that:
4—God’s guidance is ALSO realized thru a Prophetic...
GRASP(:65-67)a realization that God has spoken
Explanation:(:65-67)a realization that God has spoken
:65—“Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; & all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.”
The action of God, in bringing about the fulfillment of the birth of John-the-Baptist, thru Zacharias & Elizabeth, caused all those to fear, who “dwelt around” Zacharias & Elizabeth.
•The confirmation of the events that took place, caused a great stir among the people.
•And so much so, that the miracles & the speculations surrounding them became the topic of conversation “throughout all the hill country of Judea.”
Judah(:39) versus “Judea”(:65)—There is a slight difference between the two terms.
•Judah is (1)The area deeded to, & largely occupied by the tribe of Judah.
—Whereas—
• (2) “Judea” is the entire larger area(including Judah) west & South of the Dead Sea, that was recognized as a specific Roman ‘province’—as distinguished from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, Idumaea, & the like.
*No one knew the all the implications nor all the ramifications & fallout from what God would do thru this miracles surrounding this boy named John.
:66—“And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.”
“All” who were told of the happenings(“them”) regarding Zacharias, Elizabeth, & their son, John, pondered the meaning of the miraculous events “in their hearts”, so that they regarded them & their possible implications/ramifications(future & present).
Their ponderings & wrestlings caused them to ask:
?Since the birth has been attended by such miraculous works of God, then ?“What kind of child will this be?” or, ‘?What is the destiny of this “child”, John?’
Given the events surrounding John’s birth, circumcision, & John’s naming, they no doubt asked themselves, ‘?How do these things relate to God’s people?’.....Or, ‘?‘What do these things mean for Israel?’ Or, ’?What is God doing or about to do?’
Because of the events surrounding John’s birth, those who thought such questions, surely sought their Rabbi’s opinions, in order to see how these things could & should play out. Most of them were unable to individually ‘pore thru’ the Scriptures like you & I can, given the limited availability of the Scriptures themselves.
It was obvious to all the people who knew of the events, that God was specifically working in that particular family’s life thru John’s birth. And so those things would carry thru to have a definite effect upon the nation & beyond as well.
It is also stated that “the hand of the Lord was with” the boy John. That is, it would become obvious to everybody, that John would give himself obediently in answer to God by allowing Him to rule John’s life.
:67—“Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, & prophesied,...”
At that time, Zacharias became “filled with the Holy Spirit” even as we’re told Elizabeth had in verse :41.
When the “Spirit” of God “fills” people they are enabled by God to “prophesy.”
?BUT, What does it mean to “prophesy”?
•To authoritatively declare the revelation of God.•
•“Prophecy” is always of biblical consequence & importance. It CAN or MAY involve declaring a ‘foretelling’ of specific & NEW revelation. And such ‘new revelation’ is destined to be recorded for current &/or future generations of Bible readers. In our day, the Canon of Scripture is complete.
•Depending on the context of the “prophesying”, more often it relates to the ‘forth-telling’ of God’s truth.
•That is to say that, the “forth-telling” is declared to others, (1)having been gleaned from the entirety of written revelation, & (2)by faithfully bringing together all the Bible’s concepts & truths, & (3) from bringing into play, the believer’s personal interaction with God, & the church, thru His indwelling Holy Spirit.
2Pet. 1:16-21—“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power & coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor & glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns & the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
*When the ‘human spirit’ ALONE fills a person, they are able to forge ahead WITHOUT God. But they will never rise above the limitations of the flesh. Sadly, their imaginations & their innate intelligence can SUPPLANT God’s work & intent with their own fleshly work & intent.
What is recorded in the following verses(:68-80), is a “prophecy” consisting of praise, foretelling, & forthtelling.
?Does YOUR experience with God’s prophetic realities(Birth, Ritual/Custom, & Encounter), cause you to GRASP(:65-67) the significance of His desire for your life as well as for the lives of others?
Argumentation:
Acts 2:38-43—“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, & let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; & you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you & to your children, & to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified & exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; & that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine & fellowship, in the breaking of bread, & in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, & many wonders & signs were done through the apostles.”
•Mark 6:2-6—“And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, & brother of James, Joses, Judas, & Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” And they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, & in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people & healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.”
Prov. 14:12; 16:25—“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
Acts 19:13-20—“Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered & said, “Jesus I know, & Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, & prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked & wounded. This became known both to all Jews & Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; & fear fell on them all, & the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing & telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together & burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, & it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily & prevailed.”
Acts 17:10-12—“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul & Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, & searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, & also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.”
•The Bereans did not just accept whatever came their way, as authoritative from God! They tested what was brought to them by the existing Scripture, because it all fits together as a cohesive whole!
Rev. 11:3-13—“And I will give power to my two witnesses, & they will prophesy one thousand two hundred & sixty days[3 1/2yrs.], clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees & the two lampstands[Zech. 4:1-14] standing before the God of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth & devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; & they have power over waters to turn them to blood, & to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, & kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom & Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, & nations will see their dead bodies three-&-a-half days, & not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, & send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. Now after the three-&-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, & they stood on their feet, & great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, & their enemies saw them. In the same hour there was a great earthquake, & a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, & the rest were afraid & gave glory to the God of heaven.”
•That is not to say that those who “gave glory to the God of heaven”, sought salvation in Christ!...They COULD have. However they certainly DID recognize God’s working in the two witnesses!
Illustration:
You’ve heard me mention that my Daddy used to call attention to the fact, that somewhere in the short or long-term past, he himself had looked at an issue or circumstance in IGNORANCE.
Whereas seeing the SAME issue or circumstance with FULL KNOWLEDGE, caused him to see the issue or circumstance differently & properly.
It was then that he would openly declare:
‘I see said the blind man!’
•Prophetic GRASP
Application:
?Are YOU a recipient of God’s guidance thru YOUR Prophetic GRASP, of what God has spoken & done?
?Is God’s guidance realized in YOU?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Remember the vacationer who was concerned about helping the boy load the hay back on the wagon. The man needed much better Guidance than the boy was able to provide!
*And that everyone stands in need of the Guidance that only God can supply!
And that the ‘touchstone’ for actually realizing God’s GUIDANCE has come to us thru the birth of John the Baptist.
Action:
God’s guidance is realized thru a Prophetic...
4. GRASP(:65-67)
1. BIRTH(:57-58)
2. RITUAL/CUSTOM(:59)
3. ENCOUNTER(:60-64)
Pnt# 4 only! presented 11/02/2025am to:
Salem Baptist Church
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
