Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. A special filling of the Holy Spirit

2. The gift of prophecy was experienced

67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:   Luke 1:67

BLESSING THE LORD

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people”

Luke 1:68

1. Blessing the LORD

a) A frequent theme found in the Psalms

b) There are many praise psalms in the Book of Psalms

2. One clear example

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:

3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,

4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:1-5

a) Blessing the Lord for His benefits graciously given

b) Some of these blessings are deeply personal

GOD VISITING THE EARTH

9 You visit the earth and water it,
You greatly enrich it;
The river of God is full of water;
You provide their grain,
For so You have prepared it.

10 You water its ridges abundantly,
You settle its furrows;
You make it soft with showers;
You bless its growth.

Psalm 65:9-10

1. The Imagery of God’s visitation

a) This was employed in Psalm 65

b) His visit is closely associated with His blessings

2. Zacharias’ prophetic eyes

a) He now saw that God was visiting His people

b) He had come with blessings to give

GOD VISITING HIS PEOPLE

‘They shall be carried to Babylon, and there they shall be until the day that I visit them,’ says the Lord. ‘Then I will bring them up and restore them to this place.’ ”

Jeremiah 27:22

1. The prophecy concerning the Babylonian captivity

2. The prophecy of the time when God would visit them

3. A further prophecy of restoration for His people

GOD’S REDEMPTION PLAN

21 “Remember these, O Jacob,
And Israel, for you are My servant;
I have formed you, you are My servant;
O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!

22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions,
And like a cloud, your sins.
Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”

23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it!
Shout, you lower parts of the earth;
Break forth into singing, you mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it!
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And glorified Himself in Israel.

Isaiah 44:21-23

1. Transgressions and sins are dealt with

2. They are blotted out

3. God has redeemed His people

4. An Invitation to return to God

THE HORN OF SALVATION

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David

Luke 1:69

1 I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18:1-3

1. The imagery of a horn

a) It is an expression of power

b) God’s power is necessary for our redemption from sin

2. The redemptive plan of God revealed

a) Zacharias needed the filling of the Spirit to comprehend this great plan

b) Many aspects of this great plan was revealed

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To appreciate afresh God’s redemption

2. To rejoice greatly in that plan of salvation

3. To see our faith strengthened and deepened