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Christmas is all about the Son of GodSon of God coming to earth to be bornborn of a

virginvirgin, to live as a sinless sinless manman and to diedie for the

sins of men.

Romans 5 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due timein due time Christ died for the ungodly.

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We will pick up with the story in progressstory in progress in a city called Jerusalem.

Zacharias

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Luke 1:13-17 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name JohnJohn. 14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

Seeing the angel scaredscared Zacharias.

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15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drinkshall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filledfilled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17And he shall go before HIMHIM in the spirit and power of Elias (Elijah), to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the Wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

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Who is this baby born to beborn to be?

Fierce Prophet

Martyr

Baptizer

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Zacharias' wife Elizabeth was barrenbarren.

She and Zacharias had prayedhad prayed many years for children.

They were now very oldvery old; too old.

God alwaysalways moves for His people,

Right on Time!Right on Time!

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John was born for a purpose.So were each one of us.

God has a baby born.

When man wants a job donejob done,

he builds a machine.

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Reflected displeasureReflected displeasure with his unbeliefunbelief.

He went homehome and told Elizabeth, “We’re going to have a babyhave a baby, and

we’re going to name him JohnJohn.”

He had to write it; he couldn't talk.

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Six months later:

In NazarethLuke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

This troubled and puzzled Mary,

But she didn’t doubtdidn’t doubt his Word.

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She may have wondered why an ordinary girlordinary girl like her would be receiving such a message from God.

God uses ordinary peopleordinary people going about their ordinary daysordinary days to accomplish His Will.

ZachariasZacharias and MaryMary in this account.

God uses anyone, who is willing willing and submissivesubmissive,, to accomplish His WillHis Will on this earth.

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Psalms 139 (NIV) 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

14b your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for meAll the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

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Luke 1:30-33 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His Name JesusJesus. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: 33And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.

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Mary didn’t question that it wouldwould happen.

But she did wonder howhow?

She was betrothed to Joseph; not marriednot married.

They weren’tweren’t fooling around.

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon theeThe Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and The power of the Highest shall overshadow theeThe power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy Thing Which shall be born of thee shall be called The Son of GodThe Son of God.

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The messenger, announcing Jesus

as Messiah.John 1:29 … “ Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world.”

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Gabriel also told Mary about Elizabeth, and Mary simply acceptedsimply accepted the entire message:

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy Wordbe it unto me according to thy Word.

And the angel departed from her.

Mary conceivedconceived, just as Gabriel prophesied.

God alwaysGod always keeps His Promises;

Right on TimeRight on Time!!

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Mary went to visit Cousin Evisit Cousin E, and stayed with her until John was bornJohn was born.

Mary, Elisabeth, and John were all filledall filled with the Holy Ghost.

They named him JohnJohn, even though the neighbors didn't like it.

Z got his voice back and praised the Lordpraised the Lord.

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Luke 1:80 And the child grew, and waxed strong strong in spiritin spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

He ateHe ate locust and wild honey, and woreand wore a camel’s hair robe.

Any lesson hereAny lesson here for raising our children?

Tough conditions make a tough man, and a prophet of God must be tough.

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About six months after John’s birth, Jesus was bornJesus was born.

We’ll take up there tonight.

Let’s celebrateLet’s celebrate the Birth of the Birth of our Lordour Lord..