and make your way in them to the gospel of Luke today. Chapter 1, verses 57 through the end of the chapter, verse 80, we will conclude chapter 1 today in a message that I've called, God Performs His Promises. And we're really right in the center of this passage that has been painting portraits of people praising God, who always performs His promises. We've witnessed Elizabeth's praise to God, we've witnessed Mary's praise to God, and in some measure we've even witnessed John the Baptist's praise to God from the womb of his mother, Elizabeth. And chapter 1 closes with the portrait of a priest praising God. His name? Zacharias. You remember Zacharias. He's John the Baptist's dad. He's the one whom the angel Gabriel greeted and gave the good news that his wife would become miraculously fruitful even though previously she had been barren, and that they would give birth to the forerunner of Christ himself. But Zacharias, you recall, he faltered in his faith. That is, he didn't believe the angel. He felt like they were too old to be about the business of having kids now. And so, Gabriel told him that since he did not believe his words, that he would be mute. That he would have no words of his own to say until the day that his words, that is, Gabriel's, or in fact, God's words, came to pass. And guys, that's what unbelief does to us. It robs us of our witness. It leaves us with nothing to say. It leaves us with no praise to shout. It just simply leaves us in silence. But you know, one of the things that I have come to love about the Lord, and perhaps it'll bear witness with you as well, and that is this, that He is the God of second chances, and of third chances, and of 70 times seven chances. You may fail, I may fumble or falter, but God is so gracious that He will give to me, He will give to you another opportunity to stand in faith where previously we have failed, or we have faltered. And so too with Zacharias. And today we find Him going from silence to shouting praise. We might understand the principle like this, that where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. It's hard to take in, isn't it? I mean, at least for me, it's hard to really absorb because I know me. I know where I've been. I know what I've done. I know the depravity of my own heart. In reality, I probably don't. It's probably much worse than I realize. But what the Bible actually teaches is that there is more grace in God than there is sin in me. That is, where my sin abounded. And take note of the word, abounded. My sin was abounding. It was not nonchalant or barely noticeable. It wasn't light or in any way diminishing. It was flourishing, man. I mean, it was multiplying. It was expanding. It was abounding. It was on the uprise and the increase. And yet for all of that, there was more grace in God than there was ever increasing sin in me. And I want you to notice as well that there wasn't just more grace, but that grace abounded much more. The net effect, the end result being, so that as sin reigned in death, even so, grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. More grace in God than there was sin in me. The net effect, much more grace than there was sin, where sin abounded, grace abounded, much more the net effect that as sin reigned even in death, that grace might reign in righteousness, or through righteousness, to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Now, when you put it like that, how can we not but praise the Lord? And Zacharias felt the same way. And so notice with me, if you will, beginning in verse 57. Now Elizabeth's full time came for her to be delivered. And she brought forth a son. And when her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her." What's that? Listen, the Word of God was fulfilled and the people rejoiced with her over the mercy that God had shown to her. Now, we talked about this a little bit last week. It does our hearts well to see people rejoicing over God's goodness toward someone else. as opposed to bitter envy welling up in the undercurrent of, why her? Or why him? Why not me? You know, the Bible is very clear concerning our mandate as the body of Christ. If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. And if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Question, how does it make you feel when God just blesses the socks off of someone close to you? Someone you know. I mean, does it make you feel excited for him? Are you able to rejoice with him? Or is it more of the man, it stinks to be me kind of an attitude, you know? I mean, God help us to find genuine cause for rejoicing over his goodness and his grace towards someone else or some other ministry or some other church, or whatever the case may be. A friend of mine is working now at the new Christian radio station in town. You're probably familiar with that station, 105.3, New Life Radio. Send out the shout-out over KITG right now to New Life over there. But be that as it may, I think it made him feel a little bit weird since he was familiar with our radio station. He had helped us get it started and been right there in the foundations of the work that God was doing here and all of that. And suddenly, every time I would text him or call him, I'd never get a return text. I'd never get a return call. It was just, it was like awkward, you know? And so one day I just shot him a text. And I just said, hey man, I want you to know that I'm excited for you. I don't consider this new station in any way competition. Man, we're co-laborers. Let's see what we can do to reach into the community together. And it was like this immediate release of awkward tension. It was about 30 seconds I got a text back. I mean, it was just like that. Yeah, let's do it. Let's see how we can, you know, get together on it and all of that. Now listen, I'm not trying to purport that I always main this up. you know, upward-onward attitude in every arena of life. But the idea here is that we're to rejoice over God's grace toward others. Because if not, the enemy uses that to sow a seed of contention and division where there ought to be harmony, unity, and glory given to God. And so let's be careful to safeguard that. How do I feel when God blesses someone that's not me? Someone who's close to me, or whatever the case may be. Now look at verse 59. And so it was on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child, and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. His mother answered and said, no, he shall be called John. But they said to her, there's no one among your relatives who's called by this name. And so they made signs to his father, what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, saying, his name is John. So they all marveled. What's that? Your attention please. Listen, this is not the way that we traditionally do things. That's what they're saying. According to customs, according to tradition, he'd have been named after his father or someone in his family. But here's what I want you to see, you guys. Just because we've always done it that way, that doesn't necessarily indicate that that's the only way to do it, or the only way that God will honor it. I'll use our worship team as an example. We typically do about five songs on a Sunday morning. We usually start off with one or two songs, a little more up-tempo, kind of get us awake and alert and just rejoicing and praising God. And then we'll have a time of prayer and bring it into a little bit more of a meditative, kind of a worship-oriented environment. And all of that, slow things down, put the check center in our heart and all of that, and then we'll move on From there, why do we do it like that? Well, because it's just the way we do it. You know, I mean, if we wanted to do one song and then roll into the study, if we wanted to do seven or eight songs and end on an upbeat praise song and hearts readied and people rejoicing, I mean, or whatever, it's okay. There's no biblical mandate for how many songs or what the general rhythm or tempo of the song should be. I mean, who cares if it's tradition? In reality, tradition can ensnare you. It can cause you to put God in this box and think that He only operates within a certain parameter, when in reality, He's much broader than our narrow vision. Now, He won't violate His Word, we know that. But as long as you have scriptural credence for the way things are conducted, go for it. I mean, knock yourself out. It doesn't matter. It was following tradition when they sought to name him, they just assumed Zacharias. Elizabeth said, no, it's John. Now, God had ordained that his name was to be called John, but they're stumped. They're kind of stupefied. That's not how we do things. You're violating the tradition, the custom, the culture, all of that. They look at Zach and they start making signs to him. What do you want him to be? They're kind of trying to go over her head. They're pulling rank on her and all of that. Because they made signs to Him, you know, motioning to Him, that has led some to believe that perhaps not only had He been struck mute, but death as well. That's possible, but the Bible doesn't say that. It may have been a typical point of frustration, no different than in our communication so often with someone who's perhaps just learning the English language from a different country or something, you know. And so often times we speak really slow and really loud for them, you know, kind of a thing. It's like, they're not deaf. But for some reason we feel as though if we just speak a little louder, it'll help them understand. You know? Well, you know, Zacharias may be all, hey listen, I can't speak, but I'm not deaf. So just give me something to write on, you know? He asked for a tablet. And he writes on the tablet, they hand it to him, he writes on it, his name is John. No ambiguity, no lack of clarity. His name had been called by God before He was ever conceived. It's John." It blew their minds. Now, back in verse 59, we read there that He was circumcised on the eighth day. God had declared in Leviticus chapter 12 and verse 3 that the flesh of the male child's foreskin was to be circumcised on the eighth day. The question that confronts us is why? I mean, what was the point of circumcision in the first place? I mean, was it for health reasons? I mean, was it the fact that when God created man, He realized later on there was a design flaw, and so He administered this aftermarket modification? I mean, what's the deal there? Well, you know, we mentioned the reference to the law in the book of Leviticus, but even prior to that, women always think that's funnier than the guys, I don't know why, but even prior to the law, God had established the right of circumcision as a sign of the covenant that He had established between Himself and Abraham, who was the quintessential patriarch of the nation of Israel. And it was to apply not only to him, but also to all who would come after him, who would come through him, who were of him, that is of his lineage. Listen, leave the book of Luke, travel back with me to the book of Genesis chapter 17. Just leave, keep your finger there in Luke chapter one, go back to the book of Genesis chapter 17. We'll wait on you, because I'm still going too. Genesis 17. Draw your attention, if you would, beginning specifically there in verse 9 of Genesis 17 where we read that God said to Abraham, as for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant which you shall keep between me and you and your descendants after you. Every male child among you shall be circumcised. Verse 11. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. And he who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And this uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised, in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people, he has broken my covenant." We'll stop right there. Here's where things went awry. Over the course of time, the nation of Israel ceased to remember what circumcision stood to represent, and they began to trust in the right, that is, in the ritual. What it was that happened outwardly through circumcision versus what it stood to represent inwardly. It was never meant to be a legalistic, ritualistic procedure that made you right in God's sight. You know, here, just do this and everything will be okay. I think that as mankind is generally what we're looking for, what we're wanting to hear from God, just do this and everything will be okay. And that's kind of how the Jews came to believe. But it was never intended to point to an outward work of the flesh. But rather an inward separation from the life of the flesh. You recall that Paul the Apostle spent significant time and effort demonstrating the fact that no one will be justified by the works of the law, but by grace through faith. We are never, and this comes up a lot around here, we are never to trust in what we do, but rather in what he has done for us. Circumcision was a covenant sign that was to typify or represent the cutting away of the flesh life. That now I'm going to lead my life, set apart to God, walking in the Spirit, not after the flesh. It was a separation of the flesh and a sanctification unto the Lord. Paul put it plainly in Romans chapter 2 when he said, For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, that is, ethnically, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not from men, but from God. To the Colossians he said, in him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands by putting off, here's the key, the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. You see, it's not about cutting this little piece of skin. It goes beyond that to typify the whole of my life and separation of a life led after the sins of the flesh. Now when Jesus came along, he amped it up. I mean, he took it to the next level. He took it way beyond the severing of the foreskin. He illustrated the principle via the image of crucifixion, that is, crucifying the flesh in totality. He said, whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. And Paul the Apostle kind of underscored, amplified that when he said, and those who are Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. And so the idea of circumcision went beyond outward ritual. It was meant to be a symbol of what was taking place in the heart. A cutting away of the flesh life to lead a life, set apart, to God. Today, we use or utilize baptism to speak the same message. That it is no longer I who live, I have been crucified with Christ. The Bible declares that when we are baptized, we are baptized into His death. And when I come up, I'm saying out of that water, I'm saying that now I'm walking in the newness of life. The resurrection life that He's given to me. So that the life that I now lead, I no longer lead for myself, but for Jesus who loved me and gave Himself for me. But you realize that just the same, people get caught up in the act of baptism, as opposed to the intent of baptism. And many... falter in thinking that righteousness is imputed to them through the outward ritual, when in reality, it's to go way beyond the outward demonstration to bear witness and testify of the inward transformation in my heart. Okay. They take John to be circumcised on the eighth day. Zacharias declares his name to be John. And then in verse 64 we read immediately, his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he spoke praising God. And then fear came on all who dwelt around them and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 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. A few things here briefly. Number one, we note that as soon as Zacharias moved forward in faith, obeying the word of God for his life, that his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed. Now we drew attention in our introduction to the fact that his lips were sealed, that his unbelief caused him to sit in silence for some nine or ten months. but through faith demonstrated in obedience in calling the child what God told him to call the child, his mouth was opened and immediately he glorified God. From silence to shouting praise through the means of moving forward in faith. And I love that attention is drawn to the fact that he used his mouth to magnify God. You know, David said in Psalm 51, Oh Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall show forth your praise. I think it's tragic how often our mouths are used to tear down and speak shamefully when God has called us to use our mouths to bring him glory. Paul said, let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. God performed his promise. Zacharias responded in praise. Number two, I want you to notice the reaction to Zacharias' declaration, followed by his exaltation of God. The people responded with reverential fear, ongoing spiritual dialogue and discussion, followed up by personal meditation and contemplation concerning the plan and the purposes of God. I mean, this is the type of reaction that every pastor dreams of for every service. You know, I mean, it's like people move by what God is doing, talking about it, meditating on it, considering how do I need to respond to it? What am I to make of this? And number three, I want to draw brief attention to the fact that concerning John the Baptist we read, the hand of the Lord, there in verse 66, and the hand of the Lord was with him, even as a child. Now we drew attention to this a couple of weeks ago when John the Baptist was conceived, and the angel Gabriel said that he would be filled with the Spirit even from the womb. I don't know why it is that when it comes to the things of the Spirit, we generally consider that more of a mature matter, an adult kind of business. Listen, God loves young people. I mean, he loves older people. God loves people, but he loves to use young people to accomplish his purposes. I mean, we could consider David, we could think about Samuel, or Jeremiah, or Daniel, of course Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, these kids. Paul told Timothy, let no one despise your youth. Man, if you're young, be an example to the believers in word, in love, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Jesus himself said, let the little children come to me and do not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of heaven. God will use any vessel that's yielded to him regardless of age. You know, we talk about, we use Moses often as our example of where the pendulum swings to the other side. Eighty years old when God called him into the ministry. It just doesn't matter, regardless of age, or gender, or social status, or whatever. God's just looking for one ability. Availability. That's it. Okay. In verse 67, now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied saying, now wait, I want to stop real quick right there. Here's what I love. Back in verse 41, We read where Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And we just presume that John was as well most likely at that point in her womb because the angel declared that would be the case. But now here we have Zacharias filled with the Spirit. What are we seeing here? We're seeing a family, listen, we're seeing a family filled with the Spirit of God all in unity in their desire to glorify and magnify God. You guys, that's a precious thing. And I pray that be the testimony of your home that you and your spouse and your child or your children might all be filled to the overflow with the Holy Spirit of God, working in harmony as a family, bringing glory to God. Now, the voice of prophecy has been silent for some 400 years up to this point. No word of prophecy has been given to man I mean, Gabriel spoke here within the last nine or ten months, but from the mouth of man, it hasn't come forth since Malachi. Now, Zacharias makes this prophetic utterance, and it's to declare that the time is at hand. Man, the salvation is here. That both Messiah and his forerunner are coming to Israel. Now look at verse 68. where we read that Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied saying, Blessed is the Lord God of Israel for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been since the world began. That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us to perform the mercy promise to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. the oath which He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear." It is without worry about what others think or might do, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. Okay, we'll stop there. A few things to take notice of before we begin in a few minutes to move Toward our clothes Zacharias lifts up his voice and blesses the Lord in verse 68 saying blessed is the Lord God of Israel For he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David now we love the fact that Even though Jesus hasn't been born yet, this prophecy is all about Him and the salvation that comes to us through Him. We read in Revelation 19 verse 10, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. And that's exactly what we see happening here. Zacharias draws attention to the time of their visitation. The fact that God has redeemed his people and raised up a horn of salvation for us. Now, this is interesting because Zacharias speaks to the time, or to the fact, that the time of their visitation is upon them. But the day will come a few years from this point, a number of years, some 33-ish years, where Jesus will actually rebuke them because they didn't realize it, they didn't recognize it, and so they missed the opportunity that God had availed to them in Christ. Now, if you want to jot it down, it's chapter 19, verses 41 through 44, where Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem because they did not know the time of their visitation. But listen. Listen, the same tragedy takes place all the time, even to this day. People miss their time of visitation. Therefore, they miss the opportunity for salvation that God was availing to them in Christ. It may be through cynicism. It may be through criticism. Ultimately, it's unbelief. But people reject Jesus Christ, and they forfeit the time. of their visitation. Zacharias recognized it and rejoiced in it. Can I just encourage you that if God is seeking in some manner to deal with you right here, right now, today, don't harden yourself against it, but rather recognize it, don't reject it, receive it, repent, and receive the glorious gift of salvation that will come to you as you realize the time of your visitation. But what does it mean in verse 69, raised up a horn of salvation? Well, the horn in view here isn't a musical instrument. It's speaking of that which represents the strength of an animal. You think of the ram's horns, you think obviously of steer, you think of the deer and that you see sometimes them ramming and this and that. But the horn typifies, it's a picture of strength. And the idea is that Messiah would be mighty to save. A Savior who is stronger than any stronghold, any sin, any chain that might bind you. Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. Jesus is mighty to save. And He said that whoever will, may come. Jesus said that if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. I just want to encourage you, you have not sinned to the extent that God can't save you. The offer goes out. Redemption is available in Christ. Well, we read that in verse 68, He has redeemed His people. What does that mean? What does the word redeem mean? Well it speaks of setting something or someone free through a purchase price. It might be the release of a prisoner. It might be the liberation of a slave. You and I, the Bible declares in no uncertain terms, we're in bondage. We were enslaved to sin under the authority of sin and ultimately Satan. But Jesus came along and He redeemed you. That is, He paid a purchase price for your freedom. What was the price? Well, it was the shedding of His blood. It was His life for yours. Paul said in the book of Ephesians that in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. Something else that we note as we kind of survey this song that Zacharias shares with us, prophesies for us, or you know, whatever, is found in verse 70 and following, and that's the fact that none of this was a random chain of events, but it's come to pass exactly as God said it would through the mouth of His holy prophets, even from the fall of man forward since the world began. God will always perform His promises. God made a covenant with Abraham. That in Him, all the families of the earth would be blessed. That Messiah would come through Him, through David, to us. Okay? To the world. And God has kept, and will continue to keep, every nuance of any promise He's ever made. Okay. Now, we want to note, real quick, the net effect. What is the result of our salvation to be? our sanctification through Christ. It's found in verse 74. I trust that it jumped out at you or you perhaps drew attention to it, maybe underlined it. If not, I'd encourage you to now. We've been set free not to do our own will, leading us back to bondage, but rather to serve Him, that is, serve the Lord without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. Now listen. We are not, and don't phase out, we're not far from finished, but listen. We are not allowed to serve God in our own way. You know, however we deem appropriate. That's a no-go. It's a no-can-do. The Bible is clear that we are to serve Him in holiness and in righteousness. And not just while we're at church or around fellow believers, but all the days of our life. Now, I don't want you to be confused as to the difference between holiness and righteousness. Holiness is the root. Righteousness is the fruit, okay? Holiness is what happens inwardly. Righteousness is demonstrated outwardly. Now, many people seek to serve God in righteousness. That is, they try to do the right thing. They try to dot their I's, they try to cross their T's. The problem is it's not from the overflow of an inward holiness, therefore it becomes rigid legalism or simply dead religion. OK, it becomes works righteousness. You know, I haven't really received Christ inwardly, but I'm going to go through the motions outwardly. I'm just going to tell you that will only lead to frustration and ultimately condemnation. Our outward righteousness must stem from inward holiness. And that, believers, can only happen through faith in Christ. Holiness is the inward transformation. Righteousness is the outward demonstration. Holiness is character. Righteousness is conduct. Okay? Zacharias turns to his son, begins to proclaim God's plan for him in preparing the way of the Lord. Let's look at verse 76. 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 day spring from on high has visited us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Now check this out. John would be used by God to bring the knowledge of salvation, we read here, through faith in Christ, here called the Dayspring, speaking of the dawning of the new day, the light shining forth in the darkness, and all of that. But here's what I think is kind of cool. God was adamant that the child's name be called John. Which means, God is gracious, or the grace of God, you know, whatever. Here's the picture. God was proclaiming the way of salvation, preparing the people for their time of visitation through John or through God's grace. Do you understand that? The way of salvation brought through grace by faith in Jesus Christ. Great picture. The knowledge of salvation through the remission of their sins. Now, of course, remission speaks of a removal or a dismissal. If you've ever known anyone with cancer who, through medical or miraculous means, has come to a place where they say, well, it's gone into remission. Well, what that means is that it's gone. It's no longer a factor or cause for concern. And when you, through Christ, receive the remission of sins, what that means is that your sin is no longer a factor, as far as God is concerned, because it's gone away. You've been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and your sin has been cast as far as the East is from the West. In Christ, it's been put away completely through the tender mercies of our God. A new day has dawned for you. If you're in Christ, you're no longer sitting in darkness, blindly stumbling toward condemnation. You've been brought into the light and walk in the salvation that's been provided for you by Jesus Christ, who guides our feet into the way. of peace. God's word is a lamp unto our feet. It is a light unto our path. And he has bridged the gap, having brought us into peace with God through the blood of his cross. Jot it down, Colossians chapter 1 and verse 20. You can check it later. Well, here we are. And for a man, Zacharias, who has not said anything for the last nine or ten months, Well, he certainly compensates for it here, doesn't he? When his silence is broken, he utters these words of praise, that John would be the prophet of the highest, introducing Israel to the son of the highest, who was conceived in Mary's womb by the power of the highest. And in verse 80, finally, we read, so the child grew and became strong in spirit and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel." Which is to say, translation for you and me, he lived his life focused on the Lord, separated unto the Lord, that he, when the time came, might be used mightily by the Lord. And it's awesome to consider, isn't it? I mean, how God would use John, But listen, I don't want you to be deceived. God wants to use you just the same. You say, what do you mean? Listen, God wants to use you to give the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins which is available in Jesus Christ. That when the time of their visitation comes, you're sharing with friends, you're sharing with family, you're giving the knowledge of salvation through the remission of sin, through faith in Jesus Christ, so that when their time of visitation comes, and it's upon them, salvation might be granted to them through the tender mercies of our God. Set yourself apart unto the Lord, in true holiness before the Lord, that you might be used greatly by the Lord. Let's pray. God, we're thankful for the richness of your word. But Father, it's our heart's desire. Not only do we want to be refreshed or even challenged, God, we want to be changed. And I pray that you would help us that we would, having spent time in your word, be moved by your word, spend time talking about your word, meditating on your word, just thinking about what you wanna do in our lives as a result of your word to us. And Father, I pray that having been challenged, that we'd be put in check with regard to the way we use our mouths, and that they be used to bring you praise, to glorify and magnify you. And God, again, I just wanna pray that every family here might be filled with the power of your Holy Spirit, serving in harmony, bringing you glory. God, that's our desire. And I don't know, while our heads are bowed and our eyes are closed, perhaps as the Word of God was shared this morning, it's stirring in you even now. Perhaps you're becoming increasingly aware of the fact that the time of your visitation is right here, right now. God is dealing with you. He's wanting to to redeem you, to save you, to forgive you. Let me encourage you that you not resist it, that you not reject it, but that you receive Jesus Christ, that you find forgiveness in Him. You can be the recipient of God's tender touch of mercy even today. All you have to do is turn from your sin and believe on Jesus Christ. Receive him today and you will never be the same. I don't know, maybe we all know the Lord. Maybe we're just one big family in Christ. I mean, that'd be awesome. But maybe not. Maybe you've come here with a friend or with family. Maybe you've come here just personally for whatever reason the case may be. But you find yourself in need wholeness of heart, forgiveness of sin, and a new life, man. Well, that's what this moment's all about. If that's you, if God is dealing with you, if he's speaking to you, if he's calling out to you saying, come, let us reason together, your sins like scarlet, I'll make you white like snow. Your sins like crimson, I'll wash you white as wool. I'll give you a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. I'll give you beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning. Is the time of your visitation today? If so, I want to pray for you. I don't care how old you are, how young you are. I don't care who you're sitting around, beside, or in front, or behind. All I care about is does Christ have a home in your heart? And if you can't say categorically, if you can't say emphatically, yes, Christ is in my heart. I know him. I'm not talking about knowing about him, you guys. Maybe you've gone to church a lot. You know a lot about Him. But do you have a relationship? A personal relationship with Him? I think sometimes that confuses people. What do you mean, personal relationship with God? Well, you have a good friend, don't you? Or a spouse or a family member. You have a relationship with them. It's personal. It's intimate. It's not mechanical. It's not, you know, removed. It's personal. God wants to be to you personal. Jesus wants to be your friend that sticks closer than a brother. Your friend, your Savior, your Lord. Listen, the time is now. Here's what I'm going to ask you to do. I've talked long enough. It's time that if you're willing to respond, let's do it. Say, what do I need to do? I just want to ask you to raise your hand wherever you're at. God's dealing with you. If he's speaking to you and you need Christ in your life, then I'm going to ask you right here, right now. Now's the time. Raise your hand and do so high so I can see it. And then if I see it, I'll say so you can put it back down. That's OK. But if you need Christ to come into your life, can I pray for you? Anyone at all in that in that place? I see you, man. Anyone else, the Lord's just dealing with you. God bless you. And God bless you. Guys, I'm not trying to solicit an emotional response from you, I'm really not. But I'm trying to be real with you and just give you the opportunity to receive Christ, receive forgiveness, anyone else I can pray for. Because if you don't know you're headed for heaven, man, should God call you, should you see the Lord today, I wanna know what are you gonna hear? Well done, enter in to the joy of your Lord, Or do you fear that you might hear, depart from me? I never knew you. Let's share it up today. Anyone else I can pray for? God bless you, babe. All right, Father God, we just thank you for the work that you're doing in our midst today. And God, you look into each one of our hearts, and you're seeing now, hearts turning toward you and trusting in you. And God, I know that when people raise their hand to me in reality, they open their heart to you. And I know, Lord, that you look upon that and are well pleased with that. You know, the Bible says that we all sin, we all fall short of the glory of God. But if we'll confess our sin, he's faithful, he's just to forgive us of our sin, to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. So what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna say a prayer. If you raised your hand, Or maybe if you wish you would have raised your hand and for whatever reason you let it slip, it's open. I'm just going to say a prayer and you just from the deep recess of your own heart, just cry out to God in like manner. You can pray out loud if you want. You don't have to. God is listening to the cry of your heart. But would you come in agreement with God concerning your position? Would you just say, oh, God, here I am. A sinner. I'm a sinner. and I'm not making excuses for it, I'm not gonna try to justify it, but I confess it, I'm a sinner. I ask you, Lord, to forgive me of my sin, and to come into my heart, and to come into my life, and to fill me with your Holy Spirit. And God, I ask you to strengthen me that I might lead my life from this day forward all the days of my life for you. And I want to thank you for putting my name in your book of life. Listen, if you prayed a prayer like that, Maybe it was tough for you to follow along. If you just said something like, God, he's praying and I want it. Lord, whatever he's saying, that's what I want. Whatever. I want you to know that God has heard the cry of your heart. Christ has come into you. That old things have passed away and all things are made new. Rejoice in that, receive that, be blessed by that in Jesus' name. Father, we give you glory for your work in our midst today and we thank you, Lord, for your love for us and your grace toward us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.