Point of Grace Online Worship - December 21, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 12.21.25 – Advent 4 – “Coming Home for Christmas – Drawn to the Light”

Advent – This season of anticipation, preparation, waiting for what is coming – for Who came and
is coming back ………. Is now ushering in the season of Christmas … the season of Light.

We have been “Coming Home for Christmas” spending Advent in the prophet Isaiah who brought God’s message of hope to a people who were far from home … in exile because of sin and rebellion against God.  The invitation then and now is “Come Home…. Come Home … Your Father has made you a way Home.  He has given His Son as “Light to Lead You Home”

Isaiah 63:1-5

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you:
    All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.
5 Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy;

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

Glory – “The Glory of God is the full potency of God, the manifestation of His greatness, character and power.  The Glory of God is also His manifest Presence. “ – John Eldridge
It was the Glory God that filled the Temple in the Old Testament (Presence) and the Glory of God that raised Jesus from the dead (Power).

 “God's glory comes freely.  It comes apart from anything we do or say.
It still comes to us in Jesus Christ.
We are called to faithfulness, not so that Kingdom glory will come but because its advent is imminent. Divine light cannot be humanly generated we can only “Arise and shine because our light has already come” and is coming again.
Luke writes, (think Christmas story here) “An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them.”  Simeon celebrates, “A light to lighten the gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.”, the Magi marvel, “We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him”. 
What a light show!  Majesty arrived in the midst of the mundane.  The most holy appeared in the flesh in the presence of cattle manure.  Divinity entered the world on the floor of a stable through the womb of a teenage virgin and the presence of a lowly carpenter.  Jesus is the light of the world who took on flesh so that he might take you into his arms heal your hearts, forgive your filth and destroy your darkness.  The Son of God became a human being not to demonstrate the innocence of infancy but to live the life we could not and to die our death so we need not!
Here is dazzling light, brilliant light and eternal light no wonder the Nicene creed confesses that Jesus is God of God and Light of Light”    Reed Lessing

Isaiah 60
3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you:
    All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.
5 Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy;

So Jesus could say,

““I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

and

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16

at the same time!

Think “Snow Globe”!

How do I keep the “aperture” of my soul wide open to the Light especially during the holidays?

            Time and Intentionality in the Presence of the Light
            Practices to open our souls “aperture” – Worship, Word and Prayer  (Daily Pause)

            “Jesus, Come in …..”

            “Let there be Light”

Point of Grace Online Worship - December 14, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 12.14.25 – Advent 3 – “Coming Home for Christmas – A Home Un-broken”  

Advent – A season of anticipation, preparation, waiting for what is coming – for Who came and is coming back. 

“Coming Home for Christmas” means some beautiful things for all of us.  It can also mean some painful things. Our experience of “home” although meant to be a place of wholeness, healing and restoration is in reality a place also tainted by wounding and brokenness in need of restoration and healing.  The hope of the Christ-child is that through Him we are invited into a home “un-broken” now in part but in full when He returns.  

Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 

This is the 5th Servant Song of Isaiah. 

“The Suffering Servant of Yahweh who is “anointed” by Yahweh to bring salvation, hope and restoration to God’s people speaks for and about himself in these Songs.  It was this song that Jesus used to launch and define His ministry and claim His place as the long awaited “Anointed One” of Yahweh – the Messiah – the Christ! 

Luke 4
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,   
 because he has anointed me   
 to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners    
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,19    
 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. 
The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.
 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 
He has sent me:
            to bind up the brokenhearted,
                 to proclaim freedom for the captives and
                     to open wide (eyes) those bound shut
                         to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
                     to comfort all who mourn, and
                 to provide for those who grieve in Zion—
           to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
                the oil of joy instead of mourning, and
                      a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 

 Responding to this “good news” to the poor – to us in need? 

“Jesus, come in … … …

 You get the last word!” 

 Amen 

 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.
  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, 
  I will come in … “
  - Jesus -

Revelation 3:20

Point of Grace Online Worship - December 7, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 12.7.25 – Advent 2 – “Coming Home for Christmas - No Place Like Home”

Advent – A season of anticipation, preparation, waiting for what is coming – for Who came and is coming back. 
Perhaps in this season like no other our cultural rhythms reveal a deep unmet longing, yearning, hunger, desire … for a better more beautiful, more bright, less dark, more hope-full, peace-full, joy-full, love filled life.  The holidays give us a fleeting taste … a glimpse of life as it should be.

Food and feasting that abundantly satisfy hunger and thirst have always been ways we celebrate, anticipate, create and capture moments of bliss! 

Isaiah 55:1-5
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Sounds like Jesus!
John 7:36-39
Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”   By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. 

John 6:27,35
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 

John 4:13-14
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Isaiah 55:1-2
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.

This feast is “free”, already paid for, available to all!
Just bring your “hunger and thirst” to this one table that satisfies! 

“It’s true, isn’t it? You long to be right with God, to be seen, known, and approved by the One who made you. But instead, you reach for second-rate food. You chase the applause of your peers, hoping it will satisfy. You idolize your children, living through their grades and goals, hoping that will make you feel full. You exercise obsessively, spend gratuitously, strive to be the indispensable friend or the perfect spouse all in a desperate effort to feel “right.” In darker moments, you scroll through images you know you shouldn’t. You pop the pill you bought in secret. You labor, you spend on what Isaiah would call “bad bread.” You toil for food that does not satisfy, forgetting that what you truly hunger for you already have, in full, in Christ.”
Pastor Matt Popovits

We yield our bodies to what we eat … we yield our souls to what we consume! 
Choose well the diet for your soul.
The feast that Jesus is and brings is available now – tastes of home that truly satisfy! 
Everlasting promises that fuel our soul!  When it comes to the soul, we eat with our ears and eyes.

Vs.3 
“Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.”

This feast is too good to keep to ourselves!

Vs. 4-5
“See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Vs.  6-7
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 30, 2025

11.30.25 Far From Home         Advent 2025 

Coming Home for Christmas: Home isn’t just a place; but it is primarily people.

-       This season uncovers our desire for safety, for acceptance, for being known and loved. You don’t get that through gifts or locations. You can only get that from people. 

Isaiah 11:1-10:

    [1] There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

       and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

    [2] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

       the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

       the Spirit of counsel and might,

       the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

    [3] And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

    He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

       or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

    [4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

       and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

    and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

       and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

    [5] Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

       and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

    [6] The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

      and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

    and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

       and a little child shall lead them.

    [7] The cow and the bear shall graze;

       their young shall lie down together;

       and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

    [8] The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,

        and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.

    [9] They shall not hurt or destroy

       in all my holy mountain;

    for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

       as the waters cover the sea.

    [10] In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

A stump of new life

A new kind of King

A new kind of Kingdom  

A God who leaves Home. 

John 1:1 & 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus enters into our exile, so that we might have his home  

Redeeming Hurry

This season, every moment that brings a longing for home. Let it draw you back to him.

Point of Grace Online Worship - December 22, 2024

Point of Grace – 12.22.24  -  Advent 4 -  “Love”   Sermon Notes

Love

Luke 1:57-80
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,  because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us  in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,  73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear
75     in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Why?
LOVE

John 3:16 “God so love the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

1 John 3:1

See what great love 
the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!

Love:   https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/agape-love/

Luke 1:67-69
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,  
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

God’s Love is a Love that …

            … Comes
           … Redeems
           … is Mighty to Save

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

1 John 4:9-119 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 

1 John 3:1

See what great love 
the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are! 

Point of Grace Online Worship - December 15, 2024

Point of Grace – 12.15.24 - Advent 3 - “Joy” Sermon Notes

Joy and Rejoicing – The best and worst of the season!

We do long for enchantment.

Biblical Joy https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/chara-joy/

Luke 1 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

Whenever we see “Joy and Rejoicing” in scripture it is in reference to God and what He is doing. It is as if when the focus is on God and what He is up to the result is Joy and Rejoicing.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

Joy and Rejoicing result when Jesus and what He is up to are Magnified.

When Jesus is Magnified – Joy happens!

Joy happens – when Jesus is Magnified!

Point of Grace Online Worship - December 8, 2024

 December 8, 2024      2nd Sunday of Advent      Rev. Mike Coppersmith

“BREAK INTO PEACE”

Finding God’s Advent Peace Amid the Interruptions of Life

BREAK INTO PEACE! Finding God’s Advent Peace Amid the Interruptions of Life

GOD IS A GOD OF INTERRUPTIONS

ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS ARE ALL ABOUT INTERRUPTIONS

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.

INTERRUPTIONS CAN CAUSE US TO FALL OUT OF PEACE AND INTO FEAR.

Verses 29-30

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary…”

JESUS CHRIST—THE PRINCE OF PEACE—

WANTS TO DELIVER US FROM OUR FEARS AND DISPLAY HIS PEACE IN OUR LIFE

Psalm 34:4

 I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

SIX GIFTS THAT LIFT US OUT OF OUR FEAR AND STEP INTO HIS PEACE

GOD’S PRESENCE

verse 28b: “The Lord is with you.”

GOD’S FAVOR

verse 28a: “Greetings, you are highly favored”

verse 30: “…you have found favor with God.”

 GOD’S REIGN

 verse 32a: “He will be great and called the Son of the Most High”

verses 32b-33: “The Lord will give him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

GOD’S POWER

verse 35: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”

GOD’S WORD

verses 37-38: “‘For no word from God will ever fail.’ 38 ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me according to your word.’”

GOD’S PEOPLE

Luke 1:39-45

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

SIX GIFTS THAT LIFT YOU OUT OF YOUR FEAR AND INTO HIS PEACE

God’s Presence - Remember It!

God’s Favor - Rejoice in It!

God’s Reign - Rest in It! God’s Power - Rely on It!

God’s Word - Receive It!

God’s People - Reconnect with Them!

THREE CONCRETE ACTIONS TO WHICH THE INTERRUPTIONS OF ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS CALL YOU

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR NEED FOR GOD TO BREAK INTO YOUR LIFE

ASK JESUS CHRIST TO BREAK IN WITH HIS GIFTS OF PEACE!

LOOK AT INTERRUPTIONS NOT AS OBSTACLES BUT AS OPPORTUNITIES

Lord Jesus Christ, I invite you to break into my life in a new way today!

Point of Grace Online Worship - December 1, 2024

Advent 2024 An Effective Hope 12.1.24

“Biblical Hope is not optimism based on the odds

Biblical Hope is focused on a person”

“God’s past faithfulness motivates Hope for the future.”

An Effective Hope will give Holy Perspective to my current sufferings

What makes Hope Effective? (A Living Hope)

1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

 An Effective Hope is powered by: Potency & Longing

Does a Living Hope give perspective to my current situation?

Reflect:

1. What do I believe about the potency & character of God?

2. Does my heart long for what Jesus offers? (Is the good news for me RHRN?)

Luke 1:5-10

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

 God is fulfilling his covenant promise and doing it in a familiar yet unexpected way.

God stays true to His Character

Zechariah is looking at the odds not the character of God.

God’s past faithfulness motivates Hope for the future

Those who stand in the Presence can bring hope to those who need it

To access a living and effective hope for your life and bring it to others you must stand in the presence and know the one on whom the hope rests.