Luke 1:74
We are saved to serve God without fear, and we can attain to this standard by allowing Jesus to begin His work within us and by seeking to be holy in our attitudes and righteous in our actions.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the significance of serving God as demonstrated by Zacharias, who, after receiving the promise of a child, prophesied about Jesus and the salvation He brings. He highlights that God has visited His people to redeem them from sin and that true service to God is rooted in holiness and righteousness. Smith explains that every person serves a master, and we are called to serve God without fear, embodying holiness in our character and righteousness in our actions. He stresses that holiness must precede righteousness, as it is the foundation for right conduct. Ultimately, Jesus came to enable us to serve God in this way, encouraging believers not to be discouraged by failures but to allow God to work within them.
Text
"SERVING GOD"
Intro: Zacharias was a priest from the family of Abia. He was quite old, his wife was barren.
His duty was to burn incense in the Temple. An angel appeared on right side of altar,
"Thy prayer is heard..." The promised child is now born, friends have gathered to
celebrate.
I. ZACHARIAS BEGAN TO PROPHESY CONCERNING JESUS.
A. The Lord God has visited His people.
1. Prophesy of Isaiah, "A virgin shall conceive..."
2. Word of angel to Mary, "He shall be great..."
3. "In the beginning was the Word.."
4. The purpose of the visit, "To redeem them."
a. The world was lost and corrupted by sin.
b. He well might have come to judge and condemn.
c. "He has raised up a horn of salvation."
B. The Lord God has kept His promises.
1. Salvation from their enemies.
a. Greatest enemy is Satan.
b. He held us captive. II Timothy 2:6, "That they may recover
themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by
him at his will."
2. Salvation is more than saved from, it is saved for...
II. THE POSITIVE SIDE, "THAT WE MIGHT SERVE HIM WITHOUT FEAR."
A. We are saved to serve God.
1. Every man serves some master.
2. No man can serve two masters
3. Paul encourages in Romans 6, "Even as you at one time were yielding your
bodies to serve uncleanness and iniquity, now yield them to serve
righteousness and holiness."
B. How are we to serve God? Verse 75, "In holiness and righteousness."
1. Someone says, "Oh, I don't like this talk about holiness." That's a shame,
"For without holiness..."
2. There is a difference between the two, yet you cannot have one without the
other.
a. Holiness is right in my attitude.
b. Righteousness is being right in my actions.
c. Therefore, righteousness springs from holiness.
1. The whole problem with phariseeism was an attempt at
righteousness with holiness.
2. Holiness must be the root from which the fruit of
righteousness springs.
d. Holiness has to do with character, righteousness with my conduct.
3. There is no motive for right conduct sufficiently strong enough to maintain
it other than holiness. All other motives will break down.
a. Doing right from self-respect will break down.
b. Right as a matter of policy will fail.
1. "Honesty is the best policy."
2. The relativistic philosophers have shown where in some cases
to lie is the best policy.
4. Both words suggest a standard.
a. This has been the quest of philosophy, to discover the base or
standard for right.
1. Might is right.
2. Pleasure is right.
3. Nothing is right except in given situations when everything
becomes right.
b. What is the standard for holiness or righteousness.
1. God is our standard.
a. "He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself
even as He is pure."
b. "Righteous even as He is righteous."
5. How can we attain to this standard?
a. This is why Jesus came, so we could serve Him in holiness and
righteousness.
b. Many have become discouraged because of constant failure. Cart
before horse.
1. They tried to be righteous before they were holy.
2. The Lord begins His work within.
Sermon Outline
- Zacharias Began to Prophesy Concerning Jesus
- The Positive Side, 'That We Might Serve Him Without Fear'
- A points: - We are saved to serve God - How are we to serve God?
- B points: - Holiness is right in my attitude - Righteousness is being right in my actions
Key Quotes
“The Lord God has visited His people.” — Chuck Smith
“In the beginning was the Word.” — Chuck Smith
“He has raised up a horn of salvation.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We must allow Jesus to begin His work within us in order to serve God in holiness and righteousness.
- Our attitude and character are just as important as our actions and conduct in serving God.
- Without holiness, we cannot have righteousness, and without righteousness, we cannot have true service to God.