THE SURPRISING PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS!

LUKE 1:8-17

DECEMBER 7, 2014

 What is the relationship between the heart of John the Baptist’s ministry and the coming of

Jesus and His ministry? (Luke 1:17)

 Who were the Fathers?

 The fathers were those spiritual, national, and family leaders!! (Biological and

spiritual.)

 They were respected and revered and followed.

 Strong, courageous, leaders. (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Prophets, Priests,

Kings, Deborah, Esther, Mary, Priscilla)

 Return …. Implies departure, distance

Heart …. Your presence, counsel, approval of who I am, affirmation (believe in you …. am for

you!) …. Painful to live without affirmation. Something stays broken!

 The attitude of the religious leadership was rooted in outward performance …. Self Righteous

attitudes …. Legalism ….Dead inner man (“father is the devil” – John 8:44)

 Distance and brokenness had developed …. Their hearts had drifted away from each

other.

 They embraced religion (self-effort and promotion) but had lost intimacy with their

Father.

 When that happens, sin and hardness of heart develops.

 What attitudes cause the Fathers’ heart to distance themselves from the children?

 Disconnection of interest …. Substitute work, own activities.

 Failure to Affirm their value (allow own standard of success to become the measure

by which we judge their value)

Steve Franklin Ministries®

P. O. BOX 43331 * BIRMINGHAM, AL 35243

www.sfmin.com * [email protected]

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