“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, ESV)

20/11/2022 – Morning Service: Forerunner is to be born

Bible Readings:

Isaiah 41:1 – 20

Luke 1:1 – 25

Sermon Outline:

I Now, the time has come

Luke 1:5–6 (NKJV)

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

II The appearance of the angel Gabriel

Luke 1:8–12 (NKJV)

8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

III The sin of unbelief

Luke 1:19–20 (NKJV)

19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”


GABRIEL (Gāʹ brĭ ĕl) Personal name meaning “strong man of God.” The heavenly messenger who interpreted to Daniel the meaning of the vision of the ram and the goat. He appears four times in the Bible, each time bringing to human beings a message from the Lord. Twice he appeared to Daniel (8:15–27; 9:20–27). In the NT he appeared to announce the births of John the Baptist (Luke 1:8–20) and Jesus (Luke 1:26–38).

Gabriel. (2003). In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 610). Holman Bible Publishers.


All unbelief is the belief of a lie

Horatius Bonar

In all unbelief there are these two things: a good opionion of one’s self and a bad opinion of God.

Horatius Bonar

Our own unbelief is the only impediment which prevents God from satisfying us largely and bountifully with all good things.

John Calvin

As faith is the greatest grace, so that which is opposite to it must be the greatest sin.

Stephen Charnock