Faith?

October 1, 2008


Our mouth can get us in trouble. The book of James says that from the same mouth can come both blessing and cursing. But from it also can come faith and doubt. Let's look at two people who are going to be given the news of a miraculous birth and how they react.


Luke 1:12-18 (Gods Word)
12 Zechariah was troubled and overcome with fear.
13 The angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John.
14 He will be your pride and joy, and many people will be glad that he was born.
15 As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
16 He will bring many people in Israel back to the Lord their God.
17 He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power that Elijah had. He will change parents' attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God's approval. In this way he will prepare the people for their Lord."
18 Zechariah said to the angel, "What proof is there for this? I'm an old man, and my wife is beyond her childbearing years."

Zechariah was looking for proof that it could not happen. You know what the angel did with him. He shut his mouth so that his unbelief could not get in the way from this birth happening. Zechariah was looking for proof that it could happen.


Luke 1:26-38
26 Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee.
27 The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, "You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you."
29 She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant.
30 The angel told her, "Don't be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God.
31 You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus.
32 He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 Your son will be king of Jacob's people forever, and his kingdom will never end."
34 Mary asked the angel, "How can this be? I've never had sexual intercourse."
35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God.
36 "Elizabeth, your relative, is six months pregnant with a son in her old age. People said she couldn't have a child.
37 But nothing is impossible for God."
38 Mary answered, "I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you've said happen to me." Then the angel left her.


Here is a young woman. She knows what causes a baby and she knows that she has not done it. Does she ask for proof? No, she asks an innocent question. How can this be? She does not say this can not happen, in fact she says let it happen if it is God's will.


Two different people in the same point of time. One has faith, one wants proof. If it came to something that God has said for you, which do you have?

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Luke 1:1-80, John 1:1-14
Tomorrow
Matthew 1:1-25, Luke 2:1-38
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