Luke 1:11-17
God promises Zechariah a son who would be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth.
1. THE PROMISES ARE CERTAIN
Luke 1:18
Sometimes we react like Zechariah. We feel like the promises are too good to be true and so we doubt them. Sometimes we fear the promises coming true because it would demand that we take up greater responsibility. Sometimes we fear that taking hold of the promise would require a leap into the unknown.
Isaiah 7:3-12
God has spoken. He does not need to give us another sign to confirm his promise. As the promise has been made, it will come to pass if you have faith.
Q. How do you react to the promises that God had made to you?
Joshua 1:5; Matthew 28:20 God promises to never leave us. He has made many promises and will not go back on them.
2 Corinthians 9:10,11
We will be made rich in every way so that we can be generous. God will give to us so that we will be able to give to others. For example, Special Contribution: God has given to us so that we can give to others.
Deuteronomy 28:12-14
Contribution will come in. All we need to do is to obey the Lord.
Genesis 2:18
Singles, God has a helper in mind suitable for you. vv. 19,20 While waiting for his helper, Adam did not despair or worry, but continued to do the work to which God called him. As you await the fulfillment of God's promises in your life, continue with the work to which he has called you.
2. REMEMBER HIM WHO MADE THE PROMISE
Luke 1;18,19
Zechariah's promise was delivered by Gabriel. Our promises do not come through Gabriel; they come straight from God himself - Hebrews 1:1-6.
When you consider God's promises, do you remember the God who made them? Get away and connect with God. Spend good, quality, undistracted time with God.
Because we are used to humans making promises and not fulfilling them, we fail to have faith in the promises that god makes. But remember who God is who makes the promises.
Numbers 23:19
God does not lie when he makes his promises. He is God and is not human. We often hold back and do not give our all to the promises that God makes. Instead of really believing and then going all out, we walk cautiously and not courageously.
Luke 1:26-37
You may consider God's promises and ask yourself, "How will this be/I am not talented/I am too young in Christ/I am inexperienced/I am past my best," etc. But God says, "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished."
Q. Do you believe that what God has promised for you will be accomplished?
3. THERE WILL BE UNSEEN CONSEQUENCES WHEN YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THE PROMISE
Luke 1:19-20
Zechariah would surely have spoken differently to gabriel if he knew what the consequences were that came with his doubt.
Psalm 106:24-27
When you do not believe God's promises you end up grumbling and unhappy. At that point it is hard to obey God.
vv. 32,33
The people's unbelief lead to rebellion. The consequences of your unbelief touch on other people as well. These people's rebellion caused trouble to come to Moses.
v. 43 The people wasted away in sin.
Q. Do you waste away in your sins or do you confess them and get help with them?
vv.47,48
The consequences of sin are not designed to crush us, but to cause us and remind us to turn back to God.
Isaiah 2:22 Don't trust in man (including yourself), but trust wholeheartedly in God.
4. THE PROMISE WILL BE EFFECTED AT THE PROPER TIME
Luke 1:20; 2 Peter 3:29 Things may not necessarily happen in the time frame that we feel they should, but at the time that God decides, which is the proper time.
We ask questions about our marriage, ministry, life, future.
Things will always happen at the proper time. We generally do not like waiting. We want things to happen and to work out for us instantly.
Deuteronomy 29:29
Secret things (times and dates) belong to God. Ours is to wait on him patiently. Waiting is a challenging thing. Look at Adam, who waited for God's promise to him to be fulfilled - and stayed focused even as he waited. Genesis 2:21,22 Some time after God had promised Adam a helper, he brought her to Adam. Singles, it is not you who will get yourself a spouse (though you clearly have your part to play), but God who will do it - at the proper time.
The first letter of each of these points spells T-R-U-E. God's promises are true.