II. Gabriel has a message for Zechariah, but he doubts. Luke 1:8-11 “Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.” Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
III. Hope can be hard to keep alive. Abraham and hope. Romans 4:18 “In hope (Abraham) believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.””
IV. Hope with faith in Jesus helps us fight doubts. Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
V. Gabriel’s message of hope to Zechariah in the midst of his doubt gives us life-changing and doubt-delivering hope, too.
