Luke 1:18-25

Believing God

God Has Great things for us. But Why is it so hard to believe?

Luke 1:18–25 NKJV

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 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. 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.” And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

How Shall I know this? How shall I believe?

We need help believing. Zacharia needed help believing

Reasons we have a hard time believing God

It sounds too good to be True

God’s promises are always pretty good, So good that we have a hard time believing that something That good could happen to us.

We do not like to have our expectations elevated. We worry that they won’t be fulfilled and we will left crushed and dissapointed.

We need a renewed understanding of the Goodness of God.

Psalm 34:8 NKJV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Joseph Understood God’s goodness in the end.

Genesis 50:20 NKJV

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Psalm 107:1 NKJV

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Our circumstances are so contrary to the promise

I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.

Everything around us seems to contradict the promise.

Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

To Confront our Circumstances we Need Power!

An inward power that God is working in us to release!

Hebrews 10:23 NKJV

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Philippians 2:13 TPT

God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases him.

We need the Power and Wisdom of the Holy Spirit to overcome our unbelief.

Our past experiences and life try to kill any hope of a future

How many times had Zachariah entered the temple to minister before God?

How many Times had Elizabeth prayed for a child and not recieved? She felt and lived the reproach of her people because of her bareness.

How many of us today would come to the conclusion that this was not meant to be and that they should just accept the fact that they would not have a child.

We would say things like… Its just not God. He doesn’t answer every prayer.. or many would say He doesn’t perform miracles anymore...

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

John 10:10 NKJV

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Draw near to God and renew your mind about your future. Hear from him allow the waters to wash away the past hurts and disappointments. allow yourself to dream again!

Jesus came to restore our Faith and Hope. Jesus came to heal our wounds from our past. He came that we might have life and that much more abundantly

Psalm 103:1–5 NKJV

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.