God's Ability vs. Our Capacity

Sunday, Dec 3, 2023

Introductory information

In this Christmas season, we are pausing our study through the book of Acts, to examine the first chapter of Luke’s first book: the Gospel of Luke

Christmas is a celebration of “the Incarnation” - when God became human - a.k.a. Immanuel “God with Us” (Matt 1:23)

There are many promises embedded in the Incarnation that we must unpack and consider in the Christmas season

“The Incarnation is the place where hope contends with fear.” - Kathleen Norris

“Apart from the incarnation, there is no revelation.” - Millard J. Erickson

“The Incarnation is not an event; but an institution. What Jesus once took up he never laid down.” - Vincent McNabb

“...contemplate the infinite condescension of the Son of God in thus exalting thy wretchedness into blessed union with his glory.” - C. H. Spurgeon

So, in thinking about the promises embedded in the Incarnation, we are studying Luke 1 in December to learn about receiving promises from God

READ

Question to consider as we read:

Why do we doubt the promises of God?

Luke 1:1–25 CSB

1 Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. 3 So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. 5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. 8 When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14 There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.” 18 “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless. 23 When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. 24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”

EXAMINE

What are the key points in this passage?

#1 | Zechariah is a righteous, godly man

Both Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were verified by God as righteous

Luke 1:6 Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.

Zechariah was faithful and dutiful in his service to the Lord (1:8)

By all accounts, we would expect Zechariah to believe a message from God - especially when the delivery of the message were unmistakably verified - like Gabriel showing up in the Temple

#2 | Zechariah is given an incredible promise

Zechariah and Elizabeth will have a son

Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.” (1)

They had always been unable to have kids they were young - but now they were too old to have children

We can only imagine how many years they had prayed for a child and by now they probably had given up hope

Not only will they have a son - it will be the Servant prophesied by Malachi (Mal 3:1,4:5-6)

Luke 1:15–17 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and... he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah… to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

Their son would be like a “second Elijah” - Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in scripture (2)

This promise would have been emotionally overwhelming for Zechariah - far above His greatest hopes or dreams

#3 | Zechariah can’t receive the promise

Zechariah doesn’t doubt the message’s clarity or grand nature

Luke 1:11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

The message is very clearly from God

Zechariah doubts the message because of his own capacity

Luke 1:18 “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

Zechariah doesn’t seem to doubt God’s promise, he doubts his own capacity to receive the promise - that God could do this through him and Elizabeth

Zechariah’s loses his voice as both a punishment and a sign

Luke 1:20 “Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

Zechariah will be unable to speak until he sees God fulfill the promise

#4 | The Implications for us at Christmas

Just like Zechariah doubted Gabriel, we can doubt the promises we are given in Christ’s Incarnation

Promises like mercy, redemption, healing, and hope

We may not doubt God’s ability to redeem - just our own capacity to be redeemed

We must accept His promises to us are both true and possible

It is not about our own capacity - it’s about God’s power to transform our capacity

APPLY

Explore and apply the passage with these questions:

[These questions must be focused, yet very open-ended. Allow the conversation to go where people take it - we want to encourage everyone to share and explore the topics of the passage. You don’t have to ask all these questions. Sometimes a group may only get through one or two questions. Select the questions you think are right for the conversation. Then, as it comes time to wrap up, refocus the conversation to “land the plane.”]

How can you relate to Zechariah in this story?

How does your own opinion of your capacity cause you to doubt what God is telling you?

What promises do you hear in the idea of the Incarnation (“God with Us”)?

Where we want to “land the plane”

We must learn to receive the promises in Christ, based on His ability and not our capacity.

REFLECT

Prayer Points for Today

Thank the Lord for His many promises and ask for a fresh revelation of the Incarnation of Christ

Ask the Lord to soften our hearts to receive His promise and embrace the hope we have in Jesus

Devotional Question for the Week

What are the things that you think Jesus cannot do in your life? Why are you wrong about that?

FOOTNOTES

The statement “your prayers have been answered” can have a double meaning, because this is an answer to Zechariah and Elizabeth’s personal prayers, but also an answer to the corporate prayers of Israel for the arrival of the Messiah and the servant who would prepare his way. As priest, Zechariah would probably have been praying on behalf of Israel at the moment Gabriel appeared

John the Baptist was the Lord’s forerunner, announcing His coming in the spirit and power of Elijah. Luke here referred to two passages in Malachi which speak of messengers: a messenger was to be sent to clear the way before the Lord (Mal. 3:1), and Elijah’s return was promised before the day of the Lord (Mal. 4:5–6) to restore the hearts of the fathers to their children. Zechariah apparently understood that the angel was identifying John the Baptist with the messenger in Malachi 3:1, for in his song of praise he noted that John would “go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him” (Luke 1:76; cf. 3:4–6). Jesus affirmed that John was the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1 (Matt. 11:10) and stated that John would have fulfilled Malachi 4:5–6 if the people had accepted his message (Matt. 11:14). John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 204.