Out of the Impossible

season of celebration of Jesus’ birth

hope, love, joy, peace

faith in God to bring hope out of the impossible

READ Luke 1:5-25.

Barrenness (v7)

Despite being “good” people, they lacked one significant blessing: a child

* age

* emotionally/spiritually spent

Out of barrenness, God produces miracles

1. Isaac

* Mother: Sarah (Genesis 11:30; 21:1-7)

* Sarah was barren until God promised Abraham a son in their old age.

2. Jacob and Esau

* Mother: Rebekah (Genesis 25:21)

* Isaac prayed for his wife, Rebekah, because she was barren, and God granted his request.

3. Joseph and Benjamin

* Mother: Rachel (Genesis 30:1-2, 22-24)

* Rachel was barren until God remembered her and opened her womb.

4. Samson

* Mother: The wife of Manoah (Judges 13:2-3)

* An angel of the Lord announced that she would conceive despite being barren.

5. Samuel

* Mother: Hannah (1 Samuel 1:2-20)

* Hannah prayed fervently to God, and He answered her prayers by giving her a son.

6. John the Baptist

* Mother: Elizabeth (Luke 1:7, 13-25)

* Elizabeth and her husband, Zechariah, were elderly and childless until the angel Gabriel announced John’s birth.

God makes a way where there is no other way…

Burning bush

Red Sea

Water Rock

… so that we might know that He is the source of our help. All glory goes to Him.

Zechariah-

praying for his wife (v13)

husbands, let’s pray for our wives

troubled to receive an answer (v18)

it is sometimes disturbing to see HOW God chooses to answer a prayer

we can join in with God’s purpose or we can resist

“Part of the problem or part of the solution...”

Zechariah’s hesitance is understandable

age, opportunity, normalcy all say that this is impossible

Zechariah’s faith is struggling, but his story is not yet done.

how about yours?

[Gabriel’s authority (v19)

I stand in the presence of God…]

Inward look

Elizabeth cherishes the wonder of God’s will. (v24-25)

submit your petition

trust in God’s perfect will

cherish the promise

Upward look

God’s plan and His glory