12/15/24 - Pastor Bryan Roberts - Omnipotence On Display

Omnipotence On Display!

Luke 1:11-20 NKJV

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell on him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord’. And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know his? 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.

 

1. Zacharias’ Response

 

“I am an old man and my wife is well advanced in years” (Luke 1:18)

 

Luke 1:20, “You will be mute until the day these things take place because you did not believe my words”.

 

Luke 1:24 says, “After those days Elizabeth conceived”.

 

1. Mary’s Response

 

Now let’s look at the story of Mary who was also visited by the angel Gabriel six months after Elizabeth conceived. To be able to compare Mary’s response to Zacharias we will read a somewhat lengthy passage.

 

Luke 1:26-38 (read during worship).

 

“How can this be, since I do not know a man” (Luke 1:34)

 

Then Gabriel tells Mary that her cousin, the one “who was called barren” (Luke 1:36) is now in her sixth month of pregnancy.

 

Gabriel’s final words of comfort to Mary are Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing will be impossible”.

 

“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

 

 “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You” (Jer. 32:17).

 

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me” (Jer. 32:27).