Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Queries and Doubts

a) They may sound similar

b) But they are not identical

2. Doubts expressed

a) Zacharias

i) When he was told by the angel Gabriel that he would be given a son

ii) He doubted because he and his wife were old

b) He could not overcome his doubts

i) Though he was an outstanding priest

ii) Though he had an angelic visit

3. Queries of Mary

a) They were valid

b) She was young and innocent

c) She believed when the angel Gabriel explained

IT IS NATURAL TO HAVE QUERIES

1. Moses had queries when told he was chosen to speak to Pharaoh to let Israel go out of Egypt

a) “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?”   (Exodus 3:11a)

b) “O my Lord, I am not eloquent”   (Exodus 4:10a)

2. Jeremiah had a query when he was made a prophet

“Ah, Lord God
Behold, I cannot speak for I am a youth”   Jeremiah 1:6

a) To be a prophet is a heavy responsibility

b) There must be knowledge and skill in speaking

c) Jeremiah did not have the requisites being but a youth

3. Mary had a query about giving birth as a virgin

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

a) A natural question

b) Mary was not yet married

GOD GIVES ANSWERS TO QUERIES

1. Moses

a) He raised a number of questions

b) God gave him good and clear answers

2. Jeremiah

a) He had one question

b) God gave answers

c) He also gave promises for life and ministry

3. Mary

a) The angel Gabriel gave answers too

b) He patiently explained

c) He just wanted Mary to understand

d) He wanted her to believe that

“With God nothing will be impossible”   Luke 1:37

WHAT GOD DESIRES FROM US

1. That we believe in the Lord

a) Rather than to have unbelief

b) Rather than to reject what He has said

2. What were the things Mary was to believe in?

a) The prophecy concerning the Virgin Birth

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son,
and shall call His name Immanuel”   Isaiah 7:14

i) This is a sign that God Himself will give

ii) The virgin shall conceive and bear a Son

iii) His name: “Immanuel”

b) That God can and will fulfil His word of prophecy

i) It would take God’s power

ii) It would take faith to believe in God fulfilling His word

THE QUESTION OF FAITH IN GOD IN THE WORLD TODAY

1. The Generation of the Lord Jesus

“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”   Matthew 11:16-19

2. Features highlighted that seem to be the same today

a) Like petulant children

b) Fault-finding

c) Critical

d) Lacking discernment and Faith

CONCLUSION

1. To find a renewed Faith

2. To possess the kind of Faith that Abraham had

“Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”
And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief,
but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,
but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,
who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”   Romans 4:16-25

a) Contrary to hope, in hope believed

b) Not being weak in faith

c) He did not waver at the promise of God

d) Strengthened in faith