Bible Study: If Thou Canst Believe

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Today is Wednesday October 20, 2010 and we are reading through and studying the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Luke, chapter 1. In this chapter we will read about, Zacharias and Elisabeth, Zacharias gets a visit by Gabriel, Elisabeth conceives, Mary gets a visit by Gabriel and the virgin birth of Jesus is foretold, Mary visits Elisabeth, and the birth of John the Baptist. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-20

Today's Message: If Thou Canst Believe
It is hard to believe that God loves everyone, it does not matter if they believe in Him, reject Him, or are the worst person on earth, He loves everyone. People of the world will never understand that God loves them and is not out to kill anyone who does not believe in or follow His rules. He does not want to see anyone perish and that is why he sent His Son, Jesus Christ. It does not matter how bad we are, God willingly accepts the worst sinner who turns to Him and trusts in His Son to save them. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” - II Peter 3:9

The Gospel of Luke is the forty-second book of the Bible, the third book of the New Testament, and contains twenty-four chapters. The author of the Gospel is Luke and it was first aimed at reaching the Greeks, whom Jesus is presented as the perfect man. The purpose of this Gospel was to write an orderly account of the ministry of Jesus and to show all followers that He is the Messiah. What we are to learn from the book is that our mission is to be identical to that of Jesus, to reach all of the lost with the good news of the Gospel and to come to the realization that, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” - Luke 1:37.

The Holy Spirit singled out Luke, the beloved physician, to give us this inspired Gospel. The writer of the third Gospel is called by Paul the beloved physician, he also wrote the book of Acts and was Paul's frequent companion. His devotion to Christ caused him to treasure the words that He spoke, as well as everything that concerned the Savior's life. “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.” - Luke 1:1-4.

Luke addresses one specific believer, Theophilus, the name Theophilus, means follower or beloved of God. So, Luke is writing to all who are beloved followers of God. It other words he is saying, “If you love God, I am addressing this to you”. Luke is recording the things that he witnessed, learned, heard, and perfectly understood while these events took place in order to minister the Gospel for all to believe. He is instructing all believers, so, we are to be witnesses as well. All who have accepted Christ become ministers of the Gospel, however, very few actually go out and witness to people. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” - II Corinthians 4:6.

Before God sent Jesus it was important for Him to send a forerunner, someone sent in advance to announce His coming. Zacharias, and Elisabeth were up in age so, it seemed that the one thing they hoped for, a child, would never be given to them. As Zacharias was a priest and he lighting incense and praying in the Temple, he received a visit from the angel, Gabriel. “And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John....And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.” - Luke 1:11-13,18-20.

Because Zacharias did not believe that his prayer would be answered God made him mute until the baby was born. You know, most of our prayers remain unanswered because when we pray we do not really believe that we will receive the things we are asking Him for? God wants us to fully trust in Him and believe that He will provide us with the things we are asking Him for. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” - James 1:5-8.

Six months after Elisabeth conceived, Mary got a visit from the angel Gabriel, she would soon be blessed to carry the baby Jesus. Of course, she was scared and a bit confused, but did not doubt God. “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women...And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS....Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” - Luke 1:26-28,31, 34-38.

It was important that Jesus be born of a virgin, if He would have been conceived like any other child He would have been born into sin as all are born with the sinful nature of Adam. This would have made Jesus a sinner like all mankind and, thus, unable to be the sinless substitute for our sins. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.” - Romans 5:12-14.

Mary didn't question that it would be done, but how it was possible since she never knew a man. Gabriel's response, “for with God nothing shall be impossible”. Mary willingly accepted the answer and the call that God gave her to carry His Son. This is a lesson that we all need to hear and get into our heads, if we want our prayers answered, of we want to be blessed abundantly, we need to stop doubting and start trusting God, “for with God nothing shall be impossible”. No matter how bleak things look, God is in control of all things and all things are possible with God for those who believe. “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” - Mark 9:23. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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