Notes From the Pastor's Desk
February 9, 2025
The God Who Can
The first chapter of the Book of Luke is a reminder to us of the ability of God to do the impossible. When you consider Elizabeth, who was barren and well stricken in years having a baby, you see a God who can. If you consider the virgin Mary, you can see God at work in her life. She was a virgin, yet, she received the Christ child through the Holy Ghost.
I. God Can Overcome Obstacles
See Luke 1:7; Luke 1:31,32. When you look at Elizabeth and Mary the mother of Jesus, you see obstacles God had to overcome for His will to be done in and through them. Regarding Elizabeth, God had to overcome barrenness and old age. That was not too demanding for the Creator who possesses all power. In regard to Mary, God had to overcome the fact she had not had intimate relations with a man. But His humanity did begin in the womb of the virgin Mary. God took care of that by overshadowing her with a glory cloud, and in that glory began the humanity of Jesus. Christ's existence did not begin because He is the eternal Christ, but His humanity did begin in the womb of the virgin Mary.
II. God Can Overcome Fear
Look at Luke 1:13. When the angel appeared unto Zecharias there was fear. The angel said unto him, “Fear not.” Since there was fear present in his heart, God stilled the heart of Zecharias with words of comfort through the angel. His fears were overcome with a promise. The promise given was, “Thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son and thou shalt call his name John” (Lk. 1:13).
III. God Can Overcome Insignificance
See Lk. 1:15 and compare with Matt. 11:11. Elizabeth was not a rich, powerful woman, but her son, John the Baptist, was the one of whom Jesus said, “Born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” What made John so great? It was the Spirit of God that came upon him and made him such an exceptional person.
IV. God Can Overcome Unbelief
Consider Luke 1:20. Zecharias was rendered unable to speak because he did not believe the words of the angel considering his wife Elizabeth having a baby. Jesus more than once gave rebuke over unbelief for He said to some of his disciples. In fact we have recorded that He said, “O ye of little faith” five times (Matt. 6:30; Matt. 8:26; Matt. 14:31; Matt. 16:8; Luke 12:28). Christ deals with unbelief by rebuke.
V. God Can Overcome Darkness
Note Lk. 1:79. Speaking of what John would do in regard to Israel, the Bible says, “To give light to them that sit in darkness…” How does God overcome darkness? He conquers it by the light that Christ and His Gospel brings to the darkened hearts of mankind. God expels darkness by His light.