The Might of the Strong God

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Scripture:

Luke 1:19 The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
Luke 1:20 But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”

Observation:

"I am Gabriel."  Simply by stating his name this Angel was expressing that what God had intended was possible for his name meant, "the might of the strong God."  In his personal visit to Zechariah he represented the power of the God of all creation and the realization that "with God all things are possible."  This angel was one who would "stand in the presence of God;" the very concept of a Prime Minister who would have access to the King or the President as no other.  Here was one who had been sent from the very presence of God to bring the good news to Zechariah, and yet, Zechariah doubted.  Because of his unbelief he would have to suffer the consequences of being unable to hear or to speak until the child was born.  He doubted the messenger whose very name revealed the "might of the strong God."

Application:

We don't need Gabriel to visit us these days because Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live here among us -- to allow us to experience "the might of the strong God" on a daily basis.  Sadly, I'm afraid that we are much like Zechariah.  God is trying to reach out to us and speak to us on a daily basis, letting us know that "with God all things are possible" and yet, we too struggle with our faith.  It is Jesus, himself, who sits at the right hand of the Father who is constantly interceding for us and yet, we wonder about God's activity in our lives. 

Just as Zechariah struggled with his faith -- when God sent an angel to communicate directly with him -- so we may have times when we struggle in our faith, even when the Holy Spirit is present.  Do we struggle with believing the words of God?  If we were honest we would probably have to admit that there are times when we do and we try to take back control over what may be happening in our lives.    It's in those times that we need to remember that "the might of the strong God" is here with us and in our presence.  God wants to intercede in our lives, but he wants us to participate with him by bringing our faith into his activity.  We must reach out to him, trusting that he will lead us through the myriad of decisions and activities of life, bringing us to a place that we may never have thought possible. 

Zechariah and Hannah never thought they would have children.  We may never believe that God could reach in and help us to rise above the current circumstances of our lives but in that moment of deepest despair and frustration we must focus our minds and our attention on the might of the strong God.  He is able to do abundantly more than anything we could ever imagine.  It's time for us to sit back, relax and put our trust in him.  The one who stands in the presence of God is interceding today for you and for me.  He knows what we need more than we do ourselves.  We don't need to second guess our prayers, instead we can come honestly before him and know that Jesus will intercede for us and that the might of the strong God will be at work for us.  Trust his good news and live in faith that "with God all things are possible."

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for your incredible love.  Amen.

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