When you look in Luke 1:26-38 we see a very exciting event transpiring in the life of one, young, girls life. I don't know about what you would do if an Angel suddenly appeared out of no where and started telling me "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” I might jump out of my skin and yell really loud and it probably would not be Hallelujah. But here sits this little, young, Hebrew girl who simply sits there confused and disturbed trying to think her way through what the Angel said. This is why so many of us are so confused and disturbed, we try thinking our way through life with Jesus. At least I do.
This has been a problem all through time. Adam and Eve thought it was OK to eat the forbidden fruit. Abraham and Sarah thought their plan with Hagar would fulfill Gods plan for them. The sons of Jacob thought getting rid of Joseph would quench the plan God had for him. Moses thought he was not able to lead the people of God and the people of God thought Moses couldn't either so they built a golden calf. You could go on through almost every book of the Bible and find people like Jonah, Gideon,King Saul, Ananias and Sapphira, Pilot, Saul,Peter, Andrew. Do we need more? People thinking their way through times in their lives that if they would simply listen to Gods word for them and believe it they would not have had so many problems getting to the point God wanted them to be at in the first place. When the Angel spoke Mary listened. He didn't go into a long discourse on prophesy or purpose or anything but the simple truth. He told Mary, don't be afraid, you are going to have a baby. Now Mary speaks saying , how could this happen I have never known a man. The Angel answers her question simply and to the point, The Holy Spirit will come upon you and nothing is impossible with God.
Most people think without listening. Mary opened her heart through her ears when she heard those words the Angel Gabriel told her, “ Nothing is impossible with God!” Romans 10:17 says faith comes when you listen to the word of God. Isn't this what Gabriel was speaking to Mary? Wasn't it Gods word she was receiving? Mary's answer was just as simple if you look at verse 38,"I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." What a word for every Christian on the face of the earth. I am your servant Lord Jesus but I am glad you call me friend. Lord let everything you have said about me come true. Wow! Look at that! Do you even know a part of what Gods word says about you and if you do, do you really believe it is possible? Both these things hinder our walk with God. We don't know or we don't believe it if we do know. Do you ever face this problem?
I want you to look at three examples, in Gods word, of faith at work. In Matthew chapter 8 you read about a Roman centurion with a sick servant. He tells Jesus to simply speak the word and his servant would be healed. What did Jesus say? "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel! "Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened." You believed it has happened! Next we need to go on a boat. In Matthew 14 Jesus takes a stroll on the water to go out to where His buddies were in the boat. Jesus comes close to them in the middle of the night, lightning and thunder all around them and Jesus speaks. "Don't be afraid," He said. "Take courage. I am here! " So twelve men in a boat, one speaks up, Peter called to Him, "Lord, if it's really You, tell me to come to You, walking on the water." If it is really you? Come on people, who else walks on water in the middle of the night in a storm. But Jesus puts up with it and says come on out Peter the water is fine. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. " Jesus was not very polite after this."You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt Me?" Now, was He just talking to Peter or to the other eleven in the boat also. What did He tell the centurion? You believed, it has happened! What did He tell Peter? Yes, come on. But those eleven didn't even try. The Angel of the Lord told Mary,”with God all things are possible!” Which one am I going to react like, The Roman centurion, Peter, Or the eleven in the boat. I believe we all need to work on our walk of faith to begin receiving like the centurion did that day. Jesus said,”I have not seen so great a faith in all Israel!” Who will He say to,”I have not seen so great a faith in all the church!” Will it be you? You may sink and the Lord may have to recue you, but look at the Apostle Peters life after the ressurection of Christ, I think he grew in faith and all but one of the eleven did too. Growth will come to those who listen, receive and do the Word of God.
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