Sunday, 18th December 2022

Topic: Gabriel’s 4-Fold Message

Texts: Luke 1:11-20 & 26-38, Mark 5:21

Preacher: Evangelist William Lewis

During this festive season of Christmas, most parents tend to express their love towards their children through gifts, they make sure to be fair to all the kids by offering to each one of them a present according to their different needs and preferences. And maybe this is the same attribute we may put to God because he loves us equally but disciplines us differently.

Referring to the above texts, the Angel appeared to Zacharia, gave him a prophetic message which is “The Lord has heard your prayer, you are going to bear a son, his name will be John, and he will be great “, how will I know that this is so? he asked incredulously, In response, Angel Gabriel struck him deaf and mute until the day that his son would be born.

A few months later, the very same Angel showed up to Mary and gave her a prophetic message saying, “Do not be afraid Mary, for the Lord has favored you, you will bear a son, and you will name him Jesus and he will be great” then Mary asked, how? Angel Gabriel explained to her, how this would happen.

The question we may ask ourselves, is how come two people receiving a similar message, ask the same question but one is disciplined and the other is comforted? We must understand that Zachariah asked God for a child, but Mary didn’t, that’s why the Angel’s first statement   to Zachariah is “Your prayers have been answered’” but to Mary it is “Do not be afraid, the Lord has favored you” but also Mary was very young compared to Zacharia and had less experiences, so it was normal for Mary to ask questions. 

The following points are to be noted:

• Negativity disturbs the divine environment, that’s why we must be careful with what we say, our attitude and our environment in order to avoid a negative impact in the spiritual realm,
• God’s promises often demand action on our part, 
• The older you become, the more you’re ought to trust God.

Beloved brothers and sisters, in this season we recognize that the Savior was born. So, what will you give him for Christmas? is it your heart? your mind, your soul, and your life? As we celebrate the birth of Christ let us remember that the older, we become, the more we’re ought to trust God.