The Courage of Trusting Luke 1: 12-20

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v.12            1.            It takes faith to overcome great fear.

                        (And when Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.)

v.13            2.            It takes continuing faith to accompany continuing prayer.

                        (But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zechariah: for thy prayer is heard;)

v.13,           3.            It takes faith to take God at His word when it seems too good to be true.

  15                   (and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name

                        John.) (For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, …)

v.14            4.            It takes hope to anticipate rejoicing when that has not been your 
                        experience.

                        (And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.)

v.15            5.            It takes trusting when God reveals truth you have had no prior knowledge
                        of nor experience in.

                        (sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall 

                        be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.)

v.16            6.            It takes strength of faith when God’s revealed truth extends beyond your
                        own  life.

                        (And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.)

v.17            7.            It takes strength of faith when you realize the ministry of God’s reference.

                        (And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the

                        hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of

                        the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.)

v.18            8.            It takes strength of faith to walk out into the land of impossibility.

                        (And Zechariah said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this?  for I am an

                        old man, and my wife well stricken in years.)

v.18,            9.           It takes great courage and strength to act upon God’s wondrous revelation

 19                    of His plan and purpose.

                        (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 show thee these

                        glad tidings.)

v.20            10.           It takes great strength of heart while waiting on God’s season of 
                         fulfilment.

                        (And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that

                        these things shall be performed, …)