{"id":635715,"date":"2024-02-05T16:53:15","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T05:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/\/2024\/02\/jesus-and-study-2\/"},"modified":"2024-03-05T13:10:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T02:10:00","slug":"jesus-and-study-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ua\/blog\/2024\/02\/jesus-and-study-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Do not fear. Believe. | Jesus and… | Study 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201c\u2026But the angel said to him: \u2018Do not be afraid, Zechariah;\u00a0<\/strong>your prayer has been heard\u2026\u2019\u201d Luke 1:13<\/strong><\/p>\n

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In our previous study, we were introduced to Zechariah and Elizabeth\u2019s story. For all their lives they were both fervent and faithful God-followers, despite living with (what seemed) unanswered prayers, they kept doing what they were called to do, where God had positioned them to be.<\/p>\n

In this week\u2019s study, we continue unpacking Zechariah and Elizabeth\u2019s story. As we continue in Luke 1, we read how one day, while Zechariah was on duty serving God, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and spoke God\u2019s promises over his and Elizabeth\u2019s lives. His prayers had been heard, he and Elizabeth would have a son; not just any boy but one who was to be consecrated and dedicated to the Lord, with a specific God-given purpose. His name was to be John. Yet, even though Zechariah had this supernatural encounter with God\u2019s messenger, audibly and visibly, he failed to believe. As a result, he was unable to speak until the promise was fulfilled. \u2013\u00a0Read Luke 1:8-25 <\/b><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until after the child was born, and it was time to name the newborn, 8-day old baby, that Zechariah\u2019s mouth was finally opened again. The child was named John, which means the favour or grace of God.\u00a0(v59-63) <\/b><\/p>\n

Zechariah failed to believe the good news about the upcoming birth of his son. Even though he was a servant of the Lord, a priest for that matter, descendent of Aaron, chosen and positioned in God\u2019s house, he did not believe. Not even a supernatural being, a powerful angel appearing and speaking to him convinced him. The Bible is filled with stories of people\u2019s unbelief and doubt. Their flaws and their stories exemplify human frailty and mirror our own weaknesses and failings. After all, how many of us can relate to Zechariah\u2019s story, and have failed to believe the promises of God?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Questions<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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\u2013 Are there areas in your life where you have yet to see your prayers answered? Are you still hopeful and believing, or have doubts started creeping in? How can we overcome our unbelief?<\/p>\n

\u2013 Humanly speaking, Zechariah and Elizabeth\u2019s circumstances were impossible, and yet God answered their prayers. If you feel comfortable, share with your group the impossibilities you find yourself facing today. What areas are you believing for God to show up and turn impossible to possible?<\/p>\n

A different response \u2013 <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI am the Lord\u2019s servant, \u2026 May your word to me be fulfilled\u201d Luke 1:38 <\/strong><\/p>\n

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Just a few verses later, we read of an ordinary, young girl Mary and her personal encounter and her response to God\u2019s promise.\u00a0\u2013 Read Luke 1:34-38 (NIV) <\/b><\/p>\n

As was Zechariah, Mary also was visited by the angel Gabriel and promised a son, but unlike Zechariah, she believed. While Zechariah showed disbelief and wondered if the miracle could happen, Mary wondered how it would happen. \u201c..\u2019how will this be..\u2019 \u201c\u00a0Luke 1:34. <\/b><\/p>\n

Both these stories teach us that when God makes a promise, He will do it. If He speaks to us, what He said will come to pass, and it is better for us if we believe it. Are we prepared to learn from Mary\u2019s example and take God at His word?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Questions<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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\u2013 Zechariah and Mary responded in different ways to the angel\u2019s message. Which response is closest to the way you respond to God\u2019s promise?<\/p>\n

\u2013 What can we learn from their reactions?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Pray<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Take some time in prayer and pray for one another for courage and renewed hope. Dedicate some time to pray for those among you who may need to start dreaming again, who need to dust off some of the promises God has spoken over their lives but have not yet come to pass. Pray and have faith to believe again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Go deeper<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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What is in a name? <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Read in Robert\u2019s book the p.38 \u2013 41<\/p>\n

Can our names describe our destiny? Throughout the Bible, names are given or changed. For instance, Abraham\u00a0(Genesis 17:5)<\/b>, or Peter\u00a0(John 1:42)<\/b>. Often names have prophetic significance. Let\u2019s have a look at what the names mean in our story.<\/p>\n

Zechariah means \u201cGod remembered\u201d, Elizabeth means \u201cthe oath of God\u201d, John means \u201cthe favour or grace of God\u201d. As so often, this little family unit\u2019s story reflects and points to God\u2019s bigger story for all humankind. God did not only bless this family, but their story foreshadowed the salvation that we can all receive in Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

\u2013 God remembers His covenant\u00a0(see Hebrews 12:22-24) <\/b><\/p>\n

\u2013 God swears an oath to bless us\u00a0(see Hebrews 6:13-20) <\/b><\/p>\n

\u2013 God makes grace and favour available for each one of us\u00a0(see Hebrews 4:14-16) <\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This group study is taken from Robert Fergusson\u2019s new book \u201cJesus and\u2026\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,15416],"tags":[15426],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDo not fear. Believe. | Jesus and... | Study 2 - Collected<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/it\/blog\/2024\/02\/jesus-and-study-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"uk_UA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Do not fear. 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