* Faith is a matter of focus.
* If we keep our focus on God we gravitate toward faith.
* If we keep our focus on man we gravitate toward fear & doubt.
* Zechariah fell for the same thing Moses fell for - when God’s word came he focused on himself and not the God Who was giving the message.
* His punishment?
* He lost the ability to do what he was created to do.
* He was a priest and had to communicate as a part of his job - but now that was gone.
* Other people could no longer be nourished by Zech, the priest.
* God wants to be a nourishment for others through us, but it requires our faith in God for that to happen.
* We have to keep our eyes on Him and not on ourselves.
Luke 1:18 (3/23/17)
Focus
March 23, 2017 • Benham Brothers
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Lessons From Luke
Luke 1:24-25 (3/22/18)
March 22, 2018 • Benham Brothers
Luke 1:24-25 - Motive * How do you know if you’ve done something with the right motive? * By how you respond when the thing either comes to pass or doesn’t. * If it doesn’t, do you say, “not my will but Yours be done?” * This means you had the right motive. * If it does come to pass, do you have a meek and humble response (like Peter & Elizabeth)? * Notice Elizabeth got alone and simply wanted to thank God for blessing her. * She didn’t go out and announce to everyone. * A pure motive is always humble before the Lord and grateful for His role in your life.
Luke 1:26-38 (3/20/14)
March 20, 2014 • Benham Brothers
Mary's conversation with the angel reveals many things about what type of person she was and why God chose her to be Jesus' mom. Here are 5 observations about Mary: 1) vs 28-29 - God was "with" her - she didn't understand that. She knew God was "with" the nation of Israel but not with individuals. God was with her because of the WHO she was. She says later on she was a "bondslave of the Lord." 2) vs 34 - She had great faith - Her question regarding clarity and not a lack of faith. Zecherias, John the Baptist's dad, questioned the angel due to a lack of faith, but not Mary. Her question was "how" not "if." 3) vs 36 - Sin & Salvation both came through women. Satan used a woman to bring sin into the world and God used a woman to bring salvation into the world! 4) vs 38 - She gave her reputation to God. People would think she had fornicated because she would be a pregnant, unwed teenage mother. She considered herself a bondslave - a person who had no rights. How you see yourself determines how you conduct yourself. 5) Luke 2:19 - she never said a word! She never said a word when she got pregnant and she didn't say a word when she gave birth. She didn't defend her dignity and she didn't brag on the fact she had just birthed the Messiah!