Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• John the baptist - a birth like no other
• Filled from birth with the Holy Spirit
• John was not the Christ but was to testify of the Christ
• Looking at John the baptist this morning
• Last week - considering unusual events
• Explanation
• Blameless
• A man of prayer
• Today - the sin of unbelief
• He would not believe the message of the angel
• He wanted a sign
• He provoked God with his unbelief
• Overview:
• The Sin of Unbelief
• God's Restoring Power

The Sin of Unbelief

• Zacharias response - v18
• Mary believed - v38
• Zacharias did not believe
• God sees the heart and motive
• God sees whether there is genuine faith or unbelief
• God is a god of miracles
• Elizabeth was beyond the age of childbearing
• God was able to give her a child
• Zacharias being a priest should have known this
• There is nothing that provokes God more than the sin of unbelief
• We have minds and can reason
• But it is an affront to Him is we He cannot
• God's people in history have been characterised by unbelief
• The children of Israel (apart from Joshua and Caleb)
• Some unbelief is hard, adamant, desiring unbelief
• Example of the siege of Israel by Syria
• Example of unbelief in the New Testament
• There is rampant unbelief in our western nation
• Consider this to places like Africa or China
• The people of the UK are characterised by unbelief
• Nothing is too hard for the Lord - v37
• God can make even a virgin conceive
• Mary believed - v44
• Challenge:
• Are you a believer?
• Do you believe the Bible?
• Do you believe in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ?
• Are you wanting proof? (cf v18)
• Do not be a doubting Thomas

God's Restoring Power

• It was not adamant, hard-hearted unbelief in Zachariah
• This was temporary doubt/unbelief
• There are two types of unbelief
• God is merciful
• God fulfills His word - v24
• Elizabeth's conception was encouraging to Zacharias
• Elizabeth did not die in child birth - God sustained her - v57-58
• "God is not a man that He should lie"
• Think of the deceit in men & women
• "It is impossible for God to die"
• Consider God's promises at the beginning of the Bible - fulfilled
• Examples
• God shows His graciousness - v59-64
• Zacharias is able to speak at the naming of his son
• He bursts into praise and worship
• The name John means 'God is gracious'
• John will prepare the way for the Lord Jesus Christ
• A total and instantaneous healing
• Do you have doubts today?
• Do you need the stirring of God to come to full assurance?
• Zacharias sings after being filled with the Holy Spirit
• This is a usual pattern - cf Eph 5:18
• The focus of his song is about Jesus Christ
• God has redeemed His people - v68
• In the line of David - v69
• The prophecies of old - v70
• Zacharias is a man no longer of unbelief, but faith and assurance
• To fulfill His covenant - v72
• To fulfill His promises - v73
• That John would prepare the way for Jesus Christ -v76-77
• To provide light in the darkness - v78-79

Closing Remarks

• Have you found peace with God?
• Do you have a relationship through Jesus Christ?
• Jesus can take the darkness of your sin and give you eternal life
• You must believe in Him and repent of your sin
• Will you believe in Him this morning?