Embracing God's Marvelous Promises Through Faith

 

Summary

In Zechariah 8:6, God promises the restoration of Jerusalem, a promise that seemed too marvelous for the people to believe. This disbelief is not uncommon among believers today, who often find God's promises too extraordinary to accept. The people of Israel, despite the promise of peace and prosperity, doubted because they could not envision how such a transformation could occur. This doubt is rooted in carnal reasoning, which limits God's capabilities to human understanding. When faced with God's promises, we often respond with skepticism, thinking them too marvelous to be true. This skepticism is a form of unbelief that undermines God's power and faithfulness.

The sermon challenges this mindset by reminding us that God's promises are not dependent on human ability but on His divine power. The marvels of salvation, forgiveness, and transformation are not impossible for God, who is capable of exceeding our expectations. The sermon encourages believers to shift their focus from the improbability of the promise to the faithfulness of the Promiser. God's ability to fulfill His promises is not limited by human understanding or circumstances. Instead, His promises are a reflection of His infinite power and wisdom.

The sermon also highlights the importance of faith in accepting God's promises. It is through faith that we can overcome the doubts and fears that arise from carnal reasoning. By trusting in God's power and faithfulness, we can embrace the marvelous nature of His promises and experience the fullness of His grace. The sermon concludes with a call to enlarge our understanding of God and to trust Him more deeply, recognizing that nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Key Takeaways:

- Marvelous Promises and Human Doubt: God's promises often seem too marvelous for us to believe, leading to doubt and unbelief. This doubt stems from our tendency to limit God's capabilities to our human understanding. We must remember that God's promises are not dependent on our ability but on His divine power. [02:05]

- The Power of Faith: Faith is essential in accepting God's promises. It allows us to overcome doubts and fears that arise from carnal reasoning. By trusting in God's power and faithfulness, we can embrace the marvelous nature of His promises and experience His grace. [06:39]

- God's Infinite Capability: God's ability to fulfill His promises is not limited by human understanding or circumstances. His promises reflect His infinite power and wisdom, and nothing is too hard for Him. We must shift our focus from the improbability of the promise to the faithfulness of the Promiser. [16:28]

- The Role of Miracles: Miracles are not wasteful displays of power but necessary acts of God to fulfill His promises. If a miracle is needed for our salvation, God will provide it. His power is always available to accomplish His purposes. [30:56]

- Enlarging Our Understanding of God: We need to enlarge our understanding of God and trust Him more deeply. By recognizing His greatness and power, we can overcome unbelief and embrace the marvelous nature of His promises. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. [46:57]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Zechariah 8:6
- [00:28] - Promise of Jerusalem's Restoration
- [01:25] - The Startling Nature of God's Promises
- [02:05] - Unbelief and Its Coverings
- [03:23] - The Concept of Difficulty
- [04:21] - The Marvelous Nature of God's Promises
- [05:36] - The Greatest Wonder: Salvation
- [06:39] - Carnal Reasoning and Its Correction
- [09:01] - The Marvel of a New Heart
- [11:00] - Perseverance and Final Presentation
- [13:31] - Deliverance in Times of Trial
- [16:28] - God's Promise and Human Doubt
- [21:46] - God's Infinite Capability
- [30:56] - The Role of Miracles in Salvation
- [46:57] - Enlarging Our Understanding of God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Zechariah 8:6

Observation Questions:
1. What promise does God make to the people of Jerusalem in Zechariah 8:6, and how do they initially respond to it? [00:09]
2. How does the sermon describe the people's reaction to God's promise of restoration? What does this reveal about their faith? [01:25]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the word "marvelous" in the context of God's promises? [03:08]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the relationship between human doubt and God's promises? What role does faith play in this dynamic? [06:39]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers limit God's capabilities through carnal reasoning? How can this be corrected? [15:12]
3. What does the sermon imply about the nature of miracles in relation to God's promises? How should believers view miracles? [30:56]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you found one of God's promises too marvelous to believe. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now? [02:05]
2. The sermon encourages shifting focus from the improbability of the promise to the faithfulness of the Promiser. How can you practice this shift in your daily life? [16:28]
3. Consider an area in your life where you are relying on your own understanding rather than trusting in God's infinite capability. What steps can you take to change this? [21:46]
4. How can you cultivate a deeper faith that embraces the marvelous nature of God's promises, even when they seem impossible? [06:39]
5. Identify a specific promise of God that you struggle to believe. What practical actions can you take to strengthen your faith in this promise? [12:45]
6. The sermon calls for enlarging our understanding of God. What resources or practices can you incorporate into your routine to help you grow in your knowledge of God? [46:57]
7. How can you remind yourself of God's past faithfulness in your life to combat current doubts and fears? [13:31]

Devotional

Day 1: Marvelous Promises Beyond Human Comprehension
God's promises often appear too marvelous for us to believe, leading to doubt and unbelief. This doubt arises from our tendency to limit God's capabilities to our human understanding. We must remember that God's promises are not dependent on our ability but on His divine power. When we encounter promises that seem too extraordinary, it is crucial to shift our perspective from our limitations to God's limitless power. By doing so, we can begin to trust in His ability to fulfill what He has promised, regardless of how impossible it may seem. [02:05]

Zechariah 8:6 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts?"

Reflection: What is one promise of God that you find difficult to believe? How can you begin to trust in His power to fulfill it today?


Day 2: Faith as the Key to Embracing God's Promises
Faith is essential in accepting God's promises. It allows us to overcome doubts and fears that arise from carnal reasoning. By trusting in God's power and faithfulness, we can embrace the marvelous nature of His promises and experience His grace. Faith is not merely a passive belief but an active trust in God's character and His ability to do what He has said. As we grow in faith, we learn to rely less on our understanding and more on His infinite wisdom and power. [06:39]

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to exercise more faith? How can you actively trust God in this area today?


Day 3: God's Infinite Capability to Fulfill His Promises
God's ability to fulfill His promises is not limited by human understanding or circumstances. His promises reflect His infinite power and wisdom, and nothing is too hard for Him. We must shift our focus from the improbability of the promise to the faithfulness of the Promiser. By doing so, we can rest in the assurance that God is more than able to accomplish what He has promised, regardless of how impossible it may seem to us. [16:28]

Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV): "Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you."

Reflection: What is one situation in your life that seems impossible? How can you remind yourself of God's infinite capability in this situation?


Day 4: The Role of Miracles in God's Promises
Miracles are not wasteful displays of power but necessary acts of God to fulfill His promises. If a miracle is needed for our salvation, God will provide it. His power is always available to accomplish His purposes. Understanding the role of miracles helps us to see them not as rare occurrences but as expressions of God's commitment to His promises. When we recognize this, we can approach God with confidence, knowing that He will do whatever is necessary to fulfill His word. [30:56]

Psalm 77:14 (ESV): "You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples."

Reflection: Have you witnessed a miracle in your life or the life of someone you know? How does this experience shape your understanding of God's power and promises?


Day 5: Enlarging Our Understanding of God's Greatness
We need to enlarge our understanding of God and trust Him more deeply. By recognizing His greatness and power, we can overcome unbelief and embrace the marvelous nature of His promises. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. As we grow in our understanding of who God is, our faith is strengthened, and we become more confident in His ability to fulfill His promises. This deeper trust allows us to live with greater peace and assurance, knowing that God is in control and that His promises are sure. [46:57]

Isaiah 40:28 (ESV): "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable."

Reflection: How can you intentionally enlarge your understanding of God's greatness this week? What specific steps can you take to deepen your trust in Him?

Quotes

God sent his servant Zechariah with the promise that Jerusalem should be rebuilt and that it should enjoy a time of great peace and prosperity, instead of men being slain in battle in the prime of their days old men and old women were to dwell in the streets of Jerusalem every man with his staff in his hand for very age, and whereas War had often cut off the women and the children the promise further added the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. [00:25:44]

When this gracious promise came it startled the people for it seemed past belief, the unbelievers did not say Point Blank This Promise is not true, but deep in their hearts they thought as much, it is not the general habit of unbelief among God's people to give a flat contradiction to his promises we are hardly honest enough to our own thoughts to express them with deliberate plainness of speech, even unbelief loves to wear some cobweb covering or other that its naked deformity may not appear. [00:88:38]

The remnant of Israel said how can this thing be, in these days in these troubles days in these threatening days how can Jerusalem be made to prosper, former hopes have been disappointed we see no better signs of the times and doubtless if our hopes be now raised they will again be disappointed, how can the city rise from its ashes we can hardly think it possible at any rate it will be marvelous extremely difficult exceedingly unlikely indeed impossible. [00:135:42]

I should be very glad if I could always put the word difficult into the margin of my life and never let it stand in the substance of it I wish my faith would banish it, difficulty does crop up now and then through unbelief, but where God manifests himself difficulty vanishes leave it in the margin brother leave it in the margin let it not be read in the annals of your actual life, a brave self-reliance blots the word difficult out of its dictionary and a full God Reliance May much more safely do so if God before us all things can be accomplished things impossible with men are possible with God. [00:217:98]

They could not conceive how the promise could be fulfilled and therefore because it surpassed their conception they suppose that the Lord was equally non-plussed and perplexed, because the restored prosperity of Jerusalem would be a great wonder they doubted if it could ever be accomplished yet blessed be the name of the Lord it was accomplished for though we believe not here by the faithful he cannot deny himself. [00:280:08]

We are called upon to believe in even greater wonders wonders of a spiritual kind which are more difficult of belief than material miracles, I'm going to talk about what to every intelligent and awakened mind will be the greatest Wonder of all namely the possibility of our salvation by faith which is in Christ Jesus, Satan will assail you who are saved and you who are seeking to be saved and he will aim a blow at your faith. [00:321:90]

We inform them in God's name that whosoever repents of sin and confesses it and believes in Jesus Christ shall receive immediate pardon and this good news surprises them as what it may straightway the old serpent begins to hiss out a doubt and they ask how can it be, can a man receive in one moment forgiveness for 50 years of sin, how can his conscience be cleared by the simple Act of believing in Christ how can the record of a life of evil be blotted out at once. [00:432:30]

The Lord is promised that the righteous shall hold on his way and he that hath Clean Hands shall wax stronger and stronger and Christ has declared that the living water which he gives shall be no transient boon but shall be in a man a well of water springing up into everlasting life, oh but says the tempted one, how can I hope to persevere to the end I shall be one of these days tempted so strongly that I shall be carried off my feet. [00:605:16]

The false reasoning which cries it is marvelous and therefore impossible ignores altogether the fact that God is a marvelous being and that if his promise is marvelous it is like himself, he is a great God and his power and wisdom are infinite can anything surpass his ability, would you have the infinite God confine his promises and gifts to commonplace matters, would it be seemly that the Lord who is infinite in resources should do nothing but what you can understand. [00:1107:72]

If the Lord is given a promise it must be carried out cost what it may for his name is God that cannot lie, if there is no way of bringing a saint to God except by the holy ghosts dwelling in him which is a great Wonder then the Holy Ghost shall dwell in him for the many sons must be brought unto glory and if Marvels are needed as many as the hairs on our heads so many Marvels there shall be. [00:1999:919]

The greatest Marvel that I ever heard of is this great is the mystery of godliness God was manifest in the flesh, how the infinite could become one with the finite so that the babe at Bethlehem could be the Mighty God I cannot tell and I think you cannot, are you prepared to forgo the Incarnation of Christ for if you are not you must refuse to believe in any Act of God because it is marvelous for it cannot be more marvelous than God in human flesh. [00:2272:56]

Let us enlarge our minds, come blessed Spirit reveal Christ in US and let us thus know more of God and trust him better and let nothing be unbelievingly marvelous in our eyes since nothing can be too hard for the Lord. [00:2817:90]

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Transcript
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