APPROACH QUESTION:
What is an area of your life that you doubted/doubt and what has been the outcome?

 OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself how does Mary react to the angel's proclamation that was given in v.26-33?
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself what do I learn about Mary from this response?
Regardless of what the Angel Gabriel had proclaimed to Mary in the previous verses: "...Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." (Luke 1:30-33, NIV), Mary was still in doubt that she was going to bear a son in her virginity and makes it clear to the angel.

OBSERVATIONS/INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself what did the Angel Gabriel do with Mary's question of doubt in v. 34-38?
I found it very interesting that the angel did not leave the virgin Mary in her doubts, when she questioned the angel, but patiently answered her with reasons why this will be so.

The angel Gabriel gave Mary 3 main promises to appease her doubts:

1. The HOLY SPIRIT will COME UPON YOU

2. The POWER of the MOST HIGH will OVERSHADOW YOU

3.   HOLY ONE to be born will be called the SON OF GOD

The angel starts out with the Holy Spirit, then mentions God, and concludes with Jesus.

INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself the significance of the Angel Gabriel's response to Mary?
Mary is let known about the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit who will begin the process of allowing her to conceive in her virginity. This is because the power of the Most High would overshadow her giving her the ability to conceive in her virginity. Now the final result would be a ‘HOLY ONE’ being born who will be called the Son of God.

It is very significant that the angel answers Mary’s doubts with promises that are entirely focused on God. The Holy Spirit, Power of the Most High, and Holy One called Son of God all are names for God.

The angel does not stop there but goes a step further giving her a promise that is very tangible at the moment rather than intangible like the previous 3 promises.

When the angel started giving Mary reasons, they were all spiritually intangible reasons that she could not see right away but had to believe in faith. I believe God wanted to appease her doubts more concretely so let the angel present a more concrete tangible promise that can be seen.

This is evidenced by the angel’s next promise:
“Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.” (Luke 1:36)

The angel lets her know that Elizabeth is going to have a child in her old age. This statement alone could also be seen as intangible of something to come in the future and Mary would have to take it in faith so the angel does not stop there but lets her know Elizabeth who is barren is already in her sixth month. This is very significant because now Mary could tangibly see something that seems humanly impossible happening in her relative’s life. This is to assure Mary that if Elizabeth could get pregnant and she was medically diagnosed to be barren then Mary too could get pregnant even though she was a virgin.

After the angel gives all the reasons, he concludes it with a powerful promise giving the credit to God and letting her know it is because of God whatever is going to happen will happen. This is evidenced by:

“For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what is the cause-effect relationship I see here?
BeCAUSE of all the reasons that the Angel Gabriel gave the virgin Mary, the EFFECT is that Mary responds with two powerful statements to the angel: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38a)

INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself what is so significant about Mary's final response?
After all these reasons, Mary lets the Angel know that her doubts are appeased. She may not have understood everything nor had a scientific answer to explain what was going to happen but she finally believed. Her doubts were appeased because her question was answered patiently by the angel Gabriel.

OBSERVATIONS/INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself the significance of the angel's actions after Mary's final response?
Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38b)

It is so interesting that the angel leaves only after hearing Mary’s response to her doubt being appeased. Until then, the angel kept giving her reasons to believe.

APPLICATIONS:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life that I learn from the Angel Gabriel's response to Mary?
Just as the Angel Gabriel, who was sent by God to reveal a message to the virgin Mary, did not leave until her doubts were appeased, it is exciting to know that when I have doubts, I can continually turn to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with my questions and doubts. I can be assured that He will not leave me in my doubts but send people my way to appease those doubts and continue to do that as He did with John the Baptist and Thomas among others. More than anything, He will use His Word, His Spirit, and His Community to address them. The purpose of today's study was for me to understand that when doubt comes through our mouth, the Lord will use His mouth to alleviate our doubt. He can do that through His Word, His Spirit, and His Community while He uses them all as His vessels. The angel Gabriel was part of God's community just as we become part of the Lord's community when we turn our lives over to Him.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING D.O.U.B.T:
Some of you know that recently, I have been having a lot of doubt regarding Tim Keller's series II of Gospel Christianity because I see it through the eyes of politics and its implication there that do not match what I believe in to the point that I expressed few of my feelings adamantly to Pastor Ed, Kristen, Josh, Edwin, Marie, Steve, Zela and Bryan at our small group, two week ago. This week,  I  asked permission to stay away from cell group until the series is over but the Lord Jesus used His Word and specifically Pastor Hugo to alleviate my doubts about it. When I expressed my distaste more specifically to Pastor Hugo and Pastor Ed in  an email, both pastors could have been silent about it but both responded with insights. Pastor Hugo being the senior pastor took the time and effort to write me first and address some of my doubts.

Just as the Lord used the Angel Gabriel not to leave the Virgin Mary until her doubt was appeased, I believe the Lord has used Pastor Hugo with these words for me yesterday to alleviate some of my doubts in an email to me regarding the Tim Keller series II:

 I want to ask you to commit to keep coming to the fellowship, because I believe it will be a good learning process for you.  I know Tim Keller (a little personally and a lot about his church, organization, and teachings), so I know he is a man of God, while I may not agree with all that he teaches, I can appreciate his heart and do agree with much of his teachings. I know that you may not like some of his points, but you can rest assure that his teachings are fundamentally sound and good for you.  It is easy for us to sit at the teachings of people we like or who are very like-minded to us, but it takes humility and desire to grow to learn from people who may be more "challenging" to us.  God has taught me that many times its precisely those teachings will be what He wants to use to grow me.  This side of heaven, I believe we should never be satisfy and stay at our current level of spiritual maturity or insights, God will always have something new to teach us and we will always have room to grow, improve, or be reminded.  I encourage to make it a challenge and ask God to help you to always learn something from Him through Keller's teachings.

Pastor Ed then emailed me things to think about which I said I would take into consideration. For now receiving the original email from Pastor Hugo yesterday has alleviated some of my doubts in this situation and I plan to do what he exhorted me to do.

My situation has no comparison in terms of degree to what Mary was faced with but the principles of how the Lord works in people's lives who have doubts is the same. He will not leave us to our doubts when we sincerely seek after Him and want what He wants us to do. There have been different doubts in my life that the Lord Jesus has brought me through primarily using His Word, His Spirit, His community, etc in agreement with His Word. And I know He will continue to meet me in my doubts whatever they maybe.

More than anything as I reflect on my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this Christmas season, I am reminded how gentle and mild He has been towards me in many of my doubts. Jesus who addressed John the Baptist's doubts and Thomas's doubts while He walked the earth, continues to address others in their doubts with His love. Jesus has done that for me. He can do that for you too especially regarding your relationship with Him and what you are facing in life.

More than anything, He has brought me to Himself and made me His child helping me work through a lot of my doubts. I don't have all the answers that I would like to have but I know as I walk in faith, Jesus will reveal all He wants me to know in His timing including what to do with my life.

But for now, I can rest assured that Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate this Christmas season has delivered me from the bondage of sin and death spiritually and made me right in His sight through the shedding of His precious cleansing blood on the cross of Calvary so I can belong to Him as He came back on the third day to save. For that is the reason  why love came down 2000 years ago as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, laying in the manger, so one day He could become our Redeemer.

As you think about Christmas, don't just get stuck with Jesus as a baby in the manager. Jesus is not a baby anymore but the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is the Savior that the world needs. He is our Emmanuel who alone can bring light into this dark world covered in sin. He is the Word that became flesh for us and made His dwelling among us so one day, He could become our Lamb of God to take away our sins by becoming our sacrifice to redeem us. I praise the Lord for that.

What Jesus did for me He can do for you too right now redeeming you and giving you new life. It does not matter what you have done or where you have been because Jesus saves you by His grace. It is a free gift of grace to bring freedom to you not dependent on your good deeds but solely upon Him.

For none of us are good but all have fallen short of the glory of God but God demonstrates His own love for us while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us and purchased us with His precious Blood. (Romans 3 & 5)

You don't have to have doubts whether the Lord will accept you because He will accept you as you are in your sin when you turn to Him repenting of your sins and asking Him for forgiveness. He will then make you new as you acknowledge Him as your Lord and Savior of your life. For that is why He came. (Romans 10)

Even when you are a believer, you can be dealing with doubts as Mary did, as John the Baptist did, as Thomas did, and as I did even though the circumstances of our lives are different but the common denominator is that Jesus sees you in your doubts and will answer you in your doubts in His timing.

I ask you now dear friend, what does God do with your D.O.U.B.T.S in life?
Dear friend, I don't know what you see happening with your doubts in life but this I know, it is wonderful to know that our doubts and questions are not thrown away by the Lord no matter how severe our doubts are.

In our humanity we may doubt about different things that the Lord reveals to us because we look at our circumstances, who we are, where we came from, etc (i.e.: Moses) OR doubt about what the Lord wants us to do because the circumstances don't seem to go our way (i.e: John the Baptist) OR think who am I Lord that you choose me to accomplish what you say (i.e: Mary) OR how can it be true for I have not seen it myself (i.e: Doubting Thomas), etc OR should I take part in this or that for I am not sure, etc but if the Lord tells us to do something and makes it clear to us, He will make it happen but it will be in His timing.

Just as the Lord intervened through the Angel Gabriel to work with Mary in her doubts, He will intervene in your life to help you through your doubts regarding something He wants to accomplish in your life. Yes, He will friend.  You need not be afraid to ask questions of the Lord. He will send someone your way to help you through these doubts. I do believe it.

I do not know the doubts you may have right now. But the Lord does and He will not abandon you. The Lord welcomes your questions. Take it to Him and He will respond. Wait upon Him! If we have doubts and questions concerning the Lord and what He tells us, He we will not abandoned us but will work with us. Yes, He will.

Maybe there are areas in your life right now that the Lord has not told you what to do or what will happen such as marriage, having kids after marriage, going to so and so place, doing so and so job, etc but you want to do it because you love to do that. But, when it does not seem to happen when you want it to happen, don't doubt the Lord. If the Lord wants something for you to happen, it will happen in His timing and no powers of darkness will stop that from happening. When they don't happen, there is a reason for that that the Lord will reveal in His own timing.

Friend, we all have desires and want to see them happen in our lives especially when we do a comparative analysis with those around us.

When we don't see those desires happening right away, we may even ask 'Why me Lord, why is it not happening to me?' but what I have learned is the desires we have will not make us happy at all unless those desires are stamped and certified by the Lord.

So this Christmas season, whatever doubts you have instead of focusing on the doubts, turn to the One who can alleviate those doubts. Focus on the One who came to redeem you and give you new life. If Jesus went to the cross to redeem you, how much more He can do for you in His timing. Yes, He can friend!

So, when you have doubts, if you will ever do that ministry again, look to the Lord with me.

So, when you have doubts, if you will ever get to marry that person, look to the Lord with me.

So, when you have doubts, if you will ever get that promotion, look to the Lord with me.

So, when you have doubts, if you will ever be accepted by the Lord, look to the Lord with me.

Whatever your doubts are, look to the Lord with me!

You will find your answer in His love for you. Because of His love for you, He will never keep anything you need. A lot of times, He makes us wait for a lot of different reasons because He has the perfect timing for He knows that a second early or a second late is not the right time.

So, friend take all your questions to the Lord and rest in Him no matter how bleak your circumstances look. Sometimes we may not even get what we hope for but we will always get what the Lord wants for us. We are His children and no good gift will He keep from us. This is not to say we will not face any troubles in this world for He never promises that but He does promise to be with us always and walk with us strengthening us instead of abandoning us! Praise the Lord!

Let the Lord work through your doubts this Christmas season. The greatest prophet, to be proclaimed by the Lord Jesus, that ever lived on this earth was filled with doubts regarding Jesus. Yet, Jesus did not abandon him but met him in his doubts.

So, don't you think, He will do the same for you! Yes, He will friend. He will meet you where you are. I want to share with you about Jesus' response  regarding John the Baptist to encourage you that the Lord used to encourage me in my own doubts about His love and how He works with us in our own doubts.

Let us remember that John, the Baptist was the one who was born before Jesus to prepare the way for Jesus’ coming and his was a miraculous birth to Elizabeth that the Angel Gabriel told Mary about.  Years later in his ministry, as circumstances were not going his way, doubt started to creep into his ministry and what Jesus came to do. He doubted the things he believed but the Lord helped him through it through his disciples.

It becomes a big deal when we know how long John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord. He is the one who also baptized Jesus in the Jordan River (rf: Mark 1:9). Now it seems like John is not sure about Jesus.

We need to ask ourselves why?

Being in prison may have raised doubts in John's mind. He easily could have been in despair. Also, he may have wanted to assure himself even though he is in prison that what he stood for all along was right! (rf: Luke 3:1-20, v.19 & 20 reveal why he was put in prison)

How can a prophet who believed in Jesus, prepared the way for Jesus, and baptized Jesus all of a sudden be filled with doubts?

 Sometimes circumstances we are in can make us doubt. John is a human just like us.

What does Jesus do? 

"So he replied to the messengers, 'Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." (Luke 7:22-23)

1. Jesus wanted the men to go back to John.

2. Jesus wanted them to report to John what they have seen. (rf Lk 7:21)

3. Jesus wanted them to report what they have heard.

Jesus told them to tell John the Baptist 7 things:

1. Blind receive sight

2. Lame walk.

3. Those with leprosy are cured.

4. Deaf hear.

5. Dead are raised.

6. The Good News is preached to the poor!

7. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.

It is very interesting to know that Jesus did not ignore John the Baptist when he had doubts but took the effort to answer his doubts. He sent the messengers with evidence to reassure John the Baptist that what he stood for before going to prison was right! We learn the love of Jesus for others. If people have doubts concerning Him, He does not just abandon them even if they have served Him for a long time and then enter the times of 'despair and doubt'.

We have seen John the Baptist live for Jesus and all He did for Jesus. We also learn that he was put in prison for standing up for what is right. Now he is in despair and doubt. We also see Jesus coming along and sending a message of hope to John the Baptist. Especially v.23 'Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.'

Friends, 'Have you served the Lord and have been so enthusiastic about telling others about Jesus? Have you been so excited about the Lord?' What about now? Is that enthusiasm and excitement for the Lord still there or are your circumstances filling you with despair and doubt about what you believed in and stood for?

If you are in despair and doubt, remember that Jesus will not abandon you. He will reach out to you just as he reached out to John the Baptist. Oh Yes, He will! When you feel down and in despair, remember all that the Lord Jesus has done in your life and in the lives of others this Christmas season. Let His Word lift you up and no words of despair and discouragement.

Jesus does not ignore John for his doubts but reaches out to him with evidence and later also praises him for all that he did in serving Jesus. (rf Luke 7:24-28)

Jesus reaches out to you too and will not forget what you have done for Him. In your circumstances that are filling you with doubt and despair, come to the Lord and stand upon His Word and promises.

May you find the peace and joy in the Lord this Christmas season now and forever and blessed are those who do not fall away on account of Jesus!

We will all face trials and tribulations (rf: James 1:2-4) but the important thing is what do we do with those trials and tribulations?

God loves you my friend and it may be hard to face what you are going through. The Lord suffers with you and knows your pain. Lean on Him.

The Angel Gabriel never left Mary until her doubts were appeased. The Lord will place people in your own lives to help you with your doubts. Rest in the Lord. Maybe the Lord has sent you to answer someone’s questions and appease their doubts. You are placed at such a time as this. Use that opportunity for the glory of the Lord and do not give up on the person you are trying to reach out to. Remember, it is the Lord who works in you to accomplish His purpose. Don’t give up but keep reaching out.

May you trust the Savior knowing despair occurs unless believe the Savior! Amen!

"Despair Occurs Unless Believe The Savior!" (D.O.U.B.T.S)/"What does God do with your doubts in life?"

Prayer:
Oh Father God, we come before you now. Thank you so much Father God for your Son Jesus Christ, for sending Him into this world to rescue sinners like me. Oh Lord Jesus, thank you so much for being with me through trials and tribulations. Even in my doubts you never left me and kept to your promises. Oh Lord I thank you for loving us so much. Your Word shows us that trials and tribulations are a part of life but you will be with us. You want us to remember all that you have done for us when we are filled with despair. You want us to trust in you in our doubts and we do that Oh Lord. I thank you Lord for reaching out to Mary and John the Baptist in their time of despair and doubt. Thank you for reaching out to us too. You don't leave us but help us. Oh Lord, I pray for the one right now who is filled with so many doubts about what you want them to do, what they should be doing, if what they are hoping for will ever come true soon, but I know Lord when they belong to you, you will take care of all their desires even as you take care of my own desires. Help Lord Jesus. It is so awesome to know what a God you are and you never abandon us. Thanks for this Christmas seasons and to know who you are and what you came to do for me my Jesus, My Lord, and My Savior. I am so sorry for my sins and ask you to forgive me and rescue me. Thank you for doing that I can wait upon you in my doubts for you will answer.  So, light the fire in my heart again Oh Lord and fan the flame. Make me whole Oh Lord. You know Oh Lord where I have been and I need you. Light the fire that once burned so bright for you. I thank you Jesus. I give myself to you and rest in you Lord. I rest in your love and care. Give me an undivided heart that I may praise your Name. Let this Christmas season be filled with joy because of you in my life instead of focusing on what I don't have or doubts. Thank you so much Jesus you will take care of me. Thank you for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name We Pray Jesus! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!