Believing God for Mighty Things | He Will Be Called: Part 2

Summary

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Life.Church with Craig Groeschel

Episode: Believing God for Mighty Things | He Will Be Called: Part 2
Date: December 14, 2025
Pastor: Robert Madu

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on the power of believing God for mighty and seemingly impossible things, especially in seasons of waiting and contradiction. Pastor Robert Madu unpacks the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, parents of John the Baptist, exploring how their faithfulness intersects with God’s faithfulness—even when circumstances don’t match God’s promises. The message challenges listeners to move from doubt to faith and to respond to God’s word with trust, like Mary, rather than skepticism, like Zechariah.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power and Test of Consistency (01:28–04:57)

• Opening Reflection: Pastor Robert shares a humorous story about his parents’ 42-year marriage, connecting it to faithfulness and God’s possibilities (01:28).
• Zechariah and Elizabeth’s Example: Luke’s gospel begins the Christmas narrative not with Mary and Joseph, but with the faithful older couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth—highlighting consistent, long-term faithfulness over momentary intensity.
• Quote:
  • “I love people that have consistency, consistency, Life. Church fam. I gotta tell you, I'm not impressed with the couple at the restaurant... Give me that elderly couple, still in the 80s... I love consistent, faithful people.” (04:02)

2. God's Promises vs. Present Circumstances (06:01–08:03)

• Contradiction of Names and Reality: The names “Zechariah” (God remembers) and “Elizabeth” (His oath) collectively mean “God remembers his promise,” yet their circumstances—being childless—directly contradict this declaration.
• Cultural Context: In biblical times, barrenness was severely stigmatized, sometimes seen as punishment for sin.
• Encouragement: Pastor Robert challenges listeners to live by God’s declarations, not the world’s whispers, even when reality seems to oppose God’s promises.

3. God Moves in the Ordinary (08:10–09:41)

• Divine Interruption on an Ordinary Day: Zechariah is chosen by lot to serve in the temple—a rare honor among 20,000 priests. A seemingly regular day becomes extraordinary when Gabriel the angel appears.
• Quote:
  • “I have found that God will be mighty often in the ordinary.” (08:10)

4. Our Response to Disappointment and the Promise (10:19–12:48)

• Zechariah’s Doubt: Despite angelic visitation, Zechariah responds with skepticism: “How can I be sure this is going to come to pass?” (11:11)
• Spiritual Age vs. Chronological Age: Pastor Robert discusses how disappointment and cynicism can age us spiritually, regardless of our physical age.
• Quote:
  • “You know you're old in spirit when you no longer believe God is able to do the impossible... I am convinced that there are some old people that are young and there are some young people that are old.” (11:52)

5. Childlike Wonder vs. Childishness (12:48–14:45)

• Contrasting Attitudes: Jesus calls believers to faith like a child—wondering, wowed by God’s power—not childishness, which expects much but gives little.
• Quote:
  • “Childish is immaturity. Expect everything, give nothing. Childlike is the faith-filled wonder to believe that a mighty God can still do the impossible.” (14:13)

6. Mary vs. Zechariah: How We Respond to God’s Word (14:45–17:13)

• Two Encounters, Different Responses: Both Zechariah and Mary question Gabriel. Zechariah asks for proof; Mary seeks understanding.
• Outcomes: Zechariah is silenced; Mary receives further explanation.
• Application: Pastor Robert urges us to model Mary’s “Let it be to me, according to your word” response, trusting in God’s ability even when we don’t know the details.
• Quote:
  • “When God gives you a promise, don't let doubt be the first thing to come out of your mouth, because God often will have to silence the doubt, even when it comes from you.” (16:27)

7. God Moves—But We Must Move, Too (17:13–18:33)

• God’s Part & Our Part: The miracle is not just God’s doing; human participation is needed. Zechariah must act in faith for Elizabeth to conceive.
• Modern Parallel: We ask God for jobs, but must also fill out the application.
• Quote:
  • “Some of you are waiting on a mighty God to move, but actually, he's waiting on you to do your part.” (18:33)

8. Importance of Faith Community (19:04–19:56)

• Mary and Elizabeth: Their connection illustrates the power of mutual encouragement in believing God for big things.
• Finding Support: Get around others who will affirm, not diminish, your faith.
• Quote:
  • “You need some friends that when you say halle, they say luya.” (19:47)

9. Testimony: Pastor Robert’s Ministry Experience (21:18–21:31)

• Personal Example: Pastor Robert shares how his Dallas church’s journey to securing a building has tested and strengthened his faith that “God can do it,” echoing the message’s theme.

10. Completing the Promise: From Doubt to Faith (22:35–24:14)

• Naming John: Zechariah regains his voice and praises God only when he aligns his words with God’s will.
• Encouragement: Respond to God’s promise with praise, even while waiting for fulfillment.
• Quote:
  • “Just say, let it be to me according to your word, and then start praising until God brings it to pass.” (23:39)

11. Closing Call to Faith (24:14–25:04)

• Encouraging the Church: Pastor Robert concludes by calling listeners to have a “Merry Christmas”—that is, to respond, “Let it be to me according to your word,” confident that God is mighty even when life looks contradictory.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Faithfulness:
  • “Anybody can show up and be faithful for a day. I love people that can be faithful for a decade.” (03:00)
• On the Power of Consistency:
  • “There's something about consistency that gives God an opportunity to show you how mighty he is in your life.” (04:44)
• On Facing Contradiction:
  • “What do you do when your circumstance is contradictory to what God calls you?” (06:01)
• On Spiritual Attitude:
  • “How old are you in your faith to believe that God can do the impossible because he's mighty?” (12:48)
• On Our Response to God:
  • “When God gives you a promise, don't let doubt be the first thing to come out of your mouth.” (16:27)
• On Action & Faith:
  • “He can give you the jobs. You gotta fill out the application. Come on. He can open the door, but you got to take a step and walk through it.” (18:33)

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Important Timestamps

• Consistent Faithfulness & Zechariah/Elizabeth Introduced: 01:26–04:44
• Living With Contradiction: 06:01–08:03
• God Moves in the Ordinary: 08:10–09:41
• Zechariah’s Disappointment and Doubt: 10:19–12:48
• The Need for Childlike Faith: 12:48–14:45
• Mary vs. Zechariah: 14:45–17:13
• God’s Part and Our Part: 17:13–18:33
• The Power of Faith Community: 19:04–19:56
• Personal Testimony from Pastor Robert: 21:18–21:31
• Zechariah’s Transformation & Praise: 22:35–24:14
• Final Encouragement—Respond in Faith: 24:14–25:04

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Tone and Language

The message is engaging, warm, and humorous, filled with relatable stories, lively audience interaction, and energetic encouragement. Pastor Robert speaks with authenticity, vulnerability, and a clear biblical focus, often using playful language and memorable, rhythmic phrases (“halle-luya,” “let it be to me, according to your word,” “merry Christmas” as a double meaning).

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Summary for New Listeners

If you haven’t heard this episode, you’ll walk away with a deep, practical understanding of what it means to believe God for mighty things—even when life seems to suggest otherwise. Through the powerful story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, paralleled with Mary, Pastor Robert Madu encourages listeners to cultivate faith that is steadfast, childlike, and active. The message is a timely reminder—especially in the Christmas season—that God is still mighty, still working, and still worthy of our trust. Respond to His promises not with doubt, but with an open, expectant heart.

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Transcript

[Life Church Announcer]

Welcome to Life Church. We're so glad you're here. Christmas is coming soon, and you're invited to celebrate at Life Church. Jesus came with a message of peace this Christmas. Come and see what that means for you. You can find service times and get a sneak peek of what you'll experience at Life Church. CelebrateChristmas. Now, here's this week's message.

[Pastor Robert]

My father is here with me today. And last week, he and my mother celebrated 42 years of marriage. 42 years. 42 years since the day my Nigerian father walked in the library on the collegiate campus of Texas A and M to my mom and said to her, excuse me, are you Nigerian? To which my American mom said, no, I'm not. Whatever it did, it worked. And here they are, 42 years, still going strong. And because I am not only their firstborn child, but their favorite child, I blessed them with a trip for their anniversary. I said, I want y' all to go on a trip, have a good time, relax, enjoy the spa. I mean, just have fun. But then I said, but don't have too much fun. Amen. Don't have too much fun because I am not trying to have another sibling. I'm too old for that. My mom immediately started laughing. I said, no, I'm serious, okay? I need y' all to help me watch my kids.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

I can't be helping you watch yours.

[Pastor Robert]

Then my mom decided to looked at me and said, boy, that is impossible. And when she said that it was impossible, it reminded me that although my mom is faith filled and an amazing woman of God, she is unfamiliar with Luke chapter one and what happened there. And especially verse 37 that says, nothing is impossible with our God. Life, Church fam. I think we forget that when Luke. Luke puts pen to parchment and begins to describe in great detail and accuracy the birth of Jesus Christ, a birth that would change the world forever. He does not begin by discussing a virgin named Mary or her fiance. Or her fiance, Joseph. No, no, no. Luke begins with an old couple. He decides to start with this senior citizen couple that has some gray hair coming in, has their JARP card. Yeah. Jerusalem association of Retired.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

He begins his gospel talking about two.

[Pastor Robert]

People, Zechariah and Elizabeth, who had been faithful to the call of God and thought that it was too late for God to come through on his promise. Look at Luke the doctor in great detail, letting us know that the angel Gabriel's first cameo appearance in the Christmas story was not to Mary. It was actually to Zechariah, a priest that was serving in the temple. Now I know every single Christmas, Mary and Joseph get all the shine. They get all the shine. And they should, as the young people say, they've got main character energy. Oh, yes. They should get their due diligence. They're awesome. But I love that Luke does not begin with Mary and Joseph. He said, I don't want to start with the young couple that went viral. I want to start with the old couple that was faithful. Ooh. The old couple that kept showing up. The old couple that God says was righteous and blameless in his sight. They were righteous, they were blameless. Doesn't mean they were perfect. It does mean that they were consistent. They had consistency. Ooh, I love people that are consistent. I love consistency. The older I get, the less I'm impressed with people that have intensity. Get out of here with your intensity. Anybody can show up and be faithful for a day. I love people that can be faithful for a decade. I love people that have consistency, consistency, Life.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Church fam. I gotta tell you, I'm not impressed.

[Pastor Robert]

With the couple at the restaurant. They've been married three months all over each other. Nah, get outta here. Give me that elderly couple, still in the 80s. Takes a long time just to get to the table. And they sit there and they're sitting across from each other. Don't say anything. Cause they said it all and they're just looking at each other. Oh, I love consistent, faithful people. I'm not impressed with the guy in the gym with his shirt off, bench pressing 300 pounds, making all that noise.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

No.

[Pastor Robert]

Give me the older guy in the corner, got his shirt tucked into his sweatpants, just has the bar.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Just faithful. There's something about consistency.

[Pastor Robert]

Zechariah and Elizabeth, they were consistent. And let me tell you, the power of consistency. There's something about consistency that gives God an opportunity to show you how mighty he is in your life.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Oh, to be sure, God can show.

[Pastor Robert]

His might in a minute, he can show his might in a moment. But there's something about him showing his might. When you've got some mileage, when you can look back over the years and say, you were faithful then and you've been faithful now. That's why he said, I'm the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I've been mighty a long time. I will not fail you. I am a mighty God. I love it. Zachariah and Elizabeth were consistent. They were faithful. Zach and Liz. I love him. I love it. I love it. Because Zachariah's name translates to mean God remembers Elizabeth's name. Translates to mean his oath. So you put them together. God remembers his oath. God remembers his promise. Every time they walked into a room, they were declaring, God remembers his promise. Every time they went to a holiday party, they said, oh, here comes. God remembers his promise.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Every time they went to get a.

[Pastor Robert]

Reservation party for two. Yes. What's the name? God remembers his promise. What's interesting is that their name, their declaration was contradictory to their circumstance because the Bible lets us know they're righteous, they're blameless, but they're also childless. They don't have. What do you do when your circumstance is contradictory to what God calls you? What do you do when God declares something over your life but the reality of your circumstance doesn't show what he declared over your life? Have you ever been there before where God declares you're blessed, but you're looking at your bank account going, how am I blessed when I got more bills than I got income? How am I blessed when I don't have enough to even provide gifts for my family this holiday season? What do you do when your circumstance is contradictory to what God is calling you? God, you say that I can have peace, but where is that peace? Because I'm feeling worry and anxiety. God, you're saying that I'm favored, but right now I feel forgotten. What do you do? This is exactly where Zechariah and Elizabeth were their names, where God remembers his promise, but they had yet to hold that promise their hand. Understand, in biblical days, to be barren was not just something that was painful, it was something that was shaming. You understand, in that culture, they would have thought that there was some secret sin in their life, that there was something that they did that would preclude them from having children. There would have been whispers in the hallways going, I wonder what Zachariah did. I wonder why Elizabeth wasn't faithful. And maybe that's why they can't have any children. Isn't it interesting? That would have been the whispers, but yet God said, no, you're righteous in my sight. This is why you can never live on the whispers and opinions of other people. You have to know what God has said about you.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Oh, if God says you're blessed, you're blessed. If God says you're a victor and not a victim, you are a victor.

[Pastor Robert]

You are what God says about you. Here they are. Their circumstance is not lining up with what God has called them. And all of a sudden, one day, one seemingly ordinary day, they start casting lots for who's going to serve in the temple that day. And Zachariah's name gets called, y'. All. It was just a normal day. It was an ordinary day. I have found that God will be mighty often in the ordinary. Just a normal day. There was no sign that day. Oh, something big is about to happen. It was just a normal day. His name gets called. Oh, I take that back. Actually, it was a big deal. Historians tell us there were approximately 20,000 priests serving at that time. 20,000. So for his name to get called, come on, that's like winning the lottery. But I'm sure Zachariah was like, ah, just another day. Just gotta go light some incense here in the temple. Can you see em walking in on that day? Nothing's gonna happen. This is just ordinary. And as he's there preparing the incense, thinking, this is an ordinary day.

[Worship Leader or Service Host]

Oh, Lord.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

An angel shows up out of nowhere, y'.

[Pastor Robert]

All.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Can you imagine? He probably had a heart attack. Said, what in the world is going on?

[Worship Leader or Service Host]

Come on.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

I can't imagine just an angel showing up out of nowhere, y'.

[Pastor Robert]

All. I get scared when my kids just.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Come in the room at night.

[Pastor Robert]

You know how they do.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

They don't say anything.

[Pastor Robert]

They just stand there.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

And you just see that silhouette. Ah, what are you doing? Say something. I want some water. Go to bed. Can you imagine an angel showing up out of nowhere? No wonder every angel had the same script.

[Pastor Robert]

Don't be afraid.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Stop showing up unannounced. Zachariah probably had a heart attack. Said, what in the world are you doing?

[Pastor Robert]

And here comes Gabriel with the announcement. Zechariah, your prayer has been heard. Not your prayers. Your prayer. The one that you keep bringing to God over and over again. The one that you have buried now. The one that you think, oh, there's no way that can come to pass now because it didn't come through on my timetable. God heard it. And you're about to give birth to a son. His name's gonna be John. What would have been your reaction?

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

I would have said, oh, hallelujah.

[Pastor Robert]

I would have done the Holy Ghost.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Two step, thank you, Jesus, not Zechariah.

[Pastor Robert]

Here's his response to an angel.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

How can I be sure.

[Pastor Robert]

This is going to come to pass? You laugh, but we allow disappointment to do the same thing to us. God, how are you gonna bless me in this season of life? God, how is this gonna be a good year?

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

You should have done it in January. The year's almost over now.

[Pastor Robert]

And when Zechariah said that, it revealed how disappointment had aged him. Zachariah was old, not Just in age. I found out he was old in spirit. He was old in spirit by what he said.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

How can that be?

[Pastor Robert]

You know you're old in spirit when you no longer believe God is able to do the impossible. I am convinced that there are some old people that are young and there are some young people that are old. Matter of fact, let's just find out where they are. All the old people across every location, make some noise. All the young people, make some noise.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Some of you don't know which category you're in. And that's the way it's supposed to be.

[Pastor Robert]

Because I have met some people who are young in their age, but when it comes to their faith and their spirit, old critics, cynics, yeah.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Seen it, heard this before, been there, done that.

[Pastor Robert]

And I have met some people who are old in their age, but they.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Are young in their faith, and they believe God can do the impossible and that he can do the exceedingly, abundantly. Above all you could ask, think or imagine. Cause they got history with God. They saw him show up in the 60s, in the 70s, and they know.

[Pastor Robert]

He can show up today. So I want to know, how old are you? I'm not talking about your age chronologically. I'm talking about faithologically. I just made that word up. How old are you in your faith to believe that God can do the impossible because he's mighty? Do you know how hard it is to keep that childlike wonder to believe that anything is possible, especially in this critical age in which we live? When was the last time you really believed that God could do the impossible? This is what I love about this Christmas holiday season, is that young people believe anything is possible. Kids believe anything can happen.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

They're excited about everything. The elf moved again. Be like, yeah, that's what he does.

[Pastor Robert]

Have you lost your childlike wonder? It's interesting. In the Gospels, Jesus says, you can't even enter into the kingdom until you become like a child. You have to have that childlike wonderful where you go, I believe you can do anything. When was the last time you said, wow, God can do it. When's the last time you said, wow? When's the last time you said it backwards? It's interesting. Jesus says that you can't enter the kingdom unless you become like a child. But then Paul says, when I was a child, I thought like a child. I spoke like a child, I understood like a child. But when I became older, I put away childish things. So then that confused me. I said, which one is it? Jesus says, you Gotta be like a child to enter the kingdom of God. Paul says, put away childish things. Which one is it? Then I realized there's a difference between being childlike and childish. Childish is immaturity. Expect everything, give nothing. Childlike is the faith filled wonder to believe that a mighty God can still do the impossible.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Zechariah.

[Pastor Robert]

He lost the wonder. He's talking to an angel and doesn't believe the word of God will come to pass. So Gabriel goes, oh, you don't believe? All right, I'm gonna put you on mute, and you won't say anything until the word of God comes to pass. I'm gonna make you watch God work. And he had to watch God work. It's interesting to juxtapose Zachariah's experience with Gabriel and Mary's experience with Gabriel, because the angel comes to Mary and says, guess what, Mary, you got favor. You're going to give birth to the son of the living God. And at surface level, I thought she said the same thing Zechariah did. How's this going to happen? And then angel says, guess what? The Holy Spirit is going to overshadow you. And then I started reading that.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

I said, oh, hold on now.

[Pastor Robert]

Zachariah said the same thing. His mouth gets mute.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Mary says it, mm, mm. And she gets explanation. That's not fair, Gabriel. That is gender discrimination.

[Worship Leader or Service Host]

I don't like that.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

How come. How come Mary doesn't go mute?

[Pastor Robert]

But then I started digging deeper because Zechariah said, how can I be sure? Mary said, how will this? Zachariah was asking for certainty. Mary was not asking for certainty. She knew God could do it. She was just asking for more clarity.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

She had the faith to believe God could do it. She was just saying, hey, I'm just trying to figure out how, because I don't know Joseph like that, but I believe he can do it. But Zachariah was like, I don't know.

[Pastor Robert]

Prove it. And that's why Mary got an explanation. And all of a sudden, Zachariah gets his mouth mute. And look at the faithfulness of God. I don't know who this message is for today, but I need you to respond to the promises of God like Mary and not Zachariah. When God gives you a promise, don't let doubt be the first thing to come out of your mouth, because God often will have to silence the doubt, even when it comes from you. So we put Zachariah on mute. I'm encouraging you in this message today to respond like Mary. Mary said, let it be to me, according to your word. In other words, I don't know how.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

You'Re going to do it, but I believe that you can do it because.

[Pastor Robert]

You'Re a mighty God.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Come on. Is there anybody that believes our God is still able to do the miraculous? Oh, come on, you could do better than that. He's a mighty God.

[Pastor Robert]

His promises are true. Mary says, let it be to me, according to your word, receives the promise. I love the difference between the miracles because I think God is mighty and he does his work and he will do it. But sometimes you gotta do some work, too.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Someone's like, God, you're mighty, so you do it. Yeah, you gotta do your part, too.

[Pastor Robert]

See, Mary received the promise and she became pregnant. But I noticed that with Zechariah, the angel Gabriel does not go to Elizabeth, just goes to Zechariah. In other words, God did his part and opened up Elizabeth's womb. That means Zechariah had to go home and do his part. Oh, yeah.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

God did his part. I'm opening up Elizabeth's room.

[Pastor Robert]

Zechariah, you gotta go home and do your part. And look at how God set it up.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

He put his mouth on mute.

[Pastor Robert]

God is so good.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Can you see Zechariah coming home at.

[Pastor Robert]

Home, talking to Elizabeth?

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

And she's like, you are just.

[Pastor Robert]

You're just listening to me today.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

I just feel so connected to you. God set it up. He had to do his part. He had to go light some candles. He had to do his part. And some of you are waiting on a mighty God to move, but actually he's waiting on you to do your part. He can give you the jobs. You gotta fill out the application. Come on. He can open the door, but you got to take a step and walk through it. He can provide salvation. You got to invite the person into a presence and atmosphere to receive it. Are you doing your part?

[Pastor Robert]

I love that God says, zachariah, you going to have to do your part. And all of a sudden, look at Mary and Elizabeth. Both of them pregnant with a promise from God, a mighty God. Mary wasn't even expecting it. Elizabeth said, I was expecting it, but I thought it would be when I was younger. And I love when they met. The Bible says that all of a sudden within Elizabeth's womb, the baby leaped. I say that to say, you need to believe God for mighty things because he's a mighty God. But get some people around you that will believe God with you. You need some friends that when you say halle, they say luya.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

When you Tell them the promise of God.

[Pastor Robert]

They say, oh, I believe God can look at the connection between Mary and Elizabeth. Both of them were really alienated and ostracized, dealing with the whispers of other people. But they had each other to talk to. Can you see them having tea together? Can you believe we pregnant? Girl, I can't. I can see Elizabeth going, girl, I thought I was too old. And Mary's like, girl, I thought I was too virgin. But God is mighty. And there's Zachariah in the background, watching God work, watching God do the impossible. Have you put the promise of God on the shelf because it hasn't come to pass on your timetable? God sent me all the way from Dallas, Texas, to tell you that he is mighty and he is still able to bring his word to pass. Let it be to me according to your word. Don't be like Zachariah, who doubted God's ability. Be like Mary said, I don't know how, but I believe you can do it. Ooh. Can I tell you, this ain't something I'm just preaching. This is something I'm living right now. Our church in Dallas. God opened up an amazing door for us to acquire a property. We've been mobile for four years in.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

14 different venues, setting up, tearing down. And I was giving God praise when.

[Pastor Robert]

We got the miracle of the building.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

I was like, oh, God, you're awesome.

[Pastor Robert]

And then they're like, yeah, it's going to cost 30 million to make it a sanctuary.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

I was like, oh, that's.

[Pastor Robert]

That's a lot. Word. Here's my faith. He can do it. I don't know how he's going to do it, but I have faith to believe that he can. Why? Because he's a mighty God. It's interesting. I want you to see this. All of a sudden, Elizabeth gives birth to John. That's what his name had to be called. Can you look at this? It says, when it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father, Zechariah. But his mother spoke up and said, no. Shout out to the mamas. His name is to be called John. They said to her, they? There's always a they. There's no one among your relatives that has that name. Have you ever experienced that? The promise of God? And here comes a naysayer.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Well, that's never happened in your family before. You've never had a marriage in your family stay together. You've never had anybody get free from.

[Pastor Robert]

Alcohol in your family.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

I've never seen that happen before.

[Pastor Robert]

It doesn't matter if you've never seen it.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

I serve a mighty God who is able to do things that eyes have not seen, ears have not heard. Neither has it entered into the heart of man the things God has already prepared. Who cares if it doesn't run in your family? God can do something new through you. He said to her, no one among your relatives has that name.

[Pastor Robert]

So they made signs to his father, Zechariah, to find out what he would like to name the child. Look at this. And he asked for an iPad writing tablet. And to everyone's astonishment, he wrote, his name is John. Immediately his mouth was open, his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. Watch this. He finally did what he should have done the day he got the word. He finally responded like Mary responded. Mary got it immediately.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

Let it be to me according to your word.

[Pastor Robert]

And then she just started praising God.

[Congregation Member or Co-Speaker]

It took old Zachariah a little bit, but at the end, he only wrote what God spoke and said, his name will be called John. And no wonder his mouth opened up then. So then he began to praise God because that's the response to a promise from God. Just say, let it be to me according to your word, and then start praising until God brings it to pass. Is there anybody in here that knows that God is mighty in the waiting? He's mighty even when you haven't seen it come to pass. He's mighty even when it seems like there's a contradiction between what you're called and what you are looking at.

[Pastor Robert]

He's still mighty. So my prayer for you, life, church, family, and anybody watching this message today is when you get a word from God and even when your circumstance is contradictory to what he's called, you be like Mary. Matter of fact, have a merry Christmas and say let it be to me according to your word. Because, God, you are mighty. And you're still able to meet me right where I am. And if you'll do that, you will see the power and the might of our God show up in your life. Amen. Amen. God bless you. Life, church, give God some praise for you.

[Worship Leader or Service Host]

All right, here's what I need. I need everybody to say, woo, woo. That's good preaching. You may even want to type that online. If you're really good. You can go, whoo. That's Good preaching. I don't do it right, but that's Pastor Robert, thank you for that word. And I just believe that right now God wants to do something in the lives of many people that walked in today and he experienced maybe an impossible situation. So let's pray. Father, we thank you that you're a mighty God. We thank you that all things are possible with you. So, Father, we just declare by faith that we know you're able. We believe that you're willing. And so, God, we ask you for miracles today at all of our different churches. I wonder how many of you, you're facing something and you need God. Maybe you need God for physical healing. Maybe you need God for provision. Maybe you need God to reconcile a relationship. Maybe you're praying for conception. Maybe you're praying for a mate. Maybe you're believing that God is going to show up and do what only he can. And we're gonna believe he is a miraculous God today at all of our churches. Those of you online that you have a need and you believe in the power of a mighty God to meet it today by faith, we're gonna ask him to do it. If you have the faith to believe that all things are possible with God, would you just lift your hands right now? You need the power of God in your life. You can type online. I need the power of a mighty God. I need the power of a mighty God. And God, we just declare that we believe that all things are possible with you. We pray, God for your provision. We pray for your healing. God, we pray for your presence. We pray for your comfort. God, we pray for your strength. God, wherever we are weak, we pray that you would meet that need and we would give you all the glory, God, believing that you hear our prayer, a singular prayer, God, that as we cry out to you, you hear the cries of your children. And God, we'll give you all the glory for all that you do. Believing that you hear our prayers, that we can come boldly before your throne of grace, God, and find help in our time of need. Holy Spirit, work, God, move in a way that only you can move. And God, as we believe for miracles, we believe that we'll see that the touch of your hand, the power of you at work, we're gonna give you all the praise for it. And many of you right now, there's a miracle that you're about to experience that is greater than any miracle than you could ever imagine. If we could just sit down and maybe have a conversation and I could ask you, where are you With God. Do you know that your eternity is secure? Do you have peace with God? If there's any hesitation, any hesitation at all, I believe that you're here by the divine purposes of God, that his spirit is reaching out to you, drawing you. His loving kindness is pulling you toward him. What did God do when we talk about the birth of Jesus? A virgin Mary who says, may it be done unto me. According to your word, she gave birth as a virgin. Jesus did not inherit the sin nature of an earthly father, but the divine nature of a heavenly father so that he could be all man and all God and be the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. So when Jesus went to the cross, he went to the cross as the Lamb of God who shed his blood so our sins could be forgiven. He died in our place for our sins. On the third day, God raised him from the dead so that anyone, and this is miraculous, including you. No matter what you've done, no matter how dark your life feels, no matter the shame, no matter the guilt, anyone who calls on the name of the Lord would be saved. There are those of you God brought here today. Today is the day of your salvation. At all of our churches, you recognize you're doing life without the presence of God. You don't know where you stand with God. You need the forgiveness of God. You need the power of God. We're gonna step away from our sin. The Bible calls it repentance. We're turning away from our sin. We're turning to the Son of God, the risen king of all kings, Jesus. If you don't know where you stand today, we're just gonna call on him. We're gonna pray. And the power of a mighty God is gonna forgive you and make you brand new. At all of our churches, you say, yes, that's me. I need his grace. I need his forgiveness. I want his peace. I want his promises. I wanna walk in his power. I need his salvation. Jesus, forgive me of my sins. Today, by faith, I make you first. You be the Lord of my life. That's your prayer. All of our churches, yes. Today I'm giving my life to Jesus. Jesus, be first. Be my Lord. That's your prayer? Lift your hands high right now, all of our churches and say, yes, today I give my life to you. We got people today at all of our churches saying, yes, Jesus, I surrender. You can type in the comment sect. I am surrendering my life to Jesus. And today, in the presence of a mighty God, let's all pray together. Pray. Heavenly Father, forgive me of my sins make me a new person fill me with the Holy Spirit so I could walk in your power so I could know your goodness so I could show your love. I need all of you your mercy, your grace, your presence your provision. My life is not my own I give it all to you. Thank you for forgiveness and salvation and new life. I give you all of mine In Jesus name I pray Church can we praise Almighty God Almighty God Almighty God everlasting Father Prince of Peace a wonderful counselor. His name is Jesus and we give him praise.

[Life Church Announcer]

We are celebrating with those of you who just made the decision to follow Jesus. Make sure you check out the show notes for helpful resources and next steps. One great next step is making plans to attend Christmas services at Life Church. You can find all the info you need including service times and locations at Life Church CelebrateChristmas. We'll see you back here next week for another encouraging message.