Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Part 1
In the time of Herod king of Judea there In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron…descendant of Aaron…
……Both of them were upright in the sight Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years…were both well along in years…
Once when Zechariah's division was on duty Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside…assembled worshipers were praying outside…
……Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped him, he was startled and was gripped with fear…with fear…
……But the angel said to him: "Do not be But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been your prayer has been heardheard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you . Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight John. He will be a joy and delight to youto you, , and and many will rejoice many will rejoice because of his because of his birth…birth…
……for he will be great in the sight of the for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be fermented drink, and he will be filled filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God…bring back to the Lord their God…
……And he will go on before the Lord, in the And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous- the righteous- to make ready a people to make ready a people prepared for the Lord…"prepared for the Lord…"
……Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years…"wife is well along in years…"
……The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true believe my words, which will come true at their proper time…"at their proper time…"
……When his time of service was completed, When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. "The Lord months remained in seclusion. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has these days he has shown his favorshown his favor and and taken away my taken away my disgracedisgrace among the among the people"people"
Why did God let Elizabeth stay barren for Why did God let Elizabeth stay barren for almost her whole life?almost her whole life?
Why did God let Elizabeth stay barren for Why did God let Elizabeth stay barren for almost her whole life?almost her whole life?
Infertility is not a punishment. Jesus died Infertility is not a punishment. Jesus died for for allall sins sins
Under God, even lack and disgrace can Under God, even lack and disgrace can have value and meaning beyond what have value and meaning beyond what we can envisionwe can envision
In the In the sixth monthsixth month, God sent the angel , God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly you who are highly favoredfavored! The Lord is ! The Lord is with you…”with you…”
Mary:Mary:
• Illiterate, Poor, Living in Hick TownIlliterate, Poor, Living in Hick Town
• 14 or 15 Years Old14 or 15 Years Old
• BetrothedBetrothed
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might wondered what kind of greeting this might be. be.
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found Mary, you have found favorfavor with God. You with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus… and you are to give him the name Jesus…
……He will be great and will be called the He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end…”end…”
““You’re gonna give birth to a King, the You’re gonna give birth to a King, the Son of the living God, the fulfillment of Son of the living God, the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament prophets”all of the Old Testament prophets”
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?”"since I am a virgin?”
……The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God… the Son of God…
……Even Elizabeth your relative is going to Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For month. For nothing is impossible with nothing is impossible with GodGod…"…"
The choice:The choice:
• Ask for God to pick someone elseAsk for God to pick someone else
• Accept God’s plan and sacrifice her futureAccept God’s plan and sacrifice her future
• DisgraceDisgrace• Loss of Joseph/DivorceLoss of Joseph/Divorce• Life of PovertyLife of Poverty
Why would God choose Mary- knowing Why would God choose Mary- knowing what this could cost her?what this could cost her?
Mary’s AnswerMary’s Answer::
"I am the "I am the Lord's servantLord's servant," Mary answered. ," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her- Luke 1:5-20, 23-Then the angel left her- Luke 1:5-20, 23-3838
Mary’s AnswerMary’s Answer::
"I am the "I am the Lord's servantLord's servant," Mary answered. ," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her- Luke 1:5-20, 23-Then the angel left her- Luke 1:5-20, 23-3838
How I see myself determines how I How I see myself determines how I handle God’s call on my lifehandle God’s call on my life
How is she feeling?How is she feeling?
What does she have to do now?What does she have to do now?
• ScaredScared• AloneAlone• PregnantPregnant
She does an ultra-marathon!She does an ultra-marathon!
At that time Mary got ready and hurried At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth…and greeted Elizabeth…
2 Pregnancies2 Pregnancies::
• ““God has taken away my disgrace!”God has taken away my disgrace!”– JoyJoy– WonderWonder– Laughing!Laughing!
2 Pregnancies2 Pregnancies::• ““God has taken away my disgrace!”God has taken away my disgrace!”– JoyJoy– WonderWonder– Laughing!Laughing!
• ““God has disgraced me”God has disgraced me”– DoubtsDoubts– RegretRegret– Pain and LossPain and Loss
It has always been God’s will that those who It has always been God’s will that those who have been shown have been shown gracegrace (Elizabeth) would (Elizabeth) would give it away to those who need it (Mary)give it away to those who need it (Mary)
God...comforts us in all our troubles, God...comforts us in all our troubles, so that so that we we can comfort those in any trouble with the can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from comfort we ourselves have received from God- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4God- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
I will bless you; I will make your name great, I will bless you; I will make your name great, so so thatthat you may be a blessing- Genesis 12:2 you may be a blessing- Genesis 12:2
From everyone who has been given much, From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked- Luke 12:48more will be asked- Luke 12:48
Sheep and GoatsSheep and Goats
The The scandalscandal of Christmas is that those of of Christmas is that those of us who have been given so much us who have been given so much agonize over which gifts to give (and agonize over which gifts to give (and get!) while others worry about their get!) while others worry about their next mealnext meal
God’s plan has always been to bless the God’s plan has always been to bless the needy through the work of his peopleneedy through the work of his people
Religion that God our Father accepts as Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress orphans and widows in their distress and to and to keep oneself from being polluted keep oneself from being polluted by the worldby the world- James 1:27- James 1:27
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses- Proverbs 28:27curses- Proverbs 28:27
There will always be poor people in the land. There will always be poor people in the land. ThereforeTherefore I command you to I command you to be openhanded be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land- Deuteronomy 15:11and needy in your land- Deuteronomy 15:11
Christ gave up everything to enter the Christ gave up everything to enter the world as a baby born to a poor family so world as a baby born to a poor family so that he might bless that he might bless everyoneeveryone
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the why am I so favored, that the mother of my mother of my LordLord should come to me…? should come to me…?
……As soon as the sound of your greeting As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”- Luke 1:39-45her will be accomplished!”- Luke 1:39-45
Elizabeth, in the grace God has given, is Elizabeth, in the grace God has given, is filled with the Spirit and confirms God’s filled with the Spirit and confirms God’s grace to Marygrace to Mary
And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”Savior…”
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three monthsthree months and then returned home- and then returned home- Luke 1:46, 56Luke 1:46, 56
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was came together, she was found found to be to be with child through the Holy Spirit… with child through the Holy Spirit…
The conversation doesn’t go so well…The conversation doesn’t go so well…
Because Joseph her husband was a Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to mind to divorce her divorce her quietly…quietly…
……But after he had considered this, an angel But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit…the Holy Spirit…
……She will give birth to a son, and you are to She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins…"save his people from their sins…"
……All this took place All this took place to fulfill to fulfill what the Lord what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, "God with us…”which means, "God with us…”
SovereigntySovereignty- Nothing takes God by surprise. - Nothing takes God by surprise. Nothing prevents God from Nothing prevents God from accomplishing his ultimate willaccomplishing his ultimate will
SovereigntySovereignty
• There are no “Plan B” livesThere are no “Plan B” lives
• God’s desires will be accomplished. The only God’s desires will be accomplished. The only question is whether I will get in on the question is whether I will get in on the blessingblessing
……When Joseph woke up, he did what the When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus- Matthew 1:19-24Jesus- Matthew 1:19-24
Joseph agrees to public shame and Joseph agrees to public shame and humiliationhumiliation
Following God is not about reputation, but Following God is not about reputation, but charactercharacter
““I am the Lord’s servant”- MaryI am the Lord’s servant”- Mary
I can find my approval in the crowd or in I can find my approval in the crowd or in my God- but not bothmy God- but not both
TakeawaysTakeaways::
My identity determines my response to My identity determines my response to God’s call on my life. Is my identity found God’s call on my life. Is my identity found in Christ? in Christ?
TakeawaysTakeaways::
If God called me to follow in a way that If God called me to follow in a way that meant public shame, would I? Why or meant public shame, would I? Why or why not?why not?
TakeawaysTakeaways::
What evidences of grace have I been given? What evidences of grace have I been given? How am I giving that grace away to those How am I giving that grace away to those in need of it?in need of it?
