Fulfillment Of A Promise

FULFILLMENT OF A PROMISE

LUKE 2:1-7

AS WONDERFUL

FORETELLING OF A PROMISE

FAVORED (HIGHLY FAVORED)

FILLED

NO FEELING – FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE

MOTHER . . .

DON’T HAVE TO BE A MOTHER . . .

THAT’S WHERE I AM –

SHOUTED OVER THE FORETELLING

. . . FAVORED

. . . FILLED

READY TO WALK IN THE MAIFESTATION/FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE

THAT’S WHERE WE ARE – TEXT

LUKE 2:1-3 . . . TAX SEASON . . .

DON’T OVERLOOK

DON’T DOWNPLAY

DON’T MISREAD – YOUR TAXING SEASON . . . OFTEN TIMES YOUR BLESSING IS TIED TO YOUR TAXING.

THAT’S WHY, WHILE SOME PEOPLE – DISMAYED, DISCOURAGED, DISCOMBOBILATED AT TAX SEASON – SHOUT (THERE’S A BLESSING IN MY TAXING!).

V.4 (READ)

MARY – NAZARETH

JOSEPH – NAZARETH – MISERY/PAIN – BETHLEHEM (HOUSE OF GOD).

JOHN 6:35 - "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE: HE THAT COMETH TO ME SHALL NEVER HUNGER; AND HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME SHALL NEVER THIRST." THUS GOD CHOSE BETHLEHEM "THE HOUSE OF BREAD" AS A PROPER SETTING TO SHOWCASE JESUS WHO WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF HUNGER STRICKEN AND THIRSTY SOULS.

SUGGEST – GOD IS CALLING, ORCHESTRATING, AND SITUATING HIS PEOPLE . . .

TRADITION STATES JOSEPH AND MARY TRAVELED A HARD SIXTY-SEVENTY MILES PERHAPS ON A DONKEY OR EITHER THEY WALKED MOST OF THE FOUR DAY JOURNEY. EITHER WAY, MARY’S TIRED AND FEELING PAINS OF LABOR. WHILE LOOKING FOR A RITZ CARLTON OR AT LEAST A TRAVELODGE, MARY AND JOSEPH ARE CONFRONTED WITH THE REALITY THAT THERE IS NO LODGING AVAILABLE.

V.6 – WHILE THEY WERE DISCUSSING SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS, RIGHT THERE IN BETHLEHEM, MARY’S WATER BROKE. HAVING TO THINK QUICKLY, JOSEPH SPOTS AN OWNER OF A FARMLAND, AND SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATES A ROOM IN THE INN. MARY MUST GIVE BIRTH TO THE MESSIAH IN A DARK, SMELLY, ANIMAL STALL. MARY HAS TO PONDER THE THOUGHT AM I NOT THE LORD’S SERVANT. DID I NOT STATE I WAS WILLING TO ACCEPT WHATEVER GOD WANTED? SILENTLY, SHE PONDERS THE THOUGHT THIS IS NOT HOW I DREAMED IT WOULD BE GIVNG BIRTH TO THE MESSIAH?” HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE MARY, WHERE YOU KNOW YOU’VE BEEN CALLED BY GOD, YOU ARE EXCITED THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE USED BY GOD. YOU HAVE VISIONS OF A SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY, RELATIONSHIP, OR BUSINESS, BUT THINGS DON’T GO THE WAY YOU PLANNED AND NOW YOU BEGIN TO QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE IN GOD’S WILL.

WELL, IF YOU’RE HONEST ENOUGH TO ADMIT – CAMPED OUT ON BROKE UP AND SHOOK UP AVENUE, I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.

V.6B (READ) – IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INCOMPLETENESS OF MARY’S LIFE, MINISTRY, AND MISSION. IN THE MIDST OF THE INCOMPLETENESS OF TRYING TO SECURE A PRIVATE HOSPITAL ROOM IN THE COZY MATERNITY WARD OF ST. JUDE OF BETHLEHEM. IT WAS IN THE MIDST OF THE INCOMPLETENESS OF THE CERTAINTY OF HER FUTURE WITH JOSEPH . . . THAT GOD STEPPED IN AND DECLARED ENOUGH – ENOUGH. . .

GOOD NEWS – NOW IS THE TIME

BLESS YOU – MESS

V.7 – FIRSTBORN . . .

V.7B – WRAPPED HIM – SWADDLING CLOTHES . . .

READY!!!