God's Grand Announcement

God’s Grand Announcement

Luke 1:26-38

December 1999

Introduction

I. Preparation of graduation announcements

A. Basic Preparation

We made a list of addresses for all of the people that we were going to invite. We ordered the right number of announcements so that we would have enough to send to everyone on the list. We got all of the envelopes ready to mail, placed postage on them and sent them out.

B. The message

The message of the announcements was very important to get just right. They told the person receiving the announcement what the event was, why the event was important, whom the event was for, where the event was located, when the event was scheduled to take place and how to get there. All of this was important to have others join your celebration.

II. Why do we use announcements?

A. They give direction

Announcements tell us where we need to go. They tell us when we need to be there. They help us to get to where we are going.

B. They give us a sense of belonging

Announcements link us together. Announcements tell us that we are special. Announcements tell us that we are wanted.

C. They give us purpose

Announcements remind us of whom we are in life. Announcements help us to know our own personal source of self-esteem. Announcements give us a short-term purpose.

D. They give us priority

Announcements reveal to us what is important. Announcements call us to make a clear decision.

E. God has given us an announcement

God wants you to have direction in life. God wants you to know that you belong with Him. God wants you to set your priorities around Him. God wants you to have purpose in your life.

READ TEXT

26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 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. 37 For nothing is impossible with God." 38 "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

I. An Announcement via Angel

A. God sent Gabriel to Mary

God was in the process of making an announcement

This required a set time

God has perfect timing in everything that He does in all of creation. He does the right thing at the right time and He is working in His time with Mary and Elizabeth. He is in the process of setting the stage for the ministry of Jesus and John. Gabriel has been sent during the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.

This required a set place

God does not work in a vacuum but rather He works in the course of human history through the lives of ordinary people. God enters into ordinary lives with a specific time and in a specific place. In this instance God sent Gabriel to Nazareth to deliver the announcement to Mary.

This required a set purpose

God has a purpose in everything that He does. God wants Mary to know the very special plan that he has for her life. So He sends Gabriel to Mary to offer this announcement but for what purpose? God sends Gabriel who is an angel. The Greek word for angel literally means messenger and God delivers His special messages through special means.

This required a set plan

God had a specific plan to redeem humanity from the effects and results of sin and God was using Mary as a part of that plan. God uses ordinary people to do the extraordinary and He was going to work through the lives of this Jewish couple to fulfill His purpose and plan for humanity.