Mary, Did You Know? Series

Mary,

Did You Know?

Luke 1:26-38

Impossibilies

are

Opportunities

Brilliantly Disguised!

Prepared for Bossier City First Church of God

December 12, 2004

Rev. Johnny Creasong, Pastor

Luke 1:26-38

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. (NIV)

What did Mary know about what was going to happen? NOTHING!

Why did God choose Mary for such an important task?

Mary had FOUND FAVOR with God! (verse 30)

How does this happen?

Genesis 6:8-9

“But Noah FOUND FAVOR

in the eyes of the LORD.

... Noah was a

RIGHTEOUS man, BLAMELESS among

the people of his time, and he WALKED with God.

(NIV)

You will be unable to say YES to the

BIG things God wants you to do

UNTIL

you say YES to the BASIC things God wants you to do!

Every life is built on some type of FOUNDATION

which determines the strength of the life!

1) The Angel CONFRONTED Mary.

(verses 26-29)

Confrontation by God will always be challenging and uncomfortable!

2) The Angel COMFORTED Mary.

(verse 30)

The things God asks us to do will never be within our reach

but always within our willingness!

3) The Angel told Mary God’s PLAN.

(verse 31-33)

The things God asks us to do will never be within our planning

but always within our permission.

4) Mary QUESTIONED the Angel.

(verse 34)

Impossibilities are opportunities brilliantly disguised!

5) The Angel ASSURED Mary.

(verse 35-37)

The things God asks us to do will always be accompanied

by His assurance!

6) Mary ACCEPTED the challenge.

(verse 38)

The things God asks us to do will never be within our ability

but always within our availability!