Mary is invited to trust
Luke 1:26-38
Introduction
- Today’s Message is titled, “Mary is invited to Trust”
- Advent is a wonderful time of year for all Christians to celebrate
-- However, there is something that gets lost in the hustle/bustle of the holiday
-- APP: It is what I want to focus these next few weeks on and learn from
- “advent” means: an appearance or an occurrence of something; a revealing
- “invitation” means: the action of inviting someone to go or to do something
- What’s critical for us to see in this study is simple (big idea up front)
-- Before someone can go see something … an invitation is always required
- Read Luke 1:26-38
∆ Point 1 – You are Highly Favored (v26-28)
- Mary receives the greatest news from one of God’s angels, Gabriel
-- Who is Gabriel? Gabriel is a messenger of the Lord (not an arch-angel)
-- He is not a warrior or one with supreme power/authority (myths/legends)
- Used in OT and NT to deliver news of an impending event/word from God
-- EX: He explained Daniel’s visions to Him; used here to foretell Jesus’ birth
- His words to Mary no doubt shocked her, but there is assurance given (v28)
-- God’s message to her is comfort; not shame/fear – but tenderness
-- Gabriel informs her that God has found favor with her … but why?
- IMP: Something to see here: God’s choices are ALWAYS deliberate
-- 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”
-- APP: God is constantly looking to use those who are committed to Him
- And so, God did not choose Mary by picking a name out of a hat
-- His choice in using her was for His purpose; which Gabriel announces
-- (v28) “… YOU who are highly favored” is a decree and pronouncement
-- It is you, Mary, that I will use for my purpose … and in that there is comfort
- Challenge:
1. When God impresses on your heart to do something; how do you react?
2. Do you submit to Him because of all that He has done -- or do we shy away?
- TRANS: We see that initially, Mary was obviously very troubled but …
∆ Point 2 – Take comfort: God’s Promises are True (v29-33)
- IMP: God’s comfort and peace will ALWAYS accompany His promises
- Mary appeared troubled to the angel, perhaps it was on her face or in her heart
-- Again, the response from God is one of comfort: “Do not be afraid” (v29)
-- RE: How many times has God told persons in the Bible to not be afraid?
- Before battle:
-- Joshua 1:6-9, “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
- When we are in doubt:
-- Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
- In matters of trust:
-- Psalm 56:11, “In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
- When God gives us a word to take comfort in, we should stand on it
-- No matter the situation, no matter the challenge, if He says it: it will be done
-- APP: Here we see that the greatest revelation to mankind has been made
-- And the response is the same from God: “DO NOT BE AFRAID”
- Most of us, if we were honest, think that God can never use you for anything
-- I’m certain that Mary had her own thoughts to this when Gabriel spoke
- What could Mary have feared from this announcement? Sound familiar?
• The fear of criticism – “What are people going to think.”
• The fear of uncertainty – “What are all the things that will happen to me?”
• The fear of inadequacy – “Can I handle all of this?”
• The fear of change – “What changes will all this bring about?”
- And once again, this angel comforts her, “Do not be afraid, Mary.”
-- He will be … the greatest of All, the great I Am, the Son of the Most High
-- He will inherit David’s throne … and His kingdom will never end!
- I believe when we see Him (if we are saved), this line will fully “click” for us
-- APP: We will know Who it is that we have served, and why we were devoted
- But, how about you and I? What is God telling you not to be afraid of?
-- What are you shying away from right now that God has called you to do?
-- To preach? To teach? To witness? To share? To evangelize? To invite?
- TRANS: Mary seems to accept this, but notice what her question is …
∆ Point 3 – Don’t miss the invitation (v34-38)
-- IMP: Don’t get caught up in the details that we miss what’s happening!
- In v34, Mary just lays it all on the line with a critical statement:
-- “Look, I might be young … but I know about the birds and the bees, Gabriel.”
-- At least it wasn’t, “I think you are crazy and you need to talk to the hand.”
-- It might not be that irreverent … but the meaning is the same: “What? How?!?”
- IMP: Here’s what I love … we get a biology lesson in the middle of the Gospel!
-- Mary just got told who her son will be, and she’s worried about the mechanics
- NOTE: Big flashing lights that Mary is just an average person, totally human
-- IMP: Don’t get focused on worshiping her, she just found favor, nothing more
- She was a righteous woman in God’s eyes; but still 100% human
-- She is caught up in the process of pregnancy … AND she misses the invitation
-- INVITATION: She is to give birth to the Messiah promised in the OT
- How about you and I? When God reveals something to you and I do we miss it?
-- Are we too busy cutting God off & inserting our own ideas when He speaks?
- Sometimes, we just have to praise the Lord when He answers us clearly
-- Right here Mary gets one of those opportunities: re-read Luke 1:35-38
- v35, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”
-- Please do not allow the devil to steal the wonderful thing that happens here
-- There is nothing “sordid” in this account; no trashy romance novel to see here
-- Simple facts: The Holy Spirit’s power will cause you to be pregnant, period.
- The angel even gives her bonus information that Elizabeth is pregnant too
-- Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist … who is Jesus’ half-cousin
-- Gabriel also gives us a promise: “For no word from God will ever fail.”
-- From that encouragement, what God is doing is settled in her heart, forever.
- v38 is the clincher where we can see our need for application this morning:
-- “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
-- Challenge: Would we be willing to respond to God in the same manner?
-- APP: When God speaks to us and says that something is going to be done, the only response we should ever have as followers of Christ is: “Yes, Lord.”
∆ Big Idea
-- When God calls on us to act, what is that we say in response to Him?
- We have an amazing opportunity this morning to give God the glory He is due
- We also have a challenge: Mary was invited to trust … will we trust God?
-- Will we invite others to trust Him because of what we have received?
-- Will we invite others to experience what we’ve seen and heard?
- Today, I ask you bluntly … why do you delay responding to Him?
- Pray
