Our church is entering a month of change. I think most of you know what I'm talking about. As most of you know, this is my last month to serve as pastor of Southeast Baptist Church. You may have noticed today that we have several that are not here that normally are here.
That is because our pastor search committee is attending another church this morning listening to a prospective new pastor to serve here in our church. Continue to pray for our committee as they have been working diligently searching for God's replacement for me. PRAYER
As the New Year rolls in, I am sure there will be some changes in the normal procedure of things. And that’s not a bad thing. Freshness is good. And with changes there is always a little bit of anxiety and possibly fear. Earlier this year I spent over a month preaching about eliminating the fear of any changes that are coming our way.
So let's get rid of one mistaken idea about older adults. They don't like change. But it is not only the adults that don't like change. The children may dislike change more than anyone. We don't like change. With us older folks, the rationale has been that we don't like change because we're older and, therefore, set in our ways. The truth is, none of us like change and we all get set in our ways. We get used to a routine or doing things a certain way, and we see no reason to change.
But you might not realize that really you willingly make some changes on your own. You purchase a new car or you change to a new job. We also embrace the changes that come with being a parent. But when change is thrown at us by others, we tend to resist. What if things aren't better? What if this is harder? What if...? We can quickly raise a lot of concerns and with those concerns come potential fears.
Even when we know that God is behind the change, fear can still be present. Since we are entering into the Christmas season, I thought I would use a well-known Christmas story to help us dispel any fear. It may be coming our way. You probably remember the story in Luke 1. In this story we see a young woman who was about to experience an incredible change in her life and circumstances. I thank God for this story and how we can apply it to what we're going through right now. We can be encouraged by her example to trust God no matter what.
The angel Gabriel plays a prominent role in the events recorded in Luke 1. He had already appeared to Zechariah to inform him that his prayers had been heard. Although they were "well along in years" (a nice way of saying that they were old), Zechariah and Elizabeth were told that they would have a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah. Now beginning in Luke 1:26, Gabriel announced the birth of that Messiah.
Luke 1:26-29 – “In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.”
Mary was a young woman and scholars believe she was no more than a teenager. Luke points out twice in verse 27 that she was a virgin. The Greek word for virgin means exactly what it means in English. She had no relations with a man.
Usually, when an angel appeared in Scripture, the response was fear. That's understandable. I'm sure the appearance of an angel, a Holy messenger from God would be intimidating. Mary would have been familiar with those times when God's messengers delivered one of two types of messages.
Some messages were warnings or announcements of impending judgment. Other
messages were invitations or announcements that the person would play a part in God's work. God's work may sometimes be difficult, but it will always yield something extraordinary.
The angel's message to Mary wasn't one of judgment. God had bestowed a special honor on Mary. Why else would God send an angel to tell her that God was with her? For many of us, knowing that God is present can be comforting. For others the presence of God might cause them to tremble with fear. But Mary was troubled because she did not know why she was favored or blessed with the presence of God. What did this message mean to her, a typical young Jewish woman?
Luke 1:30 – “Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
That surely had to be a relief to Mary. Many action movies include a hero who runs into a dangerous scene to rescue a group of people. The movies often include a heroic speech where he encourages them not to be afraid. I'm here and everything's going to be okay. And, of course, they lose their fear and the hero saves the day. But those are movies and life does not always offer us a no fear ending.
But when Gabriel, a messenger from God says do not be afraid it's best to remember who is saying it and who he represents. When you think about the Christmas story as a whole, the call to not be afraid was heard several times. Zechariah heard it; Joseph heard it; and the shepherds heard it.
Mary didn't need to be afraid because she had found favor with God. But you know, as much as those involved in the Christmas story needed to hear it, we need to hear it as well. In all of life's different circumstances, we don't have to fear because of Who goes with us.
Luke 1:31-33 – “Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
Mary couldn't have missed the powerful significance of hearing those words. "Most high" conveys the power, strength, and authority of God. He is superior to everyone and everything in every way. The term "most high" shows us clearly that Jesus is divine. Sonship is linked to His messiahship. This means that Jesus is equal with God. Mary's child would be royalty.
Mary had found favor with God. Divine favor with God means to be full of grace. This phrase shows us that Mary was a recipient of God's grace. I am so thankful that it can now be said of anyone who has accepted God by faith and has become His child so that we are also full of grace.
For many Christians, I think that favor is synonymous with ease. But that's not the case at all. Throughout Scripture, we see individuals who were given opportunities to step into the unknown and trust God on that journey. It wasn’t easy. Mary was now going to step into the unknown---a situation that no woman before or sense has experienced, and she would need to trust God. God's plans for her were great and would change the world. There was no need to fear because God would use her obedience to bring grace and salvation to all.
If we are obedient following God's plan to place His choice for a new pastor here, we should consider it an honor to be included in God's plans and purposes. Each one of you is a part of this church's history. In years to come, as the story is told of the year the new pastor was called, you can raise your head high and give a first-hand account of how you had a personal part in it.
Luke 1:34-37 – “Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
It's not that Mary doubted Gabriel's announcement. But she did have a few questions. She was a little confused. The confusion came because she thought the angel was describing a normal conception from an act that she and Joseph had engaged in. Since she knew she and Joseph had not consummated their marriage, she asked for clarification.
Gabriel's answer to Mary's question describes the creative work of the Holy Spirit. God's mighty presence was sufficient to sustain Mary and bring about the virgin birth. Gabriel enlightened Mary by telling her that God was already doing what seemed impossible to the world. He told her about her relative, Elizabeth conceiving a son in her old age. By no means should this have happened outside of a movement of God.
So Gabriel wraps up his message to Mary with one clear and obvious summation, "For nothing will be impossible with God."
This wasn't the first time God did the impossible. He made everything out of nothing in the creation account. He split a sea in two so that his people the Israelites could flee the oppression of the ruler of Egypt. He split a river into so that His people could take a step into the promise land. He protected three men in the middle of a fiery furnace that was hotter than the normal. They're hair didn't even smell like smoke.
The list goes on and on and on and on of how God is a God of the impossible. Gabriel reminded Mary of that truth—a truth we also need to remember today. Our God is the God of the impossible.
God has always supplied this church with a pastor who helped in growing the church to what it is today. Do you think that God cannot do it again? Yes, He will, and yes, He can. So what was Mary’s decision?
Luke 1:38 – “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.”
So Mary takes a step of faith and confidently is obedient. Her faith didn't allow fear to sit on the throne of her life. Mary's response was "See, I am the Lord's servant. May it happen to me as you have said."
I love that response because we should all yearn to trust the Lord in the same way. That statement should also convict us because it reminds us of those times where we act as if we are not the Lord's servant. It reminds us that often we let self or fear sit on the throne of our life instead of Jesus.
As our committee searches for a new pastor, we should do as Mary did and dispel any fear by simply remembering that there is nothing impossible for our God. Our response to this actually reveals our heart and our faith. Do you trust God?
Do you believe that God has already chosen the person who will take my place? I do. Then let your trust and faith in God dispel any fear of God's next step for this church.
What a powerful story this is and how encouraging it is in this time of change. It's exciting to be a part of all of this. I'm excited about seeing where this church will go next. I'm excited to be a part of it all. For the many of you who have asked me a number of times, I plan to remain a member of SEBC when I retire. This is my church. You are my family.
I want to stay here and worship here and serve here. Just not as pastor any more.
So let's dispel our fear and look forward to God revealing His plan firsthand to each of us. Now let's submit to God in place of any fear.
Let's be as confident as the psalmist when he wrote:
Psalm 34:4 - "I sought the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears."
Psalm 34:7 - "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them."
