2024 Christmas Series – Part 3
Sermon 3 – The promises of God brings Peace
Luke 1:26-38
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons! This morning, we continue our series on Advent
-- Might ask, “What is Advent?” Comes from Latin word, “Adventus”
-- In its original form it means "coming" or "arrival" (it’s an announcement)
- For us: It’s the fulfillment of God’s desire to restore our relationship with Him
-- Prophecy began in Genesis 3:15 and throughout the Old Testament (+300 times)
-- Way to ponder it: As a wonderful reminder of what God has done for you
-- We celebrate one truth: the arrival of the Messiah, God’s Redeemer, Jesus
- Last week we talked about the importance of:
• When we encounter God it should cause real transformation
• Saw how Zechariah was compelled to obey God (because of God’s promise)
• And we were challenged to live the same way – to proclaim His good news
- This morning, we will discuss the greatest promise ever given to mankind!
-- R.C. Sproul once said, “What we celebrate is not so much the birth of a baby, but the incarnation of God Himself.” (Critical to remember – in bulletin also!)
-- Today, it is my prayer that we would lean into this truth together
- Read Luke 1: 26-38 Pray for revelation and peace in the truth of God
Point 1 – God’s messenger reveals His Messiah
- The revelation of God’s prophecy to Mary is one of critical importance to us all
-- It demonstrates His commitment to complete what He started, what he promised
-- Christmas (and always): See this, God does not speak in riddles or confusion
- Who: Isaiah 9:7, “His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”
-- KEY: The only way to reign on a throne is to be of the same lineage! (Prince)
-- It is an inheritance that will be granted to this ruler – one of the same family
-- We know that Joseph descended from the lineage of King David (Matt 1:6-16)
- Marriage to Joseph brings Mary into the lineage of heirs; her role is chosen
-- What and How: Isaiah 7:14, “All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).”
-- Where: Micah 5:2, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.”
-- And today, we are given the Why: re-read verse Luke 1:33
- Then, check out Mary’s response to God even though she has found favor
-- Don’t miss: the same angel that appeared to Zechariah appeared to Mary (v26)
-- RE: Zechariah scoffed at Gabriel, and Mary was troubled / still believed (v38)
- When God speaks, how you respond will always matter (shows your character)
-- This was a critical lesson for Zech & Mary; today we’d be wise to ALSO learn
-- TR: Why does our response and our receiving of God’s word matter?
Point 2 – God’s comfort always originates in His promises
- FACT: God’s comfort ALWAYS accompanies His promises (He is clear)
-- Mary appeared troubled to the angel, perhaps it was all over her face … yet …
-- The response from God’s angel is one of relief: “Do not be afraid, Mary” (v30)
-- I love to see God’s tenderness shown towards her: “Relax, God is still good”
- Consider how God has promised comfort before:
-- EX: Before a difficult confrontation or a fight: Joshua 1:6-7, “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.”
- EX: Or even when we aren’t sure how to respond: Psalm 56:11, “I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?”
-- This lends to Paul in Romans 8:31, “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”)
-- APP: When God gives us a comfort/promise … we must see it as resolute
- But the big question we all ask when faced with this is: “How do I do this?”
-- This is where we practice our faith – it is by trusting what we can’t see WHY?
-- B/C God calls us to follow Him, not to live-in doubt / uncertainty day after day
- Mary had to believe what God was saying, without seeing the outcome first
-- FACT: No matter the situation, no matter the challenge, God is still not a liar!
-- HUGE: Foundation of the church affirms this: He will come again; we are His!
- ? Don’t miss this: This is the greatest revelation to mankind … ?
-- And the response to Mary, and to us, is the same … “DO NOT BE AFRAID”
- What is the revelation? THIS child will reign over the house of Jacob
-- Re: The Jews come from the House of Jacob; also called the House of Israel
-- The promise foretells that this child will reign over Israel; He will be their King
-- God says that He will be the one they’ve hoped for, the redeemer of their faith
-- He is the One they have prayed for … bible says put your trust in this promise!
- Now …. Consider the timeline here, it’s been ~4,000 years of waiting!!
-- God’s promise is to defeat sin that we welcomed into His creation …
- TR: Notice her only question (v34): “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
-- IMP: Need us to make sure we do not miss this … Mary is a lot like us!
-- Don’t get caught up in your head knowledge – faith is not about feelings!
Point 3 – Challenge: Will we trust what God says?
- Mary just got told who her Son will be, and she’s concerned about biology! (v34)
-- NOTE: Big flashing lights that Mary is just an average person, totally human
- She was a righteous woman in God’s eyes; faithful … but still 100% human
-- She is caught up in the process of pregnancy … AND she misses the revelation
-- And look, it’s ok, remember we saw Zechariah had the same problem last week!
- How about us? When God reveals something to us … do we miss it?
-- Are we cutting God off & inserting our own ideas when He speaks?
-- Instead of trusting do we look for other answer? Set up a cmte. Phone a friend.
-- It’s hard to hear what God says when we’ve already decided what He should say
- Thankfully, God reveals exactly how this will happen (ask and receive)
-- Re-read Luke 1:34-37
- RE: This is angel of the Lord … one who saw God create life from nothing
-- RE: Gabriel’s response last week … He stands next to the Sovereign God
-- BIG FACT: Biological functions are not an obstacle to what God can do
-- So, when God speaks and says that something is going to be done, the only response we should ever have as followers of Christ is: “Yes, Lord.”
- The angel even gives her more info that her cousin, Elizabeth, is also pregnant
-- Reference the first two messages from this series … see the whole story?
-- See: Her hope/certainty of what God is doing becomes settled in her heart
-- Why? Because her faith in God outweighs her doubt of what’s possible!
- TR: So, how do we apply these incredible events to us today?
Big Idea: When God speaks, we must receive the truth in His words
- God’s promises are eternal, and they are always confirmed by His Word
-- To add anything else or to take away from what God is saying is disobedience
-- EX: When God calls us to advance the Gospel (Matt 28), we must move
-- We must live and act in a way that brings others to Him, not to ourselves!
- Consider: Who did the angel tell her will come upon her? (The Holy Spirit)
-- The Holy Spirit is a separate entity, part of the triune Godhead (Father, Son …)
-- Today, the Holy Spirit is pivotal to the worship and to the service of God
- However, this would be NEW to Mary … Holy Spirit is not given in the OT
-- Always been at work (saw at creation), but not known in this personal manner
-- And how does Mary respond to this new information? Re-read v38 …
- EXAMINE: Why don’t we respond to God in the same manner?
-- Are our schedules so important that we tell God what we want instead?
- Get this: Mary almost missed the main thing by focusing on her knowledge
- Prayerfully we won’t be focused on “our things” & miss why we celebrate
- The same Spirit that gave Mary this child is calling out to you for God’s glory
-- You are being called to live righteously, to love selflessly, and to testify of Jesus
-- Each of us has 24 hours a day to live in worship of what God has done
- Today, I ask you … what is your response to God’s promise(s)?
-- Will you be so busy this week that you’ll miss seeing the glory of God revealed?
- My prayer: Only have 10 days left, don’t miss seeing the wonder of the season!
- Pray
