INTRO:
1. This is the first in a series entitled "responses
to the Message of Christmas" in which we examine
the resonse of key characters in the Christmas story.
2. Today we will consider Mary...
a. a young virgin
b. approximately 12-13 yrs old
c. engaged to be married
d. life predictably planned UNTIL ONE DAY
WHEN GOD SENT AN ANGEL SPECIFICALLY TO HER
WITH NEWS THAT WOULD CHANGE HER LIFE.
LET US NOTICE:
I. THE REVELATION SHE RECEIVED(26FF)
A. ANGEL SENT DIRECTLY FROM GOD SPECIFICALLY
TO MARY (V.26)...(of all the other young
virgins, why Mary? Because God picked her!!)
B. THE MESSAGE
1. "You have found favor with God"
2. "You will bear a son, call his name Jesus"
3. "He will be great, and will be called the
Son of the Highest."
C. A CHALLENGING CONFUSING AND SOMEWHAT DISTURBING
MESSAGE...HOW WOULD SHE RESPOND??
II. THE RESONSE SHE GAVE (34-38)
**Did she have a choice? I think so. She could
have said: this is too complicated, too challenging,
and will interrupt my life...I cannot do that. BUT
SHE DID NOT RESPOND THAT WAY:
A. SHE WANTED MORE EXPLANATION
"How can this be since I am a Virgin?"
1. God can handle our questions...and as He
did through Gabriel, He will answer to the
extent that we need to know.
2.GABRIEL EXPLAINED:
a. the Holy Spirit will come upon you
b. the Power of the Most High will overshadow you
d. FOR THAT REASON (SEE ABOVE) your holy
offspring will be called the SON OF GOD.
c. Nothing is impossible with God
**we need to resume teaching the importance
of the Virgin Birth...Jesus being conceived
by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a pure
Virgin is FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR UNDERSTANDING
OF HIS SINLESSNESS!!
3. Once she understood that, she was ready
to fully respond.
B. SHE FULLY SURRENDERED
"Behold the bondslave of the Lord, Be it unto
me according to Thy Word."
1. She must have thought "since God can do the
impossible, and since He has honored me by
choosing me for this awesome responsibility,
then I will leave the details and outcome up
to Him...I will be available.
2. The task she had was challenging and
there were many uphill battles, but OH THE
HONOR...AND THE PROVISIONS OF GOD EACH STEP
OF THE WAY!!
3. PHILIPPIANS 1:6 (since God BEGAN this work
in me, he will COMPLETE IT.)
III.APPLICATIONS FOR US TODAY:
A. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EACH LIFE.
B. HE MAY SEND AN ANGEL, BUT MOST LIKELY HE WILL
SPEAK TO US THROUGH SCRIPTURE, SERMON, SONG,
OR LIFE EXPERIENCES ABOUT HIS PURPOSE FOR US.
C. LIKE MARY, WE MAY NOT HAVE ALL THE DETAILS,
BUT WE CAN TRUST HIM TO COMPLETE WHAT HE BEGINS
IN US, AND WE CAN THANK HIM FOR THE HONOR OF
BEING CHOSEN TO BE A VESSEL FOR HIM.
D. WE SHOULD, AS MARY DID, SURRENDER BODY, SOUL,
MIND, SPIRIT, AND FUTURE UNTO GOD, WHO HAS
ALL OUR LIFE IN HIS HANDS.
**WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE MESSAGE OF GOD WHEN
CONFRONTED? MAY IT BE POSITIVE LIKE MARY’S.
