The Promise
Notes
Transcript
What favorite Christmas songs would make it into your holiday playlist?
Many of our favorite songs probably don’t have biblical meanings. Jingle Bells and Rudolph aren’t what I’m talking about. I’m talking about Christmas songs with the meaning of Christmas. Last Sunday they sung a song about the manger MAN I liked that song!!!
The first Advent period preparing for Christ’s birth included several songs, which were recorded in Luke 1-2. These songs came from upwelling expressions of those who were touched by the magnificence of God’s promises.
Those promises came at odd times and were fulfilled in unexpected ways. God continues to demonstrate His sovereign faithfulness to His children today in surprising ways. When we trust His plan, we can yield to Him and see with joy the way He carries it to completion.
READ
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
God waited seven hundred years to fulfill the promise spoken through Micah.
GOD’S PROMISES REQUIRE US TO SUBMIT TO HIS DIVINE TIMING.
GOD’S PROMISES REQUIRE US TO SUBMIT TO HIS DIVINE TIMING.
The social troubles that Mary would have to endure for carrying the Christ Child to term. These troubles would not have ended at Jesus’ birth but likely haunted the family for years.
When inconvenient circumstances come, people often comment that the problem could not have come at a worse time. God has established that these are the very times when His plan is often unfolding.
GOD’S PROMISES REQUIRE DIVINE EMPOWERMENT TO FULFILL.
GOD’S PROMISES REQUIRE DIVINE EMPOWERMENT TO FULFILL.
Read Luke 1:31-33.
Gabriel announces four incredible claims about the coming Son.
He would be given a divine title (Son of the Most High).
He would be given – directly by God – the ancient throne of the lineage of David.
The length of His reign would be forever.
The extent of His kingdom would be limitless.
All of this was told to a girl who had no title, power, or authority. She did not even have a husband! The child would be conceived by an act of God.
God’s amazing promises were beyond Mary’s capacity to fulfill.
God’s promises are meant to be carried out with our participation through His power. Christians often get this backward. They operate in their own strength – their power – and hope that God will participate.
GOD’S PROMISES REQUIRE OUR DEFERENCE AND SURRENDER.
GOD’S PROMISES REQUIRE OUR DEFERENCE AND SURRENDER.
def•er•ence \ˈde-fə-rən(t)s, ˈdef-rən(t)s\ noun
1660: respect and esteem due a superior or an elder also: affected or ingratiating regard for another’s wishes synonym see HONOR—in deference to: in consideration of 〈returned early in deference to her parents’ wishes〉
People who are pressured into a volunteer role often joke about having been “volun-told” to do something. In Mary’s case she was volun-told by an angel of the Lord. When has God called you to yield to His plan? Louisiana
Mary could have peppered her angelic messenger with questions. “Why me?” “What will Joseph or my parents think?” “How am I supposed to raise such a child?” She likely wondered about all these things and more. Instead, she only asked one question, and that was simply about the mechanism of conception. Beyond that, she simply declared, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” What does Mary’s response say about her trust in God?
How can too many questions keep us from participating in God’s plans?
God, of course, is still at work fulfilling His promises, and He does so through His children today. His plans are not always fulfilled through angelic messengers but through the everyday experiences of circumstances and whispers through His indwelling Spirit. Where can you exhibit a deeper trust in God to do all that He has promised?
The same Holy Spirit who came upon Mary dwells within the heart of every Christian.
LAST WORD
LAST WORD
God’s plan is always bigger than ours. If Mary had wanted to avoid scrutiny and judgment all her life, she might have asked Gabriel to move on to someone else! Her discomfort led to the fulfillment of centuries-old promises of God in the Person of Jesus Christ. Her role as mother of the Messiah carried not only ostracization and sorrow but also unspeakable joy. She enjoyed a mom’s eye view of God in flesh coming of age and redeeming humanity.
The Advent season reminds each of us that God continues to fulfill His promises to those who are willing to be used by Him. It does not take our power, only our participation. We, too, can experience the joy of seeing God’s hand at work through us to accomplish all He has promised.
The greatest Promise God gave us is that of salvation.