Impossible

Impossible Impossible Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Faith; Sacrifice; Submission; Fellowship; Testimony; Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ; Gabriel appears to Mary / Luke 1:26-56 God promised to do something wonderful in Mary's life, in fact on the outside it seemed impossible but Mary trusted God. In her trust for God's word and power Mary had the impossible happen in her life. We too can experience the impossible if we are willing to trust God and believe the impossible is possible with Him. Introduction 1. People have been accomplishing the impossible over and over again a. When they do - we want to experience achieving the impossible also i. Usually once someone else does it it becomes possible in our minds ii. No longer held back by not knowing if it was possible or not b. This is why we have endorsements for all sorts of products and programs and philosophies i. Its the whole "you too can have this" idea ii. We find our favorite endorsee and we see their results and we say I want that - how did they accomplish and get there - it seems impossible to me but its because I dont have what they have and once I do - I too shall achieve the same results 2. The bible is replete with stories of people accomplishing the impossbile a. Moses and the Exodus story i. Ten plagues ii. Ten Commandments iii. Parting of the Sea b. Joshua i. Battle of Jericho ii. Sun doesnt go down iii. Parting of the Jordan c. Apostles i. Casting out demons, raising the dead, healing the sick d. God includes these stories because he wants us to know that the impossible is possible i. These characters are His endorsees ii. The only thing is God doesnt want us to trust a process or a program - He wants us to trust Him for the impossible iii. our passage before us shows us how we can be ready for God to bring us to and through the impossible › SLIDE Luke 1:26-29 CSB 26 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. › SLIDE Luke 1:30-32 CSB 30 Then the angel told her: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 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. › SLIDE Luke 1:33-35 CSB 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end." 34 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. › SLIDE Luke 1:36-38 CSB 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." 38 "I am the Lord's servant," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her. › SLIDE Luke 1:39-41 CSB 39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. › SLIDE Luke 1:42-44 CSB 42 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: "Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! 43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. › SLIDE Luke 1:45-48 CSB 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!" 46 And Mary said: My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, › SLIDE Luke 1:49-52 CSB 49 because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy. 50 His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him. 51 He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. › SLIDE Luke 1:53-56 CSB 53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he spoke to our ancestors. 56 And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home. › SLIDE Starts in the Boring › SLIDE Luke 1:26-27 CSB 26 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. › SLIDE Luke 1:28-30 CSB 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. 30 Then the angel told her: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 1. The impossible isnt impressive if everything points to it happening a. We expect great things from genetically gifted, financially affluent - etc b. We like underdog stories because the underdog isnt supposed to do anything 2. Thats where our story takes place - in the ordinary and boring a. Setting is Galilee in a town called Nazareth i. Galilee was known as a Gentile area, although many Jews lived there. ii. The people in Judah disdained the Jews in Galilee and claimed they were not "kosher" because of their contact with Gentiles. 1. Do you think anyone expected God to bring anything about from this place of those who were not as holy as other Jews? iii. Nazareth being in Judah was doubly disliked - in fact the disciple Nathanael was the skeptic who when Jesus of Nazareth was introduced - he had a snarky response. › SLIDE John 1:45-46 CSB 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth." 46 "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Nathanael asked him. "Come and see," Philip answered. b. It in Galilee - specifically the town of Nazareth where God wants to bring the impossible › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 CSB 26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world-what is viewed as nothing-to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 1:29 CSB 29 so that no one may boast in his presence. 3. God sends Gabriel His angel once again to bring news a. Gabriel was sent to a virgin - who was engaged to a man named Joseph i. She was of the house of David 1. Long forgotten as a member of the ruling house of Israel ii. Her name was Mary 1. We know from other sources Mary was of common background - nothing special, nothing to stand out b. Mary was two things i. A virgin - parthenos - greek word only used for virgin not young woman as some would say ii. Engaged to a man named Joseph 1. Engagement in those days was different from today's understanding a. Mary was in fact by all intense and purposes married without the consummation i. In those days parents arranged marriages (and they lasted - because love is a choice, not a feeling) b. There were 3 phases - the betrothal, the engagement and the marriage 2. The engagement was legally binding and could only be gotten out of with a writ of divorce c. Mary was living a normal existence of life when that would change i. Gabriel came and told her she was favored and the Lord was with her 1. Mary of course was troubled by the statement - mainly what kind of greeting was this? 2. She knew this greeting meant a change or a choice that would affect the rest of her life ii. Gabriel again told her she has found favor with God 1. Others have found favor with God also › SLIDE Genesis 6:8 CSB 8 Noah, however, found favor with the LORD. › SLIDE Exodus 33:15-17 CSB 15 "If your presence does not go," Moses responded to him, "don't make us go up from here. 16 How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth." 17 The LORD answered Moses, "I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name." 2. Finding favor has something to do with faith and righteousness a. Not that they earned God's favor by works - but God has decided that it is by faith one is made righteous and thus gets His favor › SLIDE Sacrifice and Surrender Completely › SLIDE - the promise of the impossible Luke 1:31-33 CSB 31 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." › SLIDE Luke 1:34-37 CSB 34 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." › SLIDE Luke 1:38 CSB 38 "I am the Lord's servant," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her. 1. The promises explained - Gabriel says now listen a. You will conceive and give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus i. Jesus is the Aramaic form of Yehoshua or Joshua - the Lord Saves or the Lord is Salvation › SLIDE Matthew 1:21 CSB 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." b. 5 promises given on top of that i. Jesus will be Savior (hence the name) ii. Jesus will be great and called Son of the Most High - Son of God (because who is the Most High?) iii. Jesus will be given by God the throne of his father David (father sometimes meant father and other times could be ancestor) iv. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever v. His kingdom will have no end 1. Jesus will be Savior or Messiah 2. Jesus will be DIVINE and human (he will be born) 3. Jesus will rule on the throne of David over Jacob (Israel) - the throne will return to Israel 4. He will reign forever - an eternal kingdom (also points to his deity) 2. Mary asks how can this be a. Mary doesnt question that it can happen - but how › SLIDE Mary's question isnt how can something impossible happen - how will God bring about the impossible i. Two problems with this prophecy with Mary 1. She was a virgin - the virgin birth is a must believe it is foundational to the person of Jesus - both God and Man 2. She was already betrothed - does this mean Joseph will be the father? - how else can this happen as I am already betrothed - married a. How can this happen without violating her vows and covenant (which would also violate God and His laws) b. Gabriel doesnt challenge Mary's focus or perspective as he did with Zechariah i. Instead an explanation is given - the Holy Spirit › SLIDE How will the impossible happen in my life - the Holy Spirit 1. The power of God will overshadow - the holy to be born will be called the Son of God a. Jesus was born of God and the virgin woman - God and Man together fully! ii. Gabriel also points Mary to consider Elizabeth 1. Whom God has caused to conceive in her old age and is now in her sixth month 2. An impossibility in itself - but › SLIDE - repeat! Luke 1:37 CSB 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." › SLIDE - i like this version Luke 1:37 ASV 1901 37 For no word from God shall be void of power. › SLIDE - same promise given to Abraham Genesis 18:14 CSB 14 Is anything impossible for the LORD? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son." › SLIDE We must never forget the impossible for us - is possible with God God accomplishes His purposes through the power of His Word › SLIDE Psalm 33:9 CSB 9 For he spoke, and it came into being; he commanded, and it came into existence. › SLIDE Luke 18:27 CSB 27 He replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." 3. Sacrifice and Surrender are necessary for the impossible to happen a. Mary in verse 38 in one small statement allowed the power of God to work in her life i. I am the Lord's servant 1. Maidservant - the lowest of servants - Mary was fully surrendering to the plan of the Lord ii. May it be done to me according to your word 1. This was Mary not only saying - no worries I wont try to bring this about (ahem Abraham and Sarah) I trust your word 2. I submit to all this means and sacrifice all the ideas and conceptions I had concerning how my life would be 3. Mary accepted the task, and the responsibility along with the blessing › SLIDE Favor with God has never excused anyone from pain and suffering or even difficulties for that matter b. Mary sacrificed her ease and comfort - to be highly favored and used for the impossible with God i. She would yield herself completely to the Holy Spirit knowing full well the cost should would endure › SLIDE Romans 12:1 NKJV 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ii. Mary yielded - in believing God's word c. Impossible - Mary allowed her life to be turned upside down i. She was planning a wedding and looking forward to marriage - now faced with what would be seen as a scandalous pregnancy › SIDE We cannot the blessing without the responsibility - we cannot take the blessing of God without the hardships as well ii. Mary didnt say I will have the baby but when it would be easiest and when it wouldnt be shameful or suspicious 1. When it would be convenient and not threaten relationships › SLIDE - Consider this • Mary would have to carry Jesus during her betrothal • Mary would have to tell her parents she is pregnant • Mary would have to tell Joseph she is pregnant 2. There had never been a child born outside of intimate relations but Mary would need her parents and her husband to believe her a. The time and culture was such that Mary could be stoned for adultery and blasphemy - Joseph could have put her away and divorced her › SLIDE Matthew 1:18-19 CSB 18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. b. Mary would carry this pain of suspected adultery and unfaithfulness all her life - Jesus would carry the shame of being thought to be born out of adultery › SLIDE John 8:41 CSB 41 You're doing what your father does." "We weren't born of sexual immorality," they said. "We have one Father-God." › SLIDE Elizabeth's pregnancy took away her reproach among men, Mary's pregnancy would bring it on. When we choose to carry Jesus we must also assume the reproach as well. › SLIDE Easier to Persist With Support › SLIDE Luke 1:39-42 CSB 39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: "Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! › SLIDE Luke 1:43-45 CSB 43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!" 1. The impossible is not achieved instantly it requires diligence and perseverance a. Mary accepted the Lord's blessing and the trouble it would bring with it - but that trouble wasnt over the same day the work wasnt done yet. i. She had to carry Jesus full term (no inducing then) ii. She would look pregnant and receive all the stares and whispers iii. The sneers, the jeers, the avoidance - her husband would question her (until he was visited by Gabriel also) 1. All of this wears you down - ever had something start out well and then you run out of gas or motivation 2. Especially easy to do when no one supports you in what you are doing a. How many people do you think there were who believed Mary was carrying Jesus the messiah? 2. The way to deal with lack of motivation and difficulty continuing on - is with a gym buddy a. Mary left immediately and went to Elizabeths town outside the hill country of Judah i. Mary barely got her greeting out when Elizabeth was showering her with blessing and praise 1. John lept inside Elizabeth's womb at the sound of Mary's voice ii. Elizabeth tell Mary she is blessed among women 1. Which is a far cry from how Mary probably felt - scorned and despised among women a. Every woman wanted to bring the messiah - but who would sacrifice reputation and so much to do so? b. Please note Elizabeth says Mary is blessed "among" women and not "above" women and this is not from the angel but from Elizabeth 2. Jesus will also be blessed a. again like a cool drink of water in the midst of a dry desert b. Elizabeth exclaims the impossibility - How can it be - that the mother of her Lord would come visit her i. Elizabeth was over joyed to have not only a son, but that her son would be the forerunner for the Messiah 1. Perhaps she wondered if she would meet the Messiah sometime or at least maybe see him 2. Elizabeth knew from John leaping inside Mary had the messiah in her womb ii. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill 1. Blessed through faith! A good gym buddy is someone who is ahead in your struggle or current goal. You find them and you spend time with them and you glean from them and get encouragement from them. Mary did this with Elizabeth - she stayed there 3 months verse 56 As we walk in faith following God - we need those who can recognize and believe that God has called us or spoken to us or is currently working within us, or perhaps you would be aware that you need to be the one who encourages others. › SLIDE Give Credit Where Credit is Due › SLIDE Luke 1:46-49 CSB 46 And Mary said: My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy. › SLIDE Luke 1:50-53 CSB 50 His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him. 51 He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. 53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. › SLIDE Luke 1:54-56 CSB 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he spoke to our ancestors. 56 And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home. 1. Be prepared to sing the praises when the impossible happens a. Mary sang a song praising God - it is known as the Magnificat i. In this praise Mary acknowledges God and His work in the impossible 1. God is personal (verse 46-49) a. Saving personally b. Involved personally 2. God is merciful (verse 50-53) a. Helpless (51) b. Humble (52) c. Hungry (53) 3. God is faithful (verse 54-55) a. Remembering His promise to Israel b. Remembering His promise to Abraham 2. Your testimony and witness to the impossible isnt for you to hold on to - it meant for you to share and glorify God with What is God seeking to do in your life that seems impossible? Do you believe that the impossible can happen with you?Are you trusting God for it? Are you wanting the impossible done in your life? Are you willing to sacrifice and surrender for it? Maybe you are here today and walking with God in the impossible and getting discouraged - find someone to encourage you - dont give the nay sayers a place When God does the impossible give credit where credit is due God has done the impossible already - through many within in the bible and through many today - God isnt done doing the impossible - but the impossible is only possible with God God brought Jesus - who would forgive people of their sins - God continues to do the impossible - would it be too much for God to forgive your sins? No nothing is impossible for God Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:14 PM July 20, 2019.