Gtcotr/ws121212
Luke 1
26 ¶ Now in the sixth month
the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a
man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was
Mary.
Life Lesson #1
God calls
greatness out of obscurity
1.
Mary
was a nobody living in a small town, going nowhere
2.
Like
her great, great grandfather David, living in obscurity
3.
The
only thing special in her life was that she was special to God
28 And having come in,
the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is
with you; blessed are you among women!"
29 But when she saw him,
she was troubled at his saying, and considered what
manner of greeting this was.
Life Lesson #2
God does
not first seek our permission before He interrupts our plans.
1.
God
may have a different view of our life than we do
2.
But
whatever God’s will is … you will be outfitted for the job
3.
God
knows what He is doing
4.
Not every time does everyone affected hear from God.
5.
The
Bible does not intend to tell the whole story
a. Mary’s parents’
response for example
30 Then the angel said to
her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Life Lesson #3
One moment
of favor is worth a 1000 days of labor.
1.
Chose
favor over fear …
2.
Right now there are a bunch of nobodies God is
preparing to be the next somebody He uses.
31 "And behold, you
will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name
JESUS.
32 "He will be
great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give
Him the throne of His father David.
33 "And He will
reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no
end."
Life Lesson #4
When God
fulfills His Word in one person’s life, it fulfills His Word in many people’s
life.
1.
God
affects many by affecting one
2.
Zacchaeus’
changed life changed the lives of many
3.
The
Word to Mary was a Word that touched many more than her
34 Then Mary said to the
angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
Life Lesson #5
God is not
limited by those things which limit us.
1.
Customs
and culture, thoughts and traditions or doubts and beliefs
2.
Your rod will outstretch your ability.
35 And the angel answered
and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power
of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be
born will be called the Son of God.
Life Lesson #6
God always
has a plan
1.
Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture
until you put all the pieces together.
36 "Now indeed,
Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is
now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
Life Lesson #7
There is
always time for a testimony
1.
Revelation
12:11 They overcame by … testimony
Life Lesson #8 kind of stands
alone and no one could say it better …
37 "For with God nothing will be
impossible."
1.
Remember
Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane – He said, “Father I know that all things are
possible with You … If it be Thy will …”
2.
All
things are possible but not all things one wants are God’s will
3.
One
Word from God changes everything … or it should!
38 Then Mary said,
"Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your
word." And the angel departed from her.
Life Lesson #9
We are often limited by our unwillingness or inability to
lose control
1.
The
true test of a servant is how you react when treated like one
2.
Krystal
McCullough heard someone teach this point several years ago and shared this
truth with me. I have found it to be a valuable reference to keep my
perspective in stressful times.
3.
Life should be a script which only God can write.
4.
It
can be difficult to appreciate the big picture when focused only on one piece.
