Sermon Tone Analysis

We believe that with God all things are possible.

We believe that God can use the unlikeliest people.

We’ve asked, “How does God want to use me in the coming year.

Today I want us to ask, “Am I willing to be used in whatever way God desires?”

Jesus’ mother, Mary, serves as an example of humble obedience.

She could have no idea of it would mean to be the mother of the Messiah.

She probably did know that there would be difficulties.

At the very least she would probably become the object of much doubt and ridicule as a result of being pregnant and unmarried in a small town full of gossips.

In spite of any fears she may have had, our reading today gives her response to the angel’s message.

The word used here for servant means slave.

It indicates;

Humility - She acknowledged her position in relation to God.

Availability

Readiness

Obedience

There are many reasons why we may obey someone, including God.

Fear?

Obeying because you have to?

Reward?

Obeying because you get something out of it?

Love?

Obeying because you love Christ and your fellowman?

Mary was willing to obey out of love and faith.

She didn’t ask for details, she didn’t raise any objections, she simply trusted.

She trusted that God could do what He said.

She trusted that God would watch over and provide what she needed.

We probably won’t get an angel appearing to us and telling us what God wants us to do, but if we are open to hearing God then He will let us know His will and we will be led to where God wants us to be and discover what He wants us to do.

Are we willing to take the same attitude that Mary had? Do we see ourselves as God’s servants?

Paul, James, Peter, and Jude all refer to themselves with this word.

A poor man applied for a job saying he was ready to anything that would give him an honest living.

“You take that pile of stones that you see in the end of the lot and carry them to the other side and pile them up just as they are now,” said his employer.

The man did his job and received his wages.

The next morning he returned and worked faithfully every day for a week, carrying the stones from one place to another without a murmur or a question.

On Saturday night his boss said to him, “I like you.

There is no nonsense about you.

You do what you are told to do.

Many men would have objected to doing the work over and over.

You shall have work as long as I have anything for anybody to do.”

The Lord wants servants such as this.

Even Jesus’ asked His Father if it would be possible to alter His course.

The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance.

Immediately he told his signalman to send a message” “Alter your course 10 degrees south.”

Promptly a return message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north.”

The captain was angered; his command had been ignored.

So he sent a second message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am the captain!”

Soon another message was received: Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am seaman third class Jones.”

Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: “Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am a battleship.”

Then the reply came “Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am a lighthouse.”

In the midst of our dark and foggy times, all sorts of voices are shouting orders into the night, telling us what to do, how to adjust our lives.

Out of the darkness, one voice signals something quite opposite to the rest—something almost absurd.

But the voice happens to be the Light of the World, and we ignore it at our peril.

When we see ourselves as the Lord’s servants and submit to Hill will we will find benefits which are out of this world.