The Trajectory of One's Life

Intro

Welcome guests.

Advent Series - Because God is love, Jesus shows up.

When the love of God shows up in an individuals life, it changes the trajectory of that individuals life.

The bleeding woman; the woman at the well; the outcasts; the rejected; Lazarus being raised from the dead.

When the love of God shows up in an individuals life, it changes the trajectory of that individuals life.

Love is the whole reason behind advent: Love is what moved God’s heart to act on behalf of those He created in His image.

Love is what compelled our Heavenly Father to send His only Son, Jesus Christ into the World for the work to be done for redemption of sins.

I love what Paige Clayton says about this, “great love can be talked about, deep passionate love can be expressed verbally or even written down, but love expressed in action proves it actually exists.”

Thesis

Jesus’s arrival into the World demonstrates for us God’s love for us in three ways: God see’s us; God redeems us and God hears us.

1. God See’s Us.

V. 26-30 (briefly explain betrothed while reading).

Mary went from being unseen to being seen and when she found out that God saw her she became bewildered, why? Because Mary believed the lies that she was a nobody...

Mary allowed the lies to seep into her mind and in return believed that she was a nobody, so why would she be a recipient of God’s favor?

Betrothed

Age wise Marry was in her mid-teens.

She was a female.

Galilean - made her a social outcast.

She had no social standing in her community.

She was insignificant financially, weak and poor. (vs 48).

With all these labels that Mary and others place on Mary, God saw Mary, God chose Mary and God favored Mary.

Have you ever had someone come into your life and loving spoke a word that helped change the trajectory of your life?

Story of the time I took notice of a little young boy for not who he was but who he could become.

Church - God see’s past your social economic reality. God see’s past your age. God sees past all the labels that we and others place upon ourselves and looks to the inner-man and says, “that person is created in my image and therefore I’m going after them.”

It’s why Jesus’ work on the cross is so great! Jesus provided what we couldn’t provide! The perfect sacrifice so that we can be reunited with Him!

Jesus See us and our state and therefore Jesus comes after us for the sole purpose to Redeems us!

2. God Redeems Us.

V 31-33.

Imagine all the types of emotions Mary must be feeling in this moment as Gabriel carry’s on with these 5 declarations of who Jesus will be.

You shall call his name Jesus.

He will be great - Son of Most High.

Given the Throne of David.

Will reign over the house of Jacob forever.

Kingdom will have no end.

Now for many of us who have the blessing of God’s Word, we can see how great this is. But For Mary she was most likely thinking through the OT scriptures.

Think about what was going through Mary’s mind.

Jesus - ee-ay-sooce’ - Yahweh Saves; God saves?!

Son of most high!? El Elyon - a name for the One True God that reveals his supremacy and majesty over all!?

Throne of David!? Referencing Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a chid is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!?”

Eternal Reign as described in Micah 4:7 “and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore.”

Kingdom will have no end? It was only God that had the eternal attribute spoken of in the OT!

All 5 of these spoken to Mary show’s God’s great redemptive purpose of Jesus coming from His Eternal estate to a lowly estate to bridge the gap all of us so that we can find peace and redemption in Christ and Christ alone.

It is why we read in Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Church - Jesus’s arrival into the World demonstrates for us God’s love for us by showing that He wants to redeem us!

Elisabeth Elliot says it this way, “we want to avoid suffering, death, sin and ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited to redeem. We receive his poured-out life, and being allowed the high privilege of suffering with Him, may then pour ourselves out for others.”

It is for this reason that we know now why Mary was so confused as she spoke the words, “How will this be....” it lets us know that God hears us!

3. God Hears Us.

V 34-38

How will this be Gabriel that I, a betrothed virgin, a helpless young teenager that has no money. How will this be that I am the one to carry this promised child?”

Anyone else feel or think along the same lines as Mary? Anyone here feel like there’s no way God can accomplish the difficult task that He has placed upon your life?

I believe Mary thought this because she knew what Gabriel’s words really meant for her life. She knew she was a virgin, she knew she was an outcast, how could the God of Israel use such a person like me? How can this word come to pass when I am still a virign?

It is the impossible that God brings forth the possible.

Mary’s question wasn’t that of unbelief but of astonishment, of humility, of her saying she isn’t worthy to have such a noble task put upon her life. Mary’s question wasn’t one of unbelief - she knew that what Gabriel had spoken would come to pass.

Mary believed the promise but didn’t understand the performance.

Church there are times in our lives where we are going to sit at our houses and think the same thing Mary thought. There’s going to be times where we know the promise is true but we don’t quiet understand Jesus’ performance in the promise.

There’s going to be times in our lives where we have totally blown it and will be saying God, I’ve blown it - I’m not worthy of your forgiveness. I’m not worthy of your mercy, I’m not worthy of your grace.” and in those times we will never understand the performance that God performed through Jesus for us , but even though we don’t understand, God’s promise remains true.

Then there are times where we know that God promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us, but many times we believe in a lie that He has because we can’t feel him. I was reminded in my walk with God that when these times come we have to remain unwavering in the promises of God because they’re true.

In the times that you don’t feel his presence or are struggling to find the peace in the storms, know that God is still there with you. The disciples had to ride the storm out for a bit, and it got really really uncomfortable and really uneasy for them, but Jesus was always with them in the bottom of the boat.“

And it’s in those times of our lives that God draws even more near as He see’s your humility and quietly whispers, “the promise has been fulfilled and the performance has been accomplished.”

Ending.

It is because of this promise being fulfilled that we should have a many responses but we shall look at three of Marys.

Walk In Humility: James 4:6 “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.””

Trust & Obey The Lord: vs 38

Worship: 46-55.

Excitement - Walking Hastily.

As we step into this advent series let me remind you that no matter where you’re at God See’s You; God Hear’s You and God Redeem’s You.