The God who Gives Favor

Today we celebrate the Christmas Season’s beginning. Now, our decorators at church began that last week, so you already had a chance to see all these decorations thanks to the dedication and work of Patty, Andrea, Mary, and the help of Ben and Keon and Laura....anyone else?

Bobbi and I were at Yucaipa First Church of God, sharing a message of thanksgiving for our King Jesus, which is a way to mark the end of the season after Pentecost. Thanks so much to Minister Mary Lopez for sharing the Word of God last week. She is a faithful servant.

And that faithfulness was exhibited in our 22nd opportunity to bless our community with hot cocoa and open restrooms. Our team included Mary and Richard Lopez, Andrea and Patty Whetsel, Deacon Larry from Family Christian Center, Pastor and First Lady Hernandez, and Michelle from Whittier Church of God, Bobbi, Keon, Ben, Laura, and a few others.

Preparing for a Special Birthday

Today we enter the season of Advent, in which we mark each of the 4 Sundays before Christmas Day as we prepare to celebrate the most precious promise of Salvation, which is what the Apostle John refers to as

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

A World in Need of Hope

The reign of Herod the Great in Palestine was a time of enforced prosperity. The prosperity was that of the Herod and his hopes. He was responsible for a 40-year project to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, after his Palace was taken care of; Public works projects were all around, and Rome was pulling all the strings. The people of Judea had been virtually enslaved, the merchants and farmers and fishermen were heavily taxed, as they lived in near poverty.

Caesar Augustus was establishing his role as emperor and beginning to lobby the Roman Senate to have him declared divine—a god given to Rome. Ultimately that wouldn’t end well for him, but it established a precedent that plagued Rome for centuries.

Meanwhile, the Jews of Palestine were living under the enforced Pax Romana which was managed by the Roman Army occupiers, and enforced through Herod and a Roman governor. The Jews for the most part were not considered citizens of Rome, so they had few legal rights in the Roman courts.

Things would get worse before they got better, but God was not taken by surprise nor overruled by the freedom he had granted to his human creation.

Uprisings led to mass crucifixions, lining the roads into Jerusalem. It was clear what kind of peace was imposed upon them. And it was not pretty.

A God with Hope to Give

God knew this day would come.

He left promises in the prophets of old:

Isaiah 9:2 ESV

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Isaiah 9:5–7 ESV

5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child 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. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

God Sets His Plan in Motion

An Old Couple From the Hills

A Young Woman With Plans

God Sends His Best Messenger

Luke 1:26–28 ESV

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from 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. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

Now This Was Unexpected

Luke 1:29 ESV

29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

God’s Incredible Plan for Mary

Luke 1:30–31 ESV

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

Mary Will Birth the Messiah

Luke 1:32–33 ESV

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to 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.”

The Big Question

Luke 1:34 ESV

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

Gabriel’s Answer: Not an Issue

Luke 1:35 ESV

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

God Does the Impossible

Luke 1:36–37 ESV

36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

The Miracle of Full Surrender

Luke 1:38 ESV

38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

God Still Uses Those Who Surrender to Him