Endless Possiblities

Endless Possibilities

Introduction

Today is the day we celebrate mothers.

Today we recognize the impact mothers have on shaping our world, both individually and collectively.

Their nurturing spirit is a beacon of light in times of darkness, their embrace a sanctuary of comfort in moments of turmoil.

So let us come together with gratitude in our hearts, to honor and celebrate the mothers among us, and reflect on the profound lessons they impart upon us each day.

Not all mothers are birth moms.

Today, as we come together to celebrate Mother's Day, we acknowledge the diversity and depth of motherhood.

While some may have experienced the miracle of childbirth, others have become mothers through adoption, fostering, or the nurturing bonds of mentorship and caregiving.

Motherhood transcends biology; it is a profound journey of love, sacrifice, and dedication.

Let us honor all mothers—those who have carried life within them, those who have opened their hearts to love beyond boundaries, and those who have embraced the role of motherhood in its myriad forms.

Luke 1:24–37 (ESV)

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,

25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

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!”

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

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.

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.”

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

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.

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.”

Or as I would like to say, with God there is “ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES”

In this passage, we find ourselves in the midst of miraculous births and divine promises.

We see the power of God at work, breaking the natural laws, and demonstrating that with Him, nothing is impossible.

Now, let's turn our attention to our first main point, the miraculous births in biblical times...

Miraculous Births in Biblical Times

In the Bible, we find numerous accounts of miraculous births.

These are not just ordinary births, but ones that defy natural laws and human understanding.

They are instances where God intervenes in the natural order of things to bring about His divine plan.

These births are not just miracles, but they are signs of God's power, His love, and His plan for humanity.

One of the most well-known miraculous births in the Bible is the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah.

Abraham and Sarah were both well past the age of childbearing, and Sarah had been barren all her life.

Yet, God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations.

Despite their old age and Sarah's barrenness, God fulfilled His promise.

Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac, through whom the nation of Israel came into existence.

This birth was a miracle, a sign of God's power and His faithfulness to His promises.

Another miraculous birth we find in the Bible is the birth of Samson.

His parents were childless, and his mother was barren.

Yet, an angel of the Lord appeared to them and announced that they would have a son.

This son would be a Nazirite, set apart for God, and he would begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines.

True to the angel's words, Samson's mother conceived and gave birth to him.

Samson grew up to be a mighty judge of Israel, just as the angel had said.

The birth of John the Baptist is another example of a miraculous birth in the Bible.

His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were both old and Elizabeth was barren.

Yet, while Zechariah was serving in the temple, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and announced that Elizabeth would conceive and give birth to a son.

This son would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb, and he would prepare the way for the Lord.

Despite their old age and Elizabeth's barrenness, they conceived and gave birth to John the Baptist, who played a crucial role in preparing the people for the coming of Jesus.

The most significant miraculous birth in the Bible, however, is the birth of Jesus Christ.

His mother, Mary, was a virgin, yet an angel of the Lord appeared to her and announced that she would conceive and give birth to a son.

This son would be the Son of God, and He would reign over the house of Jacob forever.

Despite being a virgin, Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and gave birth to Jesus, the Savior of the world.

These miraculous births in the Bible are not just random miracles.

They are part of God's divine plan.

They are signs of His power, His love, and His faithfulness.

They show us that with God, nothing is impossible.

They remind us that God is always at work, even when we don't understand His ways.

They assure us that God can bring life out of barrenness, hope out of despair, and joy out of sorrow.

They teach us to trust in God's promises, to wait on His timing, and to believe in His power.

They encourage us to look beyond our circumstances, to see the bigger picture, and to have faith in God who is the author of life and the giver of every good gift.

In each of these miraculous births, we see God's hand at work.

We see His power to bring life where there is no life.

We see His faithfulness to fulfill His promises.

We see His love for His people.

We see His plan unfolding in ways that we could never imagine.

We see His sovereignty over all things, including the natural laws of conception and birth.

These miraculous births are not just stories from the past.

They are relevant to us today.

They remind us that God is still in the business of doing miracles.

They assure us that God can still bring life out of barrenness, hope out of despair, and joy out of sorrow.

They encourage us to trust in God's promises, to wait on His timing, and to believe in His power.

They teach us to look beyond our circumstances, to see the bigger picture, and to have faith in God who is the author of life and the giver of every good gift.

In the end, these miraculous births point us to the greatest miracle of all, the miracle of salvation.

Just as God brought life out of barrenness in these miraculous births, He brings spiritual life out of our spiritual barrenness.

Just as God fulfilled His promises in these miraculous births, He fulfills His promise of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Just as God demonstrated His power in these miraculous births, He demonstrates His power in our salvation.

Just as God showed His love in these miraculous births, He shows His love in sending His Son to die for our sins.

Just as God brought joy out of sorrow in these miraculous births, He brings joy out of our sorrow through our salvation in Jesus Christ.

Manifestation of God's Promises

In the heart of this narrative, we find a divine promise that resonates with a profound echo, a promise that is not only for Mary but for all of humanity.

This promise is the manifestation of God's divine plan, a plan that is woven intricately throughout the tapestry of human history.

The first aspect of this promise that we see is its personal nature.

The angel Gabriel didn't deliver this message to a crowd, but to Mary, a young woman engaged to be married.

The angel greeted her by name, saying, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"

This was a personal message for Mary, but it also shows us that God's promises are personal for each one of us.

He knows us by name, He sees our circumstances, and He has a plan for our lives.

The second aspect of this promise is its divine origin.

The angel tells Mary, "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."

This is no ordinary promise.

This is a divine promise, a promise that comes directly from God and is fulfilled by His power.

It's a promise that is beyond human understanding or capability, a promise that can only be fulfilled by the power of God.

The third aspect of this promise is its eternal significance.

The angel tells Mary that her son "will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

This is a promise of an eternal kingdom, a kingdom that is not of this world.

It's a promise that points to the eternal nature of God's plan, a plan that extends beyond our earthly lives and into eternity.

In the original Greek, the word for "promise" is used throughout the New Testament to refer to the promises of God.

In Romans 9:4, Paul speaks of the Israelites, saying, "They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises."

In Hebrews 6:12, the author encourages the readers to be "imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

This word carries a sense of assurance, a guarantee that what God has said, He will do.

In the context of our passage, we see the promise of God being fulfilled in the birth of Jesus.

But this promise extends beyond the birth of Jesus and into our own lives.

God's promises are for us today.

They are personal, they are divine, and they have eternal significance.

The fourth aspect of this promise is its transformative power.

The angel tells Mary, "For nothing will be impossible with God."

This is a promise that transforms our understanding of what is possible.

It's a promise that challenges our human limitations and invites us to believe in the limitless power of God.

It's a promise that transforms our fear into faith, our doubt into belief, and our despair into hope.

The fifth aspect of this promise is its inclusivity.

The angel tells Mary, "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."

This is a promise that includes all of us. It's a promise that extends beyond our human boundaries and invites us to be part of God's divine plan.

It's a promise that includes the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak. It's a promise that includes you and me.

In this narrative, we see the manifestation of God's promises.

We see a promise that is personal, divine, eternal, transformative, and inclusive.

As we reflect on this narrative, let us remember that these promises are not just for Mary, but for each one of us.

Let us hold onto these promises, let us believe in these promises, and let us live in the light of these promises.

For with God, nothing is impossible.

Understanding and Accepting the Concept of Endless Possibilities with God

As we continue our reflection, let's turn our gaze towards the limitless possibilities that come with a relationship with God.

This idea is particularly fitting as we celebrate Mother's Day, a day that honors the limitless love, sacrifice, and strength of mothers.

Just as a mother's love knows no bounds, so too are the possibilities with God endless.

Our first consideration is the nature of God's power.

God's power is not confined by human limitations or understanding.

It transcends our comprehension, breaking through the barriers of what we deem possible or impossible.

This is clearly seen in the narrative of Elizabeth and Mary, both of whom experienced miraculous pregnancies that defied human understanding.

Elizabeth, in her old age, and Mary, a virgin, both conceived through the power of God.

These events serve as a testament to the boundless power of God, a power that can bring forth life in the most unlikely of circumstances.

This understanding of God's limitless power should inspire us to live lives of bold faith.

If God can cause a virgin to conceive and an elderly woman to bear a child, what can He not do in our lives?

When we fully grasp the magnitude of God's power, we are emboldened to dream bigger, to pray bolder prayers, and to step out in faith, confident that with God, all things are possible.

When we believe in the limitless power of God, it changes our perspective, we begin to see the world, not as a place of limitations and impossibilities, but as a place teeming with divine possibilities.

Our second consideration is the nature of God's promises.

God's promises, like His power, are not confined by human limitations.

They are not bound by time or space, but are eternal and unchanging.

This is evident in the promise given to Mary, that her son would reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there would be no end.

This promise was not just for Mary, but for all of humanity.

It is a promise that continues to hold true today, a testament to the unchanging nature of God's promises.

This understanding of God's promises should inspire us to live lives of unwavering trust.

If God's promises are eternal and unchanging, we can trust that what He has said, He will do.

We can trust that His promises are not empty words, but are backed by His limitless power and unchanging nature.

So, as we celebrate Mother's Day, let's also celebrate the limitless possibilities that come with a relationship with God.

Let's live lives of bold faith and unwavering trust, confident in the power and promises of God.

Let's dare to dream bigger, to pray bolder prayers, and to step out in faith, knowing that with God, all things are possible.

Conclusion

As we close today, let's remember that our God is a God of miracles, a God of promises, and a God of endless possibilities.

He's the God who looked upon Elizabeth and Mary and said, "I see you. I hear you. I'm with you."

He's the God who turned impossibilities into realities, who brought forth life where there was none, and who continues to do so today.

Our God is a God who loves us with an everlasting love, a love that is unchanging, unfailing, and unending.

He's the God who sent His Son, Jesus, to be our Savior, to show us the way, to give us hope, and to bring us back to Him.

And He's the God who is with us, right here, right now, in this very moment.

So as we go forth from this place, let's carry these truths in our hearts.

Let's remember that we serve a God of miracles, a God of promises, and a God of endless possibilities.

And let's live our lives in such a way that reflects His love, His goodness, and His grace.