What Heaven Does With “Yes”

Text: Luke 1:26–45

INTRODUCTION

Three letters that can change not only your life but your destiny! YES

God is looking for people to be faithful and willing to serve Him and when he finds them he does amazing things.

Christmas is more than the story of a baby in a manger—it is the story of a God who works through willing hearts. Mary’s response to God’s call—simple, humble, faith-filled—reminds us that God delights to use ordinary people whose hearts say, “Yes”

PRAYER

A -

C -

T -

S -

GOD CHOOSES THE WILLING

Luke 1:26–30 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!” 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.

Point: God selects those who are humble and open to fulfill His plans.

Mary was young, unknown, ordinary—and yet she was chosen. God wasn’t looking for status, experience, or achievement. He was looking for a heart that said yes.

Examples:

Noah – righteous in a corrupt generation.

Abraham – willing to go to a land he had never seen.

Joseph – faithful through suffering.

David – a shepherd boy with a heart after God.

Key Thought: God values willingness above worldly qualification.

Supporting Scriptures:

Isaiah 6:8 “8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.””  

Jeremiah 17:10 “10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.””  

Psalm 139:23 “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!”  

Illustration:

A volunteer with a willing heart can often accomplish more than a skilled person with no desire to help.

Applications:

Offer yourself to God today—He looks at the heart, not the résumé.

Be open to God’s work; He can use anyone who says “yes.”

GOD EQUIPS THE WILLING

Luke 1:31–35 ESV

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.

Point: God provides what is needed to accomplish His assignments.

Mary would bear the Son of God—a humanly impossible task—but God promised His presence, His Spirit, and His power.

Examples:

Moses — felt inadequate; God supplied the words and miracles.

Exodus 4:1–2 — God uses what’s already in your hand.

Exodus 4:10–12 — “I will be with your mouth.”

Solomon — asked for wisdom and received it abundantly.

Explanation:

Mary wasn’t equipped on her own. She was equipped by God. The miraculous nature of her calling magnified God’s glory, not her ability.

Supporting Scriptures:

2 Corinthians 12:9 “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  

Philippians 4:13 “13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  

2 Chronicles 16:9 “9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.””

Illustration:

An apprentice doesn’t start with expertise—they’re given tools and training. So are we.

Applications:

Trust that God has already equipped you for what He’s calling you to do.

Let His power—not your confidence—carry you forward.

GOD HONORS THE WILLING

Luke 1:36–45 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.” 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. 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Point: God’s glory is shown when we submit with faith and courage.

Mary’s declaration—“I am the servant of the Lord”—opened the door for the Savior to enter the world.

Point: God blesses those who trust Him fully.

Mary’s obedience made her part of God’s redemption story.

Supporting Scriptures:

1 Samuel 2:30 “30 Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

Revelation 2:10 “10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

John 12:26 “26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

Illustration:

A sailboat cannot move without wind—yet it must still lift its sails. Our submission allows God’s power to carry us.

Applications:

Say “yes” to God even when His plans seem overwhelming.

Trust His leading and surrender fully to His will.

TRANSITION TO CHRISTMAS THEOLOGY

Mary’s willingness brought Jesus into the world. But Christmas ultimately celebrates the willingness of Jesus Himself—a perfect willingness that stands in contrast to our own unwilling hearts.

THE PERFECT WILLINGNESS OF JESUS

Philippians 2:6–8 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus didn’t come reluctantly. He came purposefully, joyfully, willingly.

He took on flesh not only to preach sacrifice but to be the sacrifice.

Cross References:

John 10:18 “18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.””  

Hebrews 10:7 “7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ””  

Illustration:

The difference between a volunteer and a draftee—Jesus was not drafted into saving us. He stepped forward willingly.

THE DEEP UNWILLINGNESS OF THE HUMAN HEART

Romans 3:10–12 ESV

10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

Sin expresses itself as resistance.

Unwillingness shows up as:

Unwilling to wait on His timing

Unwilling to be honest or receive correction

Unwilling to resist sinful desires

Unwilling to serve or give generously

Unwilling to answer God’s call

Unwilling to obey when we don’t understand

Like Jonah running from Nineveh

Unwilling to inconvenience ourselves for others

Like the priest & Levite vs. the Good Samaritan

Cross References:

Romans 8:7 “7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”  

Isaiah 53:6 “6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  

Damaging Results of Unwillingness:

Broken relationships

Missed callings

Hardened hearts

Shallow discipleship

Spiritual stagnation

Illustration:

A child insisting, “I can do it myself!” while struggling—our natural posture toward God.

THE HOPE OF CHRISTMAS

A WILLING SAVIOR FOR AN UNWILLING PEOPLE

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus came because we were unwilling, not because we were ready. His willingness overcomes our unwillingness.

Cross Reference:

Luke 19:10 — He came to seek and save the lost.

Illustration:

A firefighter rushing into a burning building to rescue someone unconscious—Jesus saves those who cannot (and will not) save themselves.

CONCLUSION

Christmas celebrates the willing heart of Jesus coming to save the unwilling hearts of humanity. He doesn’t just forgive unwillingness—He transforms the unwilling heart into a willing one.

Mary said, “Let it be to me according to your word.” Jesus said, “I have come to do Your will, O God.” May our hearts echo the same this Christmas.

APPLICATION

Confess Areas of Unwillingness

Where have you resisted God—obedience, honesty, repentance?

Ask Jesus to Produce a Willing Spirit in You

Psalm 51:12 “12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

Follow Jesus’ Example This Christmas

Serve willingly

Give generously

Love sacrificially

Say “YES” to God quickly

Celebrate the Gospel

Our hope isn’t OUR willingness—it’s HIS!

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

What is one time in your life when you said “yes” before you fully understood the cost? What did you learn from it?

Why do you think God chose someone as ordinary as Mary? What does this teach us about how God selects people?

What qualities do you see in Mary’s response that make her a model of willingness?

Where do you personally feel under-qualified or inadequate for something God may be calling you to do?

How does Luke 1:31–35 show that God equips those He calls?(What parts of the passage stand out to you?)

Mary said, “Let it be to me according to your word.”What would it look like for you to say that in your current season?

Jesus came willingly (Phil. 2:6–8).How is His willingness different from our natural tendencies?

Which “unwilling heart” tendencies from the sermon do you resonate with most?(Avoiding obedience, resisting correction, clinging to comfort, etc.)

How does Jesus’ willingness bring hope to people who struggle with unwillingness?

What is one specific “yes” God may be asking of you this Christmas?