Submission to God's will

Introduction

Today’s message is titled Submission to God’s will. This is the second sermon in a ten-part series titled “The Coming of Jesus, the Son of Man.” As we preach through in its entirety, the book Luke. We will exegete today’s message found in Luke 1:26-38.

I wanted to remind everyone that the book of Luke is unique because it addresses the life of Christ and his miracles, but it is written to the Gentiles, addresed to the beloved to Theophilus, by a Gentile. We know Luke was a physician. We know Luke was a disciple of Paul. We know Luke investigated and researched the accounts of Matthew and Mark. We know Luke wanted to show that Jesus is the Savior for all people.

Jesus says I am the resurrection and life. I am the door. I am the great Shepherd.

Throughout the Book of Luke, we see highlights of Christ’s compassion for the marginalized, His power to heal, and His mission to seek and save the lost.

Luke’s purpose for writing this gospel was so the Gentiles “might know the certainty of the things where they have been instructed!” More than an account, Luke's gospel is an invitation to see the heart of God revealed in Jesus, and the certainty that our faith rests on truth. This book is meant for you and for me.

Illustration – The Puzzle Piece Now, imagine sitting at a table with a thousand‑piece puzzle scattered before you. You pick up one piece—it looks odd, jagged, and out of place. By itself, it does not make sense. But when you trust the picture on the box and keep fitting the pieces together, eventually that strange little piece locks into place and reveals its purpose in the bigger design.

That is what submission to God’s will looks like. In today's passage, Mary did not understand how she, a young virgin, could possibly fit into God’s plan to bring the Savior into the world. Yet she trusted the Master’s design and said, “Be it unto me according to thy word.” What looked impossible became the perfect piece in God’s redemptive puzzle.

Let us open our Bibles to Luke 1:26-38.

Faith and submission

Luke 1:26 “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,”

This angel was sent from God. We see in the book of Luke that this is his second mission surrounding the birth of Jesus. As we remember from last week’s message, the Angel Gabriel spoke to Zacharias about a blessing from God through a coming son, known as John the Baptist. Here we see Gabriel being sent to the city of Galilee, named Nazareth. Historically, Galilee was bordered by gentile nations, and the Jewish people gave the city a slur, often calling it the “Galilee of the Gentiles.” Nazareth was a despised city. It was despised by the rest of Israel and by the Romans who occupied the territory.

My first thought is that God is no respector of persons or places. God will use anything in His will.

The question is are we being used by God? Are we willing vessels for the Lord?

Another thought, is that a place or city is not judged by its institutions or advantages, but by the righteous people within its borders.

Canada? healthcare, education.... Crime. Failed policies

America? Liberty....Crime, cartels, violence, riots, and evil. Lovers of their selves more than lovers of God! Just like I should be able to visit a church and know if God is present because their is liberty present. IOWs, when the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is liberty.

We are called as Christians to be the salt and light on the earth. That means we have the authority to affect darkness around with the light of Christ. As salt we are called to change the very environment , we are in. We are called to stand. We are called to go!

Do you represent salt and light to those around you!?

Luke 1:27 “To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.”

The word virgin in Greek means ‘par-then-os.’ This word means "maiden" or "unmarried daughter" and “undefiled.” In other words, she is pure. Mary herself confirms she is undefiled in v.34 with her statement of not knowing a man.”

She was espoused to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. Being espoused to someone carried more weight than being engaged or being a fiancée.

In the espousal period, sexual contact was forbidden and considered adultery.

It meant a covenant of future marriage, which could only be broken in the same fashion as a divorce.

Psalm 24:3–4 “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, Nor sworn deceitfully.”

Preaching Point:

The birth of God's Son required a miracle. He could not be born through the natural process as other men are. If He had been born as other men, His very birth would indicate that He was no more than a mere man.

The birth of God's Son required a joint act on God’s part and the woman’s. If God’s Son were to become a man and identify with men, He had to come through the process of conception through a woman.

The birth of God's Son required a miraculous nature—both divine and human.

The birth of God's Son had to fulfill the promises made by God through previous prophets! Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

As God-Man, Christ was also able to bear the sins and the judgment of sin for all men. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

The birth of God’s Son required the virgin birth because Christ is the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Luke 1:28–29 “(28) And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. (29) And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.”

This passage says God highly favors Mary. I think of how God favors us, he saves us, he gifts us, and he uses us. Also, it is not just that God favors Mary, but that he is with her. In other words, she did not walk through life alone; God was with her! Also, it is important to note that not only was she to be favored, and that God was with her, but that she would be blessed among women!

I think of the humanity in Mary’s reaction. It is so easy to see ourselves in a similar situation. Like Zacharias before her, she received profound news, but there is no evidence of doubt on her behalf; my bible says she is troubled. She did not understand how God could favor someone so greatly like herself. The fact that she found herself troubled by what he was saying reveals deep humility on her part.

James 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

I think of Zechariah in contrast to Mary:

Doubt vs inquiry

In the latter stages of his life, God still used Zacharias, and God still used Mary

Zacharias remained faithful, year after year, but doubt crept in. Mary did not doubt the promise of God, but could not understand the scope of the inner workings or why she would be used.

In Zacharias and Mary, I believe we see two spectrums of our position and intimacy with Christ.

We walk by faith and not by sight, which means we need humility, not doubt.

My question is, do we lean more towards being Zacharias or Mary?

Luke 1:30–31 “(30) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. (31) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.”

A name above all names. A name where every knee shall bow and tongue confess. Neither is there salvation in any other name!

The angel of God declares a promise to Mary that her child will bear the name Jesus: the very name means "Savior." In Greek, it is Iesous, meaning Savior, he will save. In Hebrew, Yoshua or Yeshua means Jehovah is the Savior. Gabriel is proclaiming that deliverance is coming.

Romans 8:3 “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”

Galatians 1:4 “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”

Luke 1:32–33 “(32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: (33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

Gabriel is proclaiming to Mary the titles of the coming King. Of the coming Savior. The one who is bringing salvation! Christ is to reign upon the throne of David. But it will not be the people who will give Him the throne. They will not allow Him to rule over them. The throne will be given to Him by God.

Luke 1:34 “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”

Mary was expected to believe the miraculous, but she was puzzled. She was not doubting or distrusting the message. She was not asking for some sign or proof like Zacharias. She asked for more information because she did not understand the inner workings of the soon-to-come miracle.

Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Note three things immediately:

“The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee.” The thought is not after the manner of men, but after the manner of God’s Spirit.

“The power of the Highest [God] shall overshadow thee.” God Himself was going to look after the whole matter. The child’s conception and growth during pregnancy and His birth and life were under the shadow and wing of Almighty God.

The child born of Mary would be holy, “the Son of God.” Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

Luke 1:36–38 “(36) And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. (37) For with God nothing shall be impossible. (38) And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”

Preaching Points:

Church, we love to sing about the 'Favor of God.'

There are bumper stickers that talk about favor and God.

We claim it when we get a blessing or a financial windfall.

We think 'Favor' means a parking spot in the front row or a promotion at the job.​

But let me tell you what real Divine Favor looks like. ​The angel Gabriel walks into Nazareth and tells a young girl, 'Thou art highly favored.' And what came next wasn't a pay raise. What came next was a social scandal that could have gotten her stoned to death!​

God’s favor didn't make Mary’s life easier; it could have made everything much more complicated for her.

I want you to look closely at v.38, you will see ‘handmaid of the Lord.’ That word handmaid in Greek means ‘doo-lay.’ It means a female slave, whether involuntary or voluntary.

When you read the phrase ‘Handmaid of the Lor,’ it sounds polite, it even sounds gentle, but a bondslave to the Lord means she surrendered her rights, her plans, and her reputation. She surrendered to the idea that she is the total property of the Master. See a servant had rights, a servant could negotiate wages, a servant could walk away from a master. But a bondservant served at the will of their master.

Mary did not say, 'Lord, let me check with Joseph first.' She did not say, 'Lord, can we wait until after the wedding so people don't talk?' She did not say, 'Lord, this is going to ruin my image.' ​She looked at the impossible will of God—a will that would cost her her reputation, her comfort, and trusted him. She signed a blank check with her life. She said, 'I am your property. Do what you want with me.'"

Psalm 40:8 “I delight to do thy will, O my God: Yea, thy law is within my heart.” I am talking about true submission in our spiritual walk.

Application:

The reason some of us have not birthed the ministry God desires of us, the reason you have not seen the breakthrough in your family, is because you are still trying to negotiate with God!​

You want the miracle, but you don't want the mess.

You want the baby, but you don't want the belly that shows the world you've been changed.​

In my heart, I believe Mary understood something that we as a church have forgotten: You cannot be filled with the Holy Ghost and maintain your reputation in the world at the same time. There must be a cost.

When the 'Power of the Highest' overshadows you, it changes who you are. It changes your DNA. It changes your walk. People will whisper. People will judge. They will say, 'You take this Jesus thing too seriously.' They’ll say, 'You’re too emotional.' They will lie about you. They will say horrendous things but let them talk!

Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”

Remember, while they were talking about Mary, she was carrying the Messiah!

Illustration:

Submission is like a sailor who surrenders the control of his small boat to the wind. At first, he may want to row in his own strength, fighting the current, straining against the tide. But when he raises the sail and lets the wind fill it, the boat moves with power and direction he could never produce on his own.

That’s what Mary did when Gabriel told her she would bear the Son of God. She could have resisted, argued, or clung to her own plans. Instead, she lifted the sail of her heart and said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). In that moment, her surrender allowed the Spirit of God to carry her into His divine purpose.

Submission doesn’t mean weakness—it means aligning with the greater strength of God. Just as the wind empowers the sail, God’s will empowers our lives. When we stop rowing in our own strength and let Him lead, He takes us further than we could ever go alone.

Altar Call

God desires more Marys in his church. And I’m not talking about gender—I’m talking about a spirit of submission, a heart that says yes to God, no matter the cost. I believe the Lord is looking for someone who is done trying to negotiate with God and is ready to become His bondservant. He’s looking for a man, a woman, a young person who will stand right in the middle of their impossible situation and declare: ‘Lord, I don’t know how You’re going to do it. I don’t know how I’m going to pay for it. I don’t know how I’ll survive the shame, the scandal, the storm. But be it unto me according to Thy Word!’

If you are prepared to surrender your plans for His purpose…the altar is here. Lay it all down and say, ‘Be it unto me according to Thy Word!’

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” God had made

Benediction:

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”