Mary- An Ordinary Girl with an Extraordinary God

Christmas Portraits: Mary

Luke 1:26–56 NLT

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.” Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.

INTRODUCTION:

I. EXPRESS AN HONEST DESIRE TO UNDERSTAND GOD’S WORD TO YOU. ().

Luke 1:26–29 NLT

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

A. The message (vs. 28) :

1. Chosen by God ()

Ephesians 1:4 NLT

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

2. Assured of His presence ()

Hebrews 13:5 NLT

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

3. Showered with His grace (vs. 30) (Χαῖρε κεχαριτωμένη...εὗρες γὰρ χάριν παρὰ τῷ θεῷ.) “ Greetings favored woman (one who is the recipient of grace<unmerited favor>)...you have found grace with God.

B. The musing (vs. 29)

(ἡ δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ διεταράχθη, καὶ διελογίζετο ποταπὸς εἴη ὁ ἀσπασμὸς οὗτος.) “she was confused and disturbed and deliberated in her mind what the sent-one (angel) meant.”

1. Concern about what is said.

2. Meditating upon the meaning.

a) The positive example of the Bereans ().

Acts 17:11 NLT

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

II. ASK AN OPEN-ENDED QUESTION FOR GOD TO ANSWER (Luke l:20-34).

A. Do not be afraid. (Μὴ φοβοῦ, Μαριάμ)

1. Do not be afraid to ask God any honest question.

a) The key- Are you willing to accept His answer?

2. Do not fear His answer.

B. His plans are big (vs. 31-33)

1.There are no limits on what God can do in-and-through you.

C. You don’t need to understand how He will accomplish His plan (vs. 34).

1. He is the only one who needs to understand.

2. All you need to do is trust Him.

III. CHOOSE AN ABSOLUTE WILLINGNESS FOR GOD TO WORK HIS WILL IN YOU ().

Luke 1:36–38 NLT

What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

A. Allow God to strengthen your confidence by observing His activity in the lives of others. (vs. 36)

1.Read the scriptural accounts of God’s activity in-and-through His people.

2.Read the biographies of other Christians through whom God has worked powerfully.

3.Listen to the testimonies of contemporary Christians who are experiencing God’s movement in their lives.

B. Reflect upon the scriptures that speak of God’s almighty power (vs. 37)

1.Remember that there is nothing impossible with God.

() .

Philippians 4:13–17 NLT

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

a) Remember how God worked the seeming impossible for Joshua.

IV. CULTIVATE AN UNSHAKABLE COMMITMENT TO STAY WITH GOD IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP ()

Luke 1:39–56 NLT

A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.” Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.

A. Fellowship with others who are sold-out to God (vs. 39-42) .

1. Nothing encourages real commitment like the fellowship of other truly committed Christ-followers! ()

Hebrews 10:25 NLT

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

B. Share your struggles and victories with people in your fellowship circle (vs.43-55).

1. We are instructed to share with and pray for each other. ()

James 5:16 NLT

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

C. Continue to follow the Lord in your present circumstances (vs. 56).

1. Faithfulness to God will be rewarded ().

Matthew 25:21 NLT

“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

2. If you can’t be faithful to God at home, you will not be faithful elsewhere.

CONCLUSION :