Obedience in spite of Fear
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
One thing I love about the bible is how it is alive.
Read & Re-Read the Christmas story Over & Over
Each time there is something new that speaks to me...
THEME OF OBEDIENCE -
22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
Perspective of Jesus, Example of Humility & Submission.
Perspective of Joseph - How his obedience to God put him in a position to be criticized and maligned.
Today I want to look at the story from the perspective of Mary, my hope is that we can see how her story is applicable to our story.
Prayer
Let me Ask you a question… Do You believe that 1 Person could change the world?
22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
FEAR OF WHAT GOD IS ASKING ME TO DO
Abraham Lincoln
Submission -
God wants to use us to advance His Kingdom.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. NLT
Martin Luther King
Thomas Edison
Alexander Graham Bell
Mark Zuckerburg
Mary, Mother of Jesus
What About You? START NAMING NAMES
God didn't merely call us to be world changers but eternity shapers.
You start living your life to shape eternity, and I gurantee the world is going to start changing. (many times one individual at a time)
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
The Only way to do that is to realize that is why God created
You were created to Shape Eternity… Let that sink in
Rope Illustration
It does’nt matter who you are, what you have done God wants to use you.
He has plans for your life...
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Does that intimadate you? God has plans for my life?
We equate God’s plan to moving to a foreign country.
Some mysterious thing that only the religious elite will discover.
Here is the Kicker, God is not going to force his will upon you or me.
2 Words - Submission, Obedience, Perspective
Submission - Yielding
Obedience - Doing
Perspective - Viewing _ ROPE ILLUSTRATION
Lets dive into our text & Ask ourselves the question...
WHY ARE WE AFRAID OF GOD’S PLANS?
WHY ARE WE AFRAID OF GOD’S PLANS?
READ LUKE 1.26-38
1) GOD’S INTERRUPTIONS ARE OFTEN INCONVENIENT.
1) GOD’S INTERRUPTIONS ARE OFTEN INCONVENIENT.
Have you made an excuse for delaying because the time was not right.
Have you made an excuse for delaying because the time was not right.
God’s Timing is always the right time.
Mary had a legitimate conundrum, she was betrothed to get married… & She is getting news that God has chosen her to birth the Messiah.
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by 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. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
VS 29 Is What jumped out to me this time, She was not troubled and terrified by the angel, but by what the angel had said...
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.
VS 30 is the Game changing Statement… DO NOT BE AFRAID… You have found favor with God.
Let me just tell you this, When you discover the call of God on your life, no power in hell can keep you from completing what he has planned.
Right now it may not make sense, and it is at this moment that you have to surrender and obey, knowing that God sees something that you do not.
If your not careful, you will talk yourself out of what God is calling you to do.
Excuse after Excuse after Excuse (Fear, ability, Resources)
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. NLT
“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! NLT
2) GOD’S PURPOSE IS OFTEN DIFFERENT THAN YOUR PLANS.
2) GOD’S PURPOSE IS OFTEN DIFFERENT THAN YOUR PLANS.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give 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.”
God’s purpose for your life is far greater than anything you could dream up for yourself.
luke 1.31-33
God has a way of changing our plans, and that is a good thing.
If I would have succeeded at what I planned for my life, it would have been of no eternal value.
Luke
Notice the progression… She grasped the severity of what was being Said, she reached a point of surrender and sought for clarity of what was said.
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
The angel, gives her further clarification, Information & a powerful promise.
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Clarification- The means
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… 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” , NLT
Information - Elizabeth is pregnant...Encouragement
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… 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” , NLT
Promise - Nothing is impossible with God
Crux of the moment, what was Mary going to do?
This wasnt her plan, the timing was terrible, there was no let me run this by Joseph real quick.
She simply OBEYED & Trusted God with the consequences.
If God can make this happen, he can work all the details to keep me safe and provide for my every need.
Simple Childlike Faith
WHAT IS GOD ASKING YOU TO DO OR BELIEVE?
WHAT IS GOD ASKING YOU TO DO OR BELIEVE?
Specific ministry, Person, Addiction, decision
Anxiety, Fear, Health Crisis, Provision, Reconciliation, Salvation, Commitment
WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?
WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?
It’s Black & White, The Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart. How are you going to respond.
Delayed Obedience is Instant Disobedience
WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?
WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?
3. OUTCOME IS GOD’S RESPONSIBILITY. OBEDIENCE IS YOURS.
3. OUTCOME IS GOD’S RESPONSIBILITY. OBEDIENCE IS YOURS.
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
OUTCOME IS GOD’S RESPONSIBILITY. OBEDIENCE IS YOURS.
The attitude of a surrendered servant...
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” NLT
Here you have an example of an insignifgant girl, from an insignifigant place, who said yes to God, and Changed the course of histroy,
Can 1 person change the world, ABSOLUTELY.
While you will not birth the Messiah, you get the priveledge of procaliming his love for a lost and dying world.