Everyday People

Intro:

AG: God works in wondrous ways to accomplish His purposes. Nothing is impossible with God. Do you believe that this morning? Do you know deep in your soul that reality?

TS: God works in wondrous ways to accomplish His purposes. Nothing is impossible with God. Do you believe that this morning? Do you know deep in your soul that reality?

TS: There is no better illustration of that that the Christmas story. God had foretold even in Eden that Satan would be defeated by the seed of woman. Through the law and prophets, He expanded on that and described the Messiah in more detail. While all Israel longed for the Anointed One, they expected a King coming in victory.

Instead, God sent a baby.

God choose the most unlikely of couples in a back water of Nazareth. The town had such a reputation, that even a chosen disciple years later would quote the saying and doubt Jesus at first, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

As we look this morning at God’s word, we want to take a closer look at these extraordinarily ordinary people.

RS: It is easy to loose heart. It is easy to get in a rut of mediocrity. We can get down on ourselves and fear loosing what we have so much that we never take bold risks for the Lord. Fear and doubt can rob us of seeing God do big things.

Let’s look at everyday People the Lord used by looking at the Girl with a willing heart.

Let’s look at everyday People the Lord used by looking at the Girl with a willing heart.

1) Mary, A Willing Heart

As we read the Christmas story in and Matthew, we see an amazing miracle unfold.

Mary, a young virgin of Nazareth is betrothed to Joseph the carpenter.

I’m sure she looked forward to making a home and family with her husband as most would.

But God interrupted those plans with the most stunning news.

He sent the angel Gabriel who showed up in a big way.

Luke 1:28 ESV

And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

It was a lot to take in, so Mary started with the practical. How?—

It was a lot to take in, so Mary started with the practical. How?—a question of logistics not faith. Perhaps with a twinkle in his eye, Gabriel answered, “Nothing is impossible with God.” And he should know, since his job was to stand in God’s presence.

a question of logistics not faith. Perhaps with a twinkle in his eye, Gabriel answered, “Nothing is impossible with God.” And he should know, since his job was to stand in God’s presence.

Mary’s second response confirmed why God picked her in the first place. Instead of probing for comforting details or demanding answers,

Luke 1:38 ESV

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.

Servant- the word used here is the same as a bondslave in the OT-

A bondslave gave up all opportunity for release. In fact, it very could be their debt was paid and they had earned release, but choose to stay with their master.

In essence it was saying, “I love my master so much, I choose voluntarily to serve for life.”

Mary here declared her complete and undying devotion to the Lord.

She said do as you intend Lord.

She had a willing heart no matter what!

AP: If we are going to see great things from God in our lives, we too need a willing heart.

Do you love and trust God so much, that you can say, like Mary, “let Your plan come to pass” no matter what it may cost you?

We must have willing hearts.

100% devotion is what is required, and nothing less will do.

We can’t be a servant, while holding back a portion of our lives.

God, you have my Sundays, but don’t mess with my Saturdays.

Lord, I will honor you only so far, but when you interfere with my other plans, nope, not going to do it!

It sounds absurd doesn’t it?

Yet that is essentially what we do when we aren’t willing to give God everything!

There is another side to this story,

2) Joseph, Obeying without Hesitation.

Remember Joseph?

A young man who was preparing his home for Mary and looking forward to staring life.

He was probably thinking he had it all figured out.

THEN: SCANDAL! SHAME!

I can see him throwing a fit and breaking things in his shop in rage. Can you see him,.

“How could she!

Mary was pregnant, and that only could have happened one way and it sure wasn’t me!

She has broken my trust! She has dishonored herself and me.

I should call for her stoning! IT is my right!”

But there is more.

He loved her. He was tender in his heart to her and that better side won out.

Notice what unfolds next in Mt 1

Matthew 1:18–25 ESV

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Joseph obeyed God’s message delivered in a dream

IL But what if he hadn’t? He could have walked away. Nursed Mary’s “betrayal.” Defended his manhood rather than protect her. What if Joseph thought it too big a risk to believe a dream?

A dream!

That was faith!

He woke from sleep and did as the angel had commanded.

He shouldered the shame of the pregnacy

He took on a stepson way beyond his league.

Joseph was obedient.

My Advent devotional reading raised an interesting question?

IL But what if he hadn’t? He could have walked away. Nursed Mary’s “betrayal.” Defended his manhood rather than protect her. What if Joseph thought it too big a risk to believe a dream?

Then God would have had provided another man to be Mary’s strength in the wonder and wounding of this mystery. Someone else would have stood by her in her labor. Someone else would have loved and provided for Jesus. Someone else would have taught Jesus the Law and the Prophets . . . a workman’s craft . . . and what it means to be a man. Jesus would have called another man, Abba

God’s plan would endure and come to pass

In fact, God knew Joseph’s choice already.

But God will always get His way!

Nobody can stop God!

Yet HE gives us the opportunity to join Him at work

Joseph and Mary

Moses

Noah

The list goes on and on and even includes the reluctant like Jonah

Today, are you obedient?

Do you follow what God says?

Sure! we say.

But if we ignore the written word, we already prove that is a lie.

But it is

Do you do what God says in His word and what the Spirit leads?

The Point of it All

Matthew 19:26 ESV

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

NOTHING is impossible with GOD!

The incarnation and advent demonstrate this along with countless other accounts in the Bible.

But do we really truth Him?

Mary and Joseph had faith.

Faith led Mary to have a willing heart when hearing overwhelming news.

Faith led Joseph to obey in the most extraordinary circumstances.

If we truly believe that nothing is impossible with God, we will attempt great things.

Conclusion:

We will dare to live by His word, even if the world doesn’t like it.

We will share the truth in love, even if we fear their response.

We will boldly go where He sends and do as He says!

Nothing less is acceptable!