Expect the Unexpected

Introduction

Last week we began our Christmas series called “A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS.”

In that first message we talked about how you and I need to be expecting a miracle! I challenged each of you to watch for God to do a miracle in you, or through you.

I wonder, how many of you saw God perform a miracle in you, or through you? Well, this week we want to continue to look for the miracles God is working around you, and we want to “Expect the Unexpected.”

So do you expect the unexpected? Or do you think about God doing the same thing over and over again? God ALWAYS works in a unique way.

This morning we want to see someone who experienced the unexpected. If you have your Bibles I want to encourage you to turn to Luke the first chapter, and we’ll begin reading in the 26th verse.

When Elizabeth was in her sixth of pregnancy, an angel Gabriel was once again sent to deliver a message. This time he was sent to Nazareth—a town in Galilee. This time he had a message for a young woman named Mary. This message was part of God’s plan to bring mankind back to Himself.

Luke 1:26–28 NIV84

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Facts about Mary

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

3. Facts about Mary

1. She was a virgin—in the Greek it means exactly what it means in the English—She had never been with a man.

2. Next we see that she was pledged to be married to Joseph—this means that an agreement had already been made between Joseph’s family and Mary’s family. Legally, they were already married, yet Mary lived at her parent’s house while Joseph was preparing a place for them to live together.

3. She lived in Nazareth up in Galilee.

4. That means she was somewhere between 12 and 14 years old.

The Surprise of Mary

The next thing we see is that she was surprised. Look at verse 29.

Luke 1:29 NIV84

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

“Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” (, NIV84)

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

1. First I want you to notice that “highly favored” turns into “greatly troubled.”

a. First I want you to notice that “highly favored” turns into “greatly troubled.”

2. This phrase, “greatly troubled” is only used here in all of scripture. In the Greek it means “stirred up,” “confused,” “upset,” “perplexed.”

I don’t know about you, but if I’m visited by an angel I’m going to be greatly troubled, stirred up, and perplexed!

So here is Mary, confused, stirred up, and perplexed and she hears Gabriel say to her: (verse 29)

Luke 1:30–33 NIV84

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

God’s Plan

Luke 1:30-

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

5. The Angel Gabriel brought Mary God’s plan for Her and God’s plan for the world.

The Angel Gabriel brought Mary God’s plan for Her and God’s plan for the world.

1. First, don’t be afraid.

2. She didn’t need to be afraid because she has found favor with God

3. Your going to be “with child”

A. You’ll give birth to a son.

B. You are to call His name Jesus.

4. Jesus will be:

A. He will be great.

B. He will be called the Son of the Most High.

C. The Lord will give him the throne of his father David.

D. Jesus will reign over the house of Jacob forever.

E. His kingdom will never end.

Luke 1:34 NIV84

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

Luke 1:34

Mary’s Response

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

6. Mary’s Response—Many have tried to make Mary’s reaction a reaction of doubt. However, it is doubt filled. Mary understands (somewhat) how things work and she knows that by natural means it is IMPOSSIBLE for her to be pregnant or to get pregnant!

Many have tried to make Mary’s reaction a reaction of doubt. However, it is doubt filled. Mary understands (somewhat) how things work and she knows that by natural means it is IMPOSSIBLE for her to be pregnant or to get pregnant!

1. Mary’s response, “How can this be since I am a virgin?”

2. We know that it was not doubt, because of the way Gabriel answered her.

Luke 1:35–37 NIV84

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

Luke 1:35-

Gabriel’s Response:

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”

7. Gabriel’s Response:

1. It will happen like this: the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you so what is going to happen to her is going to be supernatural!

2. Just so Mary would know that Jesus was special Gabriel told her, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

3. Mary is then given a sign—Old Elizabeth, her relative is going to have a child in her old age.

4. KEY—For nothing is impossible with God.

The key for all of us is that nothing is impossible with God, but we need to expect the unexpected!

Mary’s response

I love Mary’s response. Look at verse 38.

Luke 1:38 NIV84

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

1. She acknowledges that she is the Lord’s servant.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”

a. She acknowledges that she is the Lord’s servant.

2. Secondly she acknowledges that as the Lord’s servant the Lord can do whatever he wants with her!

Conclusion

If you and I are going to celebrate a “Different Kind of Christmas,” if you and I are going to “Expect a Miracle” then we need to “Expect the Unexpected!”

1. For us to “Expect the Unexpected” we need to realize that we are servants—the Lord’s servants. Thus, the Lord can do with us WHATEVER He wants!

2. For us to Expect the Unexpected we need to understand that NOTHING is impossible with God!

3. If we are going to Expect the Unexpected we need to experience God’s power in our lives!

4. Be careful that we don’t trade “highly favored” for “greatly trouble.”

God is all about doing the unexpected in our lives! God is all about doing miracles in us and through us. God is all about using us to do amazing things all around us.

Let’s celebrate a DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS. I want to challenge you to continue to Expect a Miracle from God. And this week I want to challenge you to Expect the Unexpected. You know, this past week I’ve been watching and expecting God to do a miracle in me, and through me. To be honest, I’ve seen all kinds of miracles around me.

I’ve seen God heal those who are sick.

I’ve seen God give comfort to the fearful.

I’ve seen God encourage the hopeless.

I’ve seen God strengthen the weak.

I’ve seen God give wisdom to the unsure.

And I’ve seen God put me in the right place at the right time.

This week, I’ve truly seen God do some amazing things in me and through me. This week, I’m expecting God to do the unexpected while expecting God to continue to do miracles in me and through me. And I want to challenge each of you to join me, and expect God to do the unexpected in your life while expecting God to continue to do miracles in you and through you.