Luke 1:26–38

Luke 1:26–38:

Situation: God continually works out his plan around us, even when we don’t know all the details. Mary’s situation is no different than ours. We all want the same three things out of life.

· We do not want to be afraid.

· We want a family.

· We want to be happy.

God is not telling a story. He is writing a story and working out his plan every day. We have to learn to live in God’s story.

Stress: Mary is confused, afraid, and wondering what God expects of her.

Gabriel tells Mary not to be afraid. Understanding God’s grace includes a plan for our life. Living in God’s story prevents us from living in fear.

Gabriel gives Mary 5 reasons God’s grace will give her life purpose and lasting joy.

1. She will conceive and bear a son, and she shall name Him Jesus.

2. He will be great and will be called the “Son of the Most High.”

3. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

4. He will rule over the House of Jacob forever.

Search: Mary asks what God expects of her.

Genesis 1:2 NASB95

The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

Hebrews 10:5 NASB95

Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, But a body You have prepared for Me;

Jesus brought God’s righteousness to us and He brought our sacrifice to God.

Jesus had to be fully god to provide us righteousness. He had to be fully man to provide the sacrifice we owe. Jesus is the only way peace is made between God and humanity.

Resolution: For not any word will be impossible with God. We don’t have to live in fear. We can have a family. We can be happy. We can have all three, if we submit to God’s plan, believe he does what he says, and obey God’s Word.

Mary says, “Behold, the bondservant of the lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”

Mary learned faith from past people of God:

· Isaiah said to God: “Here I am, send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

· Esther, planning to intercede on behalf of God’s people, said, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

· Ruth said to Naomi, “Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16).

· Job said, “Though He may slay me, my hope is in God (Job 13:15).

· And eventually Jesus: Father . . . not my will, but you will be done” (22:42).

Delay leads to doubt.

We must trust and obey God, before we understand all the details.

We should begin worship Jesus, before God completes his plan.