When God takes the lead

Intro

Luke writes the third account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ (as well as writes the book of Acts). Luke was not an eyewitness of Jesus; rather Luke researched and collected the testimonies of those who were eyewitnesses. (Scholars note) Luke's Gospel writing records a wide variety of miracles, teaching, and parables, making it the fullest portrait of Jesus’ ministry, as well as the longest of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

Luke wrote his Gospel to reassure Theophilus, a Gentile and a new believer, that God was still at work in the Christian community founded by Jesus. (NKJV Study Bible)

Luke 1:26–38 (NKJV): Gabriel Announces Christ’s Birth

Luke 1:26–38 NKJV

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 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. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 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. 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. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Emotional Faith: a journey with Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.

Today, we begin a series of messages. I've entitled the series Emotional Faith: a journey with Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.

Following Jesus, I contend, walking with God, is not a journey void of feeling...not a journey void of emotion.

First of all, I find faith to be a journey...inclusive of individual moments of belief strung together; inclusive of the in-between time...in between seasons of great confidence, seasons of troubled thoughts, seasons of doubt...

May I be honest, today?

...seasons of of joy, seasons of peace, seasons of grief, seasons of great hope and anticipation.

A journey of seasons through faith.

When the apostle Paul writes to his spiritual son Timothy, as recorded in 2 Timothy 4:7

2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

...now that I have lived a little, I can acknowledge and in ways understand that life is a journey of faith, life is full of fight, and keeping faith is no passive matter.

In fact, I find it quite emotional.

In today's text we see Mary, and hear about Joseph and Jesus…and we meet God’s angel Gabriel

I want to speak from the theme:

When God takes the lead.

Let us pray.

Context: historical, spiritual, political, geographical

Intertestamental Period

There is a historical period of time, about 400 years, considered by biblical scholars as the dark period in the history of Israel. Over about four centuries there was neither prophet nor inspired writer in Israel.

This is the interval between the Old and the New Testaments--from the cessation of OT prophecy to the beginning of the Christian era. (The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia)

The prophetic voice of God, as the Jewish people were used to hearing it/receiving it, was silent.

Spiritual Context

Spiritually, by the time of our opening text, the Jewish people were holding closely to the holy books, but specially the law--even striving after legal holiness.

(Jewish Holy Books: Torah--5 books of Moses; Prophets; Writings)

Political Context

Politically, at the time of Jesus, the Roman empire ruled. After the death of Herod the Great, his kingdom was divided among his three sons, each covering different regions, ruling over the life of the Jewish people. The Jewish people of the first century, based on prophecy they received centuries ago, were waiting for God to bring them a King...though were looking for a political victory and earthly kingdom.

(Philip ruled in the northeast areas; Herod Antipas ruled in Galilee and Perea; and Archelaus ruled Judea, Samaria, and Idumea, but only until a.d. 6; after that, Roman procurators were appointed by Caesar to rule those regions).

In the Scene

Put yourself there with Mary:

In out text today, the Jewish people--the children of Israel, have been 400 years since God spoke to them through a prophet.

Imagine: the word/the message you base your hope on is from people you've never met, from a time so distance from the time you live in today.

That day generation of Jewish people knew of prophetic words to generations past but not to their generation that day.

Enter the angel Gabriel.

Gabriel first visits the priest Zacharias to say that Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth, both advanced in age, would be having a son, John the Baptist--a prophet to be a forerunner to Jesus, to get the children of Israel to repent--to turn their hearts to the Lord their God.

Six months after Elizabeth conceives her son, the angel Gabriel makes another visit.

Nazareth of Galilee

God sent the angel Gabriel to a city, Nazareth, of Galilee.

Nazareth was a little village in Galilee, a region north of Jerusalem.

Nazareth was a place held in low regard by some. (Later, one of Jesus' future disciples would ask, referring to Jesus the Christ, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Jn 1:45-47)

Nonetheless, the angel Gabriel finds Mary where she is, in Nazareth.

Q: have you wondered at times how God finds you? If God can find you?

Let it be known that to God you are never misplaced from Him, insomuch as He knows at all times where you are.

Even now God sees you. Does that surprise you?/To some it may come as a surprise.

MARY

Now, why Mary? That's a good question.

What we know is that prophet Isaiah, long ago, prophesied about this moment, and the Jewish people were holding on to God's word:

Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

God sends the angel Gabriel specifically to Mary.

Luke 1:26–27 NKJV

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

Mary was a virgin, young (teens?) and unmarried yet, betrothed to Joseph. Betrothal was as binding as a marriage contract, though without sexual relations.

Joseph, in this moment, was away from Mary.

Luke 1:28 NKJV

And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

Q: have you ever wondered what happens when God shows up?

Maybe you already know. When God shows up, when God sends His angel and God's angel arrives on assignment, life as you know it changes. The least of which, you perspective changes.

God takes the lead.

God, through the angel Gabriel, speaks to the core of Mary.

There are 4 basic needs that drive every person and God speaks to them right now for Mary.

4 basic needs:

Acceptance. Identity. Security. Purpose.

When God speaks to the core of who you are, God is spelling out your destiny...He is getting your attention for what He is going to do.

The angel Gabriel begins with 3 things.

Gabriel says, "Rejoice", alerting Mary that she should be happy about what's coming next. "Be glad..."

ACCEPTANCE

1. "...Highly favored one..." --God speaks to Mary's need for acceptance. God chose Mary to receive His kindness. Mary doesn't deserve it. God's favor is a gift to Mary, where God is saying, "Mary, I choose you." When God chooses you, it is a relationship that is sufficient for all that God wants to do; you don't have to be worried about being accepted by your peers, being accepted by you colleagues, being accepted by your family. When God chooses you, you are divinely accepted to receive God's kindness and the best of what He has to offer you.

The Apostle Paul asked a very God question in Romans 8:31

Romans 8:31 (NKJV): What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

(Moreover, God's favor towards you is in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, where God gives salvation freely. God accepts you--"...whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

SECURITY

2. "the Lord is with you..."--God speaks to Mary's need for security. Your life is protected and resourced. To the Israelite people, God's presence was and is everything. The Israelites had an "Ark of the covenant"--a rectangular wooden box, overlaid with God, that held the Law tablets--it symbolized God's presence. The Israelites who have the ark of the Covenant where they lived, in the temple, even bring it with them into battle.

The prophet Isaiah spoke God's message:

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV): Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

IDENTITY

3. "...blessed are you among women!"--God speaks to Mary's need for Identity. Your standing is secure. Mary was blessed because she received God’s grace.

God understood that Mary lived within a certain context--a specific religious and social context--and God lets Mary know that she is blessed among women. "Mary, it may not see that you are blessed because I am about to mention to you that you will conceive out of wedlock but trust Me, you're blessed among women.

PURPOSE

4. Luke 1:31 (NKJV): "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus."--God speaks to Mary's need for Purpose. Mary you will be the Mother of Jesus.

What gets me in all of this is what is recorded in verses 29 and 30:

Luke 1:29–30 (NKJV): 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

The angel says to Mary, "do not be afraid".

God, I think that's a big ask.

Q: how do you begin to reconcile your feelings about who God calls you to be?

The angel Gabriel tells Mary, essentially, "Don't fear. "

My challenge is doesn't God know -

-that Mary conceiving a child while betrothed is reason for Joseph to end the relationship

-that where Mary lives is under the Roman Empire and that talk of another king is going to anger the current king Herod

-surely, God must know that the Israelite people/Jewish people are going to experience a genocide of all male children under age 2 in Bethlehem while King Herod tries to snuff out any potential challenger to his throne. (Matt 2:16)

-that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus will be refugees to Egypt to escape the hands of King Herod who wants to destroy Jesus. (Matt 2:13)

Yes, God knows. And God's message to Mary is, "Do not be afraid."

When God sends the angel Gabriel to Mary, God knows:

The bigger story: that there is a big picture into which the moments of Mary's life fit.

That He’s able: in fact, God chooses the two least likely candidates to prove nothing is too hard for God.

Young Mary who is a virgin and Elizabeth who is old in age. To them both God gave children. Gabriel declared (Luke 1:37 (NKJV)): For with God nothing will be impossible.”

God is dependable: God’s Word does not return unto Him void.

Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV): So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

God is an architect: God has a plan, He’s a visionary.

God is not making this up, not making up your life, as you/He/life goes along.

Romans 8:28–30 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

(NKJV): And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Closing

Do not be afraid

Romans 8:31–39 NKJV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.