Part 2 - A Thrill

Opening

All of us know the beautiful Christmas hymn ''O Holy Night.'' this carol was written by Adolph Charles Adam, a French composer. Ironically, it was frowned upon by church authorities who denounced it for poor taste and ''total absence of the spirit of religion.''

In the first verse the writer invites us to close our eyes and imagine the world before the birth of Jesus. He says it is a world that lay ''in sin and error pining.'' the word pining refers to the wasting away of the human spirit as it grieves and endures pain. In other words, he paints a picture of a world of darkness without light, and a world of despair without hope. But then come the next three words ''till he appeared.'' when he appeared everything changed.

Last week we started a series that will continue through this Christmas season. A series called A Thrill Of Hope. Last week we paused to look at the state of the world prior to Christ’s birth and how that relates to the current state of our world today. We found that this world was in need of a Savior. We need to do more than just believe in Christ. We need to live for Christ!

Today we will look at The Thrill that came to those involved in this incredible Hope that was being birthed for all mankind.

Scripture

Luke 1:26–33 NKJV

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. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 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.”

Body

All the thrills, feels and chills. The adrenaline rush, adventure, romance, etc...

1. The Gift

The gift from God to Mary was an Angel…

The gift from the Angel to Mary was affirmation, empowerment of her purpose…

Mary was assuming that her life was going to be normal. She was engaged to Joseph. They would be a normal Jewish family raising a normal family in a small average city. But there were greater things in store for Mary and Joseph.

Persecution is a gift… blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Unknown mysteries, wow factor,

Gold, Frankensense, Myrrh (Essential Oils) - Boring gifts

2. The Grind

Mary was given these gifts… the words, the empowerment, the affirmation, the promise, the assignment, the purpose… However it was just the beginning.

Mary had to stay engaged in the Grind of the day in and day out routine of hearing people snicker behind her back. Questioning was she really a virgin… People believing that she was a lier. Making fun of her.

She could have easily been led to step out of the grind, throw in the towel and give up. God this is just too much for me to handle. God I just can’t carry this load. God find someone else to do this work.

She could have but she kept hearing something resinating in her Spirit. She kept hearing the words of the Angel.... “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!… Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

And every time the enemy would begin to whisper words of doubt… She could only hear words of truth from the Angel of the Lord. She could have listen to those words of doubt. But she made a choice to listen to truth rather than doubt.

Truth vs. Doubt - Mary was in a difficult place in her life. But despite what was going on around her, she chose to give attention tho the thing being birthed inside her!

Goodness vs. Grinchness

Hope vs. Despair

Energetic vs. Lazy

Cheerful vs. Depression

Peace vs. Anxiety

Oh come on somebody… you’ve got to stop giving attention to the negative, doubt and fear and give attention to the very thing that’s inside of you to birth! God has chosen you for a reason!

3. The Grit

The fights… The thrilla in Manilla

Blessed Hope

Mary was given gifts from God, the Angel, the wise men…. But Mary carried baby Jesus to term, she birthed him but it wasn’t without pain, and she raised baby Jesus to become what God had spoken through the Angel.

Mary was given a gift… but it took Grit to see this gift to completion.

Luke 1:34–38 NKJV

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 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.” 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.

Closing