PERSEVERING IN THE PLAN

So far this month we have spoken of

H - holding onto the promises of God - being patience, long suffering

O - open to a miracle, prepared and ready to receive what God is doing

This morning we come to P

Persevering in the Plan....

Perseverance is different than patience - patience talks about waiting while persevering refers to standing firm and moving forward. Not being deterred in spite of obstacles or hardships.

Romans 5:3 NLT

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

No one ever said TRUSTING in GOD and PERSEVERING through this life would be easy.

As a church, we identify that we are a COMMUNITY OF FAITH to help one another persevere through this life to the hope of eternity we all look for...

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines perseverance as:

“steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success”

The Nativity story is a profound example of the perseverance of a young woman.... however, her perseverance in God’s plan did not end at the birth of Christ, but followed through until HIs death on the cross and resurrection.

Any woman in this room will tell you that motherhood does not end the day your child turns 18!

The expectations of what being a parent looks like for a lifetime may change in nature, but continues until throughout life, the benefits of parenthood for MARY were very altered from the reality of many parents both then and now.... she would experience many difficulties - hard difficulties not because of her son’s mistakes or choices, but HIS OBEDIENCE to God’s plan and purpose.

Staying committed to the PLANS of God don’t always FEEL GOOD! Somewhere in our Western interpretation of Scripture we have come to believe we should always feel good when we are obedient to the Lord… what we need to do is remain faithful so we are VICTORIOUS!

1.Moments of Shame

Luke 1:26–38 NLT

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.” 38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Matthew 1:18–19 NLT

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

I don’t want to belabor the point, as we all have heard it discussed for years the apparent shame Mary and Joseph endured in being part of God’s plan!

The prophecy of Messiah was that he would be born to a virgin, but let’s face it, you don’t get to walk out and proclaim your a pregnant virgin and have a whole lot of people believe you.

Obviously, the Lord provided Shepherds and Wise Men and Angelic hosts and visitors to speak into their lives to assure and comfort them, but the shame in the plan was not at all easy to bear.

Had they engaged in sinful behavior they would not be a part of God’s plan --- but we know their innocence - though many would and even still question the account, we believe the supernatural power of God and eventual vindication which happened on RESURRECTION SUNDAY ---

Mary however, almost lost her betrothal, her future, and she felt the scorn of others. She was not able to have a baby and settle, but would have to flee to Egypt and then return.

Today, many who have followed after God’s calling on their lives have not realized their “earthly” potential of wealth and fame, comforts, and reputation - choosing to be obedient and put aside their goals and gains for the glory of God.

Mark 10:29–30 NLT

29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.

If you have chosen to place the plans of the Lord ahead of your own dreams and desires, remember - the Lord keeps good records!

That which may seem HUMBLING now, will be REWARDED in ETERNITY!

2. Moments of Abandonment

Yes, Mary was left abandoned for the sake of the will of the Father, the Father’s business.

It started when he was just 12

Luke 2:45–50 NLT

45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.

and again during his ministry...

Matthew 12:46–50 NLT

46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.” 48 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

Ok MOMS - how many of you want to hear these words? Experience this kind of behavior from your kids. I know, your kids aren’t the Messiah…

As the Mother of the Messiah there was some things Mary had to contend with that were not always “good feeling”

In the plan of God the Father - Jesus would have to be about HIS BUSINESS, and his earthly family would take a second seat to the ministry and mission He would fulfill...

When the other Mothers were being respected by their children, and cared for, etc — Jesus was busy with the ministry. He was the eldest son of Mary and Joseph, and Joseph now dead - she did not hold the same demand over him that many a widow could expect.

The plan of God was different for her than for others. So often we look at other people’s lives and wonder why they have certain blessings, provisions, promotions, etc - after all - are we not being faithful to the Lord?

Are we not being obedient to His plans? Then why are we sometimes feeling like others are receiving attention or have things that we cannot have in the plan?

The comparison of what others have, or how they are treated is a big thing these days - everyone wants everything equalized. Following God’s plan does not always mean having what everyone else has...

Mary had to yield many things she may have been entitled to as a Mom - because Jesus was fulfilling the mission.

3. Moments of Pain

Luke 2:35 NLT

35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

Simeon prophesied to Mary how Christ would be opposed and how a sword would pierce her soul.

Yes, she believed the prophetic word that she would be considered blessed among women, and that her role was vitally important, but being a part of God’s plan would also mean watching the suffering torture and crucifixion of her own child that she gave birth to!

The cross was a place of great sorrow for Mary. She believed her son was the Anointed One, but until she saw His resurrection, she too was left with all the agonizing questions and pain that the betrayal, trial, beating and death of Christ brought into her life.

Did she quit? Did she mock and yell at God? Did she abandon the plans the Lord had???

NO! Her life was spent yielded to the plan despite the moments of pain she endured.

She knew the truth as they mocked Jesus and spit on him and beat him. I am sure the memory of the manger was real in her mind as she glanced at the cross.

John 19:26–27 NLT

26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

Have you ever asked yourself why would Jesus call out this to John when He knew He would rise from the dead?

I think it is pretty obvious. When He rose again, He was the RESURRECTED SON OF GOD - He knew He would ascend into the throne room of the Father, He knew his meetings on earth would be focused on the PLAN to spread the GOSPEL and empower His church ---

Mary would not be the focus, in fact we don’t see anywhere in Scripture that Mary encountered Christ after his death. We assume she was amongst the disciples, and tradition tells us it had occurred, but nowhere is it written in the Word of God.

Her last moments recorded in history are at her son’s death.

Now I am confident Mary saw Him resurrected, but I think the lack of recording is purposeful as Resurrected Messiah was finalizing His work on earth, the PLAN of the FATHER.

His Resurrection was for the GLORY OF GOD not for the glory of MARY!

CONCLUSION

So Mary in following out God’s plan of redemption and her part in the same plan had to endure:

SHAME

ABANDONMENT

LACKED THE ENTITLEMENTS OF A MOTHER

FELT THE PAIN and FAREWELL His death brought

Yet, we never see her give up, we know she pondered many things, but we don’t have record of her questioning God, getting angry at God, forsaking God....

We see a woman who PERSEVERED in the plan....

Perseverance brings reward.

Truly all generations have called her BLESSED! TRULY SHE WAS!

Luke 1:48 NLT

48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.

She was the mother of the Messiah, the Savior of mankind. She was not herself a god, nor does she have power to forgive or intercede for us. She herself was not immaculate… but she is to be honored among women for the role she played ....

She yielded to the plans of the Heavenly Father for salvation to come to mankind!!!!

I believe her reward and honor in heaven will be great!!!!

Today, HOPE perseveres in the plan!!!

We may feel the deterrents of shame, pain, abandonment, loss of benefits in this life.... being servants of God is just that - servants!

However, HOPE PERSEVERES — we know when God’s plans are fulfilled they are victorious and we share in those victories!