Christmas Eve 2021
Notes
Transcript
His Servant....
His Servant....
Good Evening my friends, It is a joy to see you all together today for our Candle light service.
This time is a special one. As you have gathered to spend time with family and friends, we ultimately remember the the greatest gift, God’s son.
The story of Jesus coming into the world as a baby is a miraculous one, it is a story of God’s love and mercy for all mankind. And we cherish this story....
Now I want to go back tonight and focus on the Angel’s visit to Mary this evening and there is a message there we can apply to our lives for today, tomorrow and for all the days that God gives you and me/
Let me take you to Luke chapter 1, verses 26 to 38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from 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. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And 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 bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to 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.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Just a beautiful story of the God’s messenger Gabriel coming to Mary to tell her of God’s long awaited plan, and How He would use her and the child she will bring into the world.
And as the Angel come to her and gives her that message, look again at verse 38
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
With Christmas almost here, this evening I want to build off that verse for your life.... I am only gonna take a few minutes…
We know that God had long promised a deliver, His Messiah for the world to see… and His Messiah, literally His Son,,,, all through the Old Testament He repeated the story of hope fro the nation, the hope that would fulfill all of the covenant God entered into with Abraham in Genesis 12...
And now is the time… the right time as Galatians 4:4 tells us
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
And as the Angel visits Mary that night and tells her all the the Lord God desires to do in and through her life… her response is a courageous one.
Listen to verse 38 again
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Here is what we can take away today from this verse...
Remember God has ordained your steps.... You are not here by accident, He planned for your entrance into the world. We were wonderfully and fearfully made in His image and His plan is real, relevant and purposeful in your life.
Here is a great question… Have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life? Then do not doubt Him, do not doubt what he hopes to do in your life… He has a plan for you just as He did for Mary.
2. You are His servant. - when I think of the idea of a servant I am drawn to a by
gone times where lands had kings and living under those Kings meant you
were his or hers.... When we think of England today, children born there today
while they are their parents children, they are also considered Her Majesty’s
Children as well.
If you are a born again child of God, please remember You are HIs… He came
into the world to set us free from sin, to give us life and life abundantly… We
cannot lose sight of this important point, we are His
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
3. We Should Be Willing Like Mary… I am His servant, let it be in me according
to your word …Luke 1:38, That was Mary’s confession. Dear friends, Mary
didn’t understand all that the Angel was telling her, even when Gabriel
explained it to her I am sure a lot of it was beyond her comprehension. Yet,
her confession is simple… I am willing, let it be.
As we walk through this Christmas season and as we face a New Year Lord
willing, as the Lord speaks to us… you and me, let the Lord use your life...
Mary didn’t have all the answers, she didnt know Jesus would be born, would
grow up and then lay His life down for the sins of the world. Mary didn’t know
or understand any of this yet.
But no matter what the future held… She was willing!
Q. Are you willing today?
Q. Are you willing for the Lord to take your life and use it as He so wishes?
The Christmas sorry, Jesus born in a stable, being laid in a manager because there was no room for them in the inn.
Is there room for Him in your heart?
I want to encourage you to take the great gift of Jesus, eternal life that you hold in your heart and devour to allow the Lord to use you in the coming year to serve and bless those around you.
Let us pray.