December 24, 2015

"Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what sort of greeting this might be." Luke 1:29

God called a teen-aged Jewish girl named Mary to commit to an overwhelming life-changing experience so He could offer life-change to a world overwhelmed with sin.

And while we find her feeling overwhelmed at the beginning of this story it ends with her being overjoyed. 

How did she go from being overwhelmed to being overjoyed?

That's what we are considering around the blessed Christmas Holiday 2015.

First, let's consider what overwhelmed her.

She was overwhelmed when an angel from God appeared to her. 

I can't speak for you but I would find the sudden and unexpected appearance of an Archangel an overwhelming experience.

So did Mary.

Anytime you are confronted by God it is overwhelming because you are reminded of His holiness and your humanity. 

She was overwhelmed by the angel's announcement.

Anytime you are confronted by God He calls you to surrender your will to His will. That is an overwhelming proposition.

Have you been confronted by God's will and not found it overwhelming? I haven't because to start doing His will means I must cease doing mine.

We know Mary was overwhelmed by virtue of her announcements to the angel:

V. 29 - "Mary was greatly troubled at his words......"

V. 30 - "How can this be possible since I am a virgin?"

The reason we are having this conversation about Mary is because even though she was overwhelmed by His will she was open to it. She didn't say, "No" she asked, "How"?

I find it very encouraging that when God knew she was willing to obey, He helped her by speaking to some of her concerns. God helps those who want to obey!

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed around the Christmas Holiday Season?

Perhaps you are there now!

You are in good company!

Despite the manic attempts by our culture to secularize Christmas, still it confronts you with the will of God. Could it be that you would rather overwhelm yourself with Christmas shopping, Christmas parties, Christmas baking, Christmas decorating and Christmas gift-wrapping rather than allow yourself to be confronted by God?

December 23, 2015

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,  and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:26-34

“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” Luke 1:46-55

The first chapter of Luke is one of the most exciting chapters in the Bible because it announces two miraculous births – the births of John the Baptist and of Jesus!

I selected these two portions of Scripture from Luke 1 because they first show in the beginning Mary is overwhelmed but at the end she is overjoyed! (Actually, the same is true of Zechariah and Elizabeth).

How do you go from being overwhelmed to being overjoyed! How does that happen?

Christmas Season is supposed to be a season when Christians are overjoyed but I find they are often overwhelmed so it is important to understand how Mary began that first Christmas overwhelmed but ended it overjoyed.

Before I explore that further I want to ask you to think about the last time you were overjoyed about your life.

Can you remember?

Let me ask you this, “Before you were overjoyed, was there a season where you were overwhelmed?”

I thought so!

That was true of Mary, it was true of Zechariah, it’s often true of people I minister to and it has been true in my life!

Seasons of praise usually arise out of seasons of pressure and problems.

Is that not true?

Have you thought of that?

Maybe you should!

That’s one of the great truths of Christmas! God sent Jesus to give overwhelmed people a chance to become overjoyed!

December 22, 2015

^“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel…..” Luke 1:26-34

God’s will presents you with two difficulties:

1) Discerning it, and:

2) Doing it after you have discerned it

God’s will was to have a Son and save the world.

Mary’s desire was to have her wedding.

You will see God’s will one of two ways, either as a problem or as a possibility. One of the things that made Mary exceptional is that she embraced the possibilities of the angel’s announcement once it was presented to her.

Now, granted, having an angel announce God’s will makes it much easier to discern! I can honestly say an angel has never appeared to me to reveal His will.

Even though God’s will was clearly presented to her and she knew the problems it would create for her and for Joseph she didn’t back away from submitting to His will.

One of the reasons God was able to accomplish a wonderful world-charging plan through Mary is because she chose to focus on the possibilities rather than the problems.

How did she do that?

Why did she do that?

The answer to both of those questions is the same: she loved God’s will more than she loved her own wedding plan. She didn’t deny the potential problems or discount them she just valued the God’s plan above her own pain. She valued God’s purpose more than her own peace of mind. She believed the power of God that would accomplish His purpose could also bring her through the problems associated with it. Mary chose to focus on the possibilities of God’s will because she was convinced of His power, she was called to His purpose and she was committed to His plan.

She surrendered her wedding but she saved her world.

Mary chose the possibilities of God’s will despite the problems it caused her. She understood that the biggest problem would have been to deny God’s will and disobey Him.

This lesson of Christmas is clear:

God’s will is more rewarding that your will.

God’s plan is more righteous that your plan.

God’s purpose is more redemptive than your purpose

God’s power is a resource sufficient for your problems.

And, God’s possibilities are released through your obedience.

December 21, 2015

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”   Luke 2:10-11

God Is Aware Of Your Fear!

Fear usually arises out of our weakness or areas where we feel out of control. God knows that.

Zechariah and Elizabeth lived under the fear that they would be judged as less spiritual because they were childless. Children were seen as a sign of God’s blessing and God’s blessing was considered a reward for your level of spirituality.

So, Zechariah had labored faithfully as a priest but had done so with a heavy heart over being childless and being disrespected because of something he couldn’t control.

You get a sense for the level of his disappointment when he hesitated to believe the angel’s announcement.

But to that fear the angel spoke, “Fear not!”

Mary’s biggest fear after being assured that God would cause her to become pregnant with the divine child even though she was a virgin, was how her pregnancy would be viewed by Joseph and the rest of her neighbors in Nazareth.

What if Joseph didn’t believe her story and chose to divorce her? She had no control over how he would respond.

What if the people of the town didn’t believe her story – she could be stoned to death! She had no control over what they might decide to do.

Those were very real fears, but to them the angel spoke, “Fear Not!”

Out on the Judean hillside those shepherds also struggled with fears. They feared insignificance. All they were was lowly shepherd, some of the most overlooked and unappreciated people in the land. The shepherds had little control over the level of disrespect they received but it was hard to take.

But God valued them and gave them significance by sending the angel to say, “Feat not!”

You and I see our weaknesses as obstacles to faith, but God sees our weaknesses as opportunities to show His power!

As God told St. Paul, “My strength is made perfect in your weakness!”

The exciting news is that God used weak and fearful people to change the world! He met them in their doubts and at their inadequacies and in their anxiety and unleashed His power through them.

You may feel weak and your life out of control but "Fear not" a miracle is on its way!

December 20, 2015

"How will this be,” Mary asked the angel…….”  Luke 1:34

Have you ever had a “How will this be” moment with God?

Perhaps we could paraphrase it to “How is this possible”?

Here we find Mary having one of those moments.

Maybe you are having one right now.

Allow me to suggest a few things you can learn from Mary in her “how is this possible” moment.

First, notice what she didn’t say. She didn’t say, “This can’t be” or “This isn’t possible”. She didn’t doubt God she was just looking for some clarification. That’s a significant difference!

By the way, God answered her question!

Second, she was honest about her limitations but didn’t allow them to limit God! One of the keys to learning what God can do is admitting what you can’t do.

Her humility opened the door to God’s purpose to be fulfilled through her and His power to work in her!

Are you honest to God?

Third, Mary didn’t let her past experiences limit her future expectations. Have you ever heard of a virgin becoming pregnant? She hadn’t either. But when God’s angel announced to her it would happen she was open to the idea.

It’s easy to allow your familiarity with the natural to hinder your faith in the supernatural.

Fourth, Mary understood God calls you to a God-sized task. Anything you can go without Him is not of Him. If you can accomplish anything without Him He will let you do it.

Anything God calls you to do will be impossible to do – without Him.

Finally, Mary cared more about pleasing God than she did about protecting herself. Becoming pregnant out of wedlock was punishable made her subject to death by stoning. If her finance, Joseph wanted to have her stoned he could demanded it. Or, he could have shamed her and humiliated her and then divorced her. Any man in that area would have nothing to do with her after that public shaming.

Her reputation would be shot the moment word of her condition became public. Her marriage plans would be ruined once it was known she was pregnant.

Joseph would be put to shame by her pregnancy as well. He was a local businessman who’s reputation was important in this town.

This was a socially dangerous and degrading assignment God was asking Mary to accept. It would have been easy for her to have chosen to protect herself rather than please God. She chose to please God.

Are you a God-pleaser or a people-pleaser?

The next time you are facing a “how will this be” moment, stop and think about Mary the mother of Jesus.

December 19, 2015

"And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their throne and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers and to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” Luke 1:46-55

These verses comprise one of the greatest expressions of praise in a Bible filled with praises. Some people call it the "Magnificat" and it is highly revered by all Christians whether Catholic or Protestant.

What prompted this praise?

That is a great question and the answers are even better!

First, Mary is praising God because He chose to use her to bring the Savior to the world! 

I can’t think of anything that inspires praise in me more than when God chooses to use me. How about you? I mean, seriously, what is better than being used by God to accomplish something you could never do on your own? That’s about as good as it gets!

How has God been using you lately?

Have you praised him for it?

Second, Mary is praising God because He is bringing salvation to her! As Mark Lowery observes in the powerful lyrics of his inspiring song, “Mary Did You Know”, the child that she delivered would soon deliver her!

If you cannot praise God for bringing you salvation then you aren’t praiseworthy….I just don’t know what else to say about that.

There is no higher personal reason for praising God than the gift of salvation!

When was the last time you praised God for your salvation?

Third, Mary praises God because His Kingdom has come with the birth of His Son!

God’s Kingdom turned the world upside down! The powerful are humbled and the powerless are lifted up! The captives are set free! The blind will be made to see and the lame walk again. Those in darkness are brought into the light and the hungry are fed!

Mary’s Son declared God’s Kingdom with His teaching, He demonstrated God’s Kingdom with His miracles and then He delivered God’s Kingdom with His death and resurrection!

Jesus won back what Adam lost! That’s a reason for praise!

And, Fourth, Mary is praising God because He kept His promises! The birth, the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus fulfilled over 300 promises of God!

Aren’t you excited about a God who does what He promises?

Isn’t that a reason for praise?

It is also a reason for hope because if God has kept His promises from the past you can be confident in His promises for your future!

When did you last praise God for His promises?

The Christmas Season is a reason for praise!

Will you praise Him today?

December 18, 2015

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of GRACE and TRUTH.” John 1:14

That just has a nice sound to it doesn’t it – “full of grace and truth”?

I could love a God like that! I could trust Him to love me!

What a joy to know that the very same Word Who spoke the universe into existence with just a few words, tempers all that power and authority with grace and with truth! I wouldn’t want One who possessed that much might being spiteful or dishonest. Would you?

Amazingly, not only does His grace and truth keep His massive power in check but grace and truth balance each other.

Grace, as wonderful as it is, can actually become harmful if not balanced by truth.

I’m sure you have known people who are so gracious they allow others to get away with harmful and unhealthy behavior. A good relationship requires boundaries that make grace meaningful. Those boundaries are formed and established by truth. That is best illustrated by the Ten Commandments God gave His people on their way to the Promised Land. He wanted them to prosper toward Him, their families and in society, so He established the guardrails of truth to define healthy relationships.

This wasn’t in my notes, but as a parallel thought here, remember when Jesus said that He didn’t come to abolish the Commandments but to fulfill them? In part, this is what He was talking about. Check out the Commandments and you will see that all ten deal with relationships. And Who better to demonstrate for us how relationships should work than God in the flesh?

Jesus even tried to simplify it for us by reducing truth into two big concepts – “Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself”. Truth and grace are to define our daily reality and our relationships.

The Master also made it plain He could help us execute those two realities by identifying Himself as, “the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life”. Anyone see a theme developing here?

Have you noticed how much trouble people create for themselves and others when they try to become arbiters of truth? No wonder our culture is so bad at relationships! How can I ever hope to have a healthy relationship with you when we are operating from two different versions of truth? The only way I can extend you grace is if you line up with my version of truth! It is hard to love someone you are tying to dominate. If I am trying to manipulate you and control you and cajole you with attempts to force you into my reality, how can that foster trust or respect (the two foundations of healthy love)? Hello, conflict! Hello, conditional love!

Truth and grace in proper balance equal unconditional love! That is exactly why that Baby was born in that manger two millennia ago! That’s why Christmas should count!

Aren’t you glad that the Word came “full of grace and truth”? Will you, like Mary, ponder these things in your heart and let His Holy Spirit of truth minister to you?