Hello, friends.
Welcome to 3ABN Worship Hour.
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I'm John Lomacang,
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pastor of the Thompsonville
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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and Director of
World Evangelism for 3ABN.
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Welcome to what I refer to
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as a very thought-provoking
message entitled,
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A Baby had Mary.
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I said that correctly.
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A lot of you might be
thinking, "Wait a minute,
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Mary had a baby."
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We'll find out what
that means in just a moment.
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But I pray that this time
of the year find you well,
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find you strong in the Lord,
and if that's not the case,
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I pray to encourage you
and direct your heart and mind
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in a way and in a direction
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where the Lord can bless you
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and bring about in you the gift
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that He intends
to give to all of us,
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the gift of salvation.
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But right now let's
go to the Lord in prayer
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asking Him to
bless this message.
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Let's bow.
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Gracious Father in
heaven, we thank You
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that truly
anytime we open Your Word,
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Your Holy Spirit will
guide our hearts and minds.
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Bless now this message
and may the intended targets,
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the audience,
those who are listening,
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those who are watching,
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may they receive
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what You have
packed into this sermon,
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but may the gift and
the glory go only to You.
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We pray in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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It is a very short
passage in the Book of Matthew,
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Matthew 1:21, but
before I read that,
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let me just give you a
little backdrop to the title.
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You know, years ago,
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and some of you may
have had the same experience.
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We have always been thrilled
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by the story of
Mary having a baby.
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But I thought about that
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in the context of
the Christian life
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because us having Jesus
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and Jesus having us
is not the same thing,
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quite differently.
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You see the concept
of Mary having Jesus
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suggest that she can do
with Jesus as she pleases.
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But if you flip that
around, when Jesus has us,
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He can do with us as He pleases.
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So I began to see the story
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in a completely different light,
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even though Mary
was heaven's chosen
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delivery method
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of bringing the
greatest gift to humanity.
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Really, in fact,
the baby was in charge.
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So allow me to introduce
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what I refer to
as the understatement
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of Christianity.
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The reality is,
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we don't have
Jesus, Jesus has us.
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Even though Mary
physically had Jesus,
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Jesus spiritually had Mary.
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We don't work in Him to will
and to do of our good pleasure.
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Philippians 2:13 says,
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"It is God who works in you
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both to will and to
do of His good pleasure."
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So the work that's being
done in our lives is not us,
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using God to
accomplish anything,
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but it's God using us
to accomplish everything,
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for He will finish the work,
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and He will cut it
short in righteousness.
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When that became clear to me,
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my Christian walk
became much lighter.
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In other words, I knew that
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as long as I invited
Jesus to come on the inside,
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He will both will and
do of His good pleasure.
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I recognize it is no
longer I who live but Christ,
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who lives in me.
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I recognize that
since I have died to sin,
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and since I've died to self,
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it is Christ who
is now accomplishing
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His will in my life.
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My life then
becomes a living sacrifice,
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holy and acceptable to God, how?
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Because God is holy and
when God abides within us,
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then our lives become holy,
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we literally and
spiritually become the temple
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out of which God works.
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And the glory of
God is then seen.
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So then you can begin to
see let your light so shine,
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it makes a lot of sense
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because when God sends
His Son to live within us,
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His Son accomplishes,
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both to will and to
do of His good pleasure.
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But we begin with
the mission of Jesus.
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The mission of Jesus
was abundantly clear.
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In Matthew 1:21
we read the words,
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"And she will bring forth a Son,
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and you shall
call His name Jesus,
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for He will save His
people from their sins."
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Notice, call His name Jesus.
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He's the one
doing the salvation,
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He will save His
people from their sins.
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When you understand
the beauty of this text,
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you have to look in
to the historical context
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because the historical
context gives us a framework
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that teaches us
the beauty of patience
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because 14
generations had passed
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since the captivity
of Israel and Babylon,
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since they were slaves
in that province in Babylon
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when Gabriel,
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God's faithful
angel was still busy.
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And when you think about it,
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Gabriel the angel
who came to answer
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Daniel's most fervent
prayer was also the same angel
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that came to bring
this good news to Mary.
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But very few of us understand
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the reality of
having Jesus in our lives
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better than a little
teenage girl named Mary.
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Now I'm sure if she
had anything to do with it,
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how Jesus would
have entered the world,
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she would have done
it quite differently.
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But Mary was not
in control, Jesus was.
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Jesus was in control,
Jesus chose the method
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of His entrance into the world.
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Let's look at Luke Chapter 1.
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Luke 1:26-28.
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And what you're going to
find is when God chooses us,
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our lives are about to be
turned upside down, inside out
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because there's nothing
more helpless to the Christian
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than realizing
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that the greatest blessing comes
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when we stop trying
to control our lives,
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and give our lives
to the total control
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of the presence of Jesus in us.
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Look at Luke 1:26-28.
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It describes the
activity of Gabriel
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as it relates to Mary.
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The Bible says,
"Now in the sixth month,"
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and you'll find out
what that six month means,
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"the angel Gabriel
was sent by God to a city
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of Galilee named Nazareth,
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to a virgin betrothed to a
man whose name was Joseph,"
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they were more than engaged,
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"of the house of David.
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The virgin's name was Mary."
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And verse 28.
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"And having come in,
the angel said to her,
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'Rejoice, highly favored
one, the Lord is with you,
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blessed are you among women!'"
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Now the Bible doesn't tell us
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the time of the
day of the salutation,
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the Bible tells us,
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it doesn't tell us where
the encounter took place,
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but if it were
morning, midday, or evening,
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whatever the case may be,
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it is not normal for
an angel just to show up
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and interrupt your life and say,
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"Rejoice highly favored
one, the Lord is with you."
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I've never had
that kind of encounter.
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And I believe that your life
will be immediately transformed
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if your doorbell rang.
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And instead of
being a FedEx guy,
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or UPS or postal service worker,
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you see an angel there saying,
"Rejoice highly favored one.
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Blessed are you."
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You see, when the Lord shows up,
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it's more than a
normal experience.
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It's far beyond
anything that we can imagine.
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So when we ask the
Lord to come into our lives,
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be ready for a
divine interruption,
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but know this,
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divine interruptions
produce divine results.
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Whatever the setting,
Mary reacted to Gabriel
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the way that
many of us would have.
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Look at what she
said in verse 29 and 30
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of Luke Chapter 1.
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The Bible says,
"But when she saw him,"
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notice this,
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"she was troubled at his saying,
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and considered the
manner of greeting this way."
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Verse 30.
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"Then the angel said to
her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary,
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for you have
found favor with God.'"
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This is a beautiful passage.
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The Bible says she
has found favor with God.
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You know, one of the
prayers I've had in my life
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is that God would
find favor in my life.
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Let me pause on
that just for a moment
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because when the Lord
is looking into the earth,
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looking for those who
would stand in integrity,
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and in honesty,
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and allow his life
or her life to be used
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for God's glory to be seen,
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we find favor with God.
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God says, "That's
a safe young lady,
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that's a safe young man,
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that's a safe person that
I can allow My Holy Spirit
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to work through and work in."
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So for God to say to Mary,
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you have found favor with God.
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God didn't just choose anybody.
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He chose somebody that He knew
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would participate
with heaven's plan.
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God chose Mary
because Mary was loyal to God.
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God looks for those
that are loyal to Him.
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Listen to the
prophet in 2 Chronicles 16:9,
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what a powerful passage.
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He writes, "For
the eyes of the Lord
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run to and fro
throughout the earth,
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to show Himself strong
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on behalf of those
whose heart is loyal to Him."
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If you want to see
God show up in your life,
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become loyal to God.
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What does that mean?
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That means when
the voice to the left
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is calling you ignore it,
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but when the voice of God
to the right is calling you
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respond to it.
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As the young boy Samuel said,
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"Speak Lord for
Your servant heareth."
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And the Lord says,
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"You will hear a
voice behind you saying,
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this is the way walk you in it."
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When God is directing your
path and you respond to it,
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God will show Himself strong
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in behalf of those
whose heart is loyal to Him.
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Today, your
greatest blessing can begin
00:10:32.19\00:10:35.60
when you decide that your heart
is going to be loyal to God.
00:10:35.63\00:10:38.90
And in this world today,
00:10:38.93\00:10:40.27
when everybody's
calling for attention,
00:10:40.30\00:10:41.84
it's so good to
know that you decide,
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you make a decision,
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and you desire to have the Lord,
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occupy your heart,
00:10:48.44\00:10:50.01
and you decide to be
loyal to God, continuing.
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As we look at Mary's life,
00:10:55.62\00:10:56.95
this was not an
everyday occurrence
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in Mary's life,
00:10:58.85\00:11:00.19
her eyes and her
voice said it all,
00:11:00.22\00:11:02.29
but Gabriel
decided to comfort her.
00:11:02.32\00:11:05.03
Just imagine, if
your teenage daughter
00:11:05.06\00:11:07.80
maybe 17, 18 years old,
00:11:07.83\00:11:09.76
maybe even 16
because history suggests that
00:11:09.80\00:11:12.63
she was a young lady.
00:11:12.67\00:11:14.17
She was not married
before, she never had children,
00:11:14.20\00:11:16.64
she was a virgin
according to the scriptures.
00:11:16.67\00:11:19.17
And whatever time of day it was,
00:11:19.21\00:11:20.68
she's now having a
conversation with an angel,
00:11:20.71\00:11:23.68
who she's never seen before.
00:11:23.71\00:11:26.35
But he decided to comfort her.
00:11:26.38\00:11:28.08
Luke 1:31-33, he said to her,
00:11:28.12\00:11:31.99
"And behold, you
will conceive in your womb
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and bring forth a Son,
00:11:34.46\00:11:35.79
and shall call His name Jesus."
00:11:35.82\00:11:38.06
Verse 32, "He will be great,
00:11:38.09\00:11:40.70
and will be called
the Son of the Highest,"
00:11:40.73\00:11:44.07
how many pre-mothers
have heard that statement,
00:11:44.10\00:11:47.27
"and the Lord God will give Him
00:11:47.30\00:11:49.37
the throne of His father David.
00:11:49.40\00:11:51.51
And He will reign
00:11:51.54\00:11:52.87
over the house of Jacob forever,
00:11:52.91\00:11:54.68
and of His kingdom
there will be no end."
00:11:54.71\00:11:57.65
Now I know you heard something,
but I think you missed it.
00:11:57.68\00:12:00.42
The angel right away said,
00:12:00.45\00:12:02.62
His father is not
going to be Joseph,
00:12:02.65\00:12:05.25
His father is going to be David.
00:12:05.29\00:12:07.56
And if she knew
anything about her lineage,
00:12:07.59\00:12:09.76
she probably said to
herself, "Wait a minute,
00:12:09.79\00:12:11.96
I'm engaged to Joseph,
you have this all wrong."
00:12:11.99\00:12:15.00
But the angel
didn't have it wrong
00:12:15.03\00:12:16.63
because God planned
long before this day,
00:12:16.67\00:12:20.60
for His plan to be accomplished,
00:12:20.64\00:12:22.54
according to the
lineage of David.
00:12:22.57\00:12:24.97
Why the lineage of David?
00:12:25.01\00:12:26.98
You see, the seed of Christ
00:12:27.01\00:12:28.61
was to bring more than
00:12:28.64\00:12:29.98
just another
child into the world,
00:12:30.01\00:12:31.35
the seed of the Holy Spirit
00:12:31.38\00:12:33.15
was not just to bring
another child into the world.
00:12:33.18\00:12:35.85
It was to bring the
person of Jesus into the world.
00:12:35.88\00:12:39.35
And this was forecast
for decades for aeons.
00:12:39.39\00:12:42.96
So when he said, of
his father's house, David,
00:12:42.99\00:12:46.96
Mary thought, this is going
to really be a difficult thing
00:12:47.00\00:12:49.96
for Joseph to understand
00:12:50.00\00:12:51.50
that this child is not his,
00:12:51.53\00:12:53.67
but this is something that
00:12:53.70\00:12:55.04
God has foreknown and
planned long before this.
00:12:55.07\00:12:59.57
Gabriel was clear
about his commission.
00:12:59.61\00:13:01.91
And Gabriel was clear about
what God had told him to do.
00:13:01.94\00:13:05.35
But Mary had a question.
00:13:05.38\00:13:06.98
Look at verse 34.
00:13:07.02\00:13:09.02
She had a good question.
00:13:09.05\00:13:11.69
"Then Mary said to the
angel, 'How can this be,
00:13:11.72\00:13:15.06
since I do not know a man?'"
00:13:15.09\00:13:17.83
Now let me pause
there for a moment.
00:13:17.86\00:13:19.66
She had the biological
process clear in her mind.
00:13:19.69\00:13:23.03
She says, "Wait a minute,
00:13:23.06\00:13:24.40
I'm having a child
00:13:24.43\00:13:25.77
without any kind of
connection to anyone.
00:13:25.80\00:13:27.44
I'm having a child.
00:13:27.47\00:13:28.90
And Joseph and I
are not even married.
00:13:28.94\00:13:31.61
How can this be?
00:13:31.64\00:13:33.21
I don't even know a man."
00:13:33.24\00:13:36.24
Don't run to pass.
00:13:36.28\00:13:37.61
Don't run past that too quickly.
00:13:37.65\00:13:39.11
What is she saying?
00:13:39.15\00:13:40.72
Well, if you look
at the Bible narrative,
00:13:40.75\00:13:42.25
you'll see that
when Peter denied Jesus,
00:13:42.28\00:13:44.52
he said, I don't know the man.
00:13:44.55\00:13:47.16
That's why he denied him.
00:13:47.19\00:13:48.52
He did not know the man.
00:13:48.56\00:13:49.89
Mary said, "I don't know a man."
00:13:49.92\00:13:52.13
Which means she's saying
00:13:52.16\00:13:53.50
how is this biological
process is going to take place.
00:13:53.53\00:13:56.73
But in both the instances,
look at the comparison.
00:13:56.77\00:13:59.70
In both the instances,
00:13:59.73\00:14:01.34
there is nothing that
can happen in your life
00:14:01.37\00:14:03.94
until you know
the man, Christ Jesus.
00:14:03.97\00:14:07.18
You may try to change your life,
00:14:07.21\00:14:09.18
change the way you eat,
00:14:09.21\00:14:10.58
change the way you dress,
change the way you worship,
00:14:10.61\00:14:13.35
but you cannot do it
until you know the man.
00:14:13.38\00:14:15.48
That's what the Bible says.
00:14:15.52\00:14:16.85
And this is life eternal,
00:14:16.89\00:14:18.22
that you know God
00:14:18.25\00:14:19.59
that you know the only
true God and Jesus Christ
00:14:19.62\00:14:21.92
whom He has sent.
00:14:21.96\00:14:23.29
You've got to know the man
00:14:23.32\00:14:24.89
for there to be any
changes in your life.
00:14:24.93\00:14:27.26
So she was right.
00:14:27.30\00:14:28.63
And Peter was also right.
00:14:28.66\00:14:30.00
I don't know a
man, how can this be?
00:14:30.03\00:14:32.83
Look at verse 35,
00:14:32.87\00:14:34.90
the angel
explains how it can be.
00:14:34.94\00:14:38.57
"And the angel
answered and said to her,"
00:14:38.61\00:14:40.48
listen to what he said,
00:14:40.51\00:14:42.11
"'The Holy Spirit
will come upon you,
00:14:42.14\00:14:46.35
and the power of the
Highest will overshadow you,
00:14:46.38\00:14:49.78
therefore, also, that Holy One
00:14:49.82\00:14:54.96
who is to be born
00:14:54.99\00:14:56.49
will be called the Son of God.'"
00:14:56.52\00:14:59.46
Wow! Think about that.
00:14:59.49\00:15:02.03
He is saying to her
what is in fact true about
00:15:02.06\00:15:05.27
the gospel narrative
00:15:05.30\00:15:07.10
until the Holy
Spirit overshadows us.
00:15:07.14\00:15:11.14
Let me say that one more time.
00:15:11.17\00:15:13.51
Until we are imbued by the power
00:15:13.54\00:15:16.14
of the Holy Spirit of God,
00:15:16.18\00:15:18.25
there will be no
changes in our lives.
00:15:18.28\00:15:20.38
He said, "The Holy
Spirit will come upon you."
00:15:20.42\00:15:23.15
Just like the day of Pentecost.
00:15:23.18\00:15:25.09
What happened on
the day of Pentecost?
00:15:25.12\00:15:26.92
The power of heaven took
hold of regular ordinary men
00:15:26.96\00:15:31.56
who prayed for the
Lord to use their lives,
00:15:31.59\00:15:33.83
ordinary men and ordinary women
00:15:33.86\00:15:36.56
were overcome by the
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:15:36.60\00:15:40.24
When that happens,
00:15:40.27\00:15:41.90
he explains
exactly what takes place.
00:15:41.94\00:15:43.87
The power of the
Highest will overshadow you.
00:15:43.91\00:15:47.18
Wow!
00:15:47.21\00:15:48.54
What an amazing thing.
00:15:48.58\00:15:49.91
So she now knows
00:15:49.94\00:15:51.28
before she gets
married to Joseph,
00:15:51.31\00:15:53.45
God's greatest
blessing has just come to her
00:15:53.48\00:15:56.65
in the context of
her worst dilemma.
00:15:56.69\00:16:00.89
Now grab that for a moment.
00:16:00.92\00:16:02.82
You know, friends, sometimes
00:16:02.86\00:16:04.53
God's greatest
blessing will come to you.
00:16:04.56\00:16:07.46
And it will often begin
looking like your worst dilemma
00:16:07.50\00:16:11.83
because it'll be
difficult to explain to anybody
00:16:11.87\00:16:14.27
what's happening in your life.
00:16:14.30\00:16:15.80
And I'm sure that
Mary thought about it.
00:16:15.84\00:16:18.21
She was planning to
have a child one day,
00:16:18.24\00:16:20.64
but not before her marriage.
00:16:20.68\00:16:23.18
Try explaining
that to your husband,
00:16:23.21\00:16:25.21
to be or your mother.
00:16:25.25\00:16:27.05
Having a
conversation with an angel
00:16:27.08\00:16:29.98
is something that
many people don't do.
00:16:30.02\00:16:32.35
As a matter of
fact, I've never had,
00:16:32.39\00:16:33.89
I've not seen an angel.
00:16:33.92\00:16:35.32
Maybe I entertained one unaware.
00:16:35.36\00:16:37.59
But Mary is having a
serious dilemma long before
00:16:37.63\00:16:40.26
she even says to Joseph I do.
00:16:40.30\00:16:44.30
The unfolding events in her life
00:16:44.33\00:16:47.27
will bring the
power of the Highest,
00:16:47.30\00:16:49.64
but will bring
an earthly dilemma.
00:16:49.67\00:16:52.37
Let me pause and
speak to you for a moment.
00:16:52.41\00:16:54.48
You might be one going
through a dilemma right now
00:16:54.51\00:16:57.21
wondering why the
dilemma has come to you.
00:16:57.25\00:17:00.95
I say again, sometimes
God's greatest blessing
00:17:00.98\00:17:04.05
begins as an
unquestionable dilemma.
00:17:04.09\00:17:07.99
It may be glad eventually,
00:17:08.02\00:17:10.33
but when you're in the
midst of something that
00:17:10.36\00:17:11.99
you are not in control of,
00:17:12.03\00:17:13.50
it looks like something
that you can't get out of.
00:17:13.53\00:17:15.80
God's timing is always on time.
00:17:15.83\00:17:19.77
If God has brought you
to a situation in your life
00:17:19.80\00:17:22.07
that's
challenging you right now,
00:17:22.10\00:17:23.81
hold on because the
Lord will never bring to us
00:17:23.84\00:17:26.68
something that will
not work out for our good
00:17:26.71\00:17:29.31
because He says all
things work together for good
00:17:29.34\00:17:32.51
to those who love God,
00:17:32.55\00:17:33.88
and those who are the
called according to His purpose.
00:17:33.92\00:17:37.02
But there are
times when we are glad
00:17:37.05\00:17:39.22
and there are other times
00:17:39.25\00:17:40.72
when we are in a predicament.
00:17:40.76\00:17:42.62
And there are those
00:17:42.66\00:17:43.99
that the Lord knows
can help us through.
00:17:44.03\00:17:46.46
You know, I've seen people
that have had predicaments.
00:17:46.49\00:17:48.86
And they say if it
wasn't for so and so,
00:17:48.90\00:17:51.03
my life would have fallen apart.
00:17:51.07\00:17:52.40
But God sent that
young lady at the right time,
00:17:52.43\00:17:54.67
or God sent my
cousin at the right time,
00:17:54.70\00:17:56.87
or God sent the
pastor at the right time,
00:17:56.91\00:17:59.21
I was in a pickle,
00:17:59.24\00:18:00.58
but God knew exactly who to send
00:18:00.61\00:18:02.88
and when to send that person.
00:18:02.91\00:18:04.78
Gabriel suggested that Mary,
00:18:04.81\00:18:07.75
you are not the
only one in this dilemma.
00:18:07.78\00:18:10.62
Now you may
remember just a moment ago,
00:18:10.65\00:18:12.15
I said the sixth month.
00:18:12.19\00:18:13.56
Why would Gabriel
say the sixth month?
00:18:13.59\00:18:15.89
Let's look at verse 36 and 37.
00:18:15.92\00:18:18.66
He showed up not
in the six months
00:18:18.69\00:18:21.23
of Mary's pregnancy,
00:18:21.26\00:18:23.16
he showed up in the sixth
month of Elizabeth's pregnancy.
00:18:23.20\00:18:27.27
Look at verse 36 and 37.
00:18:27.30\00:18:29.70
The Bible says, "Now indeed,
00:18:29.74\00:18:31.07
Elizabeth your relative
00:18:31.11\00:18:32.77
has also conceived
a son in her old age,"
00:18:32.81\00:18:36.21
another impossibility,
00:18:36.24\00:18:37.98
but nothing impossible for
God, and he goes on to say,
00:18:38.01\00:18:41.98
"and this is now
the sixth month for her
00:18:42.02\00:18:45.25
who was called barren.
00:18:45.29\00:18:47.39
For with God
nothing will be impossible."
00:18:47.42\00:18:50.03
Did you hear
what the angel said?
00:18:50.06\00:18:51.49
This is what
happened to the person
00:18:51.53\00:18:53.66
that society called barren.
00:18:53.70\00:18:55.80
You might be that person
00:18:55.83\00:18:57.17
that thinks your life is barren.
00:18:57.20\00:18:58.53
You'll never amount to anything.
00:18:58.57\00:19:00.07
You'll never get to
what you're aiming at.
00:19:00.10\00:19:01.74
You'll never
accomplish the things
00:19:01.77\00:19:03.10
that you put down on paper.
00:19:03.14\00:19:04.47
But God knows how to
transform barren lives.
00:19:04.51\00:19:07.68
God knows how to
change barren situations.
00:19:07.71\00:19:10.41
Your plan sometimes
have to be interrupted
00:19:10.45\00:19:13.15
for God's plan
to come to fruition
00:19:13.18\00:19:16.08
because He says I know
the plans I have for you,
00:19:16.12\00:19:18.85
plans to give you
prosperity and not to harm you,
00:19:18.89\00:19:21.72
to give you a future and a hope.
00:19:21.76\00:19:23.66
So if you feel barren,
God is saying empty yourself
00:19:23.69\00:19:27.70
so that I can
fill you with My plan.
00:19:27.73\00:19:29.80
And I can tell you
from personal experience,
00:19:29.83\00:19:32.13
God's plan is always the best.
00:19:32.17\00:19:35.64
In the midst of Mary's
dilemma, she's still obedient,
00:19:35.67\00:19:40.78
but now she knows
that there's someone
00:19:40.81\00:19:42.78
who understands
what she's going through.
00:19:42.81\00:19:45.65
Friend, never think
that you're the only one.
00:19:45.68\00:19:48.08
So many people face trials.
00:19:48.12\00:19:49.92
And they say,
"I'm the only one."
00:19:49.95\00:19:51.65
You're not the only one.
00:19:51.69\00:19:53.15
Nothing has overtaken you
but such as is common to man.
00:19:53.19\00:19:56.49
If you feel you're
going through something
00:19:56.52\00:19:58.03
that nobody can identify with.
00:19:58.06\00:19:59.56
There's somebody
that can identify with it.
00:19:59.59\00:20:02.43
Notice what Mary's response was.
00:20:02.46\00:20:04.73
When she knew that the
angel was giving her good news.
00:20:04.77\00:20:07.67
Here is the attitude
00:20:07.70\00:20:09.04
that every one of us should have
00:20:09.07\00:20:11.17
when God is trying
to work on our lives.
00:20:11.21\00:20:13.21
Look at verse 38.
00:20:13.24\00:20:15.61
"Then Mary said, 'Behold,
the maidservant of the Lord!
00:20:15.64\00:20:21.28
Let it be to me
according to your word.'
00:20:21.32\00:20:25.42
And the angel
departed from her.'"
00:20:25.45\00:20:28.36
You know why he
departed from her?
00:20:28.39\00:20:30.06
Because she said,
what we should say,
00:20:30.09\00:20:33.19
let it be
according to Your Word.
00:20:33.23\00:20:36.53
What would happen?
00:20:36.56\00:20:38.03
What would happen in
somebody's life if they say,
00:20:38.07\00:20:40.87
I don't know what
men want me to do,
00:20:40.90\00:20:42.47
but let it be
according to God's Word?
00:20:42.50\00:20:44.47
I know what tradition says,
00:20:44.51\00:20:46.04
but I want my life to
be according to God's Word.
00:20:46.07\00:20:48.94
I know what my church taught me,
00:20:48.98\00:20:50.61
but I want to live
00:20:50.65\00:20:51.98
according to what
God's Word has said.
00:20:52.01\00:20:54.22
Mary hit the nail on the head,
00:20:54.25\00:20:56.95
let it be to me
according to Your Word.
00:20:56.99\00:21:01.19
Forget about what everybody else
00:21:01.22\00:21:02.89
is going to do.
00:21:02.92\00:21:04.26
The question is,
what are you going to do?
00:21:04.29\00:21:05.73
Are you going to
allow your life to be
00:21:05.76\00:21:08.30
according to God's Word?
00:21:08.33\00:21:10.67
That's why the angel knowing
00:21:10.70\00:21:12.37
that she surrendered
her life to the Word of God,
00:21:12.40\00:21:15.04
then the angel left.
00:21:15.07\00:21:16.74
He said, "This
is not a young lady
00:21:16.77\00:21:19.41
that I need to
be concerned about."
00:21:19.44\00:21:20.88
She has just
surrendered her life
00:21:20.91\00:21:23.81
to be under the control
of the power of the Highest.
00:21:23.85\00:21:28.25
So what did she do?
00:21:28.28\00:21:29.72
When the angel left,
and Mary saw the dilemma,
00:21:29.75\00:21:33.39
she left town in a hurry.
00:21:33.42\00:21:35.62
Look at verse 39 and 40.
00:21:35.66\00:21:37.99
"Now Mary arose in those days
00:21:38.03\00:21:39.83
and went into the
hill country with haste,
00:21:39.86\00:21:43.13
to a city of Judah,
00:21:43.16\00:21:45.47
and entered the
house of Zacharias
00:21:45.50\00:21:47.97
and greeted Elizabeth."
00:21:48.00\00:21:49.57
You know, when Mary arrived,
00:21:49.60\00:21:51.71
and Elizabeth saw her,
00:21:51.74\00:21:54.91
there was an instant connection,
00:21:54.94\00:21:57.28
not only in the flesh,
00:21:57.31\00:21:59.58
but there was a
divine connection made
00:21:59.61\00:22:02.75
between the unborn
child in Elizabeth,
00:22:02.78\00:22:06.05
who ended up to
be John the Baptist,
00:22:06.09\00:22:08.89
and the newly
planted seed in Mary,
00:22:08.92\00:22:12.13
who was Jesus to be
formed in human flesh.
00:22:12.16\00:22:16.26
Now I want to make
a very powerful point
00:22:16.30\00:22:18.83
right here.
00:22:18.87\00:22:20.57
She just got pregnant.
00:22:20.60\00:22:23.04
And when she
walked into the house,
00:22:23.07\00:22:26.68
where Elizabeth was in
the house of Zacharias,
00:22:26.71\00:22:30.41
the baby in
Elizabeth's womb leaped.
00:22:30.45\00:22:35.35
But that child wasn't born yet.
00:22:35.38\00:22:37.32
Because he recognized
00:22:37.35\00:22:39.02
that he was in the
presence of divinity.
00:22:39.05\00:22:41.89
Now this is something
that is impossible to explain
00:22:41.92\00:22:44.69
in the human vernacular.
00:22:44.73\00:22:46.06
But here's the
point I want to make.
00:22:46.09\00:22:48.80
We're living in a world today
where many people are saying,
00:22:48.83\00:22:51.57
"Well, until the baby gets
to a certain amount of time,
00:22:51.60\00:22:53.50
it's not really a child."
00:22:53.54\00:22:55.04
The Bible just
debunked that theory
00:22:55.07\00:22:57.14
because the seed was
just planted in Mary,
00:22:57.17\00:22:59.91
and the baby that leaped
00:22:59.94\00:23:01.28
in Elizabeth's womb to recognize
00:23:01.31\00:23:03.58
that there was a divine
transformation taking place
00:23:03.61\00:23:06.58
in Mary's life,
00:23:06.61\00:23:07.95
and the seed was
just planted there.
00:23:07.98\00:23:12.45
And that seed would be developed
00:23:12.49\00:23:13.92
into the person of Jesus Christ.
00:23:13.96\00:23:16.12
That was something that
Mary understood and knew.
00:23:16.16\00:23:19.76
Friends, I tell you
it's powerful today,
00:23:19.79\00:23:22.33
in a world where
they don't value a child
00:23:22.36\00:23:24.97
until it gets to a certain time,
00:23:25.00\00:23:26.80
in gestation,
00:23:26.84\00:23:28.17
the Lord values a child
00:23:28.20\00:23:29.54
from the time
the seed is planted.
00:23:29.57\00:23:31.44
Praise the Lord for that.
00:23:31.47\00:23:33.48
Look at verse 41 to
44 of Luke Chapter 1.
00:23:33.51\00:23:38.78
"And it happened,
00:23:38.81\00:23:40.15
when Elizabeth heard
the greeting of Mary,
00:23:40.18\00:23:42.55
that the babe
leaped in her wound,
00:23:42.58\00:23:44.75
and Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Spirit."
00:23:44.79\00:23:49.69
Verse 42, "Then she spoke
out with a loud voice and said,
00:23:49.72\00:23:53.16
'Blessed are you among women,
00:23:53.19\00:23:55.40
and blessed is the
fruit of your womb!"
00:23:55.43\00:23:58.70
That seed was just planted.
00:23:58.73\00:24:00.94
The angel left, Mary left
town, the seed was just planted.
00:24:00.97\00:24:04.67
And what did Elizabeth say?
00:24:04.71\00:24:07.34
Blessed is the
fruit of your womb,
00:24:07.38\00:24:09.74
at the point of
being just planted.
00:24:09.78\00:24:13.38
Verse 43, "But why
is this granted to me,
00:24:13.42\00:24:18.02
that the mother of my
Lord should come to me?"
00:24:18.05\00:24:22.12
Jesus was not even born yet.
00:24:22.16\00:24:24.76
And Elizabeth is saying,
00:24:24.79\00:24:26.19
"You are the mother of my Lord."
00:24:26.23\00:24:28.53
And verse 44, "For indeed,
00:24:28.56\00:24:31.83
as soon as the
voice of your greeting
00:24:31.87\00:24:34.17
sounded in my ears,
00:24:34.20\00:24:36.10
the babe leaped
in my womb for joy.'"
00:24:36.14\00:24:39.71
What a powerful connection.
00:24:39.74\00:24:41.71
What a powerful connection.
00:24:41.74\00:24:43.38
What was taking
place in Mary's life?
00:24:43.41\00:24:45.68
Mary was not
carrying Jesus, friends,
00:24:45.71\00:24:48.35
Jesus was carrying Mary
00:24:48.38\00:24:50.32
because Mary even though
00:24:50.35\00:24:51.75
she might
physically deliver Jesus,
00:24:51.79\00:24:53.82
Jesus
spiritually delivered Mary.
00:24:53.86\00:24:57.03
Jesus is the great I
am, not the great I was,
00:24:57.06\00:25:00.33
not the great I will be.
00:25:00.36\00:25:01.76
Jesus is the
bright and morning star,
00:25:01.80\00:25:04.00
not the star
that ever grows dim.
00:25:04.03\00:25:05.93
Mary was a temporary den
00:25:05.97\00:25:07.94
for the Lion of
the tribe of Judah.
00:25:07.97\00:25:09.50
Mary was a momentary
garden for the Rose of Sharon.
00:25:09.54\00:25:13.94
She became a makeshift refinery,
00:25:13.98\00:25:17.68
out of which the oil of gladness
00:25:17.71\00:25:20.05
would flow to humanity.
00:25:20.08\00:25:21.52
Praise God for that.
00:25:21.55\00:25:22.88
Mary became a nuclear
reactor for the omnipotent one,
00:25:22.92\00:25:26.92
the power of the
Highest overshadowed her,
00:25:26.96\00:25:29.96
and the Jesus
Christ, the first, the last,
00:25:29.99\00:25:33.73
the beginning and the end
00:25:33.76\00:25:35.13
was about to
enter human history.
00:25:35.16\00:25:37.17
What a powerful place
Mary was set into the power
00:25:37.20\00:25:42.37
that was residing in her.
00:25:42.40\00:25:43.74
There was enough power in
Mary to annihilate the world.
00:25:43.77\00:25:47.98
But Jesus, loving us so
much He stepped down His power,
00:25:48.01\00:25:53.05
He came, He stepped
down that power of divinity,
00:25:53.08\00:25:55.85
laid off the robe of adoration,
00:25:55.88\00:25:59.79
and came in the
form of human flesh.
00:25:59.82\00:26:01.69
The Bible says,
00:26:01.72\00:26:03.06
when the
fullness of time had come,
00:26:03.09\00:26:04.66
God sent forth His
Son born of a woman,
00:26:04.69\00:26:07.80
this great master of eternity,
00:26:07.83\00:26:10.17
this great man who born worlds
00:26:10.20\00:26:13.77
and laid planets and
set up constellations,
00:26:13.80\00:26:16.27
humbled Himself and came
through a frail young lady.
00:26:16.30\00:26:21.14
What an amazing experience.
00:26:21.18\00:26:23.24
And through Elizabeth,
00:26:23.28\00:26:24.61
God confirms to Mary
00:26:24.65\00:26:26.05
that divinity is in
charge of her situation.
00:26:26.08\00:26:29.45
And that divinity is
working out his plan.
00:26:29.48\00:26:32.82
"Blessed is he who believed..."
00:26:32.85\00:26:36.79
Verse 45 of Luke Chapter 1,
00:26:36.83\00:26:39.43
"Blessed is she who believed,
00:26:39.46\00:26:42.23
for there will be a
fulfillment of those things
00:26:42.26\00:26:45.43
which were told
her from the Lord."
00:26:45.47\00:26:49.04
You see, friends,
although our situation
00:26:49.07\00:26:51.17
often starts as a great dilemma,
00:26:51.21\00:26:53.38
this is where God's
blessing becomes real.
00:26:53.41\00:26:56.58
The second point I want to make,
00:26:56.61\00:26:58.15
although your life
may begin as a dilemma,
00:26:58.18\00:27:01.22
God is still in charge
00:27:01.25\00:27:02.95
because divine interruptions
produce divine results.
00:27:02.98\00:27:07.26
Let me say that again.
00:27:07.29\00:27:08.62
Divine interruptions
produce divine results.
00:27:08.66\00:27:11.89
When God
interrupts our natural lives,
00:27:11.93\00:27:14.76
He is about to bring
about a divine transformation.
00:27:14.80\00:27:19.13
But so far, we haven't
even thought about Joseph.
00:27:19.17\00:27:23.30
Joseph must be wondering,
00:27:23.34\00:27:25.44
what happened to
his engaged bride?
00:27:25.47\00:27:29.61
What happened to the woman
00:27:29.64\00:27:31.25
who's planning a
wedding with him?
00:27:31.28\00:27:33.42
Because Joseph is back home,
00:27:33.45\00:27:36.18
no letters, no
emails, no phone calls,
00:27:36.22\00:27:40.12
no contact at all.
00:27:40.16\00:27:41.49
The weddings plan
ceased and Joseph is wondering,
00:27:41.52\00:27:44.66
and everybody else is
wondering what happened to Mary.
00:27:44.69\00:27:48.93
Well, she's hiding
out with Elizabeth.
00:27:48.96\00:27:51.47
Mary stayed away long
enough for further developments.
00:27:51.50\00:27:56.24
And Joseph is saying
to his family members,
00:27:56.27\00:27:58.97
we spoke just yesterday.
00:27:59.01\00:28:00.48
I don't know what
happened. She left town.
00:28:00.51\00:28:01.84
They told me that
00:28:01.88\00:28:03.21
somebody saw her
leaving in a haste.
00:28:03.24\00:28:04.58
And I have not
heard from her since.
00:28:04.61\00:28:06.78
But Mary was
obedient to the plans of God.
00:28:06.82\00:28:10.02
And here's the
point I want to make.
00:28:10.05\00:28:12.25
You know, when the
Lord is changing our lives
00:28:12.29\00:28:14.52
and transforming us,
00:28:14.56\00:28:15.89
it's hard to explain to
others what God is doing.
00:28:15.92\00:28:19.29
But I want to
tell you something,
00:28:19.33\00:28:20.66
God is patient.
00:28:20.70\00:28:22.03
And we've got
to not allow others
00:28:22.06\00:28:25.03
what they're thinking,
00:28:25.07\00:28:26.40
what they're feeling,
00:28:26.43\00:28:27.77
what they are wondering
00:28:27.80\00:28:29.14
to interrupt what was happening
because everything happens
00:28:29.17\00:28:31.77
according to God's plan.
00:28:31.81\00:28:33.31
You see, the
point is being made.
00:28:33.34\00:28:34.88
Joseph had to wait.
00:28:34.91\00:28:36.31
That's the bottom line.
00:28:36.34\00:28:37.68
Joseph had to wait.
00:28:37.71\00:28:39.05
How long did he wait?
00:28:39.08\00:28:40.42
Look at verse 56 and
57 of Luke Chapter 1.
00:28:40.45\00:28:43.22
How long did he wait?
00:28:43.25\00:28:44.72
And the Bible says,
00:28:44.75\00:28:46.09
"And Mary remained
with her about three months,
00:28:46.12\00:28:49.82
and returned to her house.
00:28:49.86\00:28:52.03
Now Elizabeth..."
00:28:52.06\00:28:53.40
Verse 57, "Now
Elizabeth's full time came
00:28:53.43\00:28:57.27
for her to be delivered,
00:28:57.30\00:28:58.63
and she brought forth a son."
00:28:58.67\00:29:01.37
Now I want you to grab this
00:29:01.40\00:29:02.74
because this is
something that's powerful.
00:29:02.77\00:29:04.64
This is the part of the
story that you cannot run away
00:29:04.67\00:29:06.98
from too quickly.
00:29:07.01\00:29:08.71
Mary left town immediately,
00:29:08.74\00:29:11.11
ran in haste to
be with Elizabeth.
00:29:11.15\00:29:13.08
When she got to Elizabeth,
00:29:13.11\00:29:14.52
Elizabeth was in her sixth month
00:29:14.55\00:29:16.72
of pregnancy.
00:29:16.75\00:29:18.09
She stayed with
Elizabeth for three months,
00:29:18.12\00:29:20.42
long enough for
Elizabeth to deliver.
00:29:20.46\00:29:23.89
But now what's
happening in Mary's life.
00:29:23.93\00:29:26.13
And, ladies, those of you
00:29:26.16\00:29:27.50
that are have had a child before
00:29:27.53\00:29:29.40
or you may be
pregnant right now,
00:29:29.43\00:29:32.30
or your children
may be fully grown,
00:29:32.33\00:29:34.50
but now I'm taking
you back to that time.
00:29:34.54\00:29:36.71
After three months of pregnancy,
00:29:36.74\00:29:39.31
you all know something happens.
00:29:39.34\00:29:43.28
You see, the first
month, the second month,
00:29:43.31\00:29:46.75
but when the third month hit,
00:29:46.78\00:29:49.18
it is impossible
to hide the pregnancy
00:29:49.22\00:29:53.22
because the baby
00:29:53.25\00:29:55.02
begins to make an outward change
00:29:55.06\00:29:57.86
because of his inward growth.
00:29:57.89\00:30:00.03
When the baby is
being born in us,
00:30:00.06\00:30:03.10
I want to slow down to say this,
00:30:03.13\00:30:04.87
when Jesus is being born in us,
00:30:04.90\00:30:08.57
the evidence will be
clear to those around us.
00:30:08.60\00:30:11.54
Because after three months,
Mary could no longer hide
00:30:11.57\00:30:14.94
what was taking
place in her life.
00:30:14.98\00:30:16.75
You see, when we
give our lives to Jesus,
00:30:16.78\00:30:18.68
we may be able to
conceal Him for a time.
00:30:18.71\00:30:21.75
But when Jesus is
being formed in us,
00:30:21.78\00:30:24.35
it is impossible for
us to hide the changes
00:30:24.39\00:30:27.82
that He's making in our lives.
00:30:27.86\00:30:29.79
So Mary couldn't
hide it any longer,
00:30:29.82\00:30:31.86
but she returned home.
00:30:31.89\00:30:33.70
And I want to walk you through
this very sticky situation
00:30:33.73\00:30:36.40
because now this
glorious baby being born in her,
00:30:36.43\00:30:40.24
the glow on her
skin impossible to hide
00:30:40.27\00:30:43.87
which falls into the
category of Matthew 5:16.
00:30:43.91\00:30:47.54
When Jesus says, "Let your light
00:30:47.58\00:30:49.11
so shine before men,
00:30:49.14\00:30:51.01
that they may
see your good works
00:30:51.05\00:30:52.48
and glorify your Father
00:30:52.51\00:30:54.95
who is in heaven."
00:30:54.98\00:30:56.65
Well, I tell you,
there are those that say,
00:30:56.69\00:30:59.89
Jesus lives in me,
00:30:59.92\00:31:01.99
and don't look any different
00:31:02.02\00:31:03.63
than those who do not
have Jesus in their lives.
00:31:03.66\00:31:07.20
When Jesus is
living in your life,
00:31:07.23\00:31:09.80
there needs to be a difference
00:31:09.83\00:31:11.60
from those who
say that Jesus not,
00:31:11.63\00:31:14.07
is not being born in them.
00:31:14.10\00:31:15.87
There ought to be
a visible difference
00:31:15.90\00:31:18.11
between those who say
00:31:18.14\00:31:19.47
Jesus is in their lives,
00:31:19.51\00:31:21.21
and those who do not
have Jesus in their lives.
00:31:21.24\00:31:24.51
And that's the difference
between Mary and maybe you,
00:31:24.55\00:31:27.18
between Mary and Joseph.
00:31:27.22\00:31:28.68
Jesus was being born in Mary.
00:31:28.72\00:31:32.45
There was a visible
difference in her life.
00:31:32.49\00:31:34.89
She was not the same young lady
that ran away three months ago.
00:31:34.92\00:31:38.53
Her life was being transformed.
00:31:38.56\00:31:40.23
There were things taking
place on the inside of her.
00:31:40.26\00:31:42.73
And now comes the next dilemma.
00:31:42.76\00:31:45.70
How do you explain
00:31:45.73\00:31:48.04
to your engaged husband to be
00:31:48.07\00:31:52.74
what just happened in your life.
00:31:52.77\00:31:55.18
The next point is powerful.
00:31:55.21\00:31:57.05
Let's go to the Book of Matthew
00:31:57.08\00:31:58.41
to find out how
this takes place.
00:31:58.45\00:32:00.18
Those who are
comfortable with you,
00:32:00.22\00:32:02.22
before you change your life,
00:32:02.25\00:32:04.65
may not be comfortable with you,
00:32:04.69\00:32:06.65
when God is changing your life.
00:32:06.69\00:32:08.49
This is powerful.
Look at Matthew 1:19.
00:32:08.52\00:32:11.83
Let's turn to the story.
00:32:11.86\00:32:13.43
This is an amazing thing.
00:32:13.46\00:32:15.43
The Bible says in Matthew 1:19,
00:32:15.46\00:32:18.27
the discomfort of Joseph
is described in these verses.
00:32:18.30\00:32:23.37
Matthew 1:19,
"Then Joseph her husband,
00:32:23.41\00:32:28.01
being a just man,
00:32:28.04\00:32:29.84
and not wanting to
make her a public example,
00:32:29.88\00:32:33.82
was mindful to put
her away secretly."
00:32:33.85\00:32:38.35
The Bible says privately,
but it also says, secretly.
00:32:38.39\00:32:43.32
Joseph said, Mary,
this is just not acceptable
00:32:43.36\00:32:47.26
because she's in the house,
00:32:47.30\00:32:49.30
even though she may
be in the kind of garb
00:32:49.33\00:32:51.37
that could hide as
best as it possibly could.
00:32:51.40\00:32:54.74
The fact that she
now has a baby bump,
00:32:54.77\00:32:57.51
Joseph knows that something
took place in her life.
00:32:57.54\00:33:00.78
And then Mary,
trying to break the news
00:33:00.81\00:33:03.18
in the best way
she possibly could.
00:33:03.21\00:33:05.15
Probably said to him, "Joseph,
00:33:05.18\00:33:09.75
I spent three
months with Elizabeth.
00:33:09.78\00:33:11.99
And when I was there,
00:33:12.02\00:33:15.06
Elizabeth gave birth
to a bouncing baby boy,
00:33:15.09\00:33:18.79
she named him John."
00:33:18.83\00:33:20.53
And Joseph is
probably excited at that point.
00:33:20.56\00:33:24.03
But she said, "Well,
let me tell you the reason
00:33:24.07\00:33:25.40
why I left."
00:33:25.43\00:33:26.77
And I want you to
walk with me through this.
00:33:26.80\00:33:28.14
Let me tell you
the reason why I left.
00:33:28.17\00:33:31.24
You see about three months ago.
00:33:31.27\00:33:33.48
Now look at the difficulty.
00:33:33.51\00:33:35.51
This is the man
you're about to marry,
00:33:35.54\00:33:38.05
but somebody else
showed up in your life.
00:33:38.08\00:33:40.58
He's going to be the father
of your children eventually,
00:33:40.62\00:33:44.05
but Gabriel said that
the father of this child
00:33:44.09\00:33:46.79
comes from the lineage of David,
00:33:46.82\00:33:48.62
and the seed is
from the Holy Spirit.
00:33:48.66\00:33:50.49
This is going to be
the Son of the Highest.
00:33:50.53\00:33:51.86
And Joseph has nothing to do
00:33:51.89\00:33:54.00
with what is taking
place in Mary's life.
00:33:54.03\00:33:56.23
But she has to get find a
way to get him to understand
00:33:56.26\00:33:59.30
that this is God.
00:33:59.33\00:34:00.67
Can you imagine
ladies how difficult that is
00:34:00.70\00:34:02.84
saying to somebody
what's taking place in my life
00:34:02.87\00:34:05.24
was done by an angel.
00:34:05.27\00:34:06.71
Really?
00:34:06.74\00:34:08.08
Can you imagine you're
about to marry somebody,
00:34:08.11\00:34:10.15
you're three months pregnant,
00:34:10.18\00:34:11.51
and you tell your
husband to be that
00:34:11.55\00:34:13.52
an angel did that.
00:34:13.55\00:34:14.88
Really?
00:34:14.92\00:34:16.25
Well, that's what happens
00:34:16.28\00:34:17.62
when a person gives
his or her life to Christ.
00:34:17.65\00:34:19.25
It is hard to explain
the changes that are made,
00:34:19.29\00:34:22.46
but in Mary's case,
00:34:22.49\00:34:24.96
the consequences
could have been tragic,
00:34:24.99\00:34:27.66
dire consequences.
00:34:27.70\00:34:29.20
They were one of three
things that could happen.
00:34:29.23\00:34:30.70
One, she could be barred
00:34:30.73\00:34:32.17
from the temple
services permanently.
00:34:32.20\00:34:34.14
Secondly, she could be forbidden
00:34:34.17\00:34:37.04
to ever be married again.
00:34:37.07\00:34:40.18
But thirdly, and most sadly,
00:34:40.21\00:34:42.24
she could be stoned
to death for immorality.
00:34:42.28\00:34:47.55
But Mary, knowing
that God was in charge,
00:34:47.58\00:34:50.79
feared none of
those consequences.
00:34:50.82\00:34:53.19
Now I want to pause
on that for a moment
00:34:53.22\00:34:55.16
because a lot of times
00:34:55.19\00:34:56.56
we fear the power
of God in our lives
00:34:56.59\00:34:58.96
because we're looking
at external consequences.
00:34:58.99\00:35:01.73
We say this could get
me into a lot of trouble
00:35:01.76\00:35:04.00
if I give my life to the Lord.
00:35:04.03\00:35:05.70
If I join that church, or
begin to follow the Sabbath,
00:35:05.73\00:35:08.84
or begin to do
what God's Word says,
00:35:08.87\00:35:10.71
as Mary says, be it unto you
00:35:10.74\00:35:12.07
according to Your Word.
00:35:12.11\00:35:13.74
If I begin to follow God's Word,
00:35:13.78\00:35:16.21
of course, they're going
to be challenges and trials,
00:35:16.24\00:35:18.85
there're going to be dilemmas.
00:35:18.88\00:35:20.52
But, friends,
here's the point with Mary,
00:35:20.55\00:35:22.55
don't worry
about what men think.
00:35:22.58\00:35:25.15
Your number one concern
should be what God thinks,
00:35:25.19\00:35:29.29
what God wants,
not what men want
00:35:29.32\00:35:33.13
because Joseph is in a dilemma.
00:35:33.16\00:35:35.53
But Mary said earlier,
and she has stuck to it,
00:35:35.56\00:35:37.60
be it unto you
according to Your Word.
00:35:37.63\00:35:40.54
Be it unto me,
according to Your Word.
00:35:40.57\00:35:45.11
And she walked through
that valley of challenges,
00:35:45.14\00:35:47.78
she walked through
those trying moments
00:35:47.81\00:35:50.01
because she would
not allow anything
00:35:50.05\00:35:52.38
to change the
direction of her life,
00:35:52.41\00:35:55.22
including her husband-to-be,
00:35:55.25\00:35:58.29
including being
barred from services,
00:35:58.32\00:36:00.42
forbidden to be married,
00:36:00.46\00:36:01.82
or possibly
being stoned to death,
00:36:01.86\00:36:04.09
which brings me
to the third point
00:36:04.13\00:36:05.46
I want to make.
00:36:05.49\00:36:06.83
You see natural invitation
00:36:06.86\00:36:08.80
is quite different
than divine invasion.
00:36:08.83\00:36:11.67
Natural
invitation is quite different
00:36:11.70\00:36:14.47
than divine invasion.
00:36:14.50\00:36:16.50
Inviting Jesus to participate
in your life is quite different
00:36:16.54\00:36:21.34
than having
Jesus invade your life.
00:36:21.38\00:36:24.95
What am I saying?
00:36:24.98\00:36:26.31
Jesus does not want to
affect a part of your life,
00:36:26.35\00:36:29.15
Jesus wants to
transform your life entirely.
00:36:29.18\00:36:32.59
That is what was
happening to Mary.
00:36:32.62\00:36:35.46
But look at verse 20
of Matthew Chapter 1.
00:36:35.49\00:36:38.63
When the situation
got too tough to explain,
00:36:38.66\00:36:41.26
thank the Lord
Gabriel showed up again.
00:36:41.30\00:36:44.50
When Mary took the conversation
as far as she could,
00:36:44.53\00:36:48.00
and Joseph was still
troubling, not satisfied.
00:36:48.04\00:36:50.71
Thank the Lord
00:36:50.74\00:36:52.07
that the Angel Gabriel recognize
00:36:52.11\00:36:54.44
his job was not yet done.
00:36:54.48\00:36:56.28
Look at verse 20
of Matthew Chapter 1.
00:36:56.31\00:36:58.21
The Bible says,
00:36:58.25\00:36:59.58
"But while he
thought about these things,"
00:36:59.61\00:37:02.22
while Joseph
thought about these things,
00:37:02.25\00:37:04.62
what am I going to
do with this woman?
00:37:04.65\00:37:06.55
The Bible says, "Behold,
00:37:06.59\00:37:07.92
an angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a dream,
00:37:07.96\00:37:10.26
saying, 'Joseph, son of David,"
00:37:10.29\00:37:12.93
there's the
connection, son of David,
00:37:12.96\00:37:14.90
your child is going to
be from David your father,
00:37:14.93\00:37:17.37
he's saying, you are
part of that lineage.
00:37:17.40\00:37:21.40
"'Joseph, son of David,
00:37:21.44\00:37:23.87
do not be afraid to
take to you Mary your wife,
00:37:23.91\00:37:28.48
for that which
is conceived in her
00:37:28.51\00:37:31.41
is of the Holy Spirit.'"
00:37:31.45\00:37:35.08
Wow!
00:37:35.12\00:37:36.45
I can imagine Joseph tossing
and turning when he realized,
00:37:36.48\00:37:39.92
I just had a divine, I
just had a divine encounter.
00:37:39.95\00:37:42.96
This is not something I
am in charge of any longer.
00:37:42.99\00:37:45.83
My life is being transformed,
my life is also being changed.
00:37:45.86\00:37:49.90
He said, what is
taking place in her
00:37:49.93\00:37:52.30
the Holy Spirit is in charge.
00:37:52.33\00:37:54.84
Let me pause for a
moment and make a few points
00:37:54.87\00:37:57.64
on this powerful connection.
00:37:57.67\00:37:59.94
Joseph now had to
recognize that although
00:37:59.97\00:38:05.15
he was about to be the
natural husband of Mary,
00:38:05.18\00:38:10.12
that Mary's life
was already consecrated
00:38:10.15\00:38:12.29
to the will of God.
00:38:12.32\00:38:13.69
You know, there
are so many of us
00:38:13.72\00:38:15.06
that are just content
with the natural connection.
00:38:15.09\00:38:17.83
But we're not
content with the connection
00:38:17.86\00:38:20.10
that dedicates us
to the will of God.
00:38:20.13\00:38:22.66
Joseph knew by that dream
00:38:22.70\00:38:24.70
that this woman
will be your wife.
00:38:24.73\00:38:29.04
But the changes
taking place in her,
00:38:29.07\00:38:32.41
you are no longer in
charge of those changes, Joseph,
00:38:32.44\00:38:35.38
this is God's business.
00:38:35.41\00:38:36.91
Oh, I'm talking
to somebody today
00:38:36.95\00:38:38.61
that's here and we say, yes,
00:38:38.65\00:38:40.42
you may have just
been challenged by the Lord
00:38:40.45\00:38:42.88
to make changes in your life
00:38:42.92\00:38:44.72
which you are fearful of.
00:38:44.75\00:38:46.19
But let me quiet
your fear today and say,
00:38:46.22\00:38:48.19
when you decide
to commit your life,
00:38:48.22\00:38:49.79
as Mary did,
00:38:49.82\00:38:51.16
when you decide
like Joseph just did,
00:38:51.19\00:38:54.30
to not worry about the
work that God is in charge of,
00:38:54.33\00:38:57.27
God will take the
reins into His own hands,
00:38:57.30\00:39:00.60
and begin to
transform not only Mary's life
00:39:00.64\00:39:04.57
because you can't take
Joseph from the scenario.
00:39:04.61\00:39:07.48
Joseph is standing back
watching God do His thing.
00:39:07.51\00:39:11.21
That's right, your
relatives may have to stand back
00:39:11.25\00:39:13.45
and watch God
transform your life.
00:39:13.48\00:39:16.28
Your closest friends
may have to stand back
00:39:16.32\00:39:18.85
and watch God
transform your life.
00:39:18.89\00:39:21.12
When God comes into your life
00:39:21.16\00:39:22.76
through the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:39:22.79\00:39:24.19
When Jesus is being born in you,
00:39:24.23\00:39:26.49
let others stand back,
but let God have His way.
00:39:26.53\00:39:29.80
But so many of you think well,
00:39:29.83\00:39:31.17
what am I going
to do about that job?
00:39:31.20\00:39:33.13
If I do what God's Word
says, I may lose my job.
00:39:33.17\00:39:36.10
Whoa, friends, but you may
get a better job than that.
00:39:36.14\00:39:38.94
I know for my own experience,
00:39:38.97\00:39:41.14
growing up in
the city of New York,
00:39:41.18\00:39:42.88
losing one
connection, but getting another.
00:39:42.91\00:39:46.15
I got fired twice for
wanting to keep the Sabbath.
00:39:46.18\00:39:48.45
I lost my job
twice, two separate banks
00:39:48.48\00:39:51.69
for wanting to keep the Sabbath
00:39:51.72\00:39:53.52
as I worked in
the Wall Street area
00:39:53.56\00:39:54.89
of New York City,
00:39:54.92\00:39:56.26
but look at me today.
00:39:56.29\00:39:57.63
God says My plan for you
is not to work at a bank.
00:39:57.66\00:39:59.59
My plan for you is
to work for the Highest,
00:39:59.63\00:40:01.96
the Son of the Highest.
00:40:02.00\00:40:03.33
Today, I'm employed by...
00:40:03.37\00:40:04.80
My employment
agency is in heaven.
00:40:04.83\00:40:07.14
I'm not worried
about what men will do
00:40:07.17\00:40:08.87
because as Mary said let
it be according to Your Word.
00:40:08.90\00:40:12.07
You've got to fear men
less, and fear God more,
00:40:12.11\00:40:15.58
not be afraid,
00:40:15.61\00:40:16.95
but simply submit
to the plan of God,
00:40:16.98\00:40:19.08
and your life will
be transformed in a way
00:40:19.11\00:40:22.92
that you will
never ever imagine.
00:40:22.95\00:40:25.59
Because He has
promised to do exceedingly,
00:40:25.62\00:40:29.02
abundantly above all
you can ask or think, how?
00:40:29.06\00:40:32.63
According to the power
that is working in you.
00:40:32.66\00:40:35.76
Mary understands that power
00:40:35.80\00:40:37.67
because she felt that change
is taking place in her life
00:40:37.70\00:40:41.04
which brings me to
the part of the sermon
00:40:41.07\00:40:42.87
that's just always tickles
me to even share this with you.
00:40:42.90\00:40:46.41
Mary's life was never the same.
00:40:46.44\00:40:48.88
You know, friends, my
life has never been the same.
00:40:48.91\00:40:52.11
Once I decided to
commit my way to the Lord,
00:40:52.15\00:40:54.48
my life has never been the same.
00:40:54.52\00:40:56.22
I'm saying to you today,
00:40:56.25\00:40:57.95
this is more than just a season.
00:40:57.99\00:40:59.49
This is the time of the year
00:40:59.52\00:41:00.86
where the Lord
wants to remind you
00:41:00.89\00:41:02.22
that the greatest
gift is not under a tree,
00:41:02.26\00:41:04.36
the greatest gift is
not something you unwrap,
00:41:04.39\00:41:06.66
that great gift
has been unwrapped
00:41:06.70\00:41:08.53
in the manger centuries ago.
00:41:08.56\00:41:11.00
The great gift is
Jesus, He cannot be purchased,
00:41:11.03\00:41:14.37
He cannot be sold, He
cannot be manufactured.
00:41:14.40\00:41:17.01
This is the work of God,
00:41:17.04\00:41:18.64
the Son of the Highest
came to invade Mary's life
00:41:18.67\00:41:22.21
and He wants to
invade your life too.
00:41:22.24\00:41:25.61
Why am I using the word invade?
00:41:25.65\00:41:28.18
Because I'm about to explain
00:41:28.22\00:41:29.72
the transforming
walk of the life of Mary
00:41:29.75\00:41:35.42
which is parallel to
the transforming walk
00:41:35.46\00:41:39.16
of the life of the Christian.
00:41:39.19\00:41:40.96
You know, some people
look back and they say,
00:41:41.00\00:41:42.36
"I've been a
Christian for 10 years,
00:41:42.40\00:41:44.23
I look back on
where I was 10 years ago,
00:41:44.27\00:41:46.13
and man, my life has changed."
00:41:46.17\00:41:47.80
And then they pause and think,
00:41:47.84\00:41:51.14
"I never could have
made these changes myself.
00:41:51.17\00:41:54.04
Every change made in me
00:41:54.08\00:41:56.31
was made by
simply submitting my life
00:41:56.34\00:41:59.08
to molding
influence of the Lord."
00:41:59.11\00:42:02.18
One of the first
changes made in Mary's life.
00:42:02.22\00:42:04.79
And I've seen this
in my sister-in-law.
00:42:04.82\00:42:07.46
You know, unfortunately,
00:42:07.49\00:42:08.82
my wife and I
never had children,
00:42:08.86\00:42:10.19
but that's God's will.
00:42:10.23\00:42:11.56
We're not concerned about that.
00:42:11.59\00:42:12.93
My wife and I
never had children,
00:42:12.96\00:42:14.60
but God has
given us something that
00:42:14.63\00:42:16.77
we cannot complain about.
00:42:16.80\00:42:18.83
But when I saw my sister-in-law,
00:42:18.87\00:42:20.67
having her first child,
00:42:20.70\00:42:22.40
her face was
glowing all the time.
00:42:22.44\00:42:25.01
And women say often,
00:42:25.04\00:42:26.37
well, when the child is
being born on the inside,
00:42:26.41\00:42:29.78
there's a light on the outside
00:42:29.81\00:42:31.48
that lights up the
countenance of the woman,
00:42:31.51\00:42:34.75
which is the first thing
00:42:34.78\00:42:36.12
that I want to
bring to you today.
00:42:36.15\00:42:37.49
You see, friends, when Jesus
is being born in your life,
00:42:37.52\00:42:40.79
there should be a light
00:42:40.82\00:42:42.32
that is being
seen on the outside.
00:42:42.36\00:42:44.73
Matthew, the
converted tax collector said,
00:42:44.76\00:42:47.33
"Let your light
so shine before men,
00:42:47.36\00:42:49.86
that they may
see your good works
00:42:49.90\00:42:52.00
and glorify your
Father which is in heaven."
00:42:52.03\00:42:54.94
But let me pause and put it
00:42:54.97\00:42:56.37
in the proper connection.
00:42:56.40\00:42:57.97
You don't have a light.
00:42:58.01\00:42:59.34
Jesus is the light of the world.
00:42:59.37\00:43:03.68
When Jesus was
being born in Mary,
00:43:03.71\00:43:06.98
think about this for a moment,
00:43:07.02\00:43:08.85
there was a divine
generator inside of her
00:43:08.88\00:43:12.39
stirring up a divine plan.
00:43:12.42\00:43:14.79
And the glory of
God seen on the outside
00:43:14.82\00:43:17.43
was the child was
being born on the inside.
00:43:17.46\00:43:22.36
The glorious Son of God,
00:43:22.40\00:43:24.63
being born on the inside
00:43:24.67\00:43:27.04
produced external evidence
00:43:27.07\00:43:29.40
and the glory of
God seen on the outside
00:43:29.44\00:43:31.74
as was the case for Mary,
00:43:31.77\00:43:33.98
as was the case
00:43:34.01\00:43:35.34
when Moses was
exposed to the burning bush.
00:43:35.38\00:43:38.45
God's glory should
always be seen on the outside
00:43:38.48\00:43:41.85
if we claim to have
Jesus on the inside.
00:43:41.88\00:43:44.75
What was being
seen in Mary's life,
00:43:44.79\00:43:47.19
love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
00:43:47.22\00:43:51.66
gentleness, meekness, patience.
00:43:51.69\00:43:55.20
These are all the
external attributes
00:43:55.23\00:43:57.57
of anybody
claiming to be a Christian,
00:43:57.60\00:44:00.44
claiming to be
connected to Christ.
00:44:00.47\00:44:02.37
If those external attributes
are not seen in your life,
00:44:02.40\00:44:05.77
you better check
the delivery system,
00:44:05.81\00:44:08.44
find out whether or not Christ
really has been born in you,
00:44:08.48\00:44:11.65
and order your life in
harmony with God's will
00:44:11.68\00:44:14.35
because the angel made it clear.
00:44:14.38\00:44:16.25
Why did the light
show up on Mary's face?
00:44:16.28\00:44:19.39
Luke 1:35,
00:44:19.42\00:44:21.82
the Angel Gabriel
told her what would happen.
00:44:21.86\00:44:24.19
He said, "The Holy
Spirit will come upon you."
00:44:24.23\00:44:28.03
Luke 1:35, "The Holy
Spirit will come upon you,
00:44:28.06\00:44:31.17
and the power of the Highest
00:44:31.20\00:44:33.50
will overshadow you."
00:44:33.54\00:44:35.67
That's why Mary's
life was being transformed.
00:44:35.70\00:44:38.01
That's why
Joseph had to stand back
00:44:38.04\00:44:40.21
and see his bride-to-be
00:44:40.24\00:44:42.31
just glowing with the joy
of the Lord on the inside.
00:44:42.34\00:44:45.58
I know it must have
been tough as a husband
00:44:45.61\00:44:47.52
to see that baby
bump growing every day,
00:44:47.55\00:44:50.72
but the good news
is Joseph finally said
00:44:50.75\00:44:53.46
this is not about me.
00:44:53.49\00:44:55.19
It's about the Lord.
00:44:55.22\00:44:56.62
You know, it'd be
nice if your relative
00:44:56.66\00:44:58.29
seeing Jesus changed your life
00:44:58.33\00:45:00.03
come to the place where
they say, you know what?
00:45:00.06\00:45:02.33
It's not about me,
it's about the Lord.
00:45:02.36\00:45:04.57
Why am I saying that?
00:45:04.60\00:45:06.07
Because Joseph
realize, although he's involved,
00:45:06.10\00:45:10.37
he is not a direct contributor.
00:45:10.41\00:45:12.54
What am I saying?
00:45:12.57\00:45:13.91
Your family
members may be involved
00:45:13.94\00:45:16.08
by the changes Jesus
is making in your life,
00:45:16.11\00:45:19.61
but only the Holy Spirit
is the direct contributor.
00:45:19.65\00:45:23.52
They must stand back and
see God glorified in your life,
00:45:23.55\00:45:26.59
allow that to be the case,
00:45:26.62\00:45:28.16
but allow the glory of God
00:45:28.19\00:45:30.23
to be something that draws
them rather than repel them
00:45:30.26\00:45:34.33
because nothing could
happen without the Spirit of God
00:45:34.36\00:45:37.40
taking place in Mary's life.
00:45:37.43\00:45:39.83
As Zechariah 4:6 says,
"Not by might nor by power,
00:45:39.87\00:45:45.11
but by My
Spirit, says the Lord."
00:45:45.14\00:45:49.24
So I want to wind up
with five powerful points
00:45:49.28\00:45:51.85
that are amazing in
the transforming process.
00:45:51.88\00:45:55.75
Remember, I told you before
that Mary was not in charge,
00:45:55.78\00:45:59.82
Jesus was making the
changes in Mary's life.
00:45:59.85\00:46:03.32
Now this is the part of
the sermon that I believe
00:46:03.36\00:46:05.53
brings home the elements
00:46:05.56\00:46:07.70
of what the
spiritual walk is all about.
00:46:07.73\00:46:10.23
The difference between
singing songs about Jesus,
00:46:10.27\00:46:13.94
and Jesus singing
songs through you.
00:46:13.97\00:46:17.41
The difference
about worshiping Jesus,
00:46:17.44\00:46:20.34
and Jesus the presence
of Christ in your life,
00:46:20.38\00:46:24.01
making your life
a living sacrifice,
00:46:24.05\00:46:27.48
holy, acceptable to God
00:46:27.52\00:46:30.02
because a lot of
changes takes place
00:46:30.05\00:46:32.29
in a person's life.
00:46:32.32\00:46:33.66
But none of those
changes, I reiterate,
00:46:33.69\00:46:36.52
any change you make
without the help of Christ
00:46:36.56\00:46:38.96
is behavioral modification.
00:46:38.99\00:46:42.46
And that's not
going to last long.
00:46:42.50\00:46:44.60
You might put
down your cigarette
00:46:44.63\00:46:45.97
for a day or two,
00:46:46.00\00:46:47.34
but because you did
it on your own power,
00:46:47.37\00:46:49.84
it won't be lasting.
00:46:49.87\00:46:51.34
You might be able
to turn away from that
00:46:51.37\00:46:53.24
promiscuity from that
movie that you're watching
00:46:53.27\00:46:56.08
from the kind of entertainment
00:46:56.11\00:46:57.45
that you're participating in,
00:46:57.48\00:46:58.81
or from the kind of
practices in your life,
00:46:58.85\00:47:00.55
you may say, "I'm
not going to do it,
00:47:00.58\00:47:01.92
I'm not going to do it,
I'm not going to do it."
00:47:01.95\00:47:03.49
But that's
going to be temporary.
00:47:03.52\00:47:04.85
Why?
00:47:04.89\00:47:06.22
Because Jesus is
not in control of that.
00:47:06.25\00:47:07.62
But when you turn
your life over to Jesus,
00:47:07.66\00:47:10.59
He is able to
change you in a way
00:47:10.63\00:47:12.86
that you won't go back to it.
00:47:12.89\00:47:14.40
How do I know that?
00:47:14.43\00:47:15.76
What happened to Mary?
00:47:15.80\00:47:17.40
They tell us that
when a woman is pregnant,
00:47:17.43\00:47:20.50
she changes the way she eats.
00:47:20.54\00:47:23.37
Think about that.
00:47:23.41\00:47:24.74
Some of you think that you
want to become a vegetarian
00:47:24.77\00:47:26.74
because it's a good lifestyle.
00:47:26.78\00:47:28.24
Oh, no, you can be the
most dedicated vegetarian
00:47:28.28\00:47:31.85
without Jesus.
00:47:31.88\00:47:33.48
You see, vegetarianism
doesn't change you,
00:47:33.52\00:47:35.68
but when Jesus does change you,
00:47:35.72\00:47:37.69
your lifestyle will change,
00:47:37.72\00:47:39.55
you'll become a healthy person,
00:47:39.59\00:47:41.26
you'll become the kind of person
00:47:41.29\00:47:42.62
that the Lord
intends to be optimum
00:47:42.66\00:47:44.99
for His mission to be
accomplished in your life.
00:47:45.03\00:47:47.50
But what happened to Mary,
00:47:47.53\00:47:48.93
and all of the
women that are pregnant
00:47:48.96\00:47:51.03
go through this experience.
00:47:51.07\00:47:52.50
When Jesus is being born in us,
our eating habits must change.
00:47:52.53\00:47:58.41
What does that mean?
00:47:58.44\00:47:59.81
Mary ate
abundantly and regularly.
00:47:59.84\00:48:03.81
What am I saying?
00:48:03.85\00:48:05.25
Here's what I'm saying.
00:48:05.28\00:48:06.61
Unless you are eating
of God's Word abundantly,
00:48:06.65\00:48:09.92
and regularly,
00:48:09.95\00:48:12.12
you will not be able
to nurture the Christ
00:48:12.15\00:48:14.56
that has taken up
residence in your life.
00:48:14.59\00:48:16.89
You have to eat
abundantly and regularly, why?
00:48:16.93\00:48:21.30
And here's the
most powerful thing
00:48:21.33\00:48:23.06
because you're not in control.
00:48:23.10\00:48:24.83
You see the Lord in you
will be nourished by His Word.
00:48:24.87\00:48:28.00
Mary didn't eat
because she wanted to.
00:48:28.04\00:48:31.01
And, you know, ladies,
00:48:31.04\00:48:32.37
some of you have
the strangest diets
00:48:32.41\00:48:34.54
when you get pregnant,
00:48:34.58\00:48:35.98
which also applies
to the Christian life.
00:48:36.01\00:48:38.38
Don't try to explain to people
00:48:38.41\00:48:39.81
what you're eating
and how you're living,
00:48:39.85\00:48:41.55
allow God's Word
to do the explaining.
00:48:41.58\00:48:43.92
We eat abundantly
and regularly, why?
00:48:43.95\00:48:46.82
Because the baby
required the change in diet.
00:48:46.86\00:48:51.16
A diet that a woman participates
00:48:51.19\00:48:53.50
in affects the child
00:48:53.53\00:48:54.86
in the very same
way your eating habits,
00:48:54.90\00:48:58.33
your viewing habits,
your lifestyle habits,
00:48:58.37\00:49:01.84
this
participation in the way you eat
00:49:01.87\00:49:04.37
and the way you
live will all affect
00:49:04.41\00:49:07.81
how the child
turns out in your life.
00:49:07.84\00:49:10.05
Not only that,
00:49:10.08\00:49:11.48
and this is another
part that's significant.
00:49:11.51\00:49:13.55
Some people say,
"Well, I can't wear this,
00:49:13.58\00:49:15.25
and I can't wear that.
00:49:15.28\00:49:16.62
I got to take this
off and take that off."
00:49:16.65\00:49:18.05
Let me tell you something.
00:49:18.09\00:49:19.42
Mary did that
without any problems.
00:49:19.45\00:49:20.79
You know why?
00:49:20.82\00:49:22.16
Because she
couldn't dress the same way
00:49:22.19\00:49:23.53
that a woman that's
not pregnant dresses.
00:49:23.56\00:49:25.79
You heard me correctly.
00:49:25.83\00:49:27.16
Some people say you
can't dress that way.
00:49:27.20\00:49:29.53
Well, I've learned that
00:49:29.56\00:49:31.73
you will change
the way you dress.
00:49:31.77\00:49:34.64
You will change your outfits.
00:49:34.67\00:49:37.11
You will change
your look more godly.
00:49:37.14\00:49:39.14
Why?
00:49:39.17\00:49:40.51
Because the baby
makes the change.
00:49:40.54\00:49:42.94
It is impossible
for a pregnant woman
00:49:42.98\00:49:46.65
to dress the way that a woman
that's not pregnant dresses.
00:49:46.68\00:49:50.05
Did you know that?
00:49:50.09\00:49:51.42
You can't dress the same.
00:49:51.45\00:49:52.99
What's the spiritual connection?
00:49:53.02\00:49:54.46
When Christ is
being born in you,
00:49:54.49\00:49:57.23
the baby will affect the change.
00:49:57.26\00:50:00.23
The baby will
change the way you dress,
00:50:00.26\00:50:02.93
the baby will change
your life externally,
00:50:02.96\00:50:06.03
you put away those things
00:50:06.07\00:50:07.50
that were a part
of your past wardrobe.
00:50:07.54\00:50:10.04
And you'll begin to
take on the wardrobe
00:50:10.07\00:50:11.77
of a godly person,
00:50:11.81\00:50:13.61
the lifestyle of
a godly individual
00:50:13.64\00:50:16.24
because you'll be
eating of God's Word,
00:50:16.28\00:50:18.11
furnishing your
mind with nourishment
00:50:18.15\00:50:20.32
that will train you how to live,
00:50:20.35\00:50:22.02
how to walk, how to dress,
00:50:22.05\00:50:23.85
and the baby on the
inside will be the one directly
00:50:23.89\00:50:28.06
affecting the change.
00:50:28.09\00:50:29.72
Mary could wear tight clothing.
00:50:29.76\00:50:32.19
No pregnant woman
could wear tight clothing,
00:50:32.23\00:50:34.10
which says to me,
00:50:34.13\00:50:35.46
when Jesus is being born in us
00:50:35.50\00:50:37.13
that change is made
by the Christ being born,
00:50:37.17\00:50:40.30
and not by the woman herself.
00:50:40.34\00:50:42.60
But there's a
third change that happens
00:50:42.64\00:50:44.14
in everyone's life.
00:50:44.17\00:50:45.74
Every woman who
is having a child
00:50:45.77\00:50:48.01
being born in her,
00:50:48.04\00:50:49.38
this is the third
and most important thing.
00:50:49.41\00:50:51.41
She walks more cautiously.
00:50:51.45\00:50:54.38
You know, as the baby
begins to grow three months,
00:50:54.42\00:50:57.82
four months, five months,
six months, seven months,
00:50:57.85\00:51:00.42
I've noticed that women
change the way they walk,
00:51:00.46\00:51:02.52
they kind of have
like a duck kind of walk.
00:51:02.56\00:51:05.03
Now some of us
may say that's weird,
00:51:05.06\00:51:07.66
well, she's walking differently
00:51:07.70\00:51:09.03
because the baby
requires more caution.
00:51:09.06\00:51:12.07
And a pregnant
woman does something else,
00:51:12.10\00:51:14.34
she avoids the places
that will cause her to slip.
00:51:14.37\00:51:18.07
Why?
00:51:18.11\00:51:19.44
Because she recognizes
that the Christian life
00:51:19.47\00:51:22.38
should not be made of falling
00:51:22.41\00:51:24.35
and falling and
falling and falling
00:51:24.38\00:51:26.65
when she recognizes as a person
00:51:26.68\00:51:29.02
whose life is
being invaded by Christ
00:51:29.05\00:51:31.62
that she could hold on
to the hand of her husband,
00:51:31.65\00:51:33.82
who was able to
keep her from falling.
00:51:33.86\00:51:37.49
That's right, friends,
00:51:37.53\00:51:38.86
when Jesus is being born in you,
00:51:38.89\00:51:40.76
avoid the slip replaces
00:51:40.80\00:51:43.03
and hold on to
the hand of your Lord,
00:51:43.06\00:51:45.10
who is able to
keep you from falling,
00:51:45.13\00:51:47.40
you change the way you eat,
00:51:47.44\00:51:49.57
the baby does the change,
00:51:49.60\00:51:50.97
that baby changes
the way you dress,
00:51:51.01\00:51:53.38
because you
can't dress the same.
00:51:53.41\00:51:55.34
But the baby also
assures that you will walk
00:51:55.38\00:51:57.95
and you will not
fall now unto him
00:51:57.98\00:52:00.12
who is able to
keep you from falling.
00:52:00.15\00:52:02.55
I would guarantee that
if you are experiencing
00:52:02.58\00:52:05.79
a fall over and over in
the same areas of your life,
00:52:05.82\00:52:09.56
I can almost guarantee it is
00:52:09.59\00:52:11.33
because you're
not eating abundantly.
00:52:11.36\00:52:13.56
You're not allowing
God's Word to affect your life.
00:52:13.60\00:52:15.73
You're not praying
for the Holy Spirit
00:52:15.76\00:52:17.77
to come upon you,
00:52:17.80\00:52:19.13
and affect the changes
taking place within you
00:52:19.17\00:52:21.57
because when the Spirit of
God is moving in your life,
00:52:21.60\00:52:24.04
you can't be the same.
00:52:24.07\00:52:25.51
And you know
what? It's not optional.
00:52:25.54\00:52:26.91
It's mandatory. Why?
00:52:26.94\00:52:28.28
Because the baby
affects the change,
00:52:28.31\00:52:30.75
hold on to your hand,
00:52:30.78\00:52:32.35
hold on to the
hand of the husbandman,
00:52:32.38\00:52:34.52
Christ Jesus, and He alone
00:52:34.55\00:52:36.62
will keep you from falling.
00:52:36.65\00:52:38.49
He's done that for
me, praise His holy name.
00:52:38.52\00:52:41.32
Only He can assure
that you can walk with Him,
00:52:41.36\00:52:46.13
and you will not fall.
00:52:46.16\00:52:48.60
But there's something else.
00:52:48.63\00:52:50.23
This story gets better.
00:52:50.27\00:52:51.60
There's something else,
00:52:51.63\00:52:52.97
the woman keeps her
prenatal appointments.
00:52:53.00\00:52:55.34
You see, for those who
want to have a healthy child,
00:52:55.37\00:52:57.97
they make those
appointments with the physicians
00:52:58.01\00:53:00.21
to ensure that the
baby is getting the care
00:53:00.24\00:53:02.41
that it needs,
00:53:02.44\00:53:03.78
to maintain that constant growth
00:53:03.81\00:53:06.21
that the child
will come out healthy.
00:53:06.25\00:53:10.32
She makes
appointments with her doctor.
00:53:10.35\00:53:12.99
Oh, I wish you can
grab what I'm saying now.
00:53:13.02\00:53:15.52
When there are appointments
made to go to church,
00:53:15.56\00:53:18.99
to go to Bible study,
to go to prayer meeting,
00:53:19.03\00:53:22.33
to put aside a time
of sharing your faith.
00:53:22.36\00:53:25.00
There are those who
miss those appointments.
00:53:25.03\00:53:28.70
That's why Jesus
is not effectively
00:53:28.74\00:53:32.14
being revealed in their lives
00:53:32.17\00:53:33.91
because they don't pay attention
00:53:33.94\00:53:35.74
to their appointments.
00:53:35.78\00:53:37.55
Now woman, you
know, lady, you know,
00:53:37.58\00:53:40.38
Mother, you know,
00:53:40.42\00:53:41.92
that for your
child to be healthy,
00:53:41.95\00:53:43.69
you got to keep up
all those appointments
00:53:43.72\00:53:45.69
with your doctor.
00:53:45.72\00:53:47.06
And so also for the Christian,
00:53:47.09\00:53:48.42
if you want to have a
healthy child in your life,
00:53:48.46\00:53:50.49
if the child Christ
Jesus is to be born in you
00:53:50.53\00:53:53.43
and affect the way you live,
00:53:53.46\00:53:54.83
you got to keep
your appointments.
00:53:54.86\00:53:56.33
When it's time for
prayer meeting, be there,
00:53:56.36\00:53:58.53
when it's time for
Bible studies, be there.
00:53:58.57\00:54:00.90
When it's time to go to
church on Sabbath morning,
00:54:00.94\00:54:03.30
don't stay at home
in sleeping, be there.
00:54:03.34\00:54:05.61
These are the appointments
00:54:05.64\00:54:06.98
that cause the
baby to grow in you
00:54:07.01\00:54:08.74
in such a way
that when that child
00:54:08.78\00:54:10.95
is finally
revealed to the world,
00:54:10.98\00:54:12.85
people will realize
00:54:12.88\00:54:14.32
what a difference has
been made in your life.
00:54:14.35\00:54:17.19
And you'll say, when
church is open, I'm there,
00:54:17.22\00:54:19.85
when Bible studies
are called, I'm there,
00:54:19.89\00:54:21.86
when prayer meeting
is given, I'm there,
00:54:21.89\00:54:23.86
whether it's by Zoom,
00:54:23.89\00:54:25.23
or whether it's in a
physical setting in a room.
00:54:25.26\00:54:27.50
Don't miss your appointments.
00:54:27.53\00:54:29.40
I wish I can
emphasize that over and over.
00:54:29.43\00:54:32.33
The Bible says,
"Forsake not the assembling
00:54:32.37\00:54:34.40
of ourselves together."
00:54:34.44\00:54:35.87
And all the more so seeing that
the day is fast approaching.
00:54:35.90\00:54:39.87
For Mary, it was the
day of her deliverance.
00:54:39.91\00:54:41.94
For us, it's the
day of our deliverance
00:54:41.98\00:54:43.91
from this world.
00:54:43.95\00:54:45.28
But now that you
see all the signs,
00:54:45.31\00:54:46.92
the birth pains
around you, know, friends,
00:54:46.95\00:54:49.52
that you cannot afford
to miss your appointments.
00:54:49.55\00:54:52.72
And finally,
whoa, this is powerful.
00:54:52.75\00:54:55.69
When a woman gets
close to her delivery date,
00:54:55.72\00:54:59.13
and I've heard the stories.
00:54:59.16\00:55:01.66
I'm going to a
house where women,
00:55:01.70\00:55:03.20
they have a little
bag by the front doors
00:55:03.23\00:55:04.73
by the couch.
00:55:04.77\00:55:06.10
And, you know, they say, "Well,
00:55:06.13\00:55:07.47
you know, when
the pains get closer,
00:55:07.50\00:55:09.64
I got my bags packed,
00:55:09.67\00:55:11.27
my husband would just
get me into the car quickly,
00:55:11.31\00:55:13.51
grab that bag and I
know that my bags are packed
00:55:13.54\00:55:16.78
because the baby is
about to be delivered."
00:55:16.81\00:55:19.58
Oh, I wish you
can grab this point.
00:55:19.61\00:55:21.95
You see, the Bible
says in Matthew 25:13.
00:55:21.98\00:55:24.52
"Watch therefore,
00:55:24.55\00:55:26.25
for you know
neither the day nor the hour
00:55:26.29\00:55:30.86
in which the Son
of Man is coming."
00:55:30.89\00:55:34.16
What? Did you grab that?
00:55:34.20\00:55:36.40
When the woman sees the
pains get closer and closer.
00:55:36.43\00:55:39.83
Oh, friends, we are
living in the day and age
00:55:39.87\00:55:41.74
where we see the
birth pangs of the world,
00:55:41.77\00:55:43.97
fires and wars
and rumors of wars
00:55:44.01\00:55:46.41
and nation
rising against nation,
00:55:46.44\00:55:48.38
famine and pestilence,
disease and disorder,
00:55:48.41\00:55:51.88
and corruption and division.
00:55:51.91\00:55:53.78
All the birth pangs of
the world are saying to us,
00:55:53.82\00:55:57.05
the baby is about to come.
00:55:57.09\00:55:59.12
The baby is about to come.
00:55:59.15\00:56:00.92
Jesus is about to return.
00:56:00.96\00:56:02.96
All the signs of the coming
of Jesus are all around us
00:56:02.99\00:56:06.70
saying get your bags packed
00:56:06.73\00:56:08.76
because you don't
know the day nor the hour
00:56:08.80\00:56:11.67
in which the Son
of Man is coming.
00:56:11.70\00:56:15.34
Now I've heard
women tell the stories.
00:56:15.37\00:56:17.37
But I want to tell you, friends,
00:56:17.41\00:56:18.94
the hour is too
late for Christians
00:56:18.97\00:56:20.94
to be waiting to get ready.
00:56:20.98\00:56:22.78
This is the hour
that God is saying.
00:56:22.81\00:56:24.98
This is the time
for you to be ready
00:56:25.01\00:56:27.22
for the coming of Jesus
00:56:27.25\00:56:28.68
because changing
your life without Jesus
00:56:28.72\00:56:30.85
is nothing more
than control behavior,
00:56:30.89\00:56:33.22
but when Jesus comes in,
00:56:33.25\00:56:34.59
He'll change your
life in such a way
00:56:34.62\00:56:37.56
that people will see
your life to be different.
00:56:37.59\00:56:40.66
Your walk will be different.
00:56:40.70\00:56:42.20
Your dress will be different.
00:56:42.23\00:56:43.90
Your diet will change.
00:56:43.93\00:56:46.53
What's happening
around you will change.
00:56:46.57\00:56:49.67
And you won't be
sitting around saying,
00:56:49.70\00:56:51.04
"Oh, well, I
have time to get ready
00:56:51.07\00:56:52.74
for the coming of Jesus."
00:56:52.77\00:56:54.24
Oh, friends, this is the hour
00:56:54.28\00:56:56.51
to get ready for
the coming of Jesus.
00:56:56.54\00:56:58.01
Why?
00:56:58.05\00:56:59.38
Because Jesus
wants to do in your life
00:56:59.41\00:57:02.28
what He did in Mary's life.
00:57:02.32\00:57:05.92
The reality is, you
can say I have Jesus,
00:57:05.95\00:57:09.56
but if you want to be
transformed today say,
00:57:09.59\00:57:12.03
"I want Jesus to have me."
00:57:12.06\00:57:14.46
This is my prayer
for you for the season.
00:57:14.50\00:57:16.40
Say, Lord, I
want You to have me.
00:57:16.43\00:57:18.57
I want to have the
experience Mary had.
00:57:18.60\00:57:21.04
I want to see
the changes Mary saw
00:57:21.07\00:57:23.41
so that when You come
I will be just like You
00:57:23.44\00:57:27.18
because You live in me.
00:57:27.21\00:57:29.08
God bless you.
00:57:29.11\00:57:30.45