Rossville Christian Church
Sunday, December 6
- Joy To The World (Unspeakable Joy)
- Forever Reign
- I. Mary -
Luke 1:26–38 NIV 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?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.A. Afraid - vs 28-301. Wasn’t always good when an angel showed upa. Angel sometimes brought bad newsb. Also brought news of Biblical Proportions2. Wrestling internallya. As with all of us called on for ministryb. Is this a good thing or whatc. We all wrestleGalatians 5:17 NASB95 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.i. These were human peopleii. Their own thoughts, hopes and dreamsiii. Not some super human, just a normald. Had a choice to make3. Angel assured hera. Always the no fear messagei. Found favorii. Had faith, lived uprightb. Always a greeting of joyLuke 1:32 NIV 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,c. Great child with a great destinyB. Willing to be God’s ServantLuke 1:38 NIV “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.1. Her answer proved her hearta. Actions speak louder than wordsb. Had already decided internally now external proclamationRomans 10:9 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.2. What would I have donea. Facing ridiculeb. Facing deathc. Facing disappointment from familyII. Joseph - Matt 1:18-25Matthew 1:18–25 NASB95 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.A. Afraid –Matthew 1:18–19 NIV This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.1. Not a normal situationa. Lots of suspicionb. Didn’t know what to do2. Trouble acceptinga. Quietly divorce herb. Didn’t want to cause a stinkJohn 13:34 NIV “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.B. Willing to be God’s Servant - vs 20-21Matthew 1:20–21 NIV But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”1. Received the Messagea. Didn’t argue with itb. Made peace with the message2. Accepted the message -Matthew 1:24 NIV When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.3. God always chooses the willinga. Even in a tough situationb. Willing to trust GodJohn 14:1 NIV “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.4. Was blessed with the messagea. And with the doingb. He embodied what it says in JamesJames 1:22 NIV Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.III. Message of Hope & Faith -Isaiah 7:14 NIV Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.A. Prophesy fulfilled -Isaiah 9:6 NIV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.1. First Candle of Hope2. Our Hope is not emptya. Not like hoping on the lottery ticketComing home from the desertB. Faithful Submission -1. Second candle of Faith2. Mary and Joseph were faithful3. God’s use of faithful peoplea. They held on to what God saidb. They were blessedHebrews 10:23 NIV Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.c. Mary and Joseph become giants of faith5. All we ever have to do is say yesC. Salvation found in Prophesy and Faith1. Jesus did comeLuke 2:11 NIV Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.2. Faith bring us to Hima. His faith bring us to HimEphesians 2:8 NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—Romans 8:29–30 NIV For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.b. We are called to Him by His faithi. We are granted faithii. We can take that step toward Himiii. He draws near to usConclusion: Matthew 1:19NIV2011
Luke 1:26NIV2011
Luke 1:26–38NIV2011
Galatians 5:17NIV2011
Luke 1:32NIV2011
Luke 1:38NIV2011
Romans 10:9NIV2011
Matthew 1:18–25NIV2011
Matthew 1:18–19NIV2011
John 13:34NIV2011
Matthew 1:20–21NIV2011
Matthew 1:24NIV2011
John 14:1NIV2011
James 1:22NIV2011
Isaiah 7:14NIV2011
Isaiah 9:6NIV2011
Hebrews 10:23NIV2011
Luke 2:11NIV2011
Ephesians 2:8NIV2011
Romans 8:29–30NIV2011
- Come As You Are
- Go Tell It On The Mountain
Matthew 28:19–20NLT