I Wish You a ‘Mary’ Christmas Part #2

The Mary Message

Luke 1:26-38  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.  And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"   But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."  Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.  For with God nothing will be impossible."  Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. NKJV

Hear the Mary message and say “Yes, Lord”

Yesterday we talked about her Mary model. Mary was a prototype of what the Lord wants to do in us, but the “Mary model” only happens in people who hear the “Mary message” and who respond as she did, by saying “Yes, Lord” (Luke 1:38). Mary is a great example and model for us to follow. We realize that all the glory goes to God if any human being is able to accomplish his will; it is strictly by God’s grace. 

Fleshed out

When Mary said, “Yes,” it opened the way for Christ to come into the world. God grace enabled her to make the right decisions. Mary’s willingness caused God’s word to be “fleshed out.”  That’s a term we use today.  When something is “fleshed out” it means more details are given about whom or what you are talking about.  In Christianity we talk about being “incarnational”. The incarnation speaks of Christ becoming a man at Christmas time. John 1:14 says, “the Word {Jesus} became a man and dwelt among us.”   But how do you live that out?   How do you live incarnational?  I like how the message version translates John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”  

Living incarnation means Jesus has become so real in your life others can see it! It’s like Jesus has moved into their neighborhood. When we come to Jesus and receive Him as Lord and Savior and he impregnates our life, it changes our heart!  It changes us enough to change the world around us.  God want to place his word in us. What the Lord wants to do is Mary model enters us, grows in us, and happens through us and changes the world around us. 

What was the message?

·         Rejoice God is with you! You are highly favored! You are blessed!

We need to receive the Mary message with joy! We have been chosen by God! We are his people. We have been given favor and are blessed. God’s grace has saved us! There is no reason for his love and favor except he just givens it freely. We do not deserve it, we are not worth of it, but he given it to us! So get happy people!

·         Don’t be afraid you have found favor with God!  

You are highly favored the angel says twice. The word favor used here is the word for grace—you’re going to get what you never earned, what you never deserved, and could never make happen. Then he says, don’t be afraid. Why do people fear the goodness of God? Probably because they think He’s just like humans beings offering something with an unseen agenda. But he his love and grace offers it freely.

God want us not to walk in fear, but in favor.  We no longer have to be afraid of God and what he is doing in our life; we know God is in control. Release your fears "Do not be afraid…”

If you’re afraid, it can mean several things,

1.  Your focus is on the situation and you feel helpless. 

2.  You can see no way out,

3.  You have no one to help you.

Jesus comes into the world and He brings peace.  The first thing that’s said by the angel is, don’t be afraid.  It’s as if God is saying – hey don’t worry, your fears can end right here.

So the solution is to; 

1.  Don’t focus on the situation; focus on the savior,

2. See that God has already promised a way out and sent Jesus for you,

3.  Realize that Jesus came to be with us and that we’re never alone.

THIS ALL FLOWS FROM LOVE – God loves and sends Jesus, Jesus’ love casts out the fears that we have because His love is perfect.

I John 4:18-19 (NIV) “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  We love because he first loved us.”

The more we receive and understand God’s love the less fear we will have

More tomorrow!

Daily Renewal

I read this article yesterday from a Christan blog I liked it and wanted to share it with you. I have left it anonymous so people do not judge the writer as much as they will enjoy the reading.

"The daily opportunity to renew, restore, and redirect our lives is one of the most awesome facets of our relationship with God, His Holy Spirit, and our redeemer, Christ Jesus.

God gives us the power – through His Word, through His Son, and through His Spirit – to rise each day and continue the process of transformation and restoration, as He perfects us into the image of Christ.

Even during seasons where nagging fears, doubts, and worries may lurk in the corners of our minds, there are more powerful forces at work in us, ready to help us rejuvenate our weary souls…replenish and increase our faith…and renew our commitment to find God’s destiny for our lives.

Because we are saved by the blood of Christ, led by the counsel of the Holy Spirit, and made strong in our weakness through faith in our omnipotent, omnipresent, and merciful God, it is possible to experience freedom from worry, doubt, anxiety, fear, bad memories or negative self-talk– and pursue our God-given dreams, goals and callings -- even during our most challenging seasons.

Yet, many of us, when confronted by difficulties, struggle to maintain the victory -- of spirit over flesh…faith over fear…and the truth of God -- over the lies of the enemy of our soul.

Here are three strategies for finding daily spiritual renewal and transformation through the power of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit:

#1: Stop Dwelling on Past Failures and Injuries. Failure is a part of life. When you fail, the most important thing is to pick yourself up and choose to move forward. At the same time, recognize that those around you have shortcomings and will fail, and possibly cause you pain, from time to time as well. Don’t get stuck in moments of failure – yours or theirs. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7:3: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye”?Ask God to forgive – and help you forgive -- what needs to be forgiven, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight on how to move forward.

#2: Remain Open to Change. Everything in life changes. Only through learning how to navigate transition will you be able to bend – and not break – when upheaval, loss, and change occurs in your life. Accept change as good. Ask God to help you “change your mind” about change…read God’s Word to learn how Jesus counseled His followers on the changes it would be necessary to make to achieve their destiny and enter God’s kingdom…and listen for the counsel of the Holy Spirit as you prepare for the new opportunities change will reveal!

#3: Keep an Eye Out for New Opportunities Each Day. God will send you opportunities. Expect them! Be open to new ideas – and don’t get stuck in a preconceived notion of how God is going to answer your prayers, or bring about the accomplishment of the goals and destiny He calls you to pursue. Pay attention to the leading and counsel of the Holy Spirit as you maintain an open and willing mind and seek new opportunities in your life. Remember: God’s objective is for you to be transformed, restored, and perfected into the likeness of Jesus Christ a little bit more each day.

Use these strategies to achieve the daily renewal, transformation, and freedom through Christ and the Holy Spirit that God intends for you. Your best is yet to come!