Bible Text: Luke 1:26-55 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Abiding in Christmas
Anxiety
Luke 1:26-33 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.
Jesus instructed us to live in the present, learn from the past and to NOT WORRY about the future!
Matthew 6:34 Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Acceptance
Luke 1:34-38 Then Mary said to the angel, how can this be, since I do not know a man?
…Then Mary said, Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.
Acceptance is not resignation to a situation but receiving God’s peace and trusting that you are in God’s will.
John 14:27-28 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid
God calls us and we go!
Jonah 1:1-3 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are. But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord.
Abiding
Luke 1:39-55 …she spoke out with a loud voice and said, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
Transformation
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.
New Perspective; New Understanding; New Attitude!
Anxiety to Acceptance to Abiding!
My soul has rejoiced in God my Savior.
Magnifies: an intentional continuous act
Has rejoiced: choosing to rejoice.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
For He who is