Participants:
Series Code: WHO
Program Code: WHO210074S
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00:29 Hello, friends. Welcome to 3ABN Worship Hour.
00:32 I'm John Lomacang, 00:34 pastor of the Thompsonville Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:36 and Director of World Evangelism for 3ABN. 00:39 Welcome to what I refer to 00:41 as a very thought-provoking message entitled, 00:45 A Baby had Mary. 00:49 I said that correctly. 00:50 A lot of you might be thinking, "Wait a minute, 00:52 Mary had a baby." 00:54 We'll find out what that means in just a moment. 00:56 But I pray that this time of the year find you well, 00:59 find you strong in the Lord, and if that's not the case, 01:04 I pray to encourage you and direct your heart and mind 01:07 in a way and in a direction 01:09 where the Lord can bless you 01:10 and bring about in you the gift 01:12 that He intends to give to all of us, 01:14 the gift of salvation. 01:16 But right now let's go to the Lord in prayer 01:17 asking Him to bless this message. 01:19 Let's bow. 01:21 Gracious Father in heaven, we thank You 01:23 that truly anytime we open Your Word, 01:27 Your Holy Spirit will guide our hearts and minds. 01:31 Bless now this message and may the intended targets, 01:35 the audience, those who are listening, 01:37 those who are watching, 01:39 may they receive 01:40 what You have packed into this sermon, 01:43 but may the gift and the glory go only to You. 01:45 We pray in Jesus' name. 01:48 Amen. 01:50 It is a very short passage in the Book of Matthew, 01:52 Matthew 1:21, but before I read that, 01:57 let me just give you a little backdrop to the title. 02:00 You know, years ago, 02:01 and some of you may have had the same experience. 02:04 We have always been thrilled 02:05 by the story of Mary having a baby. 02:08 But I thought about that 02:10 in the context of the Christian life 02:13 because us having Jesus 02:16 and Jesus having us is not the same thing, 02:20 quite differently. 02:22 You see the concept of Mary having Jesus 02:25 suggest that she can do with Jesus as she pleases. 02:29 But if you flip that around, when Jesus has us, 02:34 He can do with us as He pleases. 02:38 So I began to see the story 02:39 in a completely different light, 02:40 even though Mary was heaven's chosen 02:43 delivery method 02:45 of bringing the greatest gift to humanity. 02:48 Really, in fact, the baby was in charge. 02:51 So allow me to introduce 02:53 what I refer to as the understatement 02:55 of Christianity. 02:57 The reality is, 02:59 we don't have Jesus, Jesus has us. 03:04 Even though Mary physically had Jesus, 03:07 Jesus spiritually had Mary. 03:11 We don't work in Him to will and to do of our good pleasure. 03:15 Philippians 2:13 says, 03:18 "It is God who works in you 03:20 both to will and to do of His good pleasure." 03:24 So the work that's being done in our lives is not us, 03:27 using God to accomplish anything, 03:29 but it's God using us to accomplish everything, 03:33 for He will finish the work, 03:34 and He will cut it short in righteousness. 03:38 When that became clear to me, 03:40 my Christian walk became much lighter. 03:42 In other words, I knew that 03:44 as long as I invited Jesus to come on the inside, 03:46 He will both will and do of His good pleasure. 03:50 I recognize it is no longer I who live but Christ, 03:53 who lives in me. 03:54 I recognize that since I have died to sin, 03:57 and since I've died to self, 03:59 it is Christ who is now accomplishing 04:02 His will in my life. 04:04 My life then becomes a living sacrifice, 04:07 holy and acceptable to God, how? 04:10 Because God is holy and when God abides within us, 04:13 then our lives become holy, 04:14 we literally and spiritually become the temple 04:18 out of which God works. 04:19 And the glory of God is then seen. 04:22 So then you can begin to see let your light so shine, 04:24 it makes a lot of sense 04:25 because when God sends His Son to live within us, 04:29 His Son accomplishes, 04:31 both to will and to do of His good pleasure. 04:35 But we begin with the mission of Jesus. 04:37 The mission of Jesus was abundantly clear. 04:40 In Matthew 1:21 we read the words, 04:45 "And she will bring forth a Son, 04:47 and you shall call His name Jesus, 04:50 for He will save His people from their sins." 04:54 Notice, call His name Jesus. 04:57 He's the one doing the salvation, 04:59 He will save His people from their sins. 05:02 When you understand the beauty of this text, 05:04 you have to look in to the historical context 05:07 because the historical context gives us a framework 05:10 that teaches us the beauty of patience 05:13 because 14 generations had passed 05:18 since the captivity of Israel and Babylon, 05:22 since they were slaves in that province in Babylon 05:25 when Gabriel, 05:27 God's faithful angel was still busy. 05:31 And when you think about it, 05:32 Gabriel the angel who came to answer 05:34 Daniel's most fervent prayer was also the same angel 05:38 that came to bring this good news to Mary. 05:41 But very few of us understand 05:43 the reality of having Jesus in our lives 05:46 better than a little teenage girl named Mary. 05:51 Now I'm sure if she had anything to do with it, 05:53 how Jesus would have entered the world, 05:55 she would have done it quite differently. 05:59 But Mary was not in control, Jesus was. 06:03 Jesus was in control, Jesus chose the method 06:07 of His entrance into the world. 06:09 Let's look at Luke Chapter 1. 06:11 Luke 1:26-28. 06:14 And what you're going to find is when God chooses us, 06:17 our lives are about to be turned upside down, inside out 06:23 because there's nothing more helpless to the Christian 06:26 than realizing 06:28 that the greatest blessing comes 06:30 when we stop trying to control our lives, 06:32 and give our lives to the total control 06:35 of the presence of Jesus in us. 06:37 Look at Luke 1:26-28. 06:39 It describes the activity of Gabriel 06:42 as it relates to Mary. 06:45 The Bible says, "Now in the sixth month," 06:48 and you'll find out what that six month means, 06:51 "the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city 06:55 of Galilee named Nazareth, 06:57 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph," 07:01 they were more than engaged, 07:03 "of the house of David. 07:04 The virgin's name was Mary." 07:06 And verse 28. 07:08 "And having come in, the angel said to her, 07:13 'Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you, 07:17 blessed are you among women!'" 07:21 Now the Bible doesn't tell us 07:22 the time of the day of the salutation, 07:25 the Bible tells us, 07:26 it doesn't tell us where the encounter took place, 07:29 but if it were morning, midday, or evening, 07:33 whatever the case may be, 07:34 it is not normal for an angel just to show up 07:38 and interrupt your life and say, 07:40 "Rejoice highly favored one, the Lord is with you." 07:43 I've never had that kind of encounter. 07:45 And I believe that your life will be immediately transformed 07:48 if your doorbell rang. 07:50 And instead of being a FedEx guy, 07:51 or UPS or postal service worker, 07:53 you see an angel there saying, "Rejoice highly favored one. 07:57 Blessed are you." 07:58 You see, when the Lord shows up, 08:00 it's more than a normal experience. 08:04 It's far beyond anything that we can imagine. 08:07 So when we ask the Lord to come into our lives, 08:09 be ready for a divine interruption, 08:12 but know this, 08:14 divine interruptions produce divine results. 08:18 Whatever the setting, Mary reacted to Gabriel 08:22 the way that many of us would have. 08:24 Look at what she said in verse 29 and 30 08:26 of Luke Chapter 1. 08:28 The Bible says, "But when she saw him," 08:31 notice this, 08:33 "she was troubled at his saying, 08:35 and considered the manner of greeting this way." 08:40 Verse 30. 08:41 "Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, 08:45 for you have found favor with God.'" 08:48 This is a beautiful passage. 08:50 The Bible says she has found favor with God. 08:54 You know, one of the prayers I've had in my life 08:56 is that God would find favor in my life. 08:59 Let me pause on that just for a moment 09:02 because when the Lord is looking into the earth, 09:04 looking for those who would stand in integrity, 09:07 and in honesty, 09:09 and allow his life or her life to be used 09:11 for God's glory to be seen, 09:13 we find favor with God. 09:14 God says, "That's a safe young lady, 09:17 that's a safe young man, 09:18 that's a safe person that I can allow My Holy Spirit 09:21 to work through and work in." 09:23 So for God to say to Mary, 09:24 you have found favor with God. 09:26 God didn't just choose anybody. 09:29 He chose somebody that He knew 09:32 would participate with heaven's plan. 09:35 God chose Mary because Mary was loyal to God. 09:39 God looks for those that are loyal to Him. 09:43 Listen to the prophet in 2 Chronicles 16:9, 09:47 what a powerful passage. 09:49 He writes, "For the eyes of the Lord 09:53 run to and fro throughout the earth, 09:55 to show Himself strong 09:57 on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." 10:02 If you want to see God show up in your life, 10:04 become loyal to God. 10:05 What does that mean? 10:07 That means when the voice to the left 10:08 is calling you ignore it, 10:09 but when the voice of God to the right is calling you 10:11 respond to it. 10:13 As the young boy Samuel said, 10:14 "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth." 10:17 And the Lord says, 10:18 "You will hear a voice behind you saying, 10:20 this is the way walk you in it." 10:21 When God is directing your path and you respond to it, 10:25 God will show Himself strong 10:27 in behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 10:32 Today, your greatest blessing can begin 10:35 when you decide that your heart is going to be loyal to God. 10:38 And in this world today, 10:40 when everybody's calling for attention, 10:41 it's so good to know that you decide, 10:44 you make a decision, 10:46 and you desire to have the Lord, 10:48 occupy your heart, 10:50 and you decide to be loyal to God, continuing. 10:55 As we look at Mary's life, 10:56 this was not an everyday occurrence 10:58 in Mary's life, 11:00 her eyes and her voice said it all, 11:02 but Gabriel decided to comfort her. 11:05 Just imagine, if your teenage daughter 11:07 maybe 17, 18 years old, 11:09 maybe even 16 because history suggests that 11:12 she was a young lady. 11:14 She was not married before, she never had children, 11:16 she was a virgin according to the scriptures. 11:19 And whatever time of day it was, 11:20 she's now having a conversation with an angel, 11:23 who she's never seen before. 11:26 But he decided to comfort her. 11:28 Luke 1:31-33, he said to her, 11:32 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb 11:34 and bring forth a Son, 11:35 and shall call His name Jesus." 11:38 Verse 32, "He will be great, 11:40 and will be called the Son of the Highest," 11:44 how many pre-mothers have heard that statement, 11:47 "and the Lord God will give Him 11:49 the throne of His father David. 11:51 And He will reign 11:52 over the house of Jacob forever, 11:54 and of His kingdom there will be no end." 11:57 Now I know you heard something, but I think you missed it. 12:00 The angel right away said, 12:02 His father is not going to be Joseph, 12:05 His father is going to be David. 12:07 And if she knew anything about her lineage, 12:09 she probably said to herself, "Wait a minute, 12:11 I'm engaged to Joseph, you have this all wrong." 12:15 But the angel didn't have it wrong 12:16 because God planned long before this day, 12:20 for His plan to be accomplished, 12:22 according to the lineage of David. 12:25 Why the lineage of David? 12:27 You see, the seed of Christ 12:28 was to bring more than 12:30 just another child into the world, 12:31 the seed of the Holy Spirit 12:33 was not just to bring another child into the world. 12:35 It was to bring the person of Jesus into the world. 12:39 And this was forecast for decades for aeons. 12:42 So when he said, of his father's house, David, 12:47 Mary thought, this is going to really be a difficult thing 12:50 for Joseph to understand 12:51 that this child is not his, 12:53 but this is something that 12:55 God has foreknown and planned long before this. 12:59 Gabriel was clear about his commission. 13:01 And Gabriel was clear about what God had told him to do. 13:05 But Mary had a question. 13:07 Look at verse 34. 13:09 She had a good question. 13:11 "Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, 13:15 since I do not know a man?'" 13:17 Now let me pause there for a moment. 13:19 She had the biological process clear in her mind. 13:23 She says, "Wait a minute, 13:24 I'm having a child 13:25 without any kind of connection to anyone. 13:27 I'm having a child. 13:28 And Joseph and I are not even married. 13:31 How can this be? 13:33 I don't even know a man." 13:36 Don't run to pass. 13:37 Don't run past that too quickly. 13:39 What is she saying? 13:40 Well, if you look at the Bible narrative, 13:42 you'll see that when Peter denied Jesus, 13:44 he said, I don't know the man. 13:47 That's why he denied him. 13:48 He did not know the man. 13:49 Mary said, "I don't know a man." 13:52 Which means she's saying 13:53 how is this biological process is going to take place. 13:56 But in both the instances, look at the comparison. 13:59 In both the instances, 14:01 there is nothing that can happen in your life 14:03 until you know the man, Christ Jesus. 14:07 You may try to change your life, 14:09 change the way you eat, 14:10 change the way you dress, change the way you worship, 14:13 but you cannot do it until you know the man. 14:15 That's what the Bible says. 14:16 And this is life eternal, 14:18 that you know God 14:19 that you know the only true God and Jesus Christ 14:21 whom He has sent. 14:23 You've got to know the man 14:24 for there to be any changes in your life. 14:27 So she was right. 14:28 And Peter was also right. 14:30 I don't know a man, how can this be? 14:32 Look at verse 35, 14:34 the angel explains how it can be. 14:38 "And the angel answered and said to her," 14:40 listen to what he said, 14:42 "'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, 14:46 and the power of the Highest will overshadow you, 14:49 therefore, also, that Holy One 14:54 who is to be born 14:56 will be called the Son of God.'" 14:59 Wow! Think about that. 15:02 He is saying to her what is in fact true about 15:05 the gospel narrative 15:07 until the Holy Spirit overshadows us. 15:11 Let me say that one more time. 15:13 Until we are imbued by the power 15:16 of the Holy Spirit of God, 15:18 there will be no changes in our lives. 15:20 He said, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you." 15:23 Just like the day of Pentecost. 15:25 What happened on the day of Pentecost? 15:26 The power of heaven took hold of regular ordinary men 15:31 who prayed for the Lord to use their lives, 15:33 ordinary men and ordinary women 15:36 were overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit. 15:40 When that happens, 15:41 he explains exactly what takes place. 15:43 The power of the Highest will overshadow you. 15:47 Wow! 15:48 What an amazing thing. 15:49 So she now knows 15:51 before she gets married to Joseph, 15:53 God's greatest blessing has just come to her 15:56 in the context of her worst dilemma. 16:00 Now grab that for a moment. 16:02 You know, friends, sometimes 16:04 God's greatest blessing will come to you. 16:07 And it will often begin looking like your worst dilemma 16:11 because it'll be difficult to explain to anybody 16:14 what's happening in your life. 16:15 And I'm sure that Mary thought about it. 16:18 She was planning to have a child one day, 16:20 but not before her marriage. 16:23 Try explaining that to your husband, 16:25 to be or your mother. 16:27 Having a conversation with an angel 16:30 is something that many people don't do. 16:32 As a matter of fact, I've never had, 16:33 I've not seen an angel. 16:35 Maybe I entertained one unaware. 16:37 But Mary is having a serious dilemma long before 16:40 she even says to Joseph I do. 16:44 The unfolding events in her life 16:47 will bring the power of the Highest, 16:49 but will bring an earthly dilemma. 16:52 Let me pause and speak to you for a moment. 16:54 You might be one going through a dilemma right now 16:57 wondering why the dilemma has come to you. 17:00 I say again, sometimes God's greatest blessing 17:04 begins as an unquestionable dilemma. 17:08 It may be glad eventually, 17:10 but when you're in the midst of something that 17:12 you are not in control of, 17:13 it looks like something that you can't get out of. 17:15 God's timing is always on time. 17:19 If God has brought you to a situation in your life 17:22 that's challenging you right now, 17:23 hold on because the Lord will never bring to us 17:26 something that will not work out for our good 17:29 because He says all things work together for good 17:32 to those who love God, 17:33 and those who are the called according to His purpose. 17:37 But there are times when we are glad 17:39 and there are other times 17:40 when we are in a predicament. 17:42 And there are those 17:44 that the Lord knows can help us through. 17:46 You know, I've seen people that have had predicaments. 17:48 And they say if it wasn't for so and so, 17:51 my life would have fallen apart. 17:52 But God sent that young lady at the right time, 17:54 or God sent my cousin at the right time, 17:56 or God sent the pastor at the right time, 17:59 I was in a pickle, 18:00 but God knew exactly who to send 18:02 and when to send that person. 18:04 Gabriel suggested that Mary, 18:07 you are not the only one in this dilemma. 18:10 Now you may remember just a moment ago, 18:12 I said the sixth month. 18:13 Why would Gabriel say the sixth month? 18:15 Let's look at verse 36 and 37. 18:18 He showed up not in the six months 18:21 of Mary's pregnancy, 18:23 he showed up in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy. 18:27 Look at verse 36 and 37. 18:29 The Bible says, "Now indeed, 18:31 Elizabeth your relative 18:32 has also conceived a son in her old age," 18:36 another impossibility, 18:38 but nothing impossible for God, and he goes on to say, 18:42 "and this is now the sixth month for her 18:45 who was called barren. 18:47 For with God nothing will be impossible." 18:50 Did you hear what the angel said? 18:51 This is what happened to the person 18:53 that society called barren. 18:55 You might be that person 18:57 that thinks your life is barren. 18:58 You'll never amount to anything. 19:00 You'll never get to what you're aiming at. 19:01 You'll never accomplish the things 19:03 that you put down on paper. 19:04 But God knows how to transform barren lives. 19:07 God knows how to change barren situations. 19:10 Your plan sometimes have to be interrupted 19:13 for God's plan to come to fruition 19:16 because He says I know the plans I have for you, 19:18 plans to give you prosperity and not to harm you, 19:21 to give you a future and a hope. 19:23 So if you feel barren, God is saying empty yourself 19:27 so that I can fill you with My plan. 19:29 And I can tell you from personal experience, 19:32 God's plan is always the best. 19:35 In the midst of Mary's dilemma, she's still obedient, 19:40 but now she knows that there's someone 19:42 who understands what she's going through. 19:45 Friend, never think that you're the only one. 19:48 So many people face trials. 19:49 And they say, "I'm the only one." 19:51 You're not the only one. 19:53 Nothing has overtaken you but such as is common to man. 19:56 If you feel you're going through something 19:58 that nobody can identify with. 19:59 There's somebody that can identify with it. 20:02 Notice what Mary's response was. 20:04 When she knew that the angel was giving her good news. 20:07 Here is the attitude 20:09 that every one of us should have 20:11 when God is trying to work on our lives. 20:13 Look at verse 38. 20:15 "Then Mary said, 'Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! 20:21 Let it be to me according to your word.' 20:25 And the angel departed from her.'" 20:28 You know why he departed from her? 20:30 Because she said, what we should say, 20:33 let it be according to Your Word. 20:36 What would happen? 20:38 What would happen in somebody's life if they say, 20:40 I don't know what men want me to do, 20:42 but let it be according to God's Word? 20:44 I know what tradition says, 20:46 but I want my life to be according to God's Word. 20:48 I know what my church taught me, 20:50 but I want to live 20:52 according to what God's Word has said. 20:54 Mary hit the nail on the head, 20:56 let it be to me according to Your Word. 21:01 Forget about what everybody else 21:02 is going to do. 21:04 The question is, what are you going to do? 21:05 Are you going to allow your life to be 21:08 according to God's Word? 21:10 That's why the angel knowing 21:12 that she surrendered her life to the Word of God, 21:15 then the angel left. 21:16 He said, "This is not a young lady 21:19 that I need to be concerned about." 21:20 She has just surrendered her life 21:23 to be under the control of the power of the Highest. 21:28 So what did she do? 21:29 When the angel left, and Mary saw the dilemma, 21:33 she left town in a hurry. 21:35 Look at verse 39 and 40. 21:38 "Now Mary arose in those days 21:39 and went into the hill country with haste, 21:43 to a city of Judah, 21:45 and entered the house of Zacharias 21:48 and greeted Elizabeth." 21:49 You know, when Mary arrived, 21:51 and Elizabeth saw her, 21:54 there was an instant connection, 21:57 not only in the flesh, 21:59 but there was a divine connection made 22:02 between the unborn child in Elizabeth, 22:06 who ended up to be John the Baptist, 22:08 and the newly planted seed in Mary, 22:12 who was Jesus to be formed in human flesh. 22:16 Now I want to make a very powerful point 22:18 right here. 22:20 She just got pregnant. 22:23 And when she walked into the house, 22:26 where Elizabeth was in the house of Zacharias, 22:30 the baby in Elizabeth's womb leaped. 22:35 But that child wasn't born yet. 22:37 Because he recognized 22:39 that he was in the presence of divinity. 22:41 Now this is something that is impossible to explain 22:44 in the human vernacular. 22:46 But here's the point I want to make. 22:48 We're living in a world today where many people are saying, 22:51 "Well, until the baby gets to a certain amount of time, 22:53 it's not really a child." 22:55 The Bible just debunked that theory 22:57 because the seed was just planted in Mary, 22:59 and the baby that leaped 23:01 in Elizabeth's womb to recognize 23:03 that there was a divine transformation taking place 23:06 in Mary's life, 23:07 and the seed was just planted there. 23:12 And that seed would be developed 23:13 into the person of Jesus Christ. 23:16 That was something that Mary understood and knew. 23:19 Friends, I tell you it's powerful today, 23:22 in a world where they don't value a child 23:25 until it gets to a certain time, 23:26 in gestation, 23:28 the Lord values a child 23:29 from the time the seed is planted. 23:31 Praise the Lord for that. 23:33 Look at verse 41 to 44 of Luke Chapter 1. 23:38 "And it happened, 23:40 when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, 23:42 that the babe leaped in her wound, 23:44 and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." 23:49 Verse 42, "Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, 23:53 'Blessed are you among women, 23:55 and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" 23:58 That seed was just planted. 24:00 The angel left, Mary left town, the seed was just planted. 24:04 And what did Elizabeth say? 24:07 Blessed is the fruit of your womb, 24:09 at the point of being just planted. 24:13 Verse 43, "But why is this granted to me, 24:18 that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" 24:22 Jesus was not even born yet. 24:24 And Elizabeth is saying, 24:26 "You are the mother of my Lord." 24:28 And verse 44, "For indeed, 24:31 as soon as the voice of your greeting 24:34 sounded in my ears, 24:36 the babe leaped in my womb for joy.'" 24:39 What a powerful connection. 24:41 What a powerful connection. 24:43 What was taking place in Mary's life? 24:45 Mary was not carrying Jesus, friends, 24:48 Jesus was carrying Mary 24:50 because Mary even though 24:51 she might physically deliver Jesus, 24:53 Jesus spiritually delivered Mary. 24:57 Jesus is the great I am, not the great I was, 25:00 not the great I will be. 25:01 Jesus is the bright and morning star, 25:04 not the star that ever grows dim. 25:05 Mary was a temporary den 25:07 for the Lion of the tribe of Judah. 25:09 Mary was a momentary garden for the Rose of Sharon. 25:13 She became a makeshift refinery, 25:17 out of which the oil of gladness 25:20 would flow to humanity. 25:21 Praise God for that. 25:22 Mary became a nuclear reactor for the omnipotent one, 25:26 the power of the Highest overshadowed her, 25:29 and the Jesus Christ, the first, the last, 25:33 the beginning and the end 25:35 was about to enter human history. 25:37 What a powerful place Mary was set into the power 25:42 that was residing in her. 25:43 There was enough power in Mary to annihilate the world. 25:48 But Jesus, loving us so much He stepped down His power, 25:53 He came, He stepped down that power of divinity, 25:55 laid off the robe of adoration, 25:59 and came in the form of human flesh. 26:01 The Bible says, 26:03 when the fullness of time had come, 26:04 God sent forth His Son born of a woman, 26:07 this great master of eternity, 26:10 this great man who born worlds 26:13 and laid planets and set up constellations, 26:16 humbled Himself and came through a frail young lady. 26:21 What an amazing experience. 26:23 And through Elizabeth, 26:24 God confirms to Mary 26:26 that divinity is in charge of her situation. 26:29 And that divinity is working out his plan. 26:32 "Blessed is he who believed..." 26:36 Verse 45 of Luke Chapter 1, 26:39 "Blessed is she who believed, 26:42 for there will be a fulfillment of those things 26:45 which were told her from the Lord." 26:49 You see, friends, although our situation 26:51 often starts as a great dilemma, 26:53 this is where God's blessing becomes real. 26:56 The second point I want to make, 26:58 although your life may begin as a dilemma, 27:01 God is still in charge 27:02 because divine interruptions produce divine results. 27:07 Let me say that again. 27:08 Divine interruptions produce divine results. 27:11 When God interrupts our natural lives, 27:14 He is about to bring about a divine transformation. 27:19 But so far, we haven't even thought about Joseph. 27:23 Joseph must be wondering, 27:25 what happened to his engaged bride? 27:29 What happened to the woman 27:31 who's planning a wedding with him? 27:33 Because Joseph is back home, 27:36 no letters, no emails, no phone calls, 27:40 no contact at all. 27:41 The weddings plan ceased and Joseph is wondering, 27:44 and everybody else is wondering what happened to Mary. 27:48 Well, she's hiding out with Elizabeth. 27:51 Mary stayed away long enough for further developments. 27:56 And Joseph is saying to his family members, 27:59 we spoke just yesterday. 28:00 I don't know what happened. She left town. 28:01 They told me that 28:03 somebody saw her leaving in a haste. 28:04 And I have not heard from her since. 28:06 But Mary was obedient to the plans of God. 28:10 And here's the point I want to make. 28:12 You know, when the Lord is changing our lives 28:14 and transforming us, 28:15 it's hard to explain to others what God is doing. 28:19 But I want to tell you something, 28:20 God is patient. 28:22 And we've got to not allow others 28:25 what they're thinking, 28:26 what they're feeling, 28:27 what they are wondering 28:29 to interrupt what was happening because everything happens 28:31 according to God's plan. 28:33 You see, the point is being made. 28:34 Joseph had to wait. 28:36 That's the bottom line. 28:37 Joseph had to wait. 28:39 How long did he wait? 28:40 Look at verse 56 and 57 of Luke Chapter 1. 28:43 How long did he wait? 28:44 And the Bible says, 28:46 "And Mary remained with her about three months, 28:49 and returned to her house. 28:52 Now Elizabeth..." 28:53 Verse 57, "Now Elizabeth's full time came 28:57 for her to be delivered, 28:58 and she brought forth a son." 29:01 Now I want you to grab this 29:02 because this is something that's powerful. 29:04 This is the part of the story that you cannot run away 29:07 from too quickly. 29:08 Mary left town immediately, 29:11 ran in haste to be with Elizabeth. 29:13 When she got to Elizabeth, 29:14 Elizabeth was in her sixth month 29:16 of pregnancy. 29:18 She stayed with Elizabeth for three months, 29:20 long enough for Elizabeth to deliver. 29:23 But now what's happening in Mary's life. 29:26 And, ladies, those of you 29:27 that are have had a child before 29:29 or you may be pregnant right now, 29:32 or your children may be fully grown, 29:34 but now I'm taking you back to that time. 29:36 After three months of pregnancy, 29:39 you all know something happens. 29:43 You see, the first month, the second month, 29:46 but when the third month hit, 29:49 it is impossible to hide the pregnancy 29:53 because the baby 29:55 begins to make an outward change 29:57 because of his inward growth. 30:00 When the baby is being born in us, 30:03 I want to slow down to say this, 30:04 when Jesus is being born in us, 30:08 the evidence will be clear to those around us. 30:11 Because after three months, Mary could no longer hide 30:14 what was taking place in her life. 30:16 You see, when we give our lives to Jesus, 30:18 we may be able to conceal Him for a time. 30:21 But when Jesus is being formed in us, 30:24 it is impossible for us to hide the changes 30:27 that He's making in our lives. 30:29 So Mary couldn't hide it any longer, 30:31 but she returned home. 30:33 And I want to walk you through this very sticky situation 30:36 because now this glorious baby being born in her, 30:40 the glow on her skin impossible to hide 30:43 which falls into the category of Matthew 5:16. 30:47 When Jesus says, "Let your light 30:49 so shine before men, 30:51 that they may see your good works 30:52 and glorify your Father 30:54 who is in heaven." 30:56 Well, I tell you, there are those that say, 30:59 Jesus lives in me, 31:02 and don't look any different 31:03 than those who do not have Jesus in their lives. 31:07 When Jesus is living in your life, 31:09 there needs to be a difference 31:11 from those who say that Jesus not, 31:14 is not being born in them. 31:15 There ought to be a visible difference 31:18 between those who say 31:19 Jesus is in their lives, 31:21 and those who do not have Jesus in their lives. 31:24 And that's the difference between Mary and maybe you, 31:27 between Mary and Joseph. 31:28 Jesus was being born in Mary. 31:32 There was a visible difference in her life. 31:34 She was not the same young lady that ran away three months ago. 31:38 Her life was being transformed. 31:40 There were things taking place on the inside of her. 31:42 And now comes the next dilemma. 31:45 How do you explain 31:48 to your engaged husband to be 31:52 what just happened in your life. 31:55 The next point is powerful. 31:57 Let's go to the Book of Matthew 31:58 to find out how this takes place. 32:00 Those who are comfortable with you, 32:02 before you change your life, 32:04 may not be comfortable with you, 32:06 when God is changing your life. 32:08 This is powerful. Look at Matthew 1:19. 32:11 Let's turn to the story. 32:13 This is an amazing thing. 32:15 The Bible says in Matthew 1:19, 32:18 the discomfort of Joseph is described in these verses. 32:23 Matthew 1:19, "Then Joseph her husband, 32:28 being a just man, 32:29 and not wanting to make her a public example, 32:33 was mindful to put her away secretly." 32:38 The Bible says privately, but it also says, secretly. 32:43 Joseph said, Mary, this is just not acceptable 32:47 because she's in the house, 32:49 even though she may be in the kind of garb 32:51 that could hide as best as it possibly could. 32:54 The fact that she now has a baby bump, 32:57 Joseph knows that something took place in her life. 33:00 And then Mary, trying to break the news 33:03 in the best way she possibly could. 33:05 Probably said to him, "Joseph, 33:09 I spent three months with Elizabeth. 33:12 And when I was there, 33:15 Elizabeth gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, 33:18 she named him John." 33:20 And Joseph is probably excited at that point. 33:24 But she said, "Well, let me tell you the reason 33:25 why I left." 33:26 And I want you to walk with me through this. 33:28 Let me tell you the reason why I left. 33:31 You see about three months ago. 33:33 Now look at the difficulty. 33:35 This is the man you're about to marry, 33:38 but somebody else showed up in your life. 33:40 He's going to be the father of your children eventually, 33:44 but Gabriel said that the father of this child 33:46 comes from the lineage of David, 33:48 and the seed is from the Holy Spirit. 33:50 This is going to be the Son of the Highest. 33:51 And Joseph has nothing to do 33:54 with what is taking place in Mary's life. 33:56 But she has to get find a way to get him to understand 33:59 that this is God. 34:00 Can you imagine ladies how difficult that is 34:02 saying to somebody what's taking place in my life 34:05 was done by an angel. 34:06 Really? 34:08 Can you imagine you're about to marry somebody, 34:10 you're three months pregnant, 34:11 and you tell your husband to be that 34:13 an angel did that. 34:14 Really? 34:16 Well, that's what happens 34:17 when a person gives his or her life to Christ. 34:19 It is hard to explain the changes that are made, 34:22 but in Mary's case, 34:24 the consequences could have been tragic, 34:27 dire consequences. 34:29 They were one of three things that could happen. 34:30 One, she could be barred 34:32 from the temple services permanently. 34:34 Secondly, she could be forbidden 34:37 to ever be married again. 34:40 But thirdly, and most sadly, 34:42 she could be stoned to death for immorality. 34:47 But Mary, knowing that God was in charge, 34:50 feared none of those consequences. 34:53 Now I want to pause on that for a moment 34:55 because a lot of times 34:56 we fear the power of God in our lives 34:58 because we're looking at external consequences. 35:01 We say this could get me into a lot of trouble 35:04 if I give my life to the Lord. 35:05 If I join that church, or begin to follow the Sabbath, 35:08 or begin to do what God's Word says, 35:10 as Mary says, be it unto you 35:12 according to Your Word. 35:13 If I begin to follow God's Word, 35:16 of course, they're going to be challenges and trials, 35:18 there're going to be dilemmas. 35:20 But, friends, here's the point with Mary, 35:22 don't worry about what men think. 35:25 Your number one concern should be what God thinks, 35:29 what God wants, not what men want 35:33 because Joseph is in a dilemma. 35:35 But Mary said earlier, and she has stuck to it, 35:37 be it unto you according to Your Word. 35:40 Be it unto me, according to Your Word. 35:45 And she walked through that valley of challenges, 35:47 she walked through those trying moments 35:50 because she would not allow anything 35:52 to change the direction of her life, 35:55 including her husband-to-be, 35:58 including being barred from services, 36:00 forbidden to be married, 36:01 or possibly being stoned to death, 36:04 which brings me to the third point 36:05 I want to make. 36:06 You see natural invitation 36:08 is quite different than divine invasion. 36:11 Natural invitation is quite different 36:14 than divine invasion. 36:16 Inviting Jesus to participate in your life is quite different 36:21 than having Jesus invade your life. 36:24 What am I saying? 36:26 Jesus does not want to affect a part of your life, 36:29 Jesus wants to transform your life entirely. 36:32 That is what was happening to Mary. 36:35 But look at verse 20 of Matthew Chapter 1. 36:38 When the situation got too tough to explain, 36:41 thank the Lord Gabriel showed up again. 36:44 When Mary took the conversation as far as she could, 36:48 and Joseph was still troubling, not satisfied. 36:50 Thank the Lord 36:52 that the Angel Gabriel recognize 36:54 his job was not yet done. 36:56 Look at verse 20 of Matthew Chapter 1. 36:58 The Bible says, 36:59 "But while he thought about these things," 37:02 while Joseph thought about these things, 37:04 what am I going to do with this woman? 37:06 The Bible says, "Behold, 37:07 an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, 37:10 saying, 'Joseph, son of David," 37:12 there's the connection, son of David, 37:14 your child is going to be from David your father, 37:17 he's saying, you are part of that lineage. 37:21 "'Joseph, son of David, 37:23 do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, 37:28 for that which is conceived in her 37:31 is of the Holy Spirit.'" 37:35 Wow! 37:36 I can imagine Joseph tossing and turning when he realized, 37:39 I just had a divine, I just had a divine encounter. 37:42 This is not something I am in charge of any longer. 37:45 My life is being transformed, my life is also being changed. 37:49 He said, what is taking place in her 37:52 the Holy Spirit is in charge. 37:54 Let me pause for a moment and make a few points 37:57 on this powerful connection. 37:59 Joseph now had to recognize that although 38:05 he was about to be the natural husband of Mary, 38:10 that Mary's life was already consecrated 38:12 to the will of God. 38:13 You know, there are so many of us 38:15 that are just content with the natural connection. 38:17 But we're not content with the connection 38:20 that dedicates us to the will of God. 38:22 Joseph knew by that dream 38:24 that this woman will be your wife. 38:29 But the changes taking place in her, 38:32 you are no longer in charge of those changes, Joseph, 38:35 this is God's business. 38:36 Oh, I'm talking to somebody today 38:38 that's here and we say, yes, 38:40 you may have just been challenged by the Lord 38:42 to make changes in your life 38:44 which you are fearful of. 38:46 But let me quiet your fear today and say, 38:48 when you decide to commit your life, 38:49 as Mary did, 38:51 when you decide like Joseph just did, 38:54 to not worry about the work that God is in charge of, 38:57 God will take the reins into His own hands, 39:00 and begin to transform not only Mary's life 39:04 because you can't take Joseph from the scenario. 39:07 Joseph is standing back watching God do His thing. 39:11 That's right, your relatives may have to stand back 39:13 and watch God transform your life. 39:16 Your closest friends may have to stand back 39:18 and watch God transform your life. 39:21 When God comes into your life 39:22 through the power of the Holy Spirit. 39:24 When Jesus is being born in you, 39:26 let others stand back, but let God have His way. 39:29 But so many of you think well, 39:31 what am I going to do about that job? 39:33 If I do what God's Word says, I may lose my job. 39:36 Whoa, friends, but you may get a better job than that. 39:38 I know for my own experience, 39:41 growing up in the city of New York, 39:42 losing one connection, but getting another. 39:46 I got fired twice for wanting to keep the Sabbath. 39:48 I lost my job twice, two separate banks 39:51 for wanting to keep the Sabbath 39:53 as I worked in the Wall Street area 39:54 of New York City, 39:56 but look at me today. 39:57 God says My plan for you is not to work at a bank. 39:59 My plan for you is to work for the Highest, 40:02 the Son of the Highest. 40:03 Today, I'm employed by... 40:04 My employment agency is in heaven. 40:07 I'm not worried about what men will do 40:08 because as Mary said let it be according to Your Word. 40:12 You've got to fear men less, and fear God more, 40:15 not be afraid, 40:16 but simply submit to the plan of God, 40:19 and your life will be transformed in a way 40:22 that you will never ever imagine. 40:25 Because He has promised to do exceedingly, 40:29 abundantly above all you can ask or think, how? 40:32 According to the power that is working in you. 40:35 Mary understands that power 40:37 because she felt that change is taking place in her life 40:41 which brings me to the part of the sermon 40:42 that's just always tickles me to even share this with you. 40:46 Mary's life was never the same. 40:48 You know, friends, my life has never been the same. 40:52 Once I decided to commit my way to the Lord, 40:54 my life has never been the same. 40:56 I'm saying to you today, 40:57 this is more than just a season. 40:59 This is the time of the year 41:00 where the Lord wants to remind you 41:02 that the greatest gift is not under a tree, 41:04 the greatest gift is not something you unwrap, 41:06 that great gift has been unwrapped 41:08 in the manger centuries ago. 41:11 The great gift is Jesus, He cannot be purchased, 41:14 He cannot be sold, He cannot be manufactured. 41:17 This is the work of God, 41:18 the Son of the Highest came to invade Mary's life 41:22 and He wants to invade your life too. 41:25 Why am I using the word invade? 41:28 Because I'm about to explain 41:29 the transforming walk of the life of Mary 41:35 which is parallel to the transforming walk 41:39 of the life of the Christian. 41:41 You know, some people look back and they say, 41:42 "I've been a Christian for 10 years, 41:44 I look back on where I was 10 years ago, 41:46 and man, my life has changed." 41:47 And then they pause and think, 41:51 "I never could have made these changes myself. 41:54 Every change made in me 41:56 was made by simply submitting my life 41:59 to molding influence of the Lord." 42:02 One of the first changes made in Mary's life. 42:04 And I've seen this in my sister-in-law. 42:07 You know, unfortunately, 42:08 my wife and I never had children, 42:10 but that's God's will. 42:11 We're not concerned about that. 42:12 My wife and I never had children, 42:14 but God has given us something that 42:16 we cannot complain about. 42:18 But when I saw my sister-in-law, 42:20 having her first child, 42:22 her face was glowing all the time. 42:25 And women say often, 42:26 well, when the child is being born on the inside, 42:29 there's a light on the outside 42:31 that lights up the countenance of the woman, 42:34 which is the first thing 42:36 that I want to bring to you today. 42:37 You see, friends, when Jesus is being born in your life, 42:40 there should be a light 42:42 that is being seen on the outside. 42:44 Matthew, the converted tax collector said, 42:47 "Let your light so shine before men, 42:49 that they may see your good works 42:52 and glorify your Father which is in heaven." 42:54 But let me pause and put it 42:56 in the proper connection. 42:58 You don't have a light. 42:59 Jesus is the light of the world. 43:03 When Jesus was being born in Mary, 43:07 think about this for a moment, 43:08 there was a divine generator inside of her 43:12 stirring up a divine plan. 43:14 And the glory of God seen on the outside 43:17 was the child was being born on the inside. 43:22 The glorious Son of God, 43:24 being born on the inside 43:27 produced external evidence 43:29 and the glory of God seen on the outside 43:31 as was the case for Mary, 43:34 as was the case 43:35 when Moses was exposed to the burning bush. 43:38 God's glory should always be seen on the outside 43:41 if we claim to have Jesus on the inside. 43:44 What was being seen in Mary's life, 43:47 love, joy, peace, longsuffering, 43:51 gentleness, meekness, patience. 43:55 These are all the external attributes 43:57 of anybody claiming to be a Christian, 44:00 claiming to be connected to Christ. 44:02 If those external attributes are not seen in your life, 44:05 you better check the delivery system, 44:08 find out whether or not Christ really has been born in you, 44:11 and order your life in harmony with God's will 44:14 because the angel made it clear. 44:16 Why did the light show up on Mary's face? 44:19 Luke 1:35, 44:21 the Angel Gabriel told her what would happen. 44:24 He said, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you." 44:28 Luke 1:35, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, 44:31 and the power of the Highest 44:33 will overshadow you." 44:35 That's why Mary's life was being transformed. 44:38 That's why Joseph had to stand back 44:40 and see his bride-to-be 44:42 just glowing with the joy of the Lord on the inside. 44:45 I know it must have been tough as a husband 44:47 to see that baby bump growing every day, 44:50 but the good news is Joseph finally said 44:53 this is not about me. 44:55 It's about the Lord. 44:56 You know, it'd be nice if your relative 44:58 seeing Jesus changed your life 45:00 come to the place where they say, you know what? 45:02 It's not about me, it's about the Lord. 45:04 Why am I saying that? 45:06 Because Joseph realize, although he's involved, 45:10 he is not a direct contributor. 45:12 What am I saying? 45:13 Your family members may be involved 45:16 by the changes Jesus is making in your life, 45:19 but only the Holy Spirit is the direct contributor. 45:23 They must stand back and see God glorified in your life, 45:26 allow that to be the case, 45:28 but allow the glory of God 45:30 to be something that draws them rather than repel them 45:34 because nothing could happen without the Spirit of God 45:37 taking place in Mary's life. 45:39 As Zechariah 4:6 says, "Not by might nor by power, 45:45 but by My Spirit, says the Lord." 45:49 So I want to wind up with five powerful points 45:51 that are amazing in the transforming process. 45:55 Remember, I told you before that Mary was not in charge, 45:59 Jesus was making the changes in Mary's life. 46:03 Now this is the part of the sermon that I believe 46:05 brings home the elements 46:07 of what the spiritual walk is all about. 46:10 The difference between singing songs about Jesus, 46:13 and Jesus singing songs through you. 46:17 The difference about worshiping Jesus, 46:20 and Jesus the presence of Christ in your life, 46:24 making your life a living sacrifice, 46:27 holy, acceptable to God 46:30 because a lot of changes takes place 46:32 in a person's life. 46:33 But none of those changes, I reiterate, 46:36 any change you make without the help of Christ 46:38 is behavioral modification. 46:42 And that's not going to last long. 46:44 You might put down your cigarette 46:46 for a day or two, 46:47 but because you did it on your own power, 46:49 it won't be lasting. 46:51 You might be able to turn away from that 46:53 promiscuity from that movie that you're watching 46:56 from the kind of entertainment 46:57 that you're participating in, 46:58 or from the kind of practices in your life, 47:00 you may say, "I'm not going to do it, 47:01 I'm not going to do it, I'm not going to do it." 47:03 But that's going to be temporary. 47:04 Why? 47:06 Because Jesus is not in control of that. 47:07 But when you turn your life over to Jesus, 47:10 He is able to change you in a way 47:12 that you won't go back to it. 47:14 How do I know that? 47:15 What happened to Mary? 47:17 They tell us that when a woman is pregnant, 47:20 she changes the way she eats. 47:23 Think about that. 47:24 Some of you think that you want to become a vegetarian 47:26 because it's a good lifestyle. 47:28 Oh, no, you can be the most dedicated vegetarian 47:31 without Jesus. 47:33 You see, vegetarianism doesn't change you, 47:35 but when Jesus does change you, 47:37 your lifestyle will change, 47:39 you'll become a healthy person, 47:41 you'll become the kind of person 47:42 that the Lord intends to be optimum 47:45 for His mission to be accomplished in your life. 47:47 But what happened to Mary, 47:48 and all of the women that are pregnant 47:51 go through this experience. 47:52 When Jesus is being born in us, our eating habits must change. 47:58 What does that mean? 47:59 Mary ate abundantly and regularly. 48:03 What am I saying? 48:05 Here's what I'm saying. 48:06 Unless you are eating of God's Word abundantly, 48:09 and regularly, 48:12 you will not be able to nurture the Christ 48:14 that has taken up residence in your life. 48:16 You have to eat abundantly and regularly, why? 48:21 And here's the most powerful thing 48:23 because you're not in control. 48:24 You see the Lord in you will be nourished by His Word. 48:28 Mary didn't eat because she wanted to. 48:31 And, you know, ladies, 48:32 some of you have the strangest diets 48:34 when you get pregnant, 48:36 which also applies to the Christian life. 48:38 Don't try to explain to people 48:39 what you're eating and how you're living, 48:41 allow God's Word to do the explaining. 48:43 We eat abundantly and regularly, why? 48:46 Because the baby required the change in diet. 48:51 A diet that a woman participates 48:53 in affects the child 48:54 in the very same way your eating habits, 48:58 your viewing habits, your lifestyle habits, 49:01 this participation in the way you eat 49:04 and the way you live will all affect 49:07 how the child turns out in your life. 49:10 Not only that, 49:11 and this is another part that's significant. 49:13 Some people say, "Well, I can't wear this, 49:15 and I can't wear that. 49:16 I got to take this off and take that off." 49:18 Let me tell you something. 49:19 Mary did that without any problems. 49:20 You know why? 49:22 Because she couldn't dress the same way 49:23 that a woman that's not pregnant dresses. 49:25 You heard me correctly. 49:27 Some people say you can't dress that way. 49:29 Well, I've learned that 49:31 you will change the way you dress. 49:34 You will change your outfits. 49:37 You will change your look more godly. 49:39 Why? 49:40 Because the baby makes the change. 49:42 It is impossible for a pregnant woman 49:46 to dress the way that a woman that's not pregnant dresses. 49:50 Did you know that? 49:51 You can't dress the same. 49:53 What's the spiritual connection? 49:54 When Christ is being born in you, 49:57 the baby will affect the change. 50:00 The baby will change the way you dress, 50:02 the baby will change your life externally, 50:06 you put away those things 50:07 that were a part of your past wardrobe. 50:10 And you'll begin to take on the wardrobe 50:11 of a godly person, 50:13 the lifestyle of a godly individual 50:16 because you'll be eating of God's Word, 50:18 furnishing your mind with nourishment 50:20 that will train you how to live, 50:22 how to walk, how to dress, 50:23 and the baby on the inside will be the one directly 50:28 affecting the change. 50:29 Mary could wear tight clothing. 50:32 No pregnant woman could wear tight clothing, 50:34 which says to me, 50:35 when Jesus is being born in us 50:37 that change is made by the Christ being born, 50:40 and not by the woman herself. 50:42 But there's a third change that happens 50:44 in everyone's life. 50:45 Every woman who is having a child 50:48 being born in her, 50:49 this is the third and most important thing. 50:51 She walks more cautiously. 50:54 You know, as the baby begins to grow three months, 50:57 four months, five months, six months, seven months, 51:00 I've noticed that women change the way they walk, 51:02 they kind of have like a duck kind of walk. 51:05 Now some of us may say that's weird, 51:07 well, she's walking differently 51:09 because the baby requires more caution. 51:12 And a pregnant woman does something else, 51:14 she avoids the places that will cause her to slip. 51:18 Why? 51:19 Because she recognizes that the Christian life 51:22 should not be made of falling 51:24 and falling and falling and falling 51:26 when she recognizes as a person 51:29 whose life is being invaded by Christ 51:31 that she could hold on to the hand of her husband, 51:33 who was able to keep her from falling. 51:37 That's right, friends, 51:38 when Jesus is being born in you, 51:40 avoid the slip replaces 51:43 and hold on to the hand of your Lord, 51:45 who is able to keep you from falling, 51:47 you change the way you eat, 51:49 the baby does the change, 51:51 that baby changes the way you dress, 51:53 because you can't dress the same. 51:55 But the baby also assures that you will walk 51:57 and you will not fall now unto him 52:00 who is able to keep you from falling. 52:02 I would guarantee that if you are experiencing 52:05 a fall over and over in the same areas of your life, 52:09 I can almost guarantee it is 52:11 because you're not eating abundantly. 52:13 You're not allowing God's Word to affect your life. 52:15 You're not praying for the Holy Spirit 52:17 to come upon you, 52:19 and affect the changes taking place within you 52:21 because when the Spirit of God is moving in your life, 52:24 you can't be the same. 52:25 And you know what? It's not optional. 52:26 It's mandatory. Why? 52:28 Because the baby affects the change, 52:30 hold on to your hand, 52:32 hold on to the hand of the husbandman, 52:34 Christ Jesus, and He alone 52:36 will keep you from falling. 52:38 He's done that for me, praise His holy name. 52:41 Only He can assure that you can walk with Him, 52:46 and you will not fall. 52:48 But there's something else. 52:50 This story gets better. 52:51 There's something else, 52:53 the woman keeps her prenatal appointments. 52:55 You see, for those who want to have a healthy child, 52:58 they make those appointments with the physicians 53:00 to ensure that the baby is getting the care 53:02 that it needs, 53:03 to maintain that constant growth 53:06 that the child will come out healthy. 53:10 She makes appointments with her doctor. 53:13 Oh, I wish you can grab what I'm saying now. 53:15 When there are appointments made to go to church, 53:19 to go to Bible study, to go to prayer meeting, 53:22 to put aside a time of sharing your faith. 53:25 There are those who miss those appointments. 53:28 That's why Jesus is not effectively 53:32 being revealed in their lives 53:33 because they don't pay attention 53:35 to their appointments. 53:37 Now woman, you know, lady, you know, 53:40 Mother, you know, 53:41 that for your child to be healthy, 53:43 you got to keep up all those appointments 53:45 with your doctor. 53:47 And so also for the Christian, 53:48 if you want to have a healthy child in your life, 53:50 if the child Christ Jesus is to be born in you 53:53 and affect the way you live, 53:54 you got to keep your appointments. 53:56 When it's time for prayer meeting, be there, 53:58 when it's time for Bible studies, be there. 54:00 When it's time to go to church on Sabbath morning, 54:03 don't stay at home in sleeping, be there. 54:05 These are the appointments 54:07 that cause the baby to grow in you 54:08 in such a way that when that child 54:10 is finally revealed to the world, 54:12 people will realize 54:14 what a difference has been made in your life. 54:17 And you'll say, when church is open, I'm there, 54:19 when Bible studies are called, I'm there, 54:21 when prayer meeting is given, I'm there, 54:23 whether it's by Zoom, 54:25 or whether it's in a physical setting in a room. 54:27 Don't miss your appointments. 54:29 I wish I can emphasize that over and over. 54:32 The Bible says, "Forsake not the assembling 54:34 of ourselves together." 54:35 And all the more so seeing that the day is fast approaching. 54:39 For Mary, it was the day of her deliverance. 54:41 For us, it's the day of our deliverance 54:43 from this world. 54:45 But now that you see all the signs, 54:46 the birth pains around you, know, friends, 54:49 that you cannot afford to miss your appointments. 54:52 And finally, whoa, this is powerful. 54:55 When a woman gets close to her delivery date, 54:59 and I've heard the stories. 55:01 I'm going to a house where women, 55:03 they have a little bag by the front doors 55:04 by the couch. 55:06 And, you know, they say, "Well, 55:07 you know, when the pains get closer, 55:09 I got my bags packed, 55:11 my husband would just get me into the car quickly, 55:13 grab that bag and I know that my bags are packed 55:16 because the baby is about to be delivered." 55:19 Oh, I wish you can grab this point. 55:21 You see, the Bible says in Matthew 25:13. 55:24 "Watch therefore, 55:26 for you know neither the day nor the hour 55:30 in which the Son of Man is coming." 55:34 What? Did you grab that? 55:36 When the woman sees the pains get closer and closer. 55:39 Oh, friends, we are living in the day and age 55:41 where we see the birth pangs of the world, 55:44 fires and wars and rumors of wars 55:46 and nation rising against nation, 55:48 famine and pestilence, disease and disorder, 55:51 and corruption and division. 55:53 All the birth pangs of the world are saying to us, 55:57 the baby is about to come. 55:59 The baby is about to come. 56:00 Jesus is about to return. 56:02 All the signs of the coming of Jesus are all around us 56:06 saying get your bags packed 56:08 because you don't know the day nor the hour 56:11 in which the Son of Man is coming. 56:15 Now I've heard women tell the stories. 56:17 But I want to tell you, friends, 56:18 the hour is too late for Christians 56:20 to be waiting to get ready. 56:22 This is the hour that God is saying. 56:25 This is the time for you to be ready 56:27 for the coming of Jesus 56:28 because changing your life without Jesus 56:30 is nothing more than control behavior, 56:33 but when Jesus comes in, 56:34 He'll change your life in such a way 56:37 that people will see your life to be different. 56:40 Your walk will be different. 56:42 Your dress will be different. 56:43 Your diet will change. 56:46 What's happening around you will change. 56:49 And you won't be sitting around saying, 56:51 "Oh, well, I have time to get ready 56:52 for the coming of Jesus." 56:54 Oh, friends, this is the hour 56:56 to get ready for the coming of Jesus. 56:58 Why? 56:59 Because Jesus wants to do in your life 57:02 what He did in Mary's life. 57:05 The reality is, you can say I have Jesus, 57:09 but if you want to be transformed today say, 57:12 "I want Jesus to have me." 57:14 This is my prayer for you for the season. 57:16 Say, Lord, I want You to have me. 57:18 I want to have the experience Mary had. 57:21 I want to see the changes Mary saw 57:23 so that when You come I will be just like You 57:27 because You live in me. 57:29 God bless you. |
Revised 2022-01-06