christmas 2012 the gift is…inconvenient she gave me a gift and looked so excited to see me open...

Christmas 2012Christmas 2012

The Gift Is…Inconvenient

She gave me a giftShe gave me a giftAnd looked so excitedAnd looked so excited

To see me open it…To see me open it…

You've been thereYou've been there

Jesus is God'sJesus is God'sChristmas GiftChristmas Gift

God's best giftsGod's best giftsAre not convenientAre not convenient

In the time of Herod king of Judea there In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of belonged to the priestly division of

Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron…descendant of Aaron…

Both of them were upright in the sight of Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's God, observing all the Lord's

commandments and commandments and regulations blamelessly. regulations blamelessly.

ButBut they had no children, because they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were Elizabeth was barren; and they were

both well along in years…both well along in years…

Shameful, ScandalousShameful, Scandalous

Once when Zechariah's division was on Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the custom of the priesthood, to go into

the temple of the Lord and burn incense. the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of And when the time for the burning of

incense came, all the assembled incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside…worshipers were praying outside…

Then an angel of the Lord appeared Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah the altar of incense. When Zechariah

saw him, he was startled and was saw him, he was startled and was gripped with feargripped with fear

But the angel said to him: "Do not be But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; afraid, Zechariah; your prayer your prayer

has been heard.has been heard.

Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name and you are to give him the name

John. He will be a joy and delight to John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice you, and many will rejoice

because of his birthbecause of his birth

……for he will be great in the sight of the for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other Lord. He is never to take wine or other

fermented drink, and he will be filled fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he Many of the people of Israel will he

bring back to the Lord their Godbring back to the Lord their God

And he will go on before the Lord, And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to in the spirit and power of Elijah, to

turn the hearts of the fathers to their turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the children and the disobedient to the

wisdom of the righteous- wisdom of the righteous- to make to make ready a people prepared ready a people prepared

for the Lord…"for the Lord…"

Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and be sure of this? I am an old man and

my wife is well along in years…"my wife is well along in years…"

The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I stand in the presence of God, and I

have been sent to speak to you and to have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you tell you this good news. And now you

will be silent and not able to speak will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because until the day this happens, because

you did not believe my words, which you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time"will come true at their proper time"

When his time of service was completed, When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife he returned home. After this his wife

Elizabeth became pregnant and for five Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. months remained in seclusion.

"The Lord has done this for me," she said. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has "In these days he has shown his favorshown his favor

and taken away my and taken away my disgracedisgrace among the people"among the people"

God let Elizabeth stay barren God let Elizabeth stay barren for almost her whole lifefor almost her whole life

And that's a And that's a gift!gift!

That's not real convenientThat's not real convenient

Now she has to:Now she has to:

CarryCarryCare forCare for

RaiseRaise

While very old While very old

In the In the sixth monthsixth month, God sent the angel , God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a to a virgin pledged to be married to a

man named Joseph, a descendant of man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. David. The virgin's name was Mary.

The angel went to her and said, The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly “Greetings, you who are highly favoredfavored! The Lord is with you”! The Lord is with you”

Mary:Mary:

• Illiterate, Poor, Living in Hick TownIlliterate, Poor, Living in Hick Town

• 14 or 15 Years Old14 or 15 Years Old

• Betrothed- hopes and dreamsBetrothed- hopes and dreams

Mary was greatly troubled at his words Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting and wondered what kind of greeting

this might be. this might be.

But the angel said to her, "Do not be But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found afraid, Mary, you have found favorfavor

with God. You will be with child and with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give birth to a son, and you are to

give him the name Jesus… give him the name Jesus…

He will be great and will be called the He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God Son of the Most High. The Lord God

will give him the throne of his father will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the David, and he will reign over the

house of Jacob forever; his kingdom house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end”will never end”

Long-Awaited MessiahLong-Awaited Messiah

He will be great and will be called the He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God Son of the Most High. The Lord God

will give him the throne of his father will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the David, and he will reign over the

house of Jacob forever; his kingdom house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end”will never end”

Long-Awaited MessiahLong-Awaited Messiah"Who's the Daddy?""Who's the Daddy?"

"How will this be," Mary asked the "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?”angel, "since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of will come upon you, and the power of

the Most High will overshadow you. the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be So the holy one to be born will be

called the Son of God"called the Son of God"

The ULTIMATE "Who's Yer Daddy?"The ULTIMATE "Who's Yer Daddy?"

Even Elizabeth your relative is going to Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her who was said to be barren is in her

sixth month. For sixth month. For nothing is nothing is impossible with God"impossible with God"

The choice:The choice:• Ask for God to pick someone elseAsk for God to pick someone else• Accept God’s plan and sacrifice her Accept God’s plan and sacrifice her

futurefuture•DisgraceDisgrace• Loss of Joseph/DivorceLoss of Joseph/Divorce• Life of PovertyLife of Poverty

If she accepts the giftIf she accepts the giftHer life changes foreverHer life changes forever

And it's not what she plannedAnd it's not what she plannedNor will it be easyNor will it be easy

Mary’s AnswerMary’s Answer::

"I am the "I am the Lord's servantLord's servant," Mary ," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you answered. "May it be to me as you

have said." Then the angel left her have said." Then the angel left her - Luke 1:5-20, 23-38 - Luke 1:5-20, 23-38

Mary’s AnswerMary’s Answer::

"I am the "I am the Lord's servantLord's servant," Mary ," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her- have said." Then the angel left her-

Luke 1:5-20, 23-38Luke 1:5-20, 23-38

How you see yourself determinesHow you see yourself determinesHow you handle God's callHow you handle God's call

How is she feeling?How is she feeling?

What does she have to do now?What does she have to do now?

• ScaredScared• AloneAlone• PregnantPregnant

She runs!She runs!

She runs!She runs!(5-Day Journey- 97 Miles)(5-Day Journey- 97 Miles)

At that time Mary got ready and At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's Judea, where she entered Zechariah's

home and greeted Elizabethhome and greeted Elizabeth

2 Pregnancies2 Pregnancies

ElizabethElizabeth• ““God has taken away my disgrace!”God has taken away my disgrace!”–JoyJoy–WonderWonder–Laughing!Laughing!

2 Pregnancies2 Pregnancies

MaryMary• ““God has disgraced me”God has disgraced me”–DoubtsDoubts–RegretRegret–Pain and LossPain and Loss

It has always been God’s will that those It has always been God’s will that those who have been shown who have been shown gracegrace

(Elizabeth) would give it away to (Elizabeth) would give it away to those who need it (Mary)those who need it (Mary)

And And ALL OF US ALL OF US Have been shown graceHave been shown grace

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was Elizabeth was filled with the Holy filled with the Holy

Spirit. Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the why am I so favored, that the mother mother

of my Lordof my Lord should come to me? should come to me?

As soon as the sound of your greeting As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my reached my ears, the baby in my

womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord who has believed that what the Lord

has said to her will be accomplished!”has said to her will be accomplished!”

And Mary said: And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my "My soul glorifies the Lord and my

spirit rejoices in God my Savior”spirit rejoices in God my Savior”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three monthsthree months and then and then

returned homereturned home- Luke 1:39-46, 56- Luke 1:39-46, 56

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was came about: His mother Mary was

pledged to be married to Joseph, but pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she before they came together, she

was was found found to be with child to be with child through the Holy Spiritthrough the Holy Spirit

The conversation doesn’t go so well…The conversation doesn’t go so well…

Because Joseph her husband was a Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to righteous man and did not want to

expose her to public disgrace, he had in expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to mind to divorce her divorce her quietlyquietly

His world is ruinedHis world is ruinedHis life has derailedHis life has derailed

The Gift is…InconvenientThe Gift is…Inconvenient

But after he had considered this, an angel But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream of the Lord appeared to him in a dream

and said, "Joseph son of David, do not and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your be afraid to take Mary home as your

wife, because what is conceived in her wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spiritis from the Holy Spirit

She will give birth to a son, and She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, you are to give him the name Jesus,

because he will save his people because he will save his people from their sins"from their sins"

All this took place All this took place to fulfill to fulfill what the Lord what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The had said through the prophet: "The

virgin will be with child and will give virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him birth to a son, and they will call him

Immanuel”—which means,Immanuel”—which means,"God with us”"God with us”

SovereigntySovereignty- Nothing takes God by - Nothing takes God by surprise. Nothing prevents God from surprise. Nothing prevents God from

accomplishing his ultimate willaccomplishing his ultimate will

SovereigntySovereignty

• There are no “Plan B” livesThere are no “Plan B” lives

• God’s desires will be accomplished. The God’s desires will be accomplished. The only question is whether I will get in on only question is whether I will get in on the blessingthe blessing

• Convenience doesn't guarantee Convenience doesn't guarantee God's presence. Nor does God's presence. Nor does inconvenience mean he's not thereinconvenience mean he's not there

When Joseph woke up, he did what the When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him angel of the Lord had commanded him

and took Mary home as his wife. But and took Mary home as his wife. But he he had no union with her had no union with her until she gave until she gave

birth to a son. And he gave him birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesusthe name Jesus- Matt. 1:19-24- Matt. 1:19-24

Joseph agrees to public Joseph agrees to public shame and humiliationshame and humiliation

To giving up a legit marriageTo giving up a legit marriageAnd a honeymoonAnd a honeymoon

• Traveling to BethlehemTraveling to BethlehemTo fulfill ProphecyTo fulfill Prophecy

• Barn and Feed TroughsBarn and Feed Troughs

• Shepherds and Wise MenShepherds and Wise Men

• Fleeing Herod's Fleeing Herod's Murderous PlansMurderous Plans

• John the BaptistJohn the BaptistIs not normal…and gets killedIs not normal…and gets killed

• Mary will watch Jesus dieMary will watch Jesus die


But worth itBut worth it

Zechariah and ElizabethZechariah and Elizabeth

Joseph and MaryJoseph and Mary

Wise Men and ShepherdsWise Men and Shepherds

DisciplesDisciples

Where is God pressing youWhere is God pressing youRight nowRight now

That's not convenient or easyThat's not convenient or easyAnd you're not listening?And you're not listening?

Or- You want to give up?Or- You want to give up?

And let us not grow weary of doing And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will good, for in due season we will

reap, if we do not give upreap, if we do not give up- Galatians 6:9- Galatians 6:9

How many believersHow many believersMiss out on God's bestMiss out on God's best

Because it's not easyBecause it's not easyAnd they're:And they're:

Too tired?Too tired?Unwilling to trust?Unwilling to trust?

Don't want to be bothered?Don't want to be bothered?

5050thth Anniversary Anniversary

Training our Kids to know JesusTraining our Kids to know Jesus

Standing on TruthStanding on TruthWhen it's not ConvenientWhen it's not Convenient

Following GodFollowing GodWhen it takes so much FaithWhen it takes so much Faith

Following GodFollowing GodWhen it takes so much FaithWhen it takes so much Faith

Christmas Offering, Anyone?Christmas Offering, Anyone?

"And I will put enmity"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between you and the woman, and and between your offspring and hers;and between your offspring and hers;

he will crush your head,he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" and you will strike his heel"

- Genesis 3:15- Genesis 3:15

Christ gave up everything to enter the Christ gave up everything to enter the world as a baby born to a poor familyworld as a baby born to a poor family

He gave up his life to the crossHe gave up his life to the crossso that he might bless so that he might bless everyoneeveryone

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him for the joy set before him endured the endured the

cross,cross, scorning its shame, and sat scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand down at the right hand

of the throne of Godof the throne of God

It wasn't convenientIt wasn't convenient

But it was…But it was…Worth itWorth it

Consider him Consider him who endured such who endured such oppositionopposition from sinful men, from sinful men, so that so that

you will not grow weary you will not grow weary and lose heart.and lose heart.

In your struggle against sin, you have In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of not yet resisted to the point of

shedding your bloodshedding your blood

EndureEndure hardship as discipline; God is hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sonstreating you as sons- Hebrews 12:2-4, 7- Hebrews 12:2-4, 7

Jesus is God'sJesus is God'sChristmas GiftChristmas Gift

He's not convenientHe's not convenientBut he's worth itBut he's worth it

Where is God pressing you?Where is God pressing you?

"I am the Lord's Servant"I am the Lord's ServantMay it be to me as you have said"May it be to me as you have said"

When is the gift yours?When is the gift yours?

christmas 2012 the gift is…inconvenient she gave me a gift and looked so excited to see me open...

Documents