Certain Promises
Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Luke 1:26-38
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
Luke 1:26-38
therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:26–38)
Big Idea:
God shows us favor so that we will find more certainty in his promises and joy in the journey.
God shows favor to the holy and to the lowly.
Zechariah
Mary
God shows favor to the holy and to the lowly.
Zechariah
Mary
God shows favor to the holy �and to the lowly.
45 “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
(John 1:45–46)
God shows favor to the holy and to the lowly.
Zechariah
Mary
God shows favor to the holy and to the lowly.
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
Certainty in God’s word grows in a humble heart.
Certainty in God’s word grows in a humble heart.
Zechariah
Certainty in God’s word grows in a humble heart.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Certainty in God’s word grows in a humble heart.
Zechariah
Mary
Certainty in God’s word grows in a humble heart.
Zechariah:
How shall I know this? (ESV)
How can I be sure of this? (NIV)
Mary:
How will this be?
Certainty in God’s word grows in a humble heart.
“How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
Certainty in God’s word grows in a humble heart.
HOW:
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son…
WHO:
…and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
God’s power makes all things possible.
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
True joy is found in saying �“Yes” to God.
“38 Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
True joy is found in saying �“Yes” to God.
“For nothing will be impossible
with God.”
“No word of God can fail.”
True joy is found in saying �“Yes” to God.
“37 For no-thing (“rhēma”) will be impossible with God.”
“No word (“rhēma”) of God can fail.”
“38 Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word (“rhēma”).”
True joy is found in saying “Yes” to God.
“2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4)
Take Aways:
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NLT
“11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Certain Promises