Giving Birth To Blessing
Giving Birth To Blessing This is the season of Advent. Advent means the arrival of something that has been waited for. In the church, the four Sundays prior to Christmas are known as advent. It is the season of waiting, anticipating, preparing, and rejoicing as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and look forward to his return. The idea of advent can be seen in other aspects of Christmas as we know it today. We wait with anticipation for Christmas to arrive. We wait to see what gifts we will receive. Kids wait for Santa Clause to come. Some of us wait for Christmas to be over so we can relax and start figuring out how to pay off the bills we racked up buying Christmas Presents. And what about the real Christmas story. Mary waited for the promised blessing to be born. A blessing - Who wants a blessing? That's like asking, "Who wants a Christmas gift?" Everyone wants a blessing! In fact, if truth be told we are in NEED of MANY blessings. The greatest blessing that mankind ever received was the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ Luke 2:10-14 (NIV) 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” And all this came through the life of a young girl named Mary. Mary got to participate in the greatest blessing eve given to man Luke 2:7 (NIV) 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
So what does it take to give birth to a blessing. For the next three weeks I want us to look at the birth of Christ through the eyes of Mary and consider what it takes to give birth to our own blessing
This morning we will take a look at how we can position ourselves to receive the promise. Next week we will learn how to protect the blessing while we wait for it to be born. Finally we will consider what it takes to prepare for the arrival of the blessing KEY VERSE Luke 1:26-38 (NIV) The Birth of Jesus Foretold 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
1. We need to understand who God Is. 26
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Like we have seen in our study through the bible, from Genesis through Esther, the foundation of our faith is in Gods revelation of Himself, His great love for us, and His plan for our lives o o o
Before anything else we must know this Mary knew this This is the first step in positioning ourselves to receive the promise
2. We need to understand what blessing is
a. "a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby brining happiness" b. General blessing and specific blessing Matthew 5:45 (NIV) 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. c. It's not just what WE want it is what GOD knows we NEED d. It may be something tangible in the form of material things, but it involves so much more than that i. Spiritual blessing like Salvation, and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit ii. Gods Protection iii. Gods Provision - financially and materially iv. God's active presence in our lives v. An answer to prayer vi. Physical Healing vii. Wisdom direction and guidance 3. We need to know that God wants to bless us a. We learned that last week in one of our pictures from the book of esther i. The man the King delights to honor ii. The bride to whom the King delights to give what she asks for Luke 12:32 (NIV) 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. b. "Many Christians think God delights only in chastising and correcting us. Not so! The Bible tells us He takes no pleasure in disciplining us. On the contrary… He assures us, "I'll give you everything you need — because My heart is set on blessing you!" - David Wilkerson
4. It's ok to ask for blessing a. Mary asked "How can this be?" b. Jabez asked 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)
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Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. c. Jesus said "ASK" Matthew 7:7 (NIV) Ask, Seek, Knock 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. John 4:10 (NIV) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 14:14 (NIV) 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
5. We Position ourselves by becoming still enough to hear the promise 6. We Position ourselves by living a life that finds favor with God 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV) 9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. a. Mary Did 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” b. Esau did not Hebrews 12:16-17 (NIV) 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. c. We can Romans 12:1 (NIV) A Living Sacrifice
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (NIV) Living to Please God 4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
7. We Position ourselves through faith and obedience a. Mary's faith and obedience 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. b. The example of Salvation Acts 16:31 (NIV) 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” c. The example of The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38 (NIV) 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. d. The Example of Tithing - If we want to be blessed financial we need to position ourselves by being faithful and obedient to God's command concerning the tithe Malachi 3:8-10 (NIV) 8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
So what does it take to give birth to a blessing. For the next three weeks I want us to look at the birth of Christ through the eyes of Mary and consider what it takes to give birth to our own blessing
This morning we will take a look at how we can position ourselves to receive the promise. Next week we will learn how to protect the blessing while we wait for it to be born. Finally we will consider what it takes to prepare for the arrival of the blessing KEY VERSE Luke 1:26-38 (NIV) The Birth of Jesus Foretold 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
1. We need to understand who God Is. 26
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Like we have seen in our study through the bible, from Genesis through Esther, the foundation of our faith is in Gods revelation of Himself, His great love for us, and His plan for our lives o o o
Before anything else we must know this Mary knew this This is the first step in positioning ourselves to receive the promise
2. We need to understand what blessing is
a. "a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby brining happiness" b. General blessing and specific blessing Matthew 5:45 (NIV) 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. c. It's not just what WE want it is what GOD knows we NEED d. It may be something tangible in the form of material things, but it involves so much more than that i. Spiritual blessing like Salvation, and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit ii. Gods Protection iii. Gods Provision - financially and materially iv. God's active presence in our lives v. An answer to prayer vi. Physical Healing vii. Wisdom direction and guidance 3. We need to know that God wants to bless us a. We learned that last week in one of our pictures from the book of esther i. The man the King delights to honor ii. The bride to whom the King delights to give what she asks for Luke 12:32 (NIV) 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. b. "Many Christians think God delights only in chastising and correcting us. Not so! The Bible tells us He takes no pleasure in disciplining us. On the contrary… He assures us, "I'll give you everything you need — because My heart is set on blessing you!" - David Wilkerson
4. It's ok to ask for blessing a. Mary asked "How can this be?" b. Jabez asked 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)
10
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. c. Jesus said "ASK" Matthew 7:7 (NIV) Ask, Seek, Knock 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. John 4:10 (NIV) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 14:14 (NIV) 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
5. We Position ourselves by becoming still enough to hear the promise 6. We Position ourselves by living a life that finds favor with God 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV) 9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. a. Mary Did 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” b. Esau did not Hebrews 12:16-17 (NIV) 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. c. We can Romans 12:1 (NIV) A Living Sacrifice
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (NIV) Living to Please God 4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
7. We Position ourselves through faith and obedience a. Mary's faith and obedience 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. b. The example of Salvation Acts 16:31 (NIV) 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” c. The example of The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38 (NIV) 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. d. The Example of Tithing - If we want to be blessed financial we need to position ourselves by being faithful and obedient to God's command concerning the tithe Malachi 3:8-10 (NIV) 8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
