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How Can This Be? (Chance Of A Lifetime part 3) 12/10/2023

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How Can This Be? (Chance Of A Lifetime part 3) 12/10/2023

Luke 1:28-38 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give 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 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

❓ In what way has God used you?❓  Would your life be different today if you were not a Christian?❓   

⭐   One message of Christmas I never hear during the Christmas holidays are the words spoken by Mary, the mother of Jesus, after the angel came to her and told her of God’s plans!   “HOW CAN THIS BE?!”  ⭐  Mary had the chance of a lifetime and she took it.  Christmas is the season of the impossible. 

⭐   She said, “How can this be?”  

➤     This reminds us that Christmas is a season that:

1.        God does the impossible v37) 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

2.        God wants to be Immanuel in our life (Be with us) v32) 32 He will be great, and will be called the 

  •  Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

3.        God still uses us to accomplish His will and purposes. v38) 38 Then Mary said, 

  •  “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. 


➤     Our challenge as individuals:

A.     To go beyond our mere understanding and to embrace the impossible.

  • God is able to do exceedingly above all that we can ask or think. Eph 3:20: Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

B.     That God can change us when we can’t change ourselves. 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  ⭐   I would be someone completely different had it not been for Christ coming into my life.C.     God is not limited to our own limitations and can use us to do the impossible, regardless of our own abilities. v37)  Nothing shall be impossible with God.  Mat 19:26:  “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

💥   What goes beyond our understanding?  (The personal Christmas message)1.     Who we are.   ( Why me?)   

  • Highly favored? 💥( Highly graced) >  💥(Blessed among women) Spoken well of.
  • No respecter of persons. Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no respecter of persons. After the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius household.
  •  It’s people that will call me blessed. Luke 1:48) “From henceforth all generations shall call me blessed”   💥 Spoken well of praised:

💥   This is true but it does not mean that she holds a status above anyone.

2.     What we can do.   ( impossible outside of us)   

  • Conceive a child without any human intervention.   I can do all things through Christ.
  • Philippians 4:13) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

    • Walk on Water.   Be a part of miracles.  
    • 💥  Used of God to do HIS WILL, not our own.

3.     How God wants to use us.  ( Hand maiden of the Lord)

  • Step out of our comfort zones in faith and watch how God will use us.
  • Fishermen become fishers of men.
  • Tax collectors become apostles. 
  • Doctors (Luke) are remembered for the healing of souls.
  • Police officers become missionaries. 

     The gift of God

I.     Immanuel with us    The Holy Spirit came upon her!! v35) 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you;   Changed everything     She was empowered by the Holy Spirit.

II.     Fulfilling God’s will in life. v38)  38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”  Only one thing.  Being the mother of Jesus. Keeping her child and letting God’s will be done in His life.          Not many parents would do this today.  (Let go and let God)

III.     She was able to do the impossible. v35) 35 ,,,,,that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.   v31) 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.    One thing changed the world.

  • Letting God use her.    Listening to God

IV.     A better life!    Didn’t look that way at first.  

  • Gave up what might stop her.

          What we lose He gives back.  Matt. 10:39) He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

  • Her boyfriend.  Marriage.  Reputation.  Family. Etc.


💥💥  >  God with you!  >  God’s purpose being done in you. >  Seeing the hand of God work in your life. > Living an unexplainable better life.  💥💥