Victory Life KY

Be It Unto Me

Episode Summary

What really motivated my direction this year is Jesus’ mothers great faith.

Episode Notes

Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

As I was thinking and praying about our Christmas series, this miraculous story of Jesus’ birth, that had been prophesied for generations is obviously the focus of our celebration.

But what really motivated my direction this year is Jesus’ mothers great faith.

In Luke 1:38, out of the traditional KJV, Mary tells the angel Gabriel, “Be it unto me according to your word.”

This Christmas, as we celebrate and honor our Savior and King, as we enjoy the gift of Salvation, we’re going to let Mary’s faith inspire us to take a closer look at our own life of faith.

After all, according to our King, we’ve been created to live a life of faith.

I love Luke’s perspective on Jesus’ life. On this miraculous event, God laid out before the foundations of the world.

He wasn’t one of the 12, but I believe associated with some of them, and for certain some of the 70.

Obviously close with the apostle Paul. He gives us a detailed account of the birth of our Savior. But more from humanity’s side of things than for example Matthew’s Jewish linage.

As a matter of fact, Luke refers to Jesus as “Son of man” at least 26 times.

And as spiritual, as supernatural as Christ’s birth is, it still demanded the created’s participation.

I love Mary’s bold faith, I’m sure as she trembled in the presence of Gabriel.

And as the Holy Spirit inspired Luke to write his account, he gives us this very intelligent, simple, clear account of our Savior.

All we have to do, like Mary is simply believe and participate. “Be it unto me according to your words.”

Luke 1:1-3 (CEV) Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us.
They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened.
So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place.

Then Luke makes this statement, “I’m writing this so that you may know beyond a shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you’ve been taught.”

I can’t help but wonder if maybe Luke got to hear the story straight from Mary.
You can tell by the boldness of his introduction that he has a fixed confidence in his revelation of the accounts of Jesus.

But what I love and respect about his letter is that his revelation came to him just like it comes to us.

And he boldly writes, I want you to know beyond a shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you’ve been taught.

As I’m putting this talk together, Mary’s statement stands out in my thoughts; “be it unto me”

Each of us has to come to the realization that this one simple truth is exactly how Jesus expect us to live these lives He came that we could have.

John 10, “...I came that you may have and enjoy an abundant, excessive, extraordinary life.” Then be it unto to me Lord.

And here’s the eternal reality for God’s created, today in the middle of the 21st century, He’s still pointing people to Jesus.

Jesus still stands as the central focus of hope and redemption for humanity.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

God with us! Think about it from His perspective. Leaving His world, laying aside His deity, taking on free will, yielding Himself to humanity for the sole purpose of making passage for humanity to come back, not only to eternity, but into a divine relationship with our Creator.

Philippians 2, When the time came, Jesus set aside the privileges of deity and became human! Having become human, He stayed human.
He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, He lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death.
Because of His obedience, God lifted Him high and honored Him far beyond anyone or anything,
so that all created beings in heaven and on earth will bow in worship before Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that He is the Lord of all.

The Anointed One, the Creator became the created. (Son of man)
The King of all existence exchanged His royalty for humanity.
The Author eternity stepped out of it, for the sole purpose of bringing us back to eternity.

And I realize the world, over the years has developed a variety of traditions celebrating Christmas, but for those of us that have embraced God’s gift to His creation, it’s one of our greatest days we get to celebrate!

So, as the world around us drifts further away from the realities of why we celebrate Christmas, let’s remind them. Lets take a page of of Mary’s play book, “be it unto to me Lord”

Now it goes without saying, it will always be, Merry Christmas, not happy whatever. But with this in mind, don’t be one of those religious, Christian correctors.

Remember, God didn't send Jesus into the world to condemn it, but to save it.

Luke 1:26-38 (NKJV) Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by 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. The virgin’s name was Mary.
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.

For all of us that follow Jesus, my prayer with these simple talks during Christmas is to stir up a little God nature in all of us. And it starts with Jesus’ mom’s faith, “be it unto me.”

Seriously, can you imagine what was going through Mary’s mind?

She gives a whole new meaning too giving your life to Jesus.

This Christmas, lets ask ourselves this, what’s Jesus asking us to accept according to His word?

And according to Jesus, nothing is impossible for those of us who honestly believe what He tells us. So exactly what are you believing for, specifically?

What do you thing Jesus meant when He said things like: “According to your faith, let it be done.”

Remember what Jesus told us in John 10, “I came that you may have and enjoy an abundant, excessive, extraordinary life.”

But something a lot of christians never consider is that one of Jesus’ primary objectives was to reintroduce us to God’s creation. He came to this planet to show us how the people of God are to live.

And if nothing is impossible for those who believe what God tells us, then why wouldn’t we want to be like Mary? C’mon Lord, be it unto me according to your word.

Listen to Paul’s expectations of the young Timothy, man of God, pursue a righteous life, a life of wonder, faith, and love. Take hold of eternal life, the life God called you to.

This Christmas, let the people you come in contact with experience Christ in you. Why not, like Mary, accept what God is telling you, be it unto me lord!

What do ya say, we make this Christmas a turning point in our lives? Like Mary, right in the face of fear, uncertainty, ridicule… according to your word Lord.

Remember what Gabriel told her, rejoice, highly favored of the Lord, you are blessed among women.

So, according to Jesus, if nothing is impossible for those of us who believe what God tells us, then why wouldn’t we follow Mary’s example? Be it unto me Lord!!

Daryl will closeout service

Announcements

Impact Youth Christmas Party

Sunday, December 12

2. Christmas Eve Service

Friday December 24 at 6pm

Impact kids will not have service

Tithe