Bible Study - Fear (4) - Submission to GOD in Place of Fear - Luke 1:26-38 - December 25, 2022

 

Bible Study – Fear (4) – Submission to GOD in Place of Fear – December 25, 2022

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled, “Putting Fear in its Place.”

Our focus scripture is Luke 1:26-38.

GOD’S desire to work through us is no cause for fear.

Just imagine young Mary who was in her early teens being called by GOD to be the mother of HIS only Son, JESUS. Especially, when she was engaged to be married and she lived in a small town, Nazareth. What often takes place in a small town? Everyone likely knows all that is going on – the gossip line is efficient.

GOD calls many, at various stages in their lives, to special tasks for the sake of building HIS Kingdom upon earth. Building a building is one thing but carrying GOD’S Only SON is quite another calling.

Put yourself in Mary’s place for a moment. Even the men folks can put themselves in Mary’s place and most certainly all the ladies can imagine Mary’s concerns. When GOD calls, HE also equips and comforts.

Let’s explore!

So, how did GOD let Mary know of her calling?

Let’s read Luke 1:26-29:

Gabriel Predicts Jesus’s Birth

²⁶ In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged^[c] to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”^[d] 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 

Bible scholars tell us that most young girls knew that GOD’S promised Messiah would be conceived by a virgin and they hoped they would be the one chosen by GOD.

At first reading one may think we can calculate from the sixth-month and add nine-months to it and come up with the approximately time of JESUS’ birth. The problem is that Bible scholars read, “In the sixth month after Elizabeth’s conception, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth.”

So, what do we know? We know that GOD planned for John the Baptist or John the Baptizer to be the herald who would go before JESUS and announce the coming of the promised Messiah. John the Baptist would be about six-months older than JESUS.

There are several histories that postulate when JESUS was born. What I generally lean toward is, in 325 A.D. that Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman emperor established Christmas as an immovable feast on December 25. December 25 was also during a pagan festival. However, Bible scholars believe that JESUS was born either in the spring or the fall of the year because shepherds were in the field. The most important thing we need to keep in mind is JESUS’ birth fulfilled the Old Testament scripture. Why do I put this in this lesson? I was an adult before I knew this. GOD is magnificent and it is a delight and a joy to see GOD’S redemptive plan for all people in action.

What prophecy had GOD given through HIS prophet, Isaiah, regarding the coming of the promised Messiah? Let’s read on ----

In Isaiah 7:13-14:

¹³ Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men? Will you also try the patience of my God? ¹⁴ Therefore, the Lord himself will give you^[c] a sign: See, the virgin will conceive,^[d] have a son, and name him Immanuel.^[e]

To be chosen by GOD to carry HIS Only Son would be awesome, or would it? We fast-forward 700 years from Isaiah 7 to the birth of JESUS.

Let’s read Luke 1:30-33:

³⁰ Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

Who told Mary about her calling by GOD? It was “the angel Gabriel that was sent by God.” What do we know about Gabriel? Gabriel is an archangel. He spoke to Daniel, Zachariah (the husband of Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin) and Mary.

Gabriel immediately put Mary at ease, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

The statement by Gabriel, “for you have found favor with GOD” is awesome. It meant that Mary’s sins had been forgiven and she could personally enter into the presence of GOD! This is the same status those of us who have asked JESUS to forgive us for our sins and to come into our hearts and receive salvation, thus Spirit-born. WOW! Gabriel said a mouth full. At that instant Mary had been purified of all sin and her body became the temple for the Holy Spirit to come upon her so that conception could take place in the twinkling of the eye. Now, that is something to shout about – Praise be to our GOD and FATHER.

Gabriel told her to listen. In essence, Mary you need to listen to what I am about to tell you because it is vital. You are going to be pregnant with GOD’S only SON and here is how that is going to take place. You will name your SON, JESUS.

I think this next scripture reveals so much about Mary, as we read on--

Let’s read Luke 1:34-38:

³⁴ Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” ^[e]

To me, Mary had a very practical question and revealed that she was not intimidated by Gabriel. She asked a very important question. Gabriel gave her the answer. GOD never wants those HE calls to be in the dark about what HE is calling them to do. Yes, some are called to respond in faith and trust. In this case, Mary needed to know and GOD knew that she needed to know.

³⁵ The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.”

³⁸ “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

When Mary heard Gabriel’s explanation, she agreed to be the birth mother of JESUS. This is very important because GOD does not override a person’s right to choose. This also includes salvation.

We get to understand what took place in the conception of JESUS. We marvel but it is also a picture of the Spiritual birth of every person upon earth. The divine sperm, The Holy Spirit, came upon Mary and “overshadowed her.” It was a Holy moment and she conceived JESUS.

There was another “overshadow moment in the life of JESUS” as we read in Mark 9:7 when JESUS was transfigured - ⁷ A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him!” JESUS was on HIS way to the cross and all had been fulfilled, except JESUS death on the cross. JESUS gave HIS sinless life to pay, in full, for sin for all who place their faith in HIM.

When a person repents of his or her sins, the Holy Spirit, the Divine Sperm, unites with his/her human spirit, that person is Spiritually born into GOD’S Family, never to be unborn. Thus “born-again.” The same Holy Spirit, that resulted in the conception of JESUS, is the same Holy Spirit that brings about the Spiritual birth of all who place their faith in JESUS.

Notice, Gabriel told Mary the Good News about Elizabeth, Mary’s first cousin. Elizabeth had been pregnant for 6 months before Mary. Do you think since, Gabriel had told Mary that Elizabeth was pregnant she was checking the authenticity of what Gabriel had told her? What do we learn from scripture about the first meeting of Elizabeth and Mary, since they were pregnant, as recorded in Luke 1:39-56:

Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth

³⁹ In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!^[f] 43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”

Elizabeth confirmed what Mary already knew.

Mary’s Praise

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ because he has looked with favor
on the humble condition of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations
will call me blessed,
⁴⁹ because the Mighty One
has done great things for me,
and his name is holy.
⁵⁰ His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear him.
⁵¹ He has done a mighty deed with his arm;
he has scattered the proud
because of the thoughts of their hearts;
⁵² he has toppled the mighty from their thrones
and exalted the lowly.
⁵³ He has satisfied the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering his mercy
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants^[g] forever,
just as he spoke to our ancestors.

⁵⁶ And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

Mary confirmed what the archangel, Gabriel, had told her was 100% true. There is nothing wrong verifying what GOD reveals to us. Mary breaks into a song of praise to GOD for being chosen to carry HIS only SON, JESUS.

This is a great example of GOD calling a person to accomplish HIS will and purpose. When GOD calls it is always according to HIS time and not ours. The key is when GOD calls, how will we respond? Just keep in mind that GOD never calls without also equipping. Our part is to agree and proceed. There is nothing wrong with asking questions or checking it out either.

Mary had to overcome her fear of being a bride betrothed to Joseph and being pregnant. The good news is that GOD revealed to Joseph, through an angel, as we read in Matthew 1:18-25:

The Nativity of the Messiah

¹⁸ The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged^[g] to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

²⁰ But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²² Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

²³ See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,^[h]

which is translated “God is with us.”

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her ²⁵ but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son.^[i] And he named him Jesus.

GOD clears the path for HIS will and purpose to be done!

Trust GOD when HE calls you to do the impossible, because all things are possible through HIM when we have the faith the size of a mustard seed.

Merry Christmas! GOD is awesome and so is being Spirit-born!

Blessings!!!