Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? The angel was sent to Nazareth by God. Mary was highly favored by God.

12-9-07 Sunday School Lesson, Living Out God-Given/Divine Purposes -- Luke 1:26-38 (Devotional Reading Psalm 40:1-5) 12-16-07 Sunday School Lesson -- Summon/Invitation to Announce/Declare, Luke 1:67-80 (Background Scripture Luke 1:57-80) Key Verse -- And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel of departed from her. Luke 1:38 Question - Food For Thought: How many would honestly have the faith - believe and would willing submit to the Lord's plan? Real Life 101 -- Sometimes God is leading us or could be leading us one way and we are deciding to go another way .. For a whole year I gave up writing for there was something else that I wanted but it just didn't work and then I started back to write. I am blessed -- things I don't even ask for find me. John 1:1 -- Christ's Divinity, Christ Possesses the Attributes of God In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:46b -- Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? 12-25-88 Another one of my former Pastor's( he passed not long ago) preached this sermon .. The Wise Men From The East & Their Worship Plan from Matthew 2:1-2. Matthew 1:1-17 -- The Genealogy of Jesus Christ from Abraham to Joseph Luke 1:26-38 Verses 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 38 Verse 26 -- And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth. The angel was sent to Nazareth by God. The sixth month to my understanding at this time was between August/September which is Elul (Nehemiah 6:15). Verse 27 -- To a virgin "espoused" to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. espouse - not yet married, to marry "espoused" -- Matthew 2:4,5 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David;) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. Mary was a pure woman - a woman not touched by no man. Verse 28 -- And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou art "highly" favoured, "the" Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. "highly" -- graciously accepted "the" -- Judges 6:12 -- The Angel of The Lord, of of God Utters Predictions Mary was highly favored by God Verse 29 -- And when she saw him, "she" was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. "she" -- Luke 1:12 -- Good Angels, Terror At And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. Question - Food For Thought: If you were Mary how would you have felt? Just think about an angel being sent from God to give you a message such as the angel was giving her. Here is a woman that never knew a man and was about to be told she would have a son. She was to get marry to Joseph but they had not married at this time. I wonder did she think how would she explain this to him and or did she think whether he would still want to marry her. Verse 30 -- And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. Mary had the Favor of God Favor -- can be deserved or it can be given Verse 31 -- And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and "shalt" call his name JESUS. The angel told Mary what was going to take place and how she would conceive this child. The angel told her what to name this male child. I can think of numerous questions and concerns that would have been on my mind if I would have been in Mary's shoes -- I probably would have fainted. (James 12:19 -- even the demons believe & tremble at the name of Jesus) "shalt" -- Luke 2:21 -- Jesus Christ circumcised And when the eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Verse 35 -- And the angel answered and said unto her, "The" Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called "the" Son of God. "The" -- Matthew 1:20 But while - he - thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. he - Joesph (Mary's soon to be husband) The angel of the Lord assured Joseph that Mary being with a child was of God and no man had touched her in any kind of way. This is important to men. Notice whose voice he listened to -- the angel of the Lord Do you remember in The Old Testament about Dreamers? Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit - It will guide you, comfort you, lives inside believers/christians "This is what kept Paul safe (Acts 16:6,7) I was in a three month session on this for one night per month earlier in the year" Real Life 101 -- As much as I love Technology/Internet. Don't overlook something that could be of value to you if it is not online/on the Internet. For the study book mentioned above that I studied out of they don't even have an email address in their book nor a website address but they do have a telephone number listed -- I have to go to a Bible Book Store and buy it or I would have to order it from the company via of snail mail. Verse 38 -- And Mary said, Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. Mary was humble, she had faith, she trusted God and willingly submitted her life into HIS hands trusting HIS purpose/plan. Verses 32, 33 -- Jesus Christ, Christ's Divinity, Is Called Lord He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and "the" Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. "the" -- Isaiah 9:6,7 Isaiah 9:6 -- Jesus Christ, Prophecies concerning Christ, Divinity; Christ's Divinity, He Is Called God; Jesus Christ is Superior to Men & Angels For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:7 -- Jesus Christ, Prophecies Concerning Christ, Kingship Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end ......... Verse 36 -- The Family, Barrenness, Miraculously Removed; Gift of Child (Children) And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. Elisabeth at this time was past child bearing age -- by man's standard. Verse 37 -- God, Omnipotence (Unlimited Power, All Power) For "with" God nothing shall be impossible. "with" -- Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee ......... according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Key Word -- At the time appointed Jesus said, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Scripture reference taken from: KJV, Topical Reference Edition, Crusade Bible Publishers, Mt. Juliet, TN