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The very first…. Are You the Type of Person God Can Use?. Luke 1:26-38. Why Did God Chose Mary?. W e are not to worship her; She was not perfect or sinless; We are not to venerate or pray to her; What was special about Mary, was her… . p lain ordinariness!.
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Are You the Type of Person God Can Use? Luke 1:26-38
Why Did God Chose Mary? • We are not to worship her; • She was not perfect or sinless; • We are not to venerate or pray to her; • What was special about Mary, was her… plain ordinariness! God could have used one of your daughters!
So, why did God choose Mary? She had none! She was poor! She was a teenager!
God chose Mary because… She trusted God! • Mary was still afraid – the Angel saw this and said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary.” • The text tells us “Mary was greatly troubled…” • “Petrified by fear” or • “Scared to Death”
God chose Mary because… • Scared as she was, Mary did not let her fear control her. • The fear of criticism – what’s everybody to think? I’m a virgin and I’m having a baby? • The fear of the supernatural – Am I dreaming this? Am I going crazy? • The fear of inadequacy – How can I handle this? Why me? • The fear of change – How will this change my life, my family, my relationships?
When Can God Truly Use People? • God uses people who desire to Do HIS Will. • Mary was willing to accept “God’s Plan” for her life. • God’s plan and our plan for life often differs; • God’s plan was to come to earth as a Baby using Mary’s body; • Why a baby? • Nobody is afraid of a baby! • Everyone enters this world the same way!
When Can God Truly Use People? • God uses people who desire to Do HIS Will. • Mary responded, “My soul praises the Lord and my heart rejoices in God my Savior. May it be to me as you have said.” • She could have listed several excuses: • What about my career, my goals in life? • What if it’s not convenient to be pregnant right now? • Why not get somebody else, Lord?
When Can God Truly Use People? • God uses people who are Willing to Pay the Cost. • Following God’s plan for life always involves a cost of some kind: i.e. time, energy, money. • Mary understood this and said, “I’m the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” • That’s saying: “God, I am willing to do whatever You want.” • Reputation; • Comfort; Jesus said, “No one can be My disciple who doesn’t carry his cross and don’t begin without first counting the cost.” What are you willing to give up?
When Can God Truly Use People? • God uses people who Dare to Trust His Promises. • Mary asked the angel, “How can this be? I am a virgin.” • The angel assured Mary, “Nothing is impossible for God.” • Courage is NOT the absence of fear but rather it is moving ahead in spite of your fear – simply trusting God!
God uses people who… • Desire to do His Will; • Are willing to pay the price; and • Dare to trust God’s promises; Are You that kind of Person? If God can use a poor peasant teenage girl with no education to be the mother of His Son, Jesus Christ, how puny are our excuses for not letting God have all of our lives?
God can use US! Give Jesus Me! • Are you willing to be used by God? • Could you say to God, “use me anytime, anywhere for anything?” • Does that scare you? It need not, if we only remember: • How much God LOVES US; • God has OUR BEST INTERESTS at heart; • So, what are you going to give Jesus this Christmas?
