1. Luke 1:26-38
NIV
Scripture

2. 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 
Scripture

3. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 
Scripture

4. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 
Scripture

5. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Scripture

6. 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Scripture

7. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Scripture

8. Click on slide to play, if it doesn’t play well, we can play directly from video file.

9. Why God chose Mary ?
Luke 1:26-55

10. Why God chose Mary ?
God intends to use ALL people to be change agents for the Kingdom of God in this world.
Why God chose Mary above all the women of her time to be used by Him for such an awesome task in human history ?

11. There are a lot of misconceptions about Mary.
Not once in the Bible does it say we are to worship Mary.
Not once does it say she was perfect or sinless.
The Bible does not say she was God, even though someone argued that she was “god-bearer.”

12. Why God chose Mary ?
Why God took an ordinary woman and used her in an extraordinary way?
It wasn’t because of her education
It wasn’t because of her wealth
It wasn’t because she was mature

13. Why did God choose Mary?
God chose Mary because of her HEART – she trusts God.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

14. Mary had all kinds of fear but she never let her fear control her.
“God send the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you.” (Pay attention to Mary’s initial reaction to this visit.) Mary was greatly troubled.” (Luke 1:26)
The Greek word for “greatly troubled” is scared to death.

15. There are at least 4 kinds of fear that surfaced.
The fear of criticism – “What everybody going to think?
The fear of the supernatural – “What will happen to me?”

16. There are at least 4 kinds of fear that surfaced.
The fear of inadequacy – “How can I handle this?” I am just a child/teenager. How can I become a mother of messiah/God?
The fear of change – “How will this change my life?” Will my husband-to-be accept me? If not, where can I go to bring up this child?

17. 5 things come from her H-E-A-R-T that make her special:
Humility Enthusiasm Availability Reflection Trust or Taking risk

18. Humility (Luke 1:38a; 48)
“I am the Lord’s servant.” “For He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.”

19. Humility (Luke 1:38a; 48)
God blesses us, not because we deserve it, but because He desires it.
“God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

20. Enthusiasm (Luke 1:46-47)
“My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices.”
It is not a matter of tolerance or acceptance. It is a matter of eagerness. “God I want to be used by you. I want you to use me for whatever purpose you made me for because you have a great plan for my life.”

21. Enthusiasm (Luke 1:46-47) Nothing great is done without enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm = en + Theo = in God

22. Availability (Luke 1:38b)
Availability is a decision to allow God use you in whatever the cost.
“May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38b )
It may cost her reputation, her security, her self-worth, her everything.
Are you available for His use at all cost?

23. Reflection (Luke 1:29; 2:19)
She had a listening ear. She was always tune into God.
“Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greetings this might be.” RSV translates, “considered in her mind.” And in 2:19 “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

24. Reflection (Luke 1:29; 2:19)
Mary had a habit of listening to God, and was attentive to what He was doing in her world.
Spiritual journal helps to slow down your brain waves and fine tune your focus as you meditate and pray with your pen.
Are you aware of God’s work and His leading in your life today?

25. Taking risk (Luke 1:34-35) People of faith are people who take risk.
It takes courage to be used by God.
Courage is moving ahead in spite of fear.

26. Taking risk (Luke 1:34-35)
Mary was a woman who was not afraid of the supernatural.
“How will this be (How can I have a baby?) I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will over-shadow you…. For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:34-35, 37)

27. Taking risk (Luke 1:34-35)
God uses people who dare to trust His promise and His power.
Instead of worry she worshiped.
“For nothing is impossible with God.”

28. Taking risk (Luke 1:34-35)
It requires courage to be used by God because He is going to do great things through you, which is beyond your imagination, beyond your means, beyond your limitations, and beyond yourself!