1. Our advent series In the beginning… A signpost to Jesus How can this be? The servant king Nativity Carols and Candles Christmas morning

2. Our advent series In the beginning… A signpost to Jesus How can this be? The servant king Nativity Carols and Candles Christmas morning

3. The servant King How can this be? Luke 1: 26-38

4. Christmas…

5. For Christians…God speaks to us!

6. In Jesus God reveals his heart… The servant King of all mankind Our redeemer, saviour, and friend Who comes to do what we cannot do for ourselves…

7. Look at how God prepares the ground… At how he speaks to: Zechariah and Elisabeth Mary The shepherds Joseph x2 The wise men x2 All with one purpose in mind…that we might receive Jesus…the saviour of the world!

8. Look at how God prepares the ground… At how he speaks to: Zechariah and Elisabeth Mary The shepherds Joseph x2 The wise men x2 All with one purpose in mind…that we might receive Jesus…the saviour of the world!

9. Luke 1: 26-38 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. 28 The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

10. 30 But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 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 for ever; his kingdom will never end.’ 34 ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’

11. 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. 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.

12. So what happens when God speaks to us?

13. 1. God does not forget his promises v27,32

14. Psalm 89:1-4 I will sing of the Lord’s great love for ever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. 2 I will declare that your love stands firm for ever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. 3 You said, ‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, 4 “I will establish your line for ever and make your throne firm through all generations.”’

15. Psalm 89:1-4 I will sing of the Lord’s great love for ever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. 2 I will declare that your love stands firm for ever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. 3 You said, ‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, 4 “I will establish your line for ever and make your throne firm through all generations.”’

16. 2. God’s word catches us unawares v29 Why is that? We can get used to broken promises… We get used to the routine of life… God can sometimes seem far off… We become forgetful…

17. 3. God’s word tests our heart v38 What will Mary say? What are the implications of her choice? Has God chosen well? Is her heart true? YES – despite everything…

18. 4. God’s word tests our faith v35-37 Will God do what he says he will do? That’s a question for Mary and all of us today… For us, our hindsight reveals God’s faithfulness But today in 2014 as we look ahead, do you feel it?

19. 5. God’s word never fails v37 Let’s think about this… “For no word from God will EVER fail.” 37 What has God said AND what is he saying today? Will we hold onto that word and believe in Him?

20. Jesus the King comes to serve us… God is for us Jesus is for us The Holy Spirit is for us The VERY PURPOSE of God at Christmas is to help us!

21. Jesus the King comes to serve us… God is for us Jesus is for us The Holy Spirit is for us The VERY PURPOSE of God at Christmas is to help us!

22. “How can this be?” Because God has spoken; our Lord Jesus loves us and has come to earth for us; for you and for me!