2. Christmas 2012 The Gift Is…Inconvenient

3. She gave me a gift And looked so excited To see me open it…

4. You've been there

5. Jesus is God's Christmas Gift

6. God's best gifts Are not convenient

7. In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron…

8. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.

9. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years… Shameful, Scandalous

10. Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside…

11. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear

12. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.

13. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth

14. …for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God

15. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous- to make ready a people prepared for the Lord…"

16. Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years…"

17. The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time"

18. When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people"

20. God let Elizabeth stay barren for almost her whole life And that's a gift! That's not real convenient

21. Now she has to: Carry Care for Raise While very old

22. God's best gifts Are not convenient

23. In the sixth month, God sent 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”

24. Mary: Illiterate, Poor, Living in Hick Town Illiterate, Poor, Living in Hick Town 14 or 15 Years Old 14 or 15 Years Old Betrothed- hopes and dreams Betrothed- hopes and dreams

25. Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

26. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus…

27. 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end” Long-Awaited Messiah

28. 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end” Long-Awaited Messiah "Who's the Daddy?"

29. "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?”

30. The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon 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" The ULTIMATE "Who's Yer Daddy?"

31. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God"

32. The choice: Ask for God to pick someone else Ask for God to pick someone else Accept God’s plan and sacrifice her future Accept God’s plan and sacrifice her future Disgrace Disgrace Loss of Joseph/Divorce Loss of Joseph/Divorce Life of Poverty Life of Poverty

33. If she accepts the gift Her life changes forever And it's not what she planned Nor will it be easy

34. God's best gifts Are not convenient

35. Mary’s Answer: "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her - Luke 1:5-20, 23-38

36. Mary’s Answer: "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her- Luke 1:5-20, 23-38 How you see yourself determines How you handle God's call

37. How is she feeling?

38. What does she have to do now?

39. Scared Scared Alone Alone Pregnant Pregnant

40. She runs!

41. She runs! (5-Day Journey- 97 Miles)

42. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth

43. 2 Pregnancies Elizabeth “God has taken away my disgrace!” “God has taken away my disgrace!” – Joy – Wonder – Laughing!

44. 2 Pregnancies Mary “God has disgraced me” “God has disgraced me” – Doubts – Regret – Pain and Loss

45. It has always been God’s will that those who have been shown grace (Elizabeth) would give it away to those who need it (Mary)

46. And ALL OF US Have been shown grace

47. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

48. As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

49. And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”

50. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home - Luke 1:39-46, 56

51. This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit

52. The conversation doesn’t go so well…

53. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly

54. His world is ruined His life has derailed The Gift is…Inconvenient

55. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit

56. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins"

57. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, "God with us”

58. Sovereignty- Nothing takes God by surprise. Nothing prevents God from accomplishing his ultimate will

59. Sovereignty There are no “Plan B” lives There are no “Plan B” lives God’s desires will be accomplished. The only question is whether I will get in on the blessing God’s desires will be accomplished. The only question is whether I will get in on the blessing Convenience doesn't guarantee God's presence. Nor does inconvenience mean he's not there Convenience doesn't guarantee God's presence. Nor does inconvenience mean he's not there

60. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus - Matt. 1:19-24

61. Joseph agrees to public shame and humiliation To giving up a legit marriage And a honeymoon

62. God's best gifts Are not convenient

63. Traveling to Bethlehem To fulfill Prophecy Traveling to Bethlehem To fulfill Prophecy Barn and Feed Troughs Barn and Feed Troughs Shepherds and Wise Men Shepherds and Wise Men

64. Fleeing Herod's Murderous Plans Fleeing Herod's Murderous Plans

65. John the Baptist Is not normal…and gets killed John the Baptist Is not normal…and gets killed Mary will watch Jesus die Mary will watch Jesus die

66. God's best gifts Are not convenient

67. But worth it

68. Zechariah and Elizabeth Joseph and Mary Wise Men and Shepherds Disciples

69. Where is God pressing you Right now That's not convenient or easy And you're not listening? Or- You want to give up?

70. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up - Galatians 6:9

71. How many believers Miss out on God's best Because it's not easy And they're: Too tired? Unwilling to trust? Don't want to be bothered?

72. 50 th Anniversary

73. Training our Kids to know Jesus

74. Standing on Truth When it's not Convenient

75. Following God When it takes so much Faith

76. Christmas Offering, Anyone?

77. "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" - Genesis 3:15

78. Christ gave up everything to enter the world as a baby born to a poor family He gave up his life to the cross so that he might bless everyone

79. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God

80. It wasn't convenient But it was… Worth it

81. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood

82. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons - Hebrews 12:2-4, 7

83. Jesus is God's Christmas Gift He's not convenient But he's worth it

84. Where is God pressing you? "I am the Lord's Servant May it be to me as you have said"

85. When is the gift yours?