Pastor Mark Olmos
November 14, 2004 - W0446

The holidays are upon us and I love the holidays. Some of you may have heard that I start celebrating Christmas right after my birthday in September. This is because of my past of rich, warm family traditions. Honestly though, when I was a child, I was the most materialistic weasel of the bunch. I wanted the biggest and the most presents. And when my parents would ask if I got everything I wanted, I had the gall to say, “Well, I didn’t get that …. I wanted.” Now I look back and wonder, “What was wrong with me?” It was as if everything was about me…until I became a Christian.

When I became a Christian at the age of seventeen, I started to finally understand the true meaning of the holidays and Christmas. Now every year I cannot wait to celebrate Christmas; one month is just not enough! Why? It’s because Christmas reminds us that…

GOD WANTS TO STEP INTO OUR REALITY AND CHANGE OUR LIVES!

Some people believe when God created the universe, He wound it up like a clock and stepped back to say, “I’ll see you at the end of time.” We may go through our lives knowing we have an appointment with God in the future, but think that He is way out there in the cosmos somewhere--far off. That is not at all what the Bible teaches.

Christmas is all about God clothing Himself in human flesh to come to earth to save us. Throughout the Christmas story, angels appear everywhere saying, “I have a message from God.” These appearances tell us that God wants to be a part of our lives!  He wants to push our lives to the edge where we see Him work in powerful, miraculous ways.  That’s how we were meant to live our Christian lives and we see this clearly in the Christmas story.

LESSONS FROM THE ANGELIC VISITS

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel

to Nazareth, a town in Galilee…” (Luke 1:26)

Today we are going to take a look at the Christmas story and the angelic visits to Zechariah and Mary to see what lessons can be learned from these angels of Christmas.  The first lesson we learn is from Zechariah.  An angel appeared before Zechariah to tell him that he and his elderly, barren wife Elisabeth were going to have a son by the name of John -- John the Baptist, the forerunner of the messiah.  When the angel told Zechariah the news… “Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years’” (Luke 1:18).

From this response, it was clear to the angel Gabriel that Zechariah doubted the message so Gabriel took away Zechariah’s ability to speak until the baby was born, so he would know without a doubt that the miracle was of God.  From Zechariah's story, we learn about a negative quality: 

I.      WHEN I DOUBT GOD’S ABILITY IT AFFECTS HIS WORK IN MY LIFE!

Throughout the scriptures, it is clear that doubt affects God’s ability to do miracles in our lives. When Peter was walking out to Jesus but began to doubt and sink, Jesus said, “...O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew14:31). When Jesus talks about prayer in Matthew 21:21, he says, “Truly I say to you whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be cast into the sea…’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes, it shall be granted to him.” And again in James 1:6 it says, “But let him ask in faith without any doubting; for the one who doubt is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.” Sobering, isn’t it?

What is the source of doubt? Well, Zechariah was looking at his situation through the lens of his own limitations. He was looking at what he could do, by himself, without God and that is why his faith became doubt. It's like with my kids...they think they can't do anything when they consider they little bodies but when they're playing with me, they can be like superheroes and fly because I am there helping them. It’s the same way with God. He wants us to “fly!”

How do we guard our minds and keep from doubting? Too often we think, “I’d love to, but I am just too weak. I just can’t do it!” Meanwhile, God is standing on the sidelines, saying, “Come on—do not doubt. Trust me. Get Me involved!”  Don’t look at things through the lens of your own human-ness and limitations.  Trust God.

When we trust God, God can use us in wonderful and miraculous ways like we see in the story of Mary. Unlike Zechariah, when the angel appeared to Mary and she responded in faith, we learn a very positive lesson:

II.      WHEN I TRULY YIELD MY LIFE TO GOD IT INVITES HIS INVOLVMENT.

When the angel appeared to Mary and told her that she would bear a child whom she was to call Jesus, she did not doubt.  In spite of being a virgin betrothed to a young carpenter, and hearing the news that she would become pregnant out of wedlock at the risk of being stoned to death, Mary gave one of the most beautiful responses in all of scripture:  “’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered” (Luke 1:38a).

I wonder, how many times God has said to us, “Okay— I’ve got a great adventure planned for you. It is going be messy and will take some time. It’s going be really challenging at times but I'll be with you and I’m going to use your life to penetrate an area of need in this world. I’m going to display my power in your life in miraculous ways,” and our response is, “I won’t have to miss my football game, will I?...If they don’t have regular bathrooms at that mission field, I’m not going!…But I have plans—I saved up just enough money for that trip, or that flat screen tv. Could you just choose somebody else?” 

Mary said nothing of the kind. She yielded her life to God, as a bond-servant who was wholly devoted to His purposes. When we yield our life to God, we are saying that our lives are available, 24x7, for His use; and that all plans and goals are subject to His leading and His approval. The other thing we learn from Mary is this:

 III.      WHEN I BELIEVE GOD AT HIS WORD HE BEGINS TO WORK.

When Mary wondered how the miracle was possible because she was a virgin, the angel told her that nothing is impossible to God, and her reply was, “’May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her” (Luke 1:38b).

Do you believe God? This is different from believing in God. Believing in God is to believe He exists. To believe God means you trust Him to keep His word—that He is both willing and able to do what He says. In the Word, God says He wants to radically change your life from the inside out. He promises to protect you from Satan, to answer your prayers, to guide you with wisdom from above, and to give you the ability to love people in ways that you never dreamed of. He promises to provide for your needs, and change the world through you…if you let Him. “Just believe Me,” He says.  When we take on that kind of attitude, saying, “Lord, I know You can do this,” then we begin to take action and trust Him in that way. Well, how do we get to that point of yielding and trust?

TIPS TO GET TO THE MIRACULOUS EDGE:

1.      I NEED TO SEE LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF GOD’S INFINITE GREATNESS!

The angel said, “Nothing is impossible with God.” He was saying to remember God and what He can do:

• “I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2)
• “Behold I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for me?”(Jeremiah 32:27)
• “Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars—the One Who leads forth their host by number.” (Isaiah 40:26)

God is omnipotent—all-powerful, all-knowing, infinite in His being. He is awesome. Too often we view God through our own image and we project our weaknesses on God. However, looking at life through our own limitations will not get us anywhere; we need to look at life through a true image of who God is. How do we do that?

Worship:  When we worship, we re-focus our image of who God is: faithful, powerful, awesome, and sovereign. Choose songs that lift God up, not just the “bless-me-bless-me” songs. When we worship God’s greatness, it helps us to see the world through the same.

Mark and memorize verses that remind you of God’s greatness: Memorize scripture and carry it in your heart. Even more so, when you read a verse, ask yourself, “If that is true about God, then how does it change the way I live?” Reflecting on scripture in this way will change you and take are of many of the problems in your life.

And when you begin to see life through God’s greatness, take the next step…

2.      I NEED TO LET GOD DO THE DRIVING!

For some of us, it’s as if we’re driving down the road life and we need direction.  We stop to talk to Jesus who is standing on the curb and He knows the way so we invite Him in but then tell him to sit in the backseat. Then, when Jesus says, “Okay take this turn here,” we say, “No, I don’t want to. You are just along for the ride. When I need advice, I’ll ask you.” Others of us think we’re more spiritual because we let Jesus ride shotgun and we take advice from Him…except when it comes to relationships…or except when it comes to my job.

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).

Notice that the sheep are not saying, “No, Jesus—I want to go this way. You follow me!” 

When we trust in God, we need to step out of the driver’s seat and turn full control over to Him. “Jesus, You take over. I’m going to go where You want me to go and become who You want me to be.” Just as Mary did, we need to truly surrender our lives to Him and know…

3.      MY FAITH WILL GROW AS I DO THINGS GOD’S WAY!

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock” (Matthew 7:24).

Jesus puts a high premium on doing what God asks because when we do, it shows that we trust Him.  Simply put, the best expression of faith in God is obeying Him. Sadly, many of us behave like spiritual teenagers, thinking that we know everything, telling God, “I know how to live. You aren’t the boss of me!” Instead, as we begin to trust God in the little things, our faith begins to grow. Then we shall see, and say, “Wow—God is working!”

Here are three things that you can do to begin to obey God in a powerful way:

ü      Kind Deeds—Multiply the ways you serve the people around you.

ü      Loving Words—Fill every setting with encouragement and appreciation.

ü      A Heart of Grace—Refuse to take offense. Bring grace to situations and be quick to forgive.

With the holidays coming, the pace picks up, lines get longer, and people patience gets shorter. Why not make an extra effort to do kind deeds, offer loving words, and bring a heart of grace wherever we go? 

Now, the exciting part…Living in obedience to God in the small things, you begin to see life through the lens of God’s greatness. Your doubts are gone because you know God is bigger than anything life can throw at you. You are allowing God to be the driver in your life. You are becoming a bond-servant for the Lord and offering your life as a platform for His work. You trust God moment-by-moment, day-by-day. You are doing things God’s way and your faith is really growing. God is now ready to push you to the miraculous edge, and you say, “God, I believe You. You have always been true. I am ready to obey You in the big things!” Now…I can dream big dreams for God!

It scares Satan to death when a believer begins to dream with God in mind. When a believer – no matter what age, a teenager especially – begins to dream about what God can do in their life, or more accurately through their life, that believer is dreaming big dreams for God. I have a personal dream…it is Japan. I want to be part of a team that makes a difference and begins a movement that reaches Japan. 

Dream for God and dream for others. Try not to dream just for yourself. Let Him guide you, and watch Him begin to work. It is an awesome way to live. Imagine a whole church of people doing that together. What wonders we would see living life on the miraculous edge!

Discussion Questions:

§         Talk about a time when your doubt affected God’s work in your life?  What was the source of your doubt and how are you guarding against it in the future?

§         How do you keep your view through a lens of God’s greatness?  What suggestions do you have for others?

§         God is always stepping in to do miraculous things. How are you working to keep your faith active and vibrant so God can work His power through you?

§         What is your dream for God?  If God could use you to do something powerful in this world, what do you wish that would it be?

Much aloha and appreciation to Robin Hart II who is faithfully obeying God's call and redeeming her talents for His glory and greatness....living on the miraculous edge!