Teaching Notes

The Road to Christmas

Luke 1:26-38

MONDAY

26-28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: Good morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you. - Luke 1:26-28

Last week we studied about the childless couple concieving a child in their old age.  Now we turn to the virgin that will concieve.  We are already looking at the miracles that God can do.  So we turn from Elizabeth who is in her sixth month of pregnancy to her cousin Mary.  The scripture tells us that Mary is a virgin that is engaged to be married to Joseph.  When Mary enters into the room an angel greets her.

Thought for the day: What do you think the greeting meant? In the KJV is states Mary is "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women". What this greeting signifies is Mary has been honored above all women because she has been chosen to carry the Son of God.  The favor on her life is because of the great purpose she has been chosen to carry out. 

What can be learned from this piece of scripture is that God has a special calling on all our lives.  There will come a time when God will reveal to you what he has purposed for your life. You may be surprises at the encounter.  You may not have even been expecting any thing to happen and then one day you have an encounter with God that calls you to hear God's purpose on your life. Are you ready to hear God's purpose for your life?

Prayer: Lord, you have ordained a purpose for me from the womb.  When you formed me you knew what you desired for my life.  Help me to see clearly that you have a purpose on my life.  Help me to see it and accept it so that you can fulfill all that you purpose in me.

TUESDAY
29-33 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.' The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob's house forever— no end, ever, to his kingdom." - Luke 1:29-33

Mary was shaken to hear the greeting from the angel.  The angel said to Mary not to be afraid because God has something special for her.  The angel then reveals to Mary what will take place in her life.  he tells her that she will become the mother to the savior.

Thought for the Day: What do you think Mary must have felt after hearing such a greeting?  When we read tomorrows lesson we will understand what she thought.  But for right now, if you were confronted with something unthinkable you would probably wonder at the message.  Mary surely must have thought why would God choose me for this special assignment?

Mary probably did like many of us would, she wonder at the greatness of what was said.  We would probably think this could not be true, surely there must be a mistake. That is what we would do and currently do when we are faced with some things that are amazing.  God has a purpose for each of us and sometimes we cannot believe he would want us to accomplish the things he reveals to us.  Surely he could not want me to be a preacher, or a teacher or a pastor or some other thing.  Yet we can know like Mary did that if God calls you to do something he was not mistaken about who he wanted to do it, he was sure he wanted you to do it.

Prayer: Lord help me to accept the wonderful assignment you have for me.  I cannot even believe you would call me to do such wonderful things, but I will trust that if you called me to do something you will help me to accomplish it.

 
 
WEDNESDAY
34 Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man." - Luke 1:34
 
Today we see what Mary's response was to the angel.  She could not believe it and wonder how could she have a baby when she was a virgin. 
 
Thought for the Day: Mary wondered how can I have a baby when I have not been with a man.  If we look at this one verse we can see how Mary is looking at the situation.  She is looking at it from the natural.  What I mean by that is she is looking at how one naturally has a baby.  Since she knows she has never been with anyone she cannot see how this thing will come to be.  This is a reminder for us that sometimes we are limited by our vision.  We cannot see in the "natural" how God will work something out.  This is how we are often discouraged about the things we believe God wants us to do.  We do not see how it can happen so we begin to believe it cannot happen. Yet we must learn to say, there is nothing impossible with God.
 
Prayer: Lord help me today not to look at this journey from what I "see".  Help me to walk by faith and not by my sight.  Help me to trust you to accomplish those things you have already ordained in my life.  Help me to trust you even if those around me do not seem to see what you are showing me.  Help me today to know it is not by natural means but by your power.
 
 
THURSDAY
35 The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.  - Luke 1:35
 
Today, the angel answers Mary's question of how this will come to be.  The angel tells Mary it will be by the Spirit of God.
 
Thought for the Day: The angel let's Mary know this thing that will happen will not be a "natural" thing but a "super natural" thing.  In other words this reminds us that those things God has told us he will do, we cannot look for them to transpire by natural means.  For example, maybe God has shown you that he wants you to go to college and accomplish something.  We get excited for a moment until we think about how it will be accomplished.  We think what "man" or person is going to help me accomplish this?  I don't have anyone that will help me so it will not come to be.  Yet, God wants you to remember this thing he wants to accomplish in your life is not by natural means but by his Spirit.  What he says will happen, he surely can bring it to be.
 
Prayer: Lord today I ask you to help me to have faith in what you can do, even those things that seem impossible to me.  I may not be able to see clearly the path but I trust that you have purpose you want to fulfill in me.  Help me to walk in it and do what you have called me to do.
 

FRIDAY
36-38 "And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God." And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her. - Luke 1:36-38

The angel now tells Mary about Elizabeth.  He tells her that Elizabeth has conceived a Son in her old age.

Thought for the Day: Why do you think the angel told Mary about Elizabeth?  He told her to give her a testimony of what God had already done.  Surely if he could open up the closed womb past child bearing age, he could hand this.  Mary was then moved to make a commitment to the words of the angel.  Mary accepted the assignment and said let it be done unto her.  There is something vitally important for us to understand.  When all the information has been given we stand at a cross road.  We stand at the place of acceptance.  Will you accept your assignment or will you turn away because it seems to hard to bear?  God already knew Mary would accept the assignment.  Did you know whatever God is calling you to do he already knows you can do it.  If you were not able, he would not call you to it.

Today, accept the path that God has set for you.  Accept his perfect plan and do not allow anything to get in your way.  Do not allow doubt to stop you.  Do not think there is no one here to help me, because God is with you and he will accomplish it in his power.  Let nothing or nobody stop you for fulfilling God's purpose.  Say as Mary did, let it be done unto me.

Prayer: Lord today help me to begin to walk fulling in the path you have for me.  Do not allow fears, doubts or anything to stand in my way of being what you have called me to be.  Help me today to say, let your will be done in me. Amen.