Pastor Michael Harman
CTS `87 htthttp://stpeterlutheran-newell-iowa.weebly.com/downloads.html for
audio
St. Peter – Newell, Iowa
and “permanent vacancies” at...
First – Fonda
Immanuel – Pomeroy
The second paragraph is the outline.
December 18, 2011.
The miracle of salvation comes to us entirely thru God’s power. It
doesn’t come to us or stay with us because of our reason or strength, our
feelings or decisions, our meditations or morals. Forgiveness, life, and
salvation are gifts from God alone, not based on anything in us of worth.
That Miracle was promised in the Old Testament, proclaimed by an angel,
accepted by faith thru Mary, delivered by God, and for us all.
There are over 330 direct prophecies and promises in the Old Testament,
beginning with Genesis 3:15 where Satan’s head would be crushed by the Coming
Savior of all nations; and ending in Malachi, where the LORD promises to send
His messenger before His face just before the Coming. Pieces of the puzzle
were given thru history, and written by prophets in a period of over 1,000
years addressed to all people and were meant for all people.
God would build an eternal family to outnumber the stars (Gen 15) based
not on race or genetics, but faith alone - like Abraham (Rom 4). It would not
be a physical house, as King David wanted to build some 1,000 years before
Christ’s birth, but a spiritual household of David’s own descendants and all
others who would believe God’s promises.
Even in the 430+ years of wait after Malachi, people still believed. One
was a teenage girl in a small, mixed-heritage town far off the beaten track.
She believed. Like so very many thousands of others, she kept God’s Laws by
faith, and she believed the miraculous promise of the Gospel, the Good News of
God’s Salvation. For all the puzzle pieces, there was still a lot she did not
know. She went about her life in faith. Just like you, she had God’s favor.
The Coming Salvation was proclaimed to her by the angel named “warrior of
God”.
The word ‘angel’ means messenger. Behold! What a message he had! Mary
would have a miraculous Child. Not like Abraham & Sarah having Isaac when he
was 100 and she 99. This Child would be called: Son of the Most High. ‘Flesh
gives birth to flesh’ as John 1 says. This Child would be a work of the Holy
Spirit.
His throne would not be political, and His reign would not be moral. The
LORD God would give Him the throne of King David (Psalm 2), He will reign over
the Kingdom of Grace. He will govern and protect His bride the Church for the
eternal good of her members, who are ‘in the world, but not of the world’ (John
17:15).
His Name shall be Jesus. It means Savior. He shall save His people from
their sins. Mt 1:21 Jesus, Name of wondrous love, Name all other names above;
unto Him will every knee, bow in deep humility (Romans 14:11, Phil 2:10).
Mary, who had always believed she was the Lord’s servant, now believed
Gods’ message from this warrior of God fighting in the battle against eternal
death. She knew she was chosen by God’s grace alone, according to His
miraculous Plan of salvation. She gladly surrendered to God’s will for her
life without complaint. She did even as we pray, “Thy will be done.”
This is the Christian faith. We surrender our will, our desire, and our
self-rule to God. We trust, by faith - even without evidence to support it at
the moment - that God does care for us, and He wants what is best for us and
our eternal good. Not the good of our feelings, our pocketbook, our dreams, or
our dog: faith in God includes obeying His Commandments and believing His
Promises. Mary’s faith doesn’t say, “I’m too tired, too poor, too busy, or too
valuable.” Faith trusts in God’s Word and lives joyfully in service.
“…The mystery that was kept secret for long ages… was now disclosed and
thru the prophetic writings it had been made known to all nations, according to
the command of the eternal God.” God became man. God spoke. Isaiah wrote.
‘A virgin shall conceive.’ Immanuel means ‘God is with us’. In Christ Jesus,
God is with us.
“The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” The very same Word that
spoke all of creation into existence now spoke the human body of the Son of God
into existence. No human agency was involved at all. As Paul rejoices in
Colossians 2, “in Him all the fullness of God dwells bodily.”
That Promised miracle was delivered by the Word of God. Nothing is
impossible with God, when He promises it. The Holy Spirit spoke. God’s House
and God’s kingdom were made sure forever before Him. You and I may wonder with
Mary, “How can this be?” But we are certain it is.
With God, nothing will be impossible according to His Promises.
(applied). You may feel you have done something wrong, and it is impossible for
God to forgive you. Because of Mary’s Son, Who came to save His people from
their sins, you are forgiven. You may think that someone else is beyond hope -
God does not. Jesus came as salvation for the whole world. All who believe in
Him are absolutely forgiven. All who have faith in Him shall never perish, but
have eternal life.
You may feel like giving up on God, the world, and even your life. God
does not give up on you. Maybe you have waited a long time for God to answer
you; maybe not as long as Mary tho - you need to “wait on the Lord” and trust
His answer. In the darkest of moments, we can rely in His compassion and mercy
toward us - it never ends. All of the promises of God are yes and amen in
Jesus (2 Cor 1:20).
He comes and helps us by His might, so the sins that weigh us down may be
quickly lifted by His grace and mercy. That is the message you and I remember
and celebrate; especially in one week from today on December 25, but also in
the children’s programs and carols and other joyful activities of the season.
God grant you a strong faith, like Mary’s, to believe in the Miracle that
was promised in the Old Testament, proclaimed by an angel, accepted by faith
thru Mary, delivered by God, and is for you, and me, and for all people. Amen.
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