What Mary Knew
HOME for the Holidays
Pastor Keith Cross
December 5, 2021

APP NOTES FOR 2021-12-5

VICTORY CHURCH: A PLACE TO CALL HOME

SERIES: HOME for the Holidays
MESSAGE TITLE: What Mary Knew

(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the New International Version)

Pastor Keith Cross

Text:

Hebrews 13:2
2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

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 favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor 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 forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 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.

MAIN IDEA:

acts of hospitality precede receptivity. 

Hospitality: The friendly and generous reception & entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. gk philoxenia “love of strangers” (philos, “loving,” xenos, “a stranger”), is used in Rom 12:13; Heb 13:2, lit. “(be not forgetful of) hospitality.”

Hospitality means…

1.Saying YES to the

of God for your life (Luke 1:30-33, 38).

Mary welcomed/hosted God’s Plan by saying YES.

God has a PLAN; You have a PART.

PROBLEM: God’s plan for your life is much bigger than you.

SOLUTION: Hospitality doesn’t settle for your plan but says YES to God’s plan.

2.Saying YES to the

of God in your life (Luke 1:31, 34-35).

Mary welcomed/hosted God’s presence in the person of the Holy Spirit.

God’s answer to your “impossibility,” is the Holy Spirit.

PROBLEM: If we choose casual commitment over purposeful pursuit we neglect supernatural experience.

SOLUTION: Hospitality requires your YES in pursuing the presence of God.

3.Saying YES to the

God has sent and is sending into your life (Luke 2:7, 15-20; Matthew 2:11).

Mary welcomed/hosted the people God has sent and is sending.

God will arrive in and meet people not in a palace of perfection but in a place of inclusion, where grace is given. 

PROBLEM: Hospitality shouldn’t be our striving for perfection but our being given to thoughtful preparation.

SOLUTION: Hospitality says YES to the graceful inclusion of the people God has sent and is sending into your life.

In conclusion…”Ordinary acts of hospitality precede supernatural receptivity.” So, say YES to Hospitality and make room for God’s PLAN, God’s PRESENCE, and the PEOPLE God is sending and watch Him do extraordinary/supernatural things in your life and in the lives of those you host. 

My NEXT STEP today is to….

Memorize Hebrews 13:2
Commit my life to Jesus Christ for the first time today.
Receive more info about being water baptized @Victory on Sunday, January 30.
Find out more about attending Victory’s NEXT STEPS EXPERIENCE class.
Sign up to Serve on a TEAM.
Sign up for a CONNECT GROUP.

For more info about taking any of these NEXT STEPS, please email or call me: pastorkeith@victorywinchester.com 540-667-9400 x114