The Miracle of Christmas
What to Expect When Expecting
Pastor Pete Keirstead
November 28, 2021
- Our
James 2:19-20 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
James 2:23 …“Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.
- Faith: A decision to trust that comes from our understanding of
Luke 1:11-13 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.”
Luke 1:18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
- Faith: I trust that God is
Psalm 145:9 The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation.
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!
Luke 1:20 “But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
New Believer: God is Good. Therefore, He will give me what I want and do it soon.
1 Peter 1:8-9 You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.
Growing Believer: God is Good. Therefore, He moves in the lives of people. Just not sure it will be me.
- Faith: I trust that Jesus is
Luke 1:26-30 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
Mature Believer: God is Good. God is on my side. In the end, God is making all things right.
- Faith: I trust that Jesus is making all things
1 Peter 2:23 He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He suffered. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
Luke 1:31-33 “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name Him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. And He will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will never end!”
- What to Expect when Expecting a Miracle: Chapter 1 – I can’t & won’t
**Luke 1:34-37 **Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.”
- What to Expect when Expecting a Miracle: Chapter 2 – God is
Luke 1:38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”
What to Expect when Expecting a Miracle: Chapter 3 – Nevertheless
Watch it again @ www.wearethrive.org/sermons All scripture is from the NLT unless otherwise noted