Christmas | Pr Stephen Kong

You're listening to a message to go from acts church.

We hope this message will light up your tea.

I have a very simple message for us, and because

Christmas is coming up, I felt like to share something

in line with Christmas. Okay. And it's not not too

early to reach about Christmas are because even our worship service,

our worship praise, the worship, it's already singing Christmas songs,

Christmas carols. So yeah, here we go. If you have

your Bibles, I pray that you have it. Let's all

turn to Luke chapter one. Okay. Luke chapter one, verse

twenty six to thirty eight. Okay. So this is a

very common scripture that we associate with Christmas because it

talks about the birth of Jesus, or actually, this particular

partial scupture is talking about how Mary, the mother of Jesus,

receive the call or receive the mandate to carry the

son of God, Jesus and to give birth to him. Okay,

and so let me begin by reading it, and then

after we'll go we'll take it verse by verse, he says, Okay, okay,

and I will share you what I caught from this

about ten verses. Okay. So here we go, Luke, chapter

one verse doing these six Okay. Now, in the sixth

month the Angel gave her was sent by God to

a city of gallery named Nazare, to a virgin betroth

to a man whose name was Joseph of the house

of David. The virgin's name was Mary. Somebody say Mary, okay,

And having come in, the Angel said to her, rejoice,

highly favored one. The Lord is with you. Blessed are

you among women. But when she saw him, she was

troubled at his saying and considered what manner of greeting

this was. Then the Angel said to her, do not

be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

And behold you were conceived in your womb. And bring

forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. Everybody

say Jesus. Amen. He will be great and will be

called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God

will give him the throne of his father David, and

he will reign over the House of Jacob forever, and

of his kingdom there will be no end. Then Mary

said to the Angel, how can this be, since I

do not know a man? And the Angel answered and

said to her the Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of the highest will overshadow you. Therefore

also that that holy one who is to be born

will be called the Son of God. Now, indeed, Elizabeth,

your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age.

And this is now the sixth month for her who

was caught back. For we've got nothing will be impossible.

Somebody say amen. Then Mary said, behold, the maid servant

of the Lord. Let it be to me according to

your word. And the angel departed from her. The Lord

blessed the reading of his word. Amen. Okay. So this

is the part of the story whereby Mary is visited

by an angel. And the name of this angel is

my friend girl, got it, Okay. The name of this

angel is Gaber. I think it's inside that we read it, okay.

And so the name of this angel is Gaber. He's

a messenger. And so this was the time where Elizabeth. Okay,

to just give you some context, if you just look

back the same chapter, just one passage before, you will

realize it's a story about Zacher Weyer Okay and Elizabeth,

husband and wife. They are just just man and just woman.

But Elizabeth was Baron Okay, and the cut long story shot.

They gave birth reculously to a son, and his name

is John the Baptist. Okay. So if you go, if

you go read it, you know Luke chapter one. Okay.

Of course his name is Zactiara or zactlarvarias, depending on

the version that you read it. Okay. So, so this

was the sixth month in which Elizabeth was already pregnant. Okay.

Of course she was barren at first. Okay, but the

Lord opened a womb. And now it's already the sixth

month in which she was she was barren as she's pregnant, okay. Uh.

And so let's begin. Now. The Bible says, now with

the six month, the angel Gable was sent by God

to a city of Gary named Nazareth. Now I want

to say a few things. Was okay, and to a

virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of

the House of David. And the virgin's name was married. Now,

Nazareth is a very interesting place, okay. When I say

interesting place in the sense whereby it's not a very

known city. Okay. Uh. And if you read the Bible,

it's the city naza was never mentioned in the Old Testament, okay,

never mentioned. In fact, this is the first time it's

mentioned chronologically. Okay, by chronology, this is the first time

that Nazareth was mentioned in the Bible. So he's not

a very known placer. It has no good water supply. Uh.

And it only has one fairly weak well, a well

of water in the center of the village. Okay, So

it's considerably it's not a great place, la Okay. Yet

of all places, right, God chose a place like Nazareth. Okay.

Of course, if you know the scripture, well, you know

that Jesus was not born in Nazareth. Where was he born? Betteriam,

very good? Okay, he was born in Bethlehem. But even

but later on he will be known as the Jesus

of Nazareth. Why because although he was born in Bethlehem,

he was raised in Nazareth. Okay, there's a difference. I

hope you know that's a difference. Okay. And so Mary

was in Nazareth, okay. Uh. And so as I said again,

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but the family grew up

in Nazareth. Now that three important prophecies about Jesus in

which came to pass in this scripture. Okay. The first

thing is that the prophets had furthesized that he will

be born in Bethlehem. Okay, that's the first thing I'm

gonna I'll show you a one. The second thing is

that he'll be born of a virgin okay. And the

third thing that is that he will be from the

lineage of David. Okay. Let me show you the prophecy first. Okay,

then we go deeper. Okay. Micah five two Michael ter

five verse two says this, but you, Bethlehem, efata, though

you are a little among the thousands of Judah. Yet

out of you shall come forth to me, the one

to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from

of old, from everlasting. So he says, but you, Bethlehem, Okay.

So this is very important prophecy perfect Micah, who prophesied

out of Bethlehem, Okay, out of Bethlehem, very specifica Jesus

will be born Okay. The second one is that he'll

be born off a virgin okay. Isaiah seven, verse fourteen.

Isaiah fourteen. Isaiahs seven verse fourteen says, therefore, the Lord

himself will give you a sign behold, a virgin shall

conceive and bear a son capital s a son, and

shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us

a man Alijah. Okay, So it's gonna be a virgin.

That's the second prophecy okay. And the third one is

this Isaiah chapter nine, verse seven. Okay, of the increase

of his government and peace. There will be no end

upon the prone of David and over his kingdom to

order it, and a family ship with judgment and justice

from that time forward even forever, the zeal of the

Lord of Hosts will performed. This, so he says, upon

the trohne of David. Okay. And it's very interesting to

look at this fortial scripture. And Luke right that the

prophecies come to pass. Okay. So we know that Jesus

was born in Bethlehem. It's the first thing. Second thing

is born of a virgin because Mary was a virgin. Okay.

When he says she's a virgin, means she has had

no sexual intimacy at all. She's still a virgin. The

Bible says she's a virgin. And the third thing is

that Joseph, which is the husband to be or betrothed

to marry is from the line of David. Okay. So

all three of this prophecy is very important. All three

came to pass. And by the way, the prophecies for

propeside aproxibily seven hundred years before, seven hundred years before.

So that's amazing. Uh Is that amazing? Isn't that amazing?

And God has prophesied to his profits it will come

to pass. And there's no coincidence, right that, Right at

the moment. If you read in Luke chapter two, you

will see that Caesar Augustus issued a decree to carry

a census. Okay. What a census does is that they

need to register, uh you know, with the with with

with whichever city that they are at. Okay, they need

to go back to the hometown wherever and register okay,

for the purpose of taxation. Okay. So in no coincidence, right,

in a perfect timing, God orchestrated and made Caesar Augustus

to issue a census. And Joseph traveled with Mary to Bethlehem, okay.

And that was when Mary gave birth in Betterham okay.

And then eventually they went back to Nazareth okay. And

so Jesus grew up in Nazareth. Okay, So I hope

you caught that, okay, And I hope you know and

remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, not Nazava, born

in Battingham, but he was raised in Nazeb Okay, all right.

So another thing about being betrothed. Mary was a virgin, right,

and she was betrothed to Joseph. Okay. And so in

the olden days, right, there were three stages to the

Jewish marriage, Okay. The first one is got engagement okay.

Engagement is simply a formal agreement made between the fathers. Okay,

they have agreed, uh that they were they were getting married. Okay,

they're engaged. And the second one is the be beechfort okay,

in which there is a ceremony where mutual promises are

made between the couple. Okay. And this is a it's

already a binding contract. Okay. It's a binding contract meaning

that if they were to break this bitch orter, they

need to go and fire divorce. Okay. So it's already

a binding contract. And the third one will be the

marriage itself okay, whereby approximately about one year later, the

groom will fine, we'll go and find the bride and

then the marriage is complete. Okay. So there were three

stages in Jewish marriage tradition, okay, and so they're in

the stage number two, which is the beach water okay.

And so Mary was betrothed to Joseph. And it's this

during this time, right that they allow time for the women.

Of course, the women and the men also to be

tested to see whether they're faithful or not. Okay. And

I don't know. Maybe in those days they didn't have

technology to test whether you're pregnant. What No, I don't know.

I don't think so they have test kid in those days, right,

I don't think so. So how would you know whether

she's pregnant or not? The only way to know is time, right, wayler,

So during this period they will wait, right, they will

wait for a period time, and after the period time

is past them, they know for sure that she's not pregnant. Right.

And so this is a very important period, okay, a

very important time that in a way she's being tested. Okay.

And so when we when we when we hear of

this story, right, this was the time that Mary conceived

with Jesus in her womb right. Uh. And so if

you really looked chapter two, you will know that Joseph

was scared, right. He wanted to divorce her quietly because

this is the time that she's supposed to be tested. Right.

But she's she's supposed to be a virgin, right, And

so it's a very very dangerous timing for her. But

how many of you know that God's time is always

better than ours? You know, God has his plans is

better than ours, and and and God has his way

and he will come to pass. And of course God

also spoke through the angel to Joseph to inform Joseph

that this is a miraculous act. So don't don't divorce her,

but continue to take married as your wife. Okay. Praise God.

So he is all powerful, Amen. And he he will

allow things to happen in accordance and according to his purpose.

And he will make all things beautiful. He has made

all things beautiful. Amen. And so let's go verse twenty eight.

And having come in, the Angel said to her, rejoice, highly,

favorite one. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you

among women? Now? When an angel comes to you in

a room and say these things to you, right, how

would you feel scared? What else? Like?

Right?

Literally? What's that for? Right? And so the three things

the angel said to her. One your highly favored. Let

me see again, it is highly favored. Second is the

Lord is with you and the oird one is blessed?

Are you among women? Okay? So let me just go

to the worse verson the three things that you said. Now,

I want you to know that even as the Angel

said those three things to marry, I want you to know.

I want you to know that you and I are

also similar. You and I are favored in the Lost eyes. Amen,

you believe that. Secondly is that you and I are

also bless Has the Lord bless you? Amen? You and

I also bless And the third thing is that the

Lord is also with you, just as what the Angel

said to marry, the Lord is with you. I want

to say to you right now, the Lord is with you.

If you want a scripture to that highly favored Ephicients one,

verse six, best that I use Emphicians one three. Let

me read it to you, okay. Ephicians Chapter one, verse

three to six. Blessed be the God and Father of

our Lord, Jesus Christ, who has blessed us somebody say us,

who has blessed us? So remember you are blessed with

every spiritual blessing in the heaveny places, in Christ, just

as He chose us in him before the foundation of

the world, that we should be holy and without blame

before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as

sons by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good

pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory

of His grace, by which he made us accepted in

the Beloved. So, friends, you and I are accepted the Beloved,

And because of that you and I are favored. Can

he good? Amen? We are favored, And the Lord has

blessed us a man. The Lord also with you Matthew

twenty eight twenty or most of us will be familiar

with Matthew twenty eight nineteen to twenty. Right, Go therefore

and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the

name of the Father's sign a holy Spirit, teaching them

to observe all that I've commanded you. And Lo, I

will be with you always even to the end of

the age. So He is with us. Amen. So Mary

heard these words, and let's let's look at her reaction. Okay.

Verse twenty nine says, but when she saw him, she

saw the angel, she was troubled and he's saying, and

considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel

said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you

have found favor with God. Now Mary's reaction, right, she

was troubled, right because she was. She also was equally shocked. Right.

Why this angel is saying this to her? Okay, it

actually shows Mary's humility, Okay, because if an angel Sunny

comes up to you and say words like that, right,

it means a lot. Right, when someone compliments you, it does,

it does elevate your spirit. Right. But but Mary was surprised, right,

of course, she was so scared she didn't know what

it meant.

Right.

In fact, when the angel was encouraging Mary, you, you,

and I, she realized that there's a big task coming ahead. Right.

And I'm sure you've heard this statement called said the statement,

which is the reward of good work is small work, right. Uh.

And so whenever we go up to someone ask someone

for extra help, what are some of the things that

we like to say? You like to tell them that, hey,

you know, what you've been doing a good job, right,

or you would say one of the words that I

like to say is that I feel you are the

right person for the job, which I really do. I

genuinely believe it, you know. And so Mary felt that.

Mary felt a way when the angel came out to

her and was telling her she's highly favored, she's blessed,

the Lord is with her. Definitely, you know, in her mind, right,

something is going today, like, oh, I think I got

a task coming ahead on me, right, I have a

big task coming ahead. And I think that's the principle

we can learn now, okay, because when when people do

good work, right, I don't think so we're just there

to give more work to them. But is to acknowledge them,

is to appreciate them, is to lift them up, and

to encourage them for a greater task that is yet

to come, okay. And this task that Mary was about

to take is no joke, okay. And that's why the

angel had to reassure her or to give her that

assurance that she is highly favored, she is blessed, the

Lord is with her, okay. And that's what the angels said,

do not be afraid, do not be afraid, for God

has found favored with her, or she has found favored

with God. Right, and so like for those who's working her,

if I would have blew your supervisor or your boss

calls you your into his room, how would you feel?

We can scared? Right? What's the first thing that goes

to our mind? Yes? What did I do wrong? She

cannot say exactly right, if you're if your supervisor or

your lecture or your tutor calls you in sending you

an email. Uh, you know, hey, Ja's please meet me

in my room. You know, on this date at this time. Right,

we've scared most of us, right, what thing of the worst?

First think? What wrong do I do? The escape class? Yeah,

I fail assignment, right, most of the thing of that.

And I think Mary or so probably out the way. Okay,

they start the angel to reassure her, don't worry, you

have found favor. We've got amen. And so because that's

a there's a huge task coming ahead, and so sorry,

the AJ had to reassure her. So I I prayed

that you and I will be the same. That's the

principle we can learn here. Right when you want to

to get some help, you know, make sure you encourage someone,

make sure you leave them up and just give them

more work. Okay, all right. So verse thirty one he says,

and behore, you were conceived in your womb, and bring

forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He

will be great and will be called the Son of

the Highest, and the Lord God will give him the

throne of his father David, and he will reign over

the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there

will be no And now I do want to highlight

to you three very important things about Jesus. They will

said here. The first thing is this, he said to Mary,

she will bring forth a son. Okay, she will bring

forth a son. That's in verse thirty one, and son

is in capital s referring to Jesus. Okay, she will

bring forth a son. Dad speaks about Jesus' humanity. Okay.

The second thing is that his name is Jesus. That

speaks about his identity. The third one is this he

will be great and will be called the Son of

the Highest. That speaks of Jesus' divinity. So three things

that were said here in these two two or three verses.

First thing was that you're being from a son. Talks

about the humanity of Jesus. He mentions his name is Jesus,

talks about his identity, and the third one is he

will be great and he will be the son of

the Highest, which is his divinity. So some scholars have

interpreted this verse in a bad way by saying that

Jesus became the son when he was born on the earth.

Do you agree with that? Absolutely not, okay, because Jesus

didn't become the son of God when he was born. Okay.

The Bible actually says he will be called the son

of the Highest. Okay, let me say that again. He

will be called the son of the Highest. So he

did not become the son of God only when I

was born here. Jesus was already there, even for the

foundations of the earth was late, right, And so this

is something we need to understand. Well, it's very very important. Okay.

He didn't become the son. He did not become the

son when he was born here. He was already the

son of the God, son of God from the beginning.

And that is why the Bible says he will be

called the Son of the Highest. Amen. What else do

we know about his name. Okay, Isaiah chapter nine, verse six.

That's all turned to it. This is a very common

scripture for Christmas as well. Isaiah chapter nine, verse six

to seven. If you're there, say yeah, okay, Isaiah chapter nine,

verse six. For unto earth, a child is born, unto us,

a son is given, and the government will be upon

his shoulder, and his name will be called wonderful counselor

Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase

of his government and peace. There will be no end

upon the throne of David and over his kingdom to

order it and establish it with judgment and justice. From

that time forward, even forever, the zeal of the Lord

of Host will performed. This. So what else do we

know about the name of Jesus, It's says saying Isaiah,

chapter nine, verse six. His name will be called wonderful.

Let's go to each each and ever the wonderful. Now,

when do we ever use this word wonderful? When it's

full wonder she said, Okay, when it's full of wonder. Okay,

that's the one. Wonderful is full of wonder. Okay, I

just got it. Okay, yeah, okay, pretty much right when

you have a wild woman, right and you say wonderful, right,

and and so how many are wiser today? God has

wowed you in your life before? I pay he has, Okay,

And if he hasn't, maybe you haven't been living enough

risks in your life to obey him, to trust and

obey him. Okay, If you have, I'm very sure God

has wowd you in your life before. He has been

wonderful to you because He is the master of breaktools.

And when He calls us, and when we answer the call,

often it's tough, right, but God will give us the miracle.

God will give us a break to and so that's

why he is wonderful. Second thing is this counselor? Has

God been a counselor to you? I think there's no

better counselor than than him, Jesus or the Holy Spirit

who lives in us a man, no better counselor. He

is smart, that's for sure. Right. In fact, if I

say he is smartest an understatement, I think he's the

smartest of all, right, Uh, you know. And in fact,

our wisdom is fullishness to God. The Bible says that

our wisdom is polishness to God. It says that God's

foolishness is wiser than human wisdom. I think it's in

first coviintence one five right, for the foolishness of God

is wiser than human wisdom, and the wakness of God

is stronger than human strength. So how many of us

seen counsel? I pray that Jesus would be a counselor.

I pray that you will turn to him as a counselor.

You need help, you need wisdom, you need understanding even

in your studies. You know, when I am, when I

was a student, I'm still a student today, quote unquote,

because we never stop learning. When I stop learning, okay,

I still go to presentations, just like some of you.

I still go to exams in the sense exams because

you need to sign up. You need to hand up

your assignment right in the sense assignment right, So we

never stop learning. So how many of you, when you study,

oftentimes you find your that you're stuck. I'll let you

know that God knows all things. Ask him for help,

you know, ask him to counsel you, Ask him to

teach you what you do not understand, and I'm sure

you he will. He will guide you. Amen. So God

is how counselor a man. How wonderful that is, How

wonderful that is. Thirteen is this mighty God. Mighty God

just speaks about who he is. He's strong, he's powerful,

he he is sovereign. Right, nothing is impossible for him

with just his breath or we just with a word.

God created the universe out of nothing. The Bible says

that the earth was without form, right and out of nothing,

God created the universe. And Jesus was there in the

beginning of creation. Amen, that's why you if you read

it in the in the creation, he said, let us

make man in our image, right, So it's not let me,

but God said let us. So Jesus was already there

in the beginning of creation. The next one is this

everlasting Father. So it does not mean that Jesus takes

the person of the Father in the Trinity, but it

just means that Jesus is the source and author of eternity.

He is everlasting from beginning to the end. First and

the last Alpha and the Omega, Jesus himself is creator.

And the last one is this pretty of peace. And

so prince is a very powerful position in the olden days, okay,

in fact, more powerful than kings. Actually, you know, kings

are only just a king over a place right or

a city right. But for prince, they are prince over territory. Okay,

prince over territory. That's why, because it's called a prince

of the air. Right. So prince is very powerful in

those days. His rule over territory, over region, over kingdoms

different from what the king is. So Jesus is the

Prince of peace. Amen. And today the world is always

looking for peace. We are on the verge of World

War three or two three three, you know, and there's

wars everywhere, right, and the word is looking for peace.

How many of you know that Jesus is the prince

of peace. He is a giver of peace. Let me

read it to you. John chapter fourteen, verse twenty six

to twenty seven says, but the Helper, the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father was standing in my name, He will

teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all

things that I have said to you. And then he says,

this peace I live with you. My peace. I give

to you not as the word gives. Do I give

to you. Let not your heart beat troubled. Neither let

it be afraid. Amen. So God or Jesus, as you say,

Jesus is the prince of peace. He is a giver

of peace. How many of you here need peace today?

Look unto him, for he is a giver of peace.

He gives us peace. Amen, hallelujah. Okay, let me let

me move on now to verse thirty four. Okay, then

Mary said to the Angel, how can this be? Since

I do not know a man? So this is word

no basically speaks about sexual intimacy. Okay, since I do

not know a man, and the Angel answers to her,

the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power

of the highest will overshadow you. Therefore, also that holy

one who is to be born will be called the

Son of God. So let me repeat it again. He

will be called the Son of God. Okay. Now, indeed, Elizabeth,

your relative has also conceived a son in an old age,

and this is now the sixth month for her who

was called barren. For we've got not thing will be impossible.

So now let's look at Mary's response. Okay. Actually I

covered three parts in Mary's experience. Here Mary's story. The

first part I covered was that Mary encountered God or

the anger in a sense? Okay, Mary's encountered in fear.

She was fear and trembling. Second thing was Mary's question

in faith, which is the second part. Okay, So let's

look at Mary's question. So Mary asked this angel a question,

and the question was, how can this be? Since I

do not know a man? Now, if you read it carefully,

you know that this question was not a question of doubt.

That's the question of faith. Okay. There is a difference

between Mary's response and Zachaer's response. Okay, I'm talking about

zacherz and Elizabeth. Also in Luke chapter one, Okay, a

really to you are? Let me see where is it? Okay?

Luke chapter one was eighteen. Just go a few verses

back you will see it. So Zachary also had similar

encounter with Mary with the angel. The angel's name was

also Gabber. Okay. But when when zach when the angel

Gaber told zacha Yer that he and Elizabeth will have

a son, he didn't believe it. Okay. His response was

this in verse eighteen, zacha Yer said to the angel,

how shall I know this? For I am an old

man and my wife is well advanced in years. So

I want to present to you the difference between zacharias

response and Mary's response. Both of them asked a question,

and if you really carefully, the questions sounds very similar,

do you think so? Okay, let me read it to

you again verse eighteen. Zacharias answer is, how shall I

know this? For I'm an old man and my wife

is well advanced in years. Okay. Mary's question in verse

thirty four says, how can this be? Since I do

not know a man? Does this sound similar? It does

sound similar in some sense, but it's actually different. Okay,

If I can help paraphrase zacharis response, His question was

simply this, Huh, how can I know this is true?

How would I know this is true? That was his question, right, Basically,

he didn't believe what Angel Gabble was telling him. He

didn't believe it, right, He asked, how would I know

this is true? Right? I'm perfect his question, But Mary's

question was different. I think Mary's question question her response

would have been wow, okay, and God, how is this

going to happen? That's the difference. Right, one was questioning

the words. One was questioning how it's going to happen, okay.

And so there's a difference in the response, Okay, I

pray to you and I whenever the last speaks to

us that we won't have zachar as a response that

asks how would I notice? True? But you should. We

should say, Lord, how would this come to pass? Show

it to me or give me a glimpse of it, right,

so that I may continue to walk in assurance more

in confidence. And that's basically what Mary is asking. And

so the Angel then responded to Mary and told her

that the power of the Highest will overshadow her. And

what does this overshadowing mean? Right? It talks about something

similar that happened in the Old Testament, whereby when God

let Moses out and the Israelites out of Egypt. Do

you remember that there was a pillar of cloud by day,

the pillar of fire by night. Just picture that, right.

It's an overshadowing, right, And that is how the power

of God always shaded Mary and caused a miracle to happen.

This is why I call us forbidence. God's forbidence, his

miraculous hand, his sovereignity. Whatever he says and whatever he

wills will come to pass, Amen, hallelujah. And so the

Angel did not only tell Mary, he also assured Marry. Look,

I've really done a miracle once with your relative Elizabeth. Right.

If I can do it the time, I can do

it again. How many of you believe that a man,

when God can do it once, he can do it again.

You can do it time and time and time again.

That is why whenever you share estimate it is so important.

I really believe destiny is are so powerful. You know,

because when you share a testimony of how you trusted

God in faith, you never know that someone else in

the room is going to something similar. And when they

hear a testimony that faith is activated, they will do

exactly what you did in a sensor by they have

the faith to do it right. And then God's miracle

and his testimony gets repeated time and time and time again.

Of course, the nature of the testimony, the nature of

the situation, the circumstances may be different. Right, but faith

can be activated. Amen. And so testimony is powerful. You

know we will we will overcome, you know, by the

word of our testimony. Amen. So it's very very powerful.

And so Verse thirty eight and coming towards the anybody.

So verse thirty eight, let's look at Mary's response. Okay,

this is the final part. Mary's response is so important,

and I have a principle and I want to share

you this morning that Mary said, behold, mads, someone of

the Lord, let it be to me according to your word,

and the Angel departed from her. So I call this

Mary's response in full surrender. So three things that Mary experienced. One,

Mary's encounter in fear, second one Mary's question in faith.

The third one is Mary's response in full survender. Did

you know that Mary's response here is so powerful, so powerful,

just that simple eight words, Let it be to me

according to your word, Such simple and powerful words. And

I pray that you and I today, even as the

Lord speaks to us, even as a minister to us,

and the Lord gives us a task, or us us

do something that we're not comfortable with or that we

oftentimes don't want to do, I pray that this will

be our response. Let it be to me according to

your word. Powerful response. Isn't it such a powerful response?

I really believe when we encounter God face to face

in a sense where by Mary encountered God to the

Angel Gable. When we encounter him face to face, our

lives would never be the same again, because the fire

of God touches us, and our lives will be changed.

And how many of you know that whatever fire touches

world change. Whatever fire touches changes it, other changes form,

it changes color, it changes shape, whatever, Right, but it changes, right,

everything that touches fire would change, Okay, one way or another.

It gets hotter, right, some would take a little bit

of heat and it really burns like paper. Try burning

paper or burn plastic right where some takes higher heat

to burn maybe better? Right, really burn high heat. But

all I'm trying to say is this, when a fire

God touches us, we will be transformed and we will

never be the same again, just like how fire touches

and changes everything that it touches. So Mary encountered God

in this place, and she had simple obedience. But how

may even know before obedience comes surrender? Before obedience comes surrender,

you can never really fully obey until you have first

surrendered whatever you surrendered. Surrender your own desires, Surrender your

own plans, surrender your own future, surrender your own will,

survender your own plans, your own ones everything right, We

can never fully obey until we have first fully surrendered

to the Lord. And how do you even know that

God's ways are better than ours? Amen? His ways are

not ours, and his thoughts are not ours. So I'm

going to close with this Isaiah chapter fifty five, verse

eight to nine. Isaiah fifty five, verse eight to nine.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts. No are your

ways my ways, says the Lord. For as heavens a

higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than

your ways? And my thoughts then your thoughts. Amen. I'm

going to invite the worship team to come up front

even as I close, and so even as I draw

my message to a close, I have a challenge to

all of us here today. How many of us here

today would surrender ourselves to him and would say these

very special and powerful words that Mary said to the Angel,

Let it be to me according to your word. How

many of us would say that when the Lord causes,

and as I said, oftentimes the Lord causes, it'll be tough, right,

We'll be pushed out of our comfort zone. We'll do

things we'd never imagine doing our lives. And many of

my leaders here pay the price. They know what I'm

talking about, you know, but I really believe even as

you obey God, even and to trust him, his grace

and his mercy will be sufficient for you to accomplish

all that He has called you to do. All we

need to do is to surrender. All we need to

do is to trust in Him and finally to obey

what He tells us. So I challenge you today to

say these words that Mary said, be it unto me

according to your word, Be it unto me according to

your word. Hallelujah.

We hope you've been blessed by this message. For more

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this week is going to be a good week ahead

for you. God bless