Chosen Vessel: Seven steps for connecting to a promise

While we engage the message of Christmas we cannot escape the mother of our Lord as one of the most central humans in this episode.

God Provided A Promise

Genesis 3:15 KJVS And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

From the very fall of man God’s agenda was to bring His son into the world and this would mean that a woman would be needed to manifest it.

Centuries of women coming and going but no one yet chosen.

Many women are listed in the genealogical records of scripture, mighty women but none of them heard the words we read.

One day God finds a woman who unknowingly meets the criteria He was looking for.

• She had no personal notoriety.

• She had no powerful connections.

• She had no prophetic promises.

• She had no plan to be significant.

Luke 1:26-38 26  And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29  And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37  For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. Mary Visits Elizabeth 39  And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40  And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41  And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

Seven steps for connecting to a promise

1. Your Position Has Prophetic Purpose

   The place where she is positioned was filled with prophetic purpose. Vs 26.

   
   

   Micah 5:2 KJVS “But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

   
   

2. Your Spiritual Condition and Relational Connection Attracts God

   The spiritual condition and relational connections of our lives create the environment that attracts the attention of God. Vs 27 & 28

   
   

3. God's Favour Is by His Sovereign Will Not Earned

   The favour of God is not initiated by any particular worthiness in our lives but by the sovereign will of God. Vs 30

   
   

4. The Process Requires Complete Surrender

   The process requires completely giving of your body for the use of God. Vs 31

   
   

5. Proclamation of Identity Establishes Prophetic Purposes and Promises

   The proclamation of identity establishes the prophetic purpose and His promise. Vs 32 & 33

   
   

6. Inadequacy Is A Platform For Fruitful Partnership With God

   The inadequacies of man is the platform for the fruitful partnership with God. Vs 34 & 35

   
   

7. Divine Connection Confirms The Promise

   Divine connection which confirms our promise is a necessary step to enhance our faith and manifest that our promise is alive. Vs 36 & 37. Vs 41

Mary’s lesson is one that reminds us that:

• God isn’t looking for much.

• God still has promises to be carried.

• God desires us to simply be vessels and not designers.

Hebrews 6:12 KJVS That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

D.L. Moody: "God makes a promise; Faith believes it; Hope anticipates it; and Patience quietly awaits it".

The Vessels Response:

Luke 1:38 KJVS And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

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