Christmas 2014 When God Says, "No!" To Good Things

What do you do When you want something God calls good And God is saying "No"

Marriage

Baby

Job

Health

Marriage Baby Job Health

Sometimes God says "No" To a good thing Because he's planning A God thing

Christmas Story God says "No" over and over

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah

And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth

And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years

God has said, "No" - Specifically (?) - By not performing a miracle? - Yet babies are a gift from God - And this couple is blameless

Shame Curse Shunning Priest

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood

…he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense

And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense

And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard

…and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John

God rarely answers How we expect When we expect

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth

…for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah

…to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared”

Messiah is coming And your son will be the Prophet who prepares the way

When God finally delivers It's greater than It would have been earlier

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years”

You didn't do it When we were young And able Why should I believe you now?

And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news

And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time”

And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them…

…and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute

And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden

…saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people”

God said, "No" For years, decades To something good and right And.It.Hurt

Sometimes God says "No" To a good thing Because he's planning A God thing

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth

…to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary

She's unmarried but betrothed She's waiting to be married This is a gift from God A good thing Village, friends, family, children

And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God…

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High

And the Lord God will give to 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”

What she heard: You have God's favor! You're gonna have a baby He's the long-awaited Messiah

What she didn't hear: God will protect your future You're still getting married No one will talk smack about you

"Maybe this is after I get married to Joseph…"

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;

…therefore the child to be born will be called holy- the Son of God

And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren

For nothing will be impossible with God

The angel is waiting And Mary wants a husband A future, a normal life And God is saying, "No"

What's the cost?

Sometimes God says "No" To a good thing Because he's planning A God thing

What if we become so upset At not getting the good thing That we want That we say "No" to the God thing that he wants for us?

Here's what determines Whether we hang on and fight Or surrender and follow:

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; What comes after that?

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her

God just said, "No" And by faith Mary surrendered

Her answer comes from Whose she is Not who she wants to be

Following God must Come from Identity And a Faith that says "I can trust that what God Wants for me is greater…"

Following God must Come from Identity Or else it leads to: Pride Chore Short-lived actions

Decision made So it's all good In the Nazareth Hood?

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country…- Luke 2

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country…- Luke 2 3 Months= Baby Bump And a divorce to deal with In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country…- Luke 2 3 Months= Baby Bump And a divorce to deal with

When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit

Golden Corral of Nazareth?

And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly

He's been preparing For marriage with this woman A good thing! And God appears to say, "No" Dejected and hurting

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying…

“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins”

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him:

…he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus - Matthew 1

What you've dreamed of Isn't going to happen: Thought of as foolish Reputation Messiah, but not your son

God says, "No" over and over In the Christmas Story To very good things

So what do you do When God says "No" To good things?

Wanting a baby Is a good thing Marriage is a good thing A good reputation is great

And God says, "No" Or, "Not like that"

- Make sure it's a good thing "God, bless this relationship" Does it honor God? Is he/she a believer?

- Check your life- are you ready? - Sin - Maturity - Motives

- Pray continually With right motives Your prayer has been heard - Angel to Zechariah

Jesus told them a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up - Luke 18

You don't have because you don't ask God. When you ask, you don't receive because your motives are wrong… - James 4

Distinguish between God Saying, "No" And life in a Fallen World And God hasn't intervened yet At this point

Know your identity So you can surrender to A God thing Even when you Don't understand

Follow God Even when it means Carrying a cross And do it without bitterness Or comparison

Our side of eternity Is seeing through a glass dimly But the cross proves We have a God we can trust

You grow in the desert As you learn to live now Trust God And quit waiting for life to Begin "Someday"

Because of Christmas Because God said, "No" You have a future and a hope Beyond what you can see Right now

We pray for each other We carry one another's burdens That's part of how God redeems The pain of this world

Q and A

Special Christmas Offering

Tonight 6 PM White Elephant Party And Potluck

Next Sunday Candlelight Service Both Services