1. Getting ready for Christmas Developing a willing spirit

2. Developing an expectant heart Developing a willing spirit Developing a new world view Developing a life vision Getting ready for Christmas

3. Who does God use?

4. Abraham & Sarah - very unlikely aged parents Isaac and Rebekah - unhealthily doting parents Jacob - a schemer and thief Joseph - a slave, prisoner and then foreign ruler Moses - a fearful refugee with a murderous past Rahab - a prostitute Ruth - another poor immigrant Samuel - a foster child in a prophet-less age David - an overlooked shepherd boy Job - an unwilling, disobedient, angry prophet Zechariah & Elizabeth - unlikely aged parents Peter - an uneducated fisherman Paul - an intellectual murdering Pharisee Mark - who goes AWOL on a mission trip Timothy - a sickly, very young evangelist

5. …very unusual people!

7. People just like us…

8. …living very ordinary lives

9. The most exceptional person…

10. Without her we would have nothing…

11. We have so much to learn from her…

12. 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 favoured! 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 favour with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

13. 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

14. 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.

15. How might we develop a willing spirit?

16. 1. We're not to be afraid v30 Fear stalks our lives We carry it like a burden Fear erodes faith like rust Think what it would be like to live 'fear free'…

17. 2. Believe what God says to us v32f Spoken in the Bible… Spoken to you personally… "For no word from God will ever fail" v37 An advent 'text' for us today…

18. 3. Trust in God, day by day v31-35 Her baby would come to term… She had nine months to live through No cruel word or deed would triumph over her We know the end of Mary's story and ours too…

19. 4. Say 'yes' to God! v38 Mary's belief and trust are not just theoretical She throws herself into God's arms…

20. Today, God our Father reaches out…

21. "Don’t be afraid. Believe in me. Trust me each moment of each day. Say yes! Give yourself to me…"

22. Out of these things we develop a willing spirit

23. Out of a willing spirit He changes the world…