God is able to do greater through our surrender than we could ever do through our control.
Sermon #2: “FRUSTRATIONS: THE STRUGGLE TO BE IN CHARGE”
Sermon Series: SOUL SHIFTS
Scripture Text: Luke 1:26-38
Sermon Notes:
LUKE 1:26-38 ESV
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 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,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 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.
36 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.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 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.
At the root of our frustrations is our struggle to be in control.
We are not called to try harder but to trust deeper.
OBSERVATION #1: MARY HAD DREAMS
LUKE 1:26-27 ESV
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
OBSERVATION #2: MARY WAS DISTURBED
LUKE 1:26-29 ESV
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
- troubled | Greek: diatarassó
- intensely going back-and-forth (to-and-fro) between inner thoughts and emotions.
LUKE 1:30 ESV
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
OBSERVATION #3: MARY HAD DOUBTS
LUKE 1:34 ESV
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
LUKE 1:38 ESV
38 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.
To surrender means to surrender completely.
- Surrender is a daily choice.
LUKE 9:23 ESV
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
God is able to do greater through our surrender than we could ever do through our control.
1 PETER 5:7 NIV
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
SHIFT #1. PAUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
MATTHEW 11:28-30 ESV
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
MATTHEW 11:28-30 ESV
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
PSALMS 131:2 ESV
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
SHIFT #2. RELEASE & SURRENDER.
LUKE 22:42 ESV
42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
LUKE 23:46 ESV
46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
- What is it that you are trying to control that God wants you to surrender?
That which is in the hands of our heavenly Father is always better than that which is in our hands.
We are not called to try harder but to trust deeper.
TWO SIMPLE SHIFTS:
1. Pause for one minute.
2. Release and surrender.