Embracing Divine Interruptions: Surrendering to God's Will
Summary
The sermon explores the theme of divine interruption and surrender to God's will, as exemplified by Mary's experience in the biblical narrative. The speaker draws from Isaiah 55 to highlight that God's thoughts and ways are higher than human understanding. Mary's unexpected pregnancy is presented not as a mere disruption but as an invitation to participate in a transformative event that would impact history. The speaker emphasizes that God's gifts may not always be immediately joyous but can be recognized as blessings in retrospect.
The speaker reminisces about the 1980s and the practice of rewinding VHS tapes, drawing a parallel to the Christmas story's familiarity and the risk of overlooking its significance. The congregation is encouraged to approach the story with fresh eyes. The speaker also touches on the concept of time in relation to biblical events, suggesting that God's actions transcend time and that nothing is impossible for Him.
The angel Gabriel's visit to Mary is described, emphasizing Gabriel's powerful nature and the insignificance of Nazareth. The speaker uses Mary's response to the angel as an example for those facing confusion or disturbance in their lives. The transformative power of the Holy Spirit is highlighted, offering hope and change to those in need.
The sermon continues with the idea that life's interruptions can be invitations to something greater, using biblical examples such as David, Moses, Saul, and the disciples. The speaker encourages the congregation to trust that God's interruptions are leading them to a better story.
Jesus' prayer in the garden before his arrest is mentioned, suggesting that surrender to God's will might have been a family mantra, learned from Mary. The speaker challenges the audience to consider their own calling from God and to respond in obedience.
Mary's response to the angel, "Let it be to me according to your word," is examined, with the Greek word "genomai" signifying surrender to God's plan. The speaker suggests that everyone has their own "genomai" moment, where they must embrace interruptions and align with God's purpose.
The speaker reflects on the challenges Mary faced, including societal judgment and Joseph's initial reaction to her pregnancy. Despite these, Mary held onto the confirmation of God's favor from Elizabeth and the angels. The speaker encourages the audience to trust in God's goodness amidst difficulties.
The sermon emphasizes that experiencing the impossible and the amazing requires full surrender to God's will. The speaker invites the congregation to embrace "Genomai" and respond to God's invitation into the impossible.
Mary's difficult conversation with Joseph and the subsequent events that reaffirmed God's presence in her life are recounted. The speaker highlights the importance of stepping forward and saying "genomai" to God's will, encouraging listeners to be open to the Holy Spirit's guidance.
The speaker concludes by reflecting on Mary's journey, from the wise men's gifts to witnessing Jesus' crucifixion, and the transformation that occurs when one surrenders to God's will. The congregation is invited to respond to God's call and surrender their lives to Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- Divine interruptions, though initially perceived as disruptions, can be reframed as opportunities for greater involvement in God's transformative work. Mary's experience teaches us to trust in the hidden blessings of such interruptions and to remain open to God's higher ways. [01:11:41]
- The power of the Holy Spirit to enact change is a central theme in the story of Mary and the angel Gabriel. This power is not limited to biblical times but is available to individuals today, offering hope and the potential for transformation in the midst of life's challenges. [01:00:47]
- Embracing one's personal "genomai" moment requires a willingness to surrender to God's plan, even when it involves significant life changes or interruptions. Mary's acceptance of her role in the divine narrative serves as an example of such surrender. [01:05:53]
- The journey of faith is marked by moments of confirmation and reassurance from God, as seen in Mary's visit to Elizabeth. Believers are encouraged to hold onto these affirmations of God's favor, especially when facing societal judgment or personal challenges. [01:14:53]
- True amazement in one's spiritual life is contingent upon a full surrender to God's will. By saying "genomai" to God's plans, believers open themselves up to experiencing the impossible and witnessing God's amazing work in their lives. [01:17:29]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)
> 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. 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." 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." 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.
2. Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
> For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Mary's initial reaction to the angel Gabriel's greeting, and how did the angel reassure her? ([01:00:21])
2. How does the angel Gabriel describe the nature and future of the child Mary will bear? ([01:02:13])
3. What does the Greek word "genomai" mean, and how does Mary use it in her response to the angel? ([01:06:27])
4. What examples from the Bible did the speaker use to illustrate divine interruptions in people's lives? ([01:09:11])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Mary's response to the angel Gabriel ("Let it be to me according to your word") reflect her faith and willingness to surrender to God's plan? ([01:06:27])
2. In what ways does the speaker suggest that divine interruptions can be seen as invitations to something greater? ([01:10:39])
3. How does the speaker connect the concept of "genomai" to the broader theme of surrendering to God's will in our own lives? ([01:18:11])
4. What role does the Holy Spirit play in the transformative events described in the sermon, both in Mary's life and in the lives of believers today? ([01:03:51])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a significant interruption in your life. How did you respond, and in hindsight, can you see any hidden blessings or greater purposes that emerged from that interruption? ([01:10:39])
2. The speaker mentioned that God's greatest gifts are often wrapped in camouflage and only recognized as blessings in retrospect. Can you identify a situation in your life where this was true? How did your perspective change over time? ([01:13:48])
3. Mary faced societal judgment and personal challenges due to her pregnancy. How can you hold onto God's affirmations and favor when facing judgment or challenges in your own life? ([01:15:35])
4. The speaker emphasized the importance of saying "genomai" to God's will, even when it involves pain or significant life changes. What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to surrender and say "genomai"? ([01:18:11])
5. The Holy Spirit's power to enact change was highlighted in the sermon. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to bring transformation in a specific area of your life where you feel stuck or hopeless? ([01:03:51])
6. Jesus' prayer in the garden before his arrest reflects a deep surrender to God's will. How can you incorporate a similar attitude of surrender in your daily prayers and decisions? ([01:28:03])
7. The speaker mentioned that experiencing the impossible and the amazing requires full surrender to God's will. What steps can you take this week to fully surrender a specific area of your life to God, and how can you remain open to witnessing His amazing work? ([01:18:11])
Devotional
Day 1: Blessings in Divine Interruptions
Divine interruptions are hidden invitations for transformation. When life presents unexpected challenges, it's an opportunity to trust in God's greater plan. Mary's experience of an unplanned pregnancy became a pivotal moment in history, teaching us that what may seem disruptive can lead to profound blessings. [01:11:41]
James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when an interruption turned out to be a blessing in disguise? How might you view current disruptions in your life as part of God's transformative work?
Day 2: The Holy Spirit's Transformative Power
The Holy Spirit offers hope and change in the midst of life's challenges. Just as Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit to bring forth Jesus, we too can experience the Spirit's transformative power in our lives, turning our trials into testimonies. [01:00:47]
Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's transformation? How can you be more open to His work in you today?
Day 3: Embracing Your "Genomai" Moment
Surrendering to God's plan requires embracing our own "genomai" moments. Like Mary, who accepted her role in God's story, we are called to trust and submit to His will, even when it leads us through significant life changes. [01:05:53]
Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: What is your "genomai" moment right now? How can you actively surrender to God's plan for your life today?
Day 4: Holding Onto God's Affirmations
In times of doubt and challenge, holding onto God's affirmations can sustain our faith. Mary found confirmation of God's favor through Elizabeth's greeting, reminding us to seek and remember the moments when God reassures us of His presence and purpose. [01:14:53]
Psalm 27:13-14 - "I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Reflection: What affirmations of God's favor have you experienced? How can these moments encourage you when facing judgment or personal trials?
Day 5: Surrendering to Witness the Impossible
To experience the impossible, we must fully surrender to God's will. Saying "genomai" to God's plans opens us to the amazing work He wants to do in and through us, just as Mary's surrender led to the birth of Christ. [01:17:29]
Ephesians 3:20-21 - "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Reflection: How can you practice surrendering to God's will this week? What might be the first step in saying "genomai" to His plans for you?
Quotes
"God thinks at a different level than you or I think. And so when Mary was saying yes to an interruption in life, she also had to understand that it was an invitation to something that was going to be powerful, something that was going to change her life." [01:11:41] (Download)
"The gifts of God are often only joyous in retrospect. In the moment, I felt like it was a curse, but it was a blessing. It was God's goodness that when I lost that, he was taking me to this over here." [01:13:48] (Download)
"Every person here has an invitation into the impossible, an invitation to something that only God can do. It could be a conversation, or it could be something massive like starting a new career path." [01:31:56] (Download)
"But then he makes this incredible statement of surrender. He says, nevertheless, not my will. But yours, what? Genomai. Genomai. He says, let it be." [01:28:21] (Download)
"And if you're in an interruption today where God's given you an interruption, you need to know this that when God interrupts your life, every interruption is an invitation to something better." [01:10:28] (Download)
"You can't have the amazing story without the full surrender. You won't have it. It's what comes after. You have to say, God, I'm willing to stay Genomai and let it be whatever you call me to do." [01:17:29] (Download)
"The danger is this. You might know the story so well that you miss what God wants to speak to you through it. So I'm going to ask you today, can we this season, can we be kind and rewind the story?" [57:34] (Download)
"The Holy Spirit changes everything. Amen. Changes everything. You're in a room full of people that the Holy Spirit changed their life, changed their marriage, broke the addiction, saved them, forgave them, gave them a hope and a future, broke the depression, gave them joy, gave them peace." [01:04:26] (Download)
"God, I surrender. Let it be according to your will. This is your moment. Don't miss an opportunity to say, Jesus, yes, genomai. I surrender to your purposes." [01:33:13] (Download)
"She's going to see over and over again what the angels said. That nothing is impossible for God. I mean, she'll see it day in, day out. She's going to see the Holy Spirit working in her life and working in this kid and working things out in her future." [01:16:40] (Download)
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