Pastor Mike Fritscher
December 4, 2016 – CW
The Faces of Christmas!
This is Faith! Luke 1:26-37

Who is this Woman, Mary? Why is This Faith?

• A Seemingly Insignificant Woman From a Seemingly Insignificant Place That God is Going to Use in a Very Mighty Way!

• Nazareth, an Insignificant Place on the Map.

John 1:45 “We have found Him whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, Come and see.

• Mary, A Young Virgin Betrothed to A Carpenter.

Consider this Place Called Cottonwood!
Consider Your Calling! 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

2. A Woman of Incredible Character!

• Favored and Pleased By God!

This Grace That You Are Saved By!

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 Not as a result of works, so that no one may boast!

This Grace That Instructs You! Titus 2:11-14

• A Woman with God’s Presence!

3. A Woman Who Believes a Most Impossible Word! 31-35

Luke 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 And Her will reign over the house of Jacob forever and His kingdom will have no end!

Luke 1:37-38 “For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

No Word will be Impossible with God!

Blessed is she who believed there would be a fulfillment of the word spoken of her.

Luke 18:8 However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

Will You Believe the Impossible Promises of God?

• That God Can Even Save You or Forgiven You. Or that Christ indeed has saved and forgiven you! And Even Use You?
• That you can change, be transformed, set free from sin, guilt and shame and failure, and junk.
• That you have what it takes to see the change through!
• That God not only can do this work in your life, but He promises to do this work!
• That Grace is Sufficient. That you don’t have to earn it to be changed! That you are loved!
• God wants to infiltrate every area of your life.
• God is Good, All the Time! All the Time, God is Good!
• God is For You Not Against You!
• God Can Transform Anyone, Anytime, Anyplace!
• God Comes to Conform you into His image, take away your sins, destroy the works of the Devil and Crush the Head of the Serpent!
• Complete the Work He Began In You!
• Give You Peace and Hope
• Empower You to Live a Life for His Glory!
• Empower You to Love Him and Everyone Else!
• Complete the Work He Began You!
• He’s Come to Set HYou Free!
• Make You One with Him, Your Spouse, Your Family, Your Church!
• He Makes Up for Your Wasted Years, Months, Days, Hours Moment!
• He Changes Circumstances, People!
• Uses Failure for His Glory and Purposes
• He Can take Anything, Anyone, Anyplace and Make it what He wants it to be for Him, the Kingdom and for You!

Advent is about a word, a promise fulfilled to the Nation of the Jews, waiting for the promised one! And it is so fitting to find in the narrative of the world’s first Christmas filled with faith and courage!

We Are Insignificant People from Insignificant Place, Destined For Significant Things in the Kingdom of God! People of Incredible Character, Full of Grace, God’s Presence, Believing the incredible Impossible Promises of God!

This is Faith! This is the Face of Christmas!