One goal any pastor has for his membership is to move his members out of their comfort zone -- away from their comfortable religion so that they can do more for the Kingdom of God. We need to grow in grace. We can’t stand still. We are either moving forward or we are moving backward.

More faith... more love... greater Spirit of giving.

In 1999, we will receive more teaching on the gifts of the Spirit. We don’t know what our spiritual gifts are and we can’t operate in a gift that we don’t understand.

When I was treasurer of my youth group (at the age of twelve), the numbers didn’t balance at the end of the year and I had to go into my piggy bank to balance things out. After that experience, I’ve never held the position of treasurer... and I’ll never be a treasurer again.

The church needs to give and to receive. We like to receive from God, but what are you willing to give? Many are lost in sin because we Christians are cheap and self-centered. All we want is to go to heaven to the pie in the sky by and by... but real religion is being a blessing in the here and now.

• God wants to use our hands to be a blessing in this world
• God wants to use our feet to be a blessing in this world
• God wants to use our lips to be a blessing in this world
• God wants to use our money to be a blessing in this world
• God wants to use our prayer to be a blessing in this world
• God wants to use our faith to be a blessing in this world

We are in His service to go out to the hedges and highways to let them know that Christ is alive and Jesus is coming again.

Mary was available to God. Protestants don’t make as much of a fuss about Mary as the Catholics do, but she was a godly woman who was used by God. What was it about Mary that allowed her to be used to be a blessing to the world?

Luke 1:26-27

She was a handmaiden of the Lord. She was a woman. God didn’t look to a man, he looked to a woman. When God made man, He put him in the garden alone. God saw that he wasn’t doing so well and so He gave him a woman. Women have a special place in the life of Jesus. Women were:

• The last at the cross
• The first at the tomb
• The first at the resurrection
• The first to preach the gospel
• The first at the prayer meeting
• The first European converts
• The first deacons

Some people tell the women in the church to be silent and sit in the corner, but God uses women to His glory.

Luke 1:28

Mary was visited by an angel. Some people believe that God treats everyone equally, but we see in the life of Mary that God doesn’t treat all people the same.

• God favored Abel over Cain
• God favored Isaac over Ishmael
• God favored Jacob over Esau
• God favored Joseph over his brothers
• God favored Israel over all other nations.

Don’t fool yourself. God plays favorites. When He called you, redeemed you, and elected you, He put His mark of favoritism on you. You are not just a number... you are special to God (see John 1:12). We are not the creation of God... we are the sons of God, the King’s kids. We are not the tail, we are the head (Deuteronomy. 28:13). We are not slaves, we are free. We are blessed, we are victorious, we are triumphant, we are on the Lord’s side. This is not because we look good. It is God’s grace. Therefore, we need to be available to Him to walk, talk, act and live as He would have us to live.

Luke 1:29

Mary was confused by all of this. At first, she didn’t understand why God sent her a message. She was an ordinary person -- but God specializes in using ordinary people. God is not after your skills but your availability. Mary didn’t know that her child would:

• Confound the elders in the temple
• Command the winds and the waves
• Die on the cross at 33 years of age
• Rise from the grave with all power

Mary just praised the Lord anyhow and remained available to God.

Some of us want to know up front before going but the just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). We need to walk in faith, believing God. You heard the Lord calling you to give Him more time and service. You won’t always understand what He’s doing, just walk with Him and trust in the Lord.

The Lord is telling you to be more active. Get up off of the pew and get off of the bench and get into the game. Get active in the service of the Lord. We all have a ministry. We all have what God called us to do.

Luke 1:34

Mary asked, how can this be? She was a virgin. How can she have a child without knowing a man? It is impossible, it can’t be done. I don’t understand. But when we come to the crossroads of decision, we believe things are impossible.

• How can we win the community for Christ?
• How can we read the Bible?
• Is it impossible for us to fast and pray?
• Is it impossible for us to give to the poor and needy?
• Is it impossible for us to be a blessing?
• Is it impossible for us to be more active in the church?

With man, things are impossible, but with God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. The Holy Spirit will come upon you and tell you all that you need to know.

When the Holy Spirit comes:

• The impossible becomes possible
• The lost get saved
• The sick get healed
• Power is available to you
• Blind eyes are opened
• Dead marriages come to live
• Demonic spirits lose their home