THE REAL CHRISTMAS MIRACLEThe Soul of Christmas – Part 2Message #1359Pastor Keith StewartDecember 17-18, 2016

Expanded Message Resources “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.” - Albert Einstein

Lungs

Earth four times

mir•a•cle : an extraordinary, unusual wonder or marvel. – Webster’s Dictionary …He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. Acts 17.25

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If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. Job 34.14-15 “The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson 1. THE MIRACLE IN THE MUNDANE “Had the angel gone to theologians, they would have first consulted their commentaries. Had he gone to the elite, they would have looked around to see if anyone was watching. Had he gone to the successful, they would have first looked at their calendars. So he went to shepherds—Men who didn't have a reputation to protect or an ax to grind or a ladder to climb. Men who didn't know enough to tell God that angels don't sing to sheep and that messiahs aren't found wrapped in rags and sleeping in a feed trough.” – Max Lucado “One takes the world apart, while the other seeks to connect and put together. We live in an age that excels at the first and falters at the second.”- Philip Yancey, Rumors of Another World “[We end up with a God who can] never surprise us, never overwhelm us, never astonish us, never transcend us.” – A.W. Tozer My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55.8 There are no boundaries to His greatness; His greatness no one can fathom.Psalm 145.3

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“Birds don't need ornithologists to fly.” - Mark Nepo “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.”- Albert Einstein 2. THE MIRACLE IN MARY ! WHEN? ! WHERE?

Sepphoris-Nazareth

Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? John 1.46 ! WHO?

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• She was young. Do not say, “I am only a youth, for to whomsoever I send you, you will go. And whatsoever I command you, you will say.” Jeremiah 1.7 • She was poor. ...and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” Luke 2.24

Mary on a donkey

• She was devoted. My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers. Luke 1.46-55 • She was graced.

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...God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth...to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph...The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1.26-28 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. Luke 1.29 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” Luke 1.34 Mary said, “I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything you said come true.” Luke 1.38 (Living Bible) “Mary first conceived Christ in her heart by faith before she conceived Him in her womb.” – St. Augustine of Hippo His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2.5 3. THE MIRACLE IN YOUR MESS

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