A Vision to Forever: The Story of Mary and Jesus

1. Clear Vision to Forever – Luke 1 26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!

2. 29Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.33And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

3. 34Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” 35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.  36What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God.”

4. 38Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. 39A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

5. 42Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

6. A Vision to Forever • A Vision of Personal Purpose Her Person Virgin, Engaged, Joseph, David, Mary

7. Her Purpose *WHAT “Favored, woman, the Lord with you, Favor with God, conceive, bear a Son, you call him Jesus” *“HOW? Holy Spirit upon you, Father, Overshadow you, Son within you” “Display God’s Possible” *NOW-Hurried, Entered, Greeted, Blessed, 38Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

8. A Vision to Forever 2. Vision of THE Person of the Purpose 32He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.33And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

9. A Vision to Forever • “He will be very great • Called the Son of the Most High. • The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. • And He will reign over Israel forever • His Kingdom will never end!”

10. A Vision to Forever • “He will be very great “The greatest character in history, just as Hamlet is the greatest in art” Clutton-Brock, UK art critic “He is the saint, the type and model of man” – Goethe, German Poet” “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews, for we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” Wise Men, Mt. 2:2

11. A Vision to Forever • Called the Son of the Most High. “This fairest of all the earth beside exceeds all human estimations. The revelation of God, in and through His beloved, is matchless, and must be humbly accepted and obeyed, if the heart yearns for peace.” Herbert Lockyer, Author The Man Who Changed The World

12. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 12“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

13. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 14“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.16“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give youthis testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

14. And He will reign over Israel forever Daniel 1:18But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’ 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

15. A Vision to Forever • His Kingdom will never end!” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” 36Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

16. A Vision to Forever • His Kingdom will never end!” 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

17. Applications of A Vision to Forever • Long periods of waiting are to build faith and establish character – stay faithful to seek the favor of the Lord that comes only through obedience. • Jesus Christ is the Vision of Forever – “yesterday, today and forever”- Hebrew 13:8 Keep Clear on the Vision – HE IS

18. Keep Clear on the Vision – HE IS To the artist…He is the One Altogether Lovely To the architect…He is the Chief Cornerstone To the astronomer…He is the Sun of Righteousness To the baker…He is the Living Bread To the banker…He is the Hidden Treasurer To the biologist…He is the Life To the child…He is the Gentle Friend

19. To the carpenter…He is the Sure Foundation To the builder…He is the True Cornerstone To the doctor…He is the Great Physician To the educator…He is the Master Teacher To the farmer…He is the Sower & The Lord of the Harvest To the florist…He is the Rose of Sharon & The Lily of the Valley To the geologist…He is the Rock of Ages

20. To the horticulturist…He is the True Vine To the judge…He is the Righteous Judge To the juror…He is the True Witness To the jeweler…He is the Pearl of Great Price To the editor…He is the Good Tidings of Great Joy To the optometrist…He is the Light of the Eyes To the philosopher…He is the Wisdom of God To the printer…He is the True Type To the servant…He is the Good Master

21. To the student…He is the Visible Truth To the laborer…He is the Giver of Rest To the sinner…He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world To the Christian…He is the Son of the Living God, our Savior, Redeemer and Lord To the Greek…He is the King of Culture To the Roman…He is the King of Law To the Jew…He is the King of Kings To the World…He is the King Forever and Ever

22. Who IS Jesus Christ To You?