"It Had to be This Way"

Part 3.

by Rev. C. David Underwood

Luke 1:5-25

Sermon Notes from 10 December 2000

How God works to accomplish his purpose.

4 more points continued from the previous two weeks.

Things hardly ever come out as we plan. But all things come out as God planned. Even the slaughter of the boys in Bethlehem was according to God's sovereign plan.

God's sovereign will is (cont...)

1. Always purposeful. Everything was according to prophecy. It was purposeful. We may not understand. But one day we will (might) understand.

2. Involves everyday ordinary people. Joseph - carpenter. Mary - teenage girl. Shepherds - not a trusted class. God chooses the foolish things to shame the wise. You don't have to be a great person to be used by God. Acts 4:13 Ordinary men had been with Jesus Christ and so were used.

3. Often perceived as an interruption to our own plans. Mary & Elizabeth will become pregnant. Mary & Joseph must travel to Bethlehem. But it was all part of what God had for his people and for fulfillment of prophecy.

   Example: Poem about gold purified by fire. All we see is the fire, not the dross, and not the master removing the dross.

   We say, "I really don't need this right now." But God has a purpose, even in these circumstances.

4. Involves human responsibilities. There are specific instructions on how to raise John the Baptist. We can't say, "God's will be done," and then not do anything.

God knows what he is doing. Nothing happens that God doesn't know about or that is outside of his will.