June 27, 2004

The Essential Elements of a Quake Proof Relationship
Behind Closed Doors Series, Part 11
Speaker: Darryl Brumfield

Matt 1:18-24; Luke 1:26-39

We never know when our relationships will be rocked, but if we have what Joseph and Mary had, we can survive the big one.

Mary had it going on because …………

A. Having been the recipient of much grace she could extend grace to others

B. Not only was she with the Lord, but the Lord was with her.

C. Her relationship was fueled by commitment rather than spiritual experiences.

Joseph had his stuff together because ……

A. When hurt, he didn’t seek to get even, but to be merciful.

B. What you saw was what you got.

C. Before he took Mary’s hand he let go of his fears.

D. He honored God’s call above his own needs.

We can survive the 6.9’s too, if we ……

Believe that with God all things are possible and focus on our spiritual heritage rather than our limited capabilities.

Luke 1:26-39

The Birth of Jesus Foretold
²⁶In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." ²⁹Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. ³¹You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
³⁴"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" ³⁵The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. ³⁷For nothing is impossible with God."
38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said?" Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth
³⁹At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,

Matthew 1:18-24

The Birth of Jesus Christ
¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. ²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." ²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us." ²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

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