How Shall This Be?

We look at the gospel of Luke Chpt .1 verses 26-38. Here Luke detailed his understanding of Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel who came to explain what was to take place. The angel told Mary that she had been chosen. Mary had found favor with God. The angel said that, though a virgin, Mary would give birth to the savior of mankind.

Luke records that Mary was not immediately convinced. She was puzzled at first. She asked, “How shall this be?” (Luke 1:34). Mary’s reply to Gabriel is similar to the reply that we give God today. We read in the bible that we can overcome any situation; that we can do all things; that we have the knowledge of all things; that we are meant for an abundant life here on Earth as well as in Heaven. We read all of this and in our minds we wonder the same thing that Mary did, “How?” How can we overcome the enemy when everyday in this world it seems the enemy is conquering us? How can we enjoy an abundant life on this Earth when for generations it has been increasingly difficult for us just to live from one day to the next? How can we know all things; how can we do all things? How shall this be?

To answer her question, Gabriel, on administrative business for the King, gave the official word from heaven. He gave Mary the answer that we still should be embracing today. He said “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.” That’s it! We will overcome the enemy because God himself is standing by us, He overshadows us to make us conquers. The Holy Ghost is “up-on” us providing strength to know all things and do all things. We will see success in every area that we trust God to lead us and protect us in. We will see victory doing anything that we allow the Holy Ghost to overshadow us doing. The angel Gabriel went on to say that with God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

There is one more detail to illustrate in this passage. After Gabriel spoke and Mary’s doubt was erased, she gave a reply filled with confidence. Her statement was one of the most impressive that a believer could utter, words that surely pleased God on that day and would surely please him today. Mary said, “Be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38). She accepted what the angel said as fact. She agreed with the spirit in her and accepted the word of God as truth.

For every believer, every time you hear the word of God you must make a decision – accept it or reject it. Don’t allow a word from Heaven to linger doubtfully in the back of your mind. Stop wondering if what you heard for you or for the person next to you. Stop trying to calculate how much longer it will take. And stop wasting your time trying to figure out how God is going to do the work that He has promised in His word. Once you hear from Heaven, settle the issue forever. Accept that the word of God will come to pass by the power of the Holy Ghost upon you. For every great work, every miracle and all the abundance: (repeat out loud)

“BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD!”

Don't Breakdown, Breakthrough!

“…when it is well with you, remember me and show me kindness; I pray thee, mention me to Pharaoh and bring me out of this prison: Genesis 40:14



When God sets a plan into motion in your life and you begin to press towards a great breakthrough, there are a series of events that will take place to lead you to victory. Certain things will need to happen a certain way to lead you to a certain place so that certain other things can connect with you and, before you know it, you’re living the life that God promised you. The frustrating thing about waiting for a breakthrough is that, at times, we don’t do what God has strategically put in place for us to do. When we fail to do what God has given us to do, we stand in God’s way. Disobedience interrupts the process of reaching our breakthrough. Instead of being in the right place at the right time, we’re in another place looking for the same success. Instead of doing things right the 1st time, we’re out doing a bunch of things wrong following our own rules for the 3rd and 4th time, yet still have the nerve to ask God why we aren’t in the place we desire to be.

When we miss our mark, it doesn’t mean we can’t get our breakthrough, it just means that it’s going to take more time. God has to direct us another way; we’ve sabotaged ourselves. And once we realize this, it can get so frustrating that we want to quit. But, the message I want to give to you today is: Don’t give up! You have a destiny!! You have a divine purpose! There is something that God put you on this Earth to fulfill. God is not going to give up on you, ever. Only you can determine if you have what it takes to make it to your breakthrough, or if you are going to get frustrated and breakdown.

Joseph pressed towards the palace

The next time you find yourself frustrated by set backs, just think of Joseph; the man who dealt with years of obstacles before finally reaching his destiny. First, he was sold into slavery by jealous and spiteful brothers who despised him Gen. 37:4. After being sold, Joseph found himself in prison for a crime he didn’t commit Gen. 39:20. Then, while in prison, Joseph was forgotten by a person who he had helped but failed to return the favor Gen 40:23. Finally after two years, Joseph was called out of prison and advanced to meet his destiny as ruler over Egypt Gen. 41:39-40.

At any time during his journey, Joseph could have given up, especially when the obstacles he faced where no fault of his own. Joseph could have just decided that he was meant to be a slave, or a prisoner. He could have just accepted that he would never be anything more than a servant. But he didn’t breakdown. Years of set backs and adverse situations couldn’t break Joseph. Obstacles dealt at the hand of people around him couldn’t keep him from reaching his destiny.
What made the difference for Joseph?

Through it all, at every stage of his life, Joseph recognized that the hand of God was on him. He never let discouragement or hate settle in his heart over what was done to him. When he was made a slave, he made sure that he was a good slave. Joseph was so valuable that eventually he ran his master’s house. When he found himself in prison, even though he was innocent, he worked hard to be a blessing and he even served his captors. The guards looked forward to seeing him in the morning. Before long Joseph, a prisoner, had control of the whole prison. He served them to the point that it was unusually for him to see them unhappy. When he saw the guards fret, he was faithful to cheer them up.

“When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected... ‘Why are your faces so sad today?” Gen. 40:6-7.

Joseph remained faithful, no matter what. He continued to be obedient to God. And with obedience, Joseph received everything he would need so that when promotion time came, Joseph was ready.
Looking back, Joseph realized that it was all a part of God’s plan.

“God sent me ahead of you… to save your lives by a great deliverance… it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt” Gen 45:7-8.

God allowed Joseph to go through situation after situation to position him for the job he would have to do. It was God who made it obvious that Joseph was destined for greatness, which caused his father to decorate him as such. God allowed Joseph’s envious brothers to sell him into slavery so that Joseph would find himself in Egypt; the riches and most advanced civilization on earth at that time. Then God made Joseph’s master recognize his worth and promote him from slave to overseer. Then when Joseph was framed and put into prison, God’s hand was at work again to place him in a cell with Pharaohs Chief Baker and Chief Cupbearer. God is the reason that Joseph was placed in charge of the entire prison and all of the prisoners. Finally, God gave Pharaoh a dream that no one but a little Hebrew boy could interpret. God provided Joseph the opportunity to use the gift that he was given to place him into the position to finally achieve his destiny. Joseph did what he was supposed to do and God made certain things happen in a certain way to lead him to a certain place so that certain other things could connect with him and, before he knew it, he was ruler over all of Egypt.

Our job is to consistently work towards a breakthrough. We need to get interested in moving from one level to the next; from one season to the next. The reason that our God is Lord of the breakthrough. If we fail to pursue a breakthrough in our lives, it is the same as us trying to put God out of work. If we are not interested in success, then the obstacles God allows in our life will begin depressing us and cause a breakdown instead of motivating us to keep striving for a breakthrough.

It takes time to qualify for a promotion. Remain faithful. Keep offering your obedience to God who holds your future in His hands. Recognize that the hand of God is with you. Don’t let discouragement or pain from anything that has ever been done to you settle in your heart. Remain faithful to the vision that God has for you, not the perception that the world has of you. The road to your breakthrough may be long, 2 years or 20 years long, but don’t breakdown. Decide each moment of your life that you will keep pressing with everything that is in you until the day that God provides the opportunity to use the gift you have been given to breakthrough!!