The supernatural conception of Jesus of Jesus and the virgin birth were prophesied by various prophets who lived at different times who did not even know each other. There is no other person in human history whose birth was spoken of well before time like the Son of the Most High God-JESUS. There were several prophecies concerning His life and ministry but let me highlight some concerning his birth.

• That He would be from a woman –not the seed of the man (Gen. 3:15 cf Gal. 4:4)
• That He would be from the tribe of Judah
• That He would be from the house of David (2 Sam 7:12-13; Luke 1:31-33)
• That He would be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.” cf Matt. 1:21, 22)
• That He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matt 2:5,6 Luke 2:4-6)
• That He would be called Emmanuel (Isa. 7:14; Matt 1:23)
• That He would have a forerunner (Isa. 40:3-5; Mal 3:1; Luke 1:76-78)
• That He would be in Egypt for a season (Num 24:8; Hosea 11:1, cf. Matt 2:15)
• That His birth place would suffer a massacre of infants (Jer 31:15; Matt 2:17-18)

Lessons From Mary and The Virgin Birth
Luke 1:26-38

• A dramatic message required a dramatic messenger. Mary heard something terribly unusual from a very unusual visitor-angel Gabriel. All messages are not from God. This was from God.
• He came to announce an event that has been prophesied centuries back. Prophecy was about to be fulfilled and Mary was chosen to be the lucky person through whom God was to make an entrance into the word. (May you not be used to fulfill a negative prophecy in Jesus name!!)
• We will devote another day to fully discourse in detail the contents of the angel’s message. She was about to birth an earth shaking, history-making, world-changing miracle. I came to announce to you that God has chosen you to birth something that will shape this generation.
• It was a serious privilege. The angel announced to her that she was highly favoured.
• Her entire world was about to change. It was not just her life that was about to change, the lives of everyone around her and around the world was about to change. A powerful vision changes you and everything and everyone around you. Vision determines your friends. It determines the plans you make and your location.

1. Purity is essential in receiving and fulfilling great assignments-it is not an accident that God chose Mary, a virgin. 2 Timothy 2:20
2. Prophecy (Vision) is a glimpse into your purpose. Purpose and prophecy are related. Prophecy points you to God’s purpose and corrects you when you are deviating from it. A God-given vision is designed to accomplish something much bigger than you and to benefit others. You are too gifted and too talented for one person. You are too blessed for one mouth.

(To be continued)