Yield To His Will Sermon Series

While the world appears to be in a state of chaos, God is sovereign and clearly in charge. It is our choice to live in fear, or yield to His will (and all the benefits that come from doing so).

Chaos appears to be all around us. It permeates our world and paralyzes our actions. We are afraid to step forward, wondering if God is truly in charge. Not only is He in charge, He is inviting us to enter into His divine plan. For those who yield, the greatest surprises, and greatest blessings, await.

As we understand our struggle to yield, we experience the victory of God’s sovereignty. The listener will identify the places in their life where chaos has paralyzed them, then make a decision to yield to God’s sovereign will at work.

Weekend following Thanksgiving. Aims to offer, in some way, direction for those living in fear at the state of our economy (a major issue facing us at present).

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Who’s in Charge?- November 30, 2008

Luke 1:5-25; 57-80

Question — “Who’s in charge here?

The appearance of chaos causes doubt.

Doubt blocks a heart yielded to God’s sovereignty, His will.

Why We Struggle to Yield

Signs of chaos abound.

(Verses 5-10)

5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside

67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68″Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. 69He has raised up a horn^[a] of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Luke 1:5 “In the time of Herod king of Judea …”

Often the best we can do is all we know to do.

Luke 1:6-7^a “Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children…”

God destroys chaos by shaking the ordinary.

(Verses 11-17)Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.^[a] 16Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Fear is to be expected when our world is shattered.

Luke 1:12-13^a “ When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.’ ”

If the shake up is not big, it is probably not God.

When God shows up, it’s tough to stand up.

(Verses 18-25)Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”

21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25″The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Luke 1:18^a “ Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this?’ ”

A choice to doubt is driven by chaos.

Luke 1:18^b “ I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

Yielding to God means I embrace the impossible.

Luke 1:25^a “The Lord has done this for me… ” (Elizabeth)

How God’s Sovereignty Will Win the Day

As God brings His order to our chaos.

The Birth of John the Baptist

(Verses 57-66) 57When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

Jeremiah 29:11 “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ”

Romans 8:28 “ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

As we YIELD our hearts and our wills to God

(Verses 67-80) 67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68″Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. 69He has raised up a horn^[a] of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Praise God.

Trust God’s Sovereign Plan. (He’s in charge.)

Look forward to God’s future.

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Through Simple Trust (Faith)-December 07, 2008

Hebrews 11:6

Luke 1:26-56

Key Verse 38* “ ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ ”

Three Steps Up to God’s Will

Video of the Intersection of Faith & Doubt

Face Your Troubles and Fears.

Verses 29-30 “Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.’ ”

That’s called honesty.

John 4:23-24 “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.” (The Message—MSG)

Ask Your Questions.

Verse 34 “ ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ … Mary said to the angel, ‘But how? I’ve never slept with a man.’ ” (NIV & MSG)

That’s called prayer.

Matthew 26:41-42 “ ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.’went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’ ”

Believe God’s Answers.

“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”
—Saint Augustine

Verses 35-37 “The 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 calledthe Son of God. Even 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. For nothing is impossible with God.’ ”

God’ answers often go beyond our understanding.

That’s called trust.

“Faith is not belief without doubt but trust without reservation.”

—Elton Trueblood

Verse 45 “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Two Steps Into God’s Will

Act on what God has Spoken.

Verse 39-45

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

Verses 39-40 “At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.”

By sharing with someone else.

Who can you tell what God is saying to you?

By sharing it quickly.

By sharing it with someone of faith.

That’s called obedience.

Hebrews 10:19-25 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence … let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith… Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

“If you feed your faith, your faith will grow. If you feed your doubts your doubt will grow. Whichever one you feed will surely grow.”

—William C. Cook

Accept the Role of a Servant.

Verse 38 & 48 “ ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ … for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.”

That’s called humility.

Humility is the ability to remember your need for the Savior because you’re a sinner.

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Conclusion

Obedience is what trust does.

Humility is how trust does it.

Philippians 2:6-7

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very natureof a servant, being made in human likeness.

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Kingdom Trouble – December 14, 2008

Matthew 2:1-16*

Matthew 2

The Visit of the Magi

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ^[c] was to be born. 5″In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
” ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
out of you will come a ruler
will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’^[d]“

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east^[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The Escape to Egypt

16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

There is Kingdom trouble if:

1. You are experiencing insecurity and fear of losing control.

Verses 1-4 “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ^[c] was to be born.”

There’s a power problem.

Do you feel like your position is threatened or vulnerable?

2. You are practicing secrecy and are becoming deceptive.

Verse 7-8 “Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’ ”

There’s an integrity problem.

Are you resorting to deception to get what you want?

3. Are you expressing hostility and taking it out on others.

Verse 16 “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.”

There’s an anger problem.

Do you get angry when you don’t get what you want?

Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

Four Lessons from the Magi (Wise Men)

1. They were seekers of God’s Kingdom, not their own.

Verses 2 “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:10 “… your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

You don’t have to fear losing control when you’ve given it to Him.

2. They had nothing to hide.

Verse 7 “Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.”

You don’t have to resort to deception when you trust God for protection.

3. They worshipped and gave their treasure to Christ.

Verse 10-11 “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”

You don’t get treasure in heaven by holding on to treasure on earth.

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

4. They let God lead them.

Verse 12 “And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

You don’t have to go the same old way when God’s provided a new way.

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When Push Comes to Shove – December 21, 2008

Matthew 1:18– 2:16*

Question: How do you handle crisis?

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy”

Martin Luther King Jr.

Matthew 1:18-25 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.

But 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,^[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”All 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”^[d]—which means, “God with us.”When 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.

Matthew 2 The Visit of the Magi

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east^[b] and have come to worship him.”When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ^[c] was to be born. 5″In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6″ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’^[d]“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east^[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The Escape to Egypt

13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”^[f]When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”^[g]The Return to Nazareth After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Two Examples of When Push Comes to shove: Joseph and Herod

Both were threatened by a Crisis.

Joseph saw his crisis as an opportunity to do the right thing.

Verses 1:18-19 “This 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. Because 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.”

Herod saw his crisis as a threat to doing his own thing.

Verses 2:1-2 & 16 “… Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?’ … King Herod… was disturbed… furious, and he gave orders to kill…”

Both wrestled privately (Secretly) with What to do.

Joseph recognized the threat and chose to protect others

Verse 1:19 “Joseph … did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”

Herod reacted to the threat and chose to manipulate others

Verses 2:3-4 “King Herod … called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law… the Magi…”

Both Made a Plan

Joseph’s plan was for protection

Verse 1:19 “Joseph … did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”

Herod’s plan was for deception

Verse 2:7-8 “Herod … secretly…‘Go… search… so that I too may go and worship him.’ ”

Both were exposed to Truth

Joseph

Verses 1:20-23 “… 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. She will give birth to… Jesus… he will save his people from their sins.’”

Herod

Verses 2:5-6 “… the prophet has written: … in Judah… will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”

The Most Critical Time In a Crisis is what you do with Truth

Three Ways to Yield When Push Comes to shove

Be willing to receive instruction/direction

Joseph

Verses 1:20 “But 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… “

Herod didn’t

Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”

Be willing to change

Joseph was willing to change his plan.

Verse 1:24 “… Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.”

Herod was willful and didn’t change his plan.

Verse 2:12 “… warned … not to go back to Herod…”

Be willing to move yourself

Joseph was willing to move.

Verses 1:24, 2:14, 21 “Joseph… took Mary home as his wife… took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt… took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel…”

- Herod wanted everyone else to move.

The Magi, the Chief Priests, his soldiers

Both Passed on their will to their sons.

Joseph to Jesus and James

Luke 2:52 “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

Herod to Archelaus

Verses 2:22 “… when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod… Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee.”

Question: What are you passing on?

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Where Did Jesus Learn to do God’s Will? – December 24, 2008

He became what we are to make us what He is.

2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Was it at the Cross?

Luke 23:34* “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’”

Where Jesus took:

the path of forgiveness
the path of a criminal (even though he was not)

Revelation 1:5 “Jesus was the first to conquer death… Christ loves us, and by his blood he set us free from our sins.” (Contemporary English Version—CEV)

so he could conquer death and sin.

Was it in the garden?

Matthew 26:42 “Jesus went to pray and said, ‘My Father, if there is no other way, and I must suffer, I will still do what you want.’ ”

(CEV)

Where Jesus took:

the path of suffering
the path of a fugitive (even though he was not)

Romans 5:3-4 “… we… rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

so he could show us how to go through problems.

Was it in the desert?

Matthew 4:8-10 “… the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ”

Where Jesus took:

the path of human temptation (even though he did not give in)

Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”

so he could understand our weaknesses.

If you pursue good with labor, the labor passes away but the good remains. If you pursue evil with pleasure, the pleasure passes away and the evil remains.

Cicero, ancient Latin Philosopher

Was it at his Baptism?

Matthew 3:11, 13-14 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry… Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ ”

Where Jesus took:

the path of a sinner (even though he was not)

Romans 8:7 “… the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”

so he could show us how to submit (repent—turn around).

Was it at his Birth?

Matthew 2:1 “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea…”

Luke 2:52 “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

Where Jesus took:

the path of a child/infant/human (even though he was God)

Philippians 2:5-7 “… think the same way that Christ Jesus thought: Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God. Instead he gave up everything … when he became like one of us.” (CEV)

John 3:3, 5 “Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again… unless he is born of water and the Spirit.’ ”

to show us how to be born again.

John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

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