HAVING A VISION OF JESUS IN OUR LIFE

-purpose is impt

   -purpose will guide us

-have a vision or revelation from God

-the angel first encourage Mary to don't give up.. highly favored

   -though she has the favor from God, this doesn't excuse her from suffering

-when we have the vision of Jesus our life, it will empower us to stop looking at our limitations and start to see the possibility of the impossible

-to Joseph, the angel is very direct

-when we see the purpose, we will be able to endure the suffering

what is getting a vision of Jesus?

-have a image of what Jesus has done for us.. and it will inspire us... if Jesus has done it for us, we can

1. what Jesus has become of our behalf

-though 2 wives, it's not right to God.. those with more than 1 wife has a miserable life

Hannah picks herself up

Hannah prayed

God willingly give us all things

after Hannah prayed, she is no longer downcast

-she prayed and bargained but not answered

-he prayed, obtained peace then prayer is answered

whether Hannah's prayer is answered, it doesn't matter anymore

2. seeing what Jesus has done for us 

-put our faith in God

   -it's impt to work hard... but not pressured to perform tt if doesn't meet targets, we will lose faith

-God came in physical appearance as a smoking brazier with a blazing torch

-God did it for Abraham

-God is willing to be cut up like the animals

-it's Jesus being the lamb being slain

-it's not dependent on our performance

-it's in our enjoyment tt God turns things ard... not suffering

-learn to put our trust in God

-enjoy life and do our best

COPING WITH CRISIS AND CHANGE

how Jesus cope with crisis and change

the only constant in life is change

-life is always changing, evolving
-what doesnt change is God

Jesus had 3 kinds of mastery

1. Jesus came into a different season of life
-there is stress whenever we go into a new transition of life
-knowledge is power
-the more we know God and His Word, the stronger we will become
-when we are lost, His Word is a lamp to our feet and light to our path

-reading the bible is not purely reading, but renewing of mind
-ppl tend to be in a "pilot brain" mode (doing routine, not needing to think much).. however, in a season change, we cannot allow our mind to be stuck in the past

-Jesus uses the season of change to grow
-God uses "stress test" to determine our moral and spiritual stability

2. Jesus began His ministry
-time of solitude... to pray, reflect, thinking and clarifying in the presence of God
-in time of stress, we should allow our thoughts to be filtered in God's word
   -don't trust by own judgement or past experience... this is where many mistakes are made

-Jesus is very clear abt His guiding principles and values
-how we end this season will determine how we start the other

3. Jesus faced opposition
Jesus faces opposition from the ppl

-things were getting very tense and his family were worried and didn't understand Him
-this was a very painful and embarrassing moment --- opposed by His own family

-Jesus accepted "His new norm"
-5 stages of grief
   -grief, anger, bargaining, depression (hopeless), acceptance

-when life suddenly changes, its normal if we feel upset
-we mustn't stay sad, anger, stuck at the current "new norm"
   -we must accept the reality!

don't be fearful! change is not our enemy... but fear is!

4. Jesus commissioned disciples

-Jesus expand His options and take positive steps
-in every crisis, its a opportunity to get ready for a new season

5. Jesus put absolute trust in God

we must learn to let go and let God