When the Time Was Just Right | Sunday Message (Pastor Jonathan Laurie)

7 snips

Dec 14, 2025

Exploring the perfect timing of God, the discussion emphasizes how the events of the Christmas story reflect divine orchestration. Surrendering to God, like Mary, is highlighted as essential for embracing His better plans. The conversation weaves in historical context, detailing how Roman peace and communication paved the way for the gospel. The importance of obedience is illustrated through Mary's visit to Elizabeth, showing how one's faithfulness can ripple through time. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on personal submission to God's will.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Divine Timing Spans History

God's timing for Jesus's birth was masterfully orchestrated across empires, roads, and languages.
Greg Laurie argues this shows God works behind the scenes and is always on time for our lives.

ADVICE

Surrender Your Plans To God

Surrender your plans and pray "Your will be done" as Mary did when Gabriel spoke to her.
Greg Laurie instructs listeners to align their will with God's rather than insisting on personal timing.

ANECDOTE

Two Responses To Angelic News

Greg Laurie contrasts Zechariah's doubt and muteness with Mary's immediate faith and submission.
He uses their different reactions to illustrate the blessing of trusting God's word without demanding extra proof.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

If God can perfectly order the events of the Christmas story, we can entrust Him with stories of our own. We should mirror Mary's surrender and submission to God's plan.

Notes:

Galatians 4:4 (NKJV)
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.

READ Luke 1:26–33

#1 God Is Always On Time

Luke 1:28 (NKJV)
“Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

Luke 1:29 (NKJV)
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

God is always on time.

READ Luke 1:34–38

#2 God’s Timing Requires Our Surrender

Luke 1:38 (NKJV)
“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”

Matthew 6:10 (NKJV)
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

READ Mark 8:34–36

God’s plan is always better.

Surrender doesn’t mean God makes everything comfortable.
It means God makes everything count.

Surrender always leads to Christ.

Psalm 84:10 (NKJV)
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
—Jim Elliott

READ Luke 1:39–45

#3 Our Obedience Has A Radius

Luke 1:15 (NKJV)
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

What is God asking you to do?

What areas in your life is God calling you to submit and surrender?

Too many Christians are satisfied with comfort when God is offering conquest.

Obey God.
Submit to scripture.
Live a life of integrity committed to God.

Let it be to me according to your word.

—

Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.