Mary's Heart Beat Series

Mary's Heart Beat

Enjoying God's Favor

Introduction: Christmas is upon us, everyone is busy making sure gifts are purchased, wrapped and placed under the tree for the up and coming Christmas celebration. Tis a season to show acts of charity and for many, to cling to those church traditions of the birth of Christ.

Proposition: I would propose to you, though much debate, speculation and misrepresentation surrounds the birth of Christ. There are Biblical truths that must be grasp if we want to effectively fulfill our part in presenting the greatest Gift of all time, Jesus Christ. John 3:16 says, "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."

William Shakespeare penned these words in his play, As You Like It, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances…” One of those players in the life and times of Christ was Mary, she fulfilled her appointed time in history.

Interrogative Sentence: What Biblical truths have there foundation in the public proclamation of the Birth of Christ? Just what was in Mary's heart that enabled her to conceive and give birth to the greatest Gift, God's Son? Do you have the heart of Mary in your service to the Christ of Christmas?

There is a joy for those who grasp the heart of Mary! There is a heart beat in the Christian's life which presents to all who sees, the Greatest Gift of all times. It is Christmas! Here in America we have the freedom to learn and talk about the reason for the season, Jesus Christ. Today, we want to consider the heart of the virgin Mary.

Transitional Sentence: Mary - A young woman, pledged to be married to Joseph, finds herself visited by Gabriel. Gabriel announces to her that she will become pregnant. To overcome her confusion, since she is a virgin, the angel explains, “...you are highly favored! The Lord is with you. 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 called the Son of God.”

Truths to grasp in this Divine Word to Mary:

1.) Marry was "highly favored" (?a??t?? charitóo) means she was approved of God for the call He had laid before her. (The Complete Word Study of the New Testament) This Greek word is used only once elsewhere in the New Testament. (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 97). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) In Ephesians 1:6, "to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed (χa??t?? charitóo), another translation use the word "bestowed" in the beloved."

Christians are the Lord's beloved, when we are seeking Him with all our hearts and are surrendered to His will for us, we will be seen as approved of God for the callings He lays upon our lives. We are considered blessed to have been chosen for whatever, task He has set before us. Our call today, is to proclaim the truths of God's Word in regard to the birth of the Son of God. Especially in these days, were Christmas is being replaced with worldly views that are anti-Christ. We should be able to defend the truths of Christmas - Christ has come and the purpose of His coming to earth, through the counsel of the written Word of God.

Life application: It is like, when your overseer at your work place sees you have properly prepared, have the right heart for the job to be completed, you are blessed to be given the task at hand.

It is football season, your team is on the one yard line from the goal line. The coach, rather he chooses a pass play or a run play, chooses a certain pass receiver or a certain running back. He sees in either one, receiver or running back, the talent, the preparedness and the heart, to execute the play. Whatever player he chooses, at that moment, the player he sends in is blessed to have been chosen.

Mary had the heart God's wants to enjoy in His servants. Her heart is revealed in this proclamation, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me..." (Luke 1:46-49)

2.) The Lord was with her: God's presence was with Mary. When God was about to give Gideon his call to go and deliver the Israelites from the Midianites, the angle of the Lord says, The Lord is with you." (Judges 6:12) In our call to the Great Commission, Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”