A Baby On The Way: Blessedness All Around

A Baby on the Way: Blessedness All Around

Luke 1:39-45

INTRODUCTION... http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon2/are_you_blessed.htm

> If you own just one Bible, you are abundantly blessed. 1/3 of all the world does not have access to one.

> If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

> If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

> If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

> If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

> If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

> If you prayed yesterday and today, you are in the minority because you believe God does hear and answer prayers.

> If you believe in Jesus as the son of God and as your Savior, you are blessed as being part of a small minority in the world.

What does the word ’blessing’ mean? What does ’to be blessed’ mean? When you talk

about a baby being born, many times you might hear the phrase ’the little blessing’ or ’he or she is a blessing.’ When I think of the word blessing and try to define it, I come up with another word: goodness. If I were to give someone my blessing, I am giving them my good thoughts and prayers. If I am a blessing to someone, I have probably done something good for them. Blessings and goodness go hand in hand.

ILLUSTRATION... Easton’s B Dictionary, www.studylight.org/dic/ebd/view.cgi?number=T606

> God blesses his people when he bestows on them some gift temporal or spiritual (Genesis 1:22; 24:35; Job 42:12; Psalms 45:2; 104:24,35).

> We bless God when we thank him for his mercies (Psalms 103:1,2; 145:1,2).

> A man blesses himself when he invokes God’s blessing (Isaiah 65:16), or rejoices in God’s goodness to him (Deuteronomy 29:19; Psalms 49:18).

> One blesses another when he expresses good wishes or offers prayer to God for his welfare (Genesis 24:60; 31:55; 1 Samuel 2:20

READ LUKE 1:39-45

In the passage that we just read, the word ’blessed’ appears three times. It refers to the woman carrying the child, the child, and the one that believes God. Goodness is given to all these. Goodness comes from these. Goodness and blessing can be associated with all three of these people.I. BLESSED IS THE WOMAN CARRYING THE CHILD

The beginning of this passage tells us that Mary is on the move. She goes to visit her relative, Elizabeth. This to me is no big surprise. The angel Gabriel told Mary (1:36-37) that Elizabeth was pregnant and that she also would give birth. That is an amazing thing given that Elizabeth has never had any children and is far past that stage of her life. Think of it as a final confirmation. If Elizabeth is pregnant, then truly it was an angel and all that Gabriel told her must be true.

Verse 41 tells us that these two ladies are in the middle of something quite extraordinary. Elizabeth hears the voice of Mary and the baby inside, the soon-to-be John the Baptist, leaps inside of her. That is amazing! Verse 41 also tells us that the Holy Spirit fills Elizabeth. These are two women that God is using to accomplish HIs purposes.

Elizabeth tells Mary, “Blessed are you among women.” Why would she say that? What was so special about Mary? I think Elizabeth is telling Mary that God has bestowed upon her a wonderful gift. The Virgin Mary was carrying inside of her the Messiah of God, the Savior of the World, the Son of the Most High God, the Creator of All, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Need I go on? Mary has this child growing inside of her and she has goodness because of it... it was a gift from God that she was worthy of.

Do not forget Gabriel’s words to her in 1:28. She was favored by God and God was with her. These surely are blessings!

II. BLESSED IS THE CHILD

Elizabeth does not only say that Mary is blessed, but she says that the Child inside her is blessed as well. What did she mean by that? How could this little child be a blessing? What goodness will this baby do?

For the answers to these questions, we must look at the whole of this baby’s life. This baby is not an ordinary baby, but is the Son of God. His name would be and is Jesus. What goodness will this baby do? How will this baby be a blessing?