Mary's Song Series

2014 Christmas Series (November 30, 2014)

Sermon 1 - Mary's Song

Luke 1:39-55

Introduction

- This morning, we begin the season of Advent

-- Our Advent series is called “We Have Seen His Glory”

-- In it, we are preparing to celebrate the arrival of the Christ, the Messiah

-- It is a time to glorify God; and we must seek to make Him known always

- Obvious question: “What is Advent?”

- The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent.

-- Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history.

-- It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God.

- Read Luke 1:39-55 / Pray

- Background on our story:

- Mary, the mother of Jesus, was with child and visiting her cousin Elizabeth

-- Who was at the time pregnant with John the Baptist

-- Upon her arrival, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy

-- Why? Because even the life in the womb knew the Messiah

-- Different sermon … but to the point: YES … there is LIFE in the womb!!

- Elizabeth exclaimed (Luke 1:45), “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”

- This morning, can we exclaim the same? Can we give thanks and glorify Him who has said that in all things He will be faithful?

- In order to experience His glory …

-- The first thing we must take note of is that our souls too should glorify the Lord

∆ Point 1 - Glorify the Lord! (46-49)

- Mary, animated by Elisabeth's address, and being also under the influence of the Holy Ghost, broke out into joy, admiration, and gratitude.

-- She knew herself to be a sinner who needed a Savior, a Messiah from God

-- She had to rejoice in God; in what He was doing … Psalm 103:1, “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”

- This is a Psalm of joy, of exclamation, in rejoicing who God is …

-- Need to rejoice more? Take a look at Psalm 103 in your spare time

-- “… for as far as the east is from the west, He remembers our sin no more …”

- When we come in contact with the Spirit of the Lord, we too must rejoice

-- We must be willing to proclaim who He is in our lives to anyone we meet

-- Christmas is the perfect season to give; to give the gift of Christ to someone

-- Consider who you might help this year, or who needs helps right now?

-- APP: Is there not someone in our lives that could rejoice at the gift of Christ?

- Mary praises God, but confesses also that God knows everything about her

-- Her soul is rejoicing at who her God is, at how wonderful He is (46)

-- And that she bears in her womb the Savior who one day will redeem her

- “My soul glories the Lord” – right now, does your soul glorify the Lord?

-- APP: Does your soul cry out to the One who has paid it all for you?

- TRANS: To glorify God privately is one thing, but we must show Him to all

∆ Point 2 - God’s Mercy is for all (50)

- v50, “His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.”

- This is a VERY important and pivotal verse that all must hear and understand

-- APP: Do you know that Jesus Christ was born into this world to save all?

-- There is no division in races, or economic value, or social status in Heaven

-- In God’s eyes we are ONE race – created for one purpose, to worship Him

- We are commanded to worship, to fear (respect), and to live fully for Him

-- Note the phrase “from generation to generation”: IMP: Someone told YOU too!

-- APP: We must take the time to teach it to the generations around us

- Even in the face of our own sin/our own wickedness, we see God’s profound love

-- Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

- Mary exclaims that the mercy of God is for all, and it extends to all who hear it

-- APP: At this time of year, what better time to declare Him to everyone!