A WORSHIP THAT MAGNIFIES GOD—Luke 1:39-56
Proposition: A worship that magnifies God is one filled with great anticipation, grand admiration and glorious adoration of God.
Objective: My purpose is to challenge people to experience a more meaningful worship encounter with the Lord.
INTRODUCTION:
“The Sound of Music” is a classic as a film. It starts with Julie Andrews standing on a beautiful mountain with her arms stretched out, twirling around as she sings, and “The hills are alive with the sound of music. She plays the part of a woman who is so full of joy and happiness that she can’t restrain the music that is in her heart. Today, we are going to look at two other women are so full that they can’t help but sing. Theirs is a worship that magnifies God.
John Calvin stated: “Nearly all wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” Martyn Lloyd Jones said that the indictment of the evangelical church, is that we do not know God. Our worship needs to be God-focused, not man-centered.
Here Luke puts the spotlight on two Godly women. They are Elizabeth, the soon-to-be—mother of John the Baptist, and Mary, the mother-to-be of the Messiah, who were truly great and Godly women. Both were humble women of no social or economic standing. Elizabeth was the wife of an obscure priest. Mary was a humble peasant girl, who did not have any social standing due to her parentage or class, nor even the dignity of Elizabeth and Zacharias. Yet the worship of both of these women is such that they are models for all true disciples of our Lord.
James Packer states. “To worship God is to recognize His worth or worthiness; to look God-ward, and to acknowledge in all appropriate ways the value of what we see. The Bible calls this activity “glorifying God” or “giving glory to God,” and views it as the ultimate end, and from one point of view, the whole duty of man.”
I. GREAT ANTICIPATION (vvs. 39-41) “The babe leaped in her womb”—When Elizabeth greeted Mary and recognized the Messiah in Mary’s womb they were filled with the Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfillment of God’s promise to give a Savior.
1. Journey (v. 39) “Mary got ready and hurried”—Zechariah and Elizabeth lived in an unidentified town in the hill county of Judea approximately 65 miles from Mary’s house in Nazareth of Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, Mary journeyed to the village located in the hill country in southern Judea, a journey requiring four or five days.
2. Joy (v. 40) “greeted Elizabeth”—Note the joy of the 2 expectant mothers. The mother of the one destined to prepare the way for the Messiah joined her unborn child in honoring the person of the 1 selected by God to become the Savior’s mother. We are not told why Mary went to visit Elizabeth at this time. It may have been to avoid the scandal which would inevitably arise in Nazareth when her condition became known. If this is so, then the welcome given by Elizabeth and the kindness shown would have been doubly sweet.
3. Jump (v. 41) “The babe leaped in her womb”--The coming of Mary brought a reaction from John in Elizabeth’s womb. The Messiah’s forerunner gave testimony to the Messiah even before he was born. The angel had predicted to Zacharias that his baby would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from the womb (v. 15).
Illus: “True worship doesn’t depend on preacher or place, but on the attitude of the heart.”
II. GRAND ADMIRATION (vvs. 42-45) “Blessed are you among woman and…the fruit of your womb!” Speaking by special inspiration,
Elizabeth saluted Mary as “the mother of my Lord.” There was not a trace of jealousy in her heart; only joy and delight that the unborn baby would be her Lord. Mary was blessed among women in that she was given the privilege of bearing the Messiah. The fruit of her womb is blessed in that He is Lord and Savior. Jesus existed from all eternity whereas Mary was a finite creature with a definite date when she began to exist. She was the mother of Jesus only in His Incarnation.
1. Proclamation (v. 42) “Blessed are you among women”— It was a moment of ecstatic excitement. “Blessed are you” is an equivalent for lit., “well spoken of” or “most blessed are you.” 2. Privilege (v. 43) “Why is this granted to me?” This proclaims the exalted privilege of Mary. Elizabeth marveled at the grace that allowed her a role in God’s great plan. She knew God owed her nothing: but she also knew that God had mercifully given her much.
3. Praise (v. 44) “The babe leaped in my womb for joy”—When the sound of Mary’s voice struck Elizabeth’s ears her unborn child leaped for joy. By some such train of thought Elizabeth arrived at her joyful conclusion that Mary was to be the mother of the One for whom her so was to prepare the way. The Holy Spirit confirmed that conclusion for her.
4. Pronouncement (v. 45) “Blessed is she who believed”— Faith is reliance on the revealed will of God. Elizabeth declares that Mary is blessed, not because she is somehow more spiritual, righteous, even sinless, but because she takes God at His word. She went with what she was told, along with all her doubts, fears and questions. This reliance on God’s word, this sticking to it, this firm resting on it, is what the Bible means by faith, saving faith. Faith is relying on what we trust "will be accomplished" in Christ our Lord. Mary’s response of faith was exemplary. She was simply waiting on God to bring His promises to fulfillment.
Illus: Al Lingren, a seminary professor, tells about taking his junior high son fishing a few years ago. It was one of those days when the fish wouldn’t bite, and so they had a lot of time to talk. Out of the clear blue his son asked, "Dad, what’s the toughest thing God ever tried to do?" Lingren, a minister, said the question caught him off guard. He didn’t know what to say, so like a good teacher, he answered a question with a question, "What do you think it was?" The boy responded, "Even though you’re a minister, you don’t know much about God, do you, Dad?" And then the boy proceeded to answer his own question. "Since taking science in school, I thought the creation of the world might be the hardest thing God ever tried to do. Then in Sunday School we got to talking about the miracles, like Jesus’ resurrection, and I thought that might be the toughest thing God ever did. Then, after thinking some more and talking to others, I decided that no one knows God really well. So now I think that the toughest thing God ever tried to do is to get us to understand who He is and that He loves us." After that bit of divine insight, the only thing that Lingren could say to his son was, "I think you’re right. That is the hardest thing that God ever had to do, and there was only one way He could do it." This was by sending His Son to be our Savior.
III. GLORIOUS ADORATION (vvs. 46-56) “My soul magnifies the Lord” The song of Mary— “The Magnificat” (from Latin)—Here is Mary’s Hymn of Praise. Mary’s song of praise reflects her character and her emotional response to God’s mighty work in her life and in the life of the people of Israel.
1. First Stanza: Rejoicing over God’s personal blessings (vvs. 46-48)--What God did for Mary “rejoiced in God my Savior”—Personal emotions and experiences expressed in a restful, dignified tone. The total of Mary’s “inner being” expressed itself in praise.
1). Realization (v. 46) “My soul magnifies the Lord”—“Magni-fies” literally means “make great.” a habitual act--This means “it exalts” or “praises.”
2). Rejoicing (v. 47) “My spirit has rejoiced”—to rejoice greatly. She rejoiced in the presence and actions of God.
3). Regard (v. 48) “He has regarded the lowly state”—The Lord had looked down on Mary with loving care.
2. Second Stanza: Rejoicing due to God’s glorious character (vvs. 49-50)--What God did for us --“mercy on them who fear Him”—God is at work in the affairs of men. She sings of a mighty reversal of things. This is already accomplished through the coming of the Messiah, her promised Son.
1). God is a God of power (v. 49a) “He who is mighty has
done great things for me”—The mighty God has worked in a mighty way.
2). God is a God of holiness (v. 49b) “And holy is His
name”—“He is holy.” (moral perfection))
3). God is a God of mercy (v. 50)—“His mercy is on them
that fear Him”—He is merciful. Mary here affirms that God’s kindness
extends to all who reverence Him. The word "fear" means respect rather than scared. Fear of God is "the Old Testament description of piety."
3. Third Stanza: Rejoicing over the results of His com-ing- What God can do for His people (vvs. 51-53) “He has shown strength with His arm”—He turns things upside down. The coming of the kingdom serves to reverse the perceived standing of mankind before God. Those favored with power, wealth status, the seemingly righteous before God, will be brought low ("put down"). The "humble", lost, broken, "poor"....., the outcasts from God’s mercy, they are lifted up ("exalted"). This great reversal, which achieves the redemption of the lost, is best taken as a present reality.
1). Victory over pride (v. 51) “He has scattered the proud”--There can be a moral revelation. Note the complete reversal of all human opinions of greatness and insignificant.
2). Victory over prestige (v. 52) “He has put down the mighty”—There can be a social revolution. Note the complete reversal of power and standing.
3). Victory over possessions (v. 53) “The rich He has sent him away empty”—There can be economic revolution. This reversal in human relationships and existence has already begun (uses past tenses) and will be perfectly completed.
4. Fourth Stanza: Rejoicing over the faithfulness of God--What God continues to do for His people (vvs. 54-55)--“He has helped His servant Israel” “He shall save His people from their sins” Matt. 1:21)
1). Helpfulness (v. 54) “He has helped His servant”—
Mary sings of God’s help for His people.
2). Hopefulness (v. 55) “He spoke to our fathers”—Mary is saying that God’s action in the Messiah is not so much completely new as a continuation of His mercy to Abraham. It is also in accordance with His promises to the fathers of old time.
3). Heartiness (v. 56) “Mary remained with her”--It seems that Mary left before John was born. Mary might not wish to be there when all the excitement and visitors would be present with Zacharias and Elizabeth.
CONCLUSION:
1. A worship that magnifies God is a worship that focuses on God.
2. Our worship must be focused on the greatness of God.
3. Can we say, “My heart is alive with the joy of worship.”
Illus: James Packer writes, “This then is worship in its largest sense: petition as well as praise, preaching as well as prayer, hearing as well as speaking, actions as well as words, obeying as well as offering, loving people as well as loving God. However, the primary acts of worship are those which focus on God directly—and we must not imagine that work for God in the world is a substitute for direct fellowship with him in praise and prayer and devotion.”
Illus: The passengers on the bus watched as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he’d told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg. It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis she had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity.
"How could this have happened to me?" she would plead, her heart knotted with anger. But no matter how much she cried or ranted or prayed, she knew the painful truth her sight was never going to return. A cloud of depression hung over Susan’s once optimistic spirit. Just getting through each day was an exercise in frustration and exhaustion. And all she had to cling to was her husband Mark. Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all of his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again. Mark’s military background had trained him well to deal with sensitive situations, and yet he knew this was the most difficult battle he would ever face.
Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark’s need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task. Soon, however, Mark realized that this arrangement wasn’t working - it was hectic, and costly. Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But just the thought of mentioning it to her made him cringe. She was still so fragile, so angry. How would she react? Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again. "I’m blind!" she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I’m going? I feel like you’re abandoning me." Mark’s heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened. For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accom-panied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat. He made her laugh, even on those not-so-good days when she would trip exiting the bus, or drop her briefcase. Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would take a cab back to his office. Although this routine was even more costly and exhausting than the previous one, Mark knew it was only a matter of time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her, in the Susan he used to know before she’d lost her sight, who wasn’t afraid of any challenge and who would never, ever quit.
Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, his love. She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself! On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure envy you." Susan wasn’t sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year? Curious, she asked the driver, "Why do you say that you envy me?" The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and asked again, "What do you mean?" The driver answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady." Tears of happiness poured down Susan’s cheeks. For although she couldn’t physically see him, she had always felt Mark’s presence. She was lucky, so lucky, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn’t need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where there had been darkness. God watches over us in just the same way. We may not know He is present. We may not be able to see His face, but He is there nonetheless! Be blessed in this thought: "God Loves You - even when you are not looking."
Prepared by: Gerald Steffy, 6206 N. Hamilton Rd.
Peoria, IL 61614, Phone: 309-691-3680,
E-Mail grsteffy@yahoo.com for MY SERMON NUGGETS
