2010 Advent Series – Part 1
Sermon 1 - Mary's Song – 28 November 2010
Luke 1:46-55
Introduction
- This morning, we begin the season of Advent in preparation to celebrate the arrival of the Christ who was promised to us from the beginning of time
- 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.
- 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 – because even the life in the womb knew the Messiah (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?
- Stand and read Luke 1:46-55 / Pray
- 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
- She had to rejoice in God and what He was doing through her
- Psalm 103:1, “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”
- When we come in contact with the Spirit of the Lord, we too much rejoice
- We must be willing to proclaim who He is in our lives to anyone we meet
- Christmas is the perfect season to give – but to give the gift of Christ to someone
- Consider who you might help this year, or who needs helps right now
- Is there not someone in our lives that could rejoice at the gift of Christ today?
- Mary not only praises God, but confesses also that God knows everything about her (see verse 48-49 – Expound …)
- Her soul is rejoicing at who her God is, and the fact that she bears in her womb the Savior who one day will redeem her overtakes her with joy
- “My soul glories the Lord” – right now, does your soul glorify the Lord?
- Does your soul cry out to sing praises for 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)
- “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
- 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 but one race – created for one purpose, to worship Him
- We are commanded to worship, to fear (respect), and to show Him to all
- Note the phrase “from generation to generation” … remember Ephesians 6?
- APP: We (the adults) must take the time to teach it to the generations beneath us
- Even in the face of our own sin, our own wickedness, we see 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
- At this time of year, what better time to explore declaring Him to everyone?
- How do we declare Him? Very simply:
- Revelation 12:11, “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
- Once we are willing to declare our testimony, we can follow up with 3 verses:
- Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
- Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Romans 9:9-10, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
- TRANS: When we show Him to all, He will fulfill what He declares
Point 3 - God’s Promises are Fulfilled (51-55)
- Phil 1:6, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
- God is faithful to Himself, and He cannot lie nor deceive Himself
- If He says He is going to do something, he does it (great example to live)
- Reminder of God’s deeds from the words of Mary:
-- He has already performed mighty deeds with His arms (creation)
-- He has removed rulers from places where they shouldn’t be (Isa 24:21, “In that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below.”)
-- He has lifted up the humble (consider the thief on the cross)
-- He has filled the hungry with good things (“Blessed those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled” (Matthew 5:6))
-- He has helped His servant Israel (promised land; continues to provide today)
-- He is merciful to Abraham’s descendants (that would be us)
- Are you experiencing God’s mercy in your life right now? Do you need to?
Conclusion
- Perhaps this morning something in your heart has been moved, something within you has nudged you in a way to say, “Hey! That one was for you!!”
- I urge you this morning if God is calling out to you then you must respond
- We cannot continue to live in a way that glorifies ourselves
- Even Mary, the very mother of Jesus, proclaimed how great her God is
- APP: Not how great she is, but how great the Lord is!!!
Read Luke 1:41-45
APP:
- Mary did not get caught up in the compliment that Elizabeth paid her
- Instead, she magnified the Lord and humbled herself to His will
- When we live our lives like this, God reveals Himself to us and through us
- We must declare His glory to everyone we come across, not matter what
- If we really want to see Christ this season; we will remember this and follow
Pray
