MARY AND ELIZABETH GIVE HOPE
When Jesus Christ came into the world a very special time came into being.
• From His coming through until today, God has dumped the whole bucket of grace upon you.
• We are potentially the most blessed people in the universe.
• The angels were not permitted this blessing.
• The saints of the Old Testament were not permitted this blessing.
In this small window of time, we've been given an opportunity that will never come again in all the infinite duration of eternity.
• The chance to accept God's offer to be Father to us!
• For us to become the Father's own precious and birthed children!
How many can concur with me as I say, "Don't blow this opportunity"?
Satan has invested his major efforts in LYING TO US ABOUT OUR OPPORTUNITY.
• Its not a very large amount of time that is available, compared to 6,000 years of human history and eternity before an after time's beginning.
• The devil has put a lot of effort into this space of time.
• Your life is short.
• He's got to be good if he's going to lie to your mind and succeed.
But he has a formidable foe.
• Satan may be good at lying, but God is better at telling the truth!
• They're not equal foes!
• Grace always abounds more than evil.
So, let's get down to business today…
• We don't have much time left.
• Let's preach the truth!
Luke 1:5-7 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
Luke 1:11-20 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Luke 1:26-45 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
How you respond to sermons like this, determines your status as a waster of a life and God's precious gift of time, or a life-feasting child of God!
Zecharias, God's priest, was to father John the Baptist.
• When Gabriel appeared to him and told him of the impending birth, Zecharias doubted.
Luke 1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
He was therefore struck dumb – unable to speak.
On the other hand, when Gabriel appeared to Mary, and she believed.
• When Zecharias could not speak, Mary's speech to Elisabeth was so empowered by faith that Elisabeth was immediately filled with the Holy Ghost, and the unborn baby John in Elisabeth's womb leaped.
Zecharias was later filled with the Spirit in verse 67.
• You must understand that these infilling of the Spirit were not what born again people experience today.
• We know that because John 7:38-39 tells us that the rivers of living water of the Holy Ghost were not yet available because Jesus had not yet died and been glorified 30 years later.
• But they were filled in a special anointing to be able to PROPHESY.
Mary's words actually blessed people!
• They gave LIFE!
• However, Zecharias was struck dumb and unable to even speak.
• He had nothing to say.
• Belief versus unbelief made the difference.
After being filled, Elisabeth prophesied in verse 45.
• And she commented upon Mary's FAITH.
Luke 1:45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
The marginal reference informs us that the Greek source for these words can be translated as,
BLESSED IS SHE WHICH BELIEVED, THAT THERE SHALL BE A PERFORMANCE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE TOLD HER FROM THE LORD.
Her faith in God's performance was necessary for God to accomplish that performance.
In Zecharias' case, his unbelief did not hinder God's performance, because because his wife would be the one to bear the child John.
But Mary had to believe in order for God to work.
It reminds me of Romans 4:21-22 where we read Abraham believed.
Romans 4:21-22 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
God did what Abraham believed him to do.
Some lose the game before they even start.
• They never even enter into a life of faith because they reason they cannot do it.
• They cannot PERFORM IT.
• Can you see the error in this reasoning?
They consider THEIR PERFORMANCE!
• But its not a matter of what we can perform.
• Its what God can perform.
We are only VESSELS!
We are not the performers!
• WE ARE THE STAGE AND THE LORD IS THE PERFORMER.
• Its His performance and His ability.
• Its His power.
Mary believed God so that a performance of HIS POWER could occur!
Our IDEAS are the problem.
• Do not abuse your brain!
• Think the way the Bible teaches.
• Where did you get this idea you have to perform anyway?
• False religion.
• Lies in your mind from the enemy.
GOD CHOSE A VIRGIN!
• A virgin brought forth Jesus.
Did you realize that in similar manner, a life of Christianity is intended to actually be JESUS COMING OUT OF YOUR LIFE?
• Gabriel told her that the Holy Ghost would come upon her, and that she would be caused to bring forth Jesus into the world.
• Acts 1:8 says the Holy Ghost would come upon us, and as a result we would be witnesses of His resurrection.
• In other words, live supernaturally victorious lives that tell others and encourage all that Jesus is Lord!
Its not supposed to be some fantastic impersonation feat as though we try to impersonate Jesus Christ and his goodness as best we humanly can.
• Jesus is ALIVE.
• We simply let Him come into our lives and live through us, and ride along with Him!
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Its not: "I am sick and tired of trying to act like Jesus. I try and try to live as good as I CAN, but fail."
No. CHRIST LIVED IN PAUL.
A VIRGIN BROUGHT FORTH JESUS.
How much more of a perfect picture can you get to illustrate how its not by our efforts that we produce Jesus?
What did she do to become pregnant?
• JUST BELIEVE.
• She did not find herself a husband.
• Joseph became her husband afterwards, and knew her not until she brought forth Jesus.
• We're only vessels.
• Its not a question of "CAN I DO THIS CHRISTIAN THING?"
• ITS "CAN GOD DO IT?"
How many times has God tried to show this to us in His holy Word?
In Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
So Jesus responds:
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
And then said.
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
If it was up to you and your performance, you would not be able to do it.
• But its not.
• Its up to God.
Can you live a victorious overcoming life?
• Its not that!
• You're missing the entire point.
• You're missing the vital piece.
• Its supposed to be: CAN GOD LIVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE THROUGH YOU?
• You're betraying your continued error.
• YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO IT.
• Its Christ who wants to live in you who will do it!
HE IS THE PERFORMER!
Get off the stage.
• You ARE the stage!
• You'll only have more tomatoes thrown at your ill performance, as I would too if it was my performance.
• LET GOD PERFORM.
• THE STAGE IS YOUR LIFE.
• HE IS THE PERFORMER.
The virgin Mary.
• Nothing was natural about the impregnation.
• It was God's power.
You think its only great people who are good Christians.
• Only over-achievers.
• People with great abilities.
• You excuse yourself because you do not have certain abilities, will power, or stamina in resistance to sin.
• MARY DESTROYS YOUR ENTIRE CONCEPT.
Luke 1:46-53 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Did you hear how she declared in PROPHECY (divinely inspired speech) that she was an example of the lowly?
• The low estate of His handmaid.
• God had to show MERCY in order to do what He did.
• Mercy means there were no qualities, like greatness, or large abilities, that moved God to do what He did.
• Favour given forth that was not deserved.
• How that destroys the thoughts that some people cannot deserve this.
• HIS STRENGTH – v. 51.
• He lowers the mighty from their seats.
• "Rich man, sell all you have."
• He raises the looked-down-upon ones.
• The ones who felt they had it all, get nothing because they seek nothing.
• But the hungry are filled!
Its not great ones at all.
• Mary proves it.
• Its those of low estate.
• The non-great.
• Its not human performance.
• Its not your abilities.
Elisabeth shows us even more hope and truth about this Kingdom.
She was not a virgin.
• She was not on the side of marriage Mary was in only becoming ready to enter into marriage and bear children.
• She was on the other shore.
• She had been married for years.
• She was now elderly.
Luke 1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
You may have never tried to serve God before, because you felt you could not perform it well.
• Mary has a word for you.
But Elisabeth's message is for those who have tried to produce Jesus in your life in your own powers.
• Years have passed and all your efforts to produce a real Christian life never produced anything.
• Your Christianity is barren.
• No life ever really came forth.
• Oh, you tried to put up a good front, but deep inside you're afraid to meet God.
• BUT AFTER YOU COME TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU FINALLY REALIZE YOU CANNOT PRODUCE NATURALLY IF YOU WANTED TO, IF YOU HAD NEVER BEEN BARREN, …
• …At a stage where Elisabeth was beyond years to bear anyhow…
• …When years of opportunity are now gone…
• …and you've given up because if you could've ever produced, you would have produced by now…
• …when not only your barrenness has hindered, but compounded on top of that is age beyond your flower…
• GOD CAN DO ALL THINGS.
Luke 1:36-37 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Recall the words about the rich young ruler.
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
You are not the performer.
YOU ARE THE WOMB OF GOD'S LIFE.
For those who've never even tried to live for God, never thinking you were able…
• LOOK AT MARY.
For those who've tried for years and never really lived it…. And gave up hope…
• Look at Elisabeth.
GOD IS THE PERFORMER.
NOT YOU.
ONLY BELIEVE.
Set His power loose in your life.
• Agree with the promise of His life being in you to live through you.
• And agree with how God will perform it…. The Holy Ghost in you.
Luke 1:35-37 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Sandwiched between Mary and Elisabeth's lives was the married child-bearing life.
• Both women on either shore of the flow of life.
• Outside the parameters of God's natural plan for child-bearing.
• Fertile but unmarried Mary.
• Infertile married Elisabeth, and too old to bear if she had been fertile anyway.
Legacies of lives that tell us that GOD IS THE PERFORMER, not you! ONLY BELIEVE
