MAGNIFY THE LORD - Part 3
Advent 2023 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewWe are singing this carol for the third and final time today.
Notes
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This first Christmas Carol was sung in anticipation of Jesus’s arrival - the first advent.
It comes to us from this little peasant girl who was from a little peasant town that was largely avoidable in her day.
Her world is being turned completely upside down…and yet, she magnifies the LORD
SHE MAGNIFIES HIM
Because of WHO HE IS
Because of WHAT HE’S DONE
In Spite of CIRCUMSTANCES
That was week 1.
Then last Sunday, we noticed that we can Magnify Him
Because HE IS MIGHTY
Because HE DOES GREAT THINGS
Because HE DISPLAYS HIS STRENGTH
As Christians, we can MAGNIFY God because of who He Is and What He’s already done for us!
While we were meditating on the strength of God revealed in this song last week…we recognized that God is at work doing GREAT THINGS…
Mary was a nobody from nowhere, but God had done great things for her.
She was lowly, He was high
She was poor, He is KING OF GLORY
She needed saving, He was God her Savior
There is a consistent theme of COMPASSION - of mercy, kindness, and grace - in this beautiful carol.
MARY SINGS OF THIS AWESOME, FAITHFUL, POWERFUL, HOLY, COMPASSIONATE GOD!
Now if you were to do man on the street interviews, Israel certainly did not FEEL like they were present-tense recipients of God’s compassionate grace and mercy
They were still under Roman occupation
They were still oppressed in every sense of the word
They had NOT heard from God in hundreds of years.
But Mary can see and sing of God’s compassion - to the world, to His people, and to her!
Can you?
it’s possible you feel enslaved today to something or someone
it’s possible that you haven’t heard from or experienced God in longer than you care to admit
I hope that you’ll not only sing of God’s compassion today, but that we’ll MAGNIFY THE LORD by being a COMPASSIONATE people!
Let’s read it one more time together…
LUKE 1:46-55
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
Where are those notes of compassion?
Did you see them?
(48) He has looked on the humble estate of His servant
(49) He who is mighty has done great things for me
(52) exalted those of humble estate
(53) filled the hungry with good things
(54) helped his servant Israel
(55) spoke to our fathers
(54-55) God is being merciful to Abraham and His descendants through this child that Mary will have.
You know the more we dive into this particular Christmas Carol, the more Awesome God’s attributes are on display.
MODERN DAY CHRISTMAS SONGS are such a let down aren’t they?
Not this one.
So we know this is THE MIGHTY GOD!
All power is His.
David recognized that in 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 when he sang:
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
How then should the God with all this power look at his Creation…at man…at this little teenaged young woman?
OUR GREAT GLORIOUS MIGHTY WORTHY GOD…
1. LOOKS WITH MERCY
1. LOOKS WITH MERCY
(v48)
Christmas is a window into the heart of God.
He made us.
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
He sees us.
The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man,
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God.
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.”
He knows us.
would not God discover this?
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
He who formed the eye, does he not see?
He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?
He who teaches man knowledge—
the Lord—knows the thoughts of man,
that they are but a breath.
He looks with mercy on those who come to Him.
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
He looks with terrifying justice on those who reject Him.
But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness.
The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies.
His ways are marvelous in to the heavy-laden and burdened.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
He looked up and saw Zacchaeus - a hated tax collector…and said, come down - let’s eat together. SUCH MERCY!
He looked at the rich young ruler who wanted to follow Jesus - but couldn’t admit his own need for Jesus in His own life. He looks at him and loves him - knowing he will reject Him. SUCH MERCY!
He looked at Peter! Peter denied knowing Jesus for a third time, warming his hands by the fires of the onlookers. Jesus TURNS and LOOKS at him - causes Peter to remember - and he repented.
Such MERCY!
He Looks with MERCY…
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
O Lord, what is man that you regard him,
or the son of man that you think of him?
We don’t deserve His look of mercy, yet He gives it. His disposition toward humanity is MERCY.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
As Mary sings about this look of mercy…the LORD also animates her to sing of God’s lifting of the lowly:
THE LORD…
2. LIFTS WITH GRACE
2. LIFTS WITH GRACE
(52b)
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he gives favor.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
In an interview with Christianity Today, John M.G. Barclay speaks about Paul’s view of grace in his book, Paul and the Gift. When asked, “You argue that Paul’s view of grace is bizarre and unsettling, even ‘dangerous.’ Why was Paul’s view of grace so radical?,” he responded, “Paul talks about Christ as the gift of God, the grace of God. What is striking about this is that this gift is given without regard to the worth of the people who receive it. God doesn’t give discriminately to seemingly fitting recipients. He gives without regard to their social, gender, or ethnic worth. Nothing about them makes them worthy of this gift… And this view of grace breaks all sorts of social norms and expectations. The gift of Christ is larger than it should be. It is undeserved forgiveness.” (Article source: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/january-february/whats-so-dangerous-about-grace.html)
3. LOADS WITH GOODNESS
3. LOADS WITH GOODNESS
(53)
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
Long ago, a poor woman from the slums of London was invited to go with a group of people for a holiday at the ocean.
She had never seen the ocean before, and when she saw it, she burst into tears.
Those around her thought it was strange that she should cry when such a lovely holiday had been given her. “Why in the world are you crying?” they asked.
Pointing to the ocean she answered, “This is the only thing I have ever seen that there was enough of.”
The Bible says in Micah 7:19
He will again have compassion on us;
he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
God has oceans of compassion, mercy, and grace!
There is enough of it—and God delights to show his mercy and compassion!
THE LORD SHOWERS HIS PEOPLE WITH GOODNESS AND MERCY…THEY’RE CHASING AFTER US!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Later, as Jesus was fulfilling His ministry, the Scripture records,
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
This compassion of Jesus is a repeated in Matthew quite a bit.
God’s compassion is actually on display quite a bit throughout the OT (e.g., Deut. 30:3; 1 Sam. 23:21; Ps. 103:13; Isa. 49:15; 54:8; Lam. 4:10).
Jesus calls us AND EQUIPS US BY HIS SPIRIT to show compassion to those in need (e.g., Col. 3:12; Heb. 10:34; cf. James 5:11).
NOTICE THAT JESUS SEES THE NEED…THE HELPLESSNESS OF THOSE WHO NEED A SAVIOR…
So should we.
If we’re walking with Jesus, I believe He will lead us THE RIGHT WAY to the PEOPLE IN NEED AROUND US.
We can pray, LORD, GIVE ME EYES TO SEE THOSE IN NEED AROUND ME.
But, notice one other way that JESUS HAS COMPASSION ON THEM. He reveals His mission of compassion through a veiled prayer request.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Do you see that mission of SENDING!
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
Beloved, there are so many who are READY TO RECEIVE THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM -
God’s great mission of mercy…
God’s great expression of grace…
God’s great ministry of compassion
INVOLVES US ADVANCING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
WHERE WE WORK!
WHERE WE LIVE!
WHERE WE PLAY!
CHRISTMAS COMPASSION
This is the time of year when we have lots of opportunities to show compassion.
You won’t be able to alleviate all the poverty and need you encounter
You won’t be able make all the sick well
You might be overwhelmed at how the Lord opens your eyes.
It’s too much
If I can’t reach them all - what’s the use?
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
That’s quite a list.
THAT’S WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES IN AND THROUGH THE CHURCH AS LIVE “SENT” LIVES!
We are holy and beloved
because of God’s compassion, mercy, and grace!
And because of HIS COMPASSION
we PUT ON
compassionate hearts
kindness
humility
meekness
patience
forgiveness
and service.
DO YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE A GREAT CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR?
Oh friend, take encouragement from the call to greatness from our Lord.
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
THE GREAT COMMISSION
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
WE MAGNIFY THE LORD THE BEST WHEN WE LIVE OUT THE GREAT CALL OF GOD ON OUR LIVES
WHERE WE WORK
WHERE WE LIVE
WHERE WE PLAY!