Servants of Redemption

Servants of Redemption

Luke 1:26-45

INTRODUCTION

go tell it on the mountain

Hebrews faith chapter— men of faith or served God. All an important part of the redemption story.

2000 years of church history is full of those who have had an important part in the redemption story.

Redemption= the process of God taking care of our sin.

Mary and Joseph were an important part of God’s redemption story.

Mary-- found out she was pregnant at a bad time-- engaged to be married.

-God's call does not always come at a convenient time.

Servants of Redemption= Those God uses to fulfill redemption in man.

Christmas season is full of stories of servants of redemption.

Never convenient- but they act anyway.

God uses people just like us to tell His story to a world who desperately needs it.

Luke 1:26–45 ESV

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

6 Characteristics of Servants of Redemption

1. Called People (30-31)

Luke 1:30–31 ESV

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

Didn’t take up task on their own.

God in his mercy called her.

They join in where God asks them to.

Not where it is easy but where God calls.

Servants must wait for God’s calling.

Some God has to push- others he has to slow down.

His timing, not ours.

Servants must accept God’s call.

2. Humble People (34-35)

Luke 1:34–35 ESV

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

Average and ordinary does not mean humble.

different than low self-esteem or someone who has very little.

Mary was an ordinary 16 year old.

Paul the exception.

Humility has to do with not thinking of self as important as they are.

ILL- Jesus humbled himself- God who died. Didn’t make everyone give him the respect he deserved.

Mary- she could have refused to be used because she was a good Jewish girl doing what her culture expected. That would be pride. Too good to do what God asked.

Scripture is full of humble people.

Humble means

Tax collectors

Fisherman

Carpenters

3. Obedient People (38)

Luke 1:38 ESV

38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

They take up the call and live it.

"I am the Lord's servant" =

Bond Slave- a willing slave= free but gives up freedom to be a slave.

ILL– Jonah— called/ ran/ given a second chance.

God does not force man in redemption.

God gives a choice.

Yes, our decision effects God’s work of redemption.

If we fail to tell they won’t know.

If we fail to give they won’t know.

4. Enthusiastic People (39)

Luke 1:39 ESV

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,

Elijah running ahead of the chariot to give message of God’s redemption.

Next chapter-- running for his life

Always people trying to calm everyone down.

Israel missed so many blessings for ignoring the enthusiastic messenger.

5. Empowered People (35, 41)

Luke 1:35 ESV

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

Luke 1:41 ESV

41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

Holy Spirit working in man is a must for God’s redemption to take place.

We are to do nothing outside of the Spirit.

Before Pentecost the disciples were told to wait.

Every time a person was full of H.S. there was joy, excitement, and boldness

People full of Holy Spirit are not grumpy complainers-- not one time in Scripture

6. Faithful People (45)

Luke 1:45 ESV

45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

They believed that God would do what He says He will do.

Do you live like you believe God will do what He says He will do?

CONCLUSION

Are you redeemed? Are you a servant of redemption?

Your obedience is important to the redemption of man today.

We are called to be servants of redemption.

We don’t save but we are the heralds. We are the messengers.

God allows us to join in his redemption plan.

Are you someone God can use?