Responding to the News

Intro

Calling to ministry. People told me I was the next preacher. Didn’t want it. At Montreat, followed the call. Wanted to back out junior year. Steve Woodworth told me about the captain tying himself to the mast.

Need: How you respond to circumstances is important.

What if God called you to ministry or the mission field? Lottie Moon famously said, “The question is not why should I go, the question is why should I stay?”

Main Idea: Your response to God is a measure of faith.

We will see Mary and Elizabeth finally meet. They both responded.

Truth #1: Respond to the Holy Spirit by submitting to Christ (39-45)

Exp. Not only did Elizabeth respond, but so did John in her womb. Mary went to Judah to meet them in their house. Verse 41. John kicked in the womb. He was already filled with HS. Now, Elizabeth was. She came in contact with Jesus, and was filled with the HS. HS is the messenger of God’s truth. All through OT. Leads Elizabeth to respond. Verse 42. Semitic way of saying “most blessed.” Fruit of womb. Jesus is blessed. Not saying they “will be” blessed, but they are. Then an emphatic statement. Verse 43. Mother of my Lord. Not like this to Mary before, but is now. Called Jesus Lord. She was the first one.

Ill. First HR - Ross Barnes in 1876. First dunk - Joe Fortenberry - 1936. First gold medal - James Connolly in 1896. Didn’t give gold, but he was champion. There was a first for these things. Elizabeth was the first to acknowledge him as Lord. But then many followed.

Arg. By calling him Lord, she was submitting to him. Meeting Jesus leads her to being filled, then the HS leads her to submit to Christ. An encounter with either Jesus or HS will also include the other. When we dive into his Word, we meet the HS in the text. Why? He breathed it. He inspired it.

2 Timothy 3:16–17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Arg. We know Christ is Lord from the text. The text the HS inspired. Therefore, the HS leads us to submit to Christ.

Christ - Jesus is Lord of all. Jesus submitted to the will of God. HS commissioned his ministry and commissions ours. He is Lord because God gave him that title.

Philippians 2:5–11

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

App. What should we do? We should joyfully live as though Jesus is Lord.

LIVE joyfully as though Jesus is Lord.

Live JOYFULLY as though Jesus is Lord.

Live joyfully as though JESUS is Lord.

Live joyfully as though Jesus is LORD.

Truth #2: Respond to God’s blessings by worshipping him (46-56)

Ill. This semester, gave cinnamon rolls. One student threw up her hand and worshipped while eating.

Exp. After Elizabeth’s response, we see that of Mary’s. Mary begins by rejoicing in the Lord. Her Magnificat is a true compilation of many OT texts. Verse 46-48. Begins her song exactly how Hannah does in 1 Samuel.

1 Samuel 2:1

And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.

Exp. Mary was praising God for what he would do and how he would use her. Verses 48-49. Sees herself as blessed. Then she looks outward. Verse 50. She praised God for looking toward her humility. Now, mercy is for those who fear him. This is what he does with the proud: Verse 51-53. Scattered the proud. Who are the proud? According to this passage, the proud do not fear God, they are not hungry, and are not afflicted. It’s the ones who do not need God. Instead, we have a God who gives mercy to those who fear him, nourishment to those who are hungry, and help to those who are afflicted.

Christ - He does this in Christ. Blessings from God should lead us to worship Christ. Why? Because they are found in Christ. Mercy is given because Christ took our punishment. Nourishment is given because Christ sent the HS to dwell in us. Help is given as he was afflicted before us. Worshipping him is submitting to him. This should be a constant state of our hearts.

Exp. Verse 54-55. All the way back to Genesis. God’s plan came to fruition. Every generation is impacted.

App. What do we do? Worship him!

Worship him for his mercy.

Worship him for his nourishment.

Worship him for his help.

Conclusion

How will you respond today? Will you respond in submission to Jesus as Lord and worship him?