Hope for the Holidays - Dec. 24th, 2023

Pre-Introduction:

For those joining us online, you’re listening to the Services of the Broomfield Baptist Church. This is the Pastor bringing the Sunday Morning message entitled “Hope for the Holidays.” We invite you to follow along with us in your Bible in the Book of Luke, chapter one, and verses thirty-nine to forty-five.

Every year around this time, I find myself reflecting on a particular childhood memory. It was a cold December evening, the kind where the air itself seems to shimmer with anticipation. My family gathered around our old, slightly lopsided Christmas tree, its lights casting a warm glow in our living room. It was not the gifts or the decorations that made this moment stand out in my memory, but the feeling of togetherness, of shared hope and joy. And isn't that what Christmas is all about? A time for hope, for togetherness (God “with” us), and for reflecting on the profound blessings in our lives.

Introduction:

[Start Low]

Luke 1:45 KJV 1900

And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

I was walking around a store the other day, doing some Christmas “window shopping” because everything is so expensive, and I can’t bring myself to actually go to the register, due to inflation, and you know how it is, you don’t get to pick what gets played through the speakers, and I heard a song that mentioned Christmas, so I perked up my ears. The phrase that caught my attention was where John Lennon once said, “And so this is Christmas, and what have we done? Another year over, and a new one just begun.” This lyric, though not music that I would have selected if I were in charge of the radio dial, is simple enough, and it echoes a profound truth. It invited me to pause and reflect: What has this year meant for me? How have I grown, what have I learned, and most importantly, where do I find hope as I stand on the threshold of a new year? I’m glad to report, my hope is not in John Lennon. Today, as we consider this account of Mary and the miracles of the Spirit, we seek to find that hope – a hope that is not just a shallow wish, but a certainty rooted in faith and love.

John Lennon is also quoted as saying, “Jesus was alright, but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.” Point out that Mr. Lennon is fundamentally misunderstanding the fact that God intentionally chooses thick, ordinary disciples like Zechariah, Mary, Elizabeth, Peter, and all of us to reveal his amazing grace and power. Far from twisting the intent of Jesus’s gospel, this undeserved sanctifying and deploying of regular, unremarkable people into amazing ministry proves the power of God and ensures a grateful, humble people of God. [TTC Lu]

Faith is the essence of the Christian life. At the outset, believers are “justified by faith without the deeds of the Law” (Rom. 3:28; cf. 5:1; Gal. 2:16) and thus are “children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26). Paul wrote of living the Christian life, “the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God” (Gal. 2:20). In John 20:29 Jesus said to Thomas, “Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed? Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (cf. 1 Peter 1:8). “Faith,” notes the writer of Hebrews, “is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1; cf. 2 Cor. 4:18; Rom. 8:25), apart from which it is impossible to please God (v. 6). But as still fallen people, though “we walk by faith, and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7), even those whose faith is strongest experience doubts and discouragement. The Bible makes it clear that all through redemptive history God has been the encourager of His people, confirming and strengthening their faith. [MNTC Lk 1-5]

Main Thought: Faith in God's Word is deepened when lived out in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:39-45 describes Mary's visit to Elizabeth, her relative, and Elizabeth's recognition of Mary's unborn child as the Lord. During this period, in Jewish society, familial bonds and relationships were highly significant. The act of Mary visiting Elizabeth would have been seen as a demonstration of familial care and support, which was a crucial aspect of their culture.

The acknowledgment of Mary's unborn child as the Lord by Elizabeth would have resonated deeply with the original audience. This recognition of Jesus' divinity, even before his birth, aligns with Jewish Messianic expectations and the belief in prophetic revelation. The original audience, familiar with Old Testament prophecies and the anticipation of a Messiah, would have understood this encounter as a significant event fulfilling God's promises.

Body:

I. Mary’s Hasty Visit (Lk. 1:39-40)

[Go Slow]

A. Mary’s Departure (Lk. 1:39)

Luke 1:39 KJV 1900

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

Note - “in those days” = when Gabriel visited her.

Note - There might be a comparison by Luke to Samuel’s miraculous birth in the wording of this verse (cf. 1 Sam. 1:1).

Note - John Phillips points out the “polysyndeton” in Luke’s narrative… “And… and… and...”

Note - Possible motives for Mary’s haste: Social Pressure regarding the Law (see Deut. 22:24); heading to Zacharias’ house (an ordained priest) might be much like fleeing to a “city of refuge” to wait out the justice of the Law. While that may be in the backdrop, the more contextual reason is that Mary wanted to go because of Gabriel’s words to her concerning Elisabeth’s pregnancy (which was still to this point hidden; Mary knew about Elisabeth’s, but not vice versa yet).

Note - Greene points out that the trip may have been “theologically motivated” by the word “went” or journey which can connote a going related to the fulfillment the divine purpose (see Lk. 9:51).

If so, Luke thus describes Mary’s journey as consequential in redemption history, relating her journey to her primary identification as servant of the Lord (1:38) and to the narrative need to identify Gabriel’s “sign.” [NICNT Lk]

Note - Grant points out that this would have been an eighty to a hundred miles (three-to-four-day journey) [Luke: Verse by Verse]

Let us travel back in time to a humble scene in Nazareth. Picture a young Mary, her heart brimming with uncertainty and awe, as an angel appears with a message that would forever alter the course of her life – and our history. Imagine the swirl of emotions as she hears of the coming Messiah, her son, born to bring hope to a waiting world. This isn't just a distant biblical event; it's a story of faith, courage, and the extraordinary ways in which God enters our ordinary lives.

Quote -

“God never does anything to you that isn’t for you.” ~ Elizabeth Eliot [Craig Brian Larson and Brian Lowery, 1001 Quotations That Connect: Timeless Wisdom for Preaching, Teaching, and Writing (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2009), 16.]

Imagine the bustling streets of Nazareth, the air filled with the scent of fresh earth and the distant sound of carpenters at work. It's here, in this ordinary setting, that Mary receives an extraordinary message. Picture her, a young woman with hopes and dreams like any of us, suddenly facing a divine calling that would change the world.

B. Mary’s Greeting (Lk. 1:40)

Luke 1:40 KJV 1900

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

Note - Cf. Ex. 18:7 for a similar Hebrew greeting [NICNT Lk]

Note - Zachariah remains mute in the background [ZECNT Lu]

Note - Luke draws emphasis to this salutation by a three-fold reference to it in these verses [ZECNT Lu]

Illustration: An Ancient Greeting

The Italian architect-believer, Fra Giovanni, wrote in 1513:

I salute you. There is nothing I can give you which you have not;

but there is much that, while I cannot give you, you can take.

No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today.

Take heaven …

No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in the present.

Take peace …

The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet within our

reach is joy. Take joy …

And so at this Christmas time I greet you with the prayer that for

you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away.[1]

[1 Christian Century Pulpit, December, 1957, “Greeting at Christmas,” by Fra Giovanni, AD 1513, p. 22. Permission requested.] [G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1986), 56–57.]

Application: Making Haste

How long do you think it would take you to drive from the northernmost point in Alaska to the southernmost tip of Florida? Here’s a hint: the distance from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Key West, Florida, exceeds 5,400 miles. In 2004, it took Gary Eagan of Salt Lake City only 100 hours to make the trip on a motorcycle.

Also imagine riding a motorcycle some 2,900 miles from New York City to San Francisco in 47 hours and 41 minutes. Michael Kneebone did just that, in the process setting a 24-hour endurance record of 1,704 miles. One might imagine that the speed limit was broken along the way!

Mary and Elisabeth lived in slower-moving times, making their world a much smaller place than ours, figuratively speaking. They would have been surprised at the distance we can travel in a single hour. Haste is a relative idea. Mary’s journey “in haste” would be agonizingly slow to us today. Yet its purpose was certainly nobler than either of the two time-and-distance achievements noted above! Do we have the perspective to acknowledge this fact? [KJV SLC 2008-2009]

After reflecting on Mary's experience, I invite you to pause for a moment. Think about a time in your life when you faced uncertainty or a significant challenge. How did your faith guide you? How might Mary's story inspire us to respond to God's call, even when it's unexpected or daunting?

Mary was making tracks to confirm the Word of the Lord given to her. Are you making tracks to the Word of God that has been given to you? How long has it been? Friend, you’ve not missed the bus yet if you’re still breathing! It’s time to board the Bible Bus, and make tracks in the Word of God!

Transition: We’ve seen Mary’s haste, now let’s look at what occurred more deeply when she arrived.

II. The Spirit’s Signs & Wonders (Lk. 1:41)

[Climb Higher]

A. The Leaping Baby Baptist (Lk. 1:41a)

Luke 1:41 KJV 1900

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:

Note - Mary’s Greeting plus the Baby’s Leaping form an inclusio around Elisabeth’s humility.

Note - On the Sanctity of the Life, namely in those Unborn:

BREPHOS - Further let it be noted that the word Brephos used of the “babe” lying in the manger in Luke 2:16 is the same word used of the “babe” in the womb in Luke 1:44. [John Clark, “Disregard for Human Life: A Study of Abortion,” in The Godly Family in a Sick Society, ed. Melvin D. Curry, Florida College Annual Lectures (Temple Terrace, FL: Florida College Bookstore, 1979), 251.]

Note - WBC Vol. 35A points out the impact of the unborn

Jewish tradition is familiar with the idea that unborn children may take part in events of the world and anticipate prenatally their later positions in life (Gen 25:22–23; Tg. Ket. Ps 68:27; cf. Str-B, 2:100–101). The Johannine expression of the same attitude for John the Baptist in later life is to be found in John 3:29. John witnesses to the one who comes after him. While Elizabeth responds to the greeting, the unborn John responds directly to the presence of the unborn Jesus: Elizabeth’s inspired blessing in v 42 takes account of both. [WBC Vol. 35A]

Note - The manner of the Baptist’s “leaping” (from “skirtao” - cf. Gen. 25:22; Joel 1:17; Ps. 114:4; Mal. 4:2; Lk. 6:23).

Note - Like David leaping before the Ark (2 Sam. 6:16). [WBC Vol. 35A]

Note - Robertson points out that this leaping is “A common enough incident with unborn children (Gen. 25:22), but Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit to understand what had happened to Mary.” [Word Pictures in the New Testament]

Note - Sorenson remarks:

It is of note that the embryo within Elisabeth is not called ‘an unviable tissue mass.’ Though unborn, the infant clearly was a person and though perhaps mystically, nevertheless, leaped in excitement at the presence of Mary and the One she was carrying. According to Luke 1:15, John already was filled with the Holy Ghost. Though still unborn, he through the Holy Spirit was thrilled to be in proximity of his Lord. Moreover, Elisabeth at that time was filled with the Holy Ghost. It should be pointed out how she did not speak in tongues or any other charismatic manifestation. The vast majority of scriptural incidence of people being filled with the Holy Spirit produced no signs, wonders, or other charismata. [UTB, IBC, Vol. 8 - Matt-Lk]

Illustration:

Babies Make the Difference

A remarkably revealing article appeared in the August 15, 1983, issue of Time entitled, “What Do Babies Know?” Michael Lewis, a psychologist, presides over the data being gathered by the Institute for the Study of Child Development at Rutgers Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Among the startling facts: Babies are born “legally blind.” Although unable to see, a newborn nevertheless holds up a hand, as if examining it, within seven minutes after birth. Their ears function well. Within a few weeks they recognize the sound of their mother’s voice. Incidentally, babies seem to prefer the tone of the female voice over that of the male. At twelve hours old, an infant which has never tasted anything, not even his/her mother’s milk, gurgles with satisfaction on receiving a drop of sugar water. At twenty-three days of age the baby can imitate adults.

Beyond risks and costs of rearing children today, having a baby is an act of faith and hope. “It represents a belief in better things to come.”

When a wrong needs righting, a truth needs telling, a song needs singing, a soul needs saving—God sends a baby into the world to accomplish it. [G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1986), 58–59.]

B. The Lady’s Praise & Prophecy (Lk. 1:41b)

Luke 1:41 KJV 1900

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:

Note - Dr. McGee comments how “Dr. Luke was the poet who gives us all the songs of Christmas; this is the first one, and it comes from Elisabeth.” [Thru the Bible Vol. 37]

Note - “Elisabeth is thus the first singer of the New Dispensation” [EB Lk-Ga]

Note - The Expositor’s Bible commentary waxes eloquent regarding Dr. Luke’s songs:

Unlike modern church-builders, St. Luke sets his chancel by the porch. No sooner have we passed through the vestibule of his Gospel than we find ourselves within a circle of harmonies. On the one side are Zacharias and Simeon, the one chanting his “Benedictus,” and the other his “Nunc Dimittis.” Facing them, as if in antiphon, are Elisabeth and Mary, the one singing her “Beatitude,” and the other her “Magnificat”; while overhead, in the frescoed and star-lighted sky, are vast multitudes of the heavenly host, enriching the Advent music with their “Glorias.” What means this grand irruption of song? and why is St. Luke, the Gentile Evangelist, the only one who repeats to us these Hebrew psalms? ...St. Luke...is portraying the Son of Man. Coming to redeem humanity, he shows how He was first born into that humanity, making His advent in a purely human fashion. And so the two conceptions form a fit beginning for his Gospel; while over the Divine Birth and Childhood he lingers reverently and long, paying it, however, only the homage Heaven had paid it before. [EB Lu-Ga]

Note - Remember, Mary knew about Elisabeth’s pregnancy, but Elisabeth did not yet know about Mary being with child - this came as a Divine Revelation to her through the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Note - “ἀνεφώνησε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ” many times is used to describe an inspired utterance (cf. Mk. 9:24; Jn. 1:15; 7:28, 37; Rom. 8:15; 9:27; Gal. 4:6). [Luke (NAC)]

Note - “In the Old Testament, as here, the filling of the Spirit is often associated with the prophetic gift. After four hundred years of silence, the Spirit of prophecy is appearing again in Israel (cf. 1:67; 2:25, 27).” [ZIBBC NT 1]

Let’s consider Mary's example of faith in the face of uncertainty. Many of us may face our own uncertainties or challenges. How can we, like Mary, respond with faith and trust in God’s plan? Here’s a practical step: This week, I encourage each of you to take a quiet moment. Reflect on an area of your life where you face uncertainty. In that moment, offer a simple prayer of trust to God, just as Mary did, embracing the unknown with faith. Let's make this holiday season a time of trusting more deeply in God’s guidance, just as Mary did.

Application: Filled With (Controlled By) the Holy Spirit

Object Lesson:

God is the rescuer of the poor and afflicted, and responds generously to those who acknowledge their powerlessness

Bible: This concept can be well illustrated with a brief look into a number of Scriptures, such as the Beatitudes (Matt. 5); Psalm 34:18; or the widow’s oil (2 Kings 4).

Object Lesson: Use three clear glasses. The first should be filled with red wine or grape juice. The second should be empty. The third should be empty and broken or punctured so that it will leak. Tell your listeners that the three glasses represent three hearts. The first (juice) is already filled to overflowing with rich things. The second is empty, but still rigid and proud. The last is both empty and broken by the trials and sorrows of this life. Show your listeners a bottle of olive oil and say it represents gifts and power as conveyed by the Holy Spirit. (1) Pour a little olive oil into the wine-filled glass, comment on how little room there is for God’s gifts, and point out how they won’t mingle with the rich things already there. The gift of God becomes a superficial layer that never penetrates to the depths of that heart. (2) Pour oil into the empty glass and point out that there is room to receive the oil but that heart is a dead-end for those blessings. The empty but proud heart is willing to receive and hoard, but the blessings will spoil over time. (3) Pour oil into the empty and broken glass (make sure to have something underneath to catch the leaks). Explain that an empty, broken heart pleases God since it must receive more of him daily, and always leaks his blessings out to others. Just as Mary proclaims, God delights to fill the poor, broken, and hungry with good things as a way of enriching the world and revealing his glory. [TTC Lu]

Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, that is, He took control of her, guiding her speech and actions.

Three persons in chapter 1 are said to be filled with the Holy Spirit: John the Baptist (v. 15); Elizabeth (v. 41); and Zacharias (v. 67).

One of the marks of a Spirit-filled life is speaking in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:18, 19). We are not surprised therefore to find three songs in this chapter, as well as two in the next. [Believer’s Bible Commentary]

Note - The best work of your heart and hands can only be done with eternal value to God when you are filled with the Holy Spirit:

We read, “Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost;” and again, Zacharias was “filled with the Holy Ghost;” Simeon “came in the Spirit into the Temple;” while Mary now seemed to live in one conscious, constant inspiration. It is said that “a poet is born, not made;” and if he be not thus “free-born” no “great sum,” either of gold or toil, will ever pass him up within the favoured circle. And the same is true of the poet’s creations. Sacred hymns are not the product of the unaided intellect. They do not come at the bidding of any human will. They are inspirations. There is the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit in their conception. The human mind, heart, and lips are but the instrument, a kind of Æolian lyre, played upon by the Higher Breath, which comes and goes—how, the singer himself can never tell; for

“In the song

The singer has been lost.”

It was when “filled with the Spirit” that Bezaleel put into his gold and silver the thoughts of God; it was when the Spirit of God came upon him that Balaam took up his parable, putting into stately numbers Israel’s forward march and endless victories. And so the sacred psalm is the highest type of inspiration; it is a voice from no earthly Parnassus, but from the Mount of God itself—the nearest approach to the celestial harmonies, the harmonies of that city whose very walls are poetry, and whose gates are praise. [EB Lk-Ga]

As we think about the signs and wonders of the Spirit, let's not forget the small miracles happening around us every day. This week, try to identify and acknowledge these daily miracles. Perhaps it’s a kind word from a stranger, a moment of peace amid chaos, or an unexpected resolution to a problem. Recognize and share these moments with your family or friends, and see how acknowledging these 'everyday wonders' can bring a new sense of hope and joy this holiday season.

Think of it this way: Just as a small candle can light up a dark room, so too can a single act of faith illuminate our lives. This holiday season, let each of us be that candle, carrying the light of hope and faith into the new year.

Transition: Mary made haste, and found God’s Word to be faithfully carried out as given by His Angel, now notice thirdly:

III. Beatitude Blessings (Lk. 1:42-45)

[Take Fire]

A. Honor (Lk. 1:42)

Luke 1:42 KJV 1900

And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Note - Wiersbe rightly points out that Elisabeth “did not say that Mary was blessed above women but among women, and certainly this is true. While we don’t want to ascribe to Mary that which only belongs to God, neither do we want to minimize her place in the plan of God.” [The Bible Exposition Commentary]

Note - This is very likely an Hebrew Superlative in Elisabeth’s humble elation, or “most blessed.” [ExpGT1 Com]

Note - “fruit of thy womb” is an Hebraism (Gen. 30:2; Lam. 2:20; cf. also Deut. 7:13; 28:4). The Lord had already been conceived. [Luke (NAC)]

Note - Dr. Ironside applies this to how the elder women are to be an encouragement to the younger women through comfort and help [Addresses on the Gospel of Luke]

Note - Elisabeth’s usage of the 2nd person here, but then the 3rd person in verse 45, and how that others are invited to respond, like Mary, with faith. [NICNT lk]

Note - Elisabeth demonstrates great humility by the greater becoming the lesser (she is Mary’s elder, and she is the wife of a priest of Israel). The Baptist has a wonderful example of a mother from whom he learned “He must increase, I must decrease...” (cf. Jn 3:29).

B. Humility (Lk. 1:43-44)

Luke 1:43–44 KJV 1900

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.

Note - “whence is this to me...” literally, (and very roughly) “Why me, this…” or paraphrased, “Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come visit me?”

Note - ina with subjunctive here is in place of an epexegetical infinitive and standing in apposition to Elisabeth’s question.

Note - This is the first time that the title “Lord” is applied to Jesus in Luke’s Gospel: “a term that occurs twenty-three times in the birth narrative to refer to the God of Israel. It highlights the continuity between Jesus and the Lord God of Israel, whose mighty acts of deliverance in Israel’s past are recalled in Mary’s hymn of praise. This recognition also confirms that he is Lord “from the inception of his life.”10 The greeting further highlights the contrast between Jesus and John; Jesus is Lord.” [ZECNT Lu]

Note - Constable discusses Luke’s use of kurios:

This title has a double meaning. It is the word the Septuagint used to translate the Hebrew “Yahweh,” and the New Testament writers used it the same way. As such, it implies deity. It also means “master” in the sense of a superior person, specifically the Messiah. This usage does not necessarily imply that the person using it believed that Jesus was God. Elizabeth apparently meant that Jesus was the Messiah at least. Luke evidently used the term “Lord” frequently because for Greek readers “Christ” or “Messiah” had little meaning. The pagan Gentiles referred to Caesar as “Lord” Caesar meaning that he was their divine sovereign. “Lord” had the same connotation for Luke’s original readers. Jesus is the divine sovereign for Christians. [Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible]

Illustration: True Humility

“What is humility? It is that habitual quality whereby we live in the truth of things: the truth that we are creatures and not the Creator; the truth that our life is a composite of good and evil, light and darkness; the truth that in our littleness we have been given extravagant dignity. Humility is saying a radical yes to the human condition.” —Bishop Robert F. Morneau, Green Bay, Wisconsin

[Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 502.]

After discussing John’s “leap of faith,” I’d like you to take a moment and think: When was a time you took a leap of joy-filled, Spirit-empowered faith in your life? How did it feel? What was the outcome? Please turn to the person next to you and share your experience briefly.

C. Hope in Faith (Lk. 1:45)

Luke 1:45 KJV 1900

And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Note - “performance” teleiosis denotes “a fulfillment, completion, perfection, an end accomplished as the effect of a process,” (Heb. 7:11). [Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words]

Hebrews 7:11 KJV 1900

11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Note - The AV gives the proper sense by providing the explanatory colon… Why will Mary’s faith be blessed? Why will anyone’s faith be blessed by God? Simply put, because God will fulfill His Word!

Note - Jonathan Edwards had made an note in his Bible regarding the Faith of the Virgin Mary: “It is worthy of our remark that Mary, though a young virgin, should so readily believe an event in itself so much more wonderful than that which Zacharias, though an aged priest, had found it so difficult to credit.” [The “Blank Bible”: Part 1 & Part 2]

Note - Both Elisabeth’s and Mary’s faith is equally demonstrated in this passage. Elisabeth had to believe that God’s revelation to her was true, and that Mary was not pregnant due to infidelity. Mary had to believe that Gabriel had truly been sent by God to give her a prophetic word regarding the Virgin Birth’s fulfillment through her, and because she believed God, she got to the be ONE WOMAN in ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY that God accomplished His promise to Eve through! What great thing will God do through your faith? Only be thou believing! According to thy faith, may it be to thee! What Mountain will God use your faith to move for the kingdom of His Son?

Note - As Ironside stated: “Here was absolute faith, not only in the purity of Mary but also in the words of Gabriel, that the mysterious child to be born would be none other than God manifested in the flesh.” [Addresses on the Gospel of Luke]

Note - When we encounter Mary in the Scriptures, we are forced to decide, will we have the same childlike faith in God’s Word as she?

Illustration: Decisions

Jim Elliot, a dedicated missionary in Ecuador who was killed by the Auca Indians in 1956, said it well: “Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.” (Cited by Elisabeth Elliot, The Shadow of the Almighty [New York: Harper & Row, 1979], p. 59.)319 [Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 100–101.]

Application: This is nothing short of a miracle-

What we are dealing with here is miraculous, and there is no use trying to offer a natural explanation. You either believe what happened in these verses or you do not. I am so weary of people today, especially preachers, who try to appear intellectual by attempting to explain away the miracles in the Bible. You either accept the miracles of the Bible or you do not, and what took place in these verses was a miracle. This woman is filled with the Holy Spirit, and the babe leaps in her womb. [Thru the Bible Vol. 37]

“In the end, the only real reason for rejecting the historicity of the virgin birth is a philosophical denial of the supernatural in general and of the incarnation in particular.” [The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith]

“...similar to the cry of the unknown woman in 11:27, who said (literally), “Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps which thou hast sucked,” to which Jesus replied,

Luke 11:28 KJV 1900

But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Mary is the faithful bearer of the Christ child, but it is the Messiah himself who carries the true blessing.” [Luke: Verse by Verse]

Conclusion:

As we draw to a close, let us remember the key messages from today's sermon. First, Mary's unwavering faith in the face of life-altering news – a reminder of the strength that comes from trusting in God’s plans. Second, the Spirit’s signs and wonders, teaching us to see God’s hand in the everyday miracles of our lives. And finally, our call to action – to step into this holiday season with a heart full of trust and eyes open to the wonders that surround us.

Note - In considering Mary’s Blessed “Happiness”:

The words of an old divine are deep and true: “Happiness communicated doubles itself. Grief grows greater by concealing: joy by expression.” [J.C. Ryle, Luke: Crossway Classic Commentaries]

Application: Standing on the Promises

All of life is built on promises. Marriage begins with promises...Business is built on promises, as everyone who has ever signed a promissory note knows. It begins with, “I promise to pay.” People who enter the military must first make promises. Elected officials are inducted into office with promises. The God of the whole Bible is a God of promises Who has been proven time and again to keep His Word. You can see His track record in the Old Testament and mark it in the New Testament. You can observe it in the lives of others, and you can experience it in your own life. God is faithful to His promises. He always has been and He always will be. Many products are advertised on the basis of their performance, from automobiles to kitchen devices. God’s performance record is perfect. Elisabeth believed this. Mary believed this. The whole history of the church is the record of men and women who believed this. It is the kind of faith that will cheer you on your worst day and calm you on your best day. The old song is right: we are standing on the promises. In truth there is no other place to stand.   [Adapted from: KJV SLC 2002-2003]

B. Gospel Invitation:

May this season be a beacon of hope, guiding you towards a new year filled with blessings and joy!