Untitled Sermon (13)

Introduction

This morning, we will continue the conversation between the angel Gabriel and Mary.

b. Last week I highlighted three key points about Mary that was introduced by the angel Gabriel at the beginning of the conversation

Last week I highlighted three key points about Mary that was introduced by the angel Gabriel at the beginning of the conversation

The word “hail” is a cheerful greeting. The reason Gabriel opened the conversation with this word was not because of anything going on externally.

1. Residence – poor

Residence – poor

Religious system was broken – even though over the last couple weeks we have been introduced to three people who were righteous and redeemed, this was the exception, not the rule.

Religious system was broken – even though over the last couple weeks we have been introduced to three people who were righteous and redeemed, this was the exception, not the rule.

Relationship would change

3. Relationship would change

2. Highly favoured

Not because she had an immaculate conception without original sin. This interpretation does not fit within the context of this story not the rest of the bible.

2. Rather, she was highly favored because God blessed her with grace.

Rather, she was highly favored because God blessed her with grace.

3. Being highly favored was something just for Mary within the framework f being the vessel God would use to birth His Son.

Being highly favored was something just for Mary within the framework f being the vessel God would use to birth His Son.

4. I do not want to undermine this or dismiss this. She was highly favored but so are we as vessels God uses for His purpose and glory.

I do not want to undermine this or dismiss this. She was highly favored but so are we as vessels God uses for His purpose and glory.

1 Corinthians 15:10

1 Corinthians 15:10 KJV 1900

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

3. Honored - blessed amon women

the word “blessed” is eulogy - people will speak well of her. She wont be blessed above women but among women

Why will she be blessed? we will find out this morning. As Paul Harvey said “Here is the rest of the story.”

We will begin this story with Mary and end with Mary, sandwiched in between is Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

2) Mary's Self-worth v28-30

Mary's Self-worth v28-30

One fo the things I noticed so much with resolutions people made on New Year’s day was self-love. They wanted to love themselves more! This would fly in the face of Mary’s appraisal of her self-worth.

Before I do this, I want to put context to this:

God values us! He has placed a high premium on us

Loving us is important in relationship to how we love others

Mark 12:30–31 KJV 1900

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

However, more often than not the self-love people embrace today is all about themselves and has nothing or very little to do with loving others.

There are similarities between Zacharias and Mary

Both are saved

Both are faithfully serving the Lord

Both are focused on pleasing God, rather than men.

However, they handled the message the Angel Gabriel gave them in completely different ways.

Zacharias was troubled at the appearance of the Angel Gabriel and was skeptical of his message

Mary was not troubles at the appearance of the Angel Gabriel but was troubled with the message with the message because she believed the message to be true.

Why the difference between the two?

Zacharias and his wife had prayed and prayed for a child. Now they are old and beyond the typical child bearing years. Gabriel came to tell them God heard their pray and was ready to answer. Yet, Zacharias did not believe. It seems that Zacharias had quit praying some time ago and had become jaded in the entire process. We become jaded with the prayer process when we have an entitlement mentality. We lose sight of our humbleness.

On the other hand, Mary “was troubled at his saying.” v.29

She was greatly perplexed. There was agitation. Not because God could not do it but because she was unworthy to be the mother of Jesus!

Cast in her mind - great thought - she was upset and puzzled

What manner -

Why was she upset and puzzled.

- we understood what things Joseph thought about by the Angels answer to him - Fear not to take Mary to be thy wife.

In the same way, we understand why Mary is upset and puzzled at the message of Jesus:

The angel clams her emotions by saying “fear not” - thou hast found favor with God.

It was the hope of many Jewish mothers that their child would be the Messiah - https://jewsforjesus.org/publications/issues/issues-v09-n01/the-promised-child/

However, in Mary’s case she was upset and puzzled because she did not feel worthy enough to be the mother of Jesus.

This is why the angel comforted her with the words - your worthiness is you found favour with God.

The word favoured means grace

she saw God as a grace giver!

She was unworthy because she needed grace to be right with God - Yet God says this is in fact the reason you are worthy - My Grace!

Genesis 6:8 KJV 1900

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Jesus the Sovereign v.31-33

How the the Lord revealed the birth of Jesus to Jospeh and Mary are vastly different

Joseph’s message was focused on Jesus as redeemer - suffering Lamb

Mary’s message focused on Jesus the Sovereign - Sovereign Lord

THE Titles OF JESUS

Jesus - Jehovah is salvation

Son of the Highest - We are sons and daughters of God based upon our relationship with the Father. Jesus is the Son of God relationally but also, based upon His title within the Godhead.

He is God, who is the most high God!

Notice He will be called this - He is not being called this today but there will be a day He is called by all The Son of the Highest.

Notice his reign as the Son of the Most High

He will rule Israel

And His kingdom will last forever.

No one can stop the inevitable

Illustration - CFP

It is inevitable because the power that be has decreed it to be true!

Holy Spirit the Supernatural v.34-37

Within the Angel’s message we have eh Trinity working in unison

The Son

The Father

and Now the Holy Spirit

Mary ask how this will happen - notice she did ask for a sign to validate the message - she did not need a sign - she believed the message - she wanted to know how a virgin can be pregnant without the contributions from a guy.

The Holy Spirit will miraculously come in and plant the seed in your womb.

If I can do this with ELIZABETH than I can do this with you

There is something importnat in this:

With Elizabeth he had to open the womb during an intimate moment between her and Zacharias, her husband.

With Mary, He had to put Himself in as a seed into the womb of Mary without any contribution from men.

The point is with God there is not a hard task.

5) Mary the Servant v.38

6) Conclusion