Fear and Joy don't mingle

Fear. Emotional foreboding or dread of impending distress or misfortune. Often spoken of as the source of religion. Yet fear alone can never account for true religion, since men are impelled to draw near unto God, the object of their worship. One does not desire to come close to the being he fears.1

Joy an attitude of pleasure and well being

JOY. The experience of deliverance and the anticipation of salvation provide the most significant occasions for rejoicing among the people of God in the OT. The coming of the Messiah, who delivers his people and brings salvation becomes the basis for rejoicing in the NT. The response of joy, gladness, or happiness is not only a deep inward feeling, but is expressed in celebration when God’s people gather together1

1 Arnold, C. E. (1992). Joy. In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 3, p. 1022). New York: Doubleday.

WE: IDENTIFICATION (MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU STRUGGLE)

There are many things that attack joy and I see fear as the major one.

As a church we have had many fine folk face this battle.

In truth I think each of us in our own way are confronted with this type of struggle.

How can we live the joyful life?

Let us look at Mary’s life?

GOD: ILLUMINATION (THE GOAL IS TO RESOLVE THE TENSION

I. MARY UNPACKS THE PROMISE

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.

A. We see the attitude of faith from her lips.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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

B. She started out troubled and asking many questions.

Troubled: greatly perplexed

Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke 1:1–9:50 i. Fear Before the Angel and a Calm Greeting (1:28–30)

She heard that God was with her and that she was an object of his grace. What was God going to do to her?

You would be the mother of the most important baby in human existence

C. You will be the Mother of the Messiah.

a.Holy Spirit will come upon you

b. Elizabeth is pregnant

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37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

c. Mary leaves in haste

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

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke 1:1–9:50 i. Setting (1:39)

(3) Mary’s departure reflects an instant response to God’s leading. This view is the most satisfying.

Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke 1:1–9:50 i. Setting (1:39)

(3) Mary’s departure reflects an instant response to God’s leading. This view is the most satisfying

II. THE GIFT PRODUCES JOY

A. Mary enters the house of Zech and Elizabeth

a. Elizabeth hears and Baby jumps

b. Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit

c. She spoke under the influence:

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“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

English Standard Version Chapter 1

43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

44 … when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

B. Mary had Blessing spoken over her.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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

A. If Mary is blessed because of this gift and her faith, should we not feel this way as God guides us?

Sue & Dave Marks liver

Andrea cancer

Ernie and Sue with Lydia

b. The church in our current need?

C. That God would use us to reach others for Christ.

D. With what ever you go through?

III. THE FIRST CHRISTMAS CAROL

A. Mary’s deep utterance of worship

English Standard Version Chapter 1

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Soul

υχή (psyche). n. fem. inner self, life, person. The life-force of a person or animal.

This noun can refer to the inner part of the person that thinks, wills, feels, and desires

The very essences of who she is!

seat and center of the inner human life in its many and varied aspects, soul

Magnifies:

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. μεγαλύνω

to cause to be held in greater esteem through praise or deeds, exalt, glorify, magnify, speak highly of

Spirit is another way of saying the soul.

B. Mary talks about God’s promises

Mary rejoices in God her Savior. The verb of praise, ἠγαλλίασεν (ēgalliasen, rejoiced), is a term of eschatological rejoicing, as 1:14 and especially 1:44 suggest. God’s special work produces this rejoicing

English Standard Version Chapter 1

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

Mary describes herself as God’s handmaiden (the repetition of δούλης connects this verse to 1:38), which acknowledges her subordinate position before God. She did not expect or assume that she should be the object of such special attention from God, so she is grateful for the attention. She also describes herself as of “low status,” which term (ταπείνωσιν, tapeinōsin) many see as a more natural reference to barrenness1

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

55 as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

C. Mary remains

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

If we rest in God’s promises rather than fear, the joy of the Lord will be our strength.

YOU: APPLICATION (TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO AND WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD)

Conclusion:

Fear and joy don’t mingle

The joy of the Lord is my strength

What God promised and what seemed impossible (1:37) was possible for God, as he delivered on his commitment

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