Jesus's Birth Set God's Plan in Motion

Did you see who Time magazine declared as 2019 person of the year? Greta Thunberg, a 16 year old who environmental activist and founder of the school strike for the climate campaign.

Did you see who was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize? Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia. He was awarded the prize for his effort to achieve peace and international cooperation in resolving the border conflict between Ethiopia and the neighboring country of Eritrea. (He is facing accusations of a heavy-handed crackdown on political protests, skipped a news conference after his acceptance speech.)

These are national and international awards. Let’s think about who might be considered the person of the year if we narrow our perspective to those around us, in our lives, town or states. The list would include the most successful people in any field, business, medicine, sports, music, education, the arts, politics. We even have people who are considered important just because they have carved a niche in social media.

Throughout human history every generation has identified those it thinks are most important. Those important people may have admirable qualities, they may have done great humanitarian deeds.

Are these people really important? Yes, to the world. The world has a set of standards it uses to decide who is important. The world standards are not God’s standards. Of course, there are some things that are good that the world honors, humanitarian work, charity and service. But even those, such as awarding the Nobel Peace Prize, are measured by a different standard from God’s standards.

God has a plan for bringing His values into the world, to turn the values of the world upside down! God’s plan is centered on Jesus. God’s plan was set in motion by one event, Jesus birth. Jesus birth started a domino effect that is going to continue until all of the worlds values and standards collapse.

Have you ever lined up domino’s and then tipped the first one to set in motion knocking them all down? I want to show you an amazing YouTube video of 15,000 domino’s falling. It’s by a young lady who goes by Havesh5. It took 25 hours to set this up.

Jesus birth was the first domino in God’s plan. We see a glimpse of God’s plan in the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth that happened right after Mary was told she would be the mother of the Messiah. The angel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was also going to have a baby. Last week we looked at how Elizabeth responded when Mary greeted her. Today we are going to look at Mary’s response to Elizabeth.

Transition: Both of these women we’re part of God’s plan. Their part was to give birth to John and Jesus. When this encounter happens it’s all about their miraculous pregnancies.

Their thoughts were on the birth of their babies. The Holy Spirit filled them and reveal to them and through them that it wasn’t just the birth of the Messiah. It was how the Messiah, Jesus was going to change everything!

Bottom line: God planned to turn the world upside down through Jesus.

Here is the passage we are looking at today.

Luke 1:46–56 NIV

46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

There are two main points. The first is we see

1. Who God’s plan honors

A. The humble Luke 1:48

The mother of our Savior was a poor, humble, teenage girl. Do you think you’re not important? Good!

B. God’s servants Luke 1:48

C. Those who fear God. Luke 1:50

D. Throughout every generation Luke 1:50

E. Not the proud Luke 1:51

These honor themselves.

F. Not rulers Luke 1:52.

These the world honors.

G. Israel Luke 1:54

The second thing we see is

2. How God’s plan honors His children

A. By remembering them Luke 1:48

B. By being merciful to them Luke 1:50

C. By doing mighty deeds for them Luke 1:51

D. By scattering the proud Luke 1:51

E. By bringing down rulers Luke 1:52

F. By exalting the humble Luke 1:52

G. By feeding them (the hungry) Luke 1:53, Psalm 109:7

Meeting our most basic needs. My God will supply your every need. Is it food, water, peace, security, home, friendship, love?

H. By sending the rich away empty Luke 1:53

This is counter to the way the rich live. The rich of this world have everything!

I. By keeping His promises Luke 1:55

J. By eternal blessing Luke 1:55

Discussion Questions

1. Describe how you have seen the wrong people honored by the world.

2. How can we honor those that God honors?

3. What helps you to wait patiently for God’s plan to come to fruition?

What is the intent of this message?

To show that God plans to turn the world upside down through Jesus.

What is the obstacle to God’s plan?

The world honors who it thinks is important.

What is the plan?

Identify those God will honor

Honor them

What is the result? Close with a climactic scene, what things will look like IF we follow the plan?

Depart from me I never knew you. Matthew 7:21

It isn’t about prophesying, driving out demons or performing miracles. It’s about doing the will of the Father.