An unlikely choice

Mary is the unlikely choice and she begins what is known as the The Magnificat. The poem is written in the style of a psalm but it is more so an expression of Gratitude. The last few weeks we have been looking at gratitude and we now know that gratitude from gratefulness. And in her gratitude she expresses praise! She says My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in my God my Savior.

Lets see why. She says for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. She is says I am the most unlikely choice but he chose her! She sees herself as a humble servant. Nothing really special especially least like to be the one to bear the Savior of the World!. She understood that this choice has changed how the world would see her. For now on all generations will call me blessed! In the message Bible puts it this way:

I’m bursting with God-news;

I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.

God took one good look at me, and look what happened—

I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!

What God has done for me will never be forgotten,

the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.

She went from marginalized figure. A poor servant girl to one who God honors. The honor will set her a part from all other women. The will be women who will bare sons. The will be women who will be praised for their deeds but their will not be another women who will carried the Savior of the world from a seed to a son of hope and promise who in himself is God in the flesh. Gods only begotten son! Jesus. The one who they will call wonderful, counselor, prince of peace, the almighty God!

So how does this help us today? Well i still believe God is choosing the most unlikely candidates to use in his kingdom. You don’t have to the smartest in the room, the only from the best family, or the one with the most money for God to use you. You just need to be willing. When Gabriel came to Mary and announced the special thing she asked the question how can this be ? He explained and Mary trusted the process. How many can trust the process? For Gabriel said, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Mary Miraculously Conceives

He goes on to say: 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”

Though the message from the angel was mind blowing. So inconceivable that you would never even think it up she had to trust the process. I am convinced that the Lord is even speaking today if you would just yield to his voice. It seems it impossible how you will get to the out come he put before you. It will seem unmanageable, unlikely, down right impossible but don’t doubt just know that’s when God is up to something.

Mary was so convinced that she did just what the angel told he to do go visit you cousin Elizabeth. You will find that she is six months pregnant. Now it is clear her and Elizabeth were not around each other daily. Because if they were Mary would have already known Elizabeth was pregnant with John. Yet Mary who has just conceived goes as the angel instructs her and finds Elizabeth pregnant. Not only pregnant but the babe in her wombs leap at the presence of Mary and the babe she is carrying! Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Now I am not sure if that looks like when we say someone got the Holy Ghost today but I can assure you there was a distinguishable difference. This reference to the Holy Spirit is the same distinguishable quality that is use in Acts chapter 6 when they looked among them to find seven men full of the holy Spirit. So however the Spirit manifest it self you will be identifiable. I know this it made Elizabeth speak loud! How do i know? Because the Bible said, 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

The question had to be asked Why me? How did it come about that I was granted this privilege. The mother of my Lord should come to me. Her it is the Holy Spirit revealed to her that this visit from your cousin was just any visit. This was a visit from the Lord! As the Lord is working Elizabeth prophesies to Mary! 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” ().

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Mary what ever was told to you will be fulfilled! Can i do the same whatever the Lord promised you will be fulfilled. Don’t worry about being the most unlikely person. If God says it trust and believe He will perform it just as he said!

This is why Marys song is so special because she realizes that the Lord blessed here. Its similar to the way Leah felt when she said happy am I after her servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son on her behalf. If you know the story Leah and Rachael were competing for could give Jacob the most children. That’s another lesson but she felt Happy (Blessed).

Its similar to Hannah words after she was blessed to have Samuel. Yet you must understand how praise is birthed! It birthed out of great affliction. When God brings you to a point when you are no longer frowned upon or feel left out, or feel unlikely you will have a praise in you!

My soul magnifies the Lord,

47  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

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

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

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.” ().

I learned three things”

Expect the Unexpected!

Believe God even when it seems impossible. , Mary said he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; ‘haughty’, is a typical word to describe them, expressing the idea of pride and self-confidence over against God (; says Gods has place for the proud and guess what its not heaven. ; lumps them in the group we are warned about in the last days.For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

(). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. . ;  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (). . reminds us 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Peter also says:

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

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

Those on top will not always be on top! a tumbling will happen!

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

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

Respond to the Unexpected

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

Respond to the Unexpected

How many of you got a stored up praise? Waiting to be released!

Praise is our best response to Gods blessings!

My soul magnifies the Lord,

47  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ().

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

Share the Unexpected  

Share the Unexpected  

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

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