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Faith Like Mary
Faith Like Mary
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, “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.
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to 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 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
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.
Mary, A teenager, probably between the ages of 12-16, was visited by an angel of the Lord, Gabrielle. This angel spoke to her and said SHE would be the mother of the savior of her people, and the world.
She had faith to birth a savior. She was curious about how God was going to fulfill the plan, but had a willing heart to see it happen. She might have felt honored and blessed by this privilege. She sought confirmation of the angels words by going to see Elizabeth. She knew it wasn’t about her - it’s about Jesus, and his plan.
let me set the stage -
We have a special
Isreal was being run by Roman rule.
Slyvia
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
Luke 1:
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
5 things Mary had that we need.
Faith
45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Mary had the faith to birth THE savior, what do you have faith for?
Mary, although skeptical was willing to receive and what sealed the deal
Mary had no modern medical technology to provide proof of her pregnancy.
No evidence for months of the promise, until she started to show.
Mary had the faith to birth THE savior, what do you have faith for?
Mary was given little information but what the angel gave her was enough for her to believe, and trust.
Luke 1:
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.
It was the miracle in Elizabeth’s life that finally causes Mary to yield to the promise.
36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Mary’s response to that is “okay, I’m your girl” In ver 38 she says i am the servant of the Lord. It was the hearing of the miracle of what God had done in someone else life that grew in her the faith to believe.
i. The story of God in your past, and how he has touched you or redeemed you or healed you from the hurt and pain and The things God has done in your life might just be what someone else needs to hear in order to be encouraged in faith to receive their calling, blessing, or miracle in their life.
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.
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.
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.
2. Willing Heart:
Willing Heart:
Willing Heart
Mary was willing to give up her life for that of the promise spoken to her.
Her vision for her future might have looked something like: Betrothed to Joseph. get married, move in together, have a family, live a normal Jewish life.
what she got instead was - an unplanned pregnancy, giving birth in a room with the animals away from her family and loved ones, having to move again before Jesus was 2 because of the danger to his life, frequently being reminded that she is the mother of God.
I thought I had pressure as a mom - i mean i frequently evaluate myself asking “ Am I the mother they (my children) need me to be so that they can grown up to be the humans God created them to be? I do that so that I am making sure I giving them everything they need to succeed. But Mary, Mary was the Mother of God. THAT’S PRESSURE. An imperfect woman teaching and loving and mothering a prefect boy. I wonder if her prayer was ever “ dear God, please don’t let me mess this up”
Sometimes the thing that God whispers in our hearts looks different than that of what we have imagined. Are we willing to submit to him, and his plan for us?
Even though the circumstances of her pregnancy put her in danger of scorn, abandonment, and even death, She had a servant heart - she accepted her role in God’s plan and submitted to his authority .
she was given one of the greatest honors of any human ever- to be the mother of God, and yet she was humble and had a heart of thankfulness and Praise.
3. Mary Sought Confirmation -
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,
40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
She went with haste. Immediately she went to Elizabeth to seek confirmation of what the angel Gabriel had spoken to her. And Elizabeth’s response is
41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luke 1:41-42
2. She believed, and trusted, but also
Elizabeth knew Mary was carrying the son of God. It doesn’t tell how she knew, but it shows us here that she had supernatural knowledge of it.
They encouraged one another. They had a unique connection and experience as being one of only a few who was vised by Gabriel. Mary left Elizabeth after the 3 month.
4.Thankfulness : She took time and Rejoiced with a thankful heart.
in verse 46 She writes a beautiful poem or song rejoicing and praising God for the miracle.
46 And Mary said, “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.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Luke 1:46-
a. She recognizes the miracle for what it is and gives glory and praise to God for what he is doing in her life.
b. She is resolved in her moment of time and gives it back to God with a humble heart.
c. What has God done in your life that you have to give praise to him for.
5. It’s not about Mary, Elizabeth or Zechariah - It’s always, always always about JESUS.
a. He is why any of this matters. After John is born, Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:68-
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
Luke 1:
You might be here today thinking that you have heard all of this before. Maybe you’re thinking your life isn’t too bad, you do ok. And you don’t need some God to come in and rule your life and mess up what you have going. You don’t need anyone telling you how to live your life.
But let me ask you a question.... Have you ever asked yourself “why does life have to be so hard? Do you ever struggle to keep it together when your kids are being kids, or money is tight, or struggle to find peace in the middle of doing life?
Do you ever hope for, long for and wish there was more peace in your home and in your life.
Do you ever reflect and say “there must be a better way”
Maybe you have loss or grief or fear. Maybe you’ve shut yourself off because the hurt seems easier.
Or maybe you feel like you have to get it all together before you get right with God. Because God will never accept you the way you are.
Are you afraid its not real? that if you believe you may be let down, and that maybe its not as good as it sounds?
I submit to you that God loves you, and he sent his son Jesus so that we may all be restored in his peace. He is the giver of life and wants us to be with him. his heart is turned toward you.
His peace is better than the wolds empty promises.
His love is better than the worlds affections.
His grace and mercy is better than the worlds comfort.
He loves you.....
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
But let me ask you a question.... Have you ever asked yourself “why does life have to be so hard? Do you ever struggle to keep it together when your kids are being kids, or money is tight, or struggle to find peace in the middle of doing life?
He loves you - he wants to restore you - he is for you not against you. The world is full of broken hurting people and sometimes - more times than not - those hurt people are the ones who end up hurting you. And maybe you lost something or someone, you question Gods love saying “why God did you take him/her away?” I thought you were a good God, well this doesn’t feel very good to me.
I am so sorry for your grief and loss and my heart cried out to the father for you. Gods timing and love is perfect, but this is a broken world filled with brokenness. But God is a good God. and in the midst of your pain and grief he wants to be with you and comfort you. he is the one who bring life to the dark and lonely places.
Do you ever hope for, long for and wish there was more peace in your home and in your life.
If all we celebrate is Mary, or Jesus as a baby, or all the other things that “Christmas could be about, but we forget that Jesus willingly came perfect to an imperfect world to live among us, to be broken by us, left by us and forgotten by us. and yet he still came so that we may know the father.
Do you ever reflect and say “there must be a better way”
Maybe you have loss or grief or fear. Maybe you’ve shut yourself off because the hurt seems easier.
Or maybe you feel like you have to get it all together before you get right with God. Because God will never accept you the way you are.
Are you afraid its not real? that if you believe you may be let down, and that maybe its not as good as it sounds?
There is hope in the imperfect brokenness that you have. You are not too far beyond Gods love or grasp. he seeks a willing heart, with faith (even if as small as a muster seed.)(Matt 17:20) to restore and be brought back to him in glory.