REVEALING THE HOPE OF CHRISTMAS
(Our Deliverer - December 12, 2021)
Series Big Idea: "The hope of Christmas is the hope of Christ"
Sermon Big Idea: "The challenges of life seldom defeat people, a lack of faith in God's help does"
Key Scripture (Luke 1:46-55)
I want you to picture with me for a moment Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was not a supernatural person with supernatural powers. She was not perfect. She was human just like you and me. Although she was a virgin until the birth of Jesus, her and her husband Joseph eventually birthed children of their own. But Mary was chosen by God to conceive a Son through His Holy Sprit who would be the Savior of the world.
Since Mary was human, do you think she had fears like you and I. I say yes. When the angel Gabriel came to her and told her she would become pregnant with the Son of God, she was obviously scared. She could have feared the supernatural, inadequacy, change, and the fear of telling others. Would people believe her?
Mary saw God as her help and in the verses I want to read today you will see her praise for God in all of this. This passage is often called The Magnificat or Mary's Song. It is Mary's response to the angel Gabriel's announcement of her being chosen to birth the Son of God. A little after this event with the angel, she sought the wisdom and counsel of God by visiting her kin person Elizabeth who herself would birth John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus.
(Luke 1:46-55)
46 And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, 48 because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. 50 His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. 51 He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; 52 He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. 53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, 55 just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever.
Gabriel told her she would be pregnant before marriage, Joseph would not be the father and that the Child would be the promised Savior of the world. Mary's final response might surprise you. (Luke 1:38) says Mary obeyed immediately and said "I am the Lord's servant." Mary trusted in God.
CONCLUSION
I once heard a pastor say, "The challenges that God allows and sometimes gives to us in life are to develop our character, because our character is the only thing you and I will be taking with us into eternity."
The challenges we face in life seldom are what defeats us, it is the lack of faith in God's help that will defeat us. I wonder, can you do what Mary did and completely trust the Savior and sing His praises in the middle of your challenges? No, you will never be asked to do what Mary did and birth the Christ Child, but you will face circumstances and situations in your life that seem almost impossible to overcome. The key is to look to God for our help.
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideals for this message, are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.
NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture
Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context
Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson
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Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.
Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997. Print.
Blum, Edwin A., and Trevin Wax, eds. CSB Study Bible: Notes. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017. Print.
Phillips, John. Exploring the Gospel of Luke: An Expository Commentary. Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009. Print. The John Phillips Commentary Series.
Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.
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Butler, Trent C. Luke. Vol. 3. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.
Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Commentary.
France, R. T. Luke. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.
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Radmacher, Earl D., Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999. Print.
Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992. Print.
Brooks, Keith. Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the New Testament. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.
Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001. Print. The Tyndale Reference Library.
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