FBCWest 533 | Mary - Obedient Faith
Recorded On: 12/11/2022
Bulletin
Hymn # 95 “Angels We Have Heard on High”
SCRIPTURE READING – Isaiah 9:2 - 7
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
OFFERTORY PRAYER
OFFERTORY MUSIC – Pru Hungate
Praise and Worship
“Glorious Day”
“How Great Is Your Love”
“With Everything”
Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“Mary: Obedient Faith”
PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection
“He Shall Reign (Forever)”
Benediction “God Really Loves Us”
Acknowledgements and Announcements
Sermon Notes
Luke 1:26 & 27 Angel, Gabriel, sent to a virgin named Mary
Luke 1:28 - 33 Gabriel informs Mary she will conceive and the child will be called the Son of the Most High. That child shall reign over the house of Jacob forever
Luke 1:34 Mary does not understand how it can happen
Luke 1:35 – 37 Gabriel explains how it can happen
Luke 1:38 Mary gives her consent
Luke 1:39 – 45 Mary visits Elizabeth and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit
Scritpures
Transcript of Service
Are Catholic. Brothers and sisters. I've taken Mary. And abused who she is. And made her far too. Far too reverent and awesome. They claimed that she's the mother. Of God, and she's not. They claim that you can pray to her and. You it doesn't do any good. They've made her a St. and as a result of that we tend to minimize and I have in the past tend to minimize talking about Mary because I don't want that whole. But the sad thing is, Mary is. Someone we should emulate. Mary is someone that we, believers, whether male or females who say. I need to be more like that. Yes, she is considered blessed. And she fulfilled a function that no one else can ever fulfill. From Eve, when she bore a son Seth. Thinking that maybe he was a Messiah until the days of Mary. Women of believers tended to want to be that one who is blessed to bring. Forth the Messiah. And you think well? Why would they think that? Because when Adam and Eve sinned? God told Satan. That the woman seed. Would have immunity with the devil seed and that the devil seed would. To have his head bruised while the heel of the woman seed would be. Who's on the hill? Initially people say well that is the initial. Prophecy of the Messiah and I believe that there are others, is that Oh no, it can't be because you know?
Back then they weren't smart enough to know the difference between seeds and eggs. And I'm going First off. They were a lot smarter. Than you give them credit for. Look at the pyramids, look at. All the various other. The other thing is, here is a agricultural. Society that lived. And farming and husbandry and race cattle and sheep. They knew the differ. The problem is we don't. We just go to the supermarket and buy our stuff. They lived it. So when when here? Oh well, they didn't know. They knew far better than us. And so God had come to an old couple. We didn't have any children. And had were far advanced in age to have children, and on top of that she had been barren. Yet God did some. And he informed. Zaccharias that their child. Would be the forerunner. Of the Messiah. And now God is going to continue in his plan. Of doing something to save the world. And so, in Luke chapter one, starting with verse 26, it says now in the six months of the Angel and Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth. To a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the descendants of David and the Virgin's name was Mary. So we are. Told that God sent Gabriel the same one that same Angel that he sent to. Zacharias, who informed him of the forerunner now God, is sending his Angel to a virgin. Of the tribe of Judah, which fits into the prophecies of where the Messiah would come in the House of David. Now Luke tells us, and we translate this engaged. Matthew uses the term patrol. We kind of in our culture. Think well, engagement is. You know the guy gets down on the knee, has a ring and says Will you marry me and she says yes and they're engaged and they set a date and they go from there. That is not what they did in Israel. There was a contractual situation. So it wasn't just an engagement. You were married, except you hadn't completed all of the incidents of marriage. And part of that was to consummate the marriage and do other things. And so there was a big commitment and in this legal commitment, if you wanted to break it, you had to. Divorce the person. It wasn't, oh, here's your ring back. Let's call the whole thing off. There was a legal proceeding required to terminate this legal situation, and so this version is the truth is in a contractual relationship with a man named Joseph. And coming in, he said to her greetings, favored one.
The Lord is with you. But she was perplexed at this statement and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. And this Angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now, one of the things we learn about Mary. And she's a thinker. Even though, as the Angel tells her, don't be afraid. So there is some fear there and let's face it, if an Angel showed up at your door. You wouldn't be calm, you would be. Freaking out. And so, in the midst of her fear, she's going. What kind of opening statement is this? Do I need to worry? Is he? Coming here to. To condemn me or is he coming? Here to do something else. And then says don't be afraid. You have found favor with God. Now we never are told why God gives her favor. We just say that we just understand that God found favor in her with Zacchaeus and Elizabeth were told that they were righteous and they performed all of the aspects of the faith that we were given some glimpse in their religious life. We're not that with married, we're just told that Mary has found. Favor with God. Now I'm going to assume that Mary is probably a very. Religious young lady. But we're not told that. But this is where. You and I also need to understand. We have also found favor with God. If you're a believer. Because we have been saved by grace. Now Mary may have had buried in favor or not, but we are told that Mary has been given found. Favor with God. And you and I. As believers and given grace have found favor with God. And the Angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And, behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus, and he will be great, and will be called the son of the most high. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the House of Jacob Forever. And this Kingdom will have no end. So Mary is told what type of child this is going to be that this is going to be a child of the most high God. And part of. Our Romance of of this time there's a really good song and and I'm I'm not here to criticize it except portions of it. There's a little nice song that you'll hear on the radio and called Mary. Did you know? And some of the questions it asked. Mary probably didn't know. Certainly didn't know what God's plan was about her son. In his crucifixion, though, she was there. She didn't know all of what his ministry would be, but she knew that he was the son of the most high and that he would establish his Kingdom forever. Not a temporary period of time, and so there is this thing that Mary understood about who this child would be. But there was unthanks other things that.
God left open and there are times when that's probably the best. Because if God told you everything that was going to happen to you during your life, you probably I can't take it. That's why we. Have enough each day to handle each day. And Jesus even gives us that wisdom. Deal with today because tomorrow has enough problem. And so God tells her the overall. Point of what's going to happen, but doesn't. Give her all of the details. Mary said to the Angel. How can this be? Since I am a virgin? Now I want you to notice she asked a question, but the question is about. Not if. When the key is say, well, you know I'm an old guy and my wife is an old lady and she's barren. How is this going to happen? Mary's going. I understand the birds and the bees. And I'm a virgin. I've never had relations with a man, so how can I be pregnant? How can I become Frank? So it's a question of how, not whether God can. When the Angel answered and said to her, the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most high will over shadow you. And for that reason, the Holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative, Elizabeth has also conceived. A son in her old age, and she who was called Baron, is now in her six month for nothing will be impossible with God. The scriptures. Portended that a virgin would give a child. Now others, now you know. And they automatically dismiss it. It is imperative in our faith. That Jesus. Was born of a virgin. Why does the scripture says? And as the Angel said, nothing is impossible with God. Now, it may not seem physically possible, but God is not defined by our physicality. He is defined by his purpose. And his purpose is to send a savior, and he needs a perfect. That perfect sacrifice is his son. But Barry can't be the son of God. I mean the mother of God. Because as John tells us, Jesus existed before even the foundations of the. She was simply that who was the. Norway if you will. To the Messiah. And so she's told. I'm not expecting you to have as a matter of fact, this will be a child of God. Now I want you to see what marriage marriage response is in verse 38. And Mary said. The bond slave of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word. And the Angel departed from. What she said. May be done. I give my consent. Once you understand what Mary is risking. Mary is risking determination of her marriage with Joseph. She's also risking.
Death by stoning, because she will have committed adultery. Now you can take someone and say, well, if she breathed the Angel the child is going to be born and the child's going to whatever so. She's going to. I'm going to survive at least that long. But she has risk. Her life. She's also risked her reputation. Because motherhood out of wedlock. Was not something considered good in those. And so her reputation. Was so her relationship with her, the truth husband. Her life. Her name and the community were all at risk. And she said, I am the bond servant I am. The slave of God. Do whatever you want. And this is where I think we should emulate Mary. What is it God you want me to do? And I don't care the cost. Most of us want to be used by. God but we. Want to be used by God in great ways? Pastors want to have the biggest churches and have the most famous ministry that's affected worldwide, and we say, yeah, I want to. I want to be that guy. Very few people say. OK, sign me up that my ministry is going to last a week and 1/2. They're going to arrest me, throw me in prison. And maybe execute me. No, we don't want those things right. We want we want the good stuff. Mary says I don't care what it costs. If this is what God wants from me. Then may he do it? And I wish we were more alike. Like I said, it bothers me that we're so afraid. Because of what others have done to make awe and reverence of her that we've discounted who she was and what she did. Oh yes, she carried the term the son of God. And as a man, I can't understand that ladies who have had children. You kind of can somewhat relate. All of. Man, woman. Boy girl Single married. Young old. And save God. However, you want to use me. I'm willing to be you. Even if it costs. Now Mary, we will see. Didn't cost her relationship. He wasn't stoned. People did think her son was a little crazy. Their own family did. And she had to see him mock. And beaten and scorned and ridiculed. And crisis. And pierced through. And see him on that cross saying John. She's now your mother. The heartache that that must have caused. He may not have known everything that was going to happen. But she said, Lord whatever you want. I'm willing to do. Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the Hill Country to a city of Judah, and entered the House of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard marriage, greeting, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Now the Angel, when he had visited Zachariah, said that this baby, this baby, that we're going to name John that you're going to name John is going to be filled with the Holy Spirit when still in the mother's womb. And this fulfills what the Angel told Zacharias. You see, sometimes God does things.
We were told that Elizabeth was six months pregnant. She had three more months to go. Filled with the Holy Spirit. And sometimes God says, you know, I want you to do something. And it's going to cost you. And you may not know when the cost ends. And you may not see the end. Until I come again. But do you trust me, or do you trust the circuit? So just because God hasn't appeared immediately doesn't mean that God is not at work. There's nothing is impossible with God. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how, as it had happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me. Or behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my. Womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what have been spoken to. Her by the Lord. He says. You don't need to tell me. About that child. It's my child. Already told. That the Holy Spirit already told me that that child is my Lord. That child is the son of God. And blessed is he who believes God, and waits for the fulfillment. God had not spoken to his people for over 400 years. And now he is sending John to be a forerunner of the Messiah to make the pass straight for him. And he is now acting to send his son. The Messiah. Not only the ruler. Of Israel and the ruler of the world. But the Savior as well. You see Christmas is not something that happened a long time ago when we celebrate something that happened. We celebrate something that is happening. That the light of the world has come into the world and has illuminated it and has caused us to be able to see it has caused us to take his light and apply it to our dark lives and to go out into the world and illuminate it. Yes, the world thinks we're weird. And yes, the world thinks we're crazy. And yes, how can? A virgin have a child. As our God and do great things. Our God. He can speak and things that aren't become. We can do things and oceans open up. He can say things. And manner comes to the. He can save his people. Either out of Egypt. To such a rich and wonderful life. This little baby is going to be born of a virgin. Is not only the savior of the whole world. It's personal. Yeah, this little baby. We lay in a Manger. He stayed. It's gone. And if he is. And he is. Then we should be like Mary. And say, Lord? I prefer the the popular route. I prefer the the route that says everybody loves me and I'm going to have this big ministry. But God, even if no one pays. And I spent my entire life. Witnessing to you, and nobody comes.
I will do so. Because you're worthy because you are the son of God. And I'm going to take the opportunity. Of add them. The share. Because, just as it seems so dark when Jesus came. It seems that the world is getting darker now. And it needs his life. And it needs us to shine his light. To the world. Not that we receive honor and glory. But that he does. Because he. Is born forevermore? Not just a baby. It's the son of God. Not just a child. For the child who shall lead them. A child who shall give of himself for us. He would do that for us. What should we withhold from him? Oh, that we would be like Mary. God, whatever you. I'm your slave. I may not understand how you're going to accomplish it. It may be all above my pay rate. But that's OK. Because I trust you.
I trust.
Whether it costs me or not. I would do what you tell me to do. I would do what you asked me to. Because I know who you are. Not know who I am in relationship to? Who you are? And all God's people said.