- Theme: Fear and joy don’t mingleGoal: To move to joyME: ORIENTATION: FIND COMMON GROUND WITH THE AUDIENCEHave you ever been fearful in your life?Fear. Emotional foreboding or dread of impending distress or misfortune. Often spoken of as the source of religion. Yet fear alone can never account for true religion, since men are impelled to draw near unto God, the object of their worship. One does not desire to come close to the being he fears.1Joy an attitude of pleasure and well beingJOY. The experience of deliverance and the anticipation of salvation provide the most significant occasions for rejoicing among the people of God in the OT. The coming of the Messiah, who delivers his people and brings salvation becomes the basis for rejoicing in the NT. The response of joy, gladness, or happiness is not only a deep inward feeling, but is expressed in celebration when God’s people gather together11 Arnold, C. E. (1992). Joy. In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 3, p. 1022). New York: Doubleday.WE: IDENTIFICATION (MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU STRUGGLE)There are many things that attack joy and I see fear as the major one.As a church we have had many fine folk face this battle.In truth I think each of us in our own way are confronted with this type of struggle.How can we live the joyful life?Let us look at Mary’s life?GOD: ILLUMINATION (THE GOAL IS TO RESOLVE THE TENSIONI. MARY UNPACKS THE PROMISE38 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.A. We see the attitude of faith from her lips.English Standard Version Chapter 1
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
B. She started out troubled and asking many questions.Troubled: greatly perplexedBaker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke 1:1–9:50 i. Fear Before the Angel and a Calm Greeting (1:28–30)She heard that God was with her and that she was an object of his grace. What was God going to do to her?
You would be the mother of the most important baby in human existenceC. You will be the Mother of the Messiah.a.Holy Spirit will come upon youb. Elizabeth is pregnantEnglish Standard Version Chapter 137 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
c. Mary leaves in haste39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in JudahThe Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke 1:1–9:50 i. Setting (1:39)(3) Mary’s departure reflects an instant response to God’s leading. This view is the most satisfying.
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke 1:1–9:50 i. Setting (1:39)(3) Mary’s departure reflects an instant response to God’s leading. This view is the most satisfying
II. THE GIFT PRODUCES JOYA. Mary enters the house of Zech and Elizabetha. Elizabeth hears and Baby jumpsb. Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spiritc. She spoke under the influence:English Standard Version Chapter 1“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
English Standard Version Chapter 143 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.44 … when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.B. Mary had Blessing spoken over her.English Standard Version Chapter 145 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
A. If Mary is blessed because of this gift and her faith, should we not feel this way as God guides us?Sue & Dave Marks liverAndrea cancerErnie and Sue with Lydiab. The church in our current need?C. That God would use us to reach others for Christ.D. With what ever you go through?III. THE FIRST CHRISTMAS CAROLA. Mary’s deep utterance of worshipEnglish Standard Version Chapter 1“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
Soulυχή (psyche). n. fem. inner self, life, person. The life-force of a person or animal.This noun can refer to the inner part of the person that thinks, wills, feels, and desiresThe very essences of who she is!seat and center of the inner human life in its many and varied aspects, soulMagnifies:A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. μεγαλύνωto cause to be held in greater esteem through praise or deeds, exalt, glorify, magnify, speak highly of
Spirit is another way of saying the soul.B. Mary talks about God’s promisesMary rejoices in God her Savior. The verb of praise, ἠγαλλίασεν (ēgalliasen, rejoiced), is a term of eschatological rejoicing, as 1:14 and especially 1:44 suggest. God’s special work produces this rejoicing48English Standard Version Chapter 148 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
Mary describes herself as God’s handmaiden (the repetition of δούλης connects this verse to 1:38), which acknowledges her subordinate position before God. She did not expect or assume that she should be the object of such special attention from God, so she is grateful for the attention. She also describes herself as of “low status,” which term (ταπείνωσιν, tapeinōsin) many see as a more natural reference to barrenness149 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 himfrom 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 thronesand 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.”C. Mary remains56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.If we rest in God’s promises rather than fear, the joy of the Lord will be our strength.YOU: APPLICATION (TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO AND WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD)Conclusion:Fear and joy don’t mingleThe joy of the Lord is my strengthWhat God promised and what seemed impossible (1:37) was possible for God, as he delivered on his commitment
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