It Came To Pass

Posted on December 17, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

Sermon Notes: Luke 2:1-7 (KJV) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) [3] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) [5] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. [6] And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. [7] And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

I love the words that start chapter 2 of the Christmas Story.

“It Came To Pass”

The phrase is found 452 times in the Bible. It’s not found in the first three chapters of the Bible in the Book of Genesis. Though time was created by God in those first books as He set the lights in the Heavens, and established 24 hour days, time didn’t matter until Adam sinned. Adam and Eve had access to the Tree of Life, and lived infinite lives until the day that they listened to that old serpent the devil. With one bite the devil led all humanity into sin.

Romans 5:12 (NKJV) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned …

The phrase “it came to pass” doesn’t come into being until Genesis chapter 4, showing us that the phrase is tied to time and death. You see, we all shall cease to be. Why? Because Adam not only brought sin into the world, but his action separated us from God and from Paradise. We do not have access to the Tree of Life. We will not live together forever, defeating death, in our own ability. The clock is ticking. When you are a young man or woman you may think you are infinite and immortal. But as you age you realize you are fragile. The things I used to be able to do I can no longer do without effort, if at all. “It Came To Pass”. Time is ticking.

The first “It Came To Pass” is found in the story of two brothers, Cain and Abel. The Bible says:

Genesis 4:3 (KJV) And in process of time IT CAME TO PASS, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

Man was separated from God by Adam’s sin, and man wanted God. We were created to walk with God. So Cain – a farmer because his daddy was a farmer – brought the fruit of the ground to God to offer it to Him. But there was a problem with this offering. Though a day would come when God would allow man to bring food offerings, the only covering for sin was blood. God showed this to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. The Bible says …

Hebrews 9:22 (NKJV) And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Why is this? Why does God require the shedding of blood to cover sin? Because God’s Word to Adam was “the day that you eat that which is forbidden YOU SHALL SURELY DIE” (Genesis 2:17). The penalty for sin against the Holy Creator is death. God said it, and God meant it. So death hovers over all of Adam’s children.

But what if Someone died in my place?
What if Someone worthy died in my place?

God wanted all of Adam’s children to understand that sin is not a trifle, but it is an act against the Holy and Righteous Who runs all things. When Cain brought his offering to God no Blood was shed. I’ve never seen a stalk of corn bleed, or a radish hemorrhage. Vegetables have no blood. But then Abel his brother brought an offering to God …

Genesis 4:4 (NKJV) Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat.

Abel didn’t go into the family business, but was a Shepherd. He brought the “blood of the Lamb” to God. And “God respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering” (Genesis 4:4b-5). Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. It requires the blood of the innocent – the death of the innocent – to cover sin. Abel’s offering was of blood, and his sin was covered. But what of Cain? God could not accept his offering, the works of his hands.

You cannot work your way to God, but must obey His Word.
God wants none to perish, but wants all to be saved.

Ezekiel 18:23 (NKJV) Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

God is not pleased with the death and sin of mankind. He advised Cain to do as his brother Abel did, to offer the blood of the lamb for his sins. What did Cain do? In the second “It Came To Pass” of the Bible we see:

Genesis 4:8 (KJV) And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and IT CAME TO PASS, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Rather than do what God says, Cain rose up against his brother and killed him with a 357 Magnum! That tragedy would never have happened if the government had intervened and made a law against it. Is that true? No. Cain killed his brother with whatever he had at hand. He did so not because of government laxity, but because of sin in his heart. Cain didn’t want to listen to God. He felt that he knew better than God, and would do it his way. As a result his brother was murdered – the blood of an innocent – because he knew better than God.

So “It Came To Pass” begins human history, and that history is bloody, filled with violence and evil. Man grows so evil that “It Came To Pass” that God would send a flood on the earth in Genesis 6. Erasing all of humanity but Noah and his family, surely thins would be better. No, because sin is in us, and death by sin. We are all fallen.

But God never forgot us.
God was not willing that we perish, but wished us life.

God Who Controls Time Entered Time For Us

Luke 2:1-3 (KJV) And IT CAME TO PASS in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) [3] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Governments love to tax people. Without taxes there could be no armies to protect us, and no politicians to lie to us. Taxes pay for highways. Taxes build schools for our children. Taxes have good uses, though I believe human greed misuses much of our tax dollars. When Caesar Augustus, the Emperor of Rome decreed that all those under Roman rule be taxed, he decreed that every family return nto their home town to be counted. Everyone into his own city. No one thought much of this except the inconvenience of it, but God was in control. What appeared to be a petty squabble between Caesar and Herod which led to a census was actually God controlling human events. The Bible says:

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

This census caused the tiny family of Joseph and Mary to travel nearly a hundred miles.

Luke 2:4-6 (KJV) … Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) [5] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. [6] And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

If the decree of Caesar Augustus had not been issued, Mary would have had her Baby in Nazareth where she and Joseph lived. But the decree of the Emperor required that every person return to their home town to be counted for tax purposes. They traveled about 97 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and Mary was GREAT with Child. Was this just a coincidence? Just happenstance? No, for God is control.

Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV) The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

God is in control – ALWAYS! Many years before God promised that Messiah would enter humanity in a very specific way. What God’s Word says will always come to pass. God’s Word does not change with the seasons, nor with the fickle soul of man. His Word is true – let every man be a liar! God’s Word said that …

First, the Messiah would come into this world through Bethlehem:

Micah 5:2 (NKJV) But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.

There were two Bethlehems when Micah wrote this prophecy. Bethlehem Ephrathah was the Bethlehem of Judah. The One promised was “from everlasting”, the Eternal Christ. When Herod the King wondered where Christ would be born the chief priests and Scribes quoted this prophecy of Micah:

Matthew 2:6 (NKJV) But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.

Second, Messiah was to be a direct descendant of David. God said that the Messiah would come from the Ruling Tribe of Israel, Judah (see 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14; 2 Chronicles 6:16). God promised King David that he would have a Son who would rule forever. Messiah had to come from the line of David. When Jesus came He was known as “The Son of David” because His lineage was established by both Mary and Joseph. Joseph would take his wife Mary – GREAT with CHILD – to Bethlehem because of the decree of the Emperor.

Matthew 12:23 … and all the people were amazed {at Jesus}, and said, Is this not the Son of David?

God is in control. Though the Emperor issued the decree, and though Mary and Joseph moved to Bethlehem because of the decree, it was God Who was in control. The Emperor would not tax the people until ten years later based on this census … but God wanted the Christ to be born in Bethlehem.

The name “Bethlehem” means “House of Bread”.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem because He is God’s Messiah. The Lord said:

John 6:51 (NASB) I am the LIVING BREAD THAT CAME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.

God chose where Christ would be born “before the world began” (II Timothy 1:9 NASB). Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, for Jesus is the one and only Messiah.

John 7:42 (NKJV) Has not the Scripture said that the CHRIST COMES FROM THE SEED OF DAVID AND FROM THE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM, where David was?

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the birthplace of King David. He is a direct descendant of King David. He is the Son of David. How would this King of Kings – our Savior – be born?

God Was In Charge And
Messiah Was Brought Forth Safely

Luke 2:1 (KJV) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Let’s break this wonderful text down.

“She brought forth”. Mary had no midwives or doctors. Mary had her child with Joseph, her faithful husband, at hand. Most women have someone to receive the Child, but our Savior was born in lowest place. His mother brought Him forth. He was delivered safely.

“And wrapped Him in swaddling clothes”. You would think that the Messiah, the Savior of the world, would be wrapped in a robe befitting a king. The Scripture says:

Colossians 2:9 For in [Christ] dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

Jesus is God in human flesh. Abel sacrificed a lamb for his sins and God had respect to that. But an earthly lamb was only appropriate until God made a more permanent way. God made us to walk with Him, but we turned our backs on God. But God loved us, and loves us still. He does not want us to perish, but to ascend to Him.

In order for us to ASCEND to Him He had to DESCEND to us.
He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and not a king’s robe,
So any can reach Him.
And can come to Him.

“And laid Him in a manger”. His crib was an animal’s feeding trough. How strange and lowly did our Lord enter this earth. Yet He was to be:

John 1:29 (NKJV) … The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

He was not like Abel’s lamb, though Abel obeyed the Father. Jesus was a Child Who would grow into a Man Who …

Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) … was in all points tempted as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN.

Jesus Christ is the Innocent born to take my guilty place, and your guilty place. He is the perfect Lamb of God offered for our sins. What better place to find a Lamb than in a Manger? What better place to find Him and Him alone Who can redeem you from sin?

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV) …. knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

That Baby was born to die for the sins of the world. This Jesus was lovingly brought forth, laid to rest in a manger, so that He could grow up and take our punishment on Himself. Blessed be the Name of the Lord! Finally:

“Because there was no room for them at the inn”. The census had pushed people outside of their homes. When Mary and Joseph could find no place to stay because of the crowds, they found a place where animals were kept, a warm barn. No one meant to reject the Christ. The Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (NKJV) … we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

No one knew when they sent that pregnant virgin to a barn to have a baby that she carried the Messiah. No one meant evil of Christ in either the decree of Caesar or the journey – that hard journey – from Nazareth to Bethlehem. They just didn’t know.

But you know.
YOU KNOW.

God’s Word Always Proves True

I have told you. I have showed you. God was in control, and God knew. God’s Word always proves true.

God’s Word says we are born dead in sin.
God’s Word says that we need a Savior.
God’s Word says that Christ is that Savior.
He was born in Bethlehem, in a manger.
He came to this earth to save whosoever will.
God’s Word says that Jesus grew up to die for our sins.
God’s Word says that His death covers our sins.
God’s Word says that He conquered death, and rose again.

Will you receive Him?
Will you confess Him?
Will you believe Him?

God will not receive your efforts at salvation any more than He received Cain’s. He had no respect for Cain’s offering, but unto Abel God had respect. Why? Without the shedding of Blood there is no remission of sin. Christ came to this earth for you. Christ was born for you. Christ lived for you. Christ died on Calvary for you. Will you receive Him, and in so doing receive what He has for you?

Romans 10:9-11 (NASB) … if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.

“It Came To Pass”
Will your life continue forever, or will it
“Come To Pass”?
What you do now for Jesus matters.
What Jesus did for you matters.
Receive Him, and God will receive you.
May God the Holy Spirit reach someone with this Word today.

Posted in Christmas, Christmas Sermons, Sermons Preached | Tagged Bethlehem, Birth of Christ, manger | 2 Comments

The Word of God

Posted on December 17, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

wonderful post. God’s Word IS awesome!

The Ministry of JC

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“The word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8)

Welcome to the start of a new series.

This post works off one simple premise: God’s word is powerful. And if you don’t believe me, let me just discredit your objections in advance. I’ll just throw some truth your way:

“The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born” (Psalm 33:6). We know a God who “calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Romans 4:17). It was “at the blast of his breath, that the bottom of the earth could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare” (2 Samuel 22:16).

God is “sustaining all things by the power of his word” (Hebrews 1:3). The hum of the generator powering the whole universe is every word that the comes from the mouth of God. And we have at our…

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Santa on Trial

Posted on December 17, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

I love this. With a Scripture this could be a great sermon!

The Ministry of JC

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The big fella.

Every Christmas the big red starts making his appearance. And so we dust off and roll out the red carpet for our hailed guest at Christmas Carols. News Shows. Adverts. Major festivals. Photo shoots. Sporting events. Pageants. Ceremonies. Parties.

Santa’s social stocks go off the freaking charts.

And amongst all the flashing lights and fan-fare, the true Christmas story appears increasingly irrelevant. God is thrown onto the back-burner. Jesus is once again driven back into his manger on the outskirts of town, as we fill and leave no room or vacancy for the God who came to save the very people who showed him the stiff arm.

It’s not unusual for Jesus to have opposition. Hear that loud and clear. Jesus is no stranger to rejection. Jesus even expected it (John 15:18). But if you’re going to hate on God, at least get your criticisms remotely right…

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The Word Of Faith

Posted on December 15, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

Christmas Is Christ #4

Luke 1:56-64 (KJV) And Mary abode with {Elisabeth} about three months, and returned to her own house. [57] Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. [58] And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. [59] And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. [60] And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. [61] And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. [62] And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. [63] And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marveled all. [64] And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

For those of you who have been following the Christmas Story with me you know that God came to Elisabeth and Zacharias first, promising them a son named John. This was an answer to Zacharias’ prayer. He and his wife were barren – without children – and they were both well past child bearing years. So God sent Gabriel unto Zacharias to tell him that his prayer was heard, and that he was to have a child.

But then Zacharias doubted the Word of God.
God silenced him that day, taking away his voice.
“Since you did not believe My Words, You will be silent until John is born.”

C.H. Spurgeon wrote “If there can be one sin more heinous than the unbelief of a sinner, it is the unbelief of a saint. For a saint to doubt God’s word – for a saint to distrust God after innumerable instances of his love, after ten thousand proofs of his mercy, exceeds everything.”

So Zacharias was silent for nine months. Mary came to help her cousin Elisabeth have her blessed child. It’s ironic that Elisabeth said of Mary:

“Blessed is she that believeth” (vs 45)

but could not say the same thing of her poor husband. Unbelief had shut his mouth. Then the child John was born.

Faith Trusts God Without Knowing Why

Luke 1:59 (KJV) And it came to pass, that on the EIGHTH DAY they came to circumcise the child;

Why was John circumcised on the eighth day? Because this was when God told His people Israel to circumcise their children. God told Abraham:

Genesis 17:12 (KJV) And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

Circumcision was the mark of the household of faith. Males were circumcised, not females, so circumcision was not a sign of salvation but of inheritance. Those who would not submit to circumcision among the children of Israel were cut off from Abraham’s inheritance:

Genesis 17:14 (KJV) And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

I want you to notice that God told the Israelite male that he had to be circumcised – but God never told him WHY. When God first directed Abraham to the rite of circumcision – a terribly painful thing to do to an adult male – God never said why. He just said “Do it”.

God said to future generations of children born “do it on the eighth day” but never specified why. Faith does not debate with God. Faith trusts God. God knows best. Where God sees unbelief He chastises if needed to bring us to full faith in Him.

Zacharias doubted God, but Elisabeth trusted God.
Doubt cost Zacharias his voice, but in her faithfulness Elisabeth found a voice.
She circumcised John on the eighth day according to God’s Word.
Why the eighth?
Because God said so.
And God knows best.

It was not until 1935 that doctors discovered the relationship between Vitamin K and Prothrombin, a protein present in blood plasma that leads to clotting of the blood. From Apologetics Press I quote:

“On the eighth day {of a newborn’s life} the amount of Prothrombin present {in it’s blood stream} is elevated above one-hundred percent of normal — {this} is the only day in the male’s life … this will be the case … If surgery {such as circumcision} is to be performed, day eight is the perfect day to do it. Vitamin K and prothrombin levels are at their peak.”

Elisabeth didn’t know these medical truths, but trusted the Word of God. Oh that we would trust God and His Word! God always knows best for His children. The Psalmist said “He knows the way of the righteous” (Psalm 1:6). When Job was tried of God he did not curse the Lord, but trusted His heart and His Word, saying:

“God knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10)

This trial is not to my destruction, but to my good. Our God is a wonderful Father and a magnificent Provider. We must trust Him.

Do You Prefer GOOD or BEST?

Luke 1:59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and THEY CALLED HIM ZACHARIAS, after the name of his father.

When a child is born it is a celebration in a Jewish home. The Special Rabbi (called the Moile) who was to circumcise the baby and the Rabbi who would bless the child “called him Zacharias after his father’s name”. These men were Jewish authorities, Pastors who were much respected. But Elisabeth did not let their prestige or positions cow her. God had said what this child should be named.

Luke 1:60-61 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. [61] And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

In the Bible names have meaning. “John” means “the Grace or Mercy of the Lord”. John would go before the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.

Grace and Love always proceeds Jesus, so JOHN was the best name for the child.

John would promote Christ, herald Christ. The name “Zacharias” is a beautiful name meaning “The Lord has remembered”. It’s a good name – but JOHN was better. But God wanted John named John.

As humans when we second guess the will of God we always choose the good over the best. God knows what is BEST. Name him Zacharias – OK that’s good, but not BEST. It is BEST to follow God’s Word.

As soon as Elisabeth said “he shall be called John” the traditionalists began to argue. “Not so! None of your kindred are called by that name”. The traditionalists are everywhere and ever present. Their battle cry is:

“We’ve never done it that way before”

and they say “Others will laugh at us if we do what God says”. They are not ground breakers in their faith but love to dig a hole that that everyone else can crawl in with them. They never hear the Word of Faith as “Onward Christian Soldiers”, and instead of standing on the promises of Christ my Lord they die sitting on the premises despite the Lord. They are the noisy ones in the Business Meetings who seem to know best, but do not care to glorify God.

After shunning the mother Elisabeth’s direction … WHAT ARROGANCE …. they look to Zacharias.

Luke 1:62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

“If we can’t get support for our suggestion, let’s look to Zacharias!” Here is a man who lost his voice for 9 months for unbelief. Let’s turn to this faithless individual. But Zacharias has learned his lesson. We read:

Luke 1:63-64 {Zacharias} asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marveled all. [64] And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

Just four words. “His name IS John”. But with these four words Zacharias’ voice is restored. And as he spoke, John praised God.

Christ Centered Faith Is Rewarded By God

Luke 1:67 (KJV) And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

God will not reward faithlessness, but He does reward faith. Zacharias’ obedience to God in spite of his disability caused his voice to return – and he was FILLED with the Holy Spirit, empowered or anointed or God – and he began to preach!

Luke 1:68-69 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, [69] And hath raised up an HORN OF SALVATION for us in the house of his servant David; [70] As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: [71] That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

In his preaching Zacharias praised God for His faithfulness. God raised up the HORN of SALVATION, his son John. God’s Israel are depicted as a mighty army moving forward. When the Calvary moved forward it always responded to the sounds of the HORN, the TRUMPET. John was not the Savior, but he would be the HORN that went before Jesus. Each of the four Gospels show John as the fulfillment of Isaiah 40:30 and Malachi 3:1 …

In Matthew 3:3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet, saying, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!’

In Mark 1:1-3 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.”

In John 1:23 {John the Baptist} said, ‘I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

John would be the Horn of Salvation, the fulfillment of Bible Prophecy. His message would ring out clearly that Christ was the Messiah. His ministry would be successful because Christ was Whom he pointed to. No ministry will stand that does not center itself on Christ.

If Christ is not the point, your ministry is pointless!

The Bible warns in 1 Corinthians 14:8-9 For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

There are many preachers and supposed Bible teachers today who are “speaking into the air” rather than preaching. All preaching drives toward Christ. All of God’s glory drives toward Christ. John in his ministry would never be side tracked – he would always herald clearly that Christ was the Savior, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). His ministry would be successful unto the end.

Zacharias also preached of the faithfulness of God, saying ..

Luke 1:72-75 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; [73] The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, [74] That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, [75] In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

Finally, Zacharias directly bestowed blessing on his newborn child Zacharias. Fathers often laid their right hand on their firstborn child to bestow their inheritance upon them. As Zacharias laid his right hand on little baby John he did not bestow his earthly inheritance. Priests such as Zacharias were not given a portion in Israel as were the other tribes, for their portion was the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:1-2). So Zacharias passed on to John the only thing he had – he passed on service to the Lord.

Luke 1:76-79 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; [77] To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, [78] Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring From On High hath visited us, [79] To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The words “Dayspring From On High” or better “Sunrise From On High” is a reference to Jesus Christ. God sent His Son into the world to be the Light of the World. He is the Light of God that lights our path so that we might not stumble in this present darkness. Praise His Name forever more!

Posted in Christmas, Christmas Sermons, Faithfulness of God, Following Disciples, Following Jesus, Sermons Preached | Tagged Christians, Christmas, faithful God, Zacharias | Leave a comment

He will make our feet like Hinds feet!

Posted on December 13, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

good study!

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HE, my rescuer

Posted on December 12, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

very nice post

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Today was one of those days I was alone and my mind was free to revisit past incidents of my life. I am certain it’s by God’s grace that I could sit down and converse with God as I did some life’s introspection. I was taken by a deep warmth surprise at finding the most worthiest reasons to thank God for. It wasn’t those moments of great success, times of abundance and self fulfilment. Instead, I am grateful for those times when my heart was broken, when the dreams and the people I held close and tight were taken away from me, and when things did not go my way. The pain and hurts at the moment were true and difficult. But it was in those hurtful experiences that I was actually being rescued from the path of lesser life and dimmer light. I also realised that I’m a human…

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If You Have a Pulse, God Has a Plan

Posted on December 12, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

wonderful Word from a beautiful Sister in Christ

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Jesus Shall Be Great

Posted on December 12, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

Christmas Is Christ Series #2

Sermon Notes Luke 1:26-32 (KJV) And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, [27] To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. [28] And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. [29] And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. [30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. [31] And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Audio Of Sermon:

We live in a world today in which faith is placed not in God nor His Christ nor even His world, but in institutions and people. Idolatry abounds in America, and it shows in the rudeness we see all around us. Many years ago Bible Scholar Arthur W. Pink wrote in his book the Godhood of God:

“When Christian theologians (?) accepted the Darwinian hypothesis, which excluded God from the realm of Creation, it was only to be expected that more and more God would be banished from the realm of human affairs. Thus it has proven. To the twentieth-century mind God is little more than an abstraction …. Man … is a “god” unto himself. He is a “free agent” and therefore the regulator of his own life and the determiner of his own destiny. Such was the Devil’s lie at the beginning – “Ye shall be as God” (Gen. 3:5). But from human speculation and Satanic insinuation we turn to Divine revelation.”¹

There is a God, a Triune God, and during this season we call “Christmas” we turn our attention to this Loving Creator. Our focus is not on Santa Claus nor secular humanism, but the Lord and the miracle of this season.

Christmas cards speak of the Wise Men, the First Noel, the Little Town of Bethlehem. In our Church we light the Advent Candles. Everything we do is to bring honor and glory to the reality of Christmas, that God loved us so much that He entered humanity. He became part of His own creation. The Apostle wrote in amazement:

Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, {5} To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Paul uses very precise language here. Christ was sent forth. He did not come into existence in Mary, but was with God from eternity past. He is the Living Word of Whom the Scripture says:

Colossians 1:15-17 (KJV) {Jesus} is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Jesus is co-equal with God, for the Father said of Him:

Hebrews 1:8 (KJV) … Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.

Jesus Christ is very God of very Gods. And our Great God humbled Himself for us.

God Is Great In His Faithfulness To Us

If God became man – and He did – where would you expect Him to enter our story? My expectation would be that He would show up at some well known and famous city, like New York or Washington DC. I would expect His entrance to be filled with ticker tape like the World War 1 hero Alvin York rode through, all to cheering crowds. Where did our Lord enter the world?

Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth ..

“In the sixth month” is a reference to the conception of the Prophet John by Zacharias and Elisabeth. Gabriel had promised that couple, that precious older couple, that they would have a son who would be the Herald of Christ. Six months following this announcement God sends Gabriel to a place called Nazareth. A small town, a nondescript place like Sawdust or Culleoka or Garner. There was a saying that went about in those days:

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46)

Nazareth was no place, but two young people lived there who loved the Lord. These young people had been engaged to be married from birth as the custom of the day was, and were living normal and natural lives looking forward to their wedding day until God intervened.

Luke 1:27 (KJV) To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

Mary was a virgin. She was untouched by any man, and engaged to her beloved Joseph. Why did God come to a virgin? You have to look back to the beginning of the Book to understand this. When the serpent, that old devil, tempted Adam and Eve to betray God, God told the serpent:

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Theologians call this the protoevangelium, or the first preaching of the Gospel. What is recorded in Luke was the fulfillment of the promise of God in Genesis. Man sinned, and brought separation from God. But God came and closed the gap.

Romans 5:12 (NKJV) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

God promises the devil that through the SEED of the woman he would be destroyed.

Women do not have SEED
Women have EGGS
Men have SEED
I hope you understand this.
In a normal world, no woman can have a child without the contribution of a man.
So how would this be done?
God is going to show us.
The Scripture declares ..

1 Corinthians 15:22 (NKJV) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Through the natural man sin and death entered the world. But through the Supernatural Man, Jesus Christ, sin would be eradicated and death destroyed. God would do this through the Seed of the woman. The Prophet wrote that God would faithfully keep His promise.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE, and bear a son, and shall call his name IMMANUEL.

Immanuel means “God with us”. God would come to us through a virgin. Not only this, God would come to us through the lineage of Abraham. God promised Abraham:

Genesis 18:18 … Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Here is threefold miracle of Christ. He must be “the Seed of the woman” or virgin born. He must be of the lineage of Abraham according to God’s promise. And what else?

God promised King David:

Genesis 49:10 The scepter {symbolic of rulership} shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

This prophecy, given long before the birth of Christ, foretold that the Tribe of Judah would be God’s ruling Tribe in Israel. God said “the scepter – the rule – shall remain in Judah until SHILOH (meaning The One To Whom It Belongs) shall come. Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Judah would rule, and Christ would come from the lineage of Judah.

This is all fulfilled in what God does in Mary. Jesus Christ, the Shiloh of God, must be born of a virgin, born of the line of Abraham, born of the Tribe of Judah, born as an heir of King David. Do you not see? Do you not see miracle upon miracle heaped on our Savior? Yet, do not look at the miracles of fulfilled prophecy and become enamored with them. Do not focus on the vivid colors of the painting and fail to see the overall theme that is rendered here. My aunt Dorothy – now in the arms of Jesus – was assistant curator of the North Carolina Museum of Art. There were many times when I went to the museum in Raleigh and saw beautiful paintings and wondrous scenes. Most of these paintings, when they were first rendered by the artist, seemed to have little value. Many of the artists did not become famous, nor were their works prized, until after their deaths. After their works were examined over the passing years people came to understand how priceless and valuable these paintings were. So it is with the birth of Christ!

So many people this holy-day season will think of Jesus in passing. They will glance at pictures on cards that show the Baby in the Manger. They will look at the colors of Christmas, but not at the overall picture. Look what God accomplished for you! Look at the promises, the amount of time that passed, the precise control that God used, the love of God that passes all understanding. When we see the Cross of Calvary we can understand the love of God.

Unless we see and perceive how much God loved us, and how He proved that love in the virgin birth, then we only see a part of the picture. God is Great! He shall be great. This does not mean that Christ shall work His way into greatness, but as God is great He shall be great, for He is God.

Mary Is A Recipient Of Grace

Why did God choose Mary? Some seek to make Mary greater than she is. Some call Mary the “Queen of Heaven”, and some churches actually worship her. That would be wrong. Mary was a good and Godly woman who loved the Lord. Gabriel says to her:

Luke 1:28-30 (KJV) And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly FAVORED, the Lord is with thee: BLESSED art thou among women. [29] And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. [30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found FAVOR with God.

The words of Gabriel show us that Mary is not superhuman, but a child of God by Grace. The angel says:

Hail! – χαίρω chairō – REJOICE!
χαριτόω charitoō – You are filled with GRACE!
εὐλογέω eulogeō – You have been BLESSED!
χάρις charis – You have found GRACE with God!

Mary was not the winner of some prize that she was vying for. God bestowed Grace on her. She loved the Lord, and the Lord was going to bring the Savior into this life through someone who loved Him.

Listen to me, Beloved. God will not bless anyone in a great way unless they are faithful in the small things. Mary loved the Lord God. She kept herself chaste. She obeyed God’s precepts. God used her because she loved Him. God sat His love on Mary, and invited her to participate in that Great Plan of Salvation, just as He has sat His love on you and invited you to participate in His Great Plan.

Jesus Christ’s humanity was born of Mary. Not because Mary was best, but because God loved Mary. Jesus Christ’s humanity was born of Mary. Not because we deserved His love, but because He first loved us. Jesus Christ was born of Mary. Not because either she or we were sinless, but because God is faithful, and in His faithfulness wants to love us.

The Son of God lowered Himself in love to take on humanity to live and die for us. Look at the wonder of God’s Love! In the realm of humanity a king is always born in a palace. The high born are born of high born. This is the way of man. The child of the king will be king, and that child will be waited on hand and foot by nannies and butlers, fed the finest of foods, given the greatest of care. The king’s child will be taught, not in a common school, but with a special tutor, usually someone of great fame, a Plato or a Socrates. Not so with God! When the Son of God came to save the world, He was born of the Tribe of Judah, but Israel was under Roman bondage. He was not born to Herod, nor to Pilate, nor to Caesar, but to Mary and Joseph. He was not born to riches and wealth, nor to degrees and decrees. Jesus Christ was born of an unknown virgin because of God’s great love!

The Christ Child Shall Be Great

Luke 1:31-33 (KJV) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

The Child promised to Mary shall be GREAT! The clue to His greatness begins with His name. Thou shalt call His name JESUS. His name means God is our Savior. Jesus is a great Savior. Jesus is great because He is the one and only Son of the Highest. He is THE Son of God. As the Son of God He possesses the Throne of David, and rules over Israel. His Kingdom never ends. Earthly kingdoms come and God, but Christ reigns forever.

The Child shall be great in power. Jesus’ creative power is seen in how He healed and restored those around Him. The lepers cried out to Jesus:

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! (Luke 17:13)

Jesus healed the ten lepers, but only one leper returned to Jesus after his healing. This leper …

Luke 17:16-18 (NKJV) …. fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

Jesus is great in power, and great in love. He healed whosoever would come to Him. Jesus is a great Healer. Jesus is the Son of God. He is great in power and majesty. But most of all, Jesus is great in love. He is the Great Shepherd Who lays down His life for His sheep.

John 10:11-16 (NKJV) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. …14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Oh how Jesus loves His people. Oh how Jesus shall be great in love. This Holy Child of Mary’s is no mere human mortal, but He is God in the flesh. He is the God Man of whom the Apostle said:

Acts 20:28 Feed the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood.

This Baby that Mary would have would be the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). No other man would ever speak as Jesus spoke – but His greatest greatness lies in the truth that He is God’s payment for sin. We are told in Romans:

Romans 11:36 (NLT) For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

But He lowers Himself to enter this earth for us. He would be born of Mary so that we could be saved. We who were chained in sin, He came to save! Spurgeon said:

“He has undertaken great things, and glory be to His name, He has achieved them. His people’s sins were laid upon Him, and He bore them up to the cross, and on the cross He made an end of them, so that they will never be mentioned against them any more forever. Then He went down into the grave, and slept there for a little season, but He tore away the bars of the sepulcher and left death dead at His feet, bringing life and immortality to light by His resurrection.”

Jesus is greater than death, the defeater of sin and the giver of eternal life. He is great. He is great in that He will save whosoever will, if they will but come to Him. He invites you into His Kingdom that has no end.

Will you come? He is a Great Savior for a Great Sinner. This Child to be born of Mary was born to die for us. The Scripture says:

Romans 5:8-10 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

God has a GREAT WRATH reserved for the sinner who rejects Him. Rejecting Christ you have no where to go but a burning lake following this life. But Jesus was born of a virgin so that you could be reborn of God. Jesus entered humanity so that saved humanity can enter Heaven. Will you not receive of His Greatness!

If Jesus had not been virgin born, then you would not be saved. If Jesus had not taken on human flesh, then He could not shed His blood for you. If Jesus Christ had not agreed to make payment for your sinful nature, you would still be under the wrath of God. But because Jesus lowered Himself to be born of a virgin, you have – if you have believed – eternal life in Him!

This is Love Personified, this Jesus Christ our Lord! Though born of a lowly virgin, He is nonetheless Eternal God. The Bible tells us:

Hebrews 1:6 …when [God] bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him

How Shall This Be? God Will Do It!

When Mary was told that she was going to have a Child, she quite naturally asked:

Luke 1:34 (KJV) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

How is it possible that I, a virgin, conceive a Child such as this? Perhaps you who are bound in sin and hopelessness wonder how your life can be changed and be made new. The Angel told Mary:

Luke 1:35-37 (KJV) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. [36] And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. [37] For with God nothing shall be impossible.

The Angel’s answer to Mary was, basically, “God will do it”. How can your life change from sinner to saint, from lost to saved, from wanderer to a Child of God? It cannot come through your own power. Jeremiah (13:23) asked “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?” No, there are things we cannot do.

But with God all things are possible. You just need to say “Yes” to God, to trust Him, to let Him work in your life. Trust Christ. Say with Mary:

Luke 1:38 (KJV) …. Behold the {servant} of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

God is great, and will bless you if you but trust in Christ. May God touch your hearts with His Word.

1A.W. Pink, Godhood of God, ccel.org

Posted in Christmas, Christmas Sermons, Following Disciples, Luke, Sermons Preached | Tagged Advent, Christmas, God Is Faithful | 1 Comment

Mary’s Song

Posted on December 12, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

Christmas Is Christ Series #3

Sermon Notes: Luke 1:39-55^KJV And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; {40} And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. {41} And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: {42} And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb. {43} And whence [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? {44} For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. {45} And blessed [is] she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. {46} And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, {47} And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. {48} For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. {49} For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy [is] his name. {50} And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation. {51} He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. {52} He hath put down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low degree. {53} He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. {54} He hath [helped] his servant Israel, in remembrance of [his] mercy; {55} As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Audio Of Sermon:

Christmas Is A Time Of Shared Faith

Mary had been told that she was to have the Christ Child, the long awaited Messiah. But the Angel also told her:

Luke 1:36-37 … thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. {37} For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Mary had asked Gabriel how could she – a virgin – conceive a child. How can this be, seeing I have not known a man sexually? The Angel tells her that God has already done a miracle 6 months before, that Elisabeth – who was barren – is now with child. There is nothing impossible for God.

Beloved, there is nothing impossible for God! Our God is a miracle making God.

Jeremiah 32:27 (NKJV) Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

God can do anything that righteousness allows.

God Cannot LIE: Hebrews 6:18 …. it is impossible for God to lie …
God Cannot CHANGE: Malachi 3:6 …. For I am the Lord, I do not change …
God Cannot BREAK A PROMISE: Psalm 89:34 … My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.
God Cannot Be Pleased With FAITHLESSNESS: Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

When Mary heard what God said through Gabriel she rejoiced. Then she showed us her faith by heading to Elisabeth’s house.

Unbelief would have said “Wait”.
Fear would have said “Be Still”.
But FAITH said “Go”!

This was no easy trip. The distance from Nazareth to Hebron – where Elisabeth was – is about 81 miles as the crow flies – and Mary wasn’t flying. Mary was going to offer help to her cousin. In those days family helped family. She was going to help her 6 month pregnant cousin. She was also, I believe, going to share her good news with Elisabeth. If this had happened today maybe she would have called her cousin, or posted it on Facebook. Thank God for the old days! No, there was nothing easy to this trip. This would take her – a young lady – several days of travel over dangerous terrain fraught with thieves and no goods. But she went. God had told her she was having a Baby, the Christ Baby, and God was going to protect her. Elisabeth needed her, so she went.

She went in haste. We are told:

Luke 1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country WITH HASTE, into a city of Judah;

Faith moves WITH HASTE. It does not dawdle. When we procrastinate the things of God, we often do not do them. When God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac what did that faithful old man do? The Bible says:

Genesis 22:3 (NKJV) Abraham rose EARLY in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

Faith has feet. It prays. It seeks God’s Word. But once faith has God’s Word, faith moves. It does as God says. Mary moved, and went to Elisabeth.

Luke 1:40-44 {Mary} entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. {41} And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy {Spirit}: {42} And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb. {43} And whence [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? {44} For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

I always love this section. The PRO CHOICE crowd has held for years that “The baby in the womb is not a baby, just a piece of unfeeling tissue”. Hogwash! When Mary entered the home of her cousin the baby leapt in her womb, and Elisabeth was FILLED with the Holy Spirit. God made Himself known to His servant – and out of this Filling or Empowerment or Anointing – She said “the baby John LEAPT in my womb FOR JOY”. Though John was still embraced by his mother’s flesh he knew His Savior – and Yours – was in Mary. Think on this for a moment. Mary had been pregnant only a FEW DAYS. That which was within her was a tiny fetus. Yet John sensed the Lord in Mary. Elisabeth sensed the Lord in Mary.

Luke 1:42-43 (NKJV) … Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

The Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ stood in her home. What an honor this was for Elisabeth! Not because of who Mary was, but because of Who Jesus was. Here is the tiny fetus Who will be born the Savior of all Who believe. What a miracle God wrought in Mary. What a miracle God brings in us who have believed in His Christ!

There is no jealousy or envy in faith. Elisabeth is not belittled because God chose her to carry John and Mary the Savior. Nor is there pride in faith. Arrogance and Faith cannot occupy the same home, for one will take the other in hand.

What is a mark of faith? Humility. A lowliness of self.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: {7} Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

With humility comes blessing. God cannot save the prideful, nor can He bless the arrogant. Notice also that faith – as expressed by Elisabeth – will trust the Promise of God. Elisabeth tells Mary:

Luke 1:45 And blessed [is] she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Elisabeth says “blessed are you, Mary, because you believed God”. There is no blessing without belief. Mary believed God, just as Abraham our father believed God. Jesus told Doubting Thomas:

John 20:29 (NKJV) … because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Mary had no physical evidence as of yet that Christ was in her. And yet, she believed. Mary had no physical evidence that Elisabeth was six months pregnant when the Angel told her so. She had to go 81 miles to see the evidence. She believed without having to see. She trusted God, and was blessed for it. Have faith in God (Mark 11:22). Trust His Word. What He has said, He will do. Man may fail, but God will not.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Humble Faith Produces A Song In The Heart

Luke 1:46-49 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, {47} And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. {48} For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. {49} For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy [is] his name.

Mary’s Song begins by praising and lifting up the Name of God. God has been good to Mary. He has been good to all of us. Do we praise Him as She does?

My soul doth MAGNIFY the Lord

That doesn’t mean that she places a magnifying glass on a little god to make him bigger. No, God is BIG anyway. God is awesome.

Psalm 47:2 (NKJV) For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.

Deuteronomy 10:17 (NKJV) For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.

Some of you worship a false god, a little god, a god you keep in your pocket. For some this god is a ring of beads that you touch and pray to. To others it is a statue, or a fantasy of your making. I have heard of the alcoholic who was told to just worship something higher than himself. He staggered drunk to a tree one summer day, sat down, looked up and saw a little squirrel perched on a limb. “Why little squirrel, you are higher than I am, so you can be my god”. The squirrel looked at him, then sensing this was a nut bigger than it could crack, ran away. Some of you like Laban of the Old Testament have lucky charms you call your gods.

If your god is small enough to be stolen, and hid by a small girl, then your god is useless and certainly NOT the God of the Scripture. Mary had no little god but the God of Scripture, the God of Truth, the God Who is. Mary lifted up God’s Name, praising Him, glorifying Him. “My Soul Magnifies My God!” The great preacher C.H. Spurgeon said:

“IT is very clear that Mary was not beginning a new thing; for she speaks in the present tense, and in a tense which seems to have been for a long time present: “My soul doth magnify the Lord.” Ever since she had received the wonderful tidings of the choice which God had made of her for her high position, she had begun to magnify the Lord; and when once a soul has a deep sense of God’s mercy, and begins magnifying him, there is no end to it. This grows by what it feeds upon: the more you magnify God, the more you can magnify him. The higher you rise, the more you can see; your view of God is increased in extent; and whereas you praised him somewhat at the bottom of the hill, when you get nearer and nearer to the top of his exceeding goodness, you lift up the strain still more loudly, and your soul doth more fully and exultantly magnify the Lord.”

my spirit hath REJOICED in God my Savior

For Mary God was her Savior. Mary loved God, and He loved her. There are many who profess to be Christian who are no more Christian than a cloud. For Mary the Lord was Lord of:

her tongue
her time
her treasure
her talent
her testimony
her toil

Because He was her Lord she trusted Him and trusted Him still. Joy overflowed from her heart, and radiated outward in her countenance and in her song. Mary is not immaculate, as many believe, but like us a sinner in need of a Savior. God saved her so that He could use her. God saves us so that He can use us for His glory and majesty. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Luke 1:48 For HE hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

God loves us though He regards our LOW ESTATE. He is immense, but we are tiny. Yet in His immensity He loves us.

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.

Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Oh how God loves us, though we often be unlovable. He loved Mary though she were small. Our God Who is everywhere at once – for in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28) and is immense in power. And yet this immense Creator loves us, and calls us to His side.

1 Samuel 2:1-10 … My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. {2} [There is] none holy as the LORD: for [there is] none beside thee: neither [is there] any rock like our God. {3} Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD [is] a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. …”

It is God Who blesses, God Who strengthens, God Who has given you your sustenance, your salvation, the very air you breath. Praise Him! Glorify Him! King David, a man who was after God’s own heart, said:

Psalms 28:6-7 Blessed [be] the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. {7} The LORD [is] my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Hasn’t God blessed you? Then praise Him! Share what He has done with those around you. Speak of His great blessing, of the salvation which has been given to you.

God Humbled Himself – And So Must We

Luke 1:51-55 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. {52} He hath put down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low degree. {53} He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. {54} He hath [helped] his servant Israel, in remembrance of [his] mercy; {55} As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

The entirety of Mary’s song is humble, surrendered to our Father. To those who come to God with open but empty hands God blesses. God scatters the proud in their imagination and puts down the mighty from their seats. But to those who humble themselves, God blesses.

God humbled Himself. God came from Heaven to earth. The Eternal God the Son was willing to have a beginning in flesh. He would be born of water and blood, coming forth from Mary. He did this so that He could fill the hungry with good things. Jesus lowered Himself for you and I.

As Mary humbled herself and waited on Elisabeth for the next three months, and humbled herself to go with her husband to Bethlehem, her Son would humble Himself. He would humble Himself by being born in a manger. He would humble Himself by growing up in Nazareth. And His ultimate humiliation would be went He went to the Cross of Calvary for you and I.

Philippians 2:6-8 (NKJV) {Jesus} being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus humbled Himself for us. We therefore humble ourselves to receive Him. The great writer and theologian C.S. Lewis said:

“Now the whole offer which Christianity makes is this: that we can, if we let God have His way, come to share in the life of Christ. If we do, we shall then be sharing a life which was begotten, not made, which always existed and always will exist. Christ is the Son of God. If we share in this kind of life we also shall be sons of God. We shall love the Father as He does and the Holy Ghost will arise in us. He came to this world and became a man in order to spread to other men the kind of life He has — by what I call “good infection.” Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.”

God became incarnate so that we could be saved. God came from Heaven so that He could take us to Heaven with Him. This is the wondrous message of Christmas.

So this season as you look at the Christmas Tree with all its lights, remember this. Out of the dead tree of the Cross God offers us His Light and His life. The present that matters most is not what is UNDER the tree, but He Who hung on the Tree. The greatest gift God can bestow upon any was given in the manger and on the tree. The greatest gift of all is Jesus! Receive Him. Love Him. Care for Him. Walk with Him.

May God touch your hearts with His Word!

KJV All texts are KING JAMES VERSION, unless otherwise noted