Psalm 139:23-24

Mary

   

   Long ago, in the city of Nazareth, there resided a woman who was espoused to a carpenter. 

Little is known of this couple until the Angel Gabriel visits Mary one day.

“Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” Of course Mary was troubled, yet she was not troubled by his appearance but by his proclaimation. She cast in her mind what could he mean by such a salutation? She, highly favoured? The Lord was with her? Was she really blessed among women?

  While she is thinking Gabriel continues, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 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: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Mary hears all that the angel says, she would have a son, His name would be Jesus, and He would have a throne, a kingdom with no end?

     

    As all of this information flys through her mind she must ask a question. There are so many she could ask. Yet when the words come from her lips she questions Gabriel on, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”

     Gabriel answers, “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.” And as if that were not enough, he tells her, “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. For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

    Mary heard these words, words that were so unfathomable to a woman from a little city, and to her of all people. What would she say, what could she say? “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” And the angel departed from her.

  It is interesting to read Luke 1:26-38 and see what Mary said. She only speaks twice, once to ask a question and then to express agreement with what God said. She does not why me? What will people think and say about me? What about my reputation? What will Joseph say? Nor does she does not make excuses. Rather she says “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” If God wanted to use her, she was willing. She probably had no idea the insults that would be hurled her way. In John 8:41, the Pharisses tossed it in Jesus face, “We be not born of fornication.” Neither was He, yet men’s minds have trouble wrapping themselves around the birth of a child by a virgin. The prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 was lost to them, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

   Mary is not to be worshipped, yet she should be admired for trusting what God said.

     If we read on in the chapter, verses 46-55, contain Mary’s praise of God.

“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”

Side note.......

I can think of only 3 women and 1 group of women that were spoken to by an angel.

Hagar – Genesis 16

Manoah’s wife – Judges 13

Mary – Luke 1

The women at the tomb – Matthew 28

In the Beginning was the WORD

   In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. 

Thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, 

yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; 

whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: 

When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, 

before they came together, 

she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, 

and not willing to make her a public example, 

was minded to put her away privily. 

But while he thought on these things, behold, 

the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, 

Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: 

for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: 

for he shall save his people from their sins. 

Neither is there salvation in any other: 

for there is none other name under heaven given among men, 

whereby we must be saved.

    Now all this was done, 

that it might be fulfilled 

which was spoken of the Lord 

by the prophet, saying, 

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, 

and shall bring forth a son, 

and they shall call his name Emmanuel, 

which being interpreted is, God with us. 

For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in him 

should not perish but have everlasting life.

    For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; 

but that the world through him might be saved. 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; 

and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Not of works lest any man should boast. 

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, 

and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, 

thou shalt be saved. 

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; 

and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Bible verses used

John 1:1

John 1:14a

Micah 5:2

Matthew 1:18-21

Acts 4:12

Matthew 1:22-23

John 3:16-17

Ephesians 2:8-9

Romans 10:13, 9-10                 

Bible Notes - Things Isaiah 40-44 teaches about God

Things Isaiah 40-44 teaches about God

•         His Word shall stand forever – 40:8

•         Measured the waters in the hollow of His hand – 40:12

•         Sits on the circle of the earth – 40:22

•         He is Everlasting – 40:28

•         He is not weary or faint – 40:28

•         Is the first and last – 41:4

•         Named the Holy one of Israel – 41:20

•         Has a servant, His elect – 42:1

•         God giveth breath and spirit to people – 42:5

•         His name is the Lord, will not give glory to others – 42:8

•         God created Jacob and formed Israel – 43:1

•         He is the Saviour – 43:3

•         Precious in God’s sight and loved – 43:4

•         Created for God’s Glory – 43:7

•         No God formed before or after our God – 43:10

•         No Saviour besides the Lord – 43:11

•         Before there was Day, there was God – 43:13

•         He is the King – 43:15

•         First and last, no God besides – 44:6

•         He won’t forget His Servant, Israel – 44:21

•         Blotted out our sins – 44:22

•         Can prophecy 300 plus years in advance – 44:28, 45:1

Hymn - I'd Rather Have Jesus

I'd Rather Have Jesus

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;

I’d rather be His than have riches untold;

I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;

I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand 

Refrain:

Than to be the king of a vast domain,

Or be held in sin’s dread sway;

I’d rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;

I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;

I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;

I’d rather be true to His holy name 

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;

He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;

He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;

I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead 

Hiking the Trail of Life

Imagine you see a person going for a hike.  

He has spiky hair, a backpack, compass, hiking boots and a map. In the backpack, he probably has food, water, a knife, matches, flare, cellphone, survival blanket etc. He looks ready to go hiking. 

Then you take a closer look and realize…. His map is upside down, and he has a confused expression as he turns the compass round and round.  This man has all the proper gear for his hiking trip. Yet none of those things will do him any good if he does not know how to use them. If he is unable to use the map and compass he will be lost very quickly. He will potentially hurt himself and others if he tries to guide them with tools he does not understand. Perhaps before he tries to tackle his first big hike he should go with someone and learn on the trail how to use the tools and read the signs around him.

   This hiker reminds me of a Christian. The Christian has the right hair-do, the right outward appearance, a compass, a map, and extra supplies. (Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.)

   The Christian’s Compass is the Holy Spirit. Just as a compass always points north, so the Holy Spirit always points us to God. 

    The Christian’s map is the Bible. If we read it and learn more about what God says in the Bible, we will know the way in which we should go and be able to help others also.

   In their pack, they have tracts, John & Romans, books to help learn the Bible, maybe a scripture sign, maybe a notebook to write down what they learn, or a notebook to remember the prayer requests of others, etc.  

    A Christian has the internal compass, access to the Bible and many resources to help them learn and teach the Bible to others. Yet we do not see them ready to hike the trail. The hiker did not know how to use his equipment but he was still going to go hiking. 

   Why are Christians not willing to step out, on the trail? Certainly, they may come across other hikers who do not have the same resources in their pack. They may come across hikers who think the way they are hiking is wrong. But there are people hiking this trail, who have no direction, they are confused and lost. You might just come across people like that. That is who God wants us to reach. If you have all the right information, all the right resources from the right preacher/group, good for you, how do you plan to use it to reach the lost?

  

    If everyone is a hiker, everyone has access to the Holy Spirit (Internal Compass) and the Map (The Bible), some though were not trained to hike the trail with the Bible and Holy Spirit. Children have their packs filled with many things by their parents, teachers, friends, and family. Some packs are filled with a little Jesus, but most have philosophy, evolution, and a huge does of make yourself happy.

    As a Christian, you do not have to walk the trail of life confused. (Psalm119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.) Take the time to learn the Bible and let the Holy Spirit remind you to look to God. He is our guide as we walk this trail of life to be more like Jesus Christ. 

Hymn - When We All Get to Heaven

When We All Get to Heaven

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,

Sing His mercy and His grace.

In the mansions bright and blessèd

He’ll prepare for us a place.

Refrain

When we all get to Heaven,

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus,

We’ll sing and shout the victory!

While we walk the pilgrim pathway,

Clouds will overspread the sky;

But when traveling days are over,

Not a shadow, not a sigh.

Refrain

Let us then be true and faithful,

Trusting, serving every day;

Just one glimpse of Him in glory

Will the toils of life repay.

Refrain

Onward to the prize before us!

Soon His beauty we’ll behold;

Soon the pearly gates will open;

We shall tread the streets of gold.

Refrain