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Saved and Surrendered

Sunday, December 4, 2022
Pastor Jojo Ma

 

Lk 1:26-38 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “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. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy --- the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 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.

Let’s turn our eyes, our ears, and our hearts to Scripture, to Luke’s gospel chapter 1, and let’s treasure together this good news of great joy. May our hearts be truly happy in what we hear.

Jn 1:46 Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

In the world’s eyes, Mary was a nobody living in the middle of nowhere.

The best news this world has ever heard was given to the humblest and lowliest of people.

Lk 1:46-48 My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant.

The good news of great joy, the gospel of salvation, is for sick and needy people, not the self-righteous.

Pastor Mark Dever: “The gospel is only good news for repentant sinners. It offers no good news to the unrepentant.”

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “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.

When we are tempted to panic or to fear or to lash out or to self-indulge or 100 other reactions to things in life, do we know how to slow down, hear God first, and keep on pondering what He has said in His Word?

It doesn’t matter if you are a teenager like Mary was or in your twilight years, we all need to learn to be still, slow down, and ponder the Word of God and His promises to us.

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.

2 Sam 7:16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before Me. Your throne shall be established forever.

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy --- the Son of God.”

If God has opened your eyes to Christ and shown you His great favor and blessings, don’t squander it, live for Christ and grow in becoming more like him and bearing the fruit of the Spirit.

36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.

Literally, v37 reads “for not impossible will be every word with God”.

38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

This morning we have learned a little about the angel Gabriel, a little about Mary, hopefully a lot about God, and hopefully a lot about how we can grow in faith and obedience and humility and reflection and submission and surrender.

This is what Christmas is for, this is why the announcement was made, this is why we have good news of great joy --- to be saved, to be surrendered, to be his servant.