WEBVTT

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 Well, the good news of great joy that shines through the Christmas story is radically transformative

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 for those who respond to it in faith.

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 Of course, if you've been a Christian for very long at all, you know that to be true.

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 But the joy itself is actually a part of that transformation.

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 True joy that transcends the more basic feelings of happiness and sadness

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 is only experienced by individuals who, like Mary, take God at His Word

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 and receive by faith the person and work of Jesus Christ.

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 That's what we learned through the angel's announcement to Mary last week

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 as we begin this study in Luke chapter 1 and 2.

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 The angel's message was one of God's grace and salvation,

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 particularly through the incarnation of Christ.

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 That Mary, the virgin, would conceive a child

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 and that this child would be the Son of God

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 and the Messiah born to die, actually,

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 providing salvation by God's grace for all who will believe and follow Him.

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 And Mary's total trust in this, taking God at His Word,

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 is reflected in her response in verse 38.

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 You've got your Bible open.

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 Just look at it there, just one verse up from where we began.

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 In verse 38, Mary responds by saying,

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 Behold, I am the servant of the Lord.

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 Let it be to me according to your word.

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 And we have in this little statement just a wonderful reflection

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 of what it means to respond to the gospel message in faith,

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 in a true saving faith.

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 Mary hears the Word of God.

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 She understands, or at least begins to understand,

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 the fact of the gospel as it is represented in this child that she will have.

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 And her response is not to shrink away from that.

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 Her response actually is to say,

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 I belong to the Lord.

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 I will believe Him and I will follow Him in whatever path He leads me.

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 In today's text, we see the beginnings of how God continues to produce gospel joy

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 in the lives of those who come to Him in faith.

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 And what's unmistakable in this passage

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 is that this ongoing work of God's grace

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 is accomplished in the context of a community of believers.

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 This section is about how God directed Mary to a community of faith

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 where she was united with people of a common belief,

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 common experience, and a common hope.

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 And of course, all of this commonality,

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 all of this unity is founded ultimately

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 on their mutual faith in the gospel of Christ.

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 That's what we see unfolding here with Mary and Elizabeth.

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 And what we find here is that this is actually evidence of God's loving kindness.

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 It's His tender care that is revealed as He brings Mary and Elizabeth together

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 in these critical moments of their lives.

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 Now we need to think about this for just a moment from Mary's perspective.

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 Remember what we talked about last week.

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 Mary, Mary at this point, is probably somewhere between 12 and 14 years old.

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 Okay, Ashlyn, this month, in two weeks, Ashlyn's going to turn 11.

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 Can you imagine?

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 Chelsea's about to turn 12.

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 Can you imagine Chelsea coming to church here in just a few months

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 and saying, hey, I've got news.

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 An angel came to me and said that,

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 though I'm a virgin, I actually have a child in my womb,

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 and it's actually going to be the one who saves us all from sin and hell.

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 And what a difficult thing that would be for Chelsea in particular

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 to understand that and to believe it,

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 but then to actually try to get anyone else to believe it as well.

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 That would actually be a very lonely place for her, right?

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 Because none of us would believe her.

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 Even if her parents tried to agree with the news that she was sharing,

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 none of us are going to believe Deborah in that either,

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 because we would say that's not possible.

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 That's not possible.

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 And it would be a very lonely place.

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 Now imagine you're Mary, and that's your exact circumstance.

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 She has this news that's been delivered by an angel

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 whom no one has seen except for Zechariah.

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 No one has seen in at least 400 years

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 any kind of prophetic word that has come directly from the Lord.

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 And Mary, the 12 or 13-year-old from Nazareth of all places,

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 is the one where he decides to appear.

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 That's a lonely place to be.

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 And what we see unfolding in this passage

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 is God in his providence brings Mary to Elizabeth.

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 And in this moment, they share a commonality of faith,

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 a commonality of miraculous works of God's grace in their lives.

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 And Mary has at least in one other person

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 someone she can speak to,

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 someone she can be encouraged by,

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 someone who understands her circumstance and her condition.

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 That's a grace of the Lord in her life.

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 God united them in gospel companionship,

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 which produced prophetic assurances

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 that strengthen their faith all the more.

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 And then this work of God overflowed in young Mary

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 through this dynamic worship

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 as she reflected on God fulfilling his promises.

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 And I want to suggest to you this morning

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 that God's kindness through joyful gospel community

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 is not isolated to exceptional circumstances like Mary's.

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 It's actually his good design for all Christians.

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 It's his good design for you and me as well.

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 If you know Christ,

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 if you are a follower of Jesus,

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 you're a true disciple of Jesus,

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 you can go into this world

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 and you can share the news

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 about the miracle that God is working in your life.

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 And most people will not believe you.

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 And it'll be a lonely place.

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 But God in his providence

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 brings us together

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 with other people

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 who have experienced the same miracle

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 of God's grace in salvation.

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 We call it the local church.

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 And with these people,

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 we find a commonality,

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 a place where our faith is encouraged and strengthened,

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 a place where we find true worship,

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 spiritual growth.

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 So just as the angelic announcement

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 of verses 26 to 38

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 reflect the gospel message,

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 Mary's visit with Elizabeth

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 reflects the gospel community

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 that God desires for us to enjoy.

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 This good news of great joy,

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 as we're calling it,

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 is something that we share together.

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 And this is a helpful passage

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 in reminding us of that.

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 Three things I want to point out to you

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 as we go through.

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 And of course,

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 I bit off more than I could chew with this.

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 We're going to have to kind of

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 do a very surface level approach

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 to this section.

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 But hang with me as we do that, okay?

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 The first thing is this.

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 We find gospel companionship.

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 Gospel companionship.

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 Look with me at verse 39.

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 In those days,

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 Mary arose

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 and went with haste

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 into the hill country

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 to a town in Judah.

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 And she entered the house of Zechariah

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 and greeted Elizabeth.

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 We can sense the excitement in Mary

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 as she wasted no time

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 in leaving Nazareth

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 to pay a visit to Elizabeth

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 in the mountains of Judea.

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 The fact that she made haste here,

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 as we see in verse 39,

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 made haste to get there,

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 shows the eagerness

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 with which she desired

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 to speak to Elizabeth.

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 And why is it that she wants

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 to go to Elizabeth?

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 Because the angel has just told her

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 in the previous passage

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 not only that she would be pregnant

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 and that her child would be

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 the Son of God and the Messiah,

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 but as a sign to assure her in that,

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 Gabriel says to her,

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 and God is doing this

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 in your relative Elizabeth as well.

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 So it's not entirely surprising

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 that as soon as the angel leaves,

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 Mary makes haste to go

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 and find Elizabeth

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 to see what is happening with her.

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 This trip would have taken

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 probably three to four days.

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 And you can only imagine

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 Mary's mind racing

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 all the questions

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 that were left unanswered

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 by the angel that appeared to her.

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 There's no mention of Mary's parents

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 in all of this,

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 which is strange, isn't it?

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 We don't know if they believed her.

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 We don't even know if she told them

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 what was happening.

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 All we know is that

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 within a few days

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 of Gabriel's announcement,

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 Mary had worked out a way

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 to travel 80 to 100 miles

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 to see Elizabeth.

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 Now the story of Zechariah

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 and Elizabeth

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 and their miraculous conception

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 is recorded in other parts

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 of the chapter.

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 I'll leave it to you

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 to read that on your own.

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 But here's basically the synopsis.

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 Zechariah was a Levite.

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 He was fulfilling his duty

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 serving in the temple

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 in Jerusalem.

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 And while he was performing

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 that duty,

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 this same angel appears to him

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 basically with the same message

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 that his wife

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 was going to bear a child.

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 Well, the problem with this,

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 or at least the miracle of it,

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 is that they were both

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 well beyond childbearing years

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 and Elizabeth had been

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 physically unable

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 to have children

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 her entire life.

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 So it's a miracle

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 the same way,

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 not in the same way

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 as it is with Mary.

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 We don't need to confuse the two.

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 Elizabeth was not a virgin

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 and Zechariah was the natural father

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 of their baby.

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 The miracle relates

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 to their age

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 and to their inability

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 to have a child

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 to begin with.

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 But their child

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 was no ordinary child either.

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 He would later be known

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 as John the Baptizer

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 and he would be

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 the prophetic forerunner

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 of the Messiah,

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 which the Old Testament

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 had also prophesied.

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 In fact,

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 Gabriel uses

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 a direct quote

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 from the prophet Malachi here.

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 Look back with me

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 in chapter 1.

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 Just look at verse 16.

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 You'll put your eyes

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 on it there.

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 And he will turn

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 many of the children

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 of Israel

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 to the Lord their God

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 and he will go before him

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 in the spirit

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 and power of Elijah

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 to turn the hearts

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 of the fathers

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 to the children

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 and the disobedient

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 to the wisdom

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 of the just

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 to make ready

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 for the Lord

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 a people prepared.

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 Okay,

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 that's a direct quotation

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 from the prophet Malachi.

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 There's other prophecies

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 particularly in Isaiah,

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 I believe,

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 where the prophets

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 had said God

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 had spoken through them

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 and said,

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 not only am I going

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 to eventually send

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 the Messiah,

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 but just before he arrives,

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 I'm going to send

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 another one.

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 It's not another Messiah,

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 another prophet.

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 This prophet is going

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 to preach

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 in the wilderness.

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 He's going to cry out

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 preparing the way

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 for the Lord Christ

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 to come.

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 He's preparing

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 the hearts of the people

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 and here comes

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 the angel Gabriel.

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 He appears to Zechariah

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 in the temple

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 and he says,

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 this child

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 will be this prophet

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 and he will prepare

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 the way

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 for the Christ.

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 Now,

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 what I believe

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 is noteworthy

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 about Mary's travel

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 to see Elizabeth

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 is that the scriptures

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 never indicate

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 that she was told

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 to go there.

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 The angel didn't tell her

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 to go see Elizabeth.

00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:16.320
 He only told her

00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:17.720
 that God was doing

00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:18.759
 a miraculous work

00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:19.879
 in Elizabeth as well.

00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:19.919
 Now,

00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:22.740
 it seems to have been

00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:25.539
 Mary's natural instinct

00:12:25.539 --> 00:12:27.899
 to seek out others

00:12:27.899 --> 00:12:29.500
 whom the angel told her

00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:31.659
 were also experiencing

00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:32.840
 God's grace.

00:12:34.179 --> 00:12:36.080
 And we can all relate

00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:38.059
 to that instinct

00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:40.139
 as we gravitate

00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:40.980
 toward people

00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:42.100
 with similar interests

00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:43.379
 and similar experiences

00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:44.080
 in life

00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:47.559
 because life was not designed

00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:49.080
 to be lived in isolation.

00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:51.919
 That's why isolation

00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:52.700
 and exile

00:12:52.700 --> 00:12:54.220
 has been considered

00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:55.080
 a judgment

00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:55.960
 and a punishment

00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:57.480
 going all the way back

00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:58.000
 to the time

00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.320
 that Cain murdered Abel.

00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:01.559
 All the way to today.

00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:03.200
 You get in trouble

00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:03.740
 in prison,

00:13:03.939 --> 00:13:04.539
 they send you

00:13:04.539 --> 00:13:05.320
 to isolation.

00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:07.419
 Some places

00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:08.259
 you get in trouble,

00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:09.600
 you break enough laws,

00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:10.100
 they send you

00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:10.919
 into exile.

00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:11.960
 Why?

00:13:12.460 --> 00:13:13.480
 Because life is not

00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:14.639
 meant to be lived alone.

00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:16.659
 It's not meant

00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:17.279
 to be lived

00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.840
 outside of community.

00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:21.540
 And so we naturally

00:13:21.540 --> 00:13:22.940
 gravitate toward people

00:13:22.940 --> 00:13:24.000
 in which we find

00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:24.940
 commonality

00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:26.139
 and we unite with them

00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:28.060
 in helping one another

00:13:28.060 --> 00:13:28.680
 through life.

00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:31.019
 But what's important

00:13:31.019 --> 00:13:32.280
 to see about Mary's

00:13:32.280 --> 00:13:33.220
 companionship

00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:34.200
 with Elizabeth

00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:36.379
 is that it was produced

00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:38.019
 by their mutual faith

00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:39.840
 in God's salvation,

00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:42.980
 specifically through the child

00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:44.300
 that was in Mary's womb.

00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:47.359
 God had not only

00:13:47.359 --> 00:13:48.039
 sent them

00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:49.659
 with good news,

00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:50.299
 messengers

00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:51.000
 with good news

00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:51.779
 of great joy,

00:13:52.099 --> 00:13:54.299
 but He was providing them

00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:56.199
 with gospel companionship

00:13:56.199 --> 00:13:57.779
 that would encourage

00:13:57.779 --> 00:13:58.500
 their hearts,

00:13:58.859 --> 00:13:59.719
 it would strengthen

00:13:59.719 --> 00:14:00.899
 their faith,

00:14:01.099 --> 00:14:02.079
 it would deepen

00:14:02.079 --> 00:14:03.519
 their worship

00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:05.939
 because God

00:14:05.939 --> 00:14:07.179
 has designed us

00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:07.799
 to function

00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:08.299
 within community.

00:14:08.299 --> 00:14:09.000
 community.

00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:10.919
 And nothing

00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:11.699
 can compare

00:14:11.699 --> 00:14:13.039
 to the kind

00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:14.279
 of companionship

00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:15.699
 that's experienced

00:14:15.699 --> 00:14:16.819
 in gospel

00:14:16.819 --> 00:14:18.139
 community

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:20.339
 with other people

00:14:20.339 --> 00:14:21.939
 who have experienced

00:14:21.939 --> 00:14:23.120
 the same miraculous

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.059
 touch of God

00:14:24.059 --> 00:14:25.579
 through Christ Jesus.

00:14:26.579 --> 00:14:28.379
 And this is exactly

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:30.279
 what God has provided

00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:31.659
 to us in the church.

00:14:32.859 --> 00:14:34.459
 It's a wonderful grace

00:14:34.459 --> 00:14:35.059
 of the Lord

00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:37.000
 that we have one another

00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:37.699
 to share

00:14:37.699 --> 00:14:39.579
 in spiritual community

00:14:39.579 --> 00:14:41.239
 that's based

00:14:41.239 --> 00:14:41.779
 on our union

00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:42.479
 with Christ.

00:14:44.219 --> 00:14:45.479
 And if you're a Christian,

00:14:45.599 --> 00:14:46.219
 you've experienced

00:14:46.219 --> 00:14:47.079
 this work

00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:48.839
 and He desires

00:14:48.839 --> 00:14:49.619
 to continue

00:14:49.619 --> 00:14:50.279
 His work

00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:51.079
 in your life

00:14:51.079 --> 00:14:52.839
 through the local church.

00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:55.439
 The blessing

00:14:55.439 --> 00:14:56.479
 of Mary

00:14:56.479 --> 00:14:57.259
 and Elizabeth's

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:58.099
 companionship

00:14:58.099 --> 00:14:58.579
 reflects

00:14:58.579 --> 00:15:00.219
 what we have together

00:15:00.219 --> 00:15:01.319
 in Christ.

00:15:01.959 --> 00:15:03.059
 And we should be

00:15:03.059 --> 00:15:03.879
 just as eager

00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.719
 as Mary

00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:06.540
 to do

00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:07.379
 as they did.

00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:10.340
 To unite together.

00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:11.620
 To be together.

00:15:11.899 --> 00:15:12.779
 To encourage

00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.300
 one another.

00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:14.180
 To help

00:15:14.180 --> 00:15:15.000
 one another.

00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:15.779
 You say,

00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:16.240
 how do we

00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.460
 actually do that?

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:18.639
 How do we

00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.740
 prioritize that?

00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:20.379
 How do we

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:20.920
 show this

00:15:20.920 --> 00:15:21.720
 eagerness

00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.420
 and live this

00:15:22.420 --> 00:15:23.300
 out in our lives?

00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.720
 There's lots of ways

00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.480
 that we do that.

00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:27.720
 One way

00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:28.300
 is that we

00:15:28.300 --> 00:15:29.620
 eagerly

00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:30.420
 make the trip.

00:15:31.300 --> 00:15:32.600
 Just like Mary did.

00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:33.720
 She wastes

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:34.399
 no time

00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:35.679
 she sets

00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:35.959
 aside

00:15:35.959 --> 00:15:36.519
 everything else.

00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:37.519
 She's in the process

00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:38.000
 of preparing

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:38.539
 for marriage.

00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.179
 That was an important

00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:40.039
 time in her life.

00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:41.259
 She sets

00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:42.179
 aside

00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:43.019
 these other things

00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:43.899
 and she makes

00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.379
 haste

00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:45.059
 to get to

00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:45.840
 where Elizabeth is.

00:15:45.959 --> 00:15:46.500
 I think there's

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.259
 a picture in that

00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:47.840
 for us.

00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:49.139
 What do we do

00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:49.860
 as believers?

00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.699
 We set aside

00:15:51.699 --> 00:15:52.379
 the other things

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:52.879
 of our life

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.379
 that would get

00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:53.840
 in the way

00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:54.279
 of this

00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:55.340
 and we eagerly

00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:56.000
 make the trip.

00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:57.059
 We prioritize

00:15:57.059 --> 00:15:58.240
 the gathering

00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:59.120
 of God's people.

00:15:59.939 --> 00:16:00.419
 Particularly

00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:01.539
 in Sunday worship.

00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:02.740
 But of course

00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:03.360
 whenever we have

00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.179
 other opportunities

00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:05.139
 to do this

00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:05.659
 as well.

00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:07.059
 We prioritize

00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:07.719
 one another.

00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:08.860
 Prioritize time

00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:09.819
 with one another.

00:16:10.599 --> 00:16:11.659
 We work out

00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:12.379
 our schedules

00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:13.259
 to prioritize

00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:14.860
 worship.

00:16:15.699 --> 00:16:16.860
 Not find a place

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.579
 to fit it in

00:16:17.579 --> 00:16:18.519
 if it works out.

00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:21.099
 We share

00:16:21.099 --> 00:16:22.620
 the work of God.

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.539
 We talk to one

00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:24.279
 another about it.

00:16:24.719 --> 00:16:25.279
 Here's what the

00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:25.659
 Lord's doing

00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:26.360
 in my life.

00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:28.019
 Here's a joy

00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:28.819
 that He has brought

00:16:28.820 --> 00:16:30.320
 to my life

00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:30.800
 this week.

00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:31.460
 Here's a way

00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.240
 that He's

00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:33.200
 disciplining

00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:34.600
 me right now.

00:16:34.680 --> 00:16:35.300
 We sharpen

00:16:35.300 --> 00:16:35.960
 one another

00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:36.640
 in that way.

00:16:37.660 --> 00:16:38.500
 We rejoice

00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:39.200
 through worship.

00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:41.300
 Not only

00:16:41.300 --> 00:16:41.860
 in our

00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:43.100
 Sunday gatherings

00:16:43.100 --> 00:16:43.780
 we rejoice

00:16:43.780 --> 00:16:44.360
 in worship

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.040
 when we go

00:16:45.040 --> 00:16:46.000
 and sit at coffee

00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.140
 and we reflect

00:16:47.140 --> 00:16:47.860
 on the goodness

00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.320
 of God

00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:48.940
 in our lives.

00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:50.120
 We lift our voices

00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:50.780
 in praise

00:16:50.780 --> 00:16:51.300
 and in prayer

00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:51.820
 to the Lord

00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:52.340
 through that.

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:53.940
 We have gospel

00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:54.740
 companionship

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.460
 reflected here.

00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:56.700
 Number two,

00:16:57.020 --> 00:16:57.940
 we see prophetic

00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:58.940
 assurances.

00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:00.640
 Prophetic

00:17:00.640 --> 00:17:01.960
 assurances.

00:17:03.260 --> 00:17:04.100
 So the good

00:17:04.100 --> 00:17:05.039
 news of Jesus

00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.539
 brought great

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.559
 joy to Elizabeth

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:09.700
 which reassured

00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.460
 Mary's heart.

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.279
 That's what we

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:11.840
 find here.

00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:14.160
 One of the

00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.019
 benefits of this

00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:16.259
 gospel companionship

00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.240
 is that God

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.059
 uses other

00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:18.700
 believers to

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.320
 help us.

00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:21.880
 Mary had already

00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:23.259
 demonstrated faith

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.140
 in God's Word.

00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:24.660
 We read that

00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:25.240
 just a moment

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:25.559
 ago.

00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:26.480
 But there's no

00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.420
 doubt that she

00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:27.820
 would have been

00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:28.559
 seeking some

00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.319
 reassurance

00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:30.079
 and clarity

00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:31.399
 from Elizabeth's

00:17:31.399 --> 00:17:31.960
 experience.

00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:33.460
 Isn't that the

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.039
 whole reason

00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:34.700
 that the angel

00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:35.819
 even told her

00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.679
 about Elizabeth?

00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:38.000
 Of course.

00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:40.419
 There's two ways

00:17:40.419 --> 00:17:41.099
 that God

00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:41.759
 used this

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.319
 encounter

00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.659
 to speak

00:17:43.659 --> 00:17:44.339
 prophetic

00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:44.960
 assurances

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.619
 to Mary's

00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:46.079
 young heart.

00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:47.480
 The first one

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:48.000
 is through

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.960
 John's prophecy.

00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:50.019
 Look with me

00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:50.379
 at verses

00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:51.559
 41 and 44.

00:17:51.939 --> 00:17:52.679
 Verse 41,

00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:53.500
 when Elizabeth

00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.299
 heard the greeting

00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:54.819
 of Mary,

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:55.619
 the baby

00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:56.159
 leaped

00:17:56.159 --> 00:17:57.399
 in her womb.

00:17:57.919 --> 00:17:58.259
 Now look

00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:58.739
 down at verse

00:17:58.739 --> 00:17:59.279
 44.

00:17:59.679 --> 00:18:00.179
 This is how

00:18:00.179 --> 00:18:01.299
 Elizabeth reflects

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:01.879
 on that.

00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.099
 For behold,

00:18:03.219 --> 00:18:03.779
 when the sound

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.339
 of your greeting

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:05.500
 came to my ears,

00:18:05.719 --> 00:18:06.539
 the baby

00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:07.399
 in my womb

00:18:07.399 --> 00:18:08.179
 leaped

00:18:08.179 --> 00:18:09.539
 for joy.

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.099
 Now this may

00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:12.779
 come as a shock

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.259
 to you,

00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.859
 but I have

00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:15.279
 never

00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.319
 personally

00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:17.439
 been pregnant.

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:20.640
 I don't

00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:20.880
 know what

00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:21.480
 it's like

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:22.299
 to feel

00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.080
 a baby's

00:18:23.080 --> 00:18:23.460
 kick

00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.620
 in my body.

00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:25.980
 I've only

00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:26.299
 been able

00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:26.980
 to experience

00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:27.660
 that through

00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:28.000
 Julie,

00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:29.380
 which is a

00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:30.140
 unique experience,

00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:30.980
 but not in the

00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:31.340
 same way

00:18:31.340 --> 00:18:31.779
 that it was

00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.200
 for her.

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:33.940
 Many of you

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.539
 have experienced

00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:35.279
 this before.

00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.759
 We'd love to see

00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:37.080
 all these

00:18:37.080 --> 00:18:38.420
 children with us.

00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:39.039
 Many of you

00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:39.620
 have experienced

00:18:39.620 --> 00:18:40.380
 this many times

00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:40.759
 before.

00:18:43.860 --> 00:18:44.519
 Every mother

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.140
 knows it.

00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:45.620
 She knows

00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.100
 what this is

00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:46.500
 like,

00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:47.679
 but there's

00:18:47.679 --> 00:18:48.539
 something unique

00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:49.699
 about what

00:18:49.699 --> 00:18:50.459
 Elizabeth felt

00:18:50.459 --> 00:18:50.980
 that day.

00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:52.639
 This wasn't

00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.099
 just any

00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:53.699
 ordinary

00:18:53.699 --> 00:18:54.659
 kick

00:18:54.659 --> 00:18:56.259
 in Elizabeth's

00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:56.579
 belly.

00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.119
 Otherwise,

00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:57.980
 Luke wouldn't

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.339
 have bothered

00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:59.119
 to mention it,

00:18:59.240 --> 00:18:59.659
 and she

00:18:59.659 --> 00:18:59.980
 wouldn't have

00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.419
 bothered to

00:19:00.419 --> 00:19:01.039
 interpret it

00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:01.299
 the way

00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:01.859
 that she did.

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.659
 There was

00:19:03.659 --> 00:19:04.240
 a prophet

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.699
 in Elizabeth's

00:19:05.699 --> 00:19:06.000
 belly,

00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:07.159
 and this

00:19:07.159 --> 00:19:07.480
 was his

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.339
 first prophecy.

00:19:10.159 --> 00:19:10.939
 When Mary

00:19:10.939 --> 00:19:11.740
 greeted Elizabeth,

00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:12.579
 the Spirit

00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:13.059
 of God

00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:14.000
 produced this

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.559
 joyous leap.

00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:16.019
 That's what

00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:16.839
 Elizabeth said.

00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.460
 He leapt

00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.440
 for joy.

00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:18.819
 This was

00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:19.740
 an emotional

00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:21.680
 response from

00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.519
 the fetus

00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.839
 in Elizabeth's

00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.200
 belly,

00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:25.539
 which,

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.319
 just as a

00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:26.920
 side note,

00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:27.759
 is another

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.440
 reflection of

00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:28.879
 the Bible

00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:29.539
 stance on

00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.460
 the personhood

00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:31.440
 of children

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.139
 who are still

00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:32.400
 in their

00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:32.779
 mother's

00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:33.400
 bellies.

00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.059
 From what I

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:36.519
 understand,

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.099
 the custom

00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:37.839
 of that day

00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.740
 required particular

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.660
 forms of

00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:41.059
 greetings.

00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.220
 Mary would

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:42.619
 have had a

00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.519
 particular greeting

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.579
 that showed

00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.579
 great deference

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.700
 and respect

00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:47.539
 for Elizabeth

00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:48.339
 as an elder

00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:48.740
 and as a

00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.559
 respected person

00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.119
 in their community

00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:50.519
 and perhaps

00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:51.019
 even in their

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.359
 family.

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.559
 But then

00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:53.259
 John leaps

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.799
 in her belly

00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:54.960
 indicating that

00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:55.700
 John in this

00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.180
 moment is

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:56.619
 showing that

00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.119
 the one who

00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:58.460
 really deserves

00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.059
 the deference,

00:19:59.460 --> 00:19:59.839
 the one who

00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:00.700
 really deserves

00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:01.379
 the reverence

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:01.859
 and respect

00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:03.019
 is actually

00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:03.879
 the young

00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:04.639
 child in

00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:05.500
 Mary's

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.440
 womb.

00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:08.359
 And it's

00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:09.139
 this joyous

00:20:09.139 --> 00:20:09.940
 announcement

00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:10.940
 of the

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:11.460
 Messiah

00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.180
 that would

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:12.539
 mark

00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:13.019
 John's

00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:13.500
 ministry.

00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.299
 John chapter

00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:15.680
 1 and

00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.259
 verse 6,

00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:17.279
 there was a

00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:17.799
 man sent

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.400
 from God

00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:19.240
 whose name

00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:19.840
 was John.

00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.160
 He came

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:21.680
 as a

00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.220
 witness

00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:23.799
 to bear

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.200
 witness

00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:24.920
 about the

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.259
 light

00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.400
 that all

00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:26.960
 might believe

00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:27.500
 through him.

00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:28.960
 He was

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.460
 not the

00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:29.799
 light

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:31.140
 but came

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.519
 to bear

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.080
 witness

00:20:32.080 --> 00:20:32.759
 about the

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.019
 light.

00:20:33.820 --> 00:20:34.259
 And what

00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.700
 is John

00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.120
 doing

00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:35.940
 from his

00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:36.279
 earliest

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:36.740
 moments

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.100
 in his

00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:37.460
 mother's

00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:37.720
 womb?

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:38.580
 He's

00:20:38.580 --> 00:20:38.860
 bearing

00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:39.519
 witness

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.319
 about

00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:40.500
 the

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:40.799
 light.

00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:42.279
 And of

00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:42.440
 course,

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:42.920
 this carries

00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:43.400
 on into

00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:43.839
 adulthood.

00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:44.900
 In John

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.599
 chapter 3,

00:20:46.259 --> 00:20:46.920
 John says

00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:47.259
 this,

00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:47.639
 John the

00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:48.180
 baptizer,

00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:48.559
 the one

00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:48.900
 who has

00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.460
 the bride

00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.039
 is the

00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:50.579
 bridegroom.

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.720
 The friend

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:51.960
 of the

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.460
 bridegroom,

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.240
 that's what

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:53.500
 he was

00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:53.879
 calling,

00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:54.440
 referring to

00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:55.119
 himself about,

00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:56.039
 who stands

00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:56.599
 and hears

00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:56.859
 him,

00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.960
 rejoices

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:59.180
 greatly at

00:20:59.180 --> 00:20:59.960
 the bridegroom's

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.420
 voice.

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:01.779
 Therefore,

00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:02.500
 this joy

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:02.879
 of mine

00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:03.240
 is now

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:03.660
 complete.

00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:04.480
 He must

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.019
 increase,

00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:05.579
 but I

00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:05.799
 must

00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:06.400
 decrease.

00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:07.440
 From

00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.099
 Elizabeth's

00:21:08.099 --> 00:21:08.420
 wombs,

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:08.859
 John is

00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:09.379
 already doing

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:09.820
 this.

00:21:10.360 --> 00:21:11.200
 Mary shows

00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.560
 up with

00:21:11.560 --> 00:21:12.060
 the Messiah

00:21:12.060 --> 00:21:12.360
 in her

00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:12.560
 womb.

00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:13.540
 John leaps

00:21:13.540 --> 00:21:14.100
 for joy,

00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:15.200
 bearing witness

00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:15.820
 of the

00:21:15.820 --> 00:21:16.200
 light.

00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:17.100
 The Savior

00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:17.980
 has come.

00:21:19.060 --> 00:21:19.800
 He wasn't

00:21:19.800 --> 00:21:20.360
 bearing witness

00:21:20.360 --> 00:21:21.000
 of his own

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.480
 miraculous

00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:22.000
 conception.

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:22.380
 He was

00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:23.060
 bearing witness

00:21:23.060 --> 00:21:23.600
 of the

00:21:23.600 --> 00:21:24.100
 miraculous

00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:24.680
 conception

00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.100
 of the

00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:26.040
 Lord Jesus

00:21:26.040 --> 00:21:26.580
 Christ.

00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.120
 John's

00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:28.660
 purpose was

00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:29.140
 to point

00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:30.060
 everyone to

00:21:30.060 --> 00:21:30.420
 Jesus,

00:21:30.560 --> 00:21:30.860
 and he was

00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:31.240
 fulfilling

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:31.960
 that purpose

00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.640
 before he

00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:33.000
 had even

00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:33.960
 been born.

00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:34.039
 born.

00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.160
 Now,

00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:38.000
 what amazing

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.620
 assurance

00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:40.259
 this must

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:40.600
 have been

00:21:40.600 --> 00:21:41.180
 for Mary.

00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.380
 At this

00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:44.860
 point in

00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:45.200
 Mary's

00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:45.640
 pregnancy,

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:46.579
 it hasn't

00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:47.019
 been long

00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:47.220
 enough,

00:21:47.340 --> 00:21:47.779
 probably,

00:21:48.100 --> 00:21:48.660
 hasn't been

00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.240
 long enough

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:49.920
 for her to

00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:50.940
 even experience

00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:52.000
 the nausea

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.720
 and the

00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:53.500
 sickness that

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.120
 comes along

00:21:54.120 --> 00:21:54.519
 with being

00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:54.900
 pregnant.

00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:57.200
 She made

00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:58.200
 great haste

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:59.280
 to get to

00:21:59.280 --> 00:22:00.100
 Elizabeth after

00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:00.620
 this angel

00:22:00.620 --> 00:22:00.980
 appeared.

00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:01.780
 This may be

00:22:01.780 --> 00:22:02.280
 within a

00:22:02.280 --> 00:22:03.180
 week of

00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:03.660
 Gabriel's

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.280
 appearance to

00:22:04.280 --> 00:22:04.500
 her.

00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:08.180
 She may be

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.040
 still wondering

00:22:09.040 --> 00:22:10.360
 with doubts

00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:11.040
 in her mind,

00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.180
 is this really

00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:13.400
 true, or am I

00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:14.280
 just going crazy

00:22:14.280 --> 00:22:14.920
 right now?

00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.200
 And then when

00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:16.900
 she shows up

00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:17.460
 and she finds

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.280
 Elizabeth, she

00:22:18.280 --> 00:22:19.100
 sees that the

00:22:19.100 --> 00:22:20.180
 work that God

00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:20.780
 is doing in

00:22:20.780 --> 00:22:22.400
 Elizabeth has a

00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:23.400
 way of producing

00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:24.759
 assurance,

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.620
 for the work

00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.120
 that God is

00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:27.060
 doing in her

00:22:27.060 --> 00:22:28.120
 own heart and

00:22:28.120 --> 00:22:28.580
 in her own

00:22:28.580 --> 00:22:28.920
 life.

00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:30.400
 And isn't this

00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.100
 the blessing of

00:22:31.100 --> 00:22:31.759
 what God does

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.259
 for us?

00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:33.519
 He brings us

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.080
 together in

00:22:34.080 --> 00:22:35.300
 gospel companionship

00:22:35.300 --> 00:22:36.100
 and then what we

00:22:36.100 --> 00:22:37.019
 find is just in

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.640
 the moments of

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.519
 our lives where

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:38.860
 we're really

00:22:38.860 --> 00:22:39.340
 beginning to

00:22:39.340 --> 00:22:39.780
 doubt, we're

00:22:39.780 --> 00:22:40.259
 really beginning

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.380
 to wonder, is

00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:42.100
 this really all

00:22:42.100 --> 00:22:42.400
 true?

00:22:42.600 --> 00:22:43.940
 Can I really

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:45.500
 trust and take

00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.100
 God at His

00:22:46.100 --> 00:22:47.040
 word in this

00:22:47.040 --> 00:22:47.280
 way?

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:47.880
 And then we

00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.860
 get along with

00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.860
 another believer

00:22:49.860 --> 00:22:51.120
 and we listen to

00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.980
 how God is using

00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:53.000
 their life and

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.900
 the Lord uses

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.840
 that to

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:55.519
 encourage our

00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:57.119
 own hearts, to

00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:57.699
 strengthen our

00:22:57.699 --> 00:22:58.419
 own faith.

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.220
 And of course,

00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:00.959
 that's exactly

00:23:00.959 --> 00:23:02.659
 what is happening

00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:03.199
 with Mary.

00:23:03.399 --> 00:23:04.059
 But it's not just

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:04.859
 John's prophecy,

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:06.779
 it's Elizabeth's

00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:07.959
 prophecy as well.

00:23:08.179 --> 00:23:08.579
 Look at verse

00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:09.099
 42.

00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.639
 Elizabeth was

00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:11.399
 filled with the

00:23:11.399 --> 00:23:12.579
 Holy Spirit and

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.619
 she exclaimed with

00:23:13.619 --> 00:23:14.419
 a loud cry,

00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:15.639
 blessed are you

00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:16.379
 among women,

00:23:17.179 --> 00:23:18.000
 blessed is the

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.539
 fruit of your

00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:18.980
 womb.

00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:20.699
 And why is this

00:23:20.699 --> 00:23:21.639
 granted to me?

00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:22.960
 that the mother

00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:23.620
 of my Lord

00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:24.320
 should come to

00:23:24.320 --> 00:23:24.660
 me?

00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.259
 Before Mary even

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:29.120
 had a chance to

00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:29.880
 explain what was

00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:32.040
 happening, the

00:23:32.040 --> 00:23:32.780
 Spirit of God

00:23:32.780 --> 00:23:33.660
 causes Elizabeth

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:35.460
 to speak as if

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.640
 she already knew

00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.140
 it all.

00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:39.240
 Notice what she

00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:39.680
 says.

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.800
 She reiterated

00:23:41.800 --> 00:23:43.120
 Mary's blessedness.

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.200
 That's what the

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:44.880
 angel had told

00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:45.180
 Mary.

00:23:45.800 --> 00:23:46.800
 She acknowledged

00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:47.540
 her pregnancy.

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.859
 She even

00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:49.559
 understood the

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.200
 child to be

00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:50.740
 the Messiah.

00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:51.659
 Listen to her

00:23:51.659 --> 00:23:52.019
 words.

00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:53.099
 Why is this

00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:53.879
 granted to me

00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:54.839
 that the

00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.680
 mother of my

00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:57.940
 Lord should

00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:58.639
 come to me?

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.839
 Surely this

00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:02.599
 exhilarated

00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:03.259
 Mary's heart.

00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:04.659
 Surely this

00:24:04.659 --> 00:24:05.559
 began to dispel

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.639
 doubts that

00:24:06.639 --> 00:24:06.980
 were in her

00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.619
 mind that maybe

00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.440
 have crept into

00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.240
 her mind as she

00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.339
 traveled to

00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:10.920
 Judea.

00:24:12.639 --> 00:24:13.119
 And I think

00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:13.619
 what Mary

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.539
 experiences here

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.019
 with Elizabeth

00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:15.740
 is how God

00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.759
 intends for us

00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.220
 to help one

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.539
 another.

00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.360
 We all

00:24:20.360 --> 00:24:21.120
 demonstrate our

00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:22.140
 faith in

00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.620
 Christ as

00:24:22.620 --> 00:24:23.539
 individuals, but

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:23.920
 it is a

00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.240
 wonderful

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:26.059
 encouragement to

00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:26.579
 gather with

00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.900
 Christians to

00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:28.640
 hear and see

00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:29.160
 how God is

00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:29.600
 working.

00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:32.160
 We have all

00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.579
 of these one

00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:33.339
 another commands

00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:33.900
 in the Bible.

00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:34.519
 We have these

00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.420
 moments where

00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.440
 the Lord uses

00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:37.480
 people to

00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:39.279
 confirm God's

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.819
 work on our

00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.220
 lives.

00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:40.960
 Have you ever

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.640
 experienced that

00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:41.980
 before?

00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:44.140
 We talked about

00:24:44.140 --> 00:24:44.620
 it in our

00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:45.519
 anniversary service

00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.039
 just a couple

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.620
 of weeks ago.

00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:47.500
 One of the

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.019
 things that is

00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:48.859
 so helpful to

00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:49.679
 me on the

00:24:49.679 --> 00:24:50.279
 days when I'm

00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:51.139
 really struggling

00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:52.159
 or the days when

00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:53.019
 I'm doubting or

00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:54.639
 wondering, did we

00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:55.259
 do this whole

00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:55.979
 church plant thing

00:24:55.979 --> 00:24:56.899
 just because Jared

00:24:56.899 --> 00:24:57.879
 wanted to be the

00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:59.039
 boss or was

00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.679
 tired of listening

00:24:59.679 --> 00:25:00.500
 to Jonathan or

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.639
 just wanted to do

00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:02.299
 his own thing or

00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:02.859
 just needed a

00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:03.359
 change in his

00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:03.619
 life?

00:25:04.359 --> 00:25:05.000
 And then I can

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.619
 go back to that

00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:06.679
 box of letters

00:25:06.679 --> 00:25:07.319
 that I have in

00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:08.079
 my office and I

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:08.739
 can begin to read

00:25:08.739 --> 00:25:09.619
 those letters and

00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:10.459
 it just is a

00:25:10.459 --> 00:25:11.419
 helpful reminder to

00:25:11.419 --> 00:25:13.199
 me that yes, the

00:25:13.199 --> 00:25:13.899
 Lord was doing a

00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:14.660
 work in my life

00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:15.340
 in that process,

00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:16.580
 but there is an

00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:17.620
 amazing comfort that

00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:18.420
 comes from knowing

00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:20.100
 that that work was

00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:22.120
 affirmed by other

00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:25.019
 believers, that God

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:26.100
 was doing his work

00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:29.500
 in me through others.

00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:32.060
 That's what's

00:25:32.060 --> 00:25:32.920
 happening for Mary.

00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:35.280
 I think he desires

00:25:35.280 --> 00:25:36.180
 for that to happen

00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:37.920
 with us.

00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:39.980
 Look at verse 45.

00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.320
 Verse 45.

00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:44.900
 Blessed is she who

00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:45.640
 believed that there

00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:46.100
 would be a

00:25:46.100 --> 00:25:48.140
 fulfillment of what

00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:49.180
 was spoken to her

00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:50.580
 from the Lord.

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.140
 I love that all

00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:52.980
 these kids are in

00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:54.120
 here this morning and

00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:55.120
 I don't want them to

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:55.539
 go away.

00:25:56.140 --> 00:25:58.180
 And this point is for

00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:59.200
 these children because

00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.759
 I want you to think

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.480
 about what's happening

00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:00.759
 here.

00:26:02.560 --> 00:26:03.960
 This final portion of

00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.880
 Elizabeth's prophecy

00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:06.180
 is a formal

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:07.039
 beatitude.

00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:09.300
 It's a beatitude

00:26:09.300 --> 00:26:10.140
 that's recognizing

00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:10.920
 Mary's faith.

00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:13.539
 Now this would have

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:15.880
 had incredible

00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:17.220
 significance to

00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:18.200
 Elizabeth and to

00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:20.340
 Zechariah because

00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:21.539
 Zechariah did not

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:23.440
 initially believe the

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:24.060
 word of God.

00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:27.000
 In fact, he spends

00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.860
 the duration of

00:26:27.860 --> 00:26:29.100
 Elizabeth's pregnancy

00:26:29.100 --> 00:26:29.900
 mute.

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:31.140
 God took his voice

00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:32.279
 away because he

00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:33.360
 doubted the message

00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:34.000
 of the angel.

00:26:34.560 --> 00:26:35.340
 He didn't believe the

00:26:35.340 --> 00:26:35.920
 word of the Lord.

00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:37.600
 And it was only

00:26:37.600 --> 00:26:38.820
 after John's birth

00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:39.840
 that he gets that

00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:40.259
 back.

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:42.140
 This would have been a

00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:43.060
 significant statement

00:26:43.060 --> 00:26:44.960
 that as this man who

00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.779
 has spent his whole

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.680
 life, a godly man,

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.560
 that's what Luke says

00:26:47.560 --> 00:26:48.539
 in chapter 1, he's

00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:49.860
 godly, he's righteous,

00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.320
 he spent his life

00:26:51.320 --> 00:26:52.800
 serving the Lord in

00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:53.640
 the temple as a

00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:54.539
 Levite, doing everything

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.360
 that God had asked him

00:26:55.360 --> 00:26:56.519
 to do, trusting the

00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:57.320
 promises of God.

00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.800
 But in this moment and

00:26:58.800 --> 00:26:59.720
 in this circumstance,

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.500
 it was 12 and 13

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.340
 year old Mary that

00:27:02.340 --> 00:27:03.120
 actually was the one

00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:03.719
 that believed the

00:27:03.719 --> 00:27:04.719
 word of God, not

00:27:04.719 --> 00:27:05.459
 Zechariah.

00:27:07.159 --> 00:27:08.339
 The statement is a

00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:10.219
 reminder that God is

00:27:10.219 --> 00:27:11.959
 pleased to bless those

00:27:11.959 --> 00:27:13.139
 who take him at his

00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:15.399
 word rather than those

00:27:15.399 --> 00:27:16.519
 who attempt to earn

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.179
 his favor.

00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:20.599
 Hebrews 11, without

00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.679
 faith it's impossible

00:27:21.679 --> 00:27:23.019
 to please him.

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:24.939
 For whoever would draw

00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:26.339
 near to God must believe

00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:27.759
 that he exists and that

00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:29.119
 he rewards those who

00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:29.839
 seek him.

00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:32.480
 But it's also a

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:35.720
 reminder that age and

00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:37.759
 experience are not

00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:40.000
 prerequisites for

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.659
 profound faith.

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:45.139
 In fact, in our fallen

00:27:45.139 --> 00:27:46.539
 state, age and

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.859
 experience can actually

00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:49.720
 become giant obstacles

00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:51.079
 to faith.

00:27:52.439 --> 00:27:54.379
 The longer we exist in

00:27:54.379 --> 00:27:55.720
 this flesh, the greater

00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.879
 our propensity for

00:27:56.879 --> 00:27:58.720
 self-reliance, self-

00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:00.079
 assurance, self-

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.900
 guidance.

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.920
 This is the reason that

00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.960
 Jesus said that if

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:06.200
 you're going to be his

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:07.360
 disciple, you must come

00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:09.000
 to him like a child,

00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:11.460
 trusting entirely in him

00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:13.039
 for salvation, trusting

00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:14.759
 entirely in him for

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:16.600
 safety and security,

00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:18.460
 that his purposes will be

00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:20.140
 fulfilled in us in just

00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:20.880
 the way that God

00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:21.559
 intends.

00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:25.160
 And to insist that age

00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:28.279
 and experience is

00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:29.380
 necessary for genuine

00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:31.340
 faith is to deny the

00:28:31.340 --> 00:28:32.519
 reality of Mary's

00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.340
 trusting God here.

00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:36.040
 Now, I recognize she

00:28:36.040 --> 00:28:37.440
 wasn't a toddler, and

00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:38.140
 I'm not trying to draw

00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:38.720
 that particular

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.180
 parallel.

00:28:40.080 --> 00:28:41.180
 I'm just saying that

00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.080
 it's pretty remarkable

00:28:42.080 --> 00:28:44.279
 that a young teenager

00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:46.840
 would demonstrate such

00:28:46.840 --> 00:28:48.120
 genuine faith.

00:28:49.580 --> 00:28:50.700
 No, she hasn't had

00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.560
 enough experience in

00:28:51.560 --> 00:28:52.980
 her life to really be

00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:54.819
 tested with whatever the

00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:55.779
 systems of the world

00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.019
 were.

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:57.220
 She didn't understand

00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:58.500
 how to argue all the

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.380
 things that maybe she

00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.339
 would need to argue as

00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.700
 she becomes an adult and

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.460
 grows deeper in her

00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.539
 theological perspectives.

00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:05.240
 She wasn't there yet,

00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:06.339
 but she still had a

00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:07.539
 genuine faith, a

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:09.019
 genuine faith that the

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:11.360
 Bible then says was

00:29:11.360 --> 00:29:12.680
 blessed of the Lord.

00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.480
 It was genuine.

00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:14.319
 It was authentic.

00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:15.759
 It was not complete.

00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.900
 It was not thorough.

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:20.000
 But it was real.

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:22.460
 And I think we need to

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.279
 remember that with our

00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:23.720
 children.

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.819
 At this age, they cannot

00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:27.980
 understand all the things

00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:28.579
 that they need to

00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.019
 understand.

00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:30.799
 They can't argue positions

00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.779
 in the way that they'll

00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:33.119
 have to argue positions as

00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:33.759
 they grow older.

00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:35.359
 But they don't need to go

00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:36.140
 through the greatest

00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:37.619
 doubts of their life to

00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:38.759
 know that their faith is

00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.920
 real or to even be able

00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:41.019
 to have a real faith.

00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:43.299
 That's not the teaching

00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:43.859
 of the Bible.

00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:47.019
 They don't have to wait

00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:48.000
 to go through the worst

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.559
 experiences in life to

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.539
 know whether or not this

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.460
 is all real and whether

00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.140
 it's true and whether

00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:52.799
 they're going to believe

00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:53.140
 it.

00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:55.660
 It's actually the opposite.

00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:57.980
 They need to establish

00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:58.640
 this now.

00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.119
 Kent Hughes said the

00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:02.640
 church must never make

00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:04.220
 the mistake of minimizing

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:06.319
 or patronizing its youth.

00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:08.440
 Children must be taken

00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.079
 seriously.

00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.180
 Teenagers must be

00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:12.920
 intelligently challenged.

00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:15.700
 The church must invest

00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:17.519
 deeply in the spiritual

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:19.000
 nurture and discipling

00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.640
 of its young.

00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:21.120
 That's something we need

00:30:21.120 --> 00:30:22.299
 to lay as a foundation

00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:23.779
 now as a people.

00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.480
 All of these kids are

00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.259
 going to be teenagers

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.080
 before long.

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.299
 Chelsea and Ashlyn and

00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:30.039
 Clementine are on the

00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.920
 cusp of it already.

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:34.480
 And if they can go and

00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:35.279
 sit through a calculus

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.460
 class in high school,

00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:38.100
 surely we can do better

00:30:38.100 --> 00:30:41.720
 than God told Noah to

00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:43.360
 build and Arky, Arky,

00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:45.460
 or whatever the songs are

00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:46.519
 that sometimes we sing,

00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:47.860
 it needs to take them

00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:48.500
 serious.

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.220
 This thing goes for the

00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:50.500
 home.

00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:53.299
 Mary's faith was likely

00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:54.500
 the product of faithful

00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:56.779
 parents who are committed

00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:58.860
 to raising their children

00:30:58.860 --> 00:30:59.779
 in the nurture and

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.819
 admonition of the Lord.

00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:02.940
 And Elizabeth is right.

00:31:03.600 --> 00:31:04.940
 The one who believes the

00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:05.880
 word of God will be

00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:06.799
 blessed by God.

00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:10.160
 And we all know how

00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:11.600
 strong the temptation to

00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:12.960
 doubt the Lord grows as we

00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.340
 age.

00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:17.319
 So we need to commit to

00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:18.539
 taking seriously the

00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:19.539
 discipling of our

00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:19.959
 children.

00:31:20.659 --> 00:31:22.079
 And then we need to go to

00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:23.059
 them and we need to learn

00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:24.379
 from them because there's a

00:31:24.379 --> 00:31:25.619
 lot we can learn from Mary,

00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:27.980
 a child, in this passage.

00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:30.179
 Gospel companionship,

00:31:30.879 --> 00:31:31.759
 prophetic assurances,

00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:32.939
 finally we'll be finished,

00:31:33.939 --> 00:31:35.379
 word-based worship.

00:31:36.659 --> 00:31:37.839
 Word-based worship.

00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:40.199
 These final verses,

00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:41.980
 verses 46 to 55,

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:45.839
 they record what many

00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:47.119
 refer to as the very first

00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:47.839
 Christmas song.

00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:51.159
 We know for sure that its

00:31:51.159 --> 00:31:52.899
 contents composed one of the

00:31:52.899 --> 00:31:54.279
 earliest Christian hymns.

00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.639
 It's called the

00:31:56.639 --> 00:31:57.339
 Magnificent.

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:59.259
 Perhaps the title given to

00:31:59.259 --> 00:32:00.199
 the paragraph in your Bible

00:32:00.199 --> 00:32:01.879
 maybe even says that, the

00:32:01.879 --> 00:32:02.639
 Magnificent.

00:32:02.859 --> 00:32:04.359
 That term comes from the

00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:05.699
 Latin translation of the

00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:07.100
 very first phrase, my soul

00:32:07.100 --> 00:32:08.519
 magnifies the Lord.

00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:10.500
 And like with all things

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:12.319
 related to the Virgin Mary,

00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:15.420
 it's been misused by the

00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:16.620
 Roman Catholic tradition.

00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:18.400
 But we shouldn't let the

00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:21.000
 abuse of one group rob the

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:22.000
 rest of us of its

00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:23.500
 significance in Christian

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.279
 prayer and worship.

00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:25.680
 In fact, we do have a

00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.620
 tendency to do that from

00:32:26.620 --> 00:32:27.559
 time to time, don't we?

00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:29.980
 We understand as

00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:31.100
 Protestants that there is

00:32:31.100 --> 00:32:32.400
 something vastly different,

00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.860
 necessarily different between

00:32:33.859 --> 00:32:35.740
 us and Roman Catholicism and

00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.359
 some of the Orthodox

00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:38.019
 churches as well.

00:32:38.099 --> 00:32:39.240
 But we need to be careful

00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:40.919
 that we don't rob ourselves

00:32:40.919 --> 00:32:43.079
 of genuine, helpful,

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:45.579
 uplifting tradition just

00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:47.919
 because it also is utilized in

00:32:47.919 --> 00:32:49.139
 some fashion in these other

00:32:49.139 --> 00:32:49.579
 churches.

00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:51.079
 The Magnificent is one of

00:32:51.079 --> 00:32:51.759
 those things.

00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.399
 We need to learn from it.

00:32:53.459 --> 00:32:54.500
 We need to examine it.

00:32:55.399 --> 00:32:56.740
 We could spend weeks really

00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.399
 examining it.

00:32:57.459 --> 00:32:58.119
 We're not going to do that.

00:32:58.179 --> 00:32:59.279
 In fact, I'm not even going

00:32:59.279 --> 00:32:59.699
 to read it.

00:32:59.719 --> 00:33:00.519
 I'm going to let you read it

00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:00.779
 again.

00:33:00.859 --> 00:33:01.899
 We've read it once already.

00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:03.759
 I'll let you read it on

00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:05.060
 your own time.

00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:05.980
 I just want to kind of do

00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:07.900
 a flyover of it as it

00:33:07.900 --> 00:33:08.860
 connects to the larger

00:33:08.860 --> 00:33:10.160
 context of this passage.

00:33:10.320 --> 00:33:10.460
 Okay?

00:33:12.620 --> 00:33:13.700
 Martin Luther said,

00:33:14.120 --> 00:33:15.780
 At home in my own house,

00:33:15.780 --> 00:33:17.580
 there is no warmth or

00:33:17.580 --> 00:33:18.360
 vigor in me.

00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:20.759
 But in the church, when the

00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.740
 multitude is gathered

00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:24.080
 together, a fire is

00:33:24.080 --> 00:33:26.320
 kindled in my heart and it

00:33:26.320 --> 00:33:27.440
 breaks its way through.

00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:30.960
 Now, I'm certain that

00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:32.220
 Luther had magnificent

00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:33.519
 moments of private worship

00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.200
 during his life.

00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.120
 There is no doubt about

00:33:35.120 --> 00:33:35.480
 that.

00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:38.480
 But his experience here and

00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:39.580
 what he says is actually

00:33:39.580 --> 00:33:41.460
 generally true for all of

00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:41.660
 us.

00:33:42.140 --> 00:33:43.539
 If you've ever attended a

00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.799
 professional sporting event,

00:33:44.860 --> 00:33:45.820
 if you're into that kind of

00:33:45.820 --> 00:33:46.940
 thing, there is a

00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:48.960
 difference between the way

00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:50.820
 that I cheer for the New

00:33:50.820 --> 00:33:52.259
 York Yankees in my living

00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:53.900
 room by myself or with

00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:54.860
 Julie, who doesn't care

00:33:54.859 --> 00:33:57.379
 about it, versus when I'm

00:33:57.379 --> 00:33:59.339
 actually in Yankee

00:33:59.339 --> 00:34:00.939
 Stadium in the South

00:34:00.939 --> 00:34:03.219
 Bronx and there's 55,000

00:34:03.219 --> 00:34:04.179
 people who have gathered

00:34:04.179 --> 00:34:04.939
 around me.

00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:08.659
 And I got to be, several

00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:10.179
 years ago, I was with my

00:34:10.179 --> 00:34:11.259
 brother and a friend, Ken

00:34:11.259 --> 00:34:11.539
 Baker.

00:34:11.759 --> 00:34:12.779
 We went and it just

00:34:12.779 --> 00:34:13.519
 happened to be Bernie

00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.079
 Williams night.

00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:15.039
 They were retiring this

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.739
 stuff and putting them in

00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:16.279
 Monument Park.

00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:17.880
 It was Derek Jeter's first

00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:19.000
 night back to Yankee

00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:20.159
 Stadium since he retired.

00:34:20.339 --> 00:34:21.440
 And I've never heard a

00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:23.299
 play so loud in my life.

00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.199
 The game hasn't even

00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:24.899
 started yet.

00:34:25.839 --> 00:34:26.799
 And we're sitting in the

00:34:26.799 --> 00:34:27.879
 stands and the place is

00:34:27.879 --> 00:34:30.519
 deafeningly loud only

00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:31.639
 because Derek Jeter is

00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:31.799
 there.

00:34:31.939 --> 00:34:32.439
 Now, there's a

00:34:32.439 --> 00:34:33.579
 commonality in what's

00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.480
 happening between all

00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:34.980
 those people.

00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:36.139
 They're all there because

00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:37.139
 they love the Yankees.

00:34:37.419 --> 00:34:38.719
 And when they're together,

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:40.819
 there is a difference in

00:34:40.819 --> 00:34:41.859
 the way that they cheer

00:34:41.859 --> 00:34:43.119
 than if I had been sitting

00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:44.019
 in my living room and

00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:45.139
 watching these pregame

00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:46.039
 rituals unfold.

00:34:46.279 --> 00:34:47.059
 You know what this is

00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:47.299
 like.

00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.599
 Our worship can be like

00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.179
 this sometimes.

00:34:49.879 --> 00:34:51.359
 There are unique moments

00:34:51.359 --> 00:34:52.239
 that we have in private

00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:53.339
 worship where the Lord is

00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:55.019
 working in us and we are

00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:56.380
 blessed beyond measure.

00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:57.680
 But there is a difference

00:34:57.680 --> 00:34:58.740
 between doing that in our

00:34:58.740 --> 00:35:00.220
 living rooms alone and when

00:35:00.220 --> 00:35:01.680
 we come together as God's

00:35:01.680 --> 00:35:03.280
 people and we sing his

00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:04.559
 praise together and we

00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.860
 reflect on his word

00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:06.559
 together.

00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:07.860
 That's what Luther's

00:35:07.860 --> 00:35:08.340
 getting at.

00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:10.120
 That is a part of what I

00:35:10.120 --> 00:35:11.200
 think is happening here for

00:35:11.200 --> 00:35:11.500
 Mary.

00:35:12.620 --> 00:35:13.900
 She's not alone now.

00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:15.840
 She's gone to Elizabeth.

00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:16.960
 Elizabeth has done this

00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:19.420
 work and explained this work

00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.960
 of God and it's uplifted her

00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:21.200
 heart.

00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:21.980
 It's encouraged her.

00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:23.099
 She has this assurance and

00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.900
 what that then produces in

00:35:24.900 --> 00:35:27.760
 Mary is this dynamic worship.

00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:30.460
 Now when you bring together a

00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:32.139
 group of individuals whose

00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:33.880
 unity is based on the union

00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:36.159
 that they find in Christ and

00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:38.019
 then you add to that that God's

00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:40.099
 spirit indwells each and every

00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:41.820
 one of them in a powerful way,

00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:44.159
 we should expect nothing less

00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:46.579
 than passionate worship that is

00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:48.199
 so reflected in Mary's prayer.

00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:50.779
 Every Sunday when we come

00:35:50.779 --> 00:35:52.059
 together, when we sing our

00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:53.759
 songs, when we read the words,

00:35:53.819 --> 00:35:54.960
 when we pray together, it

00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:56.559
 should have the passion and the

00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:58.679
 vigor because we have exactly

00:35:58.679 --> 00:35:59.859
 what Mary had.

00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:02.299
 We have companionship.

00:36:02.419 --> 00:36:03.399
 We have assurances.

00:36:03.739 --> 00:36:05.199
 We have the spirit of God in

00:36:05.199 --> 00:36:06.299
 our lives and that should be

00:36:06.299 --> 00:36:07.539
 reflected in the way that we

00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:07.980
 worship.

00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.859
 But the thing I want to point

00:36:10.859 --> 00:36:12.279
 out and I want you to notice

00:36:12.279 --> 00:36:13.819
 about Mary's worship before we

00:36:13.819 --> 00:36:15.879
 finish is that it's all based on

00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:16.380
 the scriptures.

00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:21.619
 It was the Bible that shaped

00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:23.240
 her heart and informed her

00:36:23.240 --> 00:36:23.599
 worship.

00:36:25.680 --> 00:36:29.019
 It was her dual sense of use of

00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:31.980
 soul and spirit that shows her

00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:34.640
 desire to give her whole self to

00:36:34.640 --> 00:36:37.200
 God in ways that mirror God's

00:36:37.200 --> 00:36:39.039
 command to love him with all our

00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:41.539
 heart and our soul and our mind

00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:42.740
 and our strength.

00:36:42.739 --> 00:36:46.299
 She made a direct allusion to the

00:36:46.299 --> 00:36:48.379
 prayer of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1,

00:36:48.799 --> 00:36:50.679
 applying God's word to her own

00:36:50.679 --> 00:36:51.419
 experience.

00:36:52.219 --> 00:36:54.259
 She recognized the mercy of God

00:36:54.259 --> 00:36:55.859
 for the humble and the judgment

00:36:55.859 --> 00:36:57.619
 of God against the proud in the

00:36:57.619 --> 00:36:59.979
 same exact way that the Psalms do.

00:37:00.879 --> 00:37:02.319
 She praised God for his

00:37:02.319 --> 00:37:04.159
 faithfulness to the promises given

00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:05.939
 to Abraham and through the

00:37:05.939 --> 00:37:07.139
 prophets in the Old Testament.

00:37:07.339 --> 00:37:09.139
 All of this is what makes up

00:37:09.139 --> 00:37:10.079
 Mary's song.

00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:12.619
 Now critics will use the content

00:37:12.619 --> 00:37:14.400
 of Mary's prayer to deny its

00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:14.940
 authenticity.

00:37:16.340 --> 00:37:18.719
 They assert that an illiterate

00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:20.619
 13-year-old girl from Nazareth would

00:37:20.619 --> 00:37:23.900
 never be able to praise in such a

00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:25.659
 way that is so richly theological.

00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:29.059
 But what they fail to acknowledge is

00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:31.179
 that every young Israelite knew by

00:37:31.179 --> 00:37:34.139
 heart the biblical songs of Hannah,

00:37:34.139 --> 00:37:39.599
 Deborah, of David, these passages

00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:40.379
 were memorized.

00:37:40.799 --> 00:37:42.799
 They were regularly utilized in

00:37:42.799 --> 00:37:44.579
 Sabbath worship and on the feast

00:37:44.579 --> 00:37:45.119
 days.

00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:48.480
 Kent Hughes again says Mary's mind

00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:51.440
 was full of scripture and sacred

00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:54.480
 phraseology from what she heard both

00:37:54.480 --> 00:37:56.059
 in the synagogue and at home.

00:37:56.719 --> 00:37:59.440
 So when the Holy Spirit came upon her,

00:37:59.900 --> 00:38:03.019
 he took what she had and wove it into

00:38:03.019 --> 00:38:04.480
 his hallowed tapestry.

00:38:05.199 --> 00:38:07.000
 The magnificent, he says,

00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:10.340
 was a poignant, profound, divine

00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:11.480
 human composition.

00:38:12.340 --> 00:38:13.420
 It was nothing less.

00:38:15.199 --> 00:38:17.519
 Mary's prayer models the way that

00:38:17.519 --> 00:38:18.900
 every Christian should worship.

00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:23.300
 The scriptures should shape and

00:38:23.300 --> 00:38:25.659
 inform our words in private and in

00:38:25.659 --> 00:38:26.759
 corporate worship.

00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:30.139
 The more we know and study them,

00:38:30.139 --> 00:38:33.579
 the easier it will be to view life in

00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:34.960
 light of what God has said.

00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:38.119
 And what could give God more pleasure

00:38:38.119 --> 00:38:40.440
 than when his people passionately

00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:43.739
 worship him with his own inerrant,

00:38:44.319 --> 00:38:47.539
 infallible, and authoritative words?

00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:51.079
 Amazing worship.

00:38:51.980 --> 00:38:54.039
 Word-based worship.

00:38:55.159 --> 00:38:56.799
 Now Mary's visit to Elizabeth is a

00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:58.519
 beautiful picture of God's grace.

00:38:59.860 --> 00:39:01.200
 He unites us together.

00:39:02.140 --> 00:39:03.360
 He assures our hearts.

00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:06.460
 We teach one another through the word

00:39:06.460 --> 00:39:08.420
 and the result is dynamic worship

00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:10.560
 as we sing his words back to him.

00:39:12.140 --> 00:39:14.120
 But the foundation of this community

00:39:14.120 --> 00:39:15.340
 is faith in Christ.

00:39:17.340 --> 00:39:19.460
 Too many people attempt to find the

00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:23.620
 great joy without the good news.

00:39:23.619 --> 00:39:26.279
 But they've got that backwards.

00:39:27.839 --> 00:39:30.679
 You can never experience the everlasting

00:39:30.679 --> 00:39:32.659
 joy that's promised at Christmas

00:39:32.659 --> 00:39:36.239
 until you believe in and follow

00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:37.679
 the Christ of Christmas.

00:39:39.279 --> 00:39:41.480
 And when you come to faith in Jesus,

00:39:41.980 --> 00:39:44.639
 you'll find that his joy is abundant,

00:39:45.339 --> 00:39:48.539
 that he lavishes it on us in ways

00:39:48.539 --> 00:39:49.699
 we would never have imagined.

00:39:49.699 --> 00:39:53.339
 And that includes the glorious grace

00:39:53.339 --> 00:39:54.899
 that we find in the local church.

00:39:56.139 --> 00:39:56.659
 Companionship.

00:39:57.379 --> 00:39:59.039
 All centered on the gospel.

00:39:59.779 --> 00:40:01.460
 The good news of great joy.