WEBVTT

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 Good morning, church family. We're going to read God's Word together now.

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 So if you can turn in your Bibles or devices to Luke chapter 1, starting at verse 26,

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 and we're going to read up to verse 55.

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 So Luke 1, verse 26.

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 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

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 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.

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 And the virgin's name was Mary.

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 And he came to her and said,

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 Greetings, O favoured one, the Lord is with you.

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 But she was greatly troubled at the saying,

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 and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

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 And the angel said to her,

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 Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

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 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,

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 and you shall call his name Jesus.

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 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

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 And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

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 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.

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 And of his kingdom there will be no end.

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 And Mary said to the angel,

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 How will this be, since I am a virgin?

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 And the angel answered her,

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 The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

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 and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

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 Therefore the child to be born will be called Holy, the Son of God.

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 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son,

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 and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

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 For nothing will be impossible with God.

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 And Mary said,

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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 the angel departed from her.

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 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country,

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 to a town in Judah,

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 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

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 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary,

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 the baby leaped in her womb.

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 And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

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 and she exclaimed with a loud cry,

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 Blessed are you among women,

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 and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

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 And why is this granted to me,

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 that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

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 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears,

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 the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

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 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment

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 of what was spoken to her from the Lord.

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 And Mary said,

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 My soul magnifies the Lord,

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 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

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 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

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 For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.

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 For he who is mighty has done great things for me,

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 and holy is his name.

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 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

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 He has shown strength with his arm.

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 He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

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 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones,

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 and exalted those of humble estate.

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 He has filled the hungry with good things,

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 and the rich he has sent away empty.

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 He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy,

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 as he spoke to our fathers,

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 to Abraham,

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 and to his offspring forever.

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 Well, good morning everyone.

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 I'm one of the pastors here,

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 if you happen to be a visitor and don't know me.

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 Well, we've really heard it multiple times this morning

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 from the introduction from the children's address.

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 What makes you want to sing?

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 Where do you find,

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 when do you find yourself singing?

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 So, sometimes it will be out loud,

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 sometimes it will be in your head.

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 I'm always intrigued by,

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 some of my grandchildren tell me

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 that they have a song in their head all the time.

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 Not sure necessarily whether it's a good song or not,

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 but there's a song in there for them.

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 Sing is an expression of emotions.

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 We've already heard that.

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 A whole range of emotions can be expressed in song.

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 And that means the songs we sing resonate

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 with something in our heart,

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 in our innermost being,

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 the way we feel,

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 the way we think,

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 probably both.

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 And that means we'll actually get tied in most

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 in our private playlist

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 to the songs that describe how we're feeling,

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 that describe the longings of our heart,

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 the songs that reflect what we think

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 will answer the longings of our heart.

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 They're likely the ones that are to be in our head

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 most often,

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 and give an expression most often.

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 They're the songs that we think

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 will not only deal with the ache in our heart,

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 or the longing in our heart,

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 but actually help us celebrate

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 what we believe,

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 and what we think will satisfy it.

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 So, singing's a really big thing

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 in every culture.

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 And singing's a really big thing

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 in the first chapters of Luke's account

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 of the life of Jesus.

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 There's a lot of singing

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 around the birth of Jesus.

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 There's perhaps the first

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 and most bizarre flash mob in history.

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 This massive crowd of angels appear

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 and lead a bunch of smelly old shepherds

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 in song.

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 And then they just as quickly disappear again.

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 But that's not enough.

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 The shepherds themselves are on their feet

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 yahooing and praising and singing

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 at what they've just heard.

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 The storyline in the first two chapters

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 then is punctuated by the songs of Mary

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 and Zachariah and Simeon.

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 And I think the point of these

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 in the storyline

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 that's moving so quickly

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 with so much incredible stuff happening,

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 these songs punctuate it

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 and they actually cause us to pause

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 and reflect on what's developing

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 at such a great rate.

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 So the question then is why?

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 What is there to sing about?

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 Well, this morning as we've been told

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 a three week series

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 we're going to look at some of these

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 three great songs of Christmas.

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 And we do that to discover in depth

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 to dig into the songs

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 and see what it is that makes people sing.

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 And these people in particular.

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 And we do that in turn

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 to help us celebrate Christmas

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 as we ought to.

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 To come back to what we might call

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 the basics of Christmas.

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 And just before I go ahead

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 for those who aren't into singing

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 and you can read a little bit more of this

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 in the bulletin article.

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 These are called songs

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 but if you're a person who says

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 I don't sing ever

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 don't get left behind.

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 Because they probably weren't put to music.

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 It's more about an overflow.

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 You remember that kids?

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 That picture of overflow.

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 It's more about just this bubbling up

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 to the surface of praise and thanks

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 to be part of what's happening

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 in God's world at that time

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 under God's hand.

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 It's an expression of excitement.

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 And it just bubbles to the surface

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 in words.

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 And in that sense therefore

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 I believe that everybody here

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 has a song in them.

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 In that sense.

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 Something that gets you excited.

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 Something that gets you on your feet.

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 It might only be to yahoo

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 and cheer and stomp around.

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 But it's something that will

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 actually just cause you

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 to express your delight.

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 So let's look at what stirred Mary

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 to overflow in praise to God.

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 And I'm going to just give a bit of context

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 which has largely been read here

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 but not all of it.

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 just to pick up

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 the background

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 to this

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 magnificat

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 as it's called.

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 This praising of the Lord

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 by Mary.

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 So Luke begins

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 his biography

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 the account of the life

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 of Jesus

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 by focusing on

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 a group

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 who are

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 described as the faithful ones.

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 Ones who are waiting

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 patiently

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 for God to deliver

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 on his promise of salvation.

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 We've looked at that promise

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 over the last four weeks

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 in Malachi.

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 So we've got a group here

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 waiting patiently

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 for that to come true

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 some 400 years later.

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 In chapter 2 verse 25

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 you've got

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 this guy called Simeon

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 who's described here

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 as waiting for the

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 consolation

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 of Israel.

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 And in chapter 2 verse 38

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 we've got a lady called

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 Anna

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 a prophetess

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 and she was waiting

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 for the redemption

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 of Jerusalem.

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 Those two terms

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 I believe

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 are used interchangeably.

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 This was a group

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 of faithful people

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 people as we'll see

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 in a minute

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 people who are described

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 as fearing the Lord

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 and remember

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 that connects us

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 back to Malachi as well.

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 People who

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 were waiting

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 for the comfort

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 and healing

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 of God's

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 long promised

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 long awaited

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 Messiah

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 who would come

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 to God's

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 needy people

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 and bring healing

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 and restoration.

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 Now if you go back

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 to chapter 1 verse 6

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 we pick up the story

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 with Zechariah.

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 Again another

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 direct connection

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 into the wording

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 let alone

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 the theme

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 of Malachi

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 because Zechariah

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 is busy

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 as a priest

00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:52.799
 busy

00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:54.159
 observing

00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:55.559
 the statutes

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 and the commandments

00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:57.200
 of the Lord.

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 That's the language

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 of Malachi

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 those who feared

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 the Lord.

00:10:02.460 --> 00:10:03.800
 So here he is

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 waiting

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 patiently

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 and faithfully

00:10:07.779 --> 00:10:10.379
 with his wife

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 Elizabeth

00:10:10.740 --> 00:10:11.620
 as part of this

00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:12.159
 other group

00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:14.840
 setting their hearts

00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:15.800
 to honour the Lord

00:10:15.800 --> 00:10:16.800
 again

00:10:16.800 --> 00:10:17.759
 reference to Malachi

00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:19.139
 while they waited

00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:20.200
 for the Lord

00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:20.720
 to deliver

00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:21.519
 on his promise.

00:10:23.060 --> 00:10:23.639
 And suddenly

00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:25.019
 angel

00:10:25.019 --> 00:10:26.299
 Gabriel appeared

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 and announced

00:10:27.199 --> 00:10:28.480
 that their prayers

00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.120
 were answered.

00:10:30.379 --> 00:10:30.879
 Promise

00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:32.139
 would now

00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:33.639
 become reality

00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:35.480
 as they were

00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:36.199
 swept up

00:10:36.199 --> 00:10:36.899
 in a series

00:10:36.899 --> 00:10:38.360
 of incredible

00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:39.620
 supernatural events.

00:10:41.199 --> 00:10:42.039
 And then back

00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:42.539
 into the passage

00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:43.120
 that was read

00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:43.620
 to this morning

00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:45.039
 chapter 1 verse 26

00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:45.919
 through to 38

00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.879
 essentially

00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:48.740
 God says

00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:50.120
 he would override

00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:51.639
 the natural

00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:52.700
 process

00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:54.399
 of getting

00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:54.879
 pregnant

00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:57.639
 in Elizabeth's

00:10:57.639 --> 00:10:58.500
 cousin Mary

00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:01.019
 and she would

00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:01.620
 be with child

00:11:01.620 --> 00:11:04.480
 and she would

00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:05.060
 give birth

00:11:05.060 --> 00:11:06.220
 to the greatest

00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:07.259
 figure the world

00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:07.980
 has ever seen.

00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:09.419
 He would be

00:11:09.419 --> 00:11:10.039
 truly human

00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:11.460
 and truly God

00:11:11.460 --> 00:11:12.320
 at the same time.

00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:13.440
 He would be

00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:14.180
 God's Messiah

00:11:14.180 --> 00:11:14.960
 God's great

00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:15.919
 King and Saviour

00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:17.120
 who would rule

00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:17.960
 God's world

00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:18.500
 forever

00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:19.299
 as promised

00:11:19.299 --> 00:11:20.279
 more than

00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:21.340
 about a thousand

00:11:21.340 --> 00:11:21.879
 years earlier

00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:22.919
 to King David.

00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:27.500
 And then we pick

00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:27.919
 up the story

00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:28.500
 even closer

00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:30.200
 in verse 39

00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:30.679
 onwards.

00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:32.379
 Mary then

00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:33.159
 makes haste

00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:33.759
 to visit

00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:34.360
 Elizabeth

00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:35.639
 who we're told

00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:36.500
 is at least

00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:37.440
 six months pregnant

00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:38.440
 by this stage

00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:41.840
 and that

00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:42.620
 event

00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:43.560
 is surrounded

00:11:43.560 --> 00:11:44.100
 by more

00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:44.920
 supernatural

00:11:44.920 --> 00:11:45.780
 happenings

00:11:45.780 --> 00:11:48.400
 and that's

00:11:48.400 --> 00:11:48.780
 when the story

00:11:48.780 --> 00:11:49.500
 becomes even

00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:50.200
 more strange

00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:50.520
 because

00:11:50.520 --> 00:11:51.740
 you might

00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:52.860
 well expect

00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:54.040
 a very

00:11:54.040 --> 00:11:55.440
 God-fearing

00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:56.160
 woman like

00:11:56.160 --> 00:11:56.860
 Elizabeth and her

00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:57.740
 husband Zachariah

00:11:57.740 --> 00:11:59.440
 to have words

00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:00.780
 with Mary

00:12:00.780 --> 00:12:01.360
 who remember

00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:02.680
 is unmarried

00:12:02.680 --> 00:12:03.640
 and pregnant

00:12:03.640 --> 00:12:04.400
 at this stage.

00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:06.360
 A shameful

00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:07.000
 thing in the

00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:07.900
 society of the day.

00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:09.440
 Mary

00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:10.680
 but rather

00:12:10.680 --> 00:12:11.340
 than that

00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:12.920
 moved by the

00:12:12.920 --> 00:12:13.520
 Holy Spirit

00:12:13.520 --> 00:12:15.080
 Elizabeth actually

00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:15.960
 praises

00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:17.460
 Mary

00:12:17.460 --> 00:12:19.740
 and even

00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:20.780
 Elizabeth's baby

00:12:20.780 --> 00:12:21.740
 in her womb

00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:22.940
 supernaturally

00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:24.660
 acknowledges the

00:12:24.660 --> 00:12:25.400
 importance of

00:12:25.400 --> 00:12:26.080
 Mary's baby.

00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:32.420
 so the

00:12:32.420 --> 00:12:33.040
 background

00:12:33.040 --> 00:12:34.379
 to Mary's

00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:35.240
 song of

00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:35.740
 praise

00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:37.160
 is

00:12:37.160 --> 00:12:38.259
 full of

00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:39.020
 humanly

00:12:39.020 --> 00:12:39.780
 impossible

00:12:39.780 --> 00:12:40.540
 occurrences.

00:12:42.160 --> 00:12:43.300
 It's full

00:12:43.300 --> 00:12:43.660
 of

00:12:43.660 --> 00:12:44.740
 God's

00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:46.000
 activity

00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:46.820
 it's full

00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:47.420
 of God's

00:12:47.420 --> 00:12:48.180
 Holy Spirit

00:12:48.180 --> 00:12:49.840
 taking hold

00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:50.220
 of people

00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:51.200
 and moving

00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:51.460
 them

00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:52.460
 to do

00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:53.040
 certain things

00:12:53.040 --> 00:12:53.360
 and say

00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.080
 certain things

00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:55.180
 and remember

00:12:55.180 --> 00:12:55.580
 that God's

00:12:55.580 --> 00:12:56.120
 Holy Spirit

00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:56.740
 is the

00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:57.340
 enabler

00:12:57.340 --> 00:12:57.740
 and the

00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:58.360
 enforcer

00:12:58.360 --> 00:12:59.060
 of God's

00:12:59.060 --> 00:12:59.480
 plan and

00:12:59.480 --> 00:12:59.800
 purpose.

00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:00.639
 This is

00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:01.620
 exactly what

00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:02.220
 the prophets

00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:03.320
 had predicted.

00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:04.100
 They said

00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:04.900
 the age of

00:13:04.900 --> 00:13:05.379
 salvation

00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:05.720
 when it

00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.400
 finally came

00:13:06.400 --> 00:13:07.220
 would be the

00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:08.160
 age marked

00:13:08.160 --> 00:13:08.940
 by God's

00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:09.740
 Holy Spirit

00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:11.020
 and incredible

00:13:11.020 --> 00:13:11.900
 actions of

00:13:11.900 --> 00:13:12.340
 God's Holy

00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:12.720
 Spirit.

00:13:13.660 --> 00:13:14.300
 A radical

00:13:14.300 --> 00:13:14.940
 new work

00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:15.720
 of God's

00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:16.240
 Holy Spirit

00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:17.700
 supernaturally

00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:18.259
 in God's

00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:18.540
 world.

00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:20.639
 So everything

00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:21.299
 points to the

00:13:21.299 --> 00:13:21.759
 fact that

00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.360
 this is

00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:22.799
 God's

00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:23.299
 age of

00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:23.740
 salvation

00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:24.339
 coming

00:13:24.339 --> 00:13:25.879
 has arrived

00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:27.240
 in this

00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:28.120
 baby yet

00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:28.419
 to be

00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:28.759
 born.

00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:32.299
 And

00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:33.159
 it's

00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:33.899
 clearly

00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:34.719
 God's

00:13:34.719 --> 00:13:35.079
 Spirit

00:13:35.079 --> 00:13:35.899
 that

00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:36.459
 motivates

00:13:36.459 --> 00:13:37.000
 Mary's

00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:37.379
 heart to

00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:37.719
 overflow

00:13:37.719 --> 00:13:37.980
 in a

00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:38.319
 song of

00:13:38.319 --> 00:13:38.819
 praise and

00:13:38.819 --> 00:13:39.779
 thanks for

00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:40.199
 the arrival

00:13:40.199 --> 00:13:40.599
 of Jesus.

00:13:41.099 --> 00:13:41.759
 So let's

00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:42.299
 dig into it

00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:42.459
 now.

00:13:42.719 --> 00:13:43.299
 What is it

00:13:43.299 --> 00:13:43.919
 precisely

00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:45.480
 that overflows

00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.259
 from Mary's

00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:46.519
 heart?

00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.860
 I want to

00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:48.259
 just highlight

00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:48.779
 two things.

00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:49.139
 There's probably

00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:49.639
 lots more

00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:50.039
 that you could

00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:50.419
 highlight.

00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:51.559
 The first

00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:52.179
 is delight

00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:52.779
 in God's

00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:53.559
 extravagant

00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:54.059
 covenant

00:13:54.059 --> 00:13:54.559
 blessing.

00:13:55.699 --> 00:13:56.199
 So the

00:13:56.199 --> 00:13:57.079
 words grace

00:13:57.079 --> 00:13:57.720
 or favor,

00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:58.240
 if you look

00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:58.539
 back to

00:13:58.539 --> 00:13:59.039
 chapter 1

00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:01.079
 verse 28,

00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:02.759
 the angel

00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.340
 describes

00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:05.539
 Mary as

00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:06.199
 O favored

00:14:06.199 --> 00:14:06.500
 one.

00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.379
 And we

00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:08.840
 pick that up

00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:09.159
 again in

00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:09.539
 the song.

00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:11.600
 Words of

00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:12.100
 grace and

00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:12.500
 favor and

00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:12.919
 love and

00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:13.579
 mercy in

00:14:13.579 --> 00:14:14.360
 verses 46

00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:14.699
 through to

00:14:14.699 --> 00:14:15.019
 50.

00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:16.460
 If you

00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:16.659
 look at

00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:17.360
 verse 46,

00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:19.819
 Mary said,

00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:20.439
 my soul

00:14:20.439 --> 00:14:21.299
 magnifies the

00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:21.460
 Lord.

00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:22.639
 Now, the

00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:23.000
 tense of

00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:23.480
 that verb

00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.100
 suggests that

00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:25.000
 this is not

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:25.500
 something new

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:25.720
 for Mary.

00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:26.220
 This is just

00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:26.699
 a lifetime

00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:28.759
 habit of

00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:29.579
 praising God,

00:14:31.439 --> 00:14:31.939
 addressing

00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:32.559
 him in the

00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:33.480
 most personal

00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.679
 of ways as

00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:35.139
 Yahweh.

00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:39.279
 But now,

00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:40.899
 she overflows

00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:41.340
 with even

00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:42.340
 greater delight

00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:44.139
 as she tries

00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:44.919
 to express

00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:46.019
 her new

00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:46.460
 sense of

00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.000
 blessing from

00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:47.379
 the Lord.

00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:49.139
 If you

00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:49.340
 look at

00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:50.120
 verses 47

00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:50.960
 through 50

00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:51.279
 then,

00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:51.659
 47,

00:14:51.819 --> 00:14:52.019
 30,

00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:52.720
 yeah,

00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:54.819
 we've got to

00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:55.199
 say on the

00:14:55.199 --> 00:14:55.759
 one hand that

00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.879
 there's no way

00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.699
 Mary could

00:14:57.699 --> 00:14:58.419
 possibly have

00:14:58.419 --> 00:14:58.840
 understood

00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.460
 everything that

00:14:59.460 --> 00:14:59.779
 was happening

00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:00.120
 to her.

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:03.319
 And that

00:15:03.319 --> 00:15:03.600
 makes the

00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:04.000
 story even

00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:04.679
 more amazing

00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:07.340
 because,

00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:07.819
 therefore,

00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:08.480
 her concept

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.059
 of being

00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:11.019
 blessed was

00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:11.600
 simply being

00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.460
 swept up

00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:13.480
 into God's

00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:14.399
 planned

00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:15.420
 intervention

00:15:15.420 --> 00:15:16.040
 of healing

00:15:16.040 --> 00:15:16.820
 and salvation,

00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:18.500
 being swept

00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:19.220
 up into God's

00:15:19.220 --> 00:15:20.040
 long-promised,

00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:20.940
 long-awaited

00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:21.779
 time of

00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:22.420
 salvation,

00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:23.560
 salvation

00:15:23.560 --> 00:15:24.100
 intervention.

00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:26.060
 And if you

00:15:26.060 --> 00:15:26.379
 notice in

00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:27.360
 verse 47

00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:27.560
 there,

00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:28.940
 she delights

00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:30.560
 to think

00:15:30.560 --> 00:15:32.200
 that the

00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:33.940
 Lord is

00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:34.680
 committed to

00:15:34.680 --> 00:15:35.180
 being her

00:15:35.180 --> 00:15:35.480
 Savior.

00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:35.560
 Savior.

00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:39.500
 Now,

00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:40.019
 again,

00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:40.740
 step back

00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.060
 and just

00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:41.560
 think of

00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:41.940
 it from

00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:42.320
 a human

00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:42.860
 perspective.

00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:44.320
 Humanly

00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:44.720
 speaking,

00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:45.580
 Mary's

00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:47.019
 plight was

00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:47.539
 terrible.

00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:50.840
 Unmarried,

00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:52.800
 pregnant,

00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:55.279
 quite possibly

00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.139
 shamed in

00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:56.600
 her immediate

00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:57.300
 family and

00:15:57.300 --> 00:15:58.000
 local community,

00:15:58.420 --> 00:15:59.320
 and technically

00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:00.039
 in terms of

00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:00.820
 God's law,

00:16:01.920 --> 00:16:02.779
 eligible to

00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:03.340
 be stoned

00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:04.019
 to death.

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:06.759
 Now,

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.240
 I don't

00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:07.539
 think that

00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:08.019
 law was

00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:08.980
 enacted very

00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:09.379
 much at

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:09.860
 that particular

00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:10.320
 time,

00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:11.440
 but that's

00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:11.899
 what God's

00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:12.360
 law said.

00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:16.680
 Now,

00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:17.159
 in that

00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:17.560
 light,

00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:19.220
 I think we

00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:19.779
 could easily

00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:20.920
 understand Mary

00:16:20.920 --> 00:16:22.100
 being consumed

00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:24.300
 with getting

00:16:24.300 --> 00:16:24.680
 married,

00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:25.580
 getting a

00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:25.840
 husband,

00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:27.360
 getting herself

00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:27.920
 into a position

00:16:27.920 --> 00:16:28.360
 where at least

00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:29.000
 she could start

00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:29.920
 rebuilding some

00:16:29.920 --> 00:16:30.399
 sense of

00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.300
 respectability in

00:16:31.300 --> 00:16:31.800
 the community.

00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:35.340
 But that's

00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:35.639
 not what we

00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.240
 see of Mary,

00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:36.680
 that's not

00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:37.080
 what we hear

00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:37.460
 from Mary.

00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.060
 Instead,

00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:39.879
 she's consumed,

00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:40.440
 I think,

00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:40.920
 with an even

00:16:40.920 --> 00:16:41.860
 greater plight,

00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:43.980
 that is,

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.320
 her relationship

00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:47.620
 with her

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.360
 Holy Lord.

00:16:51.060 --> 00:16:51.660
 It seems to

00:16:51.660 --> 00:16:52.660
 me that

00:16:52.660 --> 00:16:54.160
 Mary's words

00:16:54.160 --> 00:16:56.700
 reveal it.

00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.980
 As she fears

00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.580
 the Lord,

00:16:59.160 --> 00:17:00.240
 she is very,

00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:00.940
 very much

00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:02.200
 aware of

00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:03.060
 the fact that

00:17:03.060 --> 00:17:03.620
 her greatest

00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:04.559
 need is for

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.099
 Savior,

00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.619
 without whom

00:17:07.619 --> 00:17:08.879
 she could

00:17:08.879 --> 00:17:09.500
 never be

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.220
 righteous or

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:12.179
 acceptable to

00:17:12.179 --> 00:17:12.539
 the Lord,

00:17:12.659 --> 00:17:13.460
 in spite of

00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:13.919
 her best

00:17:13.919 --> 00:17:14.539
 efforts of

00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.339
 fearing God

00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.159
 and trying to

00:17:16.159 --> 00:17:16.539
 keep his

00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:16.940
 commandments.

00:17:21.139 --> 00:17:21.639
 So,

00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:22.000
 in that

00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:22.500
 context,

00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:22.819
 therefore,

00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:24.059
 Mary accepts

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:24.859
 the Lord's

00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:26.019
 work through

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:27.399
 her yet-to-be-born

00:17:27.399 --> 00:17:27.940
 baby.

00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:30.039
 And I think

00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:31.100
 this is the

00:17:31.100 --> 00:17:31.820
 nub for

00:17:31.820 --> 00:17:32.120
 Mary,

00:17:32.340 --> 00:17:32.980
 thanking him

00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:33.420
 that in

00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:34.340
 this amazing,

00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:35.860
 confusing,

00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.640
 scary

00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:39.660
 circumstance

00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.220
 that's now

00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:40.600
 entered her

00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:41.000
 life,

00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:42.640
 that God

00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.200
 was giving

00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:43.700
 her the

00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:44.320
 Savior that

00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:44.680
 she knew

00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:45.120
 she needed.

00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:52.959
 she recognized

00:17:52.959 --> 00:17:53.539
 she was a

00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:53.799
 nobody.

00:17:55.439 --> 00:17:56.139
 No doubt,

00:17:56.239 --> 00:17:56.899
 she was scared

00:17:56.899 --> 00:17:57.679
 and overwhelmed

00:17:57.679 --> 00:17:58.139
 by her

00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:58.739
 circumstance,

00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:01.219
 but also

00:18:01.219 --> 00:18:01.839
 had total

00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:02.779
 confidence in

00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:03.419
 God's promise,

00:18:03.639 --> 00:18:04.059
 in God's

00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:04.559
 character,

00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:06.079
 his mighty

00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:07.239
 power to

00:18:07.239 --> 00:18:07.679
 save her,

00:18:08.239 --> 00:18:09.239
 his undeserved

00:18:09.239 --> 00:18:10.339
 favor towards

00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:10.559
 her,

00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.219
 his grace

00:18:12.219 --> 00:18:12.779
 and love

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.299
 for her,

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:15.220
 his incredible

00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:16.039
 mercy and

00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:16.519
 kindness

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.359
 towards her.

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:25.899
 In short,

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.500
 my friends,

00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:27.579
 Mary was

00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:28.059
 one who

00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:28.720
 feared the

00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.059
 Lord,

00:18:30.139 --> 00:18:30.720
 setting her

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.259
 heart to

00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:31.740
 honor him.

00:18:32.379 --> 00:18:32.700
 Again,

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.200
 the language

00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:33.740
 of Malachi.

00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:35.940
 Setting her

00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.359
 heart to

00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:37.059
 esteem the

00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:37.299
 Lord,

00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:39.399
 to serve

00:18:39.399 --> 00:18:39.680
 him,

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:40.539
 and she

00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.099
 called herself

00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:42.099
 a servant

00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:42.500
 girl.

00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:48.919
 She knew

00:18:48.919 --> 00:18:50.579
 her

00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:51.119
 Lord,

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:51.799
 the Lord

00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:52.099
 God,

00:18:52.159 --> 00:18:52.599
 was holy.

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:53.419
 She knew

00:18:53.419 --> 00:18:53.700
 that he

00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:53.980
 could be

00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:54.399
 trusted

00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:56.200
 to do

00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:56.460
 what was

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:56.740
 right.

00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:58.339
 She knew

00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:58.639
 that he

00:18:58.639 --> 00:18:59.619
 could be

00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:00.139
 trusted to

00:19:00.139 --> 00:19:00.599
 act in

00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:01.240
 kindness

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.500
 and love

00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.039
 towards her.

00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:06.899
 But even

00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:07.139
 then,

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:07.460
 I think,

00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:07.819
 Mary's

00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:08.299
 horizon is

00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:08.680
 far,

00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:09.159
 far bigger

00:19:09.159 --> 00:19:09.339
 than

00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:09.740
 herself.

00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:12.640
 her joy

00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.420
 is knowing

00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:14.380
 that she

00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:15.259
 was experiencing

00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:16.160
 personally

00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:17.900
 that which

00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:18.339
 would become

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:19.559
 typical of

00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.359
 God's desire

00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:20.759
 to save

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.099
 his people

00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:21.599
 generally.

00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:24.039
 And it

00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:24.599
 just reflected

00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:25.099
 what God

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:25.380
 had been

00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:25.819
 doing

00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:27.180
 through the

00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:27.740
 generations.

00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:32.480
 God loves

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:32.900
 to see

00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:33.319
 his people

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:33.880
 fear him

00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:34.539
 and he

00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:35.140
 loves to

00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:35.539
 save his

00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:35.799
 people.

00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:39.700
 So I

00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:39.940
 just want

00:19:39.940 --> 00:19:40.319
 to pause

00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:40.779
 there for a

00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.620
 minute and

00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:42.579
 sort of step

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.240
 sideways by

00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:43.680
 asking the

00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.059
 question,

00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:46.420
 what is it

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:46.960
 to be

00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.380
 blessed?

00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:49.660
 What is it

00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:49.900
 to be

00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.259
 blessed?

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:50.319
 blessed?

00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:53.640
 Now,

00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:54.599
 in our

00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.240
 world's

00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:55.640
 terms,

00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.000
 blessing is

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:57.359
 actually a

00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:57.579
 very,

00:19:57.700 --> 00:19:58.099
 very common

00:19:58.099 --> 00:19:58.480
 word.

00:19:59.220 --> 00:19:59.920
 I'm hearing

00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.420
 it everywhere.

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:02.720
 But often

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.299
 in a very

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.140
 shallow and

00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:04.980
 self-interested

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.440
 way.

00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.640
 I understand,

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:08.900
 and I might

00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:09.359
 be wrong here,

00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:09.619
 I'm putting

00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:10.059
 myself out

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.359
 here because

00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:10.960
 I don't know

00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:11.339
 about social

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:11.539
 media,

00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:11.779
 but I

00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:12.140
 understand

00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:12.759
 it's a

00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.839
 hashtag

00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:15.339
 on social

00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:15.680
 media.

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.579
 And it's

00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:18.940
 used when

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:20.099
 things are

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.679
 going well,

00:20:21.159 --> 00:20:21.699
 when people

00:20:21.699 --> 00:20:22.099
 get what

00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:22.519
 they want,

00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:23.759
 usually

00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:24.299
 associated

00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:24.839
 with health

00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.839
 or popularity,

00:20:26.459 --> 00:20:27.119
 material

00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:27.619
 possessions,

00:20:27.879 --> 00:20:28.459
 or just

00:20:28.459 --> 00:20:28.899
 warm,

00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:29.259
 fuzzy

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:29.959
 relationships.

00:20:30.899 --> 00:20:31.399
 I'm

00:20:31.399 --> 00:20:31.779
 blessed.

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.240
 Now,

00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.219
 there's no

00:20:34.219 --> 00:20:34.559
 doubt about

00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:34.679
 it,

00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.119
 all those

00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:35.519
 things can

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:35.879
 be really

00:20:35.879 --> 00:20:36.179
 good.

00:20:39.219 --> 00:20:39.959
 But here's

00:20:39.959 --> 00:20:40.299
 the problem,

00:20:40.379 --> 00:20:40.839
 if we think

00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:41.659
 of blessing

00:20:41.659 --> 00:20:42.759
 primarily in

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.579
 those terms,

00:20:45.199 --> 00:20:45.859
 those actual

00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:46.419
 things may

00:20:46.419 --> 00:20:47.139
 lead us away

00:20:47.139 --> 00:20:47.519
 from the

00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.099
 Lord into

00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:48.579
 a position

00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:49.559
 of self-reliance.

00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:50.859
 And

00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:51.279
 autonomy.

00:20:53.219 --> 00:20:53.559
 False

00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.039
 security.

00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.399
 And so,

00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.740
 those things

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.240
 that we might

00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.139
 call blessings

00:20:58.139 --> 00:20:58.740
 may actually

00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.219
 turn out

00:20:59.219 --> 00:21:00.059
 not to be

00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:00.619
 blessings at

00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:00.939
 all.

00:21:02.179 --> 00:21:02.779
 At least

00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.219
 not in

00:21:03.219 --> 00:21:03.959
 terms of

00:21:03.959 --> 00:21:04.419
 scripture.

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:10.079
 So,

00:21:10.219 --> 00:21:10.480
 I think

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:10.799
 that's a

00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.439
 really important

00:21:11.439 --> 00:21:11.759
 thing to

00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.119
 take into

00:21:12.119 --> 00:21:12.259
 this,

00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:12.779
 because when

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.519
 Mary speaks

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:13.899
 of being

00:21:13.899 --> 00:21:14.500
 blessed,

00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.179
 I take it

00:21:16.179 --> 00:21:16.740
 she's not

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.240
 thinking about

00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:17.839
 becoming a

00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:19.039
 famous celebrity

00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.659
 in history.

00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:21.720
 Now,

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.000
 that's what

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.859
 the Roman

00:21:22.859 --> 00:21:23.480
 Catholic Church

00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:23.759
 have made

00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:23.859
 her.

00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:24.559
 They've

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:24.680
 said,

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:24.839
 well,

00:21:24.899 --> 00:21:25.359
 Mary's a

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:25.799
 special

00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.359
 person in

00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:26.639
 her own

00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:26.799
 right,

00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:27.180
 and she's

00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:27.740
 worthy of

00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.180
 worship in

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.440
 her own

00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:28.639
 right.

00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:29.920
 I don't

00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.319
 think that's

00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:30.740
 what Mary's

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:30.980
 trying to

00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.259
 say here

00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:31.680
 at all.

00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:34.859
 Quite the

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.139
 opposite,

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.559
 in fact.

00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.639
 I think

00:21:36.639 --> 00:21:37.559
 she's in

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.480
 awe at

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.119
 being a

00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:39.980
 total nobody,

00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.240
 and yet,

00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.500
 knowing that

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:42.839
 she's been

00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:43.859
 swept up into

00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:45.680
 God's unfolding

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.779
 salvation package

00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.279
 in Jesus.

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:49.599
 I think

00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:50.139
 Mary's point

00:21:50.139 --> 00:21:50.799
 is not

00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.859
 that people

00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:52.420
 will praise

00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:52.859
 her in

00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:53.160
 successive

00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:53.740
 generations,

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.639
 but that

00:21:54.639 --> 00:21:55.059
 successive

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.599
 generations

00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.539
 will praise

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:59.240
 God for

00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.859
 the amazing

00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.420
 way he

00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.180
 honoured her

00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:01.660
 and nobody

00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:04.139
 in his

00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:04.740
 salvation

00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.319
 plan.

00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:06.920
 The two

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.200
 are quite

00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:07.480
 different,

00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:07.799
 I think.

00:22:08.399 --> 00:22:08.879
 I hope I've

00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:09.240
 been able to

00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.519
 make the

00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.180
 difference clear,

00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:10.899
 but they

00:22:10.899 --> 00:22:11.240
 are quite

00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:11.579
 different.

00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:14.480
 So,

00:22:14.619 --> 00:22:15.039
 I think

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.659
 for Mary,

00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:16.639
 to be

00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:18.179
 blessed is

00:22:18.179 --> 00:22:18.659
 to be in

00:22:18.659 --> 00:22:19.099
 God's

00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:19.599
 hands.

00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:24.059
 To be

00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:24.639
 blessed is

00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.139
 to know

00:22:25.139 --> 00:22:25.919
 that God

00:22:25.919 --> 00:22:26.639
 has extended

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.339
 his favour

00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:27.799
 to you

00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:29.019
 in grace,

00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.139
 mercy,

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.000
 and love

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.419
 in a

00:22:32.419 --> 00:22:33.179
 saving way.

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.480
 To be

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.359
 blessed is

00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:36.619
 to be

00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.659
 drawn towards

00:22:37.659 --> 00:22:38.259
 the Lord,

00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.639
 by the

00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:40.840
 Lord,

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.580
 drawn to

00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:42.060
 himself,

00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:43.180
 in a

00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:43.400
 greater

00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.060
 understanding

00:22:44.060 --> 00:22:44.640
 of his

00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:45.140
 character,

00:22:45.560 --> 00:22:45.920
 and his

00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.280
 plan,

00:22:46.360 --> 00:22:46.520
 and his

00:22:46.520 --> 00:22:46.860
 promise,

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:47.580
 in a

00:22:47.580 --> 00:22:47.780
 greater

00:22:47.780 --> 00:22:48.300
 delight

00:22:48.300 --> 00:22:48.820
 of him.

00:22:55.340 --> 00:22:55.880
 If you

00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:56.200
 look back

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:56.560
 at verse

00:22:56.560 --> 00:22:58.200
 38 and

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:59.440
 verse 45,

00:23:00.020 --> 00:23:00.800
 38 says,

00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.540
 Mary said,

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.400
 Behold,

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:02.940
 I am the

00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.520
 servant of

00:23:03.520 --> 00:23:03.920
 the Lord.

00:23:04.560 --> 00:23:05.220
 Let it be

00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:05.700
 to me

00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.420
 according to

00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:06.880
 your word.

00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:07.960
 Verse 45,

00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:09.480
 Blessed is

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:09.880
 she who

00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.400
 believed that

00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:10.620
 there would

00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:10.859
 be a

00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.519
 fulfilment

00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.199
 of what

00:23:12.199 --> 00:23:12.639
 was spoken

00:23:12.639 --> 00:23:12.959
 to her

00:23:12.959 --> 00:23:13.359
 from the

00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:13.599
 Lord.

00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.279
 To be

00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:17.819
 blessed

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:19.399
 is to

00:23:19.399 --> 00:23:19.899
 be enabled

00:23:19.899 --> 00:23:20.859
 by God's

00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:21.339
 Spirit

00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:22.739
 to be

00:23:22.739 --> 00:23:23.539
 all in

00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.419
 with God's

00:23:24.419 --> 00:23:24.779
 purposes,

00:23:24.979 --> 00:23:25.399
 no matter

00:23:25.399 --> 00:23:26.399
 how confusing,

00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:27.279
 scary,

00:23:27.479 --> 00:23:27.959
 and hard

00:23:27.959 --> 00:23:28.239
 they are

00:23:28.239 --> 00:23:28.839
 to understand.

00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:32.000
 To be

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.559
 blessed is

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:32.819
 to be

00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.339
 able by

00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:33.639
 God's

00:23:33.639 --> 00:23:33.819
 Spirit

00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:34.419
 to trust

00:23:34.419 --> 00:23:34.779
 God

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.199
 in every

00:23:35.199 --> 00:23:35.939
 circumstance,

00:23:37.459 --> 00:23:38.759
 even those

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.439
 circumstances

00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.000
 which have

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.960
 consequences

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:43.500
 which threaten

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:43.680
 to

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.500
 overwhelm us.

00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:49.980
 To be

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.420
 blessed

00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:51.500
 is to be

00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.680
 so secure

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.360
 in God's

00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:53.700
 care,

00:23:53.820 --> 00:23:54.559
 as Mary was,

00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.799
 that immediate

00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.559
 circumstances

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.320
 of shame,

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.480
 confusion,

00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.460
 fear,

00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:00.500
 and uncertainty

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:02.340
 are trumped

00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:03.779
 by that

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.419
 bubbling

00:24:04.419 --> 00:24:05.679
 overflow

00:24:05.679 --> 00:24:07.259
 of trust,

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:08.839
 confidence,

00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.019
 in delight.

00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.359
 Lord, I

00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:12.879
 have no

00:24:12.879 --> 00:24:13.579
 idea what

00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.000
 you're doing

00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.559
 in my life,

00:24:14.659 --> 00:24:14.959
 says Mary,

00:24:15.379 --> 00:24:16.359
 but this I

00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:16.659
 know,

00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:19.099
 you're to be

00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:19.480
 trusted.

00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:22.099
 And in that

00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:23.079
 action in my

00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:23.659
 life, I

00:24:23.659 --> 00:24:24.039
 delight.

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.779
 In your

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.539
 action in my

00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:27.179
 life, I

00:24:27.179 --> 00:24:27.480
 delight.

00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:31.500
 Now, if

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.079
 I'm right in

00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:33.140
 that, in

00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:33.500
 sort of

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.140
 spelling out a

00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:34.380
 little bit

00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:34.720
 more about

00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.140
 blessing,

00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.759
 then surely

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:38.660
 such blessing

00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.539
 is something

00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:39.940
 to sing

00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.240
 about,

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.980
 isn't it?

00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:45.319
 Surely that

00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:45.880
 should get us

00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:46.440
 on our feet,

00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:47.819
 cheering and

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.440
 yahooing,

00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:49.839
 even if we

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.360
 can't sing

00:24:50.360 --> 00:24:50.980
 two notes

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.539
 together.

00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:56.160
 Second thing

00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:56.940
 then, Mary

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:57.460
 delights,

00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:58.079
 in God's

00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:59.059
 faithfulness to

00:24:59.059 --> 00:24:59.740
 his promises.

00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:00.900
 The word

00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.759
 mercy in

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.579
 verse 50

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.700
 is the

00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.740
 covenant

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.319
 faithfulness

00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:05.720
 hesed.

00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:07.980
 God's

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.500
 faithfulness,

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:08.819
 God's

00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.220
 covenant

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.940
 faithfulness to

00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.420
 his promises,

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.519
 verses 53

00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.000
 and 55.

00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:16.160
 Mary

00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:17.160
 understands,

00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:18.539
 and in

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.339
 part, I'll

00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:19.839
 just make this

00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.440
 point in

00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:21.200
 passing, I

00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:21.480
 don't have

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:21.799
 time to

00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.660
 delve into

00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.360
 it, but

00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:24.079
 she understands

00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:25.860
 because she

00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:26.680
 has habit

00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:27.080
 habit,

00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:30.600
 she habitually

00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:31.240
 has studied

00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:31.960
 God's word

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:33.000
 and she

00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.519
 knows it

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:33.940
 from back

00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.400
 to front

00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.340
 and she

00:25:35.340 --> 00:25:36.500
 knows what

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:36.880
 God's

00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:37.480
 character is

00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:37.900
 like, she

00:25:37.900 --> 00:25:38.799
 knows what

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.519
 God's promises

00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:40.039
 are.

00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:42.039
 God's

00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:43.039
 love.

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.619
 And therefore,

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.500
 she knows

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.399
 that what's

00:25:45.399 --> 00:25:46.200
 happening around

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.559
 her and

00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.259
 involving her,

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.299
 even though she

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.059
 can't really

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.180
 understand it at a

00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:51.639
 micro level, at a

00:25:51.639 --> 00:25:52.859
 micro level, is

00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:54.159
 God acting to

00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:54.659
 fulfill his

00:25:54.659 --> 00:25:56.240
 promises in the

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.079
 age of salvation.

00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.139
 salvation.

00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:03.099
 And that's what

00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:03.799
 produces her

00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.480
 overflow of

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:04.819
 delight.

00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.139
 And I think

00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:08.000
 she understands

00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:08.740
 in the

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.439
 connections made

00:26:09.439 --> 00:26:09.859
 there that

00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:10.859
 her own

00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:11.480
 personal

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.299
 experience

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:14.519
 is God's

00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:15.279
 showcase

00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.859
 for salvation

00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.439
 coming to

00:26:17.439 --> 00:26:17.899
 all his

00:26:17.899 --> 00:26:18.480
 people because

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.379
 the focus

00:26:19.379 --> 00:26:19.960
 on the horizon

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:21.119
 gets bigger as

00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:21.599
 we move into

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:22.240
 verses 50

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:22.619
 following.

00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:22.679
 And

00:26:22.679 --> 00:26:26.619
 that's

00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:31.799
 God is

00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.079
 going to

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:32.500
 bring the

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:32.899
 same

00:26:32.899 --> 00:26:34.039
 salvation to

00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.679
 his servant

00:26:34.679 --> 00:26:35.799
 nation Israel,

00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:36.779
 chapter verse

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.199
 54.

00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.019
 Remember that

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.679
 servant nation

00:26:38.679 --> 00:26:39.240
 Israel we've

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.579
 said over the

00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:40.139
 last four weeks

00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:40.539
 from Malachi,

00:26:41.159 --> 00:26:42.299
 failed God in

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.179
 every way

00:26:43.179 --> 00:26:43.859
 imaginable.

00:26:46.199 --> 00:26:46.839
 And yet God

00:26:46.839 --> 00:26:47.559
 intends to

00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:49.119
 bring graciously,

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.799
 lovingly, and

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:53.339
 mercifully his

00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:55.220
 salvation to

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:55.799
 that pathetic

00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:56.159
 nation.

00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:58.559
 why?

00:26:59.299 --> 00:27:00.139
 Again, another

00:27:00.139 --> 00:27:00.819
 connection back

00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.339
 into Malachi,

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:03.039
 verse 54.

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:04.859
 He has

00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:05.500
 helped his

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.359
 servant Israel

00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:08.659
 in remembrance.

00:27:08.939 --> 00:27:09.480
 That's a key

00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:09.799
 word.

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.919
 Remember back in

00:27:10.919 --> 00:27:12.099
 Malachi last

00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:12.539
 week, chapter

00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.059
 3, verse

00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:13.879
 16, 17,

00:27:13.939 --> 00:27:14.199
 18?

00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:15.259
 The Lord

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.879
 remembered.

00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.159
 That is, it's

00:27:17.159 --> 00:27:17.619
 not as if the

00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:18.259
 Lord's got a

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.960
 scratchy memory

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.539
 like me, but

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:19.879
 the Lord

00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:20.519
 remembered.

00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:20.939
 That is, he

00:27:20.939 --> 00:27:21.399
 committed

00:27:21.399 --> 00:27:23.919
 himself afresh

00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:26.140
 to delivering

00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:26.500
 on the

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.340
 promises he's

00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:27.820
 made of

00:27:27.820 --> 00:27:28.120
 old.

00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:33.940
 God

00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:34.820
 remembered or

00:27:34.820 --> 00:27:35.720
 was true to

00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.259
 his promise,

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.300
 a promise that

00:27:37.300 --> 00:27:37.900
 was made to

00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.980
 Abraham some

00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:41.340
 1800 years

00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:41.680
 earlier.

00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.920
 A promise that

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.519
 said to Abraham,

00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.140
 one of your

00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:46.440
 descendants would

00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:47.860
 finally reverse the

00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.660
 effects of sin,

00:27:49.060 --> 00:27:50.860
 finally save God's

00:27:50.860 --> 00:27:51.840
 people, finally

00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.459
 restore the

00:27:52.459 --> 00:27:53.059
 Garden of Eden

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:53.759
 conditions where

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.699
 once again God's

00:27:54.699 --> 00:27:55.139
 people would

00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:55.859
 worship him in

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.500
 spirit and in

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:56.799
 truth.

00:27:58.159 --> 00:27:58.699
 And that would

00:27:58.699 --> 00:27:59.519
 be a global

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:01.359
 restoration and

00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:01.720
 reversal.

00:28:04.679 --> 00:28:05.519
 So Mary's

00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:07.799
 delighted because

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:09.059
 the stuff she's

00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:10.019
 built her life

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:11.339
 on, the

00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:12.639
 scriptures, is

00:28:12.639 --> 00:28:13.659
 not just ancient

00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:14.099
 history.

00:28:16.159 --> 00:28:17.240
 It's reality.

00:28:18.119 --> 00:28:19.299
 And it's reality

00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.359
 growing in her

00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:21.039
 womb at that

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:21.619
 very moment.

00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:24.539
 such is God's

00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:25.799
 command of

00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.679
 history and

00:28:26.679 --> 00:28:27.199
 commitment to

00:28:27.199 --> 00:28:27.639
 his promise.

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.039
 And verses

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:31.139
 51, 52, and

00:28:31.139 --> 00:28:32.919
 53 spell out in

00:28:32.919 --> 00:28:33.539
 Old Testament

00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.419
 pictures and

00:28:34.419 --> 00:28:35.679
 concepts what

00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:36.699
 this coming

00:28:36.699 --> 00:28:37.919
 salvation would

00:28:37.919 --> 00:28:38.679
 look like and

00:28:38.679 --> 00:28:39.319
 mean for God's

00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:39.579
 people.

00:28:41.699 --> 00:28:42.599
 To understand

00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:44.059
 these pictures,

00:28:44.179 --> 00:28:44.619
 we need to go

00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.359
 back to Isaiah

00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.339
 chapter 49,

00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:47.339
 verses 9 through

00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:47.779
 13.

00:28:47.939 --> 00:28:48.459
 There's many,

00:28:48.639 --> 00:28:49.079
 many places you

00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:49.480
 could go back

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:49.579
 to.

00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:50.439
 I'm just touching

00:28:50.439 --> 00:28:51.079
 you down on one.

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:53.299
 Isaiah, where

00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.039
 the spiritual

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:55.039
 state of Israel

00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.059
 was described

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.879
 by Isaiah in

00:28:57.879 --> 00:28:58.799
 precisely these

00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.199
 terms.

00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.839
 So these words

00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.179
 here are

00:29:02.179 --> 00:29:02.679
 metaphors.

00:29:04.119 --> 00:29:05.019
 The proud, the

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.679
 mighty, the

00:29:05.679 --> 00:29:07.139
 exalted are

00:29:07.139 --> 00:29:08.379
 those who have

00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:08.859
 turned their

00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.559
 back on God

00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:11.419
 and rely on

00:29:11.419 --> 00:29:11.859
 their own

00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:13.419
 goodness for

00:29:13.419 --> 00:29:13.939
 the future.

00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:16.240
 by contrast, the

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:17.000
 lowly, the

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.940
 hungry, the

00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:19.039
 servant are

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.840
 those who know

00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:20.480
 their sin, their

00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.680
 inability to

00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.180
 deal with it

00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:22.960
 themselves and

00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:23.559
 look to the

00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.660
 Lord alone to

00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:25.140
 deal with it.

00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:29.799
 So Mary's

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:32.779
 delighted because

00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.620
 God's cabinet

00:29:33.620 --> 00:29:34.440
 faithfulness to

00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.680
 his promises would

00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:36.400
 bring a great

00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:36.900
 reversal.

00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:38.259
 And that great

00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:38.920
 reversal would

00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.740
 also be a great

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.440
 restoration.

00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:42.019
 salvation, the

00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:42.759
 reality of which

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.380
 would be seen in

00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:44.460
 successive generations

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.660
 as King Jesus

00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:47.600
 actively rules his

00:29:47.600 --> 00:29:48.900
 world and rules his

00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:50.059
 people, gathering

00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:50.840
 them into a

00:29:50.840 --> 00:29:51.799
 relationship with

00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:52.320
 him forever.

00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:58.980
 the relationship

00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:00.579
 that he originally

00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.539
 created them for as

00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:02.899
 image bearers, the

00:30:02.899 --> 00:30:03.779
 relationship that he's

00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:05.339
 always intended them

00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:06.819
 to have, and the

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.799
 relationship in this

00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:08.839
 age of salvation that

00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:10.200
 he now delights in

00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:11.299
 creating for them

00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:13.279
 through his own

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.759
 death, which we'll

00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.759
 see coming in

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.879
 subsequent years.

00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:21.639
 Now again, I just

00:30:21.639 --> 00:30:22.179
 stop and say,

00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:23.879
 whoa, that's

00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:24.539
 something to sing

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:24.980
 about, isn't

00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.159
 it?

00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.779
 God's faithfulness

00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.379
 to his promise.

00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:36.740
 So, just let me

00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.519
 wrap up then by

00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:39.339
 saying that we

00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:40.079
 need to get in

00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:42.879
 the spirit for

00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:44.839
 Christmas with

00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:45.139
 Mary.

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:48.139
 Now, hopefully,

00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:50.159
 even though I've

00:30:50.159 --> 00:30:50.799
 stumbled over my

00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.740
 words multiple times

00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.440
 already, that

00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:53.140
 wasn't a stumbling

00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:54.220
 over my words.

00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:55.240
 I meant that in

00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:55.700
 the way I said

00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:55.900
 that.

00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:57.500
 I didn't say,

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.839
 let's get into the

00:30:58.839 --> 00:30:59.680
 spirit of Christmas

00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:02.120
 as advertising and

00:31:02.120 --> 00:31:03.220
 romantic nonsense

00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.140
 encourages us.

00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:06.940
 That's a spirit of

00:31:06.940 --> 00:31:09.420
 self-indulgence, a

00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:09.960
 spirit that actually

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:11.900
 makes us lose sight of

00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:13.019
 the true joy of

00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:13.339
 Christmas.

00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:13.439
 things.

00:31:15.439 --> 00:31:16.500
 But we should get in

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.579
 the spirit for

00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:22.379
 Christmas so that

00:31:22.379 --> 00:31:23.399
 we might overflow,

00:31:23.679 --> 00:31:24.939
 like Mary did, with

00:31:24.939 --> 00:31:27.399
 joy and praise for

00:31:27.399 --> 00:31:28.199
 all the reasons that

00:31:28.199 --> 00:31:28.619
 Mary did.

00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.099
 Again, I just want to

00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:32.359
 highlight two, and

00:31:32.359 --> 00:31:33.179
 there's multiple

00:31:33.179 --> 00:31:33.759
 things I could

00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:35.059
 highlight here, but

00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:35.939
 time just allows me

00:31:35.939 --> 00:31:36.619
 to highlight two.

00:31:36.619 --> 00:31:39.399
 Let's delight in the

00:31:39.399 --> 00:31:41.599
 supernaturalism of

00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:43.699
 God's intervention in

00:31:43.699 --> 00:31:44.319
 the birth of King

00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:44.639
 Jesus.

00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:47.879
 Now, this might

00:31:47.879 --> 00:31:48.699
 sound like a strange

00:31:48.699 --> 00:31:49.599
 application, and

00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:51.159
 maybe it is, but it

00:31:51.159 --> 00:31:52.079
 works in my mind.

00:31:53.699 --> 00:31:54.619
 We cannot

00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:56.259
 understand God's

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.379
 world and God's

00:31:57.379 --> 00:32:00.039
 salvation plan, we

00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:01.019
 cannot understand the

00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:03.019
 gospel without

00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:04.660
 accepting God's

00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:06.619
 supernatural activity

00:32:06.619 --> 00:32:07.859
 in his world and

00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:08.740
 intervention in his

00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:09.000
 world.

00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:15.519
 God's method of

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.220
 delivering his

00:32:16.220 --> 00:32:17.299
 promised Savior and

00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:18.680
 King into our

00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:19.440
 world is totally

00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:19.980
 surprising.

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:22.079
 If it was left to

00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:22.759
 us from a human

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:24.180
 perspective, Jesus

00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:24.960
 would have come from

00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:27.879
 a high-flying, a

00:32:27.879 --> 00:32:28.779
 Jewish, a priestly

00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:30.379
 family in Israel.

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.900
 Or if he was going

00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:32.519
 to have to be a

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:33.000
 Roman, he would

00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:34.240
 have been the

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.779
 child of a

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:35.740
 senatorial family,

00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.279
 somebody with

00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:36.960
 clout, somebody

00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.660
 with influence,

00:32:38.099 --> 00:32:38.779
 somebody who was

00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.200
 somebody.

00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:44.160
 God's intervention

00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:44.980
 in his world is

00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:45.980
 totally surprising.

00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:47.740
 It doesn't use any

00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:48.539
 of the categories that

00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:50.740
 we would reach for

00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.359
 or be comfortable

00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:51.779
 with.

00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:54.740
 And that's before we

00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.900
 even start talking

00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:56.920
 about the supernatural

00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:59.220
 occurrences around

00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:00.099
 about the birth of

00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.400
 Jesus.

00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:07.620
 God's delivery of his

00:33:07.620 --> 00:33:10.040
 promise to renew

00:33:10.040 --> 00:33:11.800
 broken, sinful

00:33:11.800 --> 00:33:13.560
 people through the

00:33:13.560 --> 00:33:14.140
 work of his Holy

00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:18.280
 Spirit is, from

00:33:18.280 --> 00:33:19.220
 start to finish,

00:33:19.900 --> 00:33:20.420
 supernatural.

00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:24.180
 Now, here's the rub

00:33:24.180 --> 00:33:24.720
 for us, you see.

00:33:24.780 --> 00:33:25.960
 As Christians, we live

00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:27.160
 in a world where

00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:29.380
 anything truly

00:33:29.380 --> 00:33:30.480
 supernatural is just

00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:30.780
 rubbish.

00:33:32.280 --> 00:33:33.580
 So our so-called

00:33:33.580 --> 00:33:35.120
 scientific world says,

00:33:35.540 --> 00:33:36.660
 unless I can see it

00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.800
 and explain it, then it

00:33:37.800 --> 00:33:38.400
 can't be real.

00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:41.540
 Now, of course, in

00:33:41.540 --> 00:33:43.420
 reality, behind the

00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:44.380
 scenes, our world is

00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:46.540
 just as engaged in

00:33:46.540 --> 00:33:48.480
 spiritual thinking as

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:48.680
 ever.

00:33:48.820 --> 00:33:49.600
 It's just that we've

00:33:49.600 --> 00:33:50.500
 gone into weird

00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:52.620
 Eastern mysticism and

00:33:52.620 --> 00:33:54.380
 First Nations occult

00:33:54.380 --> 00:33:54.960
 type thinking.

00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:57.019
 But the general run of

00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.940
 society says, you know,

00:33:58.120 --> 00:33:59.000
 we're a scientific

00:33:59.000 --> 00:33:59.500
 age.

00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:00.259
 If you're going to

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:01.480
 believe anything, then

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.860
 it has to be fully

00:34:02.860 --> 00:34:04.059
 understandable or it

00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:04.600
 can't be real.

00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:07.220
 Well, I say to you, as

00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:08.119
 Christians, we mustn't

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:11.900
 allow our commitment to

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:13.619
 God's supernatural world

00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.860
 and God's supernatural

00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:16.179
 activity in his world,

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:17.240
 particularly when it

00:34:17.240 --> 00:34:18.639
 comes to the events

00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.240
 surrounding the

00:34:19.240 --> 00:34:19.519
 gospel.

00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:20.860
 We mustn't allow that to

00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:21.240
 be eroded.

00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:22.260
 We mustn't give up on

00:34:22.260 --> 00:34:22.519
 that.

00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:24.259
 Regardless of what our

00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:25.159
 world would push us

00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:25.340
 to.

00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:29.239
 We mustn't allow our

00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:30.019
 confidence to be

00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:31.500
 dismantled by an

00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:33.139
 unbelieving so-called

00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:34.159
 scientific world.

00:34:35.719 --> 00:34:36.860
 Luke records these

00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:38.679
 events as facts.

00:34:38.759 --> 00:34:39.320
 Remember at the very

00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:40.000
 start of Luke's

00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:41.759
 biography, he says he

00:34:41.759 --> 00:34:42.420
 researched.

00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.940
 In other words, Luke is

00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:44.519
 claiming to be

00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:44.960
 scientific.

00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:46.079
 He's done the research,

00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:46.699
 he's talked to

00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:48.139
 eyewitnesses, and he

00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:49.960
 records these things as

00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:51.280
 those things are beyond

00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:51.860
 reasonable doubt.

00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:52.440
 They're fact.

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:59.099
 friends, the story of

00:34:59.099 --> 00:35:00.679
 Jesus is not mythology.

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:03.579
 And we've got to be so

00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:04.679
 careful we don't allow

00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:06.380
 all the mythology and

00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:07.340
 the romantic nonsense

00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:08.619
 that overlays Christmas

00:35:08.619 --> 00:35:11.719
 these days to rob us of

00:35:11.719 --> 00:35:13.219
 the true supernatural

00:35:13.219 --> 00:35:17.480
 reality of God's

00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:18.679
 intervention in our world

00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.619
 that we call Christmas,

00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:20.659
 that we celebrate as

00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:20.960
 Christmas.

00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:25.179
 we rightly reject the

00:35:25.179 --> 00:35:26.840
 sloppy sentimentality of

00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:28.699
 our world in respect to

00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:33.059
 Christmas, but we dare not

00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:35.300
 reject the supernatural

00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:37.760
 occurrences that delivered

00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:41.539
 King Jesus as a baby into

00:35:42.220 --> 00:35:43.000
 our human world.

00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:47.679
 God came into our world to

00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:50.320
 save us, to renew us, to

00:35:50.320 --> 00:35:51.960
 take up residence in us

00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:53.760
 forever by his Holy Spirit.

00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:58.760
 From start to finish, it's

00:35:58.760 --> 00:36:00.260
 about God's supernatural

00:36:00.260 --> 00:36:00.579
 intervention.

00:36:00.579 --> 00:36:01.400
 intervention.

00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:06.219
 Let's celebrate also being truly

00:36:06.219 --> 00:36:07.819
 blessed, therefore, by God in

00:36:07.819 --> 00:36:08.159
 Jesus.

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:09.860
 Ephesians 1, the well-known

00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:13.739
 verse, we have every blessing in the

00:36:13.739 --> 00:36:16.380
 spiritual realm in Christ Jesus.

00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:22.240
 But do we believe it?

00:36:26.640 --> 00:36:29.039
 Jumping, sort of bouncing from Mary to

00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:34.360
 us, we can ask the question, are we

00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:38.599
 ashamed to be identified with either the

00:36:38.599 --> 00:36:40.960
 supernaturalism that goes around Christ,

00:36:40.960 --> 00:36:47.179
 or are we ashamed per se to be identified

00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:47.900
 with Christ?

00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:50.920
 Because to be identified with Christ, to be

00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:53.340
 identified with a brutal death,

00:36:53.659 --> 00:36:55.500
 crucifixion, to be identified with the

00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:58.900
 concept of sin and need and being bad

00:36:58.900 --> 00:37:02.880
 people in a world that ravishes all those

00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:03.360
 concepts.

00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:07.920
 It is actually easy, I think, to be

00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:08.800
 ashamed of Jesus.

00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:11.840
 I know there's been times to my shame

00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:13.260
 that I've put my head down and been

00:37:13.260 --> 00:37:15.800
 quiet, but I know jolly well there was an

00:37:15.800 --> 00:37:17.800
 opportunity, I was interacting with

00:37:17.800 --> 00:37:19.860
 somebody down the street or wherever to

00:37:19.860 --> 00:37:20.260
 speak.

00:37:23.660 --> 00:37:24.660
 Why was I so old?

00:37:26.240 --> 00:37:28.680
 Maybe lots of reasons, but one chief one

00:37:28.680 --> 00:37:32.340
 might well be tired of a shame.

00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:36.039
 The message at times can sound so weird.

00:37:44.660 --> 00:37:47.160
 The big cry of society is to be on the

00:37:47.160 --> 00:37:48.120
 right side of history.

00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:52.480
 It's a very modern cry.

00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:55.340
 The question we've got to ask is, are we

00:37:55.340 --> 00:37:58.240
 convinced, I mean absolutely convinced, that

00:37:58.240 --> 00:37:59.980
 we're in the right side of history in

00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:00.360
 Christ?

00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:00.400
 Christ.

00:38:03.400 --> 00:38:06.240
 If we are, then I take it we'll proclaim his

00:38:06.240 --> 00:38:11.019
 name and his gospel in triumph, not slink

00:38:11.019 --> 00:38:12.420
 around in defeat.

00:38:17.620 --> 00:38:19.440
 Are we convinced like Mary that we're

00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:22.480
 blessed among mankind to be called

00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:24.519
 brothers with Christ, brothers and sisters

00:38:24.519 --> 00:38:25.119
 with Christ?

00:38:28.179 --> 00:38:31.059
 Again, I would suggest that if we are, if we

00:38:31.059 --> 00:38:33.539
 do believe that, then surely we'll be singing

00:38:33.539 --> 00:38:38.659
 from the rooftops, determined also to model

00:38:38.659 --> 00:38:40.820
 God's blessings in our daily lives.

00:38:40.820 --> 00:38:46.480
 If we believe that Jesus really is the Christmas gift that

00:38:46.480 --> 00:38:51.860
 keeps on giving, keeps on giving identity and purpose and

00:38:51.860 --> 00:38:58.460
 satisfaction and security and the pathway home to heaven.

00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:06.200
 Surely then, that ought to get us on our feet, cheering and

00:39:06.199 --> 00:39:06.699
 yahoo.

00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:10.719
 Pray with me.

00:39:21.859 --> 00:39:24.000
 Lord, we're blighted by familiarity.

00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:29.940
 Stories that we have, for the likes of myself, Lord, I've

00:39:29.940 --> 00:39:32.480
 grown up with, I've never known anything other than parents

00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:33.599
 who've taught me the Bible.

00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:37.980
 And while, Lord, that's such a wonderful blessing in

00:39:37.980 --> 00:39:42.199
 itself, it puts me in danger of familiarity.

00:39:43.780 --> 00:39:46.320
 And as the saying goes, familiarity can breed contempt.

00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:57.240
 Lord, sharpen our minds, enliven our hearts to the beauty of your

00:39:57.240 --> 00:40:00.220
 salvation intervention in the birth of Jesus.

00:40:02.280 --> 00:40:08.780
 Stir us up, Lord, by your spirit to overflow with joy, to have that

00:40:08.780 --> 00:40:14.420
 private playlist in our minds that constantly thanks you for your

00:40:14.420 --> 00:40:16.579
 grace and mercy and love and commitment.

00:40:19.940 --> 00:40:24.320
 And help us, Lord, to overflow, not in words in our mind or even

00:40:24.320 --> 00:40:30.740
 songs in our lips, but help us to overflow into lives that model the

00:40:30.740 --> 00:40:33.280
 grace and love and favor we've experienced.

00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:35.000
 In Jesus' name I pray.

00:40:35.180 --> 00:40:35.360
 Amen.

00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:38.059
 Thank you very much for listening.