WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.560 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.620 Join us. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:16.199 Turn with me to Luke chapter 1, Luke 1. 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:26.780 Last Sunday we listened as Gabriel delivered messages, good news of God's gracious blessing 00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:33.939 to two different people, to the priest Zechariah and the young virgin Mary. 00:00:34.780 --> 00:00:39.299 Both of them, Gabriel says, are going to have children, surprisingly. 00:00:40.620 --> 00:00:46.560 And as we continue reading today, their exciting stories overlap as Mary travels to see her 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:49.659 relative Elizabeth, who is Zechariah's wife. 00:00:50.900 --> 00:00:55.680 We're going to look today at the account of their joyful visit together and Mary's famous 00:00:55.679 --> 00:01:02.740 song of joy often called the Magnificat, a beautiful song with so much good for us. 00:01:03.340 --> 00:01:07.680 Now hear God's word as I read it at Luke 1 and verse 39. 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:14.200 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country to a town in Judah. 00:01:14.859 --> 00:01:17.799 And she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:22.280 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. 00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:28.180 And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, blessed 00:01:28.180 --> 00:01:31.260 are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:35.900 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 00:01:36.500 --> 00:01:41.340 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:42.099 for joy. 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:47.180 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to 00:01:47.180 --> 00:01:48.120 her from the Lord. 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:55.540 And Mary said, my soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my savior. 00:01:56.060 --> 00:01:59.060 For he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:03.120 For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. 00:02:03.900 --> 00:02:08.340 For he who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is his name. 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:12.920 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:15.700 He has shown strength with his arm. 00:02:15.699 --> 00:02:18.939 He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 00:02:19.079 --> 00:02:23.239 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate. 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:27.739 He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty. 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:34.579 He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham 00:02:34.579 --> 00:02:36.339 and to his offspring forever. 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:42.599 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. 00:02:43.480 --> 00:02:49.080 The grass withers, the flowers fade, but these words of our God will stand forever. 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:51.219 Pray with me and then we'll talk about them together. 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:55.640 Father, thank you for your word. 00:02:56.680 --> 00:02:58.560 It is what we need this morning. 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:04.539 Even in the places where we don't know our need, you will speak to us. 00:03:04.640 --> 00:03:09.819 And so we ask, Father, by your spirit, speak clearly to our hearts. 00:03:09.939 --> 00:03:12.520 Give us eyes to see and to understand. 00:03:12.920 --> 00:03:15.500 Ears to hear your words. 00:03:15.740 --> 00:03:23.120 And hearts that would be eager to know more of you and to know more of what you would have for us. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:27.980 Father, teach us, we ask, for Jesus' sake. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:29.340 Amen. 00:03:31.420 --> 00:03:34.759 When I was a kid, I loved birthdays. 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:38.640 Birthdays were a big deal in our home growing up. 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:42.020 You really got whatever you wanted for a day. 00:03:42.659 --> 00:03:46.580 The birthday boy had everything focused on me. 00:03:47.180 --> 00:03:48.480 My friends. 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:50.120 My presence. 00:03:50.980 --> 00:03:52.960 My favorite dinner that night. 00:03:52.960 --> 00:03:54.560 My favorite activities. 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:55.960 My favorite desserts. 00:03:57.740 --> 00:04:03.040 I still remember some of my parties and the joy I felt with everything centered on me. 00:04:03.200 --> 00:04:04.520 Everyone singing to me. 00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:05.960 Everyone celebrating me. 00:04:06.700 --> 00:04:07.939 It was so much fun. 00:04:08.420 --> 00:04:10.140 Birthdays were great, great days. 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:14.819 I can also remember the feeling of the day after the party. 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:17.160 You may know this feeling. 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:19.740 But everyone had left. 00:04:20.519 --> 00:04:22.060 It wasn't my birthday anymore. 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:23.720 Nothing special was planned. 00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:26.180 No one called to talk to me. 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:28.459 And I had to eat broccoli again. 00:04:29.280 --> 00:04:34.639 All around a pretty disappointing description for an extrovert who loves desserts. 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:36.860 Just by yourself eating broccoli. 00:04:37.579 --> 00:04:39.420 It's really, really disappointing. 00:04:39.420 --> 00:04:47.680 I think the reason though that I remember that disappointing feeling so well is that I still feel it regularly. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:52.680 When the excitement of a joyful day fades. 00:04:54.959 --> 00:05:06.060 Perhaps it's still on the day after my birthday when the Facebook activity fades from 100 plus notifications on my birthday to complete silence the next day. 00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:10.720 Maybe it's the day after a big promotion at work. 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:16.660 Maybe it's the day after cheering your team to victory in the big game. 00:05:17.720 --> 00:05:21.240 Maybe it's the drive away from the beach at the end of vacation. 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:23.279 That hits a little close to home this time of year. 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:26.019 It's August and we're in school and back. 00:05:26.019 --> 00:05:31.559 Maybe you know that feeling driving away after a great week of vacation. 00:05:32.179 --> 00:05:37.899 Things that seem so joyful in the moment and yet the joy fades so quickly. 00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:43.359 That's the problem with joy that's centered in our experiences, isn't it? 00:05:43.919 --> 00:05:45.839 It fades so quickly. 00:05:46.459 --> 00:05:47.799 The vacation ends. 00:05:48.119 --> 00:05:50.199 The team loses next week. 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:52.800 The friend lets me down. 00:05:54.039 --> 00:05:59.639 Work and life carry on as usual and the joy fades. 00:06:01.039 --> 00:06:05.980 The Gospel of Luke that we've just begun to study has a lot to say about joy. 00:06:06.099 --> 00:06:08.560 It's even in the title of our sermon series. 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:10.439 It's one of the themes of Luke. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:15.620 What true joy is, where it comes from, why we should have it and so forth. 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:19.819 And it's a theme that's featured as early as these first two chapters 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:22.439 where we encounter several joyful songs. 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:26.579 And it's evident here in the passage we read this morning. 00:06:27.740 --> 00:06:32.060 First, the baby John leaps for joy in his mother's womb. 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:38.039 Six months in utero, John, yet to have a name given to him, 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:44.180 but he has actions and intentionality and emotions ascribed to him. 00:06:44.180 --> 00:06:51.240 Elizabeth expresses joy upon seeing Mary exclaiming with a loud cry. 00:06:51.740 --> 00:06:52.620 Verse 42. 00:06:53.699 --> 00:06:59.740 And then Mary breaks into joyful song where she says her spirit rejoices in God, her Savior. 00:06:59.960 --> 00:07:01.180 Verse 47. 00:07:02.780 --> 00:07:06.199 I want us to look for a few minutes at Mary's famous song, 00:07:06.280 --> 00:07:10.180 using words of saints like Hannah that she's borrowing from. 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:13.500 And watch where that joy comes from. 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:19.699 Because we're going to see a real contrast from the quickly fading joy that I look for and then lose. 00:07:20.900 --> 00:07:25.540 We'll see in this song that contemplating God's great deeds for us 00:07:25.540 --> 00:07:29.480 leads to our great joy in Him. 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:35.500 That is that it's contemplating God's greatness, His great deeds for us 00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:39.520 that produces that true and lasting joy. 00:07:40.780 --> 00:07:45.939 Before we join Mary in contemplating God's great deeds for a few minutes, 00:07:46.280 --> 00:07:49.500 let's notice what it is that prompts her joyful song. 00:07:50.460 --> 00:07:53.140 It's Elizabeth's encouraging greeting, isn't it, 00:07:53.400 --> 00:07:55.720 that sets Mary's heart off singing. 00:07:55.720 --> 00:08:00.820 In particular, Elizabeth points her to the hope and promises of God. 00:08:01.280 --> 00:08:05.080 She says, fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. 00:08:05.540 --> 00:08:07.640 This is what's so exciting, Mary. 00:08:08.460 --> 00:08:12.780 That you believe there would be a fulfillment of what God promised you. 00:08:14.640 --> 00:08:18.100 I don't know for sure, but just imagine Mary's emotions 00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:21.740 after a multi-day trip to visit her relatives. 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:24.920 Time to think and wonder. 00:08:26.460 --> 00:08:31.220 Perhaps there was no one at home who even understood her story of an angel. 00:08:31.579 --> 00:08:33.180 That seemed strange. 00:08:34.060 --> 00:08:37.180 Perhaps skepticism even creeping in herself. 00:08:37.340 --> 00:08:40.639 Maybe this is not as big a deal as I'm making it out to be. 00:08:41.820 --> 00:08:45.159 Likely still not knowing how this unforeseen turn of events 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:49.019 will impact her fiancé and in the course of the rest of her life. 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:54.199 A young, newly pregnant teenager 00:08:54.199 --> 00:08:58.319 shows up on the doorstep of aging Elizabeth. 00:08:58.899 --> 00:09:01.379 Finally, someone who will understand. 00:09:02.860 --> 00:09:04.860 And she gets pointed to God. 00:09:06.019 --> 00:09:08.480 You might have expected Elizabeth to want to talk about 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:11.360 her own miracle growing inside of her. 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:14.579 As excited as she certainly was about that. 00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:18.900 But she understands the greater work that God has done in Mary. 00:09:19.160 --> 00:09:23.860 And so she points Mary to trust God's promises. 00:09:24.420 --> 00:09:27.940 And that sparks Mary's joyful and timeless song. 00:09:29.320 --> 00:09:30.160 Side note. 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:34.320 What a great privilege we have to do that for each other. 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:38.540 To point each other to God and to His promises. 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:42.459 It's not just older ladies with young pregnant moms. 00:09:42.579 --> 00:09:45.620 Although that's a beautiful thing when you're able to do that. 00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:52.099 But men across generations and others who share similar life experiences 00:09:52.099 --> 00:09:53.500 and know the same Lord. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:57.279 That's what you heard Barnes talking about just a few minutes ago. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:01.360 Are you looking for people you can point to God? 00:10:02.079 --> 00:10:06.019 Are you looking to visit those you know will point you to God? 00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:09.480 What a needed thing in all of our lives, right? 00:10:09.579 --> 00:10:12.179 To have people around us like that. 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:16.620 And how beautiful when God's people point each other to Him. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:18.539 Join a small group. 00:10:18.939 --> 00:10:20.100 That's the point of the past. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:21.039 No, that's not the point. 00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:26.419 But it's a good thing to do and a beautiful opportunity to do that for each other. 00:10:28.059 --> 00:10:29.100 But back to the story. 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:35.840 Mary being pointed to God all of a sudden breaks into song. 00:10:36.040 --> 00:10:39.659 And she opens with the famous line there in verse 46. 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:42.600 My soul magnifies the Lord. 00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:46.019 My soul magnifies the Lord. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:48.560 The first word there, magnificat. 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:50.940 It's where the name comes from. 00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:52.120 It's how it starts. 00:10:52.920 --> 00:10:54.779 My soul magnifies the Lord. 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:59.279 To magnify something, of course, means to make it bigger. 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:02.240 But kids, think with me for just a minute. 00:11:02.319 --> 00:11:04.199 Have you ever used a magnifying glass before? 00:11:05.079 --> 00:11:11.139 When you use a magnifying glass, say, to look at a bug maybe, does it actually make the bug bigger? 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:13.819 Does the bug get bigger if you take the glass away? 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:15.220 Do you have a really big bug in your hand? 00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:16.579 No. 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:17.220 What does it do? 00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:21.519 The magnifying glass makes the bug look bigger to you. 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:27.300 In your eyes, in your perception, the bug grows and gets bigger. 00:11:28.060 --> 00:11:30.860 That's what the word magnify means here. 00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:34.720 It's not Mary actually making God greater, 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:42.120 but rather Mary reveling in God's greatness and seeing Him as bigger in her own eyes. 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:46.860 It's what the psalmist means in Psalm 34, 3 when he says, 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:52.500 Oh, magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together. 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:56.480 There are many ways that we magnify God, 00:11:56.620 --> 00:12:01.299 but it's a particular focus when we gather together corporately for worship 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:04.940 to make the name of God great together. 00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:08.539 We gather together to point each other to God's greatness 00:12:08.539 --> 00:12:12.959 that we would have our hearts encouraged and refocused on Him. 00:12:13.319 --> 00:12:18.559 And the result of that is deep joy for us when we see that reality. 00:12:20.439 --> 00:12:24.079 Mary's second line, verse 47, 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:30.059 not only does she call for magnifying the Lord, 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:30.779 but she says, 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:35.299 My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:41.240 Together, these two lines mean that Mary is joyful with her whole being. 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:44.679 Every part of her is joyful in God. 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:49.279 All of her is focused on God's greatness and finding joy in God her Savior. 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:54.419 Notice that the joy is not the kind we talked about at the beginning 00:12:54.419 --> 00:12:57.719 that is focused on our own experiences. 00:12:58.299 --> 00:13:01.039 There's a lot that she could talk about that she's going through. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:07.799 But rather a deeper, more abiding joy focused on God rejoicing in God her Savior. 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:13.980 It's one of the unexpected realities of our relationship with God 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:23.419 that His glory, His greatness, and our joy, our satisfaction in Him go hand in hand. 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:25.419 They're connected to each other. 00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:33.699 And I say that's strange or unexpected because usually glory going to me increases my joy, right? 00:13:34.059 --> 00:13:35.379 Isn't that your experience? 00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:37.719 Isn't that the way we love to have it? 00:13:38.099 --> 00:13:41.120 And glory going to anyone else doesn't really help. 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:44.039 I'm not really happy about that all the time. 00:13:45.099 --> 00:13:49.639 But Mary, being the good Presbyterian teen that she apparently was, 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:51.779 knows her catechism. 00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:55.199 What is man's chief end? 00:13:55.740 --> 00:14:00.019 To glorify God and enjoy Him forever. 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:03.220 That both of those things go together. 00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:07.480 His glory and our joy are connected to each other. 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:11.439 When we see Him as great, we have deep satisfaction. 00:14:11.819 --> 00:14:15.879 Our hearts are properly centered and rightly focused. 00:14:17.059 --> 00:14:18.759 Theologian Andrew Murray writes, 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:25.819 It is the faith that continually finds its joy in the sufficiency of an almighty Savior 00:14:25.819 --> 00:14:29.600 that makes the soul strong and glad. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:34.480 Finding joy in how great He is. 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:38.519 If you want to think more on that dynamic in the Christian life, 00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:40.240 read anything John Piper has ever written. 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:42.480 Seriously. 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:44.539 True joy. 00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:51.120 Joy that won't fade the next day because it flows from a mighty Savior 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:54.659 who doesn't change, who's always there. 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:57.420 Don't you want that kind of joy? 00:14:57.860 --> 00:15:03.519 Where God is consistently great, so is our joy in Him. 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:07.860 So Mary does that in this song. 00:15:08.019 --> 00:15:11.620 Her heart is focused on God and His great deeds. 00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:15.700 She's apparently been contemplating who He is and what He's done. 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:21.560 So she contemplates God's great deeds line after line. 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:25.480 The song is magnifying God the way she started it. 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:28.299 And God consistently is the one who's active. 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:33.039 Doing things that cause Mary to praise Him because of what He does. 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:35.360 Let's look at just a few of them together. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:38.740 We're going to contemplate God's great deeds. 00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:41.840 First, God looks. 00:15:43.700 --> 00:15:44.899 Verse 48. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:50.259 For He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. 00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:52.740 God looks. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:58.680 We talked last week about how easy it would have been for Mary to feel overlooked. 00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:04.879 In the middle of nowhere, Nazareth, seemingly unimportant. 00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:10.299 And apparently Mary has been contemplating as she journeys to see Elizabeth, 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:13.759 the remarkable reality that God looks. 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:17.079 That God notices her. 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:19.259 Even her. 00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:20.960 He always sees. 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:22.019 He always sees. 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:27.720 The eyes of the Lord are in every place keeping watch on the evil and the good. 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:30.039 He always sees. 00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:35.340 And it seems to be especially those who are overlooked by others whom He sees. 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:39.840 And to whom His seeing them is really, really good news. 00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:45.299 To Mary in her humble estate that He looks at. 00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:53.179 To Hagar when in Genesis 16, Sarah has run her maid servant off into the wilderness. 00:16:53.599 --> 00:17:00.279 And God shows up and Hagar calls Him El Roy, the God who sees. 00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:07.940 And she says, because He's taking care of me in my moment of distress, He sees me. 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:13.759 You know that feeling of being overlooked, of no one noticing. 00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:20.580 I picture a young boy getting ready for a game of football and teams are being picked. 00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:23.200 And he's saying, pick me. 00:17:24.080 --> 00:17:24.559 Pick me. 00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:25.640 And then his hand goes up. 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:26.420 I'm over here. 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:27.019 Pick me. 00:17:27.360 --> 00:17:32.360 And the captains keep scanning right over him to the other kids until he's the last one left. 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.480 Feels like he's not even there. 00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.779 It's as if he doesn't exist. 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:39.160 But God looks. 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.319 God notices. 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:45.299 Sometimes I just need to know that someone notices. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:46.079 Right? 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:48.940 Does anyone realize how hard this is? 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:51.539 Does anyone see how unfair this is? 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:53.980 Do they not see how hard I'm trying? 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.579 God looks. 00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.379 God notices. 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.639 God sees. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:01.200 God sees. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:06.960 When our girls were really young and first went to gymnastics, we would leave them in 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:08.700 the gymnastics room by themselves. 00:18:08.820 --> 00:18:11.400 That was a little frightening sometimes to them. 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:15.780 And the parents would have to go away upstairs to a room where you could watch the kids. 00:18:16.020 --> 00:18:19.560 And so we'd tell them, you can look up there and see us. 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:25.259 And sure enough, we'd see them look up anxiously every few minutes, just checking to see. 00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:26.700 Waiting to see. 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.639 Was anybody watching? 00:18:27.919 --> 00:18:30.799 And we'd wave and they'd be good for a few more minutes. 00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:33.159 They could go back and get to work. 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:40.200 Mary is contemplating the greatness of God in always looking. 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:45.340 Let me ask you this morning, where do you need to know that he is looking? 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:50.539 Where do you feel that no one else notices? 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:55.400 I really want you to go ahead and think of a particular situation. 00:18:57.080 --> 00:19:02.819 I want us actually to contemplate this morning, not to talk about contemplating, but to spend 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:05.240 a few moments contemplating and write it down. 00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:08.500 I'm going to drink some water so that you have to write while I drink. 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:11.740 Where do you need to know that God notices? 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:13.119 Think of something and write it down. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:37.719 You may be fearful. 00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:40.419 You may be tired. 00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:42.580 You may feel overlooked. 00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.360 Glance up. 00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:47.080 See your Father watching. 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:49.340 What a great God. 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:51.500 He always looks. 00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:58.400 I know it's awkward when the preacher pauses for a long time during the sermon. 00:19:59.080 --> 00:19:59.660 We're going to practice. 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:02.100 We'll get to do it four times, so you're a quarter of the way through. 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:07.019 When God looks, though, it's not just that he looks. 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:10.419 It's not idle looking that he's just gazing around. 00:20:10.919 --> 00:20:12.379 God also delivers. 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:16.980 That's what Mary's rejoicing in when she continues in the song. 00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:18.299 Look at verse 49. 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:23.019 He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:26.940 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:32.579 He has shown strength with his arms, scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 00:20:32.579 --> 00:20:34.919 God delivers. 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:46.160 When God is described as the mighty one, he who is mighty, whenever that description of God is there, it's almost always God is the king rescuing his people. 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:49.180 That's the picture that you should have in mind. 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:58.440 And when you look down to verse 51, where he's got a strong arm, where he's shown strength with his arm, that's a reference to the exodus. 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:07.039 That's how God's people described what he did in bringing them out of slavery in Egypt, his great deliverance of his people. 00:21:07.820 --> 00:21:09.700 And Mary says he's doing it again. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:13.240 That's what's happening here in me and with us. 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:19.319 For her and for all his people, for generations to come, a deliverance is happening. 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:24.700 So with all of her being, she rejoices in God, her Savior. 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:27.759 The one who delivers her. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:31.019 That's what she's rejoicing in. 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:38.819 Sneak peek, that word identifying God as Savior is used only one other time in the Gospel of Luke. 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:42.400 And it's coming soon, and it is full of significance. 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.519 So stay tuned. 00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.779 We'll talk about it then. 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:51.500 But this morning, contemplate God's saving work for just a minute. 00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:55.480 How has he rescued and delivered in your life? 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:57.839 Where have you needed help? 00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.480 This is the writing part. 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:04.140 When have you been too weak and needed his strength? 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:08.200 Where were you stuck and he showed up to deliver you? 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.319 Write something down again. 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:09.359 Write something down again. 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:26.039 God looks on his people in need. 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:29.920 And in his good time, he shows up to deliver. 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:35.880 Whether it's out of a bad situation in Egypt or out of a bad condition in sin. 00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:37.579 He delivers. 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:41.500 What a great God that he saves. 00:22:43.419 --> 00:22:46.099 Thirdly, we see that God satisfies. 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.500 Look at verse 52. 00:22:50.879 --> 00:22:56.879 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate. 00:22:57.319 --> 00:23:02.659 He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty. 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:03.259 God satisfies. 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.259 God satisfies. 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.259 God satisfies. 00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:06.540 He fills. 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:14.720 In fact, the point in these verses is that only God truly satisfies, truly fills us. 00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:22.060 And we see this through the contrast in these verses between those who are rich or mighty. 00:23:22.340 --> 00:23:26.259 Who think they found satisfaction in their own wealth and power. 00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:31.920 Who find that there's no satisfaction no matter how hard they look for it there. 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:37.960 And the contrast between those and the hungry and humble like Mary. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:45.740 Who acknowledge their emptiness and find God to be the one who truly fills, who always satisfies. 00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:49.740 Mary didn't have much in worldly terms, did she? 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:55.759 But she received God's grace and found Him to be everything she needed. 00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:59.200 That she was filled by Him. 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:05.859 I think commentator James Edwards describes this reality in the Magnificat beautifully. 00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:07.539 Just listen for a second. 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:08.380 He says, 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:25.860 He continues, 00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:33.040 God does not turn away from want and oppression, but toward both in compassion and rescuing intervention. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:38.859 In most religions, a meeting with God requires the low to ascend high. 00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:41.440 Sinners to become saints. 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:46.019 The Magnificat reverses all protocol and expectations. 00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:49.339 God who is high becomes low. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:53.039 I told you Jesus was going to turn things upside down. 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:55.500 He's doing it even before He's born. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:58.759 God who is high becomes low. 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.559 I love that. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:03.559 God meets with the lowly. 00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:07.039 So are you lowly? 00:25:08.399 --> 00:25:09.879 Are you hungry? 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.940 Are you needy? 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:23.319 Write down an example of where you have really felt that emptiness and need to be filled. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:40.079 Some of the things we feel, we feel right now. 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:45.460 Some of those are needs we can still remember from years ago. 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:48.500 And remember how God has met those needs. 00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:55.019 God promises that He is the one who always satisfies as we look to Him. 00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:57.079 What a great God we serve. 00:25:57.079 --> 00:26:04.159 Finally, as we contemplate God's great deeds, we see that God remembers. 00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:06.099 Verse 54. 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:16.139 He has helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His offspring forever. 00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:19.140 The verb here, I'm not that bad at grammar. 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:20.280 It's actually help. 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:31.720 But the point is that God in sending a child to Mary is remembering, is keeping His gracious promises all the way back to Abraham. 00:26:32.520 --> 00:26:39.700 His mercy in condescending to meet lowly Israel, we've already read, is promised through the generations. 00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:45.019 And then God's faithfulness to those promises is what Mary celebrates here. 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:51.360 God remembers His people and His promises to them. 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:54.700 So the point is that He has shown Himself trustworthy. 00:26:54.700 --> 00:27:12.680 Perhaps you have a friend in your life you can always count on, who always remembers you, never forgets your birthday, never forgets to pray for you, never forgets the things that are heavy on your heart. 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:14.140 What a gift that is. 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:15.220 Isn't that a great gift? 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:19.480 It's a glimpse for you of God who remembers. 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:26.120 Is there a place in your life you sometimes feel forgotten by God? 00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:33.980 Is there a particular promise of God that you need to know He remembers this morning? 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:36.279 See if you can write one down. 00:27:37.339 --> 00:27:37.799 I'll help. 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:42.539 The promise of His presence, perhaps. 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:47.440 The promise of rest, true rest for your soul. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:58.299 The promise of cleansing and forgiveness, that your darkest sin will be washed away white as snow in the blood of Jesus. 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:10.200 The promise of His unfailing love, that nothing you or anyone else can do can separate you from your Father who loves you. 00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:17.640 Write one of those promises down. 00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:20.200 He remembers them all. 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:27.660 The baby sent to Mary is further evidence that He faithfully keeps His promises to His people. 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:31.080 That He always remembers His beloved people. 00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:33.160 What a great God He is. 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:37.440 That's the primary focus of this passage. 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:39.820 It's the greatness of God. 00:28:40.580 --> 00:28:42.960 Not so much how to be joyful. 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:47.980 But it is as we contemplate God's greatness. 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:54.600 It's remarkable to me that the deep joy and satisfaction we so long for, 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:59.000 we keep searching for it in ourselves, in our own experiences, don't we? 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:06.359 Take just a minute to look back over what you've written down of God's great deeds. 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.799 Look at what He's done. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:22.419 I hope that just slowing down to contemplate again this morning God's great deeds for you is even already beginning to produce a deep joy in Him 00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:27.379 that will outlast the self-focused joys we chase after. 00:29:27.380 --> 00:29:34.920 But it's not, of course, just a quick fix to hear it in a sermon and pause for a few seconds one time. 00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:36.740 This is a way of life. 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:42.140 That day by day we center our lives on His greatness and glory. 00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:46.240 And as a result we do find that lasting joy. 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:55.259 One of the ways that works is that when God always remembers us, we can actually forget ourselves. 00:29:56.620 --> 00:30:03.480 In addition to learning her catechism, apparently Mary had already also read this great book by Tim Keller 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:07.000 called The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness. 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.960 Look how small that is. 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:08.819 You could read that, couldn't you? 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.940 Yeah, I read that. 00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:13.059 The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness. 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.079 You should read it. 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:24.439 It's really a book about gospel humility, which Keller explains is not thinking less of yourself as though you are worthless, 00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:28.599 but rather thinking of yourself less. 00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:38.299 In other words, people like us who naturally filter every event and every situation in life through the lens of how it impacts me, 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:45.440 we can be freed from that oppressive obsession with self, always having to figure out, 00:30:45.659 --> 00:30:48.799 I wonder how this is going to impact me and how I'm going to look and what they're going to think about me. 00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:56.339 We can be freed from that by the love and acceptance of God to live a life of freedom and joy. 00:30:58.339 --> 00:31:02.019 Here's how this deep God-centered joy comes out in this passage. 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:06.119 Just to look back through the ways we've seen God act. 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:13.359 Because God looks, we don't have to focus on ourselves or work to draw attention to ourselves. 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:17.339 Rather, we can joyfully look to God in the interests of others. 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:23.299 Because God delivers, we don't have to rescue ourselves. 00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:34.440 All that exhausting effort spent getting nowhere and fixing our own problems can instead be joyful rest in the salvation provided by God. 00:31:36.659 --> 00:31:41.000 Because God satisfies, we don't have to search for our own fulfillment. 00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:48.119 I think this self-focused search for fulfillment may be the greatest thief of joy in most of our lives. 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:53.139 Don't you know what it feels like running from one fix to the next? 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:57.339 Just trying to find, what's it going to be that fills me up? 00:31:57.500 --> 00:32:04.740 That finally dulls the pain and soothes the ache and satisfies deeply and doesn't go away the next day? 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:11.700 It's so depressing to keep feeling empty at the end of every relationship. 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:16.079 Every effort, even every success. 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:19.399 And the next day, the emptiness comes. 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:31.800 If you're there today and you feel that emptiness, Jesus offers you the lasting joy of admitting your hunger, your emptiness, and being filled by Him always. 00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:41.359 Finally, because God remembers, we don't have to trust in ourselves. 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:44.480 There's someone else we can trust. 00:32:44.899 --> 00:32:46.039 We can take a deep breath. 00:32:46.619 --> 00:32:50.740 We can depend on one who never fails and never forgets us. 00:32:50.740 --> 00:33:00.700 We can, in that sense, forget ourselves and lose ourselves in the greatness of our glorious God and we're going to be taken care of. 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:04.799 What a joy it is to be able to live that way. 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:06.039 What else? 00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:17.279 Who else besides a glorious God like that could enable a self-obsessed birthday boy who still loves what I loved when I was a kid? 00:33:18.159 --> 00:33:19.240 Like me. 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:22.240 Someone like you. 00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:26.359 To find joy beyond parties and presents. 00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:34.839 To find joy beyond everything in my life going the way I want it, when I want it, and otherwise I'm crushed. 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:41.599 No one else but our great God who always remembers us. 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:49.319 My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior. 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:56.259 May that be true of each of us as we continue to contemplate our great God throughout this day. 00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:56.919 Pray with me. 00:34:01.919 --> 00:34:05.819 Father, we have only scratched the surface. 00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:20.139 Only seen the tip of the iceberg in these moments this morning of all of the ways that you have loved us, provided for us, met our needs, calmed our hearts. 00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:25.239 But we're thankful even for what we've already seen. 00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:28.360 Would you create time for us? 00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:35.579 Would you give calm in our hearts to continue contemplating your great deeds for us? 00:34:35.820 --> 00:34:45.200 Might you call us back to yourself time and again, not just this afternoon, but day by day and moment by moment, 00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:54.480 that we would begin to filter through a different lens than just me, but through a gratitude and a joy of what God has done. 00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:57.940 Father, I'm far from that. 00:35:00.580 --> 00:35:03.460 My self-filter is very strong. 00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:12.679 We need you to come and work in our hearts by your spirit that we would make much of you rather than much of ourselves. 00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:21.119 That Jesus and his salvation and his deliverance for us would be the thing that causes songs of joy to well up in our hearts. 00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:23.179 Holy Spirit, do that. 00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:24.099 You love to do it. 00:35:24.179 --> 00:35:25.260 Do it in each of us. 00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:27.380 We ask in Jesus' name. 00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:28.300 Amen. 00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:28.420 Amen. 00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:36.760 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org. 00:35:36.760 --> 00:35:36.780 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org.