WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.960 Music is a powerful thing. It can bring us to tears and it can also transport us back to various times in our life. 00:00:10.740 --> 00:00:14.980 Whenever I hear one by you two, I always think about our wedding day. 00:00:16.100 --> 00:00:20.900 Music can bring us great joy and it can also bring us great irritation. 00:00:20.899 --> 00:00:33.700 And I think of the classic 1980s Agadou, shake pineapples, crave the tree and also Baby Shark, which came out a couple of years ago and drove most parents around the twist. 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:38.179 But music speaks to the innermost parts of our souls. 00:00:39.379 --> 00:00:47.000 The Christmas story is full of gifts and the Advent story begins with a gift of a song. 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:58.200 In the passage we've just read, we discover two women, Mary and Elizabeth, who chose to surrender their lives to do God's will and to do so with joy. 00:00:59.579 --> 00:01:09.620 Now, for most of us, when we have to surrender, we're not very joyful about it because usually it involves us giving up something that we love or something that's really important to us. 00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:18.600 But when we know that what we're giving up and what we're surrendering to is actually part of God's will and his plan, then there will be joy. 00:01:19.300 --> 00:01:26.380 Because however much we love that thing or how important it was, it can never be as important as doing God's will. 00:01:28.360 --> 00:01:32.980 This morning's reading was taken from the NIV version, the New International Version. 00:01:32.980 --> 00:01:37.060 But there is an older translation called the King James Version. 00:01:37.700 --> 00:01:41.120 And that starts off the passage saying this. 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:48.260 And blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 00:01:49.379 --> 00:02:00.560 I think the King James translators chose the word performance because they deeply understood that this song was going to be sung throughout the centuries as a worship song 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:05.540 by all types of people because it's an expression of worship and of joy. 00:02:07.060 --> 00:02:10.340 The NIV probably says it more accurately when it says, 00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:14.500 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord will fulfil his promises to her. 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:19.939 But I think there's something about performance that underlies Mary's song. 00:02:20.980 --> 00:02:25.480 The scenes being set for the great joy of the long-awaited saviour being born. 00:02:25.479 --> 00:02:30.579 Now Mary and Elizabeth could not have been more different. 00:02:31.659 --> 00:02:34.599 It says in the Bible that Elizabeth was well on in years. 00:02:35.239 --> 00:02:36.479 Not very PC, I know. 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:40.280 And that her and her husband couldn't have children and hadn't had any children. 00:02:41.419 --> 00:02:43.439 She was married to the priest Zechariah. 00:02:44.379 --> 00:02:50.219 They lived in a Judean hill community and had been settled in society for many years. 00:02:50.219 --> 00:02:58.199 They were probably very respectable, very settled and maybe lived in some kind of retirement complex in Judea somewhere. 00:02:59.340 --> 00:03:07.020 On the other hand, Mary is a teenager and she's come from really humble origins and she doesn't have any status. 00:03:08.079 --> 00:03:11.620 She's engaged, but just to a carpenter, a guy named Joseph. 00:03:12.460 --> 00:03:16.900 And then she finds herself pregnant with a baby that cannot be his. 00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:21.099 She was in such a precarious and dangerous position. 00:03:21.740 --> 00:03:25.400 She could have been stoned to death for having a child out of wedlock. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:33.040 And these isolated and lonely women were not brought together by their commonalities or their differences. 00:03:33.819 --> 00:03:37.000 But what joined them together was spirit birth joy. 00:03:38.259 --> 00:03:43.819 Can you imagine being in a community that is united by spirit-filled joy? 00:03:43.819 --> 00:03:52.699 Before they get together, Elizabeth and Mary are isolated and they're scared and fearful. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:56.419 They're entering places they never thought they would. 00:03:57.539 --> 00:04:04.740 But the shared experience of them both having an unexpected pregnancy and a first child to be born to both of them 00:04:04.740 --> 00:04:08.819 sees them spending three months in seclusion together. 00:04:08.819 --> 00:04:11.379 And I wonder what they might have been doing. 00:04:11.979 --> 00:04:16.659 Maybe doing each other's hair and makeup or doing jigsaws or crosswords or sudoku. 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:20.800 What they actually were doing, though, was worshipping God. 00:04:21.659 --> 00:04:24.860 They studied the word of God in a house that had no male voice. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:31.079 Elizabeth's husband, Zechariah, had been struck mute by the angel Gabriel 00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:36.159 because when Gabriel told him that his wife Elizabeth was going to have a baby, he didn't believe him. 00:04:37.979 --> 00:04:41.539 And so there's two women and a chap. 00:04:42.180 --> 00:04:47.659 I do feel a little bit sorry for him, to be honest, because I can imagine him sitting there wanting to scream at them. 00:04:47.719 --> 00:04:51.099 Let me say something. Let me interject and tell you what I think. 00:04:51.479 --> 00:04:54.459 And I imagine him writing lots of notes and handing them to them. 00:04:54.459 --> 00:04:59.319 But Mary and Elizabeth sang and worshipped in joy. 00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:01.659 They were part of a beautiful performance. 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:04.159 And Zechariah was listening to them. 00:05:04.799 --> 00:05:08.919 And he would get his moment to worship after his son, John the Baptist, was born. 00:05:09.539 --> 00:05:12.539 And as it says in verse 64, he broke into worship then. 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:16.560 And God wants us to have that sense of joy and worship too. 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:19.139 God wants us to give us that gift. 00:05:20.199 --> 00:05:22.599 We are all part of God's beautiful plan. 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:26.439 There are times of great joy and also of great sadness. 00:05:27.520 --> 00:05:33.160 But whatever season we're in, if we have a close and an intimate relationship with him, 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:35.200 then it helps our hearts sing. 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:40.300 When we've been Christians for a long time, we might think, I just don't have it. 00:05:40.640 --> 00:05:42.480 I used to have it, but I don't anymore. 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:47.160 And that's why I find Psalm 51 so encouraging when David wrote, 00:05:47.620 --> 00:05:50.520 Restore to me, God, the joy of your salvation. 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:54.819 There may be seasons when your heart sings a song of lament. 00:05:55.479 --> 00:06:01.620 And I'm sure for many of us this year, a lot of us have been lamenting when we've seen what's been going on in this country 00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:03.339 and over the world with the coronavirus. 00:06:04.099 --> 00:06:07.240 And we've lost people maybe and we've seen so many people ill. 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:13.100 But there will be also seasons when our hearts sing songs of worship. 00:06:13.939 --> 00:06:15.740 Our souls were made to worship. 00:06:16.259 --> 00:06:20.060 We are worshipful creatures and our souls were made for God's pleasure. 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:27.960 When our souls meet the understanding of who God is and how great his love for us is, 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:30.819 that is where worship is produced. 00:06:30.819 --> 00:06:34.159 And Mary and Elizabeth really understood this. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:36.719 Their joy was contagious. 00:06:37.659 --> 00:06:39.300 They knew the truth. 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:43.040 For generations, their people had waited for a saviour. 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:44.800 They are waiting for a messiah. 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:46.659 Years and years. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:54.539 And in these beautiful moments, an elderly woman and a teenager come to the realisation that God is faithful. 00:06:55.500 --> 00:06:57.339 God has answered those prayers. 00:06:57.839 --> 00:06:59.000 God has sent a saviour. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:05.040 And not only that, both those women are playing starring roles in the performance. 00:07:05.779 --> 00:07:07.560 They're some of the main characters. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:11.139 Can you imagine that moment in that culture? 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:13.839 That's all everybody's ever been talking about. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:15.480 There's a messiah coming. 00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:16.639 There's a messiah coming. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:21.500 Generations have been born and died and there is still a messiah coming. 00:07:22.279 --> 00:07:27.500 And then Mary realises, he is coming and he's coming through me. 00:07:27.500 --> 00:07:31.079 I'm going to give birth to the saviour of the world. 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:34.079 How could they not burst into worship? 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:39.360 For those of you who know me, you will know that I wouldn't be able to contain myself. 00:07:39.540 --> 00:07:43.279 I'd be running around everywhere screaming and shouting and telling everybody I knew. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:48.439 Years of waiting and years of questioning and years of doubt. 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:50.259 It's actually here. 00:07:50.259 --> 00:07:52.100 It's actually happening. 00:07:52.100 --> 00:07:58.600 And do you know what is so amazing about all of this? 00:07:59.340 --> 00:08:02.060 It's that we are a continuation of this story. 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:05.420 We now get to play our part in the performance. 00:08:06.420 --> 00:08:11.720 For some of you, you're like Elizabeth and maybe you've been waiting for such a long time. 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:17.420 You may even have given up hope that God's going to use you and work through you. 00:08:17.980 --> 00:08:20.300 But Elizabeth's story is really clear. 00:08:20.640 --> 00:08:22.160 It's never too late with God. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:27.020 You might write yourself off, but God will never write you off. 00:08:27.019 --> 00:08:35.899 So maybe the thing that's stopping us from achieving what God wants to do through us is us. 00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:38.879 His timing is always perfect. 00:08:39.460 --> 00:08:45.079 And I'm not standing here as a person that God it's all sorted and standing here completely comfortable with it. 00:08:45.659 --> 00:08:50.819 I know that this is his truth, but I do struggle with this on a daily basis. 00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:58.620 It did take me about 45 years to work out what I wanted to do when I was big and what God wanted to do through me. 00:08:59.760 --> 00:09:06.100 But I really want to get to the point where I know deep in my heart that this is true for me. 00:09:07.340 --> 00:09:12.460 Elizabeth played a pivotal role in her 80s in this story of the coming saviour. 00:09:12.660 --> 00:09:16.700 She was in her 80s and her son John prepared the way for Jesus. 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:23.500 He was the opening act that was probably the most incredible act of this whole eternal story. 00:09:24.340 --> 00:09:26.520 For some of you, you're like Mary. 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:30.200 Your life has not gone the way that you thought it would. 00:09:31.020 --> 00:09:35.259 You had an expectation of the trajectory and the way your life would go. 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:42.180 But for various life experiences, both good and bad, things have changed. 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:44.560 But God is in it. 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:47.879 The story of Mary is that God is with you. 00:09:48.739 --> 00:09:52.239 There may be times when you feel really lonely, just like Mary did. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:55.159 You feel scared, like Mary did. 00:09:55.599 --> 00:09:58.159 And maybe you feel confused, like Mary did. 00:09:59.059 --> 00:10:00.419 But you are part of a plan. 00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:04.159 You are playing the starring role in God's performance. 00:10:04.959 --> 00:10:07.179 The scene is set and the curtains are raised. 00:10:07.339 --> 00:10:11.139 And you've just got to make yourself available and walk on stage. 00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:18.019 And God will use you in a way that only he knows can bring you true joy and fulfilment. 00:10:18.740 --> 00:10:20.740 So don't hide in the wings too long. 00:10:21.539 --> 00:10:22.779 Walk onto that stage. 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:25.220 But it needs us to trust him. 00:10:25.939 --> 00:10:28.360 Both Mary and Elizabeth had to trust God. 00:10:28.580 --> 00:10:30.179 They were not passive in this story. 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:31.899 Waiting's not always passive. 00:10:31.899 --> 00:10:36.519 They actually chose to believe that God had got it all in hand. 00:10:36.679 --> 00:10:39.259 And that his ways were higher than their ways. 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:41.740 And that his thoughts were greater than their thoughts. 00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:47.360 In this story, God performed not just one, but two birth miracles. 00:10:48.079 --> 00:10:51.639 And in response, Mary and Elizabeth collaborate and write a song together. 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:56.279 Now, I don't know if it was Mary featuring Elizabeth or Elizabeth featuring Mary. 00:10:56.740 --> 00:11:01.019 But in the midst of all the uncertainties, they didn't know what was going on. 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:03.299 They join in worship to God. 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:05.279 And they sing, 00:11:05.419 --> 00:11:09.840 My soul glorifies the Lord and my soul it rejoices, God my Saviour. 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:12.699 For the Mighty One has done great things for me. 00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:14.319 Holy is his name. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:16.700 There is joy in salvation. 00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:21.560 And going back to that psalm, Psalm 51, when King David wrote, 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:26.580 after he had really messed up and sinned badly by sleeping with Bathsheba, 00:11:27.060 --> 00:11:28.060 he sang in prayer, 00:11:28.540 --> 00:11:31.000 Restore me to the joy of your salvation. 00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:33.980 Notice he doesn't say my salvation. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.840 He says your salvation. 00:11:36.860 --> 00:11:39.960 David knew that there was nothing he could do to earn his salvation. 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:43.220 It was a gift from God, just like joy is. 00:11:43.220 --> 00:11:48.019 He desired joy to return to him as he acknowledged his failings. 00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:52.440 And for some of us here today, that may be at the heart of it. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:12:00.800 Maybe we're not experiencing that joy because we haven't turned away from the things that distract us and separate us from God. 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:08.560 And the amazing thing was that just as David wrote that psalm, his joy was restored. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:14.199 Just as Zechariah's voice was restored when John the Baptist was born, so was King David. 00:12:14.859 --> 00:12:21.019 They were separated by centuries, but they were connected by joy after failings. 00:12:22.239 --> 00:12:25.939 Now, I might be speaking this morning to a group of people that have never done anything wrong. 00:12:26.199 --> 00:12:29.659 And for those of you that are perfect, you can stop listening right now. 00:12:29.659 --> 00:12:38.980 But for the rest of us here today, whatever our life circumstances are at the moment, whatever we're going through, there is joy. 00:12:39.839 --> 00:12:42.480 There's real joy in knowing that we're saved. 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:48.100 With all the darkness that's going on in the world right now, we may be scared. 00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:52.459 We may be really confused and we may feel a bit guilty. 00:12:52.460 --> 00:13:01.420 But this morning, I'm here to tell you that whatever your circumstances are, if you love Jesus, you are saved. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:09.759 It may be that you're hearing this for the first time or that I'm reminding you for the hundredth time, but you are saved. 00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:11.660 Amen. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:14.780 Let's pray together. 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:27.279 Lord, I ask that you come to each and every one of us here and that you would restore the joy of your salvation this Advent season, 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:33.720 as we celebrate that you loved us so much that you sent us Jesus so that we did not need to die, 00:13:34.199 --> 00:13:38.100 but rather we would live forever with you as it was meant to be. 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:40.339 Thank you for the gift of life. 00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:48.100 And Lord, I ask that you open our lips so that our mouths can bring your praise, just like David. 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:49.780 Amen.