WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.660 Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons podcast. 00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:14.100 We're so glad you chose to listen today. 00:00:14.740 --> 00:00:19.940 In this message, we explore the life of Mary and her remarkable response to God's call. 00:00:20.580 --> 00:00:27.020 Her humility, faith, and joyful surrender reveal a powerful trust in God's promises and His plan. 00:00:27.640 --> 00:00:31.960 Through Mary's story, we're reminded of the holiness and eternal kingship of Jesus, 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:35.000 the Savior who brings peace, justice, and salvation. 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:41.060 Join us as we reflect on the hope and grace found in Christ and the call to surrender our lives to Him. 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:42.640 Thanks for listening. 00:00:56.100 --> 00:00:57.040 Well, good morning. 00:00:57.960 --> 00:01:02.840 If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join us in Luke chapter 1. 00:01:03.060 --> 00:01:06.100 Here in just a moment, we'll start in verse 26. 00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:08.000 A couple things of emphasis. 00:01:08.240 --> 00:01:11.740 If you are a first-time guest, my wife and I will be back here to the left. 00:01:11.820 --> 00:01:16.680 We'd love to speak to you after the service just to thank you for being here and for worshiping with us. 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:22.920 And if you have any questions about our church, we'll give us the opportunity to answer those for you. 00:01:23.320 --> 00:01:29.380 Also, we were doing these pretty consistently, and then we had our men's mission trip to Black Mountain. 00:01:29.720 --> 00:01:36.580 But we're back in with looking at some projects, specifically with chainsaw work for Hurricane Helene. 00:01:36.940 --> 00:01:43.380 And coming up for these next two Thursdays, we've got some jobs that need to be knocked out that we can take care of 00:01:43.380 --> 00:01:46.220 to bless some people that the Lord has brought our way. 00:01:46.600 --> 00:01:49.560 And so if you're interested in being a part of that, two things. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:56.940 Number one, you can come back and let me know and then give you the details for this Thursday back here at the back table after the service. 00:01:56.940 --> 00:02:00.620 But you will also get an email this week, and so you can respond. 00:02:00.940 --> 00:02:02.540 And so I want to make you aware of that. 00:02:02.780 --> 00:02:07.900 We'll also have a team leaving for New York City to do ministry at Coates for the city this week. 00:02:07.940 --> 00:02:08.880 So I want to encourage you. 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:10.240 I believe there are six. 00:02:10.600 --> 00:02:11.420 Brent, is that right? 00:02:11.940 --> 00:02:15.860 Six are headed out there or headed up there this week. 00:02:15.940 --> 00:02:18.060 So be in prayer for that team. 00:02:18.480 --> 00:02:19.680 Also, come back tonight. 00:02:20.140 --> 00:02:24.780 All right, there's going to be a lot of fun, a lot of laughter, a lot of joy, a lot of sugar. 00:02:25.160 --> 00:02:29.420 And so you'll want to come back here tonight to be a part of that. 00:02:29.500 --> 00:02:31.680 And so we want to encourage you. 00:02:31.920 --> 00:02:34.840 Well, I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful. 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:39.440 I hope you weigh more this Sunday than you did last Sunday. 00:02:39.620 --> 00:02:44.220 All right, this is that season where we need to keep ourselves warm for the winter. 00:02:44.220 --> 00:02:47.320 And so eat up on the carbs and enjoy it. 00:02:47.500 --> 00:02:50.100 But I hope you had a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving. 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:54.880 Well, we all know what happens the day after Thanksgiving. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:03:00.400 So who here got out and went Black Friday shopping? 00:03:00.760 --> 00:03:01.320 Raise your hand. 00:03:01.920 --> 00:03:06.660 Now, not cyber shopping, but you got out and you did the Black Friday shopping. 00:03:06.740 --> 00:03:08.500 Not as many as in the past. 00:03:08.500 --> 00:03:09.360 Put your hands back up again. 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:12.340 It's a little disappointing, a little disappointing. 00:03:12.500 --> 00:03:16.600 My whole family, all four of us, for the first time, we got out and we went. 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:23.780 We went first into downtown Columbia, the Main Street, Five Points area, and did some shopping there. 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:27.380 But I was on the lookout for something very specific. 00:03:27.720 --> 00:03:28.440 At first. 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:29.720 At first. 00:03:30.140 --> 00:03:31.500 We went to my parents' house for Thanksgiving. 00:03:32.380 --> 00:03:38.840 And my dad has had this like old record player in his garage for years. 00:03:39.640 --> 00:03:45.600 And I've always just kind of made comments like, hey, when you're ever ready to get rid of that, I'd like to have it. 00:03:46.460 --> 00:03:50.900 My dad's the guy that he likes to decorate his garage. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:56.560 Well, I don't know what happened on Thursday, but we went there for Thanksgiving. 00:03:57.420 --> 00:03:59.080 And I left with a carjack. 00:03:59.180 --> 00:04:01.560 I left with hedge trimmers. 00:04:02.160 --> 00:04:02.380 I left. 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:03.900 He was just like, you want this? 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:04.580 You want this? 00:04:04.700 --> 00:04:06.640 And I'm just saying, yes, yes, yes. 00:04:06.720 --> 00:04:09.020 Because I feel like if I say no, then he's going to end it, you know? 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:11.020 So I was like, yes, yes, yes, yes. 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:12.820 And then there was this pause. 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:15.300 And I said, how about that record player? 00:04:16.260 --> 00:04:20.860 And my dad has instantly shot me down every single time I've asked about that record player. 00:04:21.620 --> 00:04:23.900 And he goes, why not? 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:30.040 And honestly, for a moment there, it felt a little bit like the prodigal son asking for the narrative, right? 00:04:30.120 --> 00:04:31.020 And I apologize. 00:04:31.320 --> 00:04:32.300 We worked through that. 00:04:32.380 --> 00:04:33.500 He's like, no, you can have it. 00:04:33.780 --> 00:04:34.820 So I'm so excited. 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:39.520 I'm thinking I'm going to go put this in my little office work area that I've got at the house. 00:04:39.520 --> 00:04:42.040 And I'm going to listen to records. 00:04:43.580 --> 00:04:44.540 We get there. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:47.340 Grayson's already got a big record collection. 00:04:47.940 --> 00:04:48.520 We get there. 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:49.160 We open it up. 00:04:49.280 --> 00:04:50.700 We put a record on there. 00:04:50.840 --> 00:04:52.560 We turn on the power switch. 00:04:52.620 --> 00:04:56.380 And if you know, there's one thing that has to happen for a record player to work. 00:04:57.280 --> 00:04:58.160 It's got to turn. 00:04:59.840 --> 00:05:00.840 And we hit power. 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:06.460 So I'm like, okay, let me see if it just needs some help. 00:05:07.220 --> 00:05:08.260 So I begin to spin it. 00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:09.380 Right? 00:05:09.980 --> 00:05:10.300 Nothing. 00:05:11.220 --> 00:05:12.320 Nothing works on this. 00:05:12.700 --> 00:05:13.020 Disappointed. 00:05:13.700 --> 00:05:17.960 Kind of wondering if my dad's kind of chuckling at me because that's the kind of relationship that we have. 00:05:19.480 --> 00:05:23.520 But I noticed on this record player, there was a space for a CD. 00:05:24.520 --> 00:05:26.920 And there was a space for cassette tapes. 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:30.460 And so I thought, well, that's kind of cool. 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:32.980 But I gave away all my CDs. 00:05:33.100 --> 00:05:34.920 I gave away all my cassettes. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:37.160 So we got Black Friday shopping. 00:05:37.780 --> 00:05:42.600 One of the places we like to go is Papa Jazz, downtown Columbia. 00:05:43.400 --> 00:05:45.080 My son and my daughter are into records. 00:05:45.280 --> 00:05:48.320 And I thought that this would be the Christmas that I'd be into records, too. 00:05:50.320 --> 00:05:53.500 So I walked in, honestly, a little disappointed. 00:05:54.940 --> 00:06:00.120 And then as I'm walking down the first row, looking at all of the records there to choose from, 00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:04.780 I see a little small section about this big of cassette tapes. 00:06:05.840 --> 00:06:09.060 And I was like, oh, here we go. 00:06:09.980 --> 00:06:10.820 And I reached in. 00:06:10.900 --> 00:06:23.380 I found a nice white label written in black letters, James Taylor's greatest hits for $3. 00:06:24.760 --> 00:06:26.860 It's like, let me take that. 00:06:27.700 --> 00:06:28.560 So I get that. 00:06:28.640 --> 00:06:29.120 And I'm walking. 00:06:29.280 --> 00:06:33.360 And I notice now above the records are CDs. 00:06:35.020 --> 00:06:38.860 So this would kind of date me a little bit more with my generation. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:40.300 I'm walking through. 00:06:40.440 --> 00:06:40.960 And I look up. 00:06:40.980 --> 00:06:41.960 And I'm in the M's. 00:06:43.020 --> 00:06:46.900 And I see Dave Matthews under the table and dreaming. 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:48.640 I'm like, let me grab that, too. 00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:52.480 So I've now got a $6 CD, a $3 tape. 00:06:53.080 --> 00:06:56.200 And Aaron says, do you think those even work? 00:06:56.760 --> 00:06:58.260 I'm like, I don't know. 00:06:58.740 --> 00:07:01.460 But for $9, I'm willing to give it a try. 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:06.800 So I go home, pop in the CD, fire it up. 00:07:07.080 --> 00:07:08.340 It starts to spin. 00:07:08.420 --> 00:07:14.500 And Dave Matthews starts coming out of those speakers like it's 1992 all over again. 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:16.760 But then I look on the side. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.640 And so I get the James Taylor out. 00:07:19.760 --> 00:07:21.580 And I put it in. 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:23.660 And it starts to play. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:31.420 Just that crystal clear sound of James Taylor playing his guitar, listening to the greatest hits. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:39.840 And then I realize, now this will date some of us really well, that this cassette tape player works exactly like an 8-track. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:42.840 So there is no rewind. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:44.640 There is no fast forward. 00:07:45.320 --> 00:07:47.040 There's just put it in wherever it is. 00:07:47.140 --> 00:07:48.200 Like, you're stuck. 00:07:48.260 --> 00:07:49.040 You've got to listen to it. 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:50.920 So I'm talking to a friend of mine. 00:07:50.980 --> 00:07:53.120 And I'm so excited about my $9 purchase. 00:07:53.700 --> 00:07:55.800 So excited about all the things that I have. 00:07:55.820 --> 00:07:56.880 And I can listen to a CD. 00:07:57.240 --> 00:07:58.300 I can listen to a tape. 00:07:58.440 --> 00:07:59.600 I've got one of each now. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:02.340 And he made this statement to me. 00:08:03.760 --> 00:08:05.300 Can't you just stream all that? 00:08:08.180 --> 00:08:09.180 And I said, yes. 00:08:09.780 --> 00:08:10.460 Yes, you can. 00:08:11.400 --> 00:08:21.420 But sometimes, at least for me, it feels good to look at something that's old and to appreciate it as if it's new. 00:08:22.400 --> 00:08:25.760 And maybe I like to think of that as the older that I get, right? 00:08:26.260 --> 00:08:27.420 That there's still some value. 00:08:27.540 --> 00:08:28.480 There's still some worth. 00:08:28.620 --> 00:08:30.160 There's still these pieces that are there. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:34.940 So to look at the tape and to look at the CD and to see the nostalgia of all of that. 00:08:35.020 --> 00:08:39.800 But there is this truth of the old things that are made new. 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:48.680 I want to kind of confess as we get into this Christmas season, sometimes when we look at God's Word and my life and yours, 00:08:48.800 --> 00:08:54.760 we can take some of the commonality of these stories, the familiarity of these stories that we're going to read about this time of year. 00:08:54.940 --> 00:08:57.340 And we can think, oh, those are the stories that I've heard. 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:00.240 Those are the stories that we always hear this time of year. 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:02.980 They're even in the cartoons and the movies that we watch. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:08.360 But my prayer for you, and today we are going to look at the faith of Mary. 00:09:09.420 --> 00:09:13.880 My prayer for you is that you will not look at these accounts of old and simply see them as old. 00:09:14.540 --> 00:09:21.260 But you will look at these accounts and the truths that will stand for all of eternity 00:09:21.260 --> 00:09:26.700 and look at the newness of what God wants to do in your life as a result of these. 00:09:27.560 --> 00:09:32.060 That we don't just simply look at these stories and think that these are things that I've already heard before. 00:09:32.540 --> 00:09:34.540 But we look at these stories and we ask, 00:09:34.900 --> 00:09:42.500 God, what do you long for and desire to do with these truths of old newly in my life today? 00:09:43.460 --> 00:09:46.320 So I want to read one of the verses to you this morning before we pray. 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:50.080 The Bible tells us, and Mary said, 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:54.620 Behold, I am a servant of the Lord. 00:09:55.900 --> 00:09:59.360 Let it be to me according to your word. 00:10:00.180 --> 00:10:03.200 And the angel departed from her. 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:05.040 Would you pray with me? 00:10:06.900 --> 00:10:09.040 God, I thank you for the truth of your word this morning. 00:10:10.040 --> 00:10:14.680 God, in the power of your Holy Spirit, will you communicate your truth to us? 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:17.400 God, may hearts be changed. 00:10:18.160 --> 00:10:19.620 May souls be saved. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:22.460 Not because of the appeal of our words. 00:10:22.940 --> 00:10:25.040 Because of the truthfulness of your word. 00:10:26.640 --> 00:10:28.320 God, do in us what you would do today. 00:10:29.140 --> 00:10:30.380 And it's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:10:31.140 --> 00:10:31.460 Amen. 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:36.960 So let's begin reading in Luke chapter 1, starting in verse 26. 00:10:38.380 --> 00:10:39.300 God's word says, 00:10:39.380 --> 00:10:44.580 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth. 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:49.160 To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. 00:10:49.880 --> 00:10:51.260 And the virgin's name was Mary. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.640 And he came to her and said, 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:56.260 Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:11:01.760 But she was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 00:11:02.380 --> 00:11:03.720 And the angel said to her, 00:11:03.820 --> 00:11:06.900 Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:10.300 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:12.780 and you shall call his name Jesus. 00:11:14.040 --> 00:11:18.060 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. 00:11:18.760 --> 00:11:22.980 And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:26.280 And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:29.240 And of his kingdom there will be no end. 00:11:30.140 --> 00:11:31.560 And Mary said to the angel, 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:33.880 How will this be, since I am a virgin? 00:11:34.880 --> 00:11:36.340 And the angel answered her, 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:37.920 The Holy Spirit will come upon you, 00:11:38.060 --> 00:11:40.500 and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:45.420 Therefore the child to be born will be called Holy, the Son of God. 00:11:45.920 --> 00:11:50.740 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, 00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:54.260 and this is the sixth month with her, who is called barren. 00:11:54.680 --> 00:11:57.000 For nothing will be impossible with God. 00:11:57.780 --> 00:11:58.680 And Mary said, 00:11:58.780 --> 00:12:01.080 Behold, I am a servant of the Lord. 00:12:01.660 --> 00:12:04.200 Let it be to me according to your word. 00:12:04.760 --> 00:12:06.400 And the angel departed from her. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:07.900 Verse 39, 00:12:08.260 --> 00:12:13.060 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah. 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:16.840 And she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 00:12:17.540 --> 00:12:21.240 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:25.160 And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:27.440 And she exclaimed with a loud cry, 00:12:27.820 --> 00:12:31.980 Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 00:12:32.660 --> 00:12:37.320 And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:41.200 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, 00:12:41.280 --> 00:12:43.760 the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 00:12:44.560 --> 00:12:51.320 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:53.360 Verse 46, 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:55.460 And Mary said, 00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:58.680 My soul magnifies the Lord, 00:12:59.280 --> 00:13:02.300 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. 00:13:03.180 --> 00:13:07.480 For he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. 00:13:08.640 --> 00:13:15.340 For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed. 00:13:16.180 --> 00:13:18.760 For he who is mighty has done great things for me, 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:20.900 and holy is his name. 00:13:21.780 --> 00:13:26.500 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:29.320 He has shown strength with his arm, 00:13:30.020 --> 00:13:33.920 and he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 00:13:34.680 --> 00:13:37.000 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, 00:13:37.520 --> 00:13:39.880 and exalted those of humble estate. 00:13:40.860 --> 00:13:43.040 He has filled the hungry with good things, 00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:45.960 and the rich he has sent away empty. 00:13:46.540 --> 00:13:50.640 He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy. 00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:53.140 As he spoke to our fathers, 00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:54.200 to Abraham, 00:13:54.920 --> 00:13:56.340 and to his offspring forever. 00:13:57.020 --> 00:14:09.460 I want us to see this morning three things from the life of Mary for us to hold to, 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:12.900 and to use in the power of the Holy Spirit to examine our lives. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:15.360 As we are journeying through this Christmas season, 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:18.740 we are looking at these different characters that we find from Scripture. 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:21.320 Last week we looked at Elizabeth's husband Zechariah, 00:14:21.320 --> 00:14:27.320 who went in as a priest into the temple to offer the offering of incense, 00:14:28.260 --> 00:14:31.140 and who heard from the angel of the Lord as well, 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:33.360 but struggled with belief, 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:34.940 was struggled with doubt, 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:38.700 and we saw what God did in him as he struck him silent, 00:14:38.900 --> 00:14:43.680 as he contemplated over what Zechariah was his sin to bring him to this point, 00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:51.340 to where he came after over nine months of not being able to speak to proclaim the truth of the coming Messiah and who he is. 00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:55.180 That while Zechariah was not a perfect man, 00:14:55.380 --> 00:15:01.000 Zechariah followed a perfect God who used all things in his life to point Zechariah to him. 00:15:01.640 --> 00:15:07.460 And we look at the same thing with each character or group of individuals that we're going to study over the course of this. 00:15:07.900 --> 00:15:11.340 And so there's three things that I want us to look at that are special about, 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:14.120 that we can learn about with Mary in our own life. 00:15:14.160 --> 00:15:15.340 And the first thing is this. 00:15:16.540 --> 00:15:17.640 Mary's standing. 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:19.920 Mary's standing. 00:15:20.780 --> 00:15:24.800 I want us to look at who Mary is in this moment. 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:28.920 I read an article this week that I thought was interesting and asked the question, 00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:32.900 have you ever wondered what Mary was doing when the angel appeared to her? 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:35.540 Was she quietly in her room? 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:36.840 Was she actively at work? 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:37.640 What was she doing? 00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:39.920 We're not overly sure, 00:15:40.160 --> 00:15:42.020 but we know that she was busy. 00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:44.620 She was preparing to be married. 00:15:44.780 --> 00:15:47.540 The Bible tells us that she was betrothed. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:48.940 And we can sometimes say, 00:15:49.020 --> 00:15:50.540 well, that means she was like engaged, 00:15:50.700 --> 00:15:52.320 but it's more than engagement, 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.320 but it's not married. 00:15:53.540 --> 00:15:54.500 There's a commitment. 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:56.860 There's tradition that is marked in with this. 00:15:57.140 --> 00:16:00.000 She has been marked as the future wife, 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:03.880 a ceremony of sorts has taken place for Joseph. 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:06.080 And now she is working through in these, 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:08.140 in the customs and in the traditions 00:16:08.140 --> 00:16:12.060 to make sure that everything is the way that it should be. 00:16:13.140 --> 00:16:14.920 But yet she hears an announcement. 00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:19.920 And we see within this announcement that Mary will be, 00:16:20.040 --> 00:16:20.820 in what we know, 00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:23.140 the mother of Christ. 00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:25.360 That while a virgin, 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:30.400 somewhere between the ages of 13 to 16 years old, 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:33.240 betrothed to a man, 00:16:34.800 --> 00:16:37.060 that God has chosen her 00:16:37.060 --> 00:16:39.900 to be special. 00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:43.960 That God has chosen of her 00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:47.680 in fullness of her faithfulness 00:16:47.680 --> 00:16:57.060 because of who God is to be the mother of our Savior, 00:16:57.060 --> 00:16:58.560 to be the mother of Jesus. 00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:03.660 Sometimes I believe that we can fall into two dangers 00:17:03.660 --> 00:17:05.640 with dealing with Mary. 00:17:06.800 --> 00:17:09.600 The first danger that I think that we can fall into, 00:17:09.600 --> 00:17:13.540 and I think history religiously has taught us this, 00:17:13.600 --> 00:17:17.920 is that we can elevate Mary to a status of like a God. 00:17:18.780 --> 00:17:21.160 And that's not Mary's status at all. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:25.200 I do think on the counter opposite of that, 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:28.120 we can belittle Mary 00:17:28.120 --> 00:17:33.080 and not see the special features that are here, 00:17:33.260 --> 00:17:37.540 the specialty that we heard in Elizabeth's proclamation 00:17:37.540 --> 00:17:40.700 about how she is the mother of our Lord, 00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:43.160 that she is blessed among women, 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:45.140 that we can see these types of things. 00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:48.980 But I think what is interesting about Mary 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:50.960 for us to look at is this, 00:17:51.040 --> 00:17:52.460 is Mary's standing. 00:17:53.780 --> 00:17:56.360 You and I do not face the particular news 00:17:56.360 --> 00:17:57.560 that Mary found. 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:00.160 You and I do not face the particular situation 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:02.080 that Mary finds herself in. 00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:05.560 But yet you and I in Christ 00:18:05.560 --> 00:18:10.040 can share the same standing that Mary has. 00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:13.660 You and I, when we look at the words of the angel 00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:16.060 and we look at the truth of God's word, 00:18:16.320 --> 00:18:18.760 can begin to understand that Mary, 00:18:19.020 --> 00:18:20.440 though quite special, 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:22.260 that Mary, though quite blessed, 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:24.740 that the standing that she finds her in 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:27.380 is the standing that you and I in Christ 00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:29.180 that we can find ourselves in as well. 00:18:29.580 --> 00:18:33.080 The angel appears and says that Mary was highly favored. 00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.800 Well, what does that mean, 00:18:35.040 --> 00:18:37.200 that Mary is highly favored? 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:40.920 Well, what that means is that Mary was specially blessed, 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:44.040 that Mary received an abundance of grace. 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:44.820 Why? 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:47.540 Because of her faith. 00:18:48.760 --> 00:18:50.540 And because of her faith was found 00:18:50.540 --> 00:18:53.660 in God and God alone. 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:56.940 We hear the same declaration of faith 00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:58.340 from Elizabeth. 00:18:59.280 --> 00:19:01.980 Last week we heard the same declaration of faith 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:03.160 from Zechariah. 00:19:04.760 --> 00:19:07.440 And she spoke about who God is. 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:11.000 The writer of Hebrews in 11.6 says this, 00:19:12.120 --> 00:19:12.900 Without faith, 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:16.120 it is impossible to please him. 00:19:16.840 --> 00:19:19.100 For whoever would draw near to God 00:19:19.100 --> 00:19:21.780 must believe that he exists 00:19:21.780 --> 00:19:23.780 and he rewards 00:19:23.780 --> 00:19:26.040 this concept of favor 00:19:26.040 --> 00:19:30.240 for those who seek him. 00:19:31.340 --> 00:19:35.060 While Mary definitely received 00:19:35.060 --> 00:19:37.780 a very special reward, 00:19:38.840 --> 00:19:43.020 you and I can be rewarded as well. 00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:46.380 Through faith in Christ. 00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:49.920 Not in our obedience to laws or rules 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:51.760 that we can earn a special favor, 00:19:51.760 --> 00:19:54.240 but that faith in Jesus Christ, 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.960 our Lord and Savior, 00:19:56.760 --> 00:19:58.180 where we can be found 00:19:58.180 --> 00:20:01.380 highly favored in him 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:02.580 and in him alone. 00:20:04.580 --> 00:20:06.160 God favors us 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:08.440 and rewards us in so many ways. 00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:11.800 Through our sacrificial giving, 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:14.000 he rewards us through the peace 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.760 in our finances. 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:17.340 Through our physical sacrifices 00:20:17.340 --> 00:20:18.160 that we make, 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:19.800 he rewards us 00:20:19.800 --> 00:20:21.120 through spiritual contentment. 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:23.720 Through our relational investments 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:25.420 that we make with others, 00:20:25.540 --> 00:20:27.280 he rewards us with the beauty 00:20:27.280 --> 00:20:28.520 of lasting community. 00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:30.520 But most importantly, 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.260 the favor of God 00:20:32.260 --> 00:20:33.800 is most seen in the truth 00:20:33.800 --> 00:20:36.420 that he always rewards 00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:38.180 faith in Christ 00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:40.140 with the presence of Christ 00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:40.780 in our lives. 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:41.960 Always. 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.400 Always. 00:20:44.840 --> 00:20:46.100 So if you think about it, 00:20:47.060 --> 00:20:48.880 while not literal similarities 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:49.680 of what's there, 00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:53.660 there is a lot of spiritual similarities. 00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:59.560 God rewarded Mary's faith, 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.700 the presence of Jesus. 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:05.940 And he rewards our faith 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:07.420 in the same manner. 00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:11.300 We see also in here, 00:21:11.300 --> 00:21:13.260 in Mary's standing 00:21:13.260 --> 00:21:16.060 that the Lord is with her. 00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:18.240 That the Lord is with her. 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:20.300 The promise that rings true 00:21:20.300 --> 00:21:20.760 in Scripture. 00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:22.580 Matthew 28, verse 20. 00:21:23.760 --> 00:21:24.580 Jesus in the giving 00:21:24.580 --> 00:21:25.620 of the great commission 00:21:25.620 --> 00:21:27.420 doesn't say to go 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:28.540 and do this on your own. 00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:29.940 Jesus doesn't say 00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:31.080 gather with a group of people 00:21:31.080 --> 00:21:31.840 so that you can figure 00:21:31.840 --> 00:21:32.600 this out in here. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:33.340 Jesus says, 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:33.920 and behold, 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:35.300 I am with you always 00:21:35.820 --> 00:21:37.760 to the end of the age. 00:21:37.760 --> 00:21:39.500 I love the story 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.220 of Christmas. 00:21:40.580 --> 00:21:42.060 I love Christmas stories, 00:21:42.580 --> 00:21:44.900 but I love the true story 00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:45.920 of Christmas as well. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.300 That God comes to us, 00:21:47.360 --> 00:21:48.820 our Savior comes to us 00:21:48.820 --> 00:21:49.640 in a child, 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.360 in a person, 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.540 that this is who he is. 00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:52.620 He'll grow, 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.480 he'll live. 00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:55.320 But the story of Christmas 00:21:55.320 --> 00:21:58.180 is that God has come to us. 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.920 That Jesus in his life, 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.140 God dwelt and walked among us. 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.180 That even in the story 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:03.800 of his death, 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.900 that Jesus came 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:06.260 and that he died for us. 00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:07.120 That in the story 00:22:07.120 --> 00:22:08.080 of his resurrection, 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.320 that Jesus came 00:22:09.320 --> 00:22:09.980 and that he died 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:11.620 and that he is alive with us 00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:13.260 to bring us eternal life. 00:22:13.360 --> 00:22:14.740 The story of the ascension 00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:16.720 is that Jesus came to us, 00:22:16.840 --> 00:22:18.840 that Jesus died for us, 00:22:19.080 --> 00:22:20.400 Jesus was resurrected 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.740 in the promise for us, 00:22:21.820 --> 00:22:23.380 but that in the return, 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:25.320 that Jesus is leaving 00:22:25.320 --> 00:22:27.200 and that he will come back 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:28.960 to us as well. 00:22:29.820 --> 00:22:31.000 That in the greeting 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.500 that Mary got, 00:22:32.600 --> 00:22:33.460 that in her faith 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.680 that the Lord is with her, 00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:35.800 that in your faith, 00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:36.540 in your standing 00:22:36.540 --> 00:22:37.740 before the Lord as well, 00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:38.600 when your faith 00:22:38.600 --> 00:22:39.120 and your hope 00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:39.700 and your trust 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:40.620 is put in Christ 00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:41.440 and Christ alone, 00:22:41.560 --> 00:22:43.620 no matter where you find yourself, 00:22:44.100 --> 00:22:46.040 God is with you. 00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:50.300 And then the angel declares 00:22:50.300 --> 00:22:52.180 that she's blessed. 00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:54.320 That she's blessed. 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:57.160 Echoed by Elizabeth 00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:59.320 that she is blessed as well. 00:23:00.260 --> 00:23:01.020 And then we might think, 00:23:01.120 --> 00:23:02.760 oh, to be chosen 00:23:02.760 --> 00:23:05.460 and to be blessed as Mary. 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.380 But we are. 00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:09.140 We are. 00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:11.300 Paul writes in Ephesians 1-3, 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:13.600 blessed be the God and Father 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:15.680 of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:19.380 who has blessed us in Christ 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:22.760 with every spiritual blessing 00:23:22.760 --> 00:23:26.060 in the heavenly places. 00:23:26.060 --> 00:23:28.200 I think the reality 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:29.380 for so many of us, 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.940 and I know this is the sin struggle 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:32.240 of myself as well, 00:23:33.260 --> 00:23:34.400 is that what we look at 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:35.120 and what we view, 00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:36.260 what it means to be blessed, 00:23:36.320 --> 00:23:37.240 we look at and we view 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:37.780 with the things 00:23:37.780 --> 00:23:39.000 of the material things 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.580 of this world. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:42.420 But what God promises us 00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:44.320 is that in Christ, 00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:46.520 regardless of the country 00:23:46.520 --> 00:23:47.680 that you find yourself in, 00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:49.220 regardless of the layout 00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:49.880 of your life 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.540 of what you find, 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:52.160 regardless of the socioeconomic, 00:23:52.560 --> 00:23:53.560 regardless of the abilities 00:23:53.560 --> 00:23:54.260 that you may feel 00:23:54.260 --> 00:23:54.840 like you have 00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:55.820 or that you do not have, 00:23:56.020 --> 00:23:57.020 that God has blessed 00:23:57.020 --> 00:23:59.560 all of those in Christ 00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:03.840 with every spiritual blessing. 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.740 So regardless of where 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.720 you find yourself, 00:24:08.620 --> 00:24:10.160 your story rings true 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:12.320 just like the story of Mary, 00:24:12.800 --> 00:24:13.780 that you were chosen, 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.260 that you were free, 00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:16.920 that you were forgiven, 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.120 that you're indwelt 00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:20.000 with the Holy Spirit, 00:24:20.120 --> 00:24:21.140 that you're redeemed, 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.320 that you're sanctified, 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:23.180 that you're pursued, 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:25.180 that you're loved, 00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.260 that you have the promise 00:24:27.260 --> 00:24:27.840 of peace 00:24:27.840 --> 00:24:29.080 and the reality of joy. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:31.960 And the list goes on 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:34.000 and on and on. 00:24:35.260 --> 00:24:35.840 And folks, 00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:38.600 this is possible for you 00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:41.220 as it was possible for Mary 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:43.580 because the foundation 00:24:43.580 --> 00:24:44.760 of God in her life 00:24:44.760 --> 00:24:46.980 was the foundation of faith, 00:24:47.580 --> 00:24:49.000 not of her own doing, 00:24:49.560 --> 00:24:51.820 but from God through faith. 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.340 The second thing 00:24:53.340 --> 00:24:54.480 that I want us to look at 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.560 in Mary's life 00:24:55.560 --> 00:24:57.620 is not just Mary's standing 00:24:57.620 --> 00:25:00.240 but Mary's reaction. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.920 Mary's reaction. 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.940 I want to define reaction 00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.660 as this. 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:06.300 Your reaction is 00:25:06.300 --> 00:25:08.020 what happens 00:25:08.020 --> 00:25:09.740 in the moment? 00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:11.940 What happens 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.140 in the moment? 00:25:15.020 --> 00:25:18.120 We went Black Friday shopping. 00:25:18.280 --> 00:25:20.000 We'll go back to that. 00:25:22.300 --> 00:25:23.780 Emma and I were together. 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.340 This has been a tradition 00:25:25.340 --> 00:25:26.620 of ours for years. 00:25:28.040 --> 00:25:29.620 And Grayson and Aaron 00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:31.580 decided to go shopping together. 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:33.380 So we started off 00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:34.820 at a restaurant together 00:25:34.820 --> 00:25:36.100 and then we broke up from there. 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.820 We overlapped 00:25:36.820 --> 00:25:38.080 a couple different places. 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:39.680 but Emma and I 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:41.140 made it to the mall 00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:43.640 at a different point in time 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:45.700 than Aaron and Grayson. 00:25:46.760 --> 00:25:47.620 And so we're walking 00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.920 around the mall 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:51.160 and the chaos of the mall 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:53.480 and the people 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:55.840 that are all over the mall 00:25:55.840 --> 00:25:56.940 and the people 00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:58.120 that cut in front of you 00:25:58.120 --> 00:25:59.260 and that take the items 00:25:59.260 --> 00:26:00.140 out of your hand 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:00.820 and the whole time 00:26:00.820 --> 00:26:01.260 I'm like, 00:26:01.780 --> 00:26:02.400 oh God, 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.380 you're good. 00:26:04.080 --> 00:26:04.960 Walk with me. 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.000 Guide me. 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:09.200 Keep my testimony right. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:13.140 And as difficult as it is 00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:14.540 to get to the mall, 00:26:15.840 --> 00:26:17.660 as difficult as it is 00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:20.500 to navigate around the mall 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.280 when you're there, 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.720 as difficult as it is 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:26.420 to get in what you think 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.140 is the line 00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:29.700 at Bath and Body Works, 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:33.960 to find out that the line 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:34.840 actually starts 00:26:34.840 --> 00:26:35.820 in western Tennessee 00:26:35.820 --> 00:26:39.760 and somehow 00:26:39.760 --> 00:26:41.860 I don't ever really think 00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:43.240 I'm getting anything free 00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:45.340 from there 00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:46.680 even though it's always 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.520 a special, 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:48.740 right? 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.720 We made it. 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.820 And those aren't 00:26:53.820 --> 00:26:55.220 the difficult parts for me. 00:26:56.340 --> 00:26:58.040 Here's the difficult part for me. 00:26:59.040 --> 00:27:00.240 when Emma says, 00:27:00.760 --> 00:27:01.940 Dad, I'm done. 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.560 Let's go home. 00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:06.240 And then I know 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.200 what must happen 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:09.300 is a journey 00:27:09.300 --> 00:27:11.720 from in the parking lot 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.360 of death 00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:14.620 to I-26. 00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.700 I told Emma that morning, 00:27:18.560 --> 00:27:20.180 we call her car 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:21.240 Little Linda. 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:23.320 She got a little Honda Civic 00:27:23.320 --> 00:27:26.300 and I got my bigger truck 00:27:26.300 --> 00:27:27.520 and I said, 00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:28.160 Emma, we're taking 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:29.940 Little Linda this morning. 00:27:30.600 --> 00:27:31.180 And she said, 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:31.480 why? 00:27:31.760 --> 00:27:32.000 It's like, 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.080 it's easier to park, 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:34.040 it's easier to maneuver, 00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:35.680 it's easier to navigate. 00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:37.620 So we get in the car 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.380 and we're heading back 00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:39.280 and you hit that point 00:27:39.280 --> 00:27:40.280 of coming out 00:27:40.280 --> 00:27:41.440 of the Harveston parking lot 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:42.120 where you know 00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:44.360 I've got to turn 00:27:44.360 --> 00:27:45.480 against the traffic. 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.700 Now there's three types 00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.080 of people 00:27:48.080 --> 00:27:48.700 that drive out 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.780 of the Harveston parking lot. 00:27:51.340 --> 00:27:52.600 There's those type of people 00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:53.240 that want to, 00:27:53.320 --> 00:27:54.100 as hard as they can, 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:55.480 follow all the traffic laws. 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.960 There's two of those people. 00:27:58.740 --> 00:28:00.120 I am not one of those, 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:00.960 neither are you. 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.260 And evidently, 00:28:02.340 --> 00:28:03.460 they were not in the traffic 00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.140 when we were there. 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.900 Then there's the people 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:07.760 who break every law 00:28:07.760 --> 00:28:08.800 of driving. 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.780 And then there's the people 00:28:10.780 --> 00:28:11.860 that I would just say, 00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:13.820 we don't want to break the law, 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:15.340 but we're driving aggressively, 00:28:15.580 --> 00:28:16.360 we think we're just doing 00:28:16.360 --> 00:28:17.060 what we've got to do 00:28:17.060 --> 00:28:18.480 to survive at the time. 00:28:19.300 --> 00:28:19.980 That's me. 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:23.740 And I needed to make this turn 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:25.760 so that I can make very quickly 00:28:25.760 --> 00:28:26.760 another turn 00:28:26.760 --> 00:28:28.100 to get on the interstate. 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:29.540 Now, I'm in Linda. 00:28:30.780 --> 00:28:31.740 Not in my truck. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:35.000 So I'm not looking for a space 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:37.560 as much as I'm looking for a crack. 00:28:40.080 --> 00:28:40.980 So I'm there. 00:28:42.040 --> 00:28:42.780 I'm looking. 00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:44.640 I feel like this is 00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:46.320 the Indy 500 all over again. 00:28:46.360 --> 00:28:50.520 I see the sliver of space. 00:28:51.840 --> 00:28:54.020 And man, those tires chirped 00:28:54.020 --> 00:28:54.980 a little bit, right? 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.860 As that four-cylinder just went 00:28:56.860 --> 00:28:59.160 right in there. 00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:03.060 Well, I thought 00:29:03.060 --> 00:29:06.740 that my driving maneuvering 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:08.500 was award-winning. 00:29:12.060 --> 00:29:14.100 The person behind me 00:29:14.100 --> 00:29:17.180 wasn't as excited 00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:21.120 as my driving skills 00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:22.240 should have indicated, 00:29:22.760 --> 00:29:24.320 and they let me know. 00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:34.460 And my reaction in that moment, 00:29:34.540 --> 00:29:34.940 I will say, 00:29:35.020 --> 00:29:35.680 and you can ask Emma, 00:29:36.020 --> 00:29:37.700 I just smiled and waved. 00:29:37.800 --> 00:29:38.720 I'm sorry. 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.080 Because, see, 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:41.820 your reaction 00:29:41.820 --> 00:29:44.240 is what happens 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:45.600 in the moment. 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:47.600 And I think oftentimes 00:29:47.600 --> 00:29:49.140 our reaction 00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:51.800 shows in that moment 00:29:51.800 --> 00:29:53.680 your spiritual maturity 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:54.300 a little bit. 00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:57.100 It shows what God's been working on, 00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:58.080 what God's been doing. 00:29:59.140 --> 00:30:00.560 I think in this story 00:30:00.560 --> 00:30:01.140 with Mary, 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.020 what we're looking at 00:30:02.020 --> 00:30:02.940 is an instance. 00:30:03.280 --> 00:30:04.120 What we're looking at 00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:04.940 is she's getting ready 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.540 for the wedding. 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:07.220 What we're looking at 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:07.560 for her 00:30:07.560 --> 00:30:09.140 is just another day. 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.100 What we're looking at 00:30:10.100 --> 00:30:10.540 for her is 00:30:10.540 --> 00:30:11.420 here's the plans 00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:12.440 that I have for my life. 00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:13.480 Here's what she's looking at. 00:30:13.540 --> 00:30:14.280 I can't wait 00:30:14.280 --> 00:30:15.760 to see Joseph. 00:30:16.020 --> 00:30:16.840 What she's looking at, 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:18.020 or this is what my family 00:30:18.020 --> 00:30:18.740 is going to think. 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:19.640 What she's looking at, 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.700 this is what I'm going to do. 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:22.020 And then in that moment, 00:30:22.140 --> 00:30:23.080 while she's blessed, 00:30:23.280 --> 00:30:24.000 in that moment, 00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:25.180 while she's favored, 00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:26.180 in that moment, 00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.880 while her faith 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:27.840 is strong in God, 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:29.300 everything in her life 00:30:29.300 --> 00:30:30.340 gets turned upside down. 00:30:32.300 --> 00:30:32.820 Everything. 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:35.300 Everything. 00:30:35.580 --> 00:30:36.460 I would argue 00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:37.420 that what we find 00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.780 in this moment 00:30:38.780 --> 00:30:40.600 is not fair for her. 00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:42.640 But it's good. 00:30:43.800 --> 00:30:44.620 It's good. 00:30:46.060 --> 00:30:47.320 And I love 00:30:47.320 --> 00:30:49.820 Mary's reaction. 00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:52.500 I think she reacted 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:53.140 two ways. 00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:55.120 The first way 00:30:55.120 --> 00:30:57.160 that Mary react 00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:59.040 was humility. 00:31:00.780 --> 00:31:01.220 Humility. 00:31:03.040 --> 00:31:04.280 I think we can take 00:31:04.280 --> 00:31:04.900 the context 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:05.680 of the maturity 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:07.020 of this young girl's faith. 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.580 The Bible tells us 00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.440 that she was troubled 00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:12.500 at this response 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:16.740 and asked, 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.260 why me? 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:19.120 Why me? 00:31:20.280 --> 00:31:21.620 And I don't think 00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:24.660 that Mary's response 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.660 was with the fist 00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:28.200 shaken to God. 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:32.460 But I think Mary's response 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.100 to God 00:31:33.100 --> 00:31:34.700 was at a humbling 00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:35.540 of her spirit. 00:31:37.080 --> 00:31:38.180 God, I'm not worthy. 00:31:39.300 --> 00:31:40.400 God, I'm not capable. 00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:42.520 God, in your goodness 00:31:42.520 --> 00:31:43.520 of who you are, 00:31:44.820 --> 00:31:45.380 God, why me? 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:47.200 Why me? 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.740 Why me? 00:31:52.120 --> 00:31:53.760 When you come before God 00:31:53.760 --> 00:31:56.200 and your reaction 00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:58.140 on the best 00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:59.920 and in the worst, 00:32:01.040 --> 00:32:02.280 is it to shake your fist 00:32:02.280 --> 00:32:03.100 and say, why me? 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:05.220 Or is it humbling 00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:05.940 before the Lord? 00:32:07.560 --> 00:32:08.140 God, why me? 00:32:09.280 --> 00:32:09.700 Why me? 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:13.280 Mary also approached God 00:32:13.280 --> 00:32:15.440 not just in humility 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:17.620 but in wonder. 00:32:18.780 --> 00:32:19.580 In wonder. 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:22.060 Church, I think sometimes 00:32:22.060 --> 00:32:23.460 with God, 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:25.100 we're so desperate 00:32:25.100 --> 00:32:26.100 to understand 00:32:26.100 --> 00:32:27.800 that we don't live 00:32:27.800 --> 00:32:28.420 in the beauty 00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:30.260 of the wonder. 00:32:32.020 --> 00:32:32.960 One of the things 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:34.240 that I love about Christmas 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:36.120 in the life 00:32:36.120 --> 00:32:36.840 of the little kids 00:32:36.840 --> 00:32:38.760 is the wonder 00:32:38.760 --> 00:32:39.600 of the beauty 00:32:39.600 --> 00:32:40.340 of the season 00:32:40.340 --> 00:32:41.520 that they're being exposed to. 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:43.800 the beauty 00:32:43.800 --> 00:32:44.760 of the simplicity 00:32:44.760 --> 00:32:46.480 of the wonder 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:48.120 of how can this be? 00:32:49.060 --> 00:32:49.840 How is this there? 00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.180 I think sometimes 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:53.400 when we read the story 00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:54.740 of this, 00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:55.820 it's the beauty 00:32:55.820 --> 00:32:56.960 of the wonder. 00:32:58.240 --> 00:33:00.260 Zachariah doubted. 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:04.140 Mary had God-honoring wonder. 00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:05.760 Oh God, 00:33:06.780 --> 00:33:09.960 how can this be? 00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:11.380 Lord, 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:13.480 in who I am. 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:14.800 God, 00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:16.960 how can this happen? 00:33:18.520 --> 00:33:19.540 What's your reaction 00:33:19.540 --> 00:33:20.540 to the grace of God? 00:33:22.280 --> 00:33:23.360 Is it arrogance 00:33:23.360 --> 00:33:26.000 of this is what I deserve? 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:29.420 Is it an understanding 00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:30.440 of will all this 00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:32.300 just factually make sense? 00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:35.300 But during this Christmas season, 00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:36.360 can we be reminded 00:33:36.360 --> 00:33:38.200 of this little girl 00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:39.600 that we would view 00:33:39.600 --> 00:33:40.240 as a child 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:42.080 in her humility 00:33:42.080 --> 00:33:42.820 and her wonder? 00:33:44.280 --> 00:33:45.080 And then lastly, 00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:47.720 we see Mary's response. 00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:50.740 So we see her reaction, 00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:51.880 what happens in the moment, 00:33:52.880 --> 00:33:54.380 but your response 00:33:54.380 --> 00:33:57.000 is what happens 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.900 as you process. 00:33:59.540 --> 00:34:00.740 and I can only imagine 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.480 that in the mind 00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.300 of this girl, 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:05.600 she gets the news, 00:34:06.760 --> 00:34:07.760 she reacts. 00:34:09.060 --> 00:34:09.900 She reacts 00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:11.080 in a godly manner 00:34:11.080 --> 00:34:13.200 of humility and wonder. 00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:15.240 But then her brain, 00:34:16.040 --> 00:34:17.360 as best she can, 00:34:18.100 --> 00:34:19.500 begins to process 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:21.520 all that will happen 00:34:21.520 --> 00:34:23.580 and all that will take place. 00:34:24.540 --> 00:34:25.820 And I think it's remarkable 00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:26.780 that we see 00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:28.120 that in her life, 00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:28.940 she doesn't go, 00:34:29.140 --> 00:34:29.620 oh no. 00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:32.040 That she doesn't go, 00:34:32.240 --> 00:34:33.420 what's going to happen to me? 00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:35.200 That she doesn't go, 00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.700 God, how could you do this to me? 00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:38.220 That she doesn't go, 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.380 God, you should have chosen 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.220 someone else. 00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.160 That she, 00:34:42.540 --> 00:34:42.800 in this, 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.180 like, 00:34:43.860 --> 00:34:44.940 as humbled 00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:47.000 as she is, 00:34:47.600 --> 00:34:48.740 could you imagine 00:34:48.740 --> 00:34:51.320 a virgin 00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:52.280 a betrothed 00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:53.580 to be married 00:34:53.580 --> 00:34:55.920 to find out 00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:58.820 that she will give birth 00:34:58.820 --> 00:35:00.260 to a son? 00:35:03.680 --> 00:35:04.700 And that the explanation 00:35:04.700 --> 00:35:06.460 of that 00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:08.900 is it's a powerful 00:35:08.900 --> 00:35:11.440 working of God. 00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:14.200 And while so many 00:35:14.200 --> 00:35:14.880 would argue 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:17.440 it's not fair, 00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:19.560 God's word 00:35:19.560 --> 00:35:21.080 is very clear 00:35:21.080 --> 00:35:22.400 that it is good. 00:35:23.580 --> 00:35:24.920 And I want us to notice 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:26.400 what Mary does 00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:27.100 in response. 00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:29.420 The first thing 00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:30.180 that she does 00:35:30.180 --> 00:35:31.960 in her response 00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:32.620 is the willingness 00:35:32.620 --> 00:35:33.280 of surrender. 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:37.140 She uses these phrases, 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:38.840 uses this phrase 00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:39.720 to the angel, 00:35:40.760 --> 00:35:41.680 let it be 00:35:41.680 --> 00:35:43.260 according 00:35:43.260 --> 00:35:45.040 to your word. 00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:47.340 God, 00:35:47.600 --> 00:35:48.620 may your will 00:35:48.620 --> 00:35:50.920 be done, 00:35:51.560 --> 00:35:52.480 a willing 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:53.600 surrender 00:35:53.600 --> 00:35:54.580 before him. 00:35:55.900 --> 00:35:56.220 God, 00:35:56.260 --> 00:35:56.940 whatever you have 00:35:56.940 --> 00:35:57.240 for me, 00:35:57.340 --> 00:35:57.460 God, 00:35:57.460 --> 00:35:58.260 whatever you choose 00:35:58.260 --> 00:35:58.700 for me, 00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:00.040 God, 00:36:00.080 --> 00:36:00.700 whatever journey 00:36:00.700 --> 00:36:01.760 that you take me down, 00:36:02.520 --> 00:36:03.500 no matter how painful, 00:36:03.660 --> 00:36:04.620 no matter how hard, 00:36:04.720 --> 00:36:06.060 no matter how difficult 00:36:06.060 --> 00:36:06.680 it is, 00:36:07.240 --> 00:36:07.600 God, 00:36:07.660 --> 00:36:08.020 may it be 00:36:08.020 --> 00:36:09.340 according to your word, 00:36:09.640 --> 00:36:10.720 my life is surrendered 00:36:10.720 --> 00:36:11.300 to you. 00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:16.020 but her response 00:36:16.020 --> 00:36:17.200 also comes with 00:36:17.200 --> 00:36:19.540 a confident profession. 00:36:21.080 --> 00:36:21.940 She went, 00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:23.920 she went, 00:36:25.580 --> 00:36:26.720 she didn't stay 00:36:26.720 --> 00:36:27.380 and weep, 00:36:28.080 --> 00:36:29.420 she didn't stay 00:36:29.420 --> 00:36:31.660 and try to figure it out, 00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.700 she didn't stay 00:36:33.700 --> 00:36:34.960 and begin to 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.620 allow the depression 00:36:36.620 --> 00:36:37.540 and the stress 00:36:37.540 --> 00:36:38.140 of the news 00:36:38.140 --> 00:36:38.900 that she got 00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:40.620 to consume her. 00:36:42.080 --> 00:36:42.380 Instead, 00:36:42.580 --> 00:36:43.260 there was confidence 00:36:43.260 --> 00:36:44.140 in the profession 00:36:44.140 --> 00:36:45.160 of who God is 00:36:45.160 --> 00:36:46.060 and what God 00:36:46.060 --> 00:36:46.740 was doing to her 00:36:46.740 --> 00:36:47.620 and she went 00:36:47.620 --> 00:36:49.760 and she told, 00:36:51.100 --> 00:36:52.400 she went to Elizabeth, 00:36:54.040 --> 00:36:54.800 she shared 00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:57.760 and then I love this, 00:36:57.860 --> 00:36:58.680 in Mary's 00:36:58.680 --> 00:37:02.180 song 00:37:02.180 --> 00:37:03.560 of praise. 00:37:05.100 --> 00:37:06.180 Mary's response 00:37:06.180 --> 00:37:08.100 is abundant joy. 00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:10.140 Abundant joy. 00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:12.360 She sang, 00:37:13.700 --> 00:37:14.720 she declared. 00:37:16.100 --> 00:37:16.380 You see, 00:37:16.420 --> 00:37:16.980 the similarity 00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:18.000 that we find 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:19.340 in both of these 00:37:19.340 --> 00:37:20.760 and Zachariah 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:22.240 and that we find 00:37:22.240 --> 00:37:23.600 in Mary 00:37:23.600 --> 00:37:24.240 is that 00:37:24.240 --> 00:37:25.420 the story 00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:26.700 of what God 00:37:26.700 --> 00:37:27.340 is doing 00:37:27.340 --> 00:37:28.540 is a story 00:37:28.540 --> 00:37:29.060 of praise. 00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:31.420 It's a story 00:37:31.420 --> 00:37:31.920 of hope. 00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:33.760 It's a story 00:37:33.760 --> 00:37:34.280 of joy. 00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:38.060 I'm going to ask 00:37:38.060 --> 00:37:38.980 that the worship team 00:37:38.980 --> 00:37:40.440 make their way 00:37:40.440 --> 00:37:41.400 up here on stage. 00:37:42.840 --> 00:37:43.800 They're going to come 00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:44.300 and they're going to 00:37:44.300 --> 00:37:45.480 lead us in a song 00:37:45.480 --> 00:37:48.500 and this season 00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:51.020 is a season 00:37:51.020 --> 00:37:53.560 of mangers. 00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:55.920 This season 00:37:55.920 --> 00:37:56.680 is a season 00:37:56.680 --> 00:37:57.440 of stars. 00:37:58.960 --> 00:37:59.800 This season 00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:00.880 is a season 00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:02.400 of shepherds 00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:03.720 and wise men. 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:05.640 This season 00:38:05.640 --> 00:38:06.400 is a story 00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:07.780 of a baby 00:38:07.780 --> 00:38:10.880 and I never want us 00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:11.680 to forget that 00:38:11.680 --> 00:38:13.580 in the humility 00:38:13.580 --> 00:38:15.180 of the coming 00:38:15.180 --> 00:38:16.320 of God. 00:38:17.460 --> 00:38:18.500 Not to come 00:38:18.500 --> 00:38:19.400 to this world 00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:23.940 as a king 00:38:23.940 --> 00:38:25.880 fighting to take over, 00:38:27.380 --> 00:38:28.740 but in the humility 00:38:28.740 --> 00:38:29.280 of a child 00:38:29.280 --> 00:38:31.700 and he didn't come 00:38:31.700 --> 00:38:32.380 for a moment 00:38:32.380 --> 00:38:35.220 but he came 00:38:35.220 --> 00:38:35.940 for his lifetime 00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:36.300 here 00:38:36.300 --> 00:38:39.380 and what this story, 00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:42.120 what Mary's song 00:38:42.120 --> 00:38:43.820 points us to 00:38:43.820 --> 00:38:47.060 is the hope, 00:38:48.400 --> 00:38:49.100 the servant, 00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:51.680 the Messiah 00:38:51.680 --> 00:38:53.260 that will come 00:38:53.260 --> 00:38:55.320 who will not 00:38:55.320 --> 00:38:55.940 just come 00:38:55.940 --> 00:38:56.440 to be born 00:38:56.440 --> 00:38:57.000 in a manger 00:38:57.000 --> 00:38:58.880 but who will 00:38:58.880 --> 00:38:59.660 come to die 00:38:59.660 --> 00:39:00.280 on a cross. 00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:02.760 After our time 00:39:02.760 --> 00:39:03.500 of worship, 00:39:04.260 --> 00:39:04.840 we're going to take 00:39:04.840 --> 00:39:05.540 the Lord's 00:39:05.540 --> 00:39:06.780 supper together. 00:39:07.960 --> 00:39:08.980 If you're a follower 00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:10.000 of Jesus Christ, 00:39:10.120 --> 00:39:11.580 you'll be invited 00:39:11.580 --> 00:39:12.340 to take this 00:39:12.340 --> 00:39:12.860 with us, 00:39:13.860 --> 00:39:14.960 a picture 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:16.560 of the love 00:39:16.560 --> 00:39:17.040 of God 00:39:17.040 --> 00:39:18.960 that not only 00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:19.460 did he come 00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:21.260 but he died. 00:39:22.520 --> 00:39:23.340 The picture 00:39:23.340 --> 00:39:24.280 of the power 00:39:24.280 --> 00:39:25.340 of God 00:39:25.340 --> 00:39:27.200 that not only 00:39:27.200 --> 00:39:27.860 did he come 00:39:27.860 --> 00:39:29.800 but he rose again. 00:39:31.160 --> 00:39:31.920 And the picture 00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:32.800 of the promise 00:39:32.800 --> 00:39:34.040 of God 00:39:34.040 --> 00:39:36.140 that not only 00:39:36.140 --> 00:39:36.620 did he come 00:39:36.620 --> 00:39:38.320 but one day 00:39:38.320 --> 00:39:38.820 he'll return. 00:39:39.940 --> 00:39:40.400 Would you bow 00:39:40.400 --> 00:39:40.740 your heads 00:39:40.740 --> 00:39:41.300 in prayer with me? 00:39:43.320 --> 00:39:43.720 God, 00:39:43.780 --> 00:39:44.280 we thank you 00:39:44.280 --> 00:39:46.120 for this wonderful 00:39:46.120 --> 00:39:47.240 beautiful opportunity. 00:39:49.600 --> 00:39:50.260 God, 00:39:50.340 --> 00:39:50.720 I pray 00:39:50.720 --> 00:39:53.400 that today 00:39:53.400 --> 00:39:56.620 that we are here 00:39:56.620 --> 00:39:58.600 not because 00:39:58.600 --> 00:39:59.080 we think 00:39:59.080 --> 00:39:59.720 that we're good, 00:40:00.840 --> 00:40:01.700 not because 00:40:01.700 --> 00:40:02.360 we think 00:40:02.360 --> 00:40:03.700 that we deserve 00:40:03.700 --> 00:40:04.200 this, 00:40:05.260 --> 00:40:05.820 but God 00:40:05.820 --> 00:40:06.620 that we come 00:40:06.620 --> 00:40:08.100 humbly 00:40:08.100 --> 00:40:08.900 before you 00:40:08.900 --> 00:40:10.520 as those 00:40:10.520 --> 00:40:10.920 that have put 00:40:10.920 --> 00:40:11.520 their faith, 00:40:11.660 --> 00:40:12.040 their hope, 00:40:12.160 --> 00:40:12.680 their trust 00:40:12.680 --> 00:40:13.860 in Christ 00:40:13.860 --> 00:40:14.740 and Christ 00:40:14.740 --> 00:40:15.100 alone. 00:40:16.460 --> 00:40:16.780 God, 00:40:16.820 --> 00:40:17.400 as we prepare 00:40:17.400 --> 00:40:18.020 ourselves 00:40:18.020 --> 00:40:18.820 for our readiness 00:40:18.820 --> 00:40:20.520 to partake 00:40:20.520 --> 00:40:21.000 in the Lord's 00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:21.600 supper together, 00:40:22.560 --> 00:40:22.680 Lord, 00:40:22.720 --> 00:40:22.980 I pray 00:40:22.980 --> 00:40:23.380 if there is 00:40:23.380 --> 00:40:24.080 anyone here 00:40:24.080 --> 00:40:24.580 who does not 00:40:24.580 --> 00:40:25.640 know Jesus Christ 00:40:25.640 --> 00:40:26.600 as their Lord 00:40:26.600 --> 00:40:27.040 and Savior 00:40:27.040 --> 00:40:28.940 that today 00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:30.460 will be the day 00:40:30.460 --> 00:40:31.320 that they put 00:40:31.320 --> 00:40:31.960 their faith, 00:40:32.560 --> 00:40:33.080 their hope, 00:40:33.620 --> 00:40:34.240 their trust 00:40:34.240 --> 00:40:35.060 in him. 00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:36.120 God, 00:40:36.160 --> 00:40:36.440 I pray 00:40:36.440 --> 00:40:37.400 for all of us 00:40:37.400 --> 00:40:38.600 who are followers 00:40:38.600 --> 00:40:39.240 of Jesus. 00:40:40.820 --> 00:40:41.300 God, 00:40:41.340 --> 00:40:42.100 that we'll examine 00:40:42.100 --> 00:40:42.740 under the guidance 00:40:42.740 --> 00:40:43.600 of your Holy Spirit 00:40:43.600 --> 00:40:44.160 our heart. 00:40:45.360 --> 00:40:45.700 God, 00:40:45.720 --> 00:40:46.020 and if there's 00:40:46.020 --> 00:40:47.100 unrepentant sin 00:40:47.100 --> 00:40:48.620 or that we'll 00:40:48.620 --> 00:40:49.640 confess and repent, 00:40:50.920 --> 00:40:51.160 God, 00:40:51.180 --> 00:40:51.600 if we need to 00:40:51.600 --> 00:40:52.360 forgive others, 00:40:52.460 --> 00:40:53.100 we'll determine 00:40:53.100 --> 00:40:54.040 within ourselves 00:40:54.040 --> 00:40:54.960 under the power 00:40:54.960 --> 00:40:55.580 of the Holy Spirit 00:40:55.580 --> 00:40:56.200 giving you all 00:40:56.200 --> 00:40:56.700 the praise 00:40:56.700 --> 00:40:57.100 and honor 00:40:57.100 --> 00:40:57.620 and glory 00:40:57.620 --> 00:40:58.960 that, 00:40:59.080 --> 00:40:59.120 Lord, 00:40:59.160 --> 00:40:59.620 as you have 00:40:59.620 --> 00:41:00.180 forgiven us, 00:41:00.240 --> 00:41:00.780 we have forgiven 00:41:00.780 --> 00:41:01.120 them. 00:41:02.800 --> 00:41:03.100 And that, 00:41:03.180 --> 00:41:03.260 God, 00:41:03.300 --> 00:41:03.720 if there's 00:41:03.720 --> 00:41:04.940 any wrong 00:41:04.940 --> 00:41:05.440 that we've 00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:05.780 committed 00:41:05.780 --> 00:41:07.280 against the 00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:07.860 brother or sister 00:41:07.860 --> 00:41:08.520 in Christ, 00:41:09.520 --> 00:41:10.280 we need to seek 00:41:10.280 --> 00:41:10.900 their forgiveness 00:41:10.900 --> 00:41:12.640 that today, 00:41:12.820 --> 00:41:13.060 Father, 00:41:13.600 --> 00:41:14.380 we commit 00:41:14.380 --> 00:41:15.020 to do so. 00:41:16.360 --> 00:41:16.720 God, 00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:17.880 work in us 00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:19.500 and how 00:41:19.500 --> 00:41:19.960 you will 00:41:19.960 --> 00:41:21.240 to bring 00:41:21.240 --> 00:41:21.840 praise 00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:23.280 and honor 00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:24.560 and glory 00:41:24.560 --> 00:41:25.860 to your name. 00:41:26.760 --> 00:41:27.440 And it's in Jesus' 00:41:27.600 --> 00:41:28.080 name we pray. 00:41:29.080 --> 00:41:29.420 Amen. 00:41:29.420 --> 00:41:29.540 Amen. 00:41:38.760 --> 00:41:39.400 That's it 00:41:39.400 --> 00:41:40.100 for this week's 00:41:40.100 --> 00:41:40.480 message. 00:41:40.940 --> 00:41:41.580 Be sure to check 00:41:41.580 --> 00:41:42.460 back next week 00:41:42.460 --> 00:41:43.340 for another episode. 00:41:44.100 --> 00:41:44.640 In the meantime, 00:41:44.900 --> 00:41:45.760 you can stay up to date 00:41:45.760 --> 00:41:46.300 with everything 00:41:46.300 --> 00:41:47.460 happening at Willow Ridge 00:41:47.460 --> 00:41:48.360 by visiting us 00:41:48.360 --> 00:41:49.120 on Facebook, 00:41:49.520 --> 00:41:49.920 Instagram, 00:41:50.460 --> 00:41:50.740 YouTube, 00:41:51.220 --> 00:41:51.960 and online 00:41:51.960 --> 00:41:53.660 at willowridgechurch.org. 00:41:54.020 --> 00:41:54.520 Thanks again 00:41:54.520 --> 00:41:54.980 for listening. 00:41:54.980 --> 00:42:11.060 We'll see you next time. 00:42:11.060 --> 00:42:11.360 We'll see you next time.