CHRISTMAS English Service by Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

CELEBRATE THE LORD

LUKE 1:46-55

INTRODUCTION

The time between the announcement of Christ’s birth and the actual moment of His arrival were months of hard decisions and anxious waiting on the past of Mary and Joseph. Despite the difficulty of waiting, Mary conducted herself with faith in God. She made a journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was also expecting a very special baby, John the Baptist. When Mary arrived at her cousin’s house and spoke to her, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy, reminding us that an unborn child is more than a mere tissue of flesh. Elizabeth told Mary that she (Mary) is blessed because she has believed the Lord and that God will do all that He has promised. Mary praised God and said “My soul celebrates the Lord” this praise of Mary is called the “Magnificat” in Latin. The Magnificat is a doxology or a hymn of praise unto the Lord. Let us examine this Magnificat of Mary and make Mary’s Magnificat our own.

Let us learn:-

I.  MARY CELEBRATES THE LORD FOR PERSONAL GRACE (LUKE 1:46-49)

  • This is a personal praise to the Lord for His blessing to her own life. We should follow her example.
  1. SHE HAS BEEN REDEEMED (V. 46-47)
  • Mary was personally saved by God, she praises God for personal salvation.
  • Like you and me, Mary was born in sin and she stood in need of personal salvation.
  • In V.47, she declares her dependence upon God in heaven for salvation. She simply praises the Lord for salvation she possesses. Your life may be falling apart this morning, but if you have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, you have every reason to praise the Name of the Lord.
  • Because you are saved you will never go to hell, you will never stand in judgement, and you will experience the presence of God throughout eternity.
  • You are a child of God, forgiven, cleansed, reconciled and sanctified.
  • Let us offer the sacrifices of praise unto the Lord today (Heb. 13:15)
  • When you are saved and you are sure about it, it will put some rejoicing in your heart.

A. SHE HAS BEEN REGARDED (V.48)

  • To regard is “to turn the eyes upon” Mary is telling Elizabeth that she is nobody, but she has experienced the grace of God first hand.
  • Mary knows that she does not deserve the favor of the Lord, but God did it anyway (Grace of God)
  • We who are saved have been regarded, chosen, called and saved by pure grace.
  • There was nothing in us, there is nothing in us now that would command us to the Lord.
  • By His grace alone, He loved us, reached down to us and saved us when we responded to Him by faith
  • To be regarded by the Lord is tremendous thing (Ephesians 2:8-9, I Cor. 15:10)

B.  SHE HAS BEEN REWARDED (V. 48-49)

  • Mary realized that God was doing a wonderful thing through her life.
  • The God of eternity enters human history through her.
  • Mary knew that in days to come many will call her blessed because of her obedience
  • The reward was in the fact that God was to be glorified and that others would be blessed by her actions.
  • Many are the benefits that are yours as a child of God, glory awaits you in future eternity. Like Mary let us praise God for rewards (Heb. 11:6)

II.  MARY CELEBRATED THE LORD FOR PERPETUAL GRACE (LUKE 1:50-53)

  1. THE PERMANENCE OF HIS GRACE (V.50)
  • Mary knows that she isn’t the only one who has received grace from God, nor her generation.
  • God’s grace is revealed to every generation, until the return of Christ to this earth.
  • The grace of God is operating even today. There is grace to save sinners, grace to reclaim backsliders.
  • The grace for battles, trials and valleys, grace for every situation we face in life (2 Cor. 12:9)
  • This grace is a wonderful motivator for praise and worship before the Lord.
  1. THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS GRACE (V. 51- 52)
  • Mary praises God because He did not come to reach the proud and the mighty.
  • God chose to reveal Himself to those who were poor and humble.
  • God has demonstrated His power and has put to shame all those who thought they had Him figured out. ( I Cor. 1: 27)
  • In one great act, God has reversed the order of society.
  • Those who are considered great by men will be brought low, while those who trust in the Lord though they are poor and humble, they will be exalted by their faith in God.
  • This very morning things remain the same, only those who are humble before God can expect anything from the Lord.
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, Salvation comes to the humble (Matt. 18:3). Those who are willing to admit their sins can expect God to save.
  • There are many today who will die lost and spend eternity in hell, simply because they are unwilling to admit their sins and receive Christ into their lives.
  1. THE PROMISE OF HIS GRACE (V. 53)
  • Mary is reminding us that those who realize their lack can come to the Lord and be filled. Those who feel they need nothing they receive nothing from God.
  • There are those who say “I am as good as those in that church. I don’t steal, I don’t hurt anyone, I mind my own business, I am not hypocrite like some of those people at church.”
  • They forget that situation does not rely on how well those in the church are doing- Salvation is a personal relationship with Almighty God.
  • Jesus Christ is the God of all grace(I Peter 5:10)

III.  MARY CELEBRATES THE LORD FOR PERFORMED GRACE (Luke 1:54- 55)

  • Mary praises the Lord not only for personal grace and perpetual (successive) and generational grace but she also praises the Lord for remembering to do what He has promised to do.
  • Mary praises the Lord because He did not forget His people.
  • The bondage of the Jews and their longing for a Messiah.
  1. God remembers His promises (V. 54)
  • For centuries, the Jews had lived on the promise of the Lord for a deliverer, a Messiah to redeem the people.
  • God keeps His promises, whether it be for Salvation (2 Tim. 1:12 : For daily provision (Phil. 4:19)
  • Let us ever trust the Lord, none of His promises will fall to the ground (2 Peter 3:9)
  1. God Remembers His people (V. 55)
  • Mary rejoices in the fact that the Lord has not forgotten about the people of Israel.
  • They were His people and they are still His people.
  • She praises His Name that He remembers those who have placed their faith in Him.
  • God will see you through in this world and in the world to come (Matt. 28:20, Heb. 13:5)

CONCLUSION

  • We are all indebted to Mary, not the extent that we fall before her or her statue and worship her.
  • Not that we should pray to her, for Mary has no saving or sustaining grace to give to anyone.
  • We owe her a debt of gratitude for reminding us that whether it is for personal grace, favors for others, or for performed grace, God is faithful.
  • Do you have any reason to praise God this Christmas?
  • Have you experienced God’s personal grace to your heart? Are you saved? If not the altar is open for you. Let the Lord have His way in your life today.
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Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

Rev, Dr. Willy Mutiso is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Athiriver. He is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives.

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