MARY AND ELISABETH'S LEGACIES OF HOPE

December 23, 2001
MF Blume

When Jesus Christ came into the world a very special time came into being.   In this small window of time, we've been given an opportunity that will never come again in all the infinite duration of eternity.   How many can concur with me as I say, "Don't blow this opportunity"?
 
 Satan has invested his major efforts in LYING TO US ABOUT OUR OPPORTUNITY.   But he has a formidable foe.  So, let's get down to business today… Luke 1:5-7  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
 
 Luke 1:11-20  And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Luke 1:26-45  And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossibleAnd Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.  And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:  And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.



 How you respond to sermons like this, determines your status as a waster of a life and God's precious gift of time, or a life-feasting child of God!
 
 Zecharias, God's priest, was to father John the Baptist.   He was therefore struck dumb – unable to speak.
 
 On the other hand, when Gabriel appeared to Mary, and she believed.   Zecharias was later filled with the Spirit in verse 67.  Mary's words actually blessed people!   After being filled, Elisabeth prophesied in verse 45. The marginal reference informs us that the Greek source for these words can be translated as,
 
BLESSED IS SHE WHICH BELIEVED, THAT THERE SHALL BE A PERFORMANCE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE TOLD HER FROM THE LORD.
 
Her faith in God's performance was necessary for God to accomplish that performance.
 
In Zecharias' case, his unbelief did not hinder God's performance, because because his wife would be the one to bear the child John.
 
 But Mary had to believe in order for God to work.
 
 It reminds me of Romans 4:21-22 where we read Abraham believed.
 Romans 4:21-22  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
 God did what Abraham believed him to do.
 
 Some lose the game before they even start.   They consider THEIR PERFORMANCE!   We are only VESSELS!
 
 We are not the performers!   Mary believed God so that a performance of HIS POWER could occur!
 
 Our IDEAS are the problem.   GOD CHOSE A VIRGIN!   Did you realize that in similar manner, a life of Christianity is intended to actually be JESUS COMING OUT OF YOUR LIFE?   Its not supposed to be some fantastic impersonation feat as though we try to impersonate Jesus Christ  and his goodness as best we humanly can.   Its not:
 
 "I am sick and tired of trying to act like Jesus.  I try and try to live as good as I CAN, but fail."
 
 No.
 
 CHRIST LIVED IN PAUL.

 A VIRGIN BROUGHT FORTH JESUS.
 
 How much more of a perfect picture can you get to illustrate how its not by our efforts that we produce Jesus?
 
 What did she do to become pregnant?

  How many times has God tried to show this to us in His holy Word?
 
 In Matthew 19 :
  Matthew 19:16  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
 So Jesus responds:
 Matthew 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
 And then said.
 Matthew 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.


 If it was up to you and your performance, you would not be able to do it.

  Can you live a victorious overcoming life?  "I can't do it, Brother Blume."  HE IS THE PERFORMER!
 
 Get off the stage.  
 The virgin Mary.


 You think its only great people who are good Christians.

Did you hear how she declared in PROPHECY (divinely inspired speech) that she was an example of the lowly?   Its not great ones at all.  Elisabeth shows us even more hope and truth about this Kingdom.
 
 She was not a virgin.   You may have never tried to serve God before, because you felt you could not perform it well. But Elisabeth's message is for those who have tried to produce Jesus in your life in your own powers.  Recall the words about the rich young ruler.
Matthew 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
 You are not the performer.
 
 YOU ARE THE WOMB OF GOD'S LIFE.
 
 For those who've never even tried to live for God, never thinking you were able…  For those who've tried for years and never really lived it…. And gave up hope…  GOD IS THE PERFORMER.
 NOT YOU.
 ONLY BELIEVE.
 
 Set His power loose in your life.  Sandwiched between Mary and Elisabeth's lives was the married child-bearing life. Legacies of lives that tell us that GOD IS THE PERFORMER, not you!

ONLY BELIEVE