WEBVTT 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:05.280 Thank you for joining us on the CCW podcast. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:10.960 Make sure you connect with us on social media to stay up to date on ministries and events happening at CCW. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:14.960 We hope you're encouraged, inspired, and motivated by today's message. 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:19.120 To find out how to connect with us, keep listening after the message ends. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:24.239 Turn your Bible to Luke chapter 1 this morning. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:31.199 Thank you if you came today and this is your first time and maybe you came for a baptism or you're just visiting with us. 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:38.240 We are honored, honored to have you and hope that this is a part of your Christmas memory for 23. 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:41.439 And uh, we love this season, as you can see. 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:47.759 Thankful for those who have made our decor look good and those who work on the lights and all of it. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:49.920 And it's just fun to come in church. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:51.840 Makes me feel like Christmas. 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:53.920 Luke chapter 1. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:58.240 I want to talk to you this morning on the topic a merry song. 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:00.079 A merry song. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:02.240 Do you have a favorite song? 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:06.959 When you think about that question, does something pop right into mind for you? 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:08.079 A favorite? 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:14.159 My favorite song is called How He Loves, popularized by uh David Crowder band. 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:15.280 I love that song. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:19.920 I'm singing to God about his love for me, and uh I can't get over it. 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:24.480 I'm about 20 years into that song, and the first note hits, and I'm in. 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:33.280 There's a newer song called So Will I, that I love that talks about uh the stars, if they were made to worship, so will I. 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:35.680 If the rocks will cry out, so will I. 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:36.879 I love that song. 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:38.319 How about this question? 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:40.480 Let me let me pinpoint the men in here. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:44.719 How many of you men remember your wedding song? 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:49.200 Not a hand is going up. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:51.760 Okay, okay, there we go, there we go. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:52.319 Okay. 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:53.920 Some wedding songs. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:55.840 You remember that romantic song? 00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:58.000 I'm gonna tell y'all something. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:03.040 Our wedding song, the first time I heard it was our wedding day. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:13.520 Listen, I thought it was like, you know, the song from Titanic or something because we made out during that song, so I thought that might be it. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:20.159 But this song came on All I Ask Of You from the Phantom of the Opera. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:21.680 I'm like, that's pretty nice. 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:23.599 I've never heard it before. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:29.520 So when you think about songs, memories come back to you, and things figure. 00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:38.479 You can hear a song right now, and it just takes you to that point in time in your teenage life, or or a song will bring you back to a moment. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:50.400 Well, as you end Luke chapter 1, and I'll read just a couple of lines, the heading even in my Bible, verse 46, it says, The song of Mary. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:57.680 And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:05.039 He has regarded the lowly state of his maidservant, for behold, henceforth and generations will call me blessed. 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:08.080 For he who is mighty has done great things. 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:09.840 I bet that was the chorus. 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:15.520 He who is mighty has done great things, for he who is mighty has done great things. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:18.879 So this morning I want to talk to you about that Mary song. 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:19.759 Let me pray. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:31.680 Father, we thank you for the opportunity we have to be in your presence, and God, we thank you just for, Lord, bringing yourself to this moment of worship. 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:35.360 We thank you for those who have been saved and baptized today. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:39.360 We thank you for the reminder of new life and old life that's gone. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:41.360 And God, that's what we're about here. 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:50.960 Lord, as we reflect in your word, I pray that you would draw our hearts to change, draw our hearts to what you would have for us to do with your word today. 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:52.240 In Jesus' name. 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:53.199 Amen. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:59.039 Look in Luke chapter 1, verse 26 through 28 is where we're going to start. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:03.360 And point number one this morning is this Mary was heavenly accepted. 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:14.960 It says, Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:17.279 The virgin's name was Mary. 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:20.879 And having come in, the angel said to her, Rejoice. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:24.480 Underline this phrase, highly favored one. 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:26.480 The Lord is with you. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:29.600 Blessed are you among women. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:31.600 Letter A, this morning is this. 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:34.240 We find that Mary was unassuming. 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:39.279 We sing at Christmas time about this oh little town of Bethlehem. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:42.720 But if you look in Scripture, Bethlehem was a town. 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:44.800 Bethlehem had a history. 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:50.800 It is hard pressing for anyone here to find much on the town of Nazareth. 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:57.199 When historians backtrack on Nazareth, it was just a meager farming, rural country place. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:02.639 And commentators have the population in Mary's time at around 400 people. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:05.199 Just small, nothing. 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:14.560 And even Jesus has an instance with a disciple where it seems like the phrasing is sort of being funny but a little derogatory. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:18.399 And they say this can anything good come from Nazareth? 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:24.879 And so when we hear about where Mary comes from, we find out that Mary would be unassuming. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:27.680 Mary was from a lowly estate. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:48.639 It makes sense, and we see some scripture in Luke chapter 2, and then if you go back in the Old Testament, why Mary and Joseph bring turtle doves as a sacrifice when her purification was over, they were to bring, you're supposed to bring a lamb, but if you didn't have enough, you would bring turtle doves. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:53.279 And so Mary brought turtle doves, and Joseph brought turtle doves to that sacrifice. 00:05:53.519 --> 00:06:02.720 Mary was unassuming, small land, small farm area, easily forgotten in Nazareth. 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:10.079 It makes sense why perplexity comes from Mary at the phrase, thou art highly favored. 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:12.079 Mary felt lowly. 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:15.199 I want you to see in 1 Peter chapter 3. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:17.360 Just shoot over for a second. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:18.399 Lowly. 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:21.120 Mary was unassuming. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:22.879 1 Peter 3, 3 through 4. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:27.199 I have this in a frame, it sits on my daughter's room. 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:36.160 It says this do not let your adornment be merely outward, arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:44.879 Rather, let it be the hidden person of the heart with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:48.720 That word is lowly, which is very precious in the sight of God. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:53.040 You see, the beauty of a person is on the inside. 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:58.720 And we're told there, Peter, that it's not the outward adornment, it's not the outside. 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:01.680 The beauty of a person is, are you hospitable? 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:03.920 Do you have time for people? 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:06.959 Are you present when people are speaking to you? 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:12.879 Plenty of people on this earth have outward beauty, but what's on the inside makes them seem ugly. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:15.279 Mary was unassuming. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:17.759 She had that lowliness. 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:19.680 It's a different kind of beauty. 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:26.399 Heather, obviously, when I met her, I saw her and I knew outwardly she was absolutely stunning. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:28.480 And I was taking a bath, lost my breath. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:36.639 I mean, just but when I saw Heather care for people, it took me in a whole different way. 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:39.519 And that inside beauty struck me. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:45.040 And I said, like all of the men, I have to have. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:50.160 It's very romantic. 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:55.279 Well, what does the inner you look like today? 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:58.000 That's a question for you to consider. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:12.720 Some people recently came up to me after service, and I wouldn't call them out on any of that, but I know this, just from knowing, they wouldn't say that they had a lot of wealth. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:18.240 But they heard me speaking in the service about Wyatt's birthday turned to 15. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:26.240 And with a thousand-watt smile, they handed me a little bit of money to hand to him for his birthday. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:34.639 And I'm telling you, that money was a stretch for them to give, and the kindness came from an inner beauty. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:36.559 Do we have a beauty like that? 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:39.840 We live in a world so caught up, so outside driven. 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:44.559 And I want to tell you, there's beauty all around, but we look at the corruptible beauty. 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:47.200 That word there, Mary had that incorruptible beauty. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:50.960 That word is apothartos, and it means immortal. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:52.879 She had immortal beauty. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:53.679 What is immortal? 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:54.799 Where does immortal come from? 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:56.159 It comes from God. 00:08:56.399 --> 00:08:58.320 That is the only thing immortal. 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:01.360 That kind of beauty comes from a walk with God. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:11.440 Let me tell you, seeing the looks on people's faces as they were getting baptized, there's a God beauty just coming over their being. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:15.039 And you know if you've been around somebody like that. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:17.279 Mary was beautiful. 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:18.960 She was unassuming. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:25.519 I want to tell you today, church, you cannot be full of this corruptible world and be full of God. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:30.080 The outside cannot be full of you and you be full of God. 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:32.159 Mary was unassuming. 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:37.679 Jesus would one day be born in a lowly, unassuming manger. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:39.519 Let me tell you this verse. 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:44.559 Matthew 11, 28 says this Come to me, you who are weak and heavy laden, I'll give you rest. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:48.080 Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly. 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:50.240 That word, unassuming. 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:55.919 Maybe in your family you have some Christmas exchanges. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:57.440 It's a fun time. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:59.440 And I'm involved in them every year. 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:03.519 But it's funny to think about the different exchanges and games that we play. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:04.639 How about white elephant? 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:05.919 Y'all played white elephant? 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:08.240 I don't even know what that means when it comes to gift. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:10.000 Why is it called white elephant? 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:16.879 But anyway, white elephant pretty much means you go grab some trash out your house and bring it wrapped up for a gift, right? 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:18.480 Like I've given some trash. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:24.080 I've made posters of myself and given it to people in white elephant. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:25.600 Big giant posters of myself. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:27.360 I'm like, this is a terrible gift, right? 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:30.799 And so, white elephant, what about Dirty Santa? 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:32.480 Doesn't that just sound wrong? 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:34.240 It sounds disgusting. 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:41.120 Anyway, we're gonna play it tonight as a church staff, but Dirty Santa! Everybody gets mad at each other and steals gifts. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:44.879 What a novel Christmas idea! Right? 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:46.639 Dirty Santa. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:52.799 Let me tell you a verse about the greatest Christmas exchange that's ever happened. 00:10:53.039 --> 00:11:04.159 2 Corinthians 8 9 says, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you might become rich. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:15.200 Jesus made himself lowly and unassuming so that you and I could choose a relationship and walk with him and forever have an inheritance of eternal gain. 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:20.960 Mary was heavenly accepted to carry Jesus. 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:24.159 Hear me, church, because she was unassuming. 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:25.759 She passed the test. 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.200 Do you? 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:30.159 Passed the test. 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:37.279 Letter be is this Mary was unmarried and undefiled. 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:43.840 This is really bedrock importance to our faith that Mary was unmarried and undefiled. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:45.200 Look at verse 27. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:52.080 It says, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph. 00:11:52.320 --> 00:12:04.000 Now, betrothal was a binding contract between two families, and it was seen as good as marriage, but up to this point it was still just a betrothal, and it hadn't commenced in the wedding day. 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:08.799 It usually lasted 12 months with a wedding ceremony that would follow. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:12.799 So Mary was not yet wed, and she was pure. 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:18.559 I want to tell you, and I can't emphasize enough for us that this is bedrock to Christianity. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:26.879 Skeptics have argued the word virgin, meaning just young, uh, not meaning that she was sexually pure. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:34.720 In fact, Richard Dawkins has a quote I wanted you to see, and pull that quote up from Richard Dawkins about what we say. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:45.519 A very known atheist, the virgin birth, the resurrection, the raising of Lazarus, even Old Testament miracles are all freely used for religious propaganda. 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:50.159 And they're very effective with an audience of unsophisticates and children. 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:55.919 Like we are just full of it to a lost skeptical world. 00:12:56.080 --> 00:13:00.000 And I want to tell you, there's some problems that persist. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.320 If virgin just means young. 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:04.240 Let me tell you a handful of problems that persist. 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:05.039 There's probably more. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:10.159 Number one, if Mary is not a virgin, then this is not true. 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:14.960 First of all, this book is not true if Mary is not a virgin. 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:19.360 Number two, if she was not a virgin, then Mary is a liar. 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:26.879 Number three, if Mary was not a virgin, she was unfaithful to her future husband Joseph. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:33.600 Number four, if Mary was not a virgin, then Jesus Christ is an illegitimate child. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:42.639 And number five, if Mary was not a virgin, then Jesus himself, his claims were insane, and he was as well. 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:45.200 It's bedrock. 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:47.279 And let me tell you the scary thing, church. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:14:07.519 I was looking through some statistics this week, even though this has been affirmed in the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed in these councils, and all the way dates back to the early church, you see the use of the virgin birth, and 66%, pew research says, 66% of Christians observe the virgin birth. 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:11.279 I'm like, what are the other 44% doing? 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:16.000 What determines a Christian if 66% of Christians? 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:21.279 Because if you take out the virgin birth, there's a whole lot of other things that become fallacious. 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:24.559 And so we need to understand this is bedrock. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:27.120 Its vital foundations are this. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:31.200 Jesus Christ was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:33.919 Not sexual relationship with a man. 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:37.440 Mary was absolutely an unwed virgin. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:40.720 Here what Dale Partrid had to say about this. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:45.759 He said, if Jesus Christ were born of Joseph, he would have had original sin. 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:51.600 He would have been born physically corrupted, spiritually dead, sinful and cursed. 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:56.639 If that were the case, Jesus Christ could not pay for the sins of others. 00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:00.240 He would have had to pay for his own sins with his own life. 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:05.679 Therefore, the cross would not be a moment of redemption, but simply the passing away of another sinner. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:09.360 As a result, there be no justification for faith. 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:11.679 There be no redemption that could be bought by his blood. 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:13.840 No wrath could be satisfied by his death. 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:17.440 And no resurrection could occur to validate his righteousness. 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:21.519 The Virgin Mary is essential to Christianity, church. 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:23.600 It's essential. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:24.879 Part two is this. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:29.279 Point number two this morning, Mary was highly afraid. 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:31.679 Look there at verse 28. 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:37.840 And having come in, the angel said to her, Rejoice. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.240 Highly favored one, the Lord is with you. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:42.159 Blessed are you among women. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:42.960 Verse 29. 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:45.600 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his say. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:47.440 She was troubled. 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:52.720 That word troubled is de teraso, and it means to disturb holy. 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:56.480 Mary had like a full-on moment of panic. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:58.240 She was perplexed. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:01.919 Have you ever had a moment like that, just fully troubled? 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:06.559 The other week we were leaving for the murder mystery that happened here at the church. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:10.240 And if you're visiting, we're not weird, okay? 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.799 It was a Christian event, okay? 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:13.919 It was good. 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:23.919 Heather and I were leaving, and Heather saw somebody as we were pulling down the drive and headed towards the church, and she said, They looked shady. 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:29.840 So she immediately calls Callie, who's at home watching other kids, and she says, Callie, we saw somebody. 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:35.600 And Callie walks to the door and she said, Mom, there's some shadows moving. 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:37.200 I'm like, Oh, okay. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.960 I'm I'm just I'm good. 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.399 Like, did they stay? 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:41.360 Have they knocked? 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:42.240 Anything happened? 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:43.519 I'm continuing on down the road. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.039 And she says, Rick, turn around. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.919 We gotta turn around. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:47.120 I'm like, oh my goodness. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:48.960 We hadn't got two minutes down the road. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:51.120 And the kids have had enough, they have they don't lie. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:17:02.399 So we turn around and we come up, and I mean to tell you, we pull up, and there are two menacing Amazon packages at the door. 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:07.680 I mean, just causing a ruckus Amazon is in the neighborhood near you. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:10.319 She was shook. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:13.920 But give Mary some credit, verse 28. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:19.839 It says, and having come in, that means the angel just came in to enter, to make an appearance. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.559 Out of where? 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.279 I don't know. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:24.319 And I don't know what Gabriel looked like, but boom, there he is. 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:27.359 And Mary is full of trouble. 00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:30.319 Well, why was she so full of trouble? 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:32.160 It says that she was troubled at his words. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:35.920 Letter A, because Mary had questions of worth. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:43.200 Again, verse 28, the angel came in, but it said, Thou favored one. 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.880 Thou art highly favored. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:49.680 That word favored Harahito, and it means endued with a special blessing. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:53.759 And Mary looked around when he said, Thou art highly favored, and she looked. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:55.599 Is there another Mary? 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:58.079 Because I'm from Nazareth. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:02.880 And she looked around, and those words caused her fear. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.640 What did that mean? 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:10.160 What manner of greeting is this from a ghost or whatever it is I'm seeing? 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:12.240 Isn't it interesting? 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:16.880 The very people who deserve favor are often the least likely to assume it. 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:19.519 I'll say that again. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:23.759 The very people who deserve favor are often the least likely to assume it. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:27.359 The angel says to her, Two times, you have found favor. 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:29.119 Grace with God. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:34.960 She was about to become very unfavored in the eyes of her community. 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:38.640 A pregnant, unwed teenager from Nazareth. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:40.319 How was that favored? 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:42.160 She had some questions. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:47.119 How can I have favor? 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:56.000 I was thinking, I've shared this illustration before, but there's an illustration of a turtle on a fence post. 00:18:56.160 --> 00:19:00.480 If you see a turtle on a fence post, you have to assume some things. 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:04.000 One, that turtle didn't get there on its own. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:09.839 I've compared that to God bringing Heather and I here to the church at Chelsea West over. 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:10.559 Dr. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:15.359 Lovett and his wife Susan are here today, and Pastor Danny, amen. 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:21.039 He was president of the seminary at Liberty University. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:23.920 I mean, they have a black book a mile long. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.440 It just unfolds. 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:27.519 And have been all over. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.799 And God has used them and used them. 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:34.880 And that was who I followed into this place. 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:40.000 My black book has three names Pastor Danny and call Pastor Danny's friends. 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:47.680 But then I think back, my pastor before that, Pastor John Reynolds. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.559 It's just funny. 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.839 John is a pastor. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.279 John's dad is a pastor. 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.799 John's uncle is a pastor. 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:55.519 And John's brother was a pastor. 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:59.599 And I'm like, when you see a turtle on a fence post, you know one thing. 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:01.039 God put it there. 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:04.079 God had to do something. 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:07.359 And I am, listen, I'm not sad or disappointed. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:09.599 I'm not trying to be humble about this. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:12.799 I am so glad to be the pastor of the church at Chelsea Westover. 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:14.160 But I want to tell you something. 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:16.640 I'm here by divine appointment. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:19.519 God went like this. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:25.119 And I don't know everything, church, but I know how to love Jesus. 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:26.480 And I love him. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:28.079 And I'm so grateful. 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.599 I've not merited this. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:31.440 Heather and I prayed for it. 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:32.880 But I want to tell you something. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:36.799 Value is determined by who makes the product. 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:37.599 Yeah. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.559 That's good. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:39.920 Who makes the product? 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:43.200 You might be here today and you're questioning your worth today. 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.720 Like Mary was. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.680 How what? 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.880 Highly favored? 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:49.359 How how what do what are we talking about here? 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:55.039 And I want you to know, church, your worth today is not wrapped up in something on the outside. 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:57.920 What the world might tell you that's on the outside. 00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:03.759 1 Samuel 16, 7 says, man looks on the outside appearance, but God looks on the heart. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.160 Listen to me. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:17.279 It's not about somebody's approval or your mom or dad's approval or about your kids or about some occupation or about something the enemy's been whispering in your ear about your worth. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:22.000 I know, listen to me, that the world wants to cut you down and make you small. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:26.880 But here's the question you need today: who is your father? 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.160 That's good. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:32.240 When we were in the old church building, I wasn't here very long. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:34.559 I'm trying to make a good impression. 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:37.599 And my job when I first started was to give announcements. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:42.559 Everybody, listen, announcements, look, no, every y'all stop listening after one. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:44.400 Look, nobody likes that part. 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.920 Everybody wants to preach. 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:49.680 But I had to give announcements, and what I'm still trying to make a good impression. 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:56.400 And one day the whole church, all of them watched as my son, at three or four years old, ran down the aisle. 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:59.200 Not one person decided, there's one of the preachers' kids. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.759 Let me grab. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.400 Him. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:02.319 Let me stop him from causing a ruckus. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:08.079 He ran down, got all the way down the aisle, up the steps, and there I am, and I'm just like, oh no. 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:13.839 And he came up and he just got up on there and he just wanted to stand with daddy. 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:16.400 And you know what? 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:20.640 He figured I was his dad, and he had the right to be next to me. 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.920 And guess what? 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:22.880 He did. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:26.400 And I wouldn't shoo him away, I wouldn't push him off. 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:30.480 He stood there with me and he gave announcements with me the rest of that time. 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:31.839 He was right. 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:35.279 He knew who his father was. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:41.599 Our worth, church, Genesis 1.27, we were made in the image of God. 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:47.920 Psalms 139 says that before you were ever born, before you were formed, he had a purpose for you. 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:49.440 It's from God. 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:51.200 And he cared so much. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.640 This is a time to hear this. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:55.119 He cared so much about your worth. 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:58.559 He had so much value in you that he sent Jesus Christ his son. 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:07.039 That even though you were going to mess up that we were frail and sinful, that he would send a redeemer for you and for me. 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:10.319 John 3 16, he sent Jesus to cover you. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:13.359 Our worth comes from our identity in God. 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:16.400 So Mary had some legitimate questions of worth. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:19.519 Well, she had questions, let her be, of wonderment. 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:22.079 Look down at verse 34 through 37. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:34.400 Then Mary said to the angel, first she said, How can it be me? 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:35.440 Verse 34. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:38.079 Then Mary said to the angel, How can this be? 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:40.240 Since I do not know a man. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:46.319 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the highest will overshadow you. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:50.960 Therefore, also that holy one who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:58.880 Now indeed, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.640 Look at these words, underline them. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:05.200 For with God nothing will be impossible. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:09.440 With God, nothing will be impossible. 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:11.759 Mary asks an easy, simple question. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.279 I haven't been with a man. 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.799 How can this be? 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:17.759 Further cementing her status as a virgin. 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:22.480 She says, How can I have an how can I have a baby if I haven't known a man? 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:24.559 It's an honest question. 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:29.680 Mary wasn't asking in her humanity, how can God do something? 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:32.559 She was saying, How can I be involved in this? 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:36.079 And the angel responds, It's not yours to do. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:38.480 Hear me, church. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:46.000 What God needs so often is a clean and empty vessel, willing and fit to be a servant of God. 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:47.759 And she says, How can I do this? 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:49.359 And he says, No, no, no, no, no. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:51.920 Wait a second, ma'am, sir. 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:55.039 You don't have to worry about the how. 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:57.039 Just worry about the who. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:00.079 It's not too much for God. 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:15.680 Because we learn from this story, God can place the Savior of the world in human history through a meager, lowly, unassuming virgin girl, through the power of the Holy Spirit, through an empty and clean vessel. 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:16.799 Hear me. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:19.920 Don't miss the weight, the enormity of this. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:30.960 The greatest person in human history, the centerpiece to human history came through this empty vessel. 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:33.519 Don't lose your wonder. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.839 She had wonder about this. 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:37.039 How could this happen? 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:39.759 Well, there's been a song made famous. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:41.599 I want you to hear some pieces. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:44.160 We talked about this being being Mary's song. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:49.440 This is a song that comes on at Christmas time, but made famous by Amy Grant. 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:52.720 And I think these lines would be appropriate for you to hear. 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:55.519 We're going to hear one part of it and then pause, and then we'll come back. 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:58.480 Listen to this line from Breath of Heaven. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:27:19.200 Many cold with the side and that's the book. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:37.759 Did you see those words? 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:42.559 I wonder what I have done. 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:46.079