Bed, Bath, and Bethleham

Did you know that your mouth can mess up your destiny?   That's why God closed Zechariah's mouth (Elizabeth's husband) for 9 months. 

Is you mouth in agreement to what God is saying about you?   Your unbelieving words can halt what God is trying to do in your life.

Don't let your experience drag down your belief.  What you say matters.  Words are containers of power.  

We're about to listen in to a conversation between two pregnant women, Mary and Elizabeth. 

Luke 1:45-55 (NLT)

45 (Elizabeth Speaking to Mary) You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

There is a connection between your believing and God's blessings. Whatever God says to you.  He will make it good if you'll just believe Him.

46 Mary responded,

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
47     How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

1. Mary Had Unspeakable Joy!

Rejoice is choice. It is not based upon circumstances, but it is based upon what's going on inside of you. 

Consider Mary's circumstances. She was engaged, but not married.  She was pregnant, and could be stoned.

  

The angel spoke to Mary alone.  Who would believer her?  Would her fiance believe her?  In that moment, her world was turned upside down. 

If you're going to have joy, you're going to have to do it by choice, and not on circumstances.

  

Make a decision to be the most joyful person that you know.  Our joy was not given by the world, so the world can't take our joy from us. 

Are you fun to hang out with?  Ask the people who know you the most.  How often do you laugh?   

Have you lost the art of joy and celebration?  Don't hang your happiness on the hook of what's happening?

You are responsible for your faith.  We must make the life that we want with the life that we have. 

48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One is holy,
    and he has done great things for me.
50 He shows mercy from generation to generation
    to all who fear him.

2. God gives unmerited grace.  

Mary was a lowly servant girl, but God sees what everyone else misses.  Mary became a giant of faith in the Bible. 

Grace is the strength of God coming to you.  To do what you can't do yourself.  Has God done great things for you?

  

Recognize what God has done and tell other people about it. There's something about rehearsing what God has done. 

The grace of God blesses you in spite of you.  Not because we're good, but because God is good. 

  

51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
    He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 He has brought down princes from their thrones
    and exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away with empty hands.

3. God is unbiased and just.

Mary recognized the power of God.  God will take the wrong and make it right. 

God is so powerful that He will save you with just one arm.

    

Watch out during the holidays not to rehearse the pain of the past.  Surrender your need to be right, and rely on God's justice.  

54 He has helped his servant Israel
    and remembered to be merciful.
55 For he made this promise to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and his children forever.”

4. Mary remembered God amazing faithfulness.  

She referred to Scripture 13 times in this song. Mary was a student of God's Word.  

There was 400 years of silence since the last visitation from God, and God broke His silence to the lowly servant girl, Mary.  

Don't be discouraged if your prayers in 2018 are still unanswered.   Delay does not mean denial.  

When we pray, our prayer has no expiration date.  Just because the year changes.  Does not mean they are unanswered. 

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT)

20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

Mike Haman, Healing Place Church