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Moya Lethbridge. Sermon

Luke 1:46-55

Young married man  “We are pregnant”

Not me nor men.  What has song of pregnant teenager 2000years ago have to do with us?  Sung for 100’s of years – what mean?

Talking about me and you – our song.

Corinthians “First the natural then the spiritual”

Mary a baby – us new birth (!) of Holy Spirit – presence of Jesus within.

Vv46-49 new birth in us cause for rejoicing.  “God has remembered me and you”.

God’s happy people – because he has come to dwell within

“Rejoice in the Lord always”.

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels” (or paper cups).

Lovers of Jesus find him a treasure.

Charles Wesley c600 hymns to Jesus – Jesu lover of my soul

And can it be.  Ye servants of God

Charles Spurgeon “Behold the Lamb of God…” power from coming like bride to Jesus

But requires humility vv50-52

The proud and their plans are me and you.  I want to run my own life.  Holy Spirit cuts across my plans.

Fear of surrender – ask me to be a missionary in Africa – or ask next door neighbour to back to church Sunday.  Face fear and say with Mary “I am the Lord’s servant…”

She went home to shame, possible death, gossip, “yeah right…”, troubles of  travel, birth in stable, Herod, Egypt – not her plans but God’s.

Also Roman Empire – gone but young girl in backwater of empire remembered.  Nothing to Caesar, everything to God.

V53 Hunger needed – if not hungry – rich!  Hunger to do God’s will – this is righteousness.  Mary had it – have I?

When I allow Jesus to grow within, hunger grows.

“He must increase, I must decrease”.

Vv54-55 God keeping promises – we are Abraham’s descendants by faith – meant to grow up from new birth.  Paul to Corinthian babies, Hebrews milk or solid food?

To reproduce this experience of Mary in others! 

Stephen Lungu “Everyday I am pregnant with someone to be born”

The power of the Holy Spirit in the surrendered life.

Life-giving!

Am I growing the life of Jesus within?