Magnify the Lord

Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Even at the cross, Jesus looked on the humble

Luke 23:39–43 ESV

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:

1 Peter 5:5–6 ESV

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

So, we find criminals and outcasts forgiven; lepers healed

We find that Israel was not chosen for her might or wealth

We find Mary, not for her perfections, but for the glory of God chosen to be the vessel to bring Messiah to Earth

And now we have you and I, when and where we realize our own meekness and humble ourselves, it is then that God intercedes and we are rightly called blessed.

Luke 1:48 ESV

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

His Mercy extends over generations

Luke 1:50 ESV

And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

Before we speak of mercy, let us consider justice

Exodus 34:7 ESV

keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Deuteronomy 5:9 ESV

You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

Romans 5:12 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

The consequences of our sins can reach downstream long after we have gone, but thanks be to God for His mercy

Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,

We are indebted to the grace and mercy of God not only in our lives, but in the preceding generations before us

His Strength is unmatched

Luke 1:51–53 ESV

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

Who brought Israel out of Egypt?

Exodus 15:1 ESV

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

Who crumbled the walls of Jericho?

Who slew the giant Goliath, overthrowing the Philistines?

1sam 45

1 Samuel 17:45 ESV

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

Who empowered the Greeks and the Romans?

John 19:11 ESV

Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

Who kept Jesus alive amid the slaughter of infants?

Matthew 2:12–13 ESV

And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

Matthew 2:12 ESV

And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

So Mary recognized, and so should we recognize that the strength of the Lord is unmatched. He is able to do what He says, to the inclusion of saving and keeping souls for eternity.

His Help is present for His People

Luke 1:54–55 ESV

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Psalm 46:1 ESV

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The World

Matthew 5:45 ESV

so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Revelation 5:9 ESV

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

His People

Exodus 12:30 ESV

And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead.

Exodus 14:30 ESV

Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

ex 1

Isaiah 43:3–4 ESV

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

The Lord is not some kind of cosmic genie to be commanded by whomever, but rather He is God and Lord and Savior to those who are His. The greatest help given to unbelievers is the opportunity to hear and believe the gospel.

His Christ

Was foretold - Over 400 specific prophecies in the OT

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Was Born

Luke 2:10–11 ESV

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11–12 ESV

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

lk 2:12-13

Was Crucified, Buried, and risen

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Is coming!

John 14:1–3 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Advent 1 - The Promise Keeping God (Jer 33)

Advent 2 - Preparing to see the salvation of God ()

Advent 3 - Ordinary Expectations, Ordinary Means, Extraordinary Grace ()

Today, we with Mary do seek to magnify The Lord because of what He HAS done, what He IS doing, and for what He WILL do. He is returning to make all things right. To end suffering, to take His own to be with Him forever.

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