This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Praise From The Soul", 12/8/13

 

 

 

PRAISE FROM THE SOUL

 

Luke 1:46-56

 

V:46. " And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord."

 A. When we think about how good the Lord has been to us, we ought to give Him praise

      from the depths of our hearts.

    1. Mary rejoiced because God chose her to be the earthly mother of Jesus.

    2. Mary rejoiced because she was a vessel in God's divine plan of redemption.

    3. The word exalt or magnify is the Greek word "megaluno" which means "to show

        great."

        a. Mary celebrated the greatness of the Lord.

 B. We are all part of God's divine plan of redemption.

    1. We have all been chosen by God for a specific purpose.

    2. We have reason to rejoice because God chose us for heaven.

    3. We serve a God that is great and that is the reason to celebrate.

    4. God is greater than anything we can think of.  

 

V:47. " And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."

 A. Mary was excited to be chosen to be the mother of the Messiah.

     1. God saved her from an ordinary life into an extraordinary life.

     2. God chose her above all other women to bare the Savior of the world.

 B. God has chosen us out of the world to have a relationship with the Savior.

     1. We are God's divine selection to have eternal joy.

     2. We should rejoice in the spirit with the Lord.

     3. It is  by God's grace and mercy that He saved us from ourselves.

 

V:48. "For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed."

 A. Mary considered herself as a slave to the Lord.

      1. Mary considered herself free only to do what the Lord wanted her to do.

      2. Mary did not consider herself as being lifted up but in a low estate.

      3. Everybody is special to the Lord regardless of their condition.

 B. Mary realized how blessed she was having been chosen for this special task of

     baring the Son Of God.

     1. For all time, Mary will be remembered for having been chosen by God for

         the awesome task of carrying Jesus in her womb for 9 months.

     2. Mary had the opportunity of being the shepherd of Jesus.

         a. Mary heard His first words.

         b. Mary saw Jesus take His first steps.

         c. Mary had a relationship with Jesus that only a mother could experience.

 

V:49.  "For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. "

  A. Mary became a pregnant single woman.

      1. According to Jewish Law, she broke a sacred  vow.

  2. She was subject to being scorn by her community.

  3. Mary was not bounded by law, tradition or her community.

      a. Mary's devotion was to the Lord.

      b. Mary did not worry about any consequences of carrying the Holy Child.

  4. Mary gave God the praise for doing a great thing to her.

      a. Mary expressed her gratitude to the Father for His divine favor.

B. God has shown all believers divine favor by giving us a mission.

     a. Like Mary, we all are vessels for God's use.

     b. Like Mary, we all have a cross to bare for Jesus Christ.

     c. Like Mary, the Mighty One has done great things for us.

 

V:50.  "AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM."

 A. God delights in those who are obedient to Him.

     1. God delights in those who reverence Him.

 B. The mercy of  the Lord is upon all believers.

     1. God loves His people.

     2. The mercy of the Lord endures forever.

 

V:51 "He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart."

A. The God we serve is spirit.

     1. The works of the all powerful God are often described as being executed with

         human attributes.

        a. The arm and the hand of the Lord are described as being used to bring about the

            plagues against the Egyptians (Ex 3:20, Ex 15:16).

        b. God is described as having a mind and a heart.

    2.  During the creation God spoke and the world came into existence.

 B. We cannot adequately describe the power of God or His operation in the World.

    1. What we do know is the heavens and the earth declare his glory.

    2. All around us is the works of the Lord.

C. Mary carried the spirit of Jesus in her body.

    1. She was under divine influence.

    2. She carried supernatural knowledge in her body.

       a. In this Psalm, she spoke of the mighty works of the Lord that she had not  

           experienced.

       b. Israel was under Roman occupation long before her birth.

       c. Mary had not experienced God scattering the proud.

       d. She spoke with confidence and conviction.

       e. Her words were influenced by the spirit of the Lord within her.

    3. She carried the source of all power in her body.

    4. She carried the source of all joy in her body.

    5. She carried the author of peace in her body.

 D. Mary had the protection of God surrounding her.

    1. Mary was under divine guidance.

 E. When we study and meditate on the Word, we are under divine guidance and

      influence.

    1. When we study the Word, we are covered by the protection of the Lord.

    2. When we speak, we should let our conversation be guided by the Holy Spirit. 

 

V:52 "He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.

 A. With the divine Word within her, Mary spoke of what God had done in the

       past with clarity.

    1. With the divine Word within her, Mary had a full understanding of the victories

         of the Lord over evil.

    2. With the divine Word within her, Mary had a full understanding of God elevating

         the humble and bring down the proud.

 B. With the divine Word within her, Mary's mind was quicken with the Lord.

 

V:53. "HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed."

 A. With the divine Word with in Her, Mary was filled with compassion.

      1. Mary understood how God feeds those who thirst for Him.

      2. Mary was poor in substance, but rich in the spirit.

      3. Mary carried the kingdom of God within her.

      4. Mary had access to all riches of heaven.

 B. All believers are rich in the spirit of the Lord.

     1.  All believers have access to the riches of heaven.

     2. All believers are the product of the compassion of Jesus.

     3. We maybe empty by the world's standards, but we are rich in the Lord.

         a. We are rich in His grace.

         b. We are rich in His mercy.

         c. We are rich in His love.

 

V:54 "He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy."

  A. We are all part of the nation of Israel through our faith in Jesus Christ.

       1. Israel, as a nation rejected Christ as their Savior.

       2. Christ grieved for Israel, yet He promised that all Israel would be saved.

  B. We don't deserve Jesus because of our sins. Yet He died for us.

       1. The mercy of the Lord endures forever.

       2. Because of His mercy, we have a duty and an obligation to serve Him.

       3. We should always remember that heaven is our destination because of Jesus

            death on the cross.

   C. Jesus is our present help.

 

     1. Jesus is all we need.

     2. When everybody fails us, Jesus is there.

     3. What a friend we have in Jesus.

     4. He promised that He would never leave us or forsake us.

     5. There is no greater love than a man who lays down his life for his friends.

     6. The good thing about Jesus is He laid down His life, then He took it up

         again. 

 

V:55. " As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever."

  A. The Word of the Lord is forever.

      1. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words are Eternal".

      2. Jesus never changes. He is same to day as He was yesterday and as He is

          forever.

  B.  The good news about Jesus is that He is all about us.

     1. He is the only sacrifice worthy of the atonement of our sins.

     2. Not only is Jesus the atonement for our sins, but the sins of the whole world.

 

V:56. " And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home."

  A. Jesus was a friend to Mary.

       1. Mary was a friend to Elizabeth.

       2. A good friend shows up when you need him/her.

  B. A good friend gives encouragement when it is need.

       1. A good friend shares in the joy of others.

       2. A good friend shares his/her testimony of the goodness of God.

  C. A good friend knows when to go home.

      1. A good friend want wear out his/her welcome.

      2. A good friend knows when to give advice.

      3. A good friend knows when to leave so that the other can meditate on

          his/her advice.

      4. A good friend knows when he/she has done what God expects.

 D. Mary went home to share the blessing of God with her family.

     1. We can't neglect our home while doing good for others.

     2. Our families need to hear a word from God through us.