Archives for December 2015

In Luke 1:51-55 Mary breaks out in worship declaring all the wonderful things God has done. Verses 51-44 each begin with “He has…” because in each verse she worshipfully declares something great He (God) has done. This is actually why this section of Scripture is called The Magnificat, which is Latin for “My soul magnifies.” In these verses Mary’s soul worshipfully magnifies the greatness and glory of God. In worship she proclaims, “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. ⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. ⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. ⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful ⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” This is Mary’s response to God inviting her to participate in his wonderful plan of salvation – she worships! She’s honored and overwhelmed and thankful all at the same time, and her gratitude just wells up within her until she bursts forth with praise!

When I think about how my two best friends growing up have become my brother in laws, and co-founders of the church – and how all our kids are now best friends (as we were growing up) – and how we’re using our lives to point people to Jesus – it’s hard not to well up with gratitude and worship!

When we surrender to God, we must do so joyfully and humbly, we must do so expectantly and fearfully. But let us not forget the great privilege it is to be called by God to partner with him in helping people come to know Jesus. Let us never forget that of all the ways we’re to surrender to God’s will, we must never fail to surrender to God’s will worshipfully! Mary had an attitude of gratitude that God had called her into his service. Well, the same is true of each one of us, so we ought to have that same attitude of gratitude that she had!!!!

Mary said in Luke 1:50, “His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.” The question begs: What does it mean to fear God? Some people believe that to fear God is to respect God. While respect is definitely included in the concept of fearing God, there is more to it than that. A biblical fear of God, for the believer, includes understanding how much God hates sin and fearing His discipline when we rebel against his will instead of surrendering to it.

I had a healthy fear of my father growing up. I knew that if I stepped out of line, I would be disciplined. Was my dad’s discipline motivated by love? Yes! But that didn’t make it hurt any less! 🙂 Likewise, my kids have a healthy fear of me. They know that if they are disobedient, disrespectful, or destructive, they will be disciplined. Is my discipline motivated by love? Absolutely! But does that make it hurt any less? Nope! 🙂

In the same way, we ought to have a healthy fear of God. If we step out of line, God will discipline us. Hebrews 12:6 says “…the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son…” Is God’s discipline motivated by love? Yes! But that doesn’t make it hurt any less! 🙂 As children, the fear of discipline from our parents no doubt prevented some rebellious actions. Well, the same should be true in our relationship with God. We should fear His discipline, and therefore seek to live our lives in such a way that pleases Him. Mary obeyed motivated by a healthy fear of her Heavenly Father. The same should be true of us.

Mary said in Luke 1:48-49, “From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.” Mary now contemplates the future impact of her present decision to surrender to God’s will. She fully expects that her surrender in the present will positively impact future generations for the glory of God.

Back in 1905 a Christian woman named Mabel Weaver sensed that God was leading her to start a new church right here in Springfield. She surrendered to God’s will and built Peace Chapel at the corner of Springfield and Armory Streets. In 1919 they changed their name to Bethany Fellowship Chapel. In 1924 they changed their name to Bethany Pentecostal Church. In 1954 they changed their name to Bethany Assembly of God. This is the church I grew up attending. That’s the church I got saved at as a kid. I left that church to attend Bible college and then moved back to the area to start another church that would also help people come to faith in Christ. The kids pastor at Bethany, as I was growing up, was a man named Brian Tracey. He too left Bethany to start another church in Wilbraham that is reaching people far from God with the good news that Jesus saves. And there have been many others that have been raised up there and then sent out to make a difference for Jesus in the world, nationally and internationally. But all these good things that are bringing glory to God and all these things are advancing his kingdom on this earth, all started with someone that none of us ever even met. All this good goes back to Mabel Weaver. It’s 110 years later since she surrendered, but future generations continue to be impacted for the glory of God!

This is what Mary realized would happen with her. She knew that her surrender in the present would positively impact future generations for the glory of God. And the same is true with us! Friends – when you partner with your local church through your giving and serving and inviting your friends – you’re investing in something that will far outlive you – something that will continue to reach people for Jesus long after you’re gone. This is why, by far, the best investment you can make with you life, is an investment in your local church! And the greater your investment now, the greater the good that will result later (in future generations). Mary was all in and look how God used her! What about you? Are you fully invested? Are you giving, serving and inviting your friends? The degree to which you invest is the degree to which you’ll impact future generations for the glory of God and the good of his kingdom! This is what you can expect if you surrender your life for the good of the local church.

Mary said in Luke 1:48, My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior “…for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” Now the question begs: What is humility? Here’s my user-friendly definition: Humility is deciding God knows best. Mary demonstrated humility when she determined that God knew best and that his plans for her life were much better than her own. This is the essence of humility – deciding that God knows best, not you.

Two weeks ago I thought I knew best and found out otherwise. Two weeks ago I had started to get sick so I told my wife I was heading to the Stop & Shop Pharmacy to get some Emergen-C (which is a packet full of vitamin C that you mix into water and then drink). I thought it would prevent me from plunging into full blown sickness. She said it was a waste of money and didn’t do anything to prevent people from getting sick, but I didn’t believe her so I headed out to the store. When I got there I said to the Pharmacist “I’m trying to ward off a cold. Where can I find some Emergen-C?” The Pharmacist said “That’s a total waste of money in my opinion. It doesn’t do anything to prevent you from getting sick.” Instead of drinking Emergen-C, I ate crow! lol

In pride, we sometimes act towards God the way I acted towards my wife. When we resist God’s will we send the message to God “I think I know better than You.” When we resist God’s will we send the message to God “I think I am smarter than You.” Through willful disobedience we, the creation, claim we know better than our Creator. And that’s pride, which is the opposite of humility. Pride keeps us believing the lie that there couldn’t possibly be a greater source of wisdom in the universe than our own.

Well Mary chose the way of humility. She didn’t understand what God was asking her to do, which is why she asked the angel “How will this be since I am a virgin?” Things didn’t make sense. And sometimes the things God tells us to do in the Bible don’t appear to make much sense. “Forgive? That’s crazy God! Don’t you realize what they’ve done to me!?” Sometimes God’s commands are the opposite of what we would naturally want to do. But this is where humility comes into play. When, like Mary, we don’t understand, we humbly surrender, by firmly concluding in our hearts and minds that God knows best. James 4:6 says that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” That means you have two options: Be humble or be humbled. If you choose the path of humility God will pour out his grace in your situation and you’ll be very pleased with the results of following God’s way. On the other hand, if you’re proud, God won’t hesitate to let you learn the hard way that He knows better than you. Friends – let’s be like Mary! Let’s not learn the hard way! Let’s choose the path of humble surrender so God can pour out his grace in our lives!

Mary said in Luke 1:46-47 “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” The English word “rejoice” here is the translation of the Greek word ἀγαλλιάω which means “to be extremely joyful.” Mary didn’t begrudgingly surrender to God’s will for her life, she surrendered joyfully!

We must guard against surrendering begrudgingly, like Cornwallis did to Washington during the American Revolution in 1781. At Yorktown, VA Washington defeated Cornwallis and forced his surrender. But Cornwallis so resented Washington and the fact that he, a great military General of the British army had to surrender to the rag tag band of revolutionaries, that he refused to attend the surrender ceremony. Pleading illness, he sent his sword of surrender to Washington via his second-in-command, General Charles O’Hara. And like Cornwallis, the British soldiers also surrendered reluctantly, against their will. As they marched out to surrender, the British band played the song “The World Turned Upside Down.” Though they were surrendering outwardly, this song showed the inward resistance in their hearts.

Our surrendering to God’s will is a lot like our giving to the work of the Lord – it has to be done a certain way for God to accept it. When it comes to giving the Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). It’s not enough just to give in the Christmas Offering – for God to accept the gift as an act of worship for which you’ll be rewarded, you have to give willingly and cheerfully. In the same way, when it comes to surrendering to God’s will for our lives, for God to accept it as an act of worship, we have to do it willingly and cheerfully, as Mary did.

Friends – can I tell you that begrudging surrender is not the kind of surrender God wants from us! God isn’t pleased with outward obedience but inward resistance, inward resentment, inward reluctance. So I ask you: Do you read your Bible and pray joyfully? Or do you practice the spiritual disciplines begrudgingly? Do you drive to your growth group each week joyfully or reluctantly? Is it a chore or a time you cherish? Do you give of your time and talent and treasure joyfully or resentfully? Do you view it as a burden or a blessing? Do you share your faith out of a sense of duty, or is it a delight?

The kind of surrender that’s pleasing to God is the kind Mary had. She surrendered to God’s will joyfully! And that’s what God wants from us as well!