author: Ryan Hayden Take your Bibles with me and turn again to Luke 1. Luke 1. We are going to be looking at verses 39 to 55 in a minute and we are going to be talking about "how to worship God." "How to worship God."
As you are turning there, I want to ask you something:
- Do you ever look around and get discouraged?
- Do you think about your current situation and get down?
- Maybe you think about how you personally are a failure in some way you wish you weren't - man the world is good at making us feel like failures isn't it?
- Maybe you think about how you wish you were further along spiritually?
- Maybe you are going through some personal trial or many personal trials?
- Maybe you are struggling with some health issue?
- Maybe it's a personal issue - some area where you want victory but it isn't coming?
- Maybe your situation seems impossible?
I think we all get there sometimes. I know I've experienced some very high highs and some very low lows. Sometimes I feel in my weakest moments like nothing is going to work out. I feel like a boxer who has been worked into the corner and I'm just taking blow after blow - and it's all I can do just to stay standing up.
What do we do in those moments? Can I suggest a medicine today?
Worship. Worshipping God.
Worshipping God takes your mind off of you and reminds you that you aren't in control - God is. It reminds you that God keeps His promises and is looking out for you. Worshipping God reminds you of what is truly important.
So I want to talk about how to worship God today.
Back in Luke 1 - Mary, the mother of our Lord, has just learned from the angel Gabriel that she is going to be the first and only virgin born mother in human history.
Most likely, she was very young. Girls got married around 13 or 14 in those years. Most likely, she had very little education. She came from a small nowhere town in a despised part of Israel and she was poor.
But she was a remarkably godly girl. A remarkably godly teenager.
(You know, maybe we underestimate what godly teenagers are capable of. When God had the most important job in human history to dole out - He chose a teenage girl to do it.)
Mary was a remarkably godly teenager who had been visited by the angel - but that doesn't mean that her job was easy. It doesn't take too much imagination to think about how this looked.
We know that Joseph, her betrothed husband, was thinking about divorcing her. We know that thirty years later, all the way down in Jerusalem, the rumor was still persisting that Jesus was the child of fornication.
Mary's was not an easy burden. Everyone would have mocked her and disbelieved her. I would. You would. We would think she was crazy because it is crazy that a virgin should conceive. That's not how life works.
So Mary had this special burden. But she also got a special help. When the angel announced her pregnancy - he also said:
[!bible] Luke 1:36 - KJV 36. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
I'm not sure how this worked, how Mary who was young had a cousin who was old - but Mary obviously knew Elizabeth and so Mary went to visit her cousin.
(Actually, it's not too hard to imagine this. My oldest cousin on my Mom's side is in her sixties and has grandchildren, and my youngest cousin in that family just graduated from high school. So in those day when families typically had lots of children - you can imagine this huge age spread among cousins.)
Mary went to visit her cousin. And that brings us to our text. Let's go ahead and read starting in verse 39-45 (we'll read the rest of it in a minute)
[!bible] Luke 1:39-45 - KJV 39. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40. And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42. And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44. For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
So Mary makes the journey to see her cousin Elizabeth. Mary lived in Northern Israel - Galilee and Elizabeth lived somewhere in Judah. So this was a multiday journey.
Maybe Mary's parents thought it best to get her out of town to save embarrassment. We don't know. But she journeys to see Elizabeth.
And notice what happens. As soon as Mary speaks to Elizabeth - the babe in Elizabeth's womb - that would be John the Baptist - leaps.
This wasn't a normal kick. This was a full on leap.
So I want you to see here that we have the first prophecy in this passage - and it doesn't come from Mary or Elizabeth, it comes from an unborn child.
John the Baptist, even before he was born, was filled with the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost in one unborn baby recognized the presence of Christ in another unborn baby.
John the Baptist would have been past six months along - he would have looked like a tiny baby. Today, he would be "viable." But Mary is about a month along in her child rearing journey. So Jesus would have been almost microscopic.
Both of them are treated as people in this story.
This is an aside, but it is an important one: There is a reason why Christians are against abortion - because the scripture, in places like this, regularly remind us that the unborn are people. They are alive.
This is consistent in the scripture:
- Samson was a nazarite from the womb.
- David spoke of being cast upon God from the womb and communing with God from his mother's belly.
- Isaiah the prophet was called "from the womb."
- And we could go on and on.
There is a reason why we are pro-life - because God and the Bible are pro-life.
But let's get back to the story. Mary salutes her elder cousin Elizabeth and what does Elizabeth do?
She is filled with the Holy Ghost and she starts prophesying. This is the second prophecy in this short story. Elizabeth would not have known much - only what her husband would have told her in writing. But she believed and the Holy Ghost directed her to call Mary "the mother of my Lord" and then to say in verse 45:
[!bible] Luke 1:45 - KJV 45. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Elizabeth hasn't even been told this stuff yet - but the Holy Spirit directed her to utter these prophecies.
This had to be a HUGE encouragement to Mary. I imagine that Elizabeth was the only person who didn't think she was crazy.
And so the Holy Ghost directs Mary to speak, and that brings us to the rest of our text. Let's read verses 46-55:
[!bible] Luke 1:46-55 - KJV 46. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55. As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
This is usually called "the song of Mary" or "the Magnificat." It's probably right to call it a song, even though verse 46 says that she "said" it, because it is in verse form. It is poetry.
And this is what I want us to focus on today. You see - Mary was facing a difficult time, a time that would have been discouraging for any of us, and yet Mary worshipped God.
Like I said in the introduction - When we are discouraged, the best thing for us to do is worship.
There is this story I think about often, David was supposed to be King. He was anointed by the prophet. He defeated Goliath. For awhile everything looked like it as falling in place. But then Saul turned against him and he spent years on the run, hiding in caves, running for his life. His lowest point came at Ziklag, where while David and his men were out fighting, someone came into their camp and kidnapped their wives and children. Even his band of loyal men starting turning on him.
But listen to this verse from that story:
[!bible] [1 Samuel 30:6 - KJV](https://bible-api.com/1 Samuel+30:6?translation=kjv) 6. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
When we are at our lowest - that is when we need worship the most - we need to encourage ourselves in the Lord.
I think Mary here shows us how to worship as well as anyone in scripture, so I want us to think about this and to look at six ways Mary shows us we should worship God.
The first thing Mary teaches us about how to worship is...
1. We should worship communally
In other words, we should worship with other people. We should worship together.
There is no doubt Mary was thinking about these things on her journey to Elizabeth's house - but it was getting together with Elizabeth and experiencing that fellowship that brought out her worship.
There is just something about being with God's people and worshipping together. There is something about doing something in groups that carries us along for better or for worse.
You know, I like to watch basketball. I watch a lot of it on TV. But going to a game, sitting in the crowds, that's a whole different experience. It's different being a fan at home and being a fan in the stands with a thousand other people.
Doing something with a group of likeminded people enhances the experience. I think this is one reason why God has ordained for us to worship together. To worship as a church family.
It's always comforting to sing about our God and think about our God - but it's more comforting to do it with 100 other people. To sing
"Should this whole world with devils filled, should threaten to undo us. We will not fear for God has willed, His truth to triumph through us."
That takes on a whole new meaning when you are doing it in fellowship.
We are commanded to be...
[!bible] Ephesians 5:19 - KJV 19. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
So I want to encourage you - worship God, worship Him always, but do it communally whenever you can.
author: Ryan Hayden
There is a second thing we see about Mary's worship we can learn from and that is
2. We should worship humbly
In verse 48, Mary says:
[!bible] Luke 1:48 - KJV 48. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:
Mary, shows again and again in this chapter that she is humble. She is as surprised as any of us at God choosing her.
When we come to God, we must do it humbly. We must do it with humility.
As 1 Peter 5:5 says:
[!bible] [1 Peter 5:5b - KJV](https://bible-api.com/1 Peter+5:5?translation=kjv) ...be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
True worship is a humbling experience.
Think about it like this: have you ever been out on a dark and clear night and looked at the stars. How did that make you feel? Or maybe you've been able to go to grand canyon or the rocky mountains - how did that make you feel?
When we worship God we are coming to the one who made the stars and made the grand canyon. We...get to talk to HIM. How can we not do it in humility.
author: Ryan Hayden
So how do we worship?
- we worship best in fellowship.
- we worship in humility.
There is a third thing we see in Mary's worship we can learn from and that is...
3. We should worship magnifyingly
Look at how Mary starts her song here:
[!bible] Luke 1:46 - KJV 46. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
Do you know what it means to "magnify?" It means to "make big." To "enlarge."
Do you know what true worship does? It makes God big and us small.
Now, of course, we cannot actually make God any bigger than He already is. But we can make Him bigger to us. We can magnify Him in our mind and in our heart.
And that is what we should be doing when we worship God - we should be making God bigger in our heart and our mind. Lifting Him up.
When Isaiah had his vision of God in Isaiah 6, he said "I saw the Lord High and Holy and lifted up." And I think that is how we need to see God "High and holy and lifted up."
This is one reason why I personally prefer us to sing "high" music in church. I'm not against bluegrass. I like guitars and banjos as much as the next guy. I like folk music a lot. But when it comes to worshipping God - I think the music should lift God up not try to bring God down.
When God is big and we are small do you know what else gets small?
- Our problems get small.
- Our trials get small.
- Our prayer requests get small.
When we make God big in our worship it reminds us of His promises and His power to fulfill them. It reminds us of His sovereignty and His plan for our life.
When you worship God do it with others, do it humbly, and make God big.
author: Ryan Hayden
There is a fourth thing we see in how Mary worshipped here I want to point out.
How do we worship?
- We worship communally
- We worship humbly
- We worship magnifyingly
Look at the fourth thing:
4. We should worship faithfully
Notice again what Elizabeth said to Mary in verse 45:
[!bible] Luke 1:45 - KJV 45. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Elizabeth's husband - Zachariah - did not initially believe. But Mary did.
And through this whole song, she shows her faith, she shows her belief.
Look at verse 48 again:
[!bible] Luke 1:48 - KJV 48. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Even though at that point people were probably calling Mary "Crazy" Mary could sing with faith knowing that in the future we would call her blessed.
The rest of this song is just dripping with faith. With belief that God would do what He said He would do.
Tonight I'm preaching on 1 John 5 and there is a verse there that fits here. 1 John 5:4 says:
[!bible] [1 John 5:4 - KJV](https://bible-api.com/1 John+5:4?translation=kjv) 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
When we worship God, we should worship Him in faith.
By the way, worship has a way of strengthening our faith. Sometimes we don't believe, or we just have a weak seed of belief, and when we worship God it is like giving that seed the light and water it needs to grow.
Again, the songs we sing together in worship should be songs that strengthen our faith in God. They should be more about God and who He is and what He is doing than they are about us and our experience.
author: Ryan Hayden
So let's review:
- We worship communally
- We worship humbly
- We worship magnifyingly
- We worship faithfully
Two more and I'm done.
5. We should worship Him biblically
If you look at Mary's song here - do you know what is interesting? It is chock-full of references to the Old Testament.
If you compare them, it's very obviously riffing off of the song of Hannah - the song Hannah sung when God miraculously gave her a baby.
But it goes further than that. Every phrase in this song is a reference to some Old Testament promise.
She quotes verse after verse, and ends her song by saying:
[!bible] Luke 1:55 - KJV 55. As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Mary may not have been educated, but she knew her Bible and she obviously took her Bible very seriously. She sang a song here that was both biblically and theologically rich.
And when we worship, we need to worship biblically. God has given us His word to reveal Himself to us, and we should reflect that word in our worship.
Pastor Sexton used to say "Nothing is spiritual unless it is scriptural." That goes for our singing and worship too. If it isn't scriptural, it isn't spiritual - no matter how much we like it, how long we've sung it or how it makes us feel.
author: Ryan Hayden
There is one more thing I want you to see here about how we should worship God.
Look at verse 47, right at the beginning of Mary's song:
[!bible] Luke 1:47 - KJV 47. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
- We worship communally
- We worship humbly
- We worship magnifyingly
- We worship faithfully
- We worship biblically
And one more thing...
6. We should worship in light of the gospel
Isn't it interesting that Mary, the mother of Jesus, recognized that she too needed a Savior.
That little baby she would hold wasn't just her child, He was her Savior. She recognized that she needed God's mercy. Mary was looking forward to what Jesus would do in saving the world.
And the central theme of our worship should be the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Holy God in love became, perfect man to bear my blame, On the cross He took my sin, by His death I live again.
Let me show you something and I'm done. Ok. Look at Revelation 5 with me. Revelation 5. Look at verses 11-13:
[!bible] Revelation 5:11-13 - KJV 11. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Listen, the theme of the chorus in heaven is the gospel. It is the lamb that was slain. That should be our theme as well.
But in order for it to be our theme we must first believe the gospel. Have you trusted Christ as your savior? Have you put your faith in Him?
Outside of Christ - these songs are just songs. But after you trust Christ - they are rich and real. Have you trusted Him as your Savior?
Why not do that today? Why not stop running from God and run to Him? Why not fall at the cross and look to Jesus in faith and believe Him.
If you have beleived, maybe you need to renew your worship today.
Worship God in fellowship with other believers. Worship God humbly. Magnify Him. Worship in faith that comes from the Bible and centers around the gospel.
This is what we are called to. Let's stand for prayer and then close in a time of song and worship.
