How The Spirit Gets You Ready For Christ

Luke chapter 1, beginning at verse 39.

Luke 1 · chapter mention

Today's sermon text is Luke chapter 1, verses 39 through 56.

Luke 1:39–56

This is God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, sufficient, authoritative word for you, His people.

We read in verse 39 that Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste to a city of Judah

and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

And it happened when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary that the babe leaped in her womb,

and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said,

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears,

the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

Blessed is she who believed,

For there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Verse 46.

And Mary said,

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

for He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant.

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

For He who is mighty has done great things for me.

And holy is His name,

and His mercy is on those who fear Him,

from generation to generation.

He has shown the strength with His arm.

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones,

and exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich He has sent away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel.

In remembrance of His mercy,

He has spoken to our fathers,

as He spoke to Abraham and to His seed forever.

And Mary remained with her about three months,

and returned to her house.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Thanks be to God.

You may be seated.

The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the Word of the Lord stands forever.

As Gabriel said in Luke 1.37,

no word from God shall be void of power.

Let's pray.

Lord, I ask that You will illumine Your Word,

and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit,

that Your Word will go forth with power.

And I ask, Lord, in front of my brothers and sisters today,

what I've been asking You this week,

that through the ministry of the Word,

You will stir our hearts to worship You.

Please do this today, Lord.

Amen.

I've been burdened for You,

and I know there are some who are visiting today,

maybe for the only time.

What I want to make very clear,

my understanding from Scripture,

is that the peace promised at Christmas,

it's not for everyone.

I don't want you leaving here

with a false assurance of salvation.

Would you look at Luke 2, verse 14?

Luke 2:14

The angels declare peace on earth

among those with whom God is pleased.

It's only on those upon whom God's favor rests.

That's who the peace of Christmas is for.

It's not for everyone.

It is for everyone who will repent and believe.

But it is not unconditional.

The condition is the one that Christ Himself

has already fulfilled.

And your response is to receive it by faith

and worship Him.

For those who don't fear God

and who don't worship Him,

you have no peace with God.

Think about the first coming of Jesus Christ.

It was not peaceful for most people.

At the first coming of Jesus Christ,

the demons trembled in terror.

It's not peaceful for them.

The first coming of Christ was confusing

for the legalists.

Not peaceful.

The first coming of Christ was infuriating

for the self-righteous.

They hated Him to the point of killing Him.

Christ's second coming will only be good news

for you and me

if you first have been convicted

of the bad news

that before the Holy God,

you and I are sinners

and we deserve God's wrath.

The second coming of Christ

will be a nightmare

for anyone who remains unrepentant.

You've been warned.

Now here's the good news.

To be ready for the second coming of Christ,

it's all of God.

It's all God's work in your life

for His glory.

It's all the ministry of the Holy Spirit

to prepare you for His second coming.

Now if you're in Christ,

this is great news.

But don't get a false assurance

and grab something that you don't truly have.

Today I want to talk to you about the Holy Spirit

preparing His people for Christ's coming.

And I believe what we see

in the way that the Holy Spirit worked

to prepare people for His first coming

is instructive for us now

who are waiting for His second coming.

The Holy Spirit.

Luke, inspired by God, the Holy Spirit,

he references the Spirit 110 times.

It's something like 39 times

in this book of Luke,

this Gospel according to Luke,

and then the rest,

you know, whatever that would be,

49 or 50 times or so

in the book of Acts.

Or 69 times.

It's in Luke and Acts

almost more than anywhere else

besides Paul in the New Testament.

It's the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

And we can't miss that

in our sermon text today.

So that's my encouragement for us

in this passage.

It's how the Holy Spirit

gets you, God's people,

ready for Christ.

That's what the Holy Spirit does.

How the Holy Spirit gets you

ready for Christ.

Our confession

summarizes Scripture this way,

chapter 2, paragraph 3,

that the Bible's teaching

on the Trinity,

God the Father,

God the Son,

incarnate,

and the Holy Spirit.

That is the foundation

of all our communion with God

and our comfortable dependence

on Him.

What that means is

we need to understand

how God the Father,

Son,

and Holy Spirit work

in order to have

a comfortable dependence

and communion

with the true God

of the Bible.

So in our sermon text,

let's see this

in five ways.

First,

the Holy Spirit

makes you embrace

God's Word.

The Holy Spirit

is the one working

and actively

causing you

to receive

and embrace

and hold on

to God's Word.

Last week,

we saw how

the Word of God

came to Mary

through the angel Gabriel

who stands

in the presence

of God

and then how

the Holy Spirit

promised

through Gabriel

that Mary

would be overshadowed.

Her womb

would become

the Holy of Holies

and in her body

she would carry

the Son of God,

God the Son Himself.

We continue

in verse 39

how Mary then,

after hearing

this glorious announcement,

we're told in verse 39,

Luke 1, 39,

she arose

in those days

and went

into the hill country

with haste.

In other words,

after receiving

this announcement,

right away,

she starts to travel.

She did not go

as some say

to hide her pregnant tummy

because she went

with haste.

Right away,

she got going.

It was likely

not yet visible.

We can only imagine

what would have been

going through

Mary's mind

as she traveled

from Nazareth

further north

in Galilee

all the way

to the hill country

we read in verse 39

to the city of Judah

so the foothills

around Jerusalem

most likely

and this distance

is about 90 miles.

I calculated

how long would it take

for a person

to travel that distance

by foot

on those roads

and it's about six days

if you don't take

too many breaks.

Six days of travel.

There's a lot of questions

we don't have answered

in the scripture.

I'll admit to you

I got a little bit lost

and spent way too much time

with so many questions

I was trying to understand

and work out.

We don't know

if Mary traveled alone

or with help

and companion.

We don't know

for sure

when was the last time

that she had been there

to visit Jerusalem

and to see Zacharias

and Elizabeth.

Most likely

she had been there.

If you look in

Luke chapter 1

Luke 1:10

verse 10

it's when Zacharias

goes as the priest

and he's offering

the incense to the Lord

and the great multitude

is gathered at the temple

that's most likely

Yom Kippur

the annual

day of atonement

where all the believers

from Israel

would come

and from around the world

to Jerusalem

and because

they're close relatives

she would have most likely

stayed with Elizabeth

and heard

of why Zacharias

is now mute

and not able

to hear or talk.

And so

this makes sense

in my mind

that this is why

it's the place

where Mary should go back

after hearing from

the angel Gabriel

she just heard

this wonderful report

that's also terrifying

about Zacharias

and so here's a couple

most likely

in their 60s or so

or 70s

that would understand

this miraculous

revelation

that the angel Gabriel

gave to her.

We read in

Luke chapter 1

Luke 1:7

verse 7

it was

Elizabeth

and Zacharias

who had no children

because they were both

well advanced

in years.

Well when God

promised

to this barren

older couple

that Elizabeth

would become

pregnant

the angel Gabriel

gave to Zacharias

this glorious promise

I want you to see it

with your own eyes

look at Luke chapter 1

Luke 1:15

verse 15

your son John

will be filled

with the Holy Spirit

even

in his mother's womb

why is it that

God

through the angel

and through

what's kept in scripture

for us

would make sure

we know this

that John

as a fetus

inside of Elizabeth's womb

would be filled

with the Holy Spirit

he wants us

to know that

because

even before

John can be born

and speak

he's already

prophesying

he's already

doing the work

of declaring

here's the Messiah

look at verse 41

in our sermon text

Luke 1

41

and it happened

when Elizabeth

heard the greeting

of Mary

that the babe

leaped

in her womb

the word is

jumped

like a gazelle

in the mountains

leaping

and jumping

and that's

John the Baptist

in the womb

filled

with the Holy Spirit

already prophesying

someone said

he is the most

weird looking prophet

in all of the Bible

transparent skin

about six inches long

already leaping

filled with the Holy Spirit

from Mary's perspective

this would have been

a tremendous encouragement

God

the Holy Spirit

can work

physically

miraculously

in the womb

of a mother

he did for

barren Elizabeth

and he can

and will

for me too

what an encouragement

to her faith

well this messenger

is the promised

forerunner

of Messiah

all of the

expectations

of God's people

in the old covenant

are put on Messiah

the anointed one

and those who knew

those messianic prophecies

know that there's

going to be one

coming before him

leading the way

preparing the path

Malachi 3.1

says behold

I send my messenger

and he will prepare

the way

before me

says God

the forerunner

is preparing the way

for God himself

well what does that say

about this baby

in Mary's tummy

I picture Luke

the physician

the historian

going back

and interviewing

Mary much later

decades later

when she's

most likely

an elderly woman

and now turn in your Bible

and see Luke chapter 2

Luke 2:19

verse 19

Luke notes for us

that Mary

treasured up

all these things

pondering them

in her heart

and then look at Luke

chapter 2

verse 55

his mother Mary

treasured up

all these things

in her heart

so as he's

listening to Mary

recount these

glorious events

and tell from her

perspective

this is something

that struck Luke

the historian

there's a sign here

to help Mary

embrace God's word

and ponder

the glorious truth

that God has revealed

in her heart

receive God's word

as true Mary

now turn back

to Luke chapter 1

Luke 1:3

verses 3 and 4

here's what Luke

is seeking to do

with this account

of these historical events

his standard

is complete

certainty

by faith

he writes

to Theophilus

which means

lover of God

I'm recording

these events

including these signs

and these

first hand

eyewitness accounts

because these

are gifts

for you

that you can have

a certainty

on the things

that happened

about the incarnation

of God the Son

and it's recorded

in the scripture

for us

as a gift

as well

we hear

the word of God

we can go back

in our imagination

and picture

Mary and Elizabeth

and John the Baptist

and this glorious

encounter

and this sign

we receive

as true

we believe it

by faith

just like Mary

and Elizabeth

did

see isn't God

so gracious

he gives us

these details

in his word

even these signs

like John the Baptist

leaping in the womb

that sign

is an encouragement

of his promise

his word

is true

that's what signs

do

we carry around

if you're married

a sign on your finger

you made vows

and it's a visible

reminder

of a marriage

a bond

that you share

so God

gives us

in his word

signs

and an interpretation

of the sign

and he makes it

so clear in the Bible

so that we can receive

his word

as a gift

and embrace it

by faith

so my invitation

to us

is to do just that

ponder

these things

exactly how God

acted in

redemptive history

ponder them

in your heart

because that's how

the Holy Spirit

makes you his people

ready for his second coming

he trains you

more and more

and more

to receive

and embrace

his word

the second way

the Holy Spirit

prepares you

for God's coming

the second time

is that he makes you

embrace Jesus

his son

as God

it's that simple

there are children

here today

the Holy Spirit

God the Spirit

who is active

he wants to make you

receive Jesus Christ

as God

who he is

you would want to

reject Jesus as God

if you were left

on your own

but if he's

giving you that faith

to receive Jesus

as God

that's the work

of the Holy Spirit

in your life

be encouraged

well we saw

how even in the womb

John the Baptist

was filled

with the Holy Spirit

but the Holy Spirit

is not done working

look at what happens next

at the end of verse 41

Luke 1 41

and to get the context

go back to verse 40

Mary approaches Elizabeth

with this ancient Jewish greeting

the example would be like

when Jacob comes back

with caravans and gifts

going before

and then he makes himself low

to make it very clear

in this relationship

I'm below you

you're above me

I'm here to pay you honor

and so this greeting

would have taken

hours of conversation

and an exchange

if it's done

the polite

traditional way

so Mary comes

most likely 13 or 14 years old

and then here's Elizabeth

the wife of the priest

who presided over the

day of atonement

for all of Israel

months ago

and Mary makes herself low

and greets her

and tells her

I'm here

I've traveled

all this way

to tell you about

what also happened to me

the angel Gabriel showed up

now look at Elizabeth's

part in the dialogue

at the end of verse 41

we're told

Elizabeth was now

filled with

the Holy Spirit

see in Acts 2

the Holy Spirit

is poured out

on every believer

but up until this point

in redemptive history

the Holy Spirit

moves in a measured way

and the Holy Spirit

will fill a person

for example Samson

and take Samson

on like a garment

as someone said

and accomplish what God

needs to do

and then release Samson

that's how the Holy Spirit

fills a prophet

to do his mighty acts

in the Old Testament

and so the Holy Spirit

will fill Elizabeth now

so that she can give

an interpretation

to the sign

in verse 42

Elizabeth spoke out

in a loud voice

something out of the usual

is happening

in the middle of this greeting

and this exchange

when a person

is filled by the Spirit

and then speaks

in a loud voice

in the Old Testament

it's so that

you will hear

what they have to say

for example

Deuteronomy 27

14 and 15

God says

the Levites

shall speak

with a loud voice

now the Levites

were the ones

in charge of

slaying all those

who turn to false gods

and what are the Levites

to declare to God's people

in a loud voice

cursed is the one

who makes an idol

an abomination

to the Lord

and all the people

shall answer

and say amen

well now

it's Elizabeth

being filled

with the Holy Spirit

and saying loudly

blessed are you

among women

and blessed

is the fruit

of your womb

she blesses

Mary

blessed are you

and then she blesses

God the Son

taking on the flesh

Jesus

blessed is the fruit

of your womb

in verse 43

she blesses

herself

for being part of this

verse 43

why is it granted

to me

the mother

that the mother

of my Lord

should come to me

for indeed

as soon

as the voice

of your greeting

sounded in my ears

the babe

leaped in my womb

for joy

that's her interpretation

of what just happened

she tells us

why it was

that John

in her tummy

leaped

do you see that

at the end of verse 44

he leaped in my womb

for joy

see what the Holy Spirit

does

even in the womb

fills a person

with joy

at the sound

of Jesus

this continues

in John's ministry

in John chapter 3

John 3:29

verse 29

John the Baptist

says

the one

who has the bride

is the bridegroom

the bride

is the church

and the one

who has the church

God's people

is God himself

God the Son

John the Baptist

said

the friend

of the bridegroom

who stands

and hears him

rejoices greatly

at the bridegroom's voice

therefore

this joy of mine

is now complete

the joy

that the Holy Spirit

put in John the Baptist

in the womb

began

and it kept growing

and when he finally

got to see Jesus Christ

being ready

to be filled

by the Spirit

and begin his ministry

now his joy

is complete

there's another reversal

that's happening

in this greeting

remember when the angel

Gabriel greets Mary

she's shocked

at what kind of greeting

this is

because here's Gabriel

who stands in the presence

of God

telling her she's blessed

well the same thing

happens again now

in verse 43

Elizabeth is making

herself low

and she's saying

I'm so blessed

to even be near you

and look at what she says

specifically in verse 43

why is this granted

to me

that the mother

of my Lord

should come to me

she calls Mary

the mother

of my Lord

when a priest's wife

the high priest's wife

refers to the Lord

you only mean one thing

you mean God

26 times

in chapters 1

and 2

of Luke

the word Lord

is used in reference

to God alone

for example

Luke 117

you can turn there

it's close to where you are

Luke 117

make ready

a people

prepared for

the Lord

a people

prepared for God

Luke 1

Luke 1:28

verse 28

rejoice

highly favored one

the Lord

is with you

God

is with you

so now Elizabeth

says

you are the mother

of my Lord

you are the mother

of God

now that expression

mother of God

has been used wrongly

by the Roman Catholic Church

because God is eternal

he has no beginning

he has no mother

but Mary is

the mother

of God

the son

who took on flesh

she is the mother

of Jesus

it's through Mary

that Jesus

Jesus the Christ

has his human nature

but divinity

is not confined

to Jesus

the man

because

God the son

is eternal

co-equal with

God the father

but it cannot

be confused

that Elizabeth

has any other

view

of the man

inside of Mary

as God

the mystery

of the incarnation

see how the work

of John the Baptist

even

with the spirit

filling his mom

is being accomplished

to confirm

to Mary

that you can embrace

Jesus

as God

this fulfills

what Isaiah prophesied

in Isaiah chapter 4

Isaiah 4:3–5

verses 3 through 5

this forerunner

of the Messiah

will be a voice

crying in the wilderness

prepare the way

for the Lord

make straight in the desert

a highway

for our God

every valley

shall be

exalted

and every mountain

and hill brought low

the crooked places

shall be made straight

and the rough places

smooth

and the glory

of the Lord

the God

of all

shall be revealed

in this Messiah

and all flesh

shall see it together

for the mouth

of the Lord

has spoken

see this prophecy

about the coming

of God

in the flesh

describes the glory

of the Lord

as being revealed

in this Messiah

this can only mean

the glory of God

himself

Isaiah 42

Isaiah 42:8

verse 8 says

in the words of God

the Lord

he says

I am the Lord

that is my name

and my glory

I will give

to no other

God does not share

his glory

with any other

being

and yet the prophecy

about the Messiah

is that the glory

of the Lord

shall be revealed

in him

the only conclusion

we can draw

is that Jesus

in Mary's womb

is God

and the glory

of God

is in Jesus

Elizabeth

ends this greeting

in verse 45

by saying

blessed is she

who believed

that's referring

to Mary

Mary you believe

this is the Lord

himself in your womb

this is God

and his glory

being displayed

for there will be

a fulfillment

of those things

which were told

her from the Lord

do you believe

Jesus is God

filled with the Holy Spirit

this word

from Mary

is for you as well

blessed are you

if you believe

for God

will fulfill

every word

about his son

Jesus came to earth

the first time

according to God's word

and Jesus is coming

a second time

according to the word

of God

believe that Jesus

is God

the third way

that the Holy Spirit

prepares God's people

for his coming

is that the Holy Spirit

magnifies

to your soul

God's attributes

the Holy Spirit

magnifies to your soul

God's attributes

look at verse 46

Luke 1 46

Mary said

my soul

magnifies the Lord

verse 47

and my spirit

has rejoiced

in God

my Savior

to magnify

means to

increase

to enlarge

exalt

elevate

raise

in estimation

Mary's saying

my soul

is swelling up

with the attributes

of God

and what she goes

into

in the verses

that follow

is called

by the Latin phrase

the magnificat

scholars have

pointed out

it's a lyrical

poem

the poet

Wadsworth said

all lyrical poetry

is the spontaneous

overflow

of powerful

feeling

a commentator

named Plummer

commented that

it was neither

a response

to Elizabeth

nor a prayer

to God

rather

it was a

meditation

it was a

psalm

just like we

have in the

Old Testament

of personal

reflection

upon the

incarnation

this

spirit breathed

New Testament

psalm

was uttered by

a Jewish

peasant girl

whose cultural

background was

the Old Testament

scriptures

the writings

the writings

of the Old

Testament

is what

she had

been raised

on

and the

Bible

itself

supplies

Mary

the phrases

to use

in this

outpouring

of her

praise

it's the

language of

scripture

that Mary

had known

by heart

by the time

she was a

teenager

that became

the natural

vehicle

of her

praises

I want to

point out

three attributes

of God

in verses

48

49

and

into the

next section

the first

one is

God's

compassion

the Holy

Spirit

leads Mary

to magnify

the compassion

of God

in verse

48

he has

regarded

the lowly

state

of his

maidservant

God

regards

the lowly

slave

God

who is

on the

throne

over all

creation

has

compassion

on the

lowly

the

bondservant

for behold

henceforth

all generations

will call me

blessed

this is similar

language to what

we read in

2nd Corinthians

1 3 and 4

praise be

to the God

and Father

of our

Lord Jesus

Christ

the Father

of compassion

and the

God

of all

comfort

second

the Holy

Spirit

magnifies

through Mary's

words

God's

might

in verse

49

he who is

mighty

has done

great things

for me

Isaiah

9 6

he the

Messiah

shall be

called

wonderful

counselor

mighty

God

everlasting

father

prince

of peace

the Holy

Spirit

magnifies

God's

compassion

God's

might

and God's

holiness

also in

verse 49

Mary declares

holy

is his

name

see the

attributes of

God are on

display in the

person of

Jesus

incarnate now

growing in the

womb of Mary

the holy

God

in Luke 4

34 even a

demon

calls Jesus

the holy

one of

God

you see

what the

consistent

effect is

of being

filled with

the Spirit

in John

it's joyful

leaping

in Elizabeth

it's joyful

blessing

in Mary

it's to

magnify

all these

things come

from the

Lord

it's his

generous

outpouring

of grace

when the

Holy Spirit

fills a

person

your only

desire is to

magnify God

never yourself

and that's

how God

prepares us

for his

second coming

the Holy

Spirit

magnifies

in your

soul

the glory

the majestic

attributes

of God

well the

fourth way

that the Holy

Spirit

magnifies

to your

soul

preparing you

for God's

second coming

is to

make it

very clear

to you

that God

is faithful

the Holy

Spirit

magnifies

God's

covenant

faithfulness

see this

in the

verses

that follow

verse 50

is one

of the

bookends

and then

verses 54

and 55

are the

other bookends

they both

have this

similar theme

of God's

covenant

faithfulness

look at

verse 50

God's

mercy

his

compassionate

loving

kindness

is on

those who

fear him

from generation

to generation

he is faithful

from one

generation

to the next

and it's

the Lord

who causes

his people

to fear

him

by his

own

grace

in verse

54

at the

end

of the

bookend

Mary says

that God

has helped

his servant

Israel

in remembrance

of his

mercy

in John

1 14

we read

that God

became flesh

and dwelt

among us

and we

have seen

his glory

glory as

of the

only son

from the

father

full of

grace

and truth

see in the

coming of

Jesus

God

proves

his

covenant

faithfulness

he will

carry out

this

covenant

of grace

in verse

55

she says

he spoke

to our

fathers

to Abraham

and to his

seed forever

and he is

doing the

very thing

he promised

so those

are the two

bookends

the mercy

of God

from generation

to generation

and he

says that he

will be

faithful to

his promise

that he gave

to his

seed

the seed

of Abraham

which is

Jesus

forever

well what's

in between

these two

bookends

what else

fills up

Mary's

song

of magnifying

God

I want to

point out

to you

three

descriptions

of the

people

who are

recipients

of God's

grace

it's the

helpless

the humble

and the

hungry

from generation

to generation

God shows

mercy

to the

helpless

that's what

she declares

in verse

51

God has

shown strength

with his

arm

he has

scattered

the

proud

in the

imaginations

of their

hearts

we've reviewed

how lowly

Mary is

how out of

the way

Nazareth

is

Israel as a

nation is

under the

powerful

Roman Empire

when she

travels down

to Jerusalem

it's run

by the

corrupt

powerful

elite

who are

compromising

and making

money off

of religion

and here

are the

poor

the remnant

the few

truly waiting

for the

coming

of the

Messiah

and God

helps

those who

are helpless

Elizabeth

Zachariah

Mary

Simeon

here comes

God

to show

them

I'm faithful

to my

promise

you are

helpless

I am

your

strength

so God

helps

the

helpless

number

two

from generation

to generation

God shows

mercy to

the humble

look at

verse 52

God has

put down

the mighty

from their

thrones

and exalted

the lowly

this is

confirmed

when the

work of

Christ

is finished

and the

Holy Spirit

is poured

out on

the church

1 Corinthians

1 20

through 24

Paul points

out

has not

God made

foolish

the wisdom

of the

world

it pleased

God

through the

folly

of what we

preach

to save

those

who believe

we preach

Christ

crucified

and it's

foolishness

to the

world

and it

humbles

the proud

it scatters

the arrogant

who are

puffed up

in their

own

imaginations

because

Christ

is both

the power

of God

and the

wisdom

of God

and God

shows mercy

to those

he has

humbled

finally

in Mary's

song

she confirms

that from

generation to

generation

God shows

mercy

to the

hungry

look at

verse 53

God has

filled the

hungry

with good

things

and the

rich

he has

sent away

empty

see in

first

corinthians

1 27

we were

among those

fools

those lowly

in the

world

that God

by grace

has chosen

to shame

the wise

God

chose

what is

weak

in the

world

to shame

the strong

God

chose

what is

low

and despised

in the

world

even

things

that are

not

to bring

to

nothing

things

that are

listen

so that

no

one

might

boast

in the

presence

of God

if you

come to

God

full

needing

nothing

you will

go away

with nothing

from God

it's for the

hungry

the humble

the helpless

that the Holy

Spirit has

drawn before

the Holy

God

that's who

he promises

to fill

to help

to sustain

and it's

for those

who approach

God in that

low state

like Mary

that can

say

as God's

people have

said

from generations

to generations

great

is the

faithfulness

of our

Lord

1 Chronicles

1634

give thanks

to the Lord

for he is

good

and his

steadfast

love

endures

forever

as we just

sang

great

is thy

faithfulness

O Lord

from generation

to generation

the Lord

will prepare

your soul

for his

second coming

by magnifying

to you

God's

covenant

faithfulness

there are

many more

generations

we don't

know how

many

and every

generation

can attest

since Adam

and Eve

until Christ's

second coming

God is

faithful to

his promises

and he will

cause you

to trust him

and magnify

him

no matter

what happens

in the world

and you

will be

ready

for his

second coming

well the

fifth and

final observation

from this text

is that the

Holy Spirit

prepares you

for Christ's

next coming

by stirring

your soul

to worship

the Holy Spirit

prepares you

for Christ

by stirring

your soul

to worship

there are four

songs recorded

for us

for us

in Luke

1 and 2

and what

we see

in each

one is

the same

thing

that there

is only

one

fitting

response

when the

Spirit

causes you

to realize

that Christ

came to

save you

and it's

you worship

the first

song

is that the

news that

Christ

was coming

to be

incarnate

in Mary

and she

says her

soul swelled

in worship

in verse 46

my soul

magnifies the

Lord

my spirit

rejoices

in God

my Savior

Mary's

response was

worship

the second

song you

can see it

too in

Luke chapter

Luke 1:78

1 verse

78

would you

look there

Zacharias

Elizabeth's

husband

worships

God

the Lord

opens his

lips and

what comes

out is a

song of

praise

Luke 178

the day

spring

from on

high

has visited

us

to give

light to

those who

sit in

darkness

and the

shadow of

death

and to

guide our

feet into

the way

of peace

Zacharias

responds