‘Christmas Stories – Part 2’ – 12.8.2024

December 8, 2024
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MARY CELEBRATES!

Celebrate The Miracles 2024

 

Essential Meaning of Celebration:

  • To do something special or enjoyable for an important event, occasion, holiday, etc.  
  • To praise (someone or something).
  • To say that (someone or something) is great or important.

 

1 Praise the Lord! How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting! Psalm 147:1 NLT

 

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.  Psalm 118:1 NLT

 

TODAY WE CELEBRATE

  • Today we celebrate salvations, life change and those who are following Jesus in obedience through baptism!
  • Today we celebrate Jesus!

 

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become

pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.” 38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-38 NLT

  • For the word of God will never fail.
  • Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

 

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” Luke 1:39-45 NLT

  • Mary was blessed because she believed that the Lord would do what he said.
  • Do we believe what God has said He will do in our lives?
  • Mary took time to celebrate!

 

The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise

46 Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. 47How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and
from now on all generations will call me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. 50 He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. 51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. 52 He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. 54 He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. 55 For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.” Luke 1:46-55 NLT

 

He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.  We celebrate God’s mercy!

Next Steps

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