Born of A Virgin

  The Virgin Birth of Jesus

 Book of Luke Chapter 2

 We should understand that the word virgin means exactly what it says.

 The Lord Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary, just as prophecy intended.

 Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

 There is no better way to describe this birth than to say a Virgin Birth.

 Mat 1:22  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 

Mat 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

 Mary was a virgin before the birth of Jesus Christ, and Mary was a virgin after she gave birth to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Many Christians today say Mary died as a virgin, but I trust the Scriptures.

 Mrk_6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

 I believe these are the sons and daughters of Joseph and half-brothers and half-sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 We should also understand that the Jewish priests all had to marry virgins, and the Lord Jesus can only accept the Church as the Bride of Christ if it is without spot and without blemish.

The Lord Jesus Christ is right now our perfect High Priest!

 This is the reason He died in our place so that the Church to be not just forgiven but "justified".

 Just as if no sin had taken place.

 Rom_5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 Chapter 2 Verse 1

 *****Luk 2:1  And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

 Prophecy had said the Messiah of God would be born in Bethlehem.

 Mic 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 

 Bethlehem means the "house of bread".

Ephrathah means "fertile".

 Our Messiah is the true food of His people.

 Joh 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 

 Seven hundred years before the birth of the Messiah, the prophet Micah said it would take place.

Mic 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 

 Mary lived in Nazareth with her family, and she was now heavy with child.

 We ask ourselves, does God have powers that we do not understand? It’s called the providence of God.

 God had given His message of the virgin birth through one of the most powerful angels that stood before Him, Gabriel.

 God, in His own power, caused the virgin birth through the power of the Holy Spirit, the greatest power upon this earth today.

 God used the most powerful man in the world at that time, Caesar, to get the Virgin Mary to Bethlehem before the Lord Jesus Christ was born somewhere else, making the Word of God have errors.

 There are no errors in the prophecies, and there are no errors in the Word of God!

 At this time, Caesar Augustus reigned in Israel because there was no throne of God upon this earth.

 God uses all the rulers of all nations to fulfill His own plan for this world.

 Pro 21:1  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 

 Joseph also has to go to Bethlehem because King David was from Bethlehem.

Mary did not have to go to Bethlehem, but she was also a descendant of David through his son Nathan.

 *****Luk 2:2  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

Luk 2:3  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  

 When Cyrenius was governor of Syria, Publius Sulpicius Quirinus governed the province of Syria, in which Judea was then included.

Cyrenius was second in command at that time, but he would still be referred to as governor, so this is not a mistake of Scripture as some claim.

 The one thing we know for sure is that the fullness of time that Jehovah had determined had come.

 Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 

Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 

Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 

 Daniel wrote: Dan 9:24  Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 

Dan 9:25  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 

Dan 9:26  And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 

 So, these things took place just as God had said they would, and the priests of Israel should have recognized the hand of God in these things.

The High Priest had for many years been chosen by Rome and was not a descendant of Aaron, and they were more interested in their pocketbooks than the Word of God.

 *****Luk 2:4  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 

Luk 2:5  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 

Luk 2:6  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 

 Bethlehem Ephratah was only six miles from Jerusalem, and it is the same place that provided the sheep for the sacrifices at the Temple.

 Rachel the second wife of Jacob, had died giving birth to Benjamin there.

The story of Ruth takes place there.

The early years of the life of David were there.

 Today it is called Beit Lahm, which means "house of flesh".

 Today, those men in this place wear the green turban, which shows them to be the undisputed descendants of Mohammed.

 Much of Judah at this time showed signs of war, but the world of that day of Augustus was, for the most part, at peace under this cruel ruler who sat on the throne in Rome.

 In verse five, we see that Mary is still espoused to Joseph because they had not consummated their marriage, and they would not until after the birth of Jesus Christ.

 An espousal was considered sacred, though that marriage had not been consummated.

 We could say that the Church is espoused to the Lord Jesus Christ, waiting on Him to come get His Bride and take us home to show His Father His wife.

 *****Luk 2:7  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 

 The way the family of Jesus was treated in Bethlehem was a prophecy of the way the world has treated Jesus Christ ever since.

 Many disagree, but we see here that the Holy Spirit confirms that Jesus was considered the firstborn of the Virgin Mary.

 If there is a first, then there must be a second.

 The Lord Jesus was not born in pleasant surroundings. We all know the smell of stables.

 He was turned away by people from the very beginning, as He is today.

 If the world had cared, a room would have been provided for this young mother.

 This mother had only herself to bring for this birth, as she herself wrapped this child Jesus in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger.

 The Lord Jesus was born into a corrupt world under the rule of a Roman dictator, with Herod the false king of Judea.

 None of these things stopped Shiloh from coming.

 Gen 49:9  Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 

Gen 49:10  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

 It is the simplicity of Luke's Gospel that is a mark of truthfulness.

 We know the Holy Spirit does not allow error in the Word of God.

 Much of the world missed the first coming of Jesus the Messiah, and most of the world will miss the Second Coming of the Messiah.

 Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 

 *****Luk 2:8  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

Luk 2:9  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 

Luk 2:10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 

Luk 2:11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

Luk 2:12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

 We could probably say that no one has actually seen a real angel, yet these same shepherds got to see a real angel; in fact, they got to see a Heavenly Host of angels.

 In the time of Christ Jesus, shepherds were seen as the lowest class of people in Judea.

 People just did not see shepherds praising and glorifying God.

 Shepherds just had a bad reputation, and they were snubbed by the religious groups.

 Religious groups have not changed since that time, and they still snub the True Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 The Lord Jesus said Jhn_10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

 The Lord Jesus said Jhn 10:14  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

 Because of their work, shepherds could not attend the services at the Temple, and they were looked down upon for this.

 All people, but religious people, know that tending animals is a seven-day-a-week job.

 They could not keep the ceremonial laws of washing and cleansing, so they were despised.

 We can see that the Almighty God does not think much of religion, so He gave His first message of salvation to these lowly shepherds that everyone else considered to be dirty, rotten sinners.

 I was a dirty rotten sinner myself.

 The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God!

 What had Abraham said to Isaac? Gen_22:8  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:

 John the Baptist, the forerunner for Christ, said: Jhn_1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

 Again, John 1:36  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

 John the Apostle wrote: Rev_7:17  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

 Again, Rev_19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

 One more: Rev_22:3  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

 Praise God for His precious Lamb that took away our sin.

 The shekinah glory of God, which symbolized the Divine Presence of God, had not been seen in over four hundred years.

 Isa 40:4  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 

Isa 40:5  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 

 Hab 2:14  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 

 The angel's message was a message of reassurance and "Good News".

 The Messiah was now among His people; it was time to go visit Him.

 The Jews required a sign, so the sign was that they would find Him lying in a manger, the feeding place.

 Angels make a great impression, so these shepherds now had the fear of the Lord.

 The bright light was the Shekinah glory of God and did not come from the angels.

 The Messiah had come for all people and not just the Jews.

 When the Messiah returns in the clouds, He comes for His own people. All those who have accepted His Messiah.

 Rom_9:26  And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

 The Messiah came as our Savior, not our judge nor a politician.

 The Messiah came for miserable sinners.

 A wise man once said that the only thing we have to offer when we meet our Savior is a "dirty rotten sinner".

 This Savior, the Lamb of God, is the Lord Jesus Christ!

 He is the Anointed One of God and Lord of all creation!

 He is Yahweh, the God of the Covenant.

 On His first night, the Messiah could be found in the "City of David" because He is also the promised Son of David.

 Israel was expecting a Messiah who is a Mighty Warrior, dressed wonderfully and sitting upon a throne, but that Messiah has not yet returned; but He will.

 They would only see a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes who was so poor that He was born in a stable because He had come as a lowly shepherd and not as King.

 *****Luk 2:13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 

Luk 2:14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

 Suddenly, this angel of the Lord was not alone; there was an army of angels with him.

 There are many angels, and all of Heaven could have come down to glorify the God of Heaven.

 Rev_5:11  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;

There are just too many to count!

 Angels do not really understand the salvation plan of God, but they do know who their Creator is.

 These shepherds got to see a little bit of Heaven and Heaven's power.

 They cried out for the glory of the Highest possible Being they knew.

They cried out for the One they know that dwells in the Highest Heaven.

They cried out for peace on earth.

They cried out for the goodwill of all mankind.

They cried out for all mankind to be reconciled to God.

They cried out for the sin problem on earth to be solved.

 Col 1:19  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 

Col 1:20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 

Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 

 *****Luk 2:15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 

Luk 2:16  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Luk 2:17  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 

Luk 2:18  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 

All these things had excited these shepherds so much that they left their flocks and went with haste to Bethlehem.

If the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ does not get us excited, then we are missing out on the greatest event that happened on this earth.

These simple shepherds felt that the time to act upon that information was right now.

Once we realize we have a Savior, we need to act upon that information immediately!

Once they knew what the angels had said was true, they too began to tell the world about God's Messiah.

They had believed those angels, but they would not be believed.

No one yet knew that God was coming down to earth to live within His people.

Nothing is said about Mary and Joseph except that they were there.

To these shepherds, it was all about that babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.

When these shepherds told others about all the things the angels had said, it did not stir the people because they were still looking for a mighty king.

To them, it would be too shameful for the Messiah to be born in a nasty stable.

They had no faith in the truth of God!

Mary, the Virgin Mother of Jesus, would keep all these things inside her.

This is the sweet view of "Grace", which is silent and waiting upon the Lord.

The perfect gift from our Holy God!

Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

Amen

Mary The Mother Of Jesus

The Certainty Of Christ's Virgin Birth

Book of Luke 1: 26-56


Very little information is given to us in the Bible about Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus but God did give us the important things.

God had promised a "sign" for Immanuel which means "God with us", the Messiah who would deliver all of God's people from their enemies.

Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew confirms that this prophesy was of Christ Jesus and this virgin was Mary.

Mat 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Mat 1:22  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Mat 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Remember Luke said we could believe his "Gospel" because these things came from eyewitness accounts.

We should never have any reason to doubt the Word of God!

*****Luk 1:26  And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Luk 1:27  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

This same angel, Gabriel, who had been sent to Daniel and to Zacharias was now sent to Mary the mother to be of Christ Jesus.

Again we have a time line, it was six months after Elisabeth's conception.

Mary lived in Nazareth, a city of Galilee.

Galilee was on the border of the Gentile nations and was sometimes called Galilee of the Gentiles.

Nazareth was a despised city by most of the Jews and considered to be inferior to other Jewish cities.

Remember what Nathanael said:

Joh 1:46  And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Nazareth was a place that the Jews despised and the Romans dominated.

The truth is God is, no respecter of persons and God would send a message to Nazareth as quickly as He would to Jerusalem.

And we should take note, God does not judge a city or even a nation by it's action or it's advantages, but only by the righteous people within it's borders.

We must remember Sodom and Gomorrah where God found only Lot to be righteous and God removed Lot from that evilness and destroyed those places of evil.

God will do the same thing to this entire world when He removes His church and fulfills His promises to Israel!

When God removes His church then this world we live in will become like Sodom and Gomorrah and we see our world reaching this point now!

Mary had lived a life of purity and had remained a "virgin" and was at this time, espoused to Joseph.

Many teach today that the Greek word "parthenos" only means a marriageable maiden but in actuality it means a woman who has never known a man sexually!

Even the Hebrew word for virgin "alma" which is "young maiden" has the intent of meaning a "virgin"!

Those that teach other wise are only trying to discredit the divinity of Christ Jesus and they will stand before this "virgin" born Son of God one day and answer for their sin.

To be saved is to turn from all unbelief and to trust Christ Jesus.

1Jn 4:14  And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1Jn 4:15  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

Mary was espoused to Joseph.

Being espoused, was something like an engagement except it was legally binding and lasted for one year.

Two things were very important in an espousal.

During the espousal, sexual contact was still considered adultery and was punished by stoning which resulted in death.

This espousal was so serious a matter, that if it were broken a divorce was required.

Joseph was of the "House of David", through his son Solomon, which meant it was in his bloodline to have been King but both Mary and Joseph were godly people and to fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament they were chosen to be the parents of of God's Son.

Mary was also of the "House of David" through his son Nathan.

BUT, God would have never chosen an immoral man or woman for this thing which is so important to the Church and to the world.

The truth is, it is the will of God that both men and women to remain pure before they marry!

The truth is. God is looking for such people that He can use in the ministry of the 'Gospel".

What is the will of God for all young people?

1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
1Th 4:4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

1Th 4:7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

Many ask, "why would God's Son have to enter this world through a virgin"?

1) The birth of Christ Jesus required a miracle, a sign just as it was written.

2) His birth would indicate that He was much more than just some mere man!

2) Christ already existed and all Christ needed was a body.

Heb 10:5  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

4) For God to fulfill the Scriptures of the Old Testament then the Messiah would have to identify with man but He also had to remain God!

Christ Jesus would never have been accepted without a birth.

Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

It is foolish to believe that God does not have the power to do these things!

God sent His Son into this world, not through a man and a woman but through a miraculous act of His own and upon the "virgin" Mary!

The Messiah had to be 100% God but also 100% Man!

As the God-Man, by living a sinless life could Christ be the proper sacrifice and secure righteousness.

As the God-Man, when the Lord gave His life on Calvary's cross He was the perfect and ideal man who bore all our sins.

As the God-Man, Christ had the power to arise from the dead. He gave His life so He had the power to pick it back up.

Rom 1:3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

As the God-Man, Christ was exalted to sit on the right hand of God.

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

The birth of the Messiah had to be different from all other births!

The Son of God does exist and we must hear what He says, to be saved!

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The "virgin" birth of Christ Jesus proclaims Him to be the only begotten Son of God "and not the Son of God and Mary"!

*****Luk 1:28  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Luk 1:29  And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Luk 1:30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luk 1:31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Mary was highly favored and was offered a unique privilege.

Our lesson is, that when God favors us, He saves us, He gives us gifts, and then He uses us to complete His plan!

The Church has also been given a unique privilege!

The Lord was also with Mary. She would not go through this thing alone.

God would have had to observed Mary throughout her lifetime to know all these things about Mary.

God would also be with Mary throughout all her future life.

God promises He will never leave us nor forsake us!

Throughout Mary's lifetime, she was never left to live alone!

Mary would be blessed among women!

The truth is that Mary has been called and then blessed from that time forward, but she is certainly not to be worshipped!

Exo 20:3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Mary was only another human.

Mary showed no fear of the angel Gabriel but was concerned for the message he gave her.

Mary was just a humble young virgin espoused to Joseph who would have been a king under different circumstances.

Mary did not consider herself to be special and did not know how she could do anything for the God she loved.

It is a fact that God gives more "Grace" to those who humble themselves before Him!

Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

The miraculous conception of the baby Christ was unusual in that it took place directly in the womb rather than first in the tubes.

No man was involved, nor could they have been!

The Holy Seed was placed directly in the womb of the virgin Mary.

Though these things seem impossible, we must remember the Word of God:

Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This miracle is not much different than that day when God made Adam.

Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Adam had no genetic connection to a father or mother and Christ would have no genetic connection with Mary.

Since the earth was cursed after God made Adam, it was not possible to make the second Adam in the same way.

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Jesus Christ was directly formed of God!

Heb 10:5  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

It was not possible for there to be a genetic connection to Mary nor Joseph since they also fell under the same curse.

Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Jesus was a special creation at the hand of God just as Adam had been a special creation.

To think other wise is to call God a liar!

1Jn 2:21  I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

This was God's method of fulfilling all the Scriptures!

AND, There are no mistakes in the Scriptures!

*****Luk 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luk 1:33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Now Mary understood the the child she would bear would be the Messiah though she still did not understand how this could happen.

Jesus Christ is to reign upon the throne of David but we know the people rejected Him and would not allow Him to rule over them.

This Scripture is specific, it would be the Lord God that would place Him upon the throne of David!

Jesus Christ will one day soon rule over the nation of Israel, the entire house of Jacob, which includes all 12 tribes and of His kingdom their will be no end!

This promise is not only spiritual but it will also be literal!

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

God will never forget His covenant to Israel and God will never forget His promises to the Church!

BUT, All these things were incredible to Mary.

*****Luk 1:34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Mary was expected to believe these things of the angel Gabriel.

Mary was not doubting or not trusting, she was just puzzled.

Mary did not ask for a sign like Zacharias had.

Mary was just a virgin, she was single, and she had never known a man sexually.

Mary did not know how she could ever have a child without a man being involved.

Many today still say these things could never happen but they just don't worship the same God that I do!

God means what He says and God says what He means!

Gabriel explains this to Mary because Gabriel was also a special creation of the Lord made in even another way during creation week.

*****Luk 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

When we read, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee", we should never interpret that to be as the manner of a man, but only as the manner of God's Spirit!

Some would say "what is the manner of God's Spirit'?

God 's Spirit sets apart!

God's Spirit activates!

God's Spirit creates!

God's Spirit recreates!

God's Spirit, simply speaks and things are done, no matter what it is that needs to be done!

Gen 1:2  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Psa 104:30  Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Psa 104:31  The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

Job 26:13  By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

Mat 1:20  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

It was the Holy Spirit that brought the humanity of Christ into being!

BUT, The deity of Christ was His own from all eternity and did not begin at the time of His birth!

Christ became incarnate when His eternal Person took on the human form of Jesus!

It was the Holy Spirit that caused the humanity of Christ to originate because that is His act of generation!

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Notice Jesus on the cross:

Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

The flesh died and the Spirit of Jesus continued.

Mat 27:50  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

Mar 15:37  And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

Luk 23:46  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Psa 31:5  Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

Paul said:

Php 1:18  What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Php 1:19  For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
Php 1:20  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

It is the Holy Spirit that comes forth from the Father and the Son!

It is that same Holy Spirit that brought the entire creation of God into existence, that overshadowed a virgin who had dedicated her young life to God!

And it was the Tri-Une God Himself that looked after the whole matter!

Those that reject the Holy Trinity of God are all fools!

The Christ child's conception, His growth during pregnancy, and His birth and His life were under the shadow and the wings of the Almighty God, Elohim!

Not some angel, not some human, and not any other creature!

That child that was born of Mary was Holy!

The problem with most humans is unbelief!

Jesus said:

Mar 9:23  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

God says:

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

We do not have to understand these things that God says, we must only believe what God says!

*****Luk 1:36  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.
Luk 1:37  For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Gabriel offered Mary some encouragement:

All her life Mary had known that her cousin Elisabeth had been unable to have children.

Remember a barren woman was frowned upon by the Jews.

The fact that God had also caused Elisabeth to be with a child reassured Mary of the power of God!

We know as humans that there many things impossible for us to do but with God nothing is impossible except sin.

God expects us to believe in His power, "regardless of the circumstances"!

Psa 115:3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

We should not forget this is God's plan of salvation and God does not need our help to complete His own plan!

*****Luk 1:38  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

The one thing we all have to do to be saved is to submit to the will of God!

When the Lord Jesus Christ bought us with His own blood, we all became bond slaves of God but God did not save us to be slaves.

God saves us to be "willing vessels" to carry the "Gospel" to all those who have never heard the "Gospel"!

God saves us to be "willing vessels" to be able to give an answer to all those who are seeking the God of the Bible!

To "Surrender" is to yield to the awesome power of God without Him having to use the power.

Mary was willing to sell herself to God!

The word handmaiden means "slave-girl"!

Mary acted according to the Word of God and Mary is a great example for us all!

1) Mary would be an unwed mother which would cause her much ridicule.

2) No one would ever believe Mary's story!

3) Mary was espoused to Joseph, how would He act to this thing. Broken trust and personal embarrassment are things we all find it hard to overcome.

4) If God did not have the power He said He had, then there was a real possibility that Mary would be stoned to death as an adulterer.

There were a lot of things for this young virgin to consider!

The truth of Mary and the truth of each one who is accepted into the family of God, is that to surrender to God is an absolute essential both for salvation and for service!

Jesus said:

Mat 12:50  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

And then Mary had a great desire to see Elisabeth.

*****Luk 1:39  And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
Luk 1:40  And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
Luk 1:41  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:
Luk 1:42  And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Elisabeth had hidden herself for 5 months but in her sixth month she proudly displayed the fact that she was with child

When Mary arrived is was evident to her that what the angel Gabriel had said was true and this encouraged Mary.

Mary had already known that Elisabeth was with child but Elisabeth did not know that Mary was with child until she arrived at her home.

Immediately when Elisabeth heard the greeting of Mary she realized how special this day was.

1) The baby John, still within the womb of his mother, had kicked before this day because they do this by the sixth month in most all pregnancies

On this day the baby leaped and it was something different than just a kick.

Elisabeth realized that Mary was also with child.

2) Elisabeth was immediately filled with the Holy Ghost and she began to prophesy.

We already know that the baby inside his mother Elisabeth had already been filled with the Holy Ghost

Luk 1:15  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

Elisabeth realized she was standing before the mother of the Messiah, the Savior of our world.

3) Elisabeth spoke in a loud voice. Elisabeth was full of joy and praise for the Messiah and was full of emotion.

Elisabeth was the very first to proclaim that the baby Mary carried was indeed the Lord!

Elisabeth became the very first person to honor the Son of God!

Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Mary was indeed blessed of God but she was blessed because of the child she carried within her!

*****Luk 1:43  And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luk 1:44  For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
Luk 1:45  And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Elisabeth was under the influence of the Holy Spirit and she realized that Mary was greatly blessed but it was the Lord that she carried in her womb that made her to be blessed.

This was the promised Messiah, the Son of the Highest, and God Himself!

To Elisabeth, her own son was the thing that had fulfilled all her wishes.

The angel Gabriel had said that John would be a great man but Elisabeth realized that One greater than John was carried by the Virgin Mary.

TODAY, We do not have to see the Lord to know that He is present with us!

We must remember the sign:

Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

There are many today who doubt the Virgin birth of the Messiah.

There were many in the day of Luke that doubted the Virgin birth of the Messiah.

BUT, Elisabeth did not doubt that Mary carried the Savior of the world!

As soon as Elisabeth heard the greeting of Mary at the door and she had entered, Elisabeth's heart leaped for joy, her own child leaped in her own womb, and they both realized they were in the presence of God, not Mary "but that small less than a month old babe in the womb of Mary".

The abortionist do not realize that there could be many children that could make great strides in our world that are simply murdered everyday in the name of freedom.

Shame on America for allowing such sin!

Shame on our world to destroy such treasures!

Elisabeth began a personal relationship with her Lord.

Her own babe John would have to experience his own personal relationship.

Joh 1:31  And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
Joh 1:32  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
Joh 1:33  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Joh 1:34  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

There should be little doubt that Mary was encouraged by these things because Elisabeth had recognized the truth that the angel Gabriel had told to her.

Mary needed assurance and God sent her to where she could find that assurance!

That's what God does for us all as He will provide all our needs!

Mary had believed what the angel Gabriel had told her.

She had not doubted as did Zacharias.

She had not doubted as Joseph would soon do.

Mary's faith was increased when she saw Elisabeth.

But Mary also was related to Christ in a very special way!

1) Our lesson is that we must have faith!

Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

2) We must believe all the Word of God!

Luk 11:28  But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

3) We must become related to Jesus Christ!

Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

When we can do these things, we will then see that God keeps all His promises.

Mary saw the promises of God being fulfilled before her own eyes!

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And Mary began to magnify the Lord.

*****Luk 1:46  And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
Luk 1:47  And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Luk 1:48  For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Mary considered herself to be only a humble servant of the Lord.

Mary's song was not about herself but about the Lord inside her womb!

Mary had just completed the long trip to the house of Zacharias and Elisabeth but she still took time to praise and magnify the Lord.

Mary forgot her tiredness, her own faith was being increased greatly.

Mary and Elisabeth were having themselves a spell!

Mary realized that Gabriel the messenger of God, had foretold her of all these things.

Gabriel was real. Gabriel's message was real.

And she as a "virgin" was already with a son and not just any son but the Son of the God that she had worshiped since her childhood!

God will increase our faith if we just ask Him.

God will show us the reality of faith when we believe His Word.

Deu 7:9  Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Faith can even over come tiredness and exhaustion!

Mary was truly blessed of the Lord!

Being blessed should increase our praise of God and should not increase the sin of pride for being so blessed!

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

God knew that Mary and the entire world was in need of a Savior.

Mary recognized that she needed a Savior.

Mary recognized that God was that Savior.

In the eyes of the world Mary was just a nobody, a poor insignificant girl, with no purpose, whose life had little meaning.

Mary was a "handmaiden" which probably meant she was the least in her own family.

God is more apt to choose this type of person to perform great things!

1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

We must all know these same things that Mary came to know!

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

We must all approach God being as humble as was Mary!

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

God will remember all those that trust Him as He did Mary!

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

For God is Holy!

Isa 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Mary proclaimed God's holiness.

*****Luk 1:49  For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Luk 1:50  And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

We serve an awesome God!

1) God is a powerful Creator.

Mary realized that the promised Messiah was now to be born.

The hope of the world was being fulfilled.

God's power would be demonstrated in a way that had never been witnessed before.

A "Virgin" would have a child!

Impossible yes, but not for our powerful God.

2) God is Holy.

1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

God is holy in name.

God is holy in being.

3) God is merciful.

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

4) God is set apart.

God is set apart from any that are called god.

God is different from any that are seen as god.

Mic 7:18  Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
Mic 7:19  He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

5) God is able.

*****Luk 1:51  He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
Luk 1:52  He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
Luk 1:53  He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Luk 1:54  He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
Luk 1:55  As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

God reverses the ways of this world!

1) Those that are proud think they are better than everyone else.

God will scatter the proud along with all their imaginations.

2) The mighty are all those who sit in positions of power today in our world.

God will dethrone the mighty and exalt all those of low degree.

3) Those who seek to be rich in the world's goods will one day see their riches given to who are hungry.

God will fill the hungry and empty the rich.

4) God will restore Israel as He promised to David and fulfill all the promises to Abraham.

Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

Gal 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

And Mary remained with Elisabeth for 3 months.

*****Luk 1:56  And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

No doubt that in that 3 month period Mary knew for sure that she was certainly pregnant.

Mary had needed the encouragement of Elisabeth.

Rom 15:1  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Mary has shown us all the truth of the "Gospel".

Mary was assured of our Savior.

BUT, Now Mary had to face Joseph!

Mat 1:19  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
Mat 1:20  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

God has a plan and we just need to accept the plan of God and we will see Him in person some day!

We can certainly trust that a virgin named Mary gave birth to the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord!

Questions?

Let's Pray!