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20 Days of God's Gift Giving
by turtle30c
Luke 1:36-56 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.
(37) For with God nothing shall be impossible.
(38) And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto
me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
(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.
(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.
(56) And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned
to her own house.
This morning I want to talk about God assurances and promises.
Often times when God reveals a plan for us as individuals like in
the case of Zacharias in our first advent devotion of 25 days of
God’s gift giving, belief in the vision God gives seem impossible.
Mary in today’s passage she seems to just rest in God’s promise
of the concept of Christ, yet she still needed that sweet
assurance by the sign the angel spoke concerning her cousin
Elizabeth being pregnant in old age.
How much that word assurance is needed in faith. God gives
assurance of salvation, some through emotion, some through that
change that takes place in their life knowing it was not possible
without God. Some through the vision, and prophesy that is
spoken through the word coming to pass. Unless God’s word
impacts your life, you will never see the value of faith and
believing. Some where along the way assurance of faith has to
come.
Mary had the assurance upon seeing Elizabeth far into her
pregnancy. Upon hearing the voice of Elizabeth declare by the
Holy Spirit her own expectation of a baby to come. How it must
have been for Mary, who told the angel let it be according to they
word. Assurance was hers immediate upon faith, but to increase
faith would be the sign the angel provide of Elizabeth own
pregnancy. That was a sign she had to check out for herself. She
was blessed by doing so. She not only had faith from what was
spoken by the angel, but she also sees the assurance and the
proof of the possibility.
How so is that blessed assurance in our daily life. Without hope
without faith, we have not faith in a God of impossibilities. We
have a God that sits in a box. God is everywhere and not just
temple/church, but in the heart of every believer. The word
though is different it not in the heart of every believer. Satan likes
to take the word and twist it, stealing the assurances of faith
away. Faith comes by reading and hearing the Word of God and
knowing the reality of it in our own lives. Until God becomes real
to you, the reality of God is going to be a myth in your thinking.
Until you take the Word of God and meditate on His promises
and assurances you will not know the power of God to do the
impossible. We all need the impossible to see the hand of God.
Mary upon seeing the reality of the hope, began to praise God,
praising God for His greatness and mercy upon all. The one she
was carrying was the Messiah, the forerunner of Christ was in
the womb of her aunt. That bless assurance Jesus was Mary’s
would be. What is going to motivate you toward faith in God. I
am not sure what it takes for you, but I know I have enough
assurance Jesus is mine as well as Mary’s, for she came into my
heart upon belief and saved me from my sins. Yet what God
spoke to my heart long ago I know will come to pass, even when
that devil wants to tap me on the shoulder and say I want to
steal it from you. Devil wants to steal our hope our blessed
assurance by doubts and frustrations. All these things are
normal. Kick the devil to the curve and rest in God’s sweet
assurance of the hope He has given you through faith in Christ
Jesus.
Dear Heavenly Father thank you for assurance of faith in your
promises. In Jesus precious name, Amen.
http://www.turtle30cshell.com
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