Isaiah 61 1-7

 

LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM MARY MOTHER OF OUR SAVIOUR.

 

The assignment & the anointing for the assignment.

 

Luke 1:26-38

 

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

 

1. Your life's assignment and calling are determined by the position and posture of your heart, while your effectiveness hinges on your level of preparation

 

• To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 

• The more you linger in His presence the clearer His voice. 

• The Lord is preparing us even in the normal everyday mundane things for a greater calling. 

 

2. Don’t be afraid or troubled but pay attention to the instructions.

 

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 

 

• Don’t be trouble by the encounters for the Lord is making the assignment clearer. 

• Fear is the opposite of faith which is the substance of things hoped for.

• 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

 

3. Ask the right questions.

 

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

 

John 14:5-6

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

1 Samuel 17:26

Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

 

 

4. The empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

 

• The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you;

• The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,

Because the LORD has anointed Me

 

5. Keep the right company.

 

• Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.

 

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

 

6.  In the Midst of Mary’s Trials, she Continued to Praise God. 

 

Psalms 34:1

I will bless the LORD at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 

• In the midst of Mary’s life-changing news that she would give birth to the Messiah, she continued to praise God. Her doubts and fears didn’t waver, but her songs of praise rang louder. 

• Mary understood the power of her praise, and that it would sustain her through her upcoming trials. 

 

Luke 1:46-49

The Song of Mary

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.

 

7. Mary’s Suffering Drew Her Closer to God.

 

• Being the mother of Jesus was Mary’s greatest honor and ultimate source of suffering. 

• Mary carried a weighty burden and responsibility. As any mother would, Mary wanted only what was best for her son, but also endured great pain and suffering watching her son suffer. 

• Mary was with Jesus from a baby to the time He started His ministry. We see Mary introducing Jesus to intervene at the wedding.

 

John 2:2-5

Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

 

8. Mary Surrendered to God’s Will to the end.

 

• Mary surrendered to God’s plans not only for her life, but the life of her child.

• Mary surrendered her child over to God and his ultimate will.

• To fully surrender our lives daily to God takes greater trust, humility, and a reverence for His sovereignty. It is not easy to do because we battle against our human frailty each day.

 

John 19:25

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

 

Prayer points.

 

1. Remember calling or assignment demands an immediate response.

 

Matthew 4:18-20

 

Four Fishermen Called as Disciples

(Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11)

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

 

• Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

 

1 Kings 19:19-21

 

Elisha Follows Elijah

So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”

And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

 

• Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

 

2. Remember you  have been anointed and prepared for such a time as this. 

 

Esther 4:14

For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

All the preparation in life has lead to this moment- the calling, assignment, mission etc. 

 

3. Remember we must all stand before Christ to be judged. 

2 Corinthians 5:9-10

So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.