12-23-12 AM - The Greatest Gift of All pt. 4

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Giving The Heart of Christmas

Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariahs home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Marys greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

From opening a barren womb, to sending visiting angels, to muting Zechariah, naming individuals with destiny upon them, and ultimately being born of a virgin just to name a few.

42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!
46 And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindfulof the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,



49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers. 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,

60 but his mother spoke up and said, No! He is to be called John. 61 They said to her, There is no one among your relatives who has that name. 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyones astonishment he wrote, His name is John.

64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, What then is this child going to be? For the Lords hand was with him.

The Magnificat – Utterance of Praise.
1Sam. 2 Hannah/Elkanah –son Samuel given to Eli.

Mary is over joyed. verse 45- Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
Mary breaks into song

46 And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindfulof the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,



49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.

2. A Son Of Promise Was Given (57)
Both Isaiah and Malachi prophecy of one who would come and prepare the way of the Lord. (Is. 40:3 Mal. 3:1)
-And now the angel Gabriel has promised vs. 13“Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son”.

Praise awakens our spirit to the Holy Spirit.
Zechariah prophesied of the Savior and his son.

The savior would set us free from the enemy.
The son John would point people to the Savior.