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Sunday 25 November 2012

'THE REALITY OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH'



Rev. George Sinclair
By Rev. George Sinclair                           
 Pastor of the Church of the Messiah, Ottawa, ON.
 www.messiahchurch.ca

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(Podcast of CFRA broadcast on Sunday, November 25th, 2012)
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Broadcast Notes:
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(Abridged notes of a short Sermon on LUKE 1:26 –38

The Reality of the Virgin Birth’


Luke 1:26-38 (ESVUK)

Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed[a] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favoured one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Luke does not tell a story based on true events or inspired by true events. He claims to tell the true story of Jesus. Luke is a former pagan who has become a Christian, He is writing to a pagan.

There are two different ways to listen to the story of Jesus. Will we listen like Zechariah (and not believe) or will we listen like Mary. Today we learn how Mary listens.

READ Luke 1:26-34

26 In the sixth month the angel (A)Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named (B)Nazareth, 27 (C)to a virgin betrothed[a] to a man whose name was Joseph, (D)of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, (E)O favoured one, (F)the Lord is with you!”[b] 29 But (G)she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for (H)you have found favour with God. 31 And behold, (I)you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and (J)you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of (K)the Most High. And the Lord God (L)will give to him the throne of (M)his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob (N)for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”[c]

Footnotes:
a.     Luke 1:27 That is, legally pledged to be married
b.     Luke 1:28 Some manuscripts add Blessed are you among women!
c.     Luke 1:34 Greek since I do not know a man

Cross references:
A.    Luke 1:26 : ver. 19
F.    Luke 1:28 : Judg. 6:12
I.      Luke 1:31 : Isa. 7:14

Many things kill curiosity in us. But God does not kill our curiosity. He wants us to remain curious.

Mary remains a virgin while God works a miracle to create a new life within her womb. God works a miracle of creation within the womb of Mary.

Science increases the wow factor when God performs a miracle.

That miracle of creation in the womb of Mary is the person of Jesus.

Read verse 31-38. Who is Jesus?

Luke 1:31-38

31 And behold, (A)you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and (B)you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of (C)the Most High. And the Lord God (D)will give to him the throne of (E)his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob (F)for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”[a]
35 And the angel answered her, (G)“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of (H)the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[b] will be called (I)holy—(J)the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her (K)who was called barren. 37 For (L)nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[c] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And (M)the angel departed from her.

Footnotes:
a.     Luke 1:34 Greek since I do not know a man
b.     Luke 1:35 Some manuscripts add of you
c.     Luke 1:38 Greek bondservant; also verse 48

Cross references:
A.    Luke 1:31 : Isa. 7:14
I.      Luke 1:35 : John 6:69
K.   Luke 1:36 : ver. 7

Luke tells us the end of the story at the beginning.

Jesus’ death upon the cross will be the grace filled means to His reigning over a forever Kingdom.

We enter into Jesus’ grace filled reign and His grace filled reign enters into us by repentance and faith. He wants us to respond like Mary, “I am your servant, let it be to me according to Your will.”

Let’s pray:

Father, Thank you for Mary, for her willingness to suffer shame and embarrassment and public scorn by allowing you to work a miracle within her womb, so that Jesus was born, even though she had never known a man, sexually.

Thank you Father for this; but most of all, Father, we thank you for Jesus. We thank you that He came to our earth in a rescue mission, to die upon the Cross, to take my place so that I might be reconciled to you.

Father, help me to more and more and more: say to you, and to your description of Jesus, “I am your servant”.

Let it be to me according to your word. I am yours, in Jesus’ name, Amen.


Rev. George Sinclair
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To listen to the above broadcast, click on the following link:

Sunday 18 November 2012

'GOD AND PRAYER AND JUDGEMENT'


Rev. George Sinclair
By Rev. George Sinclair                           
 Pastor of the Church of the Messiah, Ottawa, ON.
 www.messiahchurch.ca

_____________________________________________________________

(Podcast of CFRA broadcast on Sunday, November 18th, 2012)
http://proxy.autopod.ca/podcasts/chum/6/9703/good_news_027_nov18.mp3  _____________________________________________________

Broadcast Notes:
*********************************************************
(Abridged notes of a short Sermon on LUKE 1:1 –25

God and Prayer and Judgement’

Luke 1:1-25  (ESVUK)
 

Dedication to Theophilus

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that (A)have been accomplished among us, 2 (B)just as those who (C)from the beginning were (D)eyewitnesses and (E)ministers of (F)the word (G)have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write (H)an orderly account for you, (I)most excellent (J)Theophilus, that you may have (K)certainty concerning the things (L)you have been taught.

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 (M)In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] (N)of (O)the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both (P)righteous before God, walking (Q)blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because (R)Elizabeth was barren, and (S)both were advanced in years.
Now (T)while he was serving as priest before God when (U)his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot (V)to enter (W)the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people (X)were praying (Y)outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of (Z)the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and (AA)fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for (AB)your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and (AC)you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will (AD)rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be (AE)great before the Lord. And (AF)he must not drink wine or strong (AG)drink, and (AH)he will be (AI)filled with the Holy Spirit, (AJ)even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and (AK)he will go before him (AL)in the spirit and power of Elijah, (AM)to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and (AN)the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, (AO)to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, (AP)“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am (AQ)Gabriel. (AR)I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, (AS)you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in (AT)the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in (AU)the temple. And (AV)he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And (AW)when his time of (AX)service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, (AY)to take away my reproach among people.”

Luke is a pagan who became a Christian and he is writing to a pagan.

Luke tells the true story of Jesus

READ Luke 1:5-7

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 (A)In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] (B)of (C)the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both (D)righteous before God, walking (E)blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because (F)Elizabeth was barren, and (G)both were advanced in years.

Footnotes:

a.     Luke 1:5 Greek Zacharias

Cross references:

A.    Luke 1:5 : Matt. 2:1
C.    Luke 1:5 : ver. 8
D.   Luke 1:6 : ch. 2:25


  1. Being God’s child by grace does not mean I will never suffer or be disappointed.

READ Luke 1:8-13.
Now (A)while he was serving as priest before God when (B)his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot (C)to enter (D)the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people (E)were praying (F)outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of (G)the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and (H)fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for (I)your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and (J)you shall call his name John.
Cross references:
B.    Luke 1:8 : ver. 5
I.      Luke 1:13 : [Acts 10:4, 31]
J.     Luke 1:13 : ver. 60, 63


  1. Sometimes God’s answer to my prayer is delayed a long time rather than rejected.

READ Luke 1:14-18.

14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will (A)rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be (B)great before the Lord. And (C)he must not drink wine or strong (D)drink, and (E)he will be (F)filled with the Holy Spirit, (G)even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and (H)he will go before him (I)in the spirit and power of Elijah, (J)to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and (K)the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, (L)to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, (M)“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
Cross references:
A.    Luke 1:14 : [ver. 58]
I.      Luke 1:17 : See Matt. 11:14


  1. God asks us this question. Are my advantages and blessings creating a heart and mind that will not believe God?
  2. Do not say God’s ‘No’ for Him.

Zechariah comes under God’s judgment.

READ Luke 1:19-25.
19 And the angel answered him, “I am (A)Gabriel. (B)I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, (C)you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in (D)the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in (E)the temple. And (F)he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And (G)when his time of (H)service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, (I)to take away my reproach among people.”
Cross references:
F.    Luke 1:22 : ver. 62

The judgment of God that should fall on me will fall on Jesus as He dies on the cross. It is the grace filled means by which we can be reconciled to God by turning to Jesus in repentance and faith.

Let’s close in prayer:

Father,

Thank you for your Word. Thank you Father that we can come to you in prayer; and we ask Father that to help us to accept those times you say “no” and we trust that you are wise and good. Help us Father to have the patience to bear up when you delay answering our prayer with a “yes”, and help us to believe that you will say “yes” to us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.


Rev. George Sinclair
_____________________________________________
To listen to the above broadcast, click on the following link: