Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Looking forward to celebrating Christmas again

a. Our focus/theme is to find joy in the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ

b. Joy in the salvation that Christ desired to bring to the world

2. Yet we recognise that we may not be as joyful as we should be

a. Some think that we would be happier if only we had the following things in life

i. Riches

ii. Higher status

iii. Material possessions

b. Learn how Mary was able to find joy despite her lowly estate.

HOW WE SHOULD SEE OURSELVES

“For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;”   Luke 1:48

1. Being of lowly estate

a. How did Mary see herself?

b. How do we see ourselves or others?

2. Negative part

a. Despising other people of being lowly

b. We can also despise ourselves

c. The challenge is not to despise others or ourselves

3. Positive part

a. A proper view of ourselves

b. The example of Mary being humble

i. Mary saw herself as lowly

ii. She was of humble background

c. Humbled before God

i. Mary was conscious of the Lord

ii. That she was standing before a great and mighty God

iii. She saw herself as only the maidservant of the Lord   (Luke 1:48)

d. All should be humble before God

HOW GOD SEES US

“For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;”   Luke 1:48

1. The way God looks at us

a. The word “regarded” means to “look upon and give regard”

b. When God looks at us from His standpoint

i. Graciously

ii. Kindly

iii. Lovely

c. God sets the example of how to look and regard us

2. God sees us through the Lord Jesus Christ

a. Through the Lord Jesus Christ

i. There is no one good in this world   (Psalm 14:3)

ii. We are blessed only through the Lord Jesus

b. The blessings are given in and through the Lord Jesus

i. We are saved by the Lord Jesus

ii. We are redeemed from our sins

iii. We are adopted as His people

iv. We become children of God

c. The privilege of being blessed through the Lord Jesus

i. Mary was most blessed among women

“For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.”   Luke 1:48

ii. Privilege given to Mary…in and through the Lord Jesus

iii. God had done great things for Mary…to bless her so richly

“For He who is mighty has done great things for me,”   Luke 1:49

d. Christ as the centre of Christmas

i. The focus of Christmas is the person of the Lord Jesus

ii. God sees us in and through the Lord Jesus

3. Applicable to all

a. The blessing of the Lord is to all

b. We should see ourselves as God sees us…in and through the Lord Jesus

c. All are greatly blessed in and through the Lord Jesus

HOW WE SHOULD REJOICE

1. Uplifted in our soul

a. That we should see ourselves positively and not negatively

b. To appreciate how God sees us

2. Praising the name of the Lord

“And holy is His name.”   Luke 1:49

a. To give glory to the Lord and His holy name

b. Joy in praising the Lord

3. Full of joy

a. Heart of joy

b. Joy expressed