* Mary is the most “highly esteemed” woman in history.
* There’s even a religion based on her life.
* But notice that Mary being “highly favored of the Lord” wasn’t written until after she was most likely dead.
* Luke was written in 58-60 AD (roughly 25 years after Christ’s death).
* Tradition holds that Mary died between 10-15 after Christ’s death.
* So there was a 10 year gap between what people believed about Mary and what was true about Mary was revealed.
* She lived her life keeping the secret of what God’s angel had said to her so many years ago.
* For the time being, while she was young and single and pregnant, she would not be highly esteemed at all.
* She endured a temporary painful reputation to inherit a permanent powerful reputation for all time!
Luke 1:48 (3/27/19)
Reputation
March 27, 2019 • Benham Brothers
Luke 1:18 (3/23/17)
March 23, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Faith is a matter of focus. * If we keep our focus on God we gravitate toward faith. * If we keep our focus on man we gravitate toward fear & doubt. * Zechariah fell for the same thing Moses fell for - when God’s word came he focused on himself and not the God Who was giving the message. * His punishment? * He lost the ability to do what he was created to do. * He was a priest and had to communicate as a part of his job - but now that was gone. * Other people could no longer be nourished by Zech, the priest. * God wants to be a nourishment for others through us, but it requires our faith in God for that to happen. * We have to keep our eyes on Him and not on ourselves.
Luke 1:24-25 (3/22/18)
March 22, 2018 • Benham Brothers
Luke 1:24-25 - Motive * How do you know if you’ve done something with the right motive? * By how you respond when the thing either comes to pass or doesn’t. * If it doesn’t, do you say, “not my will but Yours be done?” * This means you had the right motive. * If it does come to pass, do you have a meek and humble response (like Peter & Elizabeth)? * Notice Elizabeth got alone and simply wanted to thank God for blessing her. * She didn’t go out and announce to everyone. * A pure motive is always humble before the Lord and grateful for His role in your life.