A woman of God

The Gospel of Luke, please, chapter 1. The Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, and we're going to read from verse 26. The Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, and verse 26. I have been in the company of some very fine people who want to live for God.

I'm not at this moment speaking of the joy that we have sensed as we've gathered together with God's people here. But in the last little while, I've been with a number of young people, and I have been impressed. You know, it brought back days when it seemed as though life was simpler.

In those days, I didn't have to worry quite so much about preaching to other people. And when there might be from our heart arise just something for the Lord Jesus, and it's so fresh, and it's so precious, and I want to consider one of those remarkable young people that we have in the Bible as this conference comes to a close. Luke's Gospel, chapter 1, and verse 26.

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God. Imagine a messenger from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph. Of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her and said, Hail thou that are highly favored. The Lord is with thee. What a word that is.

But that's not all he said. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

He shall be great and shall be called, we've been hearing about this today, the Son of the Most High, the Son of the Highest. And the Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom. There shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel said, Answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest, of the Most High, shall overshadow thee. Therefore also, that holy thing, I even would hesitate to retranslate that. This is holy ground.

That shall be born of thee shall be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.

And Mary said, What a spirit she manifested. Mary said, Behold, the handmaid, the servant of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her, and Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country.

Verse 40, And entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth. Down please to verse 46. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior, for He hath regarded, He has looked upon the lowest state of His handmaiden.

What a lovely picture of a person submissive to His will. For behold, from henceforth all nations shall call me blessed, for He that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is His name. We could read more.

There are other chapters that concern themselves with Mary, but for my purposes today I'd like to just think on these verses. And I hope you'll keep your Bible open and you can check out the things that I would like to refer to. You know, as you look over the pages of the Bible, you find that over and over you meet up with some remarkable young people in the Bible.

A Joseph, an Esther, a David, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Isaac, Saul of Tarsus. Various ones here and there in the pages of Scripture. People who made a mark and people who made their lives count for God.

And what a blessing and what a treasure we have in our Bible as we consider these remarkable, most remarkable young people. As you look at their stories, women seem almost more conspicuous than men in their devotion. They were the last at the cross.

And they were the first at the tomb. And we've been hearing of that wonderful sacrifice that was made in the offering of that alabaster box and the crushing and breaking of it for the Lord. Notice first of all about this young woman who was possibly somewhere between 13 and 17 years of age.

You talk about a mature spirit. You talk about someone who is spiritually minded. You talk about someone whose life is offered up to God.

And you think of her youth. And I would like to encourage young people today to stop and think what your life could be for God. What your life could be as it's offered to Him in sacrifice.

Notice in verse 28, she was highly favored, the Bible says. She was highly favored of God. She was from a peasant background.

Poor. There's no mention made here about her beauty or her outward attractiveness. And maybe there's someone here today, some young woman, and you kind of bemoan the fact that you haven't been just given some of the beauty that others may have.

But while there's no mention made of that outward beauty or attractiveness in the physical sense, ha, look at this woman's life. She had a beauty of character. And she had a loveliness of grace that was inward that attracted the very heart of God.

She was highly favored. My Bible tells me, it reminds me time and again that you and I are highly favored. Now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know all the day is coming when perhaps only that inward beauty is going to be seen.

It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 Samuel 2 tells me this, that He raises the poor out of the dust. Isn't that a marvel? You know, when I look back on my circumstances when I was a child, and when I look at my distance from God, and when I watch my pathway, and just a little reflection of it causes my heart to well up with thanksgiving to the Lord.

He raises the poor out of the dust and He makes them inherit the throne of glory. Do you know where you and I are headed? Do you know what our portion is from God? Do you know how rich our estate is? Do you know how wondrous it is to be highly favored of God? Let's not seek other favor. This is far more essential.

This is far more worth. She was highly favored of God. Notice in verse 28 again, she was assured, she was assured that the Lord was with her.

We've been hearing about that a little. Nothing could be more highly prized in our lives. And I'll tell you this, it isn't limited to age.

An old man might lose it. And a young person could possess it. We were hearing about Elihu yesterday, younger than the others, of the counselors of Job.

She was assured, the Lord is with you. You know, I turn in my Bible to Hebrews 13 sometimes when I need comfort. And when I read these words, He has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

He spoke those words for a reason. And He spoke those words with purpose. And He spoke those words with power because He means every single one.

He has said, I will never leave thee, nor never forsake thee. Never. So that we may say, the Lord is my helper.

I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Sometimes we fear. Sometimes we tremble.

But when I know He's with me, it makes all the difference. I used to have enemies. I made them all by myself.

And I was usually bigger than they were. And I didn't worry too much about it unless they ganged up on me. And they did that sometimes.

And sometimes I needed a run. But there were times when my enemies could be just as diabolically opposed to me as ever. And they wouldn't dare touch me.

When my dad walked down the street at my side, I was untouchable. And when I have God with me, I need not fear what man shall do unto me. Notice not only in verse 28, but notice how she was encouraged in verse 29 and 30.

She was encouraged not to fear. You know, when we read those words, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. We can say, the Lord is at my side.

You know, Mary was always in the divine presence. What a reality. Do you know that wherever you go, or even where you might wander, the Lord is right at your elbow.

In fact, closer than that. The Lord is near. And as you look at these verses, you can see that what she heard, this promise from God.

Why? Verse 29 says, she gave what she heard a lot of thought. She tried to discern what this might mean. It concerned her.

It perplexed her. It was confusing to her. And she inquired into it, and she thought about it, and she mused on it.

I want to tell you, reflection on what God says. Reflection on truth that He gives us is a remarkable characteristic. Child of God, you may be young.

You may not have fought in the heat of the battle, till now. But I'll tell you, the time you spend meditating, thinking over, considering, delving into a message God has for your soul that will do you good, and it will give you strength in your ankle bones to stand for God and to live for His glory. She gave what she heard a lot of thought.

Do we possess that wonderful characteristic of musing? Oh, we're so busy. We're always plugged in. We listen to all kinds of other voices.

We're watching all this stuff that is constantly bombarding us. And sometimes we allow that. But oh, what we need is to spend time lowly in His presence, quietly considering the truth that God has for us that helps us live in a world that's against us.

Notice in verse 30, she was encouraged there not to fear. That's one of our big problems. And oh, how wonderful to know that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but God has given us a spirit of power and love and self-control.

And this is what God intends and values for us. And we ought to see the value of it. And sometimes we need to allow the presence of God, the grace of God to bring our fears into submission.

I can't ever say that in all the years that I've been preaching the gospel or trying to minister God's people that I feel fully comfortable on a platform like this. And sometimes I'm glad of that. For if we take up the Word of God, we certainly need to be God conscious.

And God is in heaven, and thou upon earth. And we are limited. He is so finite.

She was told not to fear. Notice verse 31. She was told that God had a great and incredible purpose for her life.

Isn't that a marvel? Isn't that wonderful? Isn't that precious? Do you know that God has a great and incredible purpose for your life? I was taught as a young believer that I was saved for a purpose. That God had a reason in saving me. And that I needed to delve into and find out what the purpose of God was for me, for my life, and not just be satisfied to go along with the others.

She was told, God, your God, has a great and incredible purpose for every one of our lives. In 2 Corinthians 5, verse 15, we read these words, He died for all that those who live might not live unto themselves, might not live for themselves, but for Him that died for them and rose again. My life is not my own.

My Bible tells me that. You are not your own. You are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your bodies.

Yes, it's important what you do with your bodies. And in your spirits which are His, they are His. God has an incredible purpose for our lives.

Saved for a purpose. You know, it's not that our life's profile might be daily on the news. But it's that God, who's looking down, might say, He pleased me today.

It thrills me to see my child following in the pathway I have for Him. She was saved for a purpose, just as you and I have been as well. And you know, to see that purpose carried out in life is a wonderful thing.

It may be that it's all clothed in weakness and failure. But to see God's purpose develop in a life is such a precious thing. And here's this woman, and while she didn't fully understand all that was said before her by the words of this angel sent from God, listen to her language.

Be it unto me. Let me be the vessel that you use. You ever face that issue? That God has a purpose for your life? That God wants from you something that will bring glory to His name such as no one else can do? That you specifically, that you individually, can serve His purpose and live for His glory and have you ever responded like Mary did? Be it unto me, according to your word.

We have already heard today. And we've gotten so used to hearing it that I'm not sure we really hear it. Romans 12 and 1. I've given you enough time to kind of put up your guard in case you say, really? I know what we do.

I know how we resist sometimes the pressure of the Spirit of God. But just for a moment, I'd like you to manifest the Spirit of a Mary. Be it unto me.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by all the manifold mercies of God that you present your bodies wholly acceptable, freely to Him. It's your reasonable service. It's just what you ought to do.

And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Be it unto me, according to thy word. Notice please, in verse 32, she was given a time and eternity perspective of the Son of God.

Verse 31 also reminds me that He's Jesus. That's the time aspect. He's the Savior.

Oh, what a wondrous truth is this. The one that Hebrew women down through the years have been longing for and looking for and expecting. Jesus.

Thou shalt call His name Jesus. He shall save His people from their sins. Thank God a Deliverer was coming.

But notice the eternity aspect of this revelation. It tells us here that He was the Son of the Most High God. Oh, the glories and the greatness of this One who was going to come by way of that young woman's womb.

And this woman says, be it unto me. She had questions. And those questions were genuine.

She wasn't asking these questions because she was objecting. But she had a longing to know. A hunger to understand.

You know, there's nothing wrong with asking questions. It's the spirit in which questions are asked that's oftentimes unacceptable. When I am truly searching, when I am really looking to God, if I lack wisdom, thank God I have a full resource in heaven itself.

But also, thank God for others who have come alongside many a time to instruct, to teach, to open up my mind, to make me think. Ah, here was a woman. And she had questions.

But her questions were not in rebellion. Her questions were a need to know. Notice verse 34.

She had been careful to maintain her purity. We've also heard a word on this today. She had been careful to maintain her purity.

And my Bible tells me in the plainest of language in 1 Timothy 4 and verse 12, keep yourself pure. You know, I believe that we intend to do it. But I have also witnessed at times some who were caught unawares.

Some who didn't realize the danger of the path they were taking. Some who didn't realize that their rewrap might cling to them for the rest of their life. She had been careful to maintain her purity.

We are told in 1 John 3 and verse 3 how we ought to purify ourselves even as He is pure. Oh, how God longs to see His children here in this world living a life like His Son. Notice in 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 22.

Again, the admonition. Abstain. Not only from evil, but from the appearance of evil.

Sometimes the world has a higher standard than we. She had been careful to maintain her purity. We are reminded in the book of Revelation 2 of one who searches minds and hearts.

And as he looks down today, how he loves to see how people who are determined to have their lives clean forgot. But then in verse 37, she was encouraged by the reminder that nothing shall be impossible with God. What a reminder this is.

And we need it. We need it as we go out to face the world. And she believed that God would perform the miraculous.

Oh, the mighty power of God. Oh, the wonder-working God of glory. She believed.

And she was encouraged to know nothing shall be impossible to God. Hebrews 10 verse 39 tells us, He who promises is faithful. Are you clinging to a promise? Cling to the God who made the promise.

Because He who promised is faithful. Verse 38, she had a willing heart. Ah, to hear the language of her heart.

And I have sometimes witnessed this in others. She said, I am a servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to Your word.

We were reminded of those in Macedonia today also. Those who in spite of their own poverty and need, they went beyond their own ability and of their own accord, first gave themselves to the Lord. I tell you, that's a priceless thing.

You may never be known in all the continents of earth. But your name could very well stand in the courts of heaven with honor. To know what it is.

To give yourself over to the will of God. She had a willing heart. God has given you and I a free will.

And we have the privilege as believers of surrendering that will to Him. Of saying, not my will, but Thy will be done. Verse 46 reminds me that she knew how to worship.

Worship is an essential part of a believer's life. And we were reminded of worship today. And she knew how to worship.

She had filled her mind with the Lord and His word. And if you're looking for materials to use in worship, read your Bible. Understand its purpose.

We have a young lady back home. She's 15 years old. her mother is resisting what seems to be a genuine love for the Lord Jesus in that young woman.

She wants to be out amongst the believers. Just a few weeks ago, we heard about Jessica and how she wanted to go to the Thursday night meeting for prayer and Bible study. And she knew she'd have to make some kind of a deal with her mom.

She said, Mom, how about I clean up the cat litter? Can I go? No. How about if I do all the dishes? No. What if I clean the bathroom? Well, all right, you can go.

She did all three of them. She really wanted to go to the meeting. Some of us fight going to meetings.

Some of us resist going. Some of us don't see the value of it. There's a young girl who has to fight against her own mother in a sense to get permission to go along to the meeting.

That same young woman we heard about, her glasses were broken and without them she can't read. And when she couldn't read her Bible, one night she called her Sunday school teacher, someone who had been a good counselor to her and had a great encouragement to her. And she said, Dorothy, would you mind reading the Bible to me? I can't read.

And I feel like I need it. You read your Bible. You search out its truth.

Maybe you too pay a price. But here's a young woman and she knew how to worship. A mind saturated with Old Testament promises and prophecies and her song that she spoke here in these verses that we read.

Why, perhaps it showed her knowledge of the song of Hannah also who gave her son to the Lord. She didn't know perhaps how much her story would imitate the life of Hannah that she knew a little bit about. Notice too, verses 46-55.

She had something worthwhile to say. You look at those verses. You look at those words.

And you know as we read about them, they're precious words. They seem prophetic words. They are rich with meaning.

She had something worthwhile to say. You know we read in the book of Matthew 12 that on the day of judgment people will give account of every idle word that they shall speak. Every idle word.

As I think back over my life, I can zero in on occasions here and there where my words have not been for His glory and where my words have not been a help to His people. And where my words have simply been about trivial stuff of earth that didn't matter the moment I said them. And here's a woman.

A young woman. Remarkable. Who had something worthwhile to say because she filled her mind with Old Testament truth.

And we have so much more. And we have the light of the New Testament shining on us. And we have so much revelation from God to enrich us.

And yet, do we spend so little time with our Bible? Lastly, this woman who seemed to possess a wisdom far beyond her years. Norris 47. She wasn't merely living a life linked to earthly things, but there was a spiritual aspect that had been cultivated, that had been nourished, that had been nurtured in her life.

A spiritual aspect in her life that affected all her life and all that she did. And she had a right estimate of herself in God. Verse 49 shows that very clearly.

Verse 48. You know, it's hard to have a right understanding, a right estimate of yourself, unless you have a right estimate of God. You know, that's what humility is.

Finding your right standing before Him. God is so great. And He can take an ordinary life.

He can take a person who once was in darkness. He can so illuminate us and so enrich us and so thrill us and so fill us. He can make us what we could never have been on our own.

And while it's mighty hard to have a right estimate of yourself without a right estimate of God, brethren and sisters, we find all we need to keep us right. In this blessed book, may God help us to bind ourselves to its truth. And no matter what our age, to be something for God.