Sermon #8 Luke Sermons

Title: A VISIT IN THE HILLS

Text: Luke1:39-45

Subject: Mary Visits Elizabeth

Date: Sunday Evening - July 11, 1999

Tape # V-36a

Readings: Office: Gary Baker Auditorium: James Jordan

Introduction:

When I was a boy there was one delightful ray of sunshine in my dark life, one thing which was always sure to give me a season of pure pleasure and happiness. At least once a year I would get to go for a week or more to the mountains to visit my dad’s family. My grandmother, great aunt, and my aunts and uncles were always a pleasure to be around. I remember dreaming with delightful anticipation about going to the hills of Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The happiest days of my childhood were spent in the hills.

Tonight, I want us to go for a visit in the hills. We are going with Mary to the hill country of Judah to visit her aging cousin Elizabeth. Let’s read about this visit two godly women had together in Luke 1:39-45…

Luke 1:39-45 "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

As we seek to worship our God and learn of him, let me direct your thoughts to three things which stand out in these verses.

I. A Beneficial COMMUNION

Luke 1:39-42 "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."

Here we see Mary and Elizabeth, a young virgin and an old mother in Israel, walking together in delightful, blessed fellowship and communion. They were cousins, but their fellowship was much, much more, and much, much sweeter and beneficial than the companionship of family. Their fellowship with one another was the fellowship of faith. Their communion was the communion of grace.

When I talk about fellowship and communion, I am talking about the fellowship of believers, the communion of grace in Christ. We who believe “have all things common.”

· A Common Salvation

· A Common Election

· A Common Atonement

· A Common Hope

· A Common Family

· A Common Warfare

· A Common Inheritance

Our text tells us that these dear saints, when they visited with one another were mutually benefited, spiritually benefited by each other.

· Their heats were cheered.

· Their minds were uplifted.

· Their souls were refreshed.

· Their spirits were edified.

As they visited and communed with one another, discussing the grace of God, the wonders of his providence, and the excellence of hi mercy, his covenant, his promises, and his faithfulness – Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. -- Mary was inspired to sing a new song of praise to the Lord.

A. We should always regard the fellowship of God’s saints as one of our greatest privileges in this world.

“There are many who fear the Lord and think upon his name, and yet forget to speak often one to another.” –J.C. Ryle

That ought not be the case. “As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance of a man his friend…As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man” (Pro. 27:17, 19).

Malachi 3:16 "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name."

What a refreshing break in our pilgrimage, what an oasis in this desert, what a resting place in this troubled world a season of fellowship with God’s saints is! Let us never take this privilege lightly.

Hebrews 13:1-2 "Let brotherly love continue. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers (especially fellow strangers!): for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Fellowship with God’s saints is as near as we come to heaven on earth.

· Private Company

· Public Worship

B. Let us each take care that our company is helpful, not harmful, edifying, not a hindrance to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

1. Speak to one another, as Mary and Elizabeth did, about the things of God.

2. In the house of God, when God’s messenger has delivered God’s message to your soul, speak to one another about the message.

C. Our chosen companions in this world ought always be companions in the grace of God.

I do not suggest for a moment that we live as hermits in this world, that we isolate ourselves from society. That would be irresponsible. I do not suggest that we treat other people contemptuously. That would be horribly wicked. But I am saying this – Believers ought never choose unbelievers for their companions in any sphere of life. I am always concerned when I see anyone who professes to be a child of God choosing to spend his or her leisure time with unbelievers. Such a choice is like choosing to take fire into your bosom. It is like inviting a traitor into your camp. It is bringing a thief into your home. No good can come from it.

1 Corinthians 5:6 " Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?"

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?"

II. A Believer’s Confession

Luke 1:43-44 "And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy."

Often, we think that God’s saints in days gone by were very much ignorant concerning the person and work of Christ. Like us, many of them were weak and ignorant of many things. They often expressed themselves poorly. They often behaved in a way that was contrary to the gospel and contrary to faith. They were, after all, men and women like us!

Yet, those men and women in days of old who knew God were also given the mind of Christ. Elizabeth’s language in verse forty-three, where she called Mary “the mother of my Lord,” is the language of remarkable faith. It is a confession of faith every bit as remarkable as that of Peter, who confessed, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

We must not put words in her mouth, but when she made this confession concerning the baby in Mary’s womb, she acknowledged that the child conceived in Mary’s womb was…

· The Long Expected Messiah.

· The Son of David.

· The Son of God.

· The Savior of the World.

Elizabeth understood what Mary sang in verses 46-56.

Luke 1:46-55 "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever."

A. Elizabeth’s confession was an acknowledgement of voluntary surrender to and faith in Christ as her Lord.

1 Corinthians 12:3 "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."

B. This dear old woman had learned and gladly acknowledged what all must soon acknowledge – JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

Philippians 2:9-11 "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

III. A Blessed Confidence

Luke 1:45 "And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

Here, we see an old, old woman, a woman who had learned the folly of both vanity and flattery, speaking in glowing terms about the blessedness of faith in Christ, the blessedness of believing God.

A. It is indeed a blessed thing to believe God.

Faith has always been a grace by which God’s saints in this world have obtained a good report.

Hebrews 11:1-16 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

The story of God’s saints is a story of faith, the narrative of chosen, redeemed sinners who, believing God, were blessed of God. By faith they…

· Embraced God’s promises.

· Walked with God.

· Endured hardships.

· Looked to Christ.

· Endured temptations.

· Triumphed over the world, the flesh, and the devil.

· Lived.

· Died.

· Entered into glory!

There is a great, great volume of instruction contained in these words – “Blessed is she that believed.”

B. Faith is nothing less than confidence in God.

Look at Elizabeth’s words again. -- "And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord." Faith is confident that God will accomplish all his Word, that he will perform all his promises, that he will fulfil his every decree.

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

C. This faith is the gift of God.

Ephesians 1:19 "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,"

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

Colossians 1:12 "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:"

Blessed is that sinner to whom it is given in the behalf of Christ to believe on his name (Phil. 1:29).

D. Do we know anything about this precious gift of faith?

“Let us never rest till we know it by experience. Once knowing it, let us never cease to pray that our faith may grow exceedingly. Better a thousand times to be rich in faith than rich in gold. Gold will be worthless in the unseen world to which we are all travelling. Faith will be owned in that world before God the Father and the holy angels. When the great white throne is set, and the books are opened, when the dead are called from their graves, and receiving their final sentence, the value of faith will be fully known. Men will learn then, if they never learned before, how true are the words, ‘Blessed are they that believed.’”

Oh, gift of gifts! Oh, grace of faith!

My God, how can it be

That Thou, who hast discerning love,

Shouldst give that gift to me?

Ah, Grace! into unlikeliest hearts

It is Thy boast to come;

The glory of Thy light to find

In darkest spots a home.

Thy choice, (O God of goodness!) then

I lovingly adore;

Oh, give me grace to keep Thy grace,

And grace to long for more!

AMEN.