Passion for God 4 :: The Shepherd of Our Souls (Ps 23)

The Shepherd of Our Souls

Psalm 23

Introduction

Since the first week of the new year, I have been making the argument that God is more satisfying, more pleasurable, more joyful than anything else including sin.

Sin always tempts with the promise of pleasure. Do this, eat this, buy this, say this, and you will be happy. But in the end, we find that we are only happy for a short time. And then the reality of what we have done sets in and we realize that what sin offered was not all that great, but hollow and empty.

Only God will ultimately make us happy. Only God can provide lasting, all-satisfying pleasure that our souls so desperately desire. This is the point we want to continue to see today – this time from a very familiar passage. Turn with me to Psalm 23.

“There are countless descriptions of God in the Psalms: he is a King who rules over us, a rock of immovable stability, a deliverer in times of distress, a fortress in whom we find refuge, a shield behind whom we safely retreat. But there’s something special about his being a shepherd. There’s a dimension of personal tenderness and intimacy in the image of God as the one who shepherds his sheep.

King David is the author of this psalm. Before, he was anointed by God to be king over his people, he himself was a shepherd. And so, as he remembers the kind of attentive watch and protective love that he exercised over his sheep, he begins to realize that in a very similar way, the Lord watches over, guides, protects, and provides for his people.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. [3] He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. [4] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. [5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

1. The Lord is our loving Shepherd (23:1-4)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

David begins this psalm by drawing out a metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep. Here, David pictures God as the shepherd of Israel. Though, he goes a step further though and considers, not just the nation but he himself to be one of God’s sheep.

David makes it personal. The Lord is his shepherd and he is one of the Lord’s sheep.

David rejoices in the fact that as long as Yahweh, the Lord, is his shepherd, he will lack nothing. All that David needs will be provided to him by God. That idea of ‘lacking nothing’ is the key to these first four verses.

So, how does the Lord provide for David? How does the Lord provide for his people? How does he provide for us today?

1.1. God restores his people (1-3a)

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. [3] He restores my soul.

Here, David says that sill waters and green pastures restores the sheep’s soul. What does this mean? Well, you have to know a little about sheep. Sheep will not lie down and rest until they are full of food and water. So, as you can imagine, the shepherd must do everything he can to find plenty of food and water for his sheep.

But this is not as easier than it may sound at first. Sheep are also nervous and fearful. They will not drink from running water – it scares them. They will only drink from standing water. So, the shepherd cannot just find any old creek, or brook – no matter how clean and cool the water is, if it is moving the sheep will not drink from it.

David isn’t simply trying to put together a picture of serenity: a calm body of water, a grassy knoll, where one can lay down and relax. No, he is describing the difficult task of the shepherd:

He must be on constant look out for lush, grassy fields for his sheep to graze providing exactly what his sheep need.

After a long day of traveling around, the shepherd must find a place where his sheep can be well-fed so that they will rest; so that they be restored.

David says that because the Lord is his shepherd, he lacks nothing. This means that the Lord always finds the perfect pasture for his sheep. He never lets them go hungry or thirsty. He always provides with exactly what they need, so their souls may be restored.

1.2. God leads his people (3b)

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Because, the shepherd is constantly on the move looking for water a grass for the sheep, he must have a plan as to where he will take the sheep. He must know the right places to go and the right times to go there:

In the summer, he will lead them into the mountains where the air is cool and there is water. In the winter, he will lead them back home to the plains, where there will be rain and more growth.

But leading the sheep can be difficult. Usually sheep are dumb animals, but they can also be curious. The curious ones will cross over fences, leave the flock, and go into ravines, etc. (especially if they smell water or grass). If they smell food, they are off (I have some single guy friends like this).

Sometimes the flock will follow the curious ones around. If a leader is a curious one leading sheep astray, the shepherd as three options:

First, he might kill it for sacrifice or food (unlike today, sheep were not primarily raised for food, but for wool and milk – the meal would have to be a significant one to eat a sheep at it). Second, he might sell it, or third, he might break its leg.

If he did this, the shepherd would do it with his hands to ensure a clean break. If not a clean break, the leg will heal wrong and the sheep could be crippled. After breaking its leg, he would then carry the sheep with him until the leg healed. By this time the sheep will know his voice and will stay close to him.

The point is, the shepherd will do whatever it takes to lead his sheep. Not just to lead them, but to lead them in the right way. David says that with the Lord as his shepherd, he can be sure that God will always lead him down the right path. God’s instruction on how to live, on which path to take will always lead to righteousness.

1.3. God comforts his people (4)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Most likely, David has in mind times of danger. Times when one is fearful that he is in a situation that may lead to death. “The valley of the shadow of death,” is probably an actual place, or couple of places; those valleys that allowed one to pass from the mountains down to the lowlands.

Remember the shepherd would have to move his sheep through these passages when the seasons changed these valleys were dangerous because of the wild animals that inhabited them, and the potential for sudden storms and flooding. Even bandits that may lurk in the shadows.

These valleys represent though, any danger that would threaten our lives. Yet, even in these dark valleys, David is still comforted because the Lord is his shepherd. He knows that his God is able to protect him.

David also speaks of his shepherd’s rod and staff. These were the essential tools of the shepherd. The rod is a club for protecting the sheep that can be used as a blunt object, or thrown with great accuracy. (I saw this in Niger the last time I was there).

The staff is a long stick, sometimes with a crook at the end, which is used, for guiding the sheep.

The mention of the rod is obvious. It was the defensive and offensive weapon that the shepherd would use to protect the sheep from wild animals. This fits well with what we know about the dark valleys

But why mention the staff? As we said, the staff was used for guiding the sheep. Why not mention it in verse 3? It’s important that we understand that the staff that guides us, sometimes even into the valleys of life.

About this, Sam Storms says, “Some might prefer (and even presumptuously demand) that God insulate us from all evil and darkness and suffering. Some might even pray that he always take us ‘around’ or ‘over’ or ‘in the opposite direction’ from all troubles and trials. But God’s unfailing promise is that he will walk ‘with’ us ‘through’ the valley. God doesn’t simply send us into the valley with truths about him nor even angels to guard our steps. He pledges his personal presence ‘with’ us. Wherever we go, whatever we suffer, he’s there, with a ‘rod’ to beat off ravenous wolves that seek to consume us spiritually (cf. 1 Sam. 17:33-37) and a ‘staff’ to keep us under his control and bring us back to the fold should we stray too far.”

He trusts that no matter where God directs him to go – it will be a good place for him. And he takes comfort in knowing that it is God who goes with him.

2. The Lord is Our Gracious Host (23:5-6)

Here, David shifts his metaphor. He draws upon the customs of his time; customs of being a host. We see first that,

2.1. God protects his people (5a)

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

According to the Bedouin law of hospitality, once a traveler has been accepted into your tent, and a meal prepared for him. He has gained immunity from any enemies that may be pursuing him.

David is here rejoicing in the fact that with God as his host, he is secure from any enemies that may be trying to overtake. This was not an abstract thought for David – for many years this was his life.

If you remember, because of persistent sin God took his anointing of leadership away from King Saul and gave it to David while David was still a teenager. But the throne wasn’t his for a long while. And at the height of his insanity and rage, Saul chased David across Israel, seeking to kill him.

David was continually in the presence of his enemy – never knowing if Saul was over the next hill, or if the city he was going to take refuge in would be loyal to Saul. And yet, in all of this, God protected David. He never let him be overtaken.

2.2. God fellowships with his people (5b)

you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

“To anoint someone with oil today would generally be regarded as little more than an inconvenient mess, but in David’s world it was customary to anoint an invited guest as a sign of welcome and hospitality. It was the consummate expression of joy and acceptance!”

Furthermore, the amount of food offered was also sign of the extent of host’s affection for you. The more food that was put in front of you, the more you could consider yourself a friend of the host.

And what does David say? With God has his host, his cup overflows! It’s as if God just cannot give him enough. The moment David has taken a drink from the cup of blessings, God is there to more back in. In fact, so quick is he to bless that he doesn’t just top off the cup, he fills it to the point of overflowing it.

Don’t mistake what David is saying here for mere material blessings. Yes, David was the king, but he wasn’t always the king. Again, it’s helpful to think of David’s wilderness experience. The David who was near to the point of death from lack of food is the same David who says, God always gives him what he needs and blesses him to overflowing.

2.3. God covenants with his people (6)

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The word ‘follow’ is not like following a leader. Rather, it is like being followed; or ‘pursued.’ The idea is that God’s covenant love is with the individual. The word mercy means love, or covenant faithfulness. David is confident in God’s commitment to his promises and so can say that he pursued by ‘goodness and love’ not his enemies.

God had made a covenantal promise to Abraham, and in fulfilling that promise to the people of Israel. But he had also made a specific covenant promise to David as well. And David says, he has confidence that God will not re-nig on those promises. He will not get tired of blessing his people.

More than that, David says he has this confidence forever. So when we wonder if God will ever grow weary of his commitment to us, or cut-off his supply of spiritual blessings, we can hear David say, ‘No. Never.’

“Surely” – that is, with absolute certainty and beyond all shadow of doubt – David, says “goodness and mercy will follow God’s people all the days of their life.” “All day, every day, whether they be days of despair and disappointment or days of celebration and joy; all day, every day, whether days of fasting or feasting, days of depression or deliverance, we will live in God’s abiding presence, forever.

Conclusion

It’s amazing to me that amount of trust David had in God. Especially when I think about the fact that he hadn’t even seen the fulfillment of his promises. You all of this metaphor and imagery didn’t just stay in the mind of David where God inspired it.

No, a thousand years after David penned these words the metaphor and imagery took on flesh and dwelt among us. All that David believed about God was perfectly revealed in Christ. Did David experience the reality of God’s endless provision and blessing? Absolutely!

But now that Christ has come, we see all the more clearly what these realities mean.

John tells us that when Jesus came, he came to shepherd God’s people. In John 10:11, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus came that our souls could be restored to right fellowship with God. Jesus came to die in our place. He came to offer himself as the only sacrifice that would satisfy God’s wrath against us;

As our shepherd, Christ restores our souls. All that we truly need can be found in Jesus: He is the bread of life and the living water; He promises that if we partake of him, we will never hunger or thirst again. As the good shepherd, Jesus provides true satisfaction for the soul.

Christ leads us in paths of righteousness. Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Though we deserve punishment for our sins, God sent Christ to bear our judgment for us. And so in 2 Cor 5, Paul says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

God sent Jesus to die in the place of sinners so that sinner might become righteous. Instead of going our own way, doing what is right in our eyes, Christ came to lead us into a life that is righteous and pleasing to God.

Christ comforts us in times of adversity. We do not have a promise that we will never experience tough times. On the contrary, he may lead us through adversity but when we experience the valleys, we can take comfort in God nothing can separate from his love or his very presence with his us. When the Lord is our shepherd, we have nothing to fear.

Christ also came in fulfillment of the ultimate host. Christ rescues us from our enemies. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has rescued us from our worst enemies: sin and death. Because of his work, we receive forgiveness for our sins and a resurrection from the dead. Just as death could not hold Him, so now it will hold those who trust in Lord.

Like Paul we can say, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ also gives us fellowship with God. 1 John 1:1-3, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

Christ establishes a covenant with his people. Just before his death, Jesus had a last supper with his disciples. There he said that he had come to establish a new covenant with his blood. And so if we place our faith in Christ, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

If the Lord is our shepherd, we lack nothing! If the Lord is our Shepherd then there is nothing I need that God has not or will not supply. We can be altogether satisfied with God’s management of our life. We’re not being blind to the pressing demands of life as if it is unimportant whether or not we have money to pay our bills and adequate clothing and a roof over our heads.

The point is simply that everything we have above and beyond God is a luxury. David’s point in this psalm is simply this: “Take everything from me except my God and I’ll die the wealthiest man in the world” (cf. Psalm 16:2).

When we realize our incredible the Lord is; how much care and provision he gives to us, how can we not chose him over sin everyday of the week? What can sin possibly offer that God will not give to us in a better, more satisfying, overflowing way?

Passion for God Series 3 :: The All-Surpassing Love of God

The All-Surpassing Love of God

Romans 8:31-39

Introduction

William Borden was on his way to work as a missionary in China. But he never made it. He was struck down with disease, and died in Egypt. As he lay dying, he wrote a final note for his friends and family – it simply read, “No reserve, no retreat, and no regrets.”

Many of us hear that and think, ‘How? How can a man experience such a tragedy and still find satisfaction in God?’ After all, he believed God had called him to be a missionary. In China, no less!

And so after learning languages, raising support, traveling across the globe to get there, he is struck down with an illness that doesn’t just delay him, it kills. It just doesn’t seem fair. He was trying to do the Lord’s work. He was seeking to be faithful to God – doesn’t God care? Why would he let him die like this?

But then we are forced to think of Borden again. His last letter reveals that he knows what’s happening. He knows that despite all of his preparations, he will never see China. He knows that despite his attempts at faithfulness, God is still taking his life.

And yet, he is still able to write, “No reserve, no retreat, and no regrets.” He is a man who has found satisfaction in God. He has satisfied the longings of his soul by delighting in God, and so he is able to say – even in death – God is still good.

Most of us probably aren’t there yet. Most of us probably do not know God that well – well enough to find such joy in him and place such trust in him. But most of us would like to. I think if you’re a Christian here, that’s the kind of life you want.

You want a life where your mind and your heart are so captivated by God, where his presence is so profound and so pleasurable, that you are willing to trust him in anything. Even when life turns up the heat, and temptation to sin comes hard – God is still good, and far more satisfying than anything the world has to offer.

So, this morning we want to continue looking to the Bible and continue seeking to see and understand God in a way that that kind of life becomes a reality for us. We want to see how glorious God is and how pathetic sin looks in comparison.

Last week we looked at the near-blinding glory of God and Christ as it was revealed to John in heaven; a glory that we will one day see face-to-face as well. Today, though, we want to see the beauty of God as revealed in his love for his people.

This morning, we want to look at Romans 8:31-39, and behold the All-Surpassing Love of God

“If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? [33] Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36] As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

From these amazing, unanswerable questions, we glean four truths upon which to build our confidence in God’s love for us as his people.

1. God’s All-Surpassing Love Ensures No One Can Oppose Us (8:31)

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Notice that Paul doesn’t just ask, ‘who is against us?’ Because we can think of many people who are against us. Not just us, sitting here today, but Christians everywhere for all time

We think of the hostile world, persecuting God’s people, driving them underground, punishing them for their faith. Or our adversary the devil – an enemy who, though defeated, is by no means dead. Perhaps, most sinister of all, there is our own sinful hearts.

And if we were to attempt to face these enemies head on, in our own strength, by our own virtue, it would be a disaster – we are already defeated. It would be like someone charging a battalion of tanks with bows and arrows. This is why Paul doesn’t just ask, ‘who is against us?’ For he knows the barrage of replies he would get from the Roman Christians.

Instead, he asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Of course the answer that Paul expects is ‘no one.’ Since God is for us, no one can ultimately be successful in their attempt to stop us.

If you’ve seen the movie version of Tokien’s Lord of the Rings, you will recall the battle of Helm’s Deep in the second movie.

The setting is this final stand to defend the peoples of Rohan. They have retreated to this fortress – Helm’s Deep, but the future is essentially hopeless. The approaching army isn’t human, but a near demonic force driven by blood lust – all they want to do is kill humans. And this approaching force of evil outnumbers them something like ten to one.

And there is great seen where King Theodan is standing with his armor bearing, strapping on the royal armor. And the king is kind of staring off into space, determined to do what he must and meet the enemy, but all the while believing he will die in the end.

Sometimes Christians face the world like this everyday. They think, I know I have get with life, trying to live for God, but it’s hopeless. Sin is too strong, the world is too wicked, and I am too weak.

But Paul writes and says – take heart! Just a view verses before this, Paul writes, For those whom God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Because of his all-surpassing love, God as called his people out of sin and declared them innocent because Christ has died for them. Furthermore, he has purposed to not only declare you righteous, but make you righteous by the power of his Spirit. And he will do this until you get to heaven where the process will be complete and there will be no more sin your life – forever.

After all of that Paul says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Because of God’s love for us in Christ, we can have confidence that God is for us, and so no one can stand against us. All the powers of hell itself could come against us but they will never prevail, because God is for us.

2. God’s All-Surpassing Love Ensures We Will Have Every Gift We Need (8:32)

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

Notice the argument Paul is making here. He is saying, ‘Look, God has already given us Christ – he has given us his own Son; he has already given us the most beautiful, glorious, all-satisfying gift that is imaginable, why would he now keep something from us? After Christ, everything else is small potatoes.

John Flavel: “Surely if he would not spare his own Son one stroke, one tear, one groan, one sigh, one circumstance of misery, it can never be imagined that ever he should, after this, deny or withhold from his people, for whose sakes all this was suffered, any mercies, any comforts, any privilege, spiritual or temporal, which is good for them.”

Paul says God will surely give you ‘all things’ – all that we need for life and godliness – because God has already given us the most loving, generous gift he could have given us – Christ.

But how many of us actually believe this? How many of us actually see Christ as the treasure that he is? How many of us see Christ as God sees him – the greatest gift of love that could be given?

This is part of the reason I love reading older books. It seems that many people today just don’t love Christ as deeply as those who have gone on before. When you read people like Spurgeon and the Puritans, you come away thinking, ‘Do I worship the same Christ? Do I know the same Christ that these men love? If I do, then why don’t I love him as much they do?’

I am convinced that part of the answer lies in the culture in which we find ourselves. We live in a culture that has so much stuff. And, like the world, we have become entranced by that stuff. We look past Christ and ask for other kinds of gifts.

We ask God for new jobs, new cars, new marriages – all kinds of things. And when we do not get those things we somehow feel unloved. But the problem is not God; the problem is us. The problem is that we have devalued Christ.

Our affections are so misaligned, that we find more joy in a job, more satisfaction in a car, more pleasure in sex than we would ever find in joy, satisfaction, or pleasure in God’s Son. Yet he is the most pure and unending source of all of these things.

This is what we need to recover – the sight of his glory; the sight of his supreme worth above all things. We need to see him and him alone as the greatest treasure of our lives. Like Paul, we must pray for less things and more of Christ.

In Philippians he says, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ … that I may know him.”

Friends, some of you know nothing of Christ. He can be your salvation – the joy of your life. Turn from your selfish, unsatisfying sinfulness and embrace Christ by faith. Octavius Winslow was correct to write: “who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas, for money; Not Pilate for fear; not the Jews, for envy – but the Father, for love!”

3. God’s All-Surpassing Love Ensures No One Can Condemn Us (8:33-34)

“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” The two questions that Paul asks in these two verses are virtually the same. For here, the point of bringing the charges is to condemn.

It is interesting that in talking with Muhammed, one of the Christians in Niger, he used these very words to describe the way of life there. He said everyone is trying to ‘condemn you.’

By that, he meant everyone is looking for a crack in the armor. Everyone is looking for some way to discredit your beliefs, or your life. He talked about being challenged by Muslims who came to him, with chests puffed out, believing they had found the hole in Christianity that make it collapse.

Moreover, many would try to attack him personally. He talked about one time in particular where a Muslim man was saying how horrible Christians were; how they were all bad people and always fighting with others. Muhammed didn’t say anything and let the man go on his rant. But eventually another man – not a Christian – looked to Muhammed and said, “This man is not always fighting – he never has trouble with anyone.”

That not only speaks to Muhammed’s testimony, but serves as a picture of the ministry of Christ that Paul speaks about here. We can imagine Satan himself pointing out our moral failings to God, much as he tried to do with Job.

‘See, God, look how they sin – they lie, cheat, and steal. They love other things more than you, making gods of money and sex and sports. Surely, they cannot be your children.”

And yet, Christ is there to stand as our advocate. He is there to say, ‘No, they are God’s children. I died for them, and was raised back to life again. And now they stand faultless before God, not because of their own sinfulness, but because my righteousness, which I have given them.’

We can imagine such a scene, but an all too real one plays out on a regular basis for most of us. It is the scene that unfolds when Satan comes to us and seeks to condemn with similar words. Though we can never suffer actual condemnation, he wants us to feel condemned.

He delights in dragging us through the mud of our own sin, reminding us of our failings. Drudging up the past. Whispering to us that we have no right to enjoy God or believe we can really have forgiveness.

And yet, Paul reminds us that our salvation does not depend on us, but on the justification that comes through the death and resurrection of Christ for us. So we can sing with all humble and hopeful faith –

            When Satan tempts me to despair,              And tells me of the guilt within,             I look to heav’n, and see Him there             Who made an end of all my sin.             Because the sinless Savior died             My sinful soul is counted free;             For God, the just, is satisfied             To look on Him and pardon me

Paul asks, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?”

And the answer is ‘no one!’ Why? Because “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

4. God’s All-Surpassing Love Ensures Nothing Can Separate Us From God (8:35-39)

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36] As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul’s last question brings together all the others questions he has posed. Here he asks the essential question – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

And after asking the question, Paul considers some of the things that might cause us to believe that we have pulled from Christ’s loving grip of grace: tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

The truth of the matter is, this is life, isn’t it? Not just life out there, but life for the Christians as well. Paul quotes from Psalm 44 to remind us just how brutal life can be – He says, “As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’”

Do not miss the significance of this verse. In the context of Psalm 44, Israel is suffering not for faithlessness, but for their loyalty to the Lord. Indeed, in 2 Tim 3:12, Paul reminds us that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

This was extremely relevant to the recipients of this epistle. Paul is writing to believers in Rome. Many are being persecuted for holding to their faith. They are in danger of being put to death. Before too much longer, it will become popular for the emperor to execute Christians by using them as torches to light up his garden parties. And yet, this will not be a sign of God’s displeasure against them. They have not been separated from the love of Christ.

We might be tempted to think that bad circumstances in our lives mean God doesn’t love us. Some people say ‘your experiences define you.’ But Paul says no – if you are a Christian, God’s love defines you. His love is what gives meaning to the story of our life. Christians have no reason to think of themselves as victims. This is why Paul says, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Even in the bad times, God is using those things to bring you to glory. And nothing is going to happen to you apart from his will, and nothing is going to separate you from his love.

Paul says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Conclusion

Does sin come too easily because of the difficulties of life? Have the difficulties you face caused you to wane in your love for God, and caused you to pursue quick and cheap relief by giving into to sin?

Are you overwhelmed by guilt because of your sins? Perhaps sins of the past before you came to Christ? Or possibly even sins that, even this morning, beset your soul?

If you have forgotten about the great love with which God loved, and have found your heart easily giving way to sin, then take the advice of the old hymn writer –

            Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face,
             And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,              In the light of his glory and grace.               Through death into life everlasting he passed, and we follow him there;
             Over us sin no more hath dominion–for more than conq’rors we are!             Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face,
             And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,              In the light of his glory and grace.

Brothers and sisters, never forget the love of God for you. The kind of all-surpassing love that bring joy, contentment, strength, and satisfaction – the kind that cannot compare to the cheap imitations sin offers.

Remember God’s love and delight yourself in him (Ps 37:4).

Passion for God Series 2 :: Behold the Glory of God

Beholding the Glory of God

Revelation 4-5

Introduction

Two years ago, we were driving home from church on a Sunday night in the winter. It was already dark and as we turned onto our street the sky was suddenly lit up. The light was coming over the horizon, but I couldn’t tell what it was. It seemed too bright to be city lights reflecting off evening clouds.

As I pulled into the garage, I hopped and used an old astronomers’ trick to hide my eyes from the street lights and let myself focus on the sky. And as my eyes focused, I realized what I was seeing – the Aurora borealis; the Northern Lights. And they were spectacular!

The light spread across the sky, twisting and dancing, changing shades and hues, pulsing brighter and brighter. I had never seen anything like it. And I couldn’t stop looking!

After the kids went to bed, I put my winter coat and gloves – it was around 2 degrees that night – and stood on my back step trying to take it all in. I would come back inside and drink hot chocolate, get warmed up for a few minutes, then be back outside for more.

It was truly one of the most spectacular, beautiful things I had ever seen – and I just couldn’t get enough of it. I was up to almost 3 in the morning, forsaking sleep and enduring the negative wind-chill temperatures just to look at it.

This morning, my hope is to take us to the Bible and see God in this way. To so behold his majesty and glory, that we cannot look away. To be so enthralled with him that we begin to see sin and temptation as worthless and wholly unappealing.

Last week, I said seeing the worth of God was the key to losing our desires for sin. And if we didn’t have that kind of deep longing for God, we should pray for it. This morning and for the next few weeks, I do more than that – I want to actually open God’s word and reveal the glory of God.

To do that this morning, we are going to look at Revelation 4-5.

As a quick introduction to this book, let me say that it is pretty unique, written in vivid, highly symbolic language to depict heavenly and earthly realities. It was written to encourage a church that was undergoing severe persecution. Through this revelation – or unveiling of Jesus Christ, God intended that his people would be able to look past their difficulties and overcome.

The strength to endure persecution and to overcome sin was through beholding the glory of God. I pray that this ancient book will have the same effect on us this morning.

1. The Throne of God (4:1-7)

Rev. 4:1-7 – After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” [2] At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. [3] And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. [4] Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. [5] From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, [6] and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: [7] the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

The throne room is the center of the imagery of this vision and the entire book. John hears the voice of the risen Christ say to him, “come up here.” In his vision, he is brought by the Spirit to the very gates of heaven. And he is given a glimpse of God. But notice how he describes God … names precious stones, and a rainbow.

Some of these are different than the stone we think of, even if they have the same name. Jasper would be white. Carnelian or sometimes called sardine – this isn’t a fish, but a precious often mined at Sardis is scarlet red. The emerald as we know was green. And then there is a rainbow ringed around the throne.

Now why does he use these stones? Some have tried to look at the individual stones and attribute to them some representative trait that they then ascribe to God. But most scholars don’t think that’s the point. The point is – how do describe God?

How do you describe a God that is purer than the driven snow? More magnificent than the most majestic sunset? More entrancing than a millions shining stars? More nourishment than the best of foods? More firm and more tender in love than the wisest and best parents? More awesome than all of the unleashed forces of nature? How do you describe a God like that?

There are no words and that’s why John results to describing the glory of God resorts to the shine and beauty of precious gems. In the end, God is so glorious, so majestic, that words cannot be used to describe him God’s greatness is indescribable.

But John doesn’t stop at trying to describe God, he goes on to describe the rest of the throneroom. He says surrounding God there are 24 thrones and on them are 24 elders. These elders are a high order of angelic beings – who in themselves are in some way royal (they have golden crowns). They are pictured as serving in the heavenly court and leading heavenly worship of God.

Then we are also told that God’s throne is surrounded by four living creatures. And if were to read this literally, these guys would be weird looking. But because of the kind of literature this is, we are supposed read these things as symbolic. The lion represents royalty. The ox represents power. The human face is to represent wisdom. And the eagle is probably meant to display compassion, care, and swiftness.

You see eagles push their young out of the nest to teach them to fly. The dad eagle circles below in case they’re not ready. This is why in Exodus, God tells Israel “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself” (Ex 19:4). They weren’t quite ready to be a nation yet, and God cared for them and protected them.

We are also told these being have six wings. We see similar angelic beings in Isaiah’s vision of God, and are there told why six – “Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew” (Isa 6:2).

The eyes are to represent – oddly enough – seeing. If you are covered with eyes, it means you see everything. Here are creatures that are granted an extension of God’s omniscience. Nothing is withheld from their sight as they oversee God’s affairs, and have the speed and power necessary to carry out his will.

And then there are “the burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,” before God’s throne” (4:5). These torches represent THE Holy Spirit. He is the one who perfectly and completely gives off the light of God’s glory, penetrating hearts, bringing wisdom to God’s people and consuming flame to the wicked.

So, what’s the significance of all these beings surrounding the throne? In every culture, important people are surrounded by other important people. The more important you are, the more people are around you. Your people have flunkies who themselves have flunkies. I have no one around me. If you dropped by on a Saturday morning around breakfast time, I would probably say, ‘C’mon in and have some chocolate chip pancakes.’

But if you were to go to the White House, you’re not getting in. Even if you went to his farm in Texas, President Bush is not going to answer the front door in his jeans and cowboy hat and invite you in for gravy and grits. He has all kinds of people around him, protecting him and his time.

Likewise with God, the fact that such powerful, majesty – such glorious beings – surround his throne says something about the level of power, majesty, and glory that belong to God himself.

But John keeps going. He describes the throneroom as having flashes of lightening and peals of thunder. Before nuclear power, the most powerful form of energy known to humanity was nature unleashed in violent storms. It wasn’t something to be harnessed, but something to be feared. You sought shelter from it. And it’s that kind of power that emanates from the throne of God.

Then John describes what something like a “sea of glass, like crystal.” I’ve always thought that it meant that the sea looked calm because it was smooth. So, as I was reading about this in study this week, I found out that in the first century, they didn’t know how to make clear glass; it had many imperfections that caused the light to refract and shine. So, the idea here is not that the sea is smooth, but that it is glittering, sparkling.

Furthermore, the sea did not have nice associations like today. We go to the sea for vacation and rest. But not for them. To the ancient people, it represented chaos, confusion, and evil – a sea that violently turns up mud and mire, as in Isaiah. So, here John sees the sea surging with the storms letting loose over it, reflecting the violent light and color of the lighting flashing over it.

Even the sinfulness of the world, which would separate John from God is here seen as under the command and control of the One who sits on the heavenly throne.

How do we think of God? A kindly old grandfather in heaven? Some kind of divine superman?

Our visions of God – even the best of them – are simply too small. This is not some cuddly grandfather God whose lap you climb up into. He is the one who stands behind the storms, you dare not approach.

The picture you get here is one of John being far off. He looks across this giant sea of glass with thunder and lightning, a rainbow circling the throne, seven lamps blazing forth light, and 24 thrones surrounding God, with 24 elders leading most glorious worship, these angels of the highest rank, which have authority and importance.

Not only is God far off, but he surrounded by these important angelic beings, and so he himself has ultimate authority he is no one to be trifled with. He is God of infinite power and majesty and holiness and glory.

A God worthy of eternal worship – and that is what we see.

2. The Worship of God (4:8-10)

Notice that these angelic creatures are not just hovering around to get exercise, or look impressive. They are worshipping God.

Not only do they worship, but look at how often they worship – “day and night they never cease to” worship. They endlessly praise God for his lordship over his creation his power.

This is there primary duty. Now, as we have already mentioned and you will see as you read the rest of the book, these angelic beings have other functions. But all of them arise from this purpose of eternal worship.

Look at the hymn they sing: it praises God for his holiness. This begs the question, doesn’t it? ‘What is holiness.’ Often we will say it means a separateness. So, is that what they are singing?

‘Separate, separate, separate is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’ That doesn’t sound right.

Doesn’t holiness have something to do with being moral? ‘Moral, moral, moral is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’ That’s no good either.

The truth is, the word ‘holy’ has a number of different usages, but when predicated on God, it is as close to an adjective for God himself – it speaks of his God-ness. God is God and he alone in that sense is holy. He is everything he is, and not like us. Everything else that exists is not God. In that sense, only God is holy. And his holiness stands at the foundation for all of his other attributes.

However, that which is associated with God can be holy. Like the shovel that takes out the ash from the altar in the temple. Not because it’s moral, but because it is reserved exclusively for God.

Likewise, we can be called holy as God’s people – we have been purchased for him, set apart from the world for his service. But we are more than just shovels; we are moral beings. So, we are called to act like God – act in a way that is keeping with God’s character.

It is that sense of holiness – God’s God-ness – that lies at the center of heavenly worship. He is not so much worshiped for what he does for people, or how he makes us feel, or why we like him. He is worshipped for being God – for being supremely like God and no other.

But the worship doesn’t stop there. The four living creatures begin to sing and that provokes the 24 elders to sing as well. Then they cast their crowns to the one, true King. Verse 10 says, “the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’”

In Roman society the lower rulers would lay their crown before Caesar to demonstrate their loyalty to him. Thus, these elders are proclaiming their loyalty to God, and in doing so, they sing, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Their singing is antiphonal (like a responsive reading, this is responsive singing). The creatures’ song focused on God’s attributes – his person. Here the elders respond by singing of those works which flow from God’s character.

They proclaim that God is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. Why? Because he has created all things, and in his providence – that is, by his will – he sustains and provides for his creation.

I have heard several pastors over the years says, ‘If you don’t like worshipping God with God’s people, you won’t like heaven.’  And I think they’re right.

Despite the many wrong ways we get worship wrong – a lack of joy or a lack of reverence; songs that are too cheesy or songs that are pretentious; lifeless forms of liturgy or equally empty services devoid of any liturgy.

Despite all of these wrong expressions of worship, the truth is, the central activity of heaven will be the gathering of all God’s people and all the angelic host in passionate, God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-empowered worship.

Like the worship displayed here, there will be no self-promotion, no whining of preferences. Worship will never more like entertainment than communion with God. Instead, it will perfectly exalt God, giving him the “glory and honor and power” only he is worthy to receive.

So, why not practice now? Why not come and participate with biblical, heavenly, even angelic motives and attitudes as we worship the living God?

3. The Lamb of God (5:1-14)

John begins saying that he saw a scroll in the hand of God. Rev 5:1 – Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

The scroll is in the right hand of God – the traditional symbol for the hand of power and authority. Furthermore, the scroll is one that has writing on its front and back and is sealed with seven seals. The scroll represents God plan of creation and redemption – all that he has decreed will come about.

This scroll is comprehensive; there is too much writing for one side scroll (thus writing on the front and back). The seven seals emphasize it completeness, focusing on the fullness of the divine plan. It is perfect and is to be revealed at the perfect time.

You can imagine the excitement John feels at seeing this scroll – a visual representation of the very plan and will of God, ready to be fulfilled. And yet, he says he “saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” (5:2-4).

John weeps because no one is worthy to break the seals of the scrolls and bring about the will of God. All of these mighty and majestic angelic beings – the elders and the creatures; the unnumbered myriad of other angels all around and no one is worthy.

But then the elder says ‘Weep no more! Look, there is the Lion of Judah, the Root of David.’ John turns around and what does he see? A Lion? No, a Lamb – standing as if slain. Is he dead? No! Jesus Christ, the Lamb bears on himself the marks of his crucifixion for us. This is why the elder can describe him as one who “conquered.” He has conquered death and the devil through his own death and resurrection.

John continues to describe the Lamb – [he had] “seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”

The horns symbolize power; specifically, the power of a Warrior Messiah who has destroyed God’s enemies. The eyes again symbolize the all-seeing nature of the Lamb. John mentions the Holy Spirit here again. Thus we see that the Spirit is mentioned with both the Father and the Son; the Holy Spirit is sent by the Father and the Son to carry out their mission in the world.

Seven symbolizes perfection or completeness. So here, the Lamb’s omnipotence and omniscience is emphasized. Like God himself, the Lamb is all-powerful and all-knowing. This is the Lamb-like Lion, Jesus Christ who John sees in heaven.

And I just love this – as Christ approaches the throne and takes up the scroll, all of heaven knows what it means. This is no time for weeping! The One worthy to bring about God’s will – to fulfill the divine plan stand before them. And the entirety of heaven breaks out in worship of the Lamb!

Rev 5:8-14 – And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. [9] And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, [10] and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” [11] Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, [12] saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” [13] And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” [14] And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Can you even imagine? Standing in heaven when all of heaven begins to worship Christ? The beautiful voices – voices created just to bring God glory – singing with power that can shake mountains, the most glorious songs in worship in God?

Why is the Lamb worthy to open the scroll? Why is worthy to receive worship? Why does all of heaven stop and bow to him when he approaches the heavenly throne?

Because he has given his own perfect, glorious life to save sinners. As the Lion-like Lamb, Jesus is the divine warrior who has defeated God’s enemies. But how has he done it? He has done it by dying as the Lamb! Through his own death, he has defeated the evil one. Because he has become victorious, Jesus the Lamb is worthy to take the scroll and break its seals.

In his book, To End All Wars, Ernest Gordon tells the true story of a group of POWs working on the Burma Railway dur­ing World War II. The scene was made even more unforgettable because of the movie by the same title. In one part, he tells the following story:

The day’s work had ended; the tools were being counted, as usual. As the party was about to be dis­missed, the Japanese guard shouted that a shovel was missing. He insisted that someone had stolen it to sell to the Thais. Striding up and down before the men, he ranted and denounced them for their wickedness, and most unforgivable of all their ingratitude to the Emperor. As he raved, he worked himself up into a paranoid fury. Screaming in broken English, he demanded that the guilty one step forward to take his punishment. No one moved; the guard’s rage reached new heights of violence.

“All die! All die!” he shrieked. To show that he meant what he said, he cocked his rifle, put it to his shoulder and looked down the sights, ready to fire at the first man at the end of them.

At that moment the Argyll [Highlander] stepped forward, stood stiffly to attention, and said calmly, “I did it.”

The guard unleashed all his whipped-up hate; he kicked the helpless prisoner and beat him with his fists. Still the Argyll stood rigidly to attention, with the blood streaming down his face. His silence goaded the guard to an excessive rage. Seizing his rifle by the barrel, he lifted it high over his head and with a final howl, brought it down on the skull of the Argyll, who sank limply to the ground and did not move. Although it was perfectly clear that he was dead, the guard contin­ued to beat him and stopped only when exhausted.

The men of the work detail picked up their com­rade’s body, shouldered their tools and marched back to camp. When the tools were counted again at the guard-house no shovel was missing.

The guard had miscounted. The young soldier who stepped forward had not stolen a shovel. He had given his life for his friends.

That is the kind of death Christ the Lamb willingly went to. A death he did not deserve to save sinners who did not deserve the salvation they were given. That is why he is worthy; not just of the worship of heaven, but of our worship as well.

Conclusion

This is the God of the Bible. This is the God who created the universe and sustains by the word of his power. This is the God who sent his Son to die in the place of sinners, winning salvation for them from their sins.

This is the God of eternal and unimaginable majesty, power, and glory. This is a God who is worthy of our praise. This is the God who invites us into fellowship with himself through the risen Christ. The God who shows grace and mercy to his people.

This is God – behold his glory!

Passion for God Series 1 :: Praying to Know God

Praying to Know God

Eph 3:14-21

Introduction

As we gather here this morning, we stand at a unique and unrepeatable moment in time. There will never again be a first Sunday in 2008. And usually it is during the first days of a new year that everyone around the world resolves to make changes for the coming year.

Christians are no different. Whether it is to give more to the church, or read the Bible through in a year, or lose weight, or zero in on one sin and seek to cut it out of their lives, this is the time when decisions are made about how we are going to live in the new year.

But how effective are you going to be this year? Very often, new year’s resolutions are broken after a couple of weeks. If you’re serious about change, what will you do different to make sure that doesn’t happen? Especially when it comes to living the Christian life.

This morning, I want us to look at a passage that will help. And I want to begin us thinking about the truths of this passage, by re-telling two mythological stories. Some of you will remember from school, others of you from the movies, the stories of the Greek tragedies.

Specifically, the stories of Odysseus. Odysseus (sometimes called Ulysses) was a hero in the mythic Trojan War. He was the one who had the idea for what we call the Trojan Horse – a ploy which eventually brought about their victory.

As Odysseus was returning from the battle of Troy, he encountered all kind of difficulties and adventures. In one instance, he was forced to sail past the island of the Sirens. The Sirens were demonic cannibals who disguised themselves as beautiful women. As ships passed by, they would sing beautiful songs to entice men to come ashore. Once ashore, the siren would reveal their true natures and eat the sailors.

Odysseus had been warned about the Sirens, but still wanted to hear their song. Not wanting to die, however, he had soft wax put into the ears of all his men and commanded them to row hard and not look to the island.

Odysseus though was simply tied down to the mast. So as they passed by, he heard the beautiful song, saw the alluring guise of beauty, was uttered seduced, and desperately wanted to get to the island, but was prevented from doing so by the ropes that bound him. And the ship was able to sail safely past the island.

Another mythic hero also encountered the Sirens. This was Jason – the famous leaders of the Argonauts. Jason was on a quest to acquire the Golden Fleece that was at the end of the world. He too had been warned of the sirens. However, he had a different approach to dealing with them.

They didn’t strap themselves down, or put wax in their ears. This wasn’t because Jason was foolish enough to think himself better than others and able to resist the temptation. No, he knew the weakness of himself and his crew, and planned a way past the deadly sirens.

Jason had brought with him a musician named Orpheus. And when they began to hear the sirens’ song, Orpheus came up on deck with his lyre and began to play his own songs – songs more melodious, more beautiful than that of the sirens.

Although the temptation was just as strong as that with Odysseus, Jason and his men said ‘no’ to the siren because they heard a better song. Their hearts were enthralled with a more beautiful, more glorious song.

I heard another pastor use this illustration while I was away on vacation and thought it brilliantly captured the two ways most Christians try to deal with sin. One is biblical and works and the other is less than biblical and ultimately fails.

At one level – an external level, Odysseus was successful in resisting the sirens’ song. But the truth is, his heart wanted nothing more than to go to them. He was captivated by them. And the only thing that kept him from doing so were the ropes.

Many Christians do the same thing. Their hearts and minds are utterly seduced by the lure of sin, but their hands and feet are tied down by religious duty, the expectations of others, or the threats and traditions of their church. All the while they want to yield and embrace, but are held back by an external restraint of fear and shame.

Hearing over and over again the deadly consequences of sin can be helpful. It can be an aid to fight against temptation. But they cannot be the only means we have of fighting sin. For when the Christian life gets boring, when God seems distant, when the defenses are low and the temptation is high, when you are tired and unprepared, you will fail.

Your heart will yield to what will give it the most immediate enjoyment and satisfaction and all the threats in the world will not be powerful enough to give us strength to do what we know God wants us to do.

Most people try to overcome sin like Odysseus. And on the surface, we could say he succeeded in saying ‘no’ to the sirens’ song. But he really didn’t triumph because he still wanted the temptation – his heart still longed for the sirens. Again, this is how many Christians fight sin. They tie themselves down with all manner of ropes, but all the while, their hearts still crave the sin.

What we need to do is fight sin like Jason fought the sirens’ song. The defeat of sin is hard work. It is a war within our souls and requires all the discipline and fight we have in us. But the key to that fight – what motivates and empowers us in that fight against, the world, the flesh, and the devil – is our pleasure.

If we do not enjoy God, if we do not take pleasure in him, we will never be successful in fighting against sin. But if we can become so taken with God, if we can come to behold how truly beautiful and glorious he is, then even when the temptation is strong, he will be more enjoyable to us and will turn from the sin to God.

So how do we it? Most of us aren’t there yet, and you may be thinking, that sounds great, but how do we do it? The Bible gives a lot of answers, but the most fundamental is we pray for it!

Let’s look at Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3, and see how he shows us how to pray for a deeper understanding of God which will in turn help us to desire him more than sin.

Eph 3:14-21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, [16] that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. [20] Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

1. Pray for Spiritual Power to Experience a Transformed Heart (3:14-17a)

Very often we get wrapped up in praying for the wrong thing. We are quick to pray for physical needs. And there is nothing inherently wrong with that. Jesus himself gives us warrant for praying for such thing by teaching to pray for our ‘daily bread.’

The problem comes with that’s all we pray for, or when physical needs take a higher priority than spiritual needs. You see, when we read the sweep of the Bible, the priority – both in instruction and in example – is on praying for spiritual needs.

Thus, when Paul prays for the Ephesians, the priority he gives to praying for their inner being. Specifically, that their inner being would be strengthened with God’s power. Strengthen for what though?

Listen again to what he prays for – that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

He prays that they would be strengthened so that Christ may dwell in their hearts; that they may know what surpasses knowledge – the love of Christ. And that, in more deeply knowing the love of Christ, they will be filled with God himself.

So, what is Paul asking God to do for the Ephesians? Simply put, he asking they have a deeper passion for God. Paul is asking God to work by the power his Spirit to transform their hearts so that they have a deeper grasp of the unbelievably glorious love of Christ.

We may want to ask – don’t these Ephesians already know the love of Christ? Paul would say, ‘yes.’ In fact, back in chapter 1, he said they were called to salvation in love.

“God chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (Eph 1:4-6).

So what is he getting at here? Despite all of his previous talk of being called and saved through God’s, Paul assumes that the Ephesians do not adequately appreciate the love of Christ. So, he is asking God that they have the power to comprehend just how great the love of Christ truly is.

Though such an understanding is based on an intellectual understanding it is also more than that.

The kind of knowledge Paul wants them to have is not the something we can sit and simply reason out like a crossword puzzle or the daily Sudoko. No, it’s the kind that only comes from God himself.

Do you want to live the Christian life like Jason? Do you want to be so enamored with God, so amazed at his beauty that sins looks pathetic? Then you have to call out to ask him cause his Spirit to transform your heart to better know him.

Where do we begin – with the love of Christ.

2. Pray to Better Understand the Love of Christ (3:17b-19a)

Paul says, “[I pray] that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,”

Paul wants them to receive power, or be strengthened to understand the limitless love of Christ. But how do you appreciate that kind of love? How do you measure it?

Paul’s words fail him as he tries to grasp some way of describing it – “the breadth and length and height and depth.” And yet, he goes further into paradox – “to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,” That is, he wants them to know it in such a way that surpasses mere knowledge.

Now, make no mistake – Paul isn’t arguing for an uncontrolled mysticism. He is not throwing open the doors and saying that every so-called spiritual experience is valid and important.

The basis for a knowledge of Christ’s love is in history. And that love was part of an incredible plan of redemption whereby for centuries it was foreshadowed in the sacrifices of Israel, until it was revealed in its fullness in the substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ on the cross.

The experience Paul desires for Christians is rooted in, and controlled by the bounds of the gospel.

Thus, we must go to God’s own explanation of his love – the Bible. And as we read it, and meditate on it, and seek to understand it, we pray that God would use it to open our minds and hearts to better comprehend that love.

- a love incredible divine love for sinners and rebels;

- a love that would lead Christ to die on a cross for those sinners,

- suffering in their place, bearing God’s wrath against their sin,

- so that they might be forgiven of their sins.

When we pause to meditate on such wondrous love, everything else in this world seems to fade in significance. No trinket or bauble that our society values even compares with the limitless love of Christ. All of these things will eventually lose their appeal and fade away.

This kind of comprehension of the love of Christ will lead to an unwavering devotion to him. It will cause the pleasure offered by sin to be shown in its true light – empty and vain promises compared to the eternal satisfaction offered by God.

Many of you will know about the Spanish inquisition. It was during this period of time, that the Catholic Church in Spain imprisoned or executed anyone who would not convert to Catholicism. Not exactly their finest hour.

Years later, Napoleon’s army invaded Spain and they came across one of the old prisons used during the Inquisition. As they searched the dungeons they came across a long-dead prisoner.

All that remained were his bones and the chain used to fasten him to the wall of the cell. However, as they looked closer, they saw in the rock above him, he had scratched a small cross, surrounded by four Spanish words –

- above the cross, the word ‘height’;

- below it, the word ‘depth’;

- to the left, the word ‘width’;

- to the right, the word ‘length’

Even in suffering and death this faithful saint wanted to declare the surpassing love of Christ.

Whether it’s suffering a fate worse than death, or resisting that addictive temptation, Paul knows that better knowing the limitless love of Christ will allow us to endure.

In fact, he says, such knowledge will allowed us to be “filled with all the fullness of God.” This is simply Paul’s way of saying, “to be all that God wants you to be” or “to be spiritually mature.”

Do you understand that Paul is saying? He assumes that we cannot be as spiritually mature as we ought to be unless we receive power from God to enable us to grasp the limitless dimensions of the love of Christ.

We may think we are peculiarly mature Christians because of our theology, our education, our years of experience, our traditions; but Paul knows better. He knows we cannot be as mature as we ought to be until we ‘know this love that surpasses knowledge.’

That is why he prays as he does: he wants us to grow in our grasp of Christ’s love so that we will become mature – ‘filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.’”

3. Pray with an Assurance of God’s Power that Brings Glory to his Name (3:20-21)

Paul ends his prayer with a doxology – a statement of praise to God. He says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Paul begins by describing the God to whom belong glory in the church and in Christ Jesus.

He says that he is the one “who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.”

History records that when Alexander the Great’s generals was about to marry one of his daughters, he asked the great emperor for money for the wedding. This was not uncommon, but the amount was.

Alexander’s treasurer saw the amount and nearly flipped out. He told the emperor, this is crazy. No one asks for this much! And he wanted to write the general a letter telling him off.

But Alexander said, ‘give him what he wants.’ The treasurer was astonished. Alexander explained, ‘By asking for so much he shows that he believes I am both wealthy and generous.’

Paul prays with such a belief about God and so should we. Paul took confidence when he prayed believing that God is omnipotent. Paul believed that God had the power to do anything – nothing was difficult.

But more than that, Paul says this is the God who is able to do ‘far more abundantly that all that we ask of think.’ God is not only powerful, he is also generous. And he loves to give good gifts to his children.

One commentator says, “We simply cannot ask for good things beyond God’s power to give them; we cannot even imagine good things beyond God’s power to give them. Paul’s concluding word of praise thus becomes an immensely powerful incentive to pray.”

Paul also prays that God would receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus.

What could bring God more glory than enjoying him more than sin?

Every time we turn from sin, saying, ‘God bring me more joy; I find more pleasure in that relationship than what that sin offers’ God is glorified.

It is not without reason that John Piper always says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied him.”

And so when we follow the example of God people since biblical times and says things like –

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:25-26).

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Ps. 42:1).

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water…. Your steadfast love is better than life” (Ps. 63:1, 3).

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Hab 3:17-18).

“My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better…. Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Phil. 1:23; 3:7-8).

– when we can truthfully, say and think and pray things like that, then God is shown to be the all-surpassing source of joy, and he is glorified among his people and the world.

Conclusion

When he was a young man, Aurelius Augustine tried almost every religion and philosophy in the world. He indulged every appetite, experienced every sin.

And yet, it wasn’t until he found Christ that he knew what true joy was –

“How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose…! You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure, though not to flesh and blood, you who outshine all light, yet are hidden deeper than any secret in our hearts, you who surpass all honor, though not in the eyes of men who see all honor in themselves…. O Lord my God, my Light, my Wealth, and my Salvation.”

This is what we should pray for in the coming days so that in this new year, we will be able to taste and see that the Lord is good,

Christma Series 4 :: The Promised Son of Mary (Luke 1:26-38)

The Promised Son of Mary

Luke 1:26-38

Introduction

Last Christmas I was up late working on answering email. And I decided to watch a little bit of Letterman before I went to bed. The interviews had ended and the musical guest was about to come on. Letterman announced it was the old 80’s metal band, Twisted Sister.

I didn’t like them in the 80’s and certainly didn’t want to hear them then, so I got up to the turn the TV off and go to bed. But then I realized they were playing something that sounded familiar. Suddenly I realized they were playing a hymn.

And it wasn’t just any hymn – it was the Christmas hymn O Come Let Us Adore Him. And so in one of the most bizarre moments of my life I stood there mesmerized as one of my favorite hymns was belted out by one of my least favorite bands.

There – in retro 80’s metal band attire, and sung to 80’s style guitar rifts were lines like,

‘Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.

come, let us adore Him … Christ the Lord’

In all my life up to that point, I never imagined I would see such a thing.

Nevertheless, my astonishment at Twisted Sister’s performance was nothing compared to the astonishment of God’s people when Jesus was born.

For centuries, God’s people long for the Messiah – the one who would save them

Though he wasn’t called it, the promise of a messiah first came in the book of Genesis. Adam and Eve – the very first humans sinned. The results of their sin meant death for all of creation. Because of their rebellion against God, God’s once good creation became cursed.

Now, humanity itself was stained with sin. We are all born with sinful hearts and make it known as soon as we are able. Because of that sin, our lives are less than perfect.

Our sin means that our relationship with other people, our relationship to the world, even our relationship to God himself is broken.

Yet, God promised that one day, he would bring reverse the effects of sin. He promised the first woman that one day a Son would come as one of her descendants and he would restore our broken relationships. He would bring us back into right standing with God.

God continued to make that promise – the promise of a son who would come and bless the entire world, who would redeem God’s people from their sins, who have a throne and a kingdom that would be established forever, ending war and bringing peace for God’s people for all time.

Eventually this person was called the messiah – the Anointed One. And for centuries God’s people longed for his coming. They longed for the one who would cause them be right with God, and bring eternal blessings.

But they never imagined how he would come and how he would accomplish his ministry as messiah. The last few weeks we have looked at these promises, how the expectation have been built up and this morning we want to see how God fulfills them in Jesus Christ.

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed 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 favored 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 favor 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 forever, 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.

You would expect the great warrior-king of Israel, the Messiah, who would defeat the enemies of God’s people and bring blessings of the world through an everlasting reign of peace would come with great fanfare. You would expect that he would come from a prominent and noble family.

Instead, we find a young woman – perhaps 16 or 17 – who is engaged to be married to a carpenter. Both are from the back-water town of Nazareth. Later when people are told Jesus was raised there, they ask, ‘Can anything good from Nazareth?’

In the eyes of the world, this woman was essentially a nobody. She’s just one more Jewish peasant girl from rural hick town.

And yet it is to her that the angel of God appears. Even she is taken by surprise. The angel comes with words of blessing – “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” Mary, you have been given grace by God.

But she’s thinking, ‘what in the world is going on?’ How have I been given grace? Luke says, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

The angel can tell she is wary, unsure of what is happening and reassures her. “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

Mary isn’t special. In many ways, she’s like any other young girl of the day. But she is special in that God has chosen her to the one who gives birth to the long-promised messiah.

Understand that God didn’t choose her because she was more godly than others. Now Mary was a godly woman – don’t think make that mistake. Everything we see about her in the gospels, and later in Acts shows her to be a pious, godly woman.

But she wasn’t so godly as to merit being the mother of Jesus. No one would have been worthy in that way to bear the messiah. Instead, it is simply God’s sovereign choice. It was by his grace – and that alone – that she was chosen for this great part in the salvation of God’s people

And God tells her, not just that she will bear a Son, but what kind of Son she will bear.

1. He Will Be Born of a Virgin

Luke introduces Mary by pointing out to us that the women the angel was sent to, was a virgin betrothed to a man in Nazareth. Then in verse 31, the angel says you to her will conceive a son. Mary’s first question is, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” In others words, she is saying, ‘yes I’m engaged, but I’m not married yet. Joseph and I haven’t had sex yet. So how am I going to become pregnant?”

The angel explains God’s plan – “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” This wasn’t some sexual act. This wasn’t like the Greek and other pagan myths of the gods taking human form and mating with human women. No, this was some different.

Just as the God of the universe spoke creation into existence by the power of his word, so also now he creates within Mary a human embryo and second person of the Godhead – God the Son – unites himself to that tiny person.

You know, it’s become fashionable today to downplay the virgin birth. That’s right – we’re not talking liberals or secular critics. I mean supposedly, Bible-believing Christians. One very famous pastor who has books out and has recently done a tour of speaking engagements, has a church right over here in Grand Rapids.

He supposedly believes in the virgin birth, but questions whether or not it really has any significance. In his book he asks, ‘would we really lose anything in the Christian faith if we didn’t have the virgin birth?’

Well, the Bible seems to say if you lose the virgin birth, you lose Jesus. Look again at what he angel says: “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.”

Jesus can be called ‘Son of God’ and ‘Son of the Most High’ precisely because he was “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.” The ‘therefore’ says that it couldn’t have happened any other way.

“God chose to be conceived in the womb of a virgin so that the fatherhood of this child would be absolutely unique—he is the Son of God, not the son of Joseph. He has a divine Father, not a biological human father. He is therefore divine as God’s Son, and human as Mary’s son. God chose to break into the universe by choosing to enter through a virgin.”

Think about it for a minute. How many moms are proud of their children? Whether it’s deserved or not, my mom brags about me all the time. Everyone she works with knows everything that’s going on in my life whether they want to or not.

What about Mary? Her Son’s the messiah for goodness sake! Of course’s going to want to brag. But it’s made clear to her, both in the announcement and in telling her that the child will come by virgin birth, that can she be proud of her son.

But she can never take pride in herself because this has come by God’s grace. She can never think, Joseph and I had a great child. No, the angel says, ‘Mary the Lord is with you in ways you cannot even imagine. But never forget – this blessing has come as God’s grace.’

And because he has come this way, “the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God.”

This child Jesus was more than just a human being, destined for greatness. He was God in the flesh. The very Son of God.

2. He Will Be the Messiah

If we would have had church last week, we would have looked to 2 Samuel 7 and seen the covenant that made there with Israel’s King David.

I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth…. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body…. and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever (2 Sam 7:9-16).

God establishes his covenant with David – and by God’s sovereign grace – nothing will cause it to fail. Death does not annul it; sin cannot destroy it; and time will not exhaust it. David may die, but God will raise up his offspring. Just as God promised that’s Abraham’s offspring would have the land, so now David’s offspring will have the throne.

And the Lord knows the human heart. He knows the inevitable – just as David sinned, so his offspring would sin as well. Since, these kings will not only be David’s sons, but God’s sons, he will discipline them as any father worth his salt would do.

But there is a limit. Unlike Saul, God will never take the throne away from David’s descendents. Though individual kings may sin horribly and lead the people astray, God will simply raise up another king to take his place – always from the Davidic line.

It’s kind of like the office of President in this country. If there’s a bad one we just vote him out and get another one. We will have good presidents and we may have bad presidents. But we are never going to do away with the Presidency. The office will remain.

Likewise, God would never take the throne away from David’s house – his descendent, his dynasty. Eventually, David had a son, Solomon. He took the throne as God promised and for generation after generation, through bad kings and good ones, a descendent of David’s line was on the throne of Israel.

But the nation sinned over and over again and suddenly she found herself taken from the land in exile and punishment from God. The last Davidic king was Zedekiah. When the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar stormed the city of Jerusalem, he escaped by night. Zedekiah got as far as Jericho and was captured.

Zedekiah’s two sons were murdered, and his eyes were put out. He was blindfolded marched into exile in Babylon, and we know nothing more about him.

That was 580 years before this day in Mary’s life. And for all those years, God’s people were waiting; waiting for the next son of David to appear. Waiting for the promised messiah to come, to take back up the throne of David, and restore God’s people and crush her enemies.

And now the angel comes to Mary and tells here of the child God will give her. “[This child] 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (1:32-33).

In Jesus, the promises of God have been fulfilled in its fullest. He was not only born in the line of David, but in every way, he has come to reign as king. Not just over Israel, but the entire world.

He has come, the Bible says, to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lord. He has come to reign not just over people, but over all of creation itself – even sin and death, defeating them as enemies of God’s people.

This brings us our last thing about Jesus . . .

3. He Will Be A Savior

The angel begins his description of Mary’s child by telling what his name will be. He says, “you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”

Today, names don’t mean a lot. Sometimes they mean something. Occasionally, I have come across situations where a couple has had a hard time getting pregnant and when they finally do, they name the little girl ‘grace’ acknowledging God’s blessings on their life.

Other times, a child doesn’t just have a family name, but a name that was intentionally chosen because of the lasting influence of an important family member, or in honor of one who has passed away.

In biblical times, the significance of names was far more pronounced. Very often your name said something of your character or life. For instance, Jacob – who name means something like ‘cheater’ – tricked his brother into giving him his birthright.

Likewise, Jesus’ name was more than just a good Israelite name. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew Yeshua, or Joshua. The name means ‘the Lord is salvation’ or ‘the Lord saves.’ Just as the Joshua of the Old Testament was used to save God’s people in battle as they possessed the promised land, so now Mary’s son Jesus has come to bring salvation to God’s people.

Matthew makes it clear though what kind of salvation he will bring. In Matthew 1 we are told about the angel who appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him of the child that Mary was going to have. And he said, “you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (1:21).

The ultimate problem of all humanity is sin – rebellion against God. Because of the very first people – Adam and Eve – who sinned and brought God’s curse upon humanity and creation itself, everyone born is born sinful.

One of things people like to do when a baby is born is begin identifying all of the baby’s features according to which parent they look like. ‘Oh, she has her mother’s eyes. He has his father’s nose.’ Of course, if you know anything about biology, that is exactly what you’d expect – we look like our parents.

But we get more than just their genes. We also inherit their sinful nature. Adam and Eve were sinners and produced children who were sinners, who produced their own children who were sinners. And on and on it went until today. It’s not about upbringing or religious families – it’s our very nature. We are all born sinners.

And it’s our sinfulness – both our sinful nature, and our sinful actions – which cause the wrath of God to fall upon us. It’s God’s just punishment for our sin. Yet, God also loved us. And in his grace and mercy, sent Jesus to be born of the virgin Mary for one reason – so that he might bring glory to God by bringing salvation to sinners.

Jesus did this by dying on a cross, taking our punishment for us. Jesus stood in the place of his people and suffered God’s wrath for them. More than that, Jesus would also grow up to live a life of righteousness. He did what we could never do – lived a perfect life without sin.

When we place our faith in Christ, God considers our sin punished on the cross, and considers the righteousness of Christ to be our righteousness. We are reconciled to God, and forgiven our sins, so that we may be brought back into right fellowship with him.

And because Jesus did not stay dead, but rose back to life on the third day after his crucifixion, we know he has conquered sin and death. And we can have confidence what we place our trust in him, we too will not remain in the grave, but will be raised back up to life to spend eternity with God.

Conclusion

This is the baby Jesus that Mary will carry and give birth to. This is the child whose birth was so significant that entire nations essentially shut down their normal lives for a day, even 2000 years later.

And notice what Mary’s response is to all of this – 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.

Friends, that should be our response to the birth of Christ, even today.