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We need to make a Magnificat Decision this Christmas season.
Do you know what the oldest Christmas Carol is? It was actually written by Mary after she had an encounter with the Angel Gabriel and talked it over with her cousin Elizabeth. The oldest Christmas Carol is found in Luke 1 and was actually written before the birth of Jesus Christ.
Magnificat Decision
Mary makes a Magnificat Decision! Magnificat means “to magnify,” and although she haced a great amount of trouble and worry, Mary made the decision to magnify God.
You may be facing many troubles this season and in the new year, but will you make a magnificat decision?
Carols 4 – Magnificat Decision from Redemption Church on Vimeo.
Carols 4 – Magnificat Decision
Sermon notes by Pastor Christopher Fluitt
Redemption Church Plano Tx
Merry Christmas Redemption Church! God rest ye merry gentlemen and gentlewomen.
That intro video was “Mary did you know” south African style. That was a group of south African kids singing. I think they could teach us a thing or two about moving with the music. The name of the group is PROCLAIM. People all over the world are worshipping the savior in their own way. I love it.
Thank you for coming out to celebrate Jesus on Christmas Eve. In this final week of our Christmas Carols series we will look at the oldest Christmas Carol of all time. Go ahead and take a moment and try to guess the name of this oldest Christmas Carol.
While you are contemplating this let’s look at the Word of God. Turn in your Bibles to Luke 1:26. This would be a great study for you to use your Bible. So if you are using a smartphone app, a Google search, or an actual book with pages, quickly turn to the first chapter of Luke.
Luke 1:26 (NIV2011) In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
Luke 1:27 (NIV2011) to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
Luke 1:28 (NIV2011) The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Verse 26 mentions Elizabeth. Who is she? Elizabeth is the cousin of Mary. Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant with a boy who is known as John the Baptist.
God sent an Angel. What was the Angel’s name? Gabriel was one of the 3 Arch Angels. He is an important angel, and he is sent to what town in Galilee? Nazareth was a tiny little town. They estimate it could have been as small as 50 people. Nazareth was an often joked about area. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” the disciple Nathaniel exclaimed in John 1:46.
The overlooked town of Nazareth had the attention of God, and He sent his arch angel to Nazareth to speak with a woman named Mary who was a virgin, and engaged to marry a man named Joseph.
Here is how Mary responds to the Angels greeting.
Luke 1:29 (NIV2011) Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
Luke 1:30 (NIV2011) But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
Luke 1:31 (NIV2011) You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
Luke 1:32 (NIV2011) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
Luke 1:33 (NIV2011) and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Luke 1:34 (NIV2011) “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Luke 1:35 (NIV2011) The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Mary was in planning mode. Mary was planning a wedding. Mary was planning on one day have children with her husband to be Joseph.
Men, don’t ever get in the way of a woman and her planning. There is something energetic, powerful, and sweet about a woman planning her household.
BUT the Angel Gabriel spoke something no one could have planned for. Mary you are going to give birth to the Messiah, the Holy One. Jospeh will not be the father, but God’s Spirit will be the Father.
Luke 1:38 (NIV2011) “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary then goes to her cousin Elizabeth. As she is greeting Elizabeth, the first Christmas Carol is written.
This section of scripture is referred to as the Magnificat or Mary’s song.
Magnificat means to Magnify/Glorify. Mary made a Magnificat Decision!
Luke 1:46 (NIV2011) And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
Luke 1:47 (NIV2011) and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
The first Christmas Carol was a song of magnifying God and rejoicing in God the savior.
Mary said MY SOUL glorifies the Lord and MY SPIRIT rejoices. It’s almost like she is commanding her soul “Listen here soul, you are going to magnify God.” She makes the decision that her spirit is going to rejoice. “Listen up spirit, you are going to rejoice in God.”
Mary had reason to worry… But instead of magnifying her problems she magnified God.
Mary had reason to doubt… But instead of magnifying uncertainty she rejoiced in God.
Mary could have said “I will rejoice after I am through this problem” but instead she rejoiced in the promise of God before the fulfillment.
By faith she magnified her God above the size of her fear and doubt.
I am probably talking to people who have fear, uncertainty, doubt, and many problems.
Make a Magnificat Decision. Tell your soul to magnify God! Tell your spirit to Rejoice.
The decision calls for pronouns like I and my. I will praise the Lord. My heart will sing praise. I will put my trust in Him.
But as you enter into magnifying & rejoicing in the Lord, the pronouns change. Look at this.
Luke 1:48 (NIV2011) for HE has been mindful of the humble state of HIS servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
Luke 1:49 (NIV2011) for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is HIS name.
Luke 1:50 (NIV2011) HIS mercy extends to those who fear HIM, from generation to generation.
Luke 1:51 (NIV2011) HE has performed mighty deeds with HIS arm; HE has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
Luke 1:52 (NIV2011) HE has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
Luke 1:53 (NIV2011) HE has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
Luke 1:54 (NIV2011) HE has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
Luke 1:55 (NIV2011) to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as HE promised our ancestors.”
When you make the decision to worship God it requires your personal pronoun. I will lift MY hands and I will worship God. My soul, my heart, my spirit…
Bless the Lord O MY soul and all that is within me bless His Holy Name! (Psalm 103)
I make the decision on what I will magnify. YOU make the decision on what you rejoice in.
Mary made that decision before she saw the promise fulfilled. Mary made this decision before she talked to her husband to be Joseph. Mary made this decision before she faced the gossiping whispers in the small town of Nazareth. Mary made the decision before she traveled to Bethlehem and ended up in a stable. She made this decision before she labored to give birth to this child.
What is keeping you from making a magnificat decision?
It is Christmas Eve. We have sung Carols. We have looked at the Word of God. But have you decided to Magnify?
Will you simply go home and go through the traditions without Magnifying & Rejoicing?
We are about to come talk to God. Before we do, I want you to make the decision. Decide that you will come and magnify Jesus Christ above all your fear.
After the decision, the pronouns change. It becomes all about Him.
Will you make this moment all about Jesus?