Luke 1:26-38 ~ Greetings!

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 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. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Every Word of the narrative of Mary is important. Jesus told us we will live on every Word of God and He was quoting a very old Word of God.

Deuteronomy 8:3
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

God is announcing to Mary she could very well be stoned to death, be put out as Ishmael was, or divorced from Joseph, her betrothed. 

And yet, God is favoring Mary - so she is going to Trust God.

Some Biblical Scholars believe the discrepancies in the Ancestry of Jesus' Gospels between Matthew 1 and Luke 4 are actually historical fact.  Perhaps Mary was also a child of David. Search the complicated names of Jesus' ancestry,  and you are going to find them living in the Bible. The Sanhedrin Council Records, compiling the era's Talmud, are available today from the time of Jesus. These record Mary to be a child of Heli and therefore a child of David from Nathan and not King Solomon. Whereas Joseph is of the Davidic Line of Solomon.

On Joseph's Solomon Side - Matthew 1:4 

Numbers 7:12
He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah.

So... Mary might have been quite educated in the principles of God's Willingness to Bless from the Biblical Accounts.

And frankly, this makes Joseph still the Father of Jesus because God Chose Joseph. Just as Important as Always. Jesus told us He could make rocks become Children of Abraham. Joseph is chosen to be the earthly Father of Jesus. And Mary is fruitful with Joseph bearing four brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Matthew 13:55). The Bible also tells us that Jesus had sisters, but they are not named or numbered (Matthew 13:56).

So today we are looking at Mary in the sixth month of Elizabeth and Zechariah's miracle. When you look at the chapter of Genesis 21, the birth of Isaac - we are reading that the childless - waiting - childless - waiting - pondering - waiting  Abraham is not only dealing with the miracle of Isaac, but with another child. And provisions for that child when Abraham is actually failing his own child. Abraham is dealing with the fruitfulness of his flocks - so much so that

Genesis 21
22 At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. 23 Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.”

24 Abraham said, “I swear it.”








 


The Blessings of God are pouring forth.

Isaiah 44:3

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

Abraham has become so fruitful that Abimelek comes to make peace because Abraham is abounding in fruitful blessings of his flock.

The Gospels tell us of what happens when God acts.
Father God really enjoys these times:

John 5
Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.


[John 5:4 Some manuscripts include here, wholly or in part, paralyzed—and they waited for the moving of the waters. 4 From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 

9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

John 7:38
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.

This Fifth Chapter of John's Gospel is describing the Work of God continuing through many different times, at the Pool of Bethsaida, and Continued by Jesus Himself.



 

Psalm 115:12
The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron

God is having a Great Day. This is recipe or list of instructions for God to be continually amongst us. God does not bless one person and move on. We need to see when the Living Water of God is stirred and BE GRATEFUL. Abide in Joy in God's Blessings! God tells us not to quench the Holy Spirit of God! We encourage God to be Emmanuel - God with us by this:


1 Thessalonians 5 -

Put on the breastplate of faith and love

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

We ask you, brothers, to
respect
esteem very highly in love
Be at peace among yourselves.
Brothers, admonish the idle,
encourage the fainthearted,
help the weak,
be patient with them all.

Seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing!
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

25 Brothers, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Father God, You are Living Water, there is no place and no person where You cannot dwell. Jesus Christ wants to save all the world. We, who call upon Jesus as Lord in belief, are one Body. We share in the promises of Christ Jesus. Because of Your Great Love.

Father, Your grace gives us talents and gifts through Your Power. Let us think about the riches of Jesus. The willingness to Love and the times Your Word says "He healed them all." Father, to think upon Your plans is to know we want Your Will. Your will is Hope. Encouragement in Faith. Love allows us to approach you in confidence and in Your Spirit of Freedom. We worship You in Spirit and in Truth.

Father, our knowledge has shown that Your Church, in this generation, will move from a place beloved and searches where the Word is taught. We see the Word grows the Church. Grows the leaders. We see Your Beloved wants to hear from You. Bless those who teach of Your Love. Thank You for Clark and his family for their ideals in Jesus Christ. For Steven and our Pastorate Small Group, providing the place to be in fellowship, love and encouragement. Thank You, Father God, for the people I see adhering to You. Loving You. Desiring to Please You. Thank You, for Your Love there.

Thank You, Father God, this generation is "Servants for Your Gospel." The Pew Report shows people want the Gospel preached and lived as the Word of God. We pray expectantly to You, Father God, for Your will to bring more Hope, Faith and Love as Your Holy Spirit is called. In the Highest Name of Jesus, we are Privileged to Hope. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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