Clayton Doss, Bible Baptist Church, Crookston Minnesota, December 1-2013 pm

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Gabriel And The Girl

Christmas/Mary’s Christmas – #2

TEXT: Luke 1:26-38

INTRODUCTION:
If you were to have visited Old Nazareth, a city in Galilee, you would have gone to a little
village that was 1,200 ft. above sea level. The houses there would have been rather small, and
clustered rather closely together. You probably would have noticed that the walls of the
houses were made of clay.
One such typical house belonged to Joseph whose daytime job was that of a carpenter.
Do you not think it significant that Jesus grew up in a home where WOOD was needed to
make a living?
Looking to the outskirts of that the little village one would see that it was surrounded by
gardens and fields occupied with farmers and craftsmen.
Encircling the hills above the village would be groves of date-palms, fig trees and
pomegranates.
The fields would be full of wheat and barley dotted with vineyards here and there.
The highways and byways are approaching the small town would be graced with a huge
array of beautiful coloured flowers.
This description of the scenery of old Nazareth is the countryside which supplied Jesus with
so many of His pithy parables—parables of sowing and harvesting, of wheat and tares,
mustard seed, the vineyard and the lilies of the field.
God looked down upon this small town that was way off the beaten path, below the radar
screen of big city HUBBUB and GOINGS ON choosing one young humble couple for a
HUGE HAPPENING.
Please see with me 6 key things concerning Gabriel and the Girl.

I. FIRST, THE ANGEL

Luke 1:26 – “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee,
named Nazareth…”
A. Scripture speaks of two key angels—Michael and Gabriel.
 Michael is the angel of CONFLICT and COMBAT.
 Gabriel is the angel of COMFORT and CHEER.
So when these two show up, it’s time to do BATTLE or time to BLESS—depending on which
of the two show up. It appears from Scripture that…
 Michael operates in heaven on the behalf of Israel
 While Gabriel is God’s messenger on earth
And here in Luke 1 is Gabriel showing up at Mary’s house.
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So, we know, he is there to BLESS not to BATTLE—for CHEER not CONFLICT.

B. The meaning of Mary’s name

1. The English name Mary is a transliteration of the Greek name Maria, which in
turn comes from the Hebrew for Miriam.
a. It isn’t easy to determine what her name means. Some say the name MARY
means rebellious or disobedient, while others say it means bitter.
1) For the Hebrew audience the idea of bitterness has as much to do with
grief as with strength. A dish with a bitter taste is said to have a "strong"
taste as being seasoned with a strong herb.
2) One OT theological work says it means to bless, strengthen or commend
and may be more appropriately be translated with strength/strengthen
than with bitterness/being bitter (Ex. 1:14; Jdg. 18:25; Eccl. 7:26; Ezek.
3:14).
b. Some say it means A DROP OF THE SEA, while others say the name means
THE FAT ONE.
1) That may sound strange to us but in olden times, PLEASING
PLUMPNESS was a visible sign of PROSPERITY and was considered
ATTRACTIVE.
2) Even today in some oriental countries, people seek to fatten up young
women of marriageable age to make them more attractive.
2. Be that as it may, Miriam, Maria or MARY, as we know it, was a very popular
name among the Jews in the days of Joseph and Mary. In the New Testament
alone, 6 different women have that name.
Who was this godly Girl Mary? Who were her parents? What was her background?
An all-wise God leaves out most of this information for obvious reason.
As some make more TO DO with the LADY than they do with the LORD!
The first interesting thing to note concerning Gabriel and the Girl was: THE ANGEL,
Second was…

II. THE ACCOLADE – LUKE 1:28

A. Favour
1. The Word of God does not say that Mary is the ORIGIN of favour.
The Word of God says she RECEIVED favour.
2. I am not surprised that the LATIN version of this verse, which is behind the RC
translation, implies that Mary is the SOURCE of God’s favour.
3. God FAVOURED HER by choosing her, as a virgin, to bring His Son into the
world that we might have a SAVIOUR.
4. The expression FOUND FAVOUR is common in the Old Testament.
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a. The first mention of the phrase was from Abraham in Genesis 18:3, when he
said to the pre-incarnate Christ “My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy
sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:”
b. 1 Samuel 2:26 – “And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the
LORD, and also with men.”
c. The word FAVOUR means to be looked upon with good will—to be
considered favourably. Some children even today have that as a name.

5. In the case of Mary, it was God who GAVE HER FAVOUR.

a. She herself does not and cannot dispense favour.
b. Nowhere does the Word of God teach that grace is dispensed from Mary.
B. Likewise, Grace comes from God.
1. 1 Peter 5:10 explicitly refers to “…the God of all grace…” IF all grace comes from
God then it should be obvious that He is the source.
a. Lk. 1:28 says Mary is blessed “AMONG WOMEN”, the Word of God says,
not ABOVE WOMEN.
b. It is interesting to note that Jael, the woman who drove a tent peg through
the enemy captain Sisera’s temple was hailed as “Blessed above women…” in
Judg. 5:24.
2. God so FAVOURED MARY by selecting her to mother His Son—no; she is NOT
to mother God.
a. God is eternal – God has no mother!
b. God didn’t get His start with a mother because God never had a START. God
is ETERNAL. Therefore Jesus as God is ETERNAL (Jn. 3:13, 31; Col. 2:9)
Mary was young, poor, female—all characteristics that, to the people of her day, would make
her seem unusable by God for any major task. But God chose Mary for one of the most
important acts of obedience He has ever demanded of anyone. You may feel that your
ability, your experience, or your education makes you an unlikely candidate for God’s
service. I beg of you please don’t limit God’s choices (1:37). He can use you if you trust him.
Are you available? The greatest asset one can have in being a servant is being available
First we looked at THE ANGEL and then THE ACCOLADE to Mary. Now…

III. THE ANGST

Luke 1:29 – “And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what
manner of salutation this should be.”
A. Mary is in a state of shock.
1. She is astonished! She is disturbed in her mind. She was TROUBLED. The Word
of God says, “when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind
what manner of salutation this should be.”
2. In other words she is doing some DEEP THINKING here. Her mind is all taken
up over these words. She is in ANGST; i.e. she is deeply ANXIOUS over all this.
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3. “…To CAST in her mind,” means she is doing some heavy talking to herself. She
is thinking this thing through word for word; analysing every word spoken by
Gabriel.
B. Mary was a meditator not a mediator.
1. Luke confirms all what we ever read about her in the New Testament that often
she kept things to herself and pondered them (Lk. 2:19).
2. Mary was a deeply devotional, reflective and meditative individual.
She was a meditator not a mediator.
3. We too are encouraged to be the same.
Psalm 1:1-2 – “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the
way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and
in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
a. “Meditate” – In the Heb. = chew the cud. We are first to CHOW DOWN and
then CHEW AROUND, the Word of God.
b. Most just nibble at it. Don’t be a NIBBLER!
The first key thing we looked at in the relationship with GABRIEL and the GIRL Mary
was: 1 – THE ANGEL; 2 – THE ACCOLADE; 3 – THE ANGST

IV. THE ANNOUNCEMENT – LUKE 1:31

A. The virgin birth of the Messiah was, for many centuries, a well-established
Messianic belief among the Jews.
1. So, it was not a strange doctrine among the Jews that the Messiah would make
His showing unto Israel by way of a virgin birth.
2. But when the Lord Jesus came, they outright rejected Him. They had their
reasons…but you and I are not to follow REASON—our faith is to follow the fact
of REVELATION.
3. God’s Word is the full, final, finished and infallible Revelation of God to man.
B. If God could speak to you AUDIBLY, He would have nothing more to say than
what He has already said in this Book.
 Jesus is the living truth of God.
 Bible is the written truth of God.
 Both the SON and the Scripture are spoken of as the TRUTH in Scripture.
 John 14:6 – “Jesus saith… I AM… the TRUTH…”
 He then said to the Father in Jn. 17:17 “…thy word is truth.”
After this THE ANNOUNCEMENT we have…

V. THE ACCEPTANCE – LUKE 1:34

A. Mary is not expressing UNBELIEF. She is only asking HOW?
 Unbelief says IMPOSSIBLE.
 Faith only wonders HOW.
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I don’t doubt that a black cow can eat green grass, give white milk, which produces
yellow butter. I just often wonder HOW does she do it?
1. And the angel, responding to the HOW of this obvious miracle—which is a
suspension of the laws of nature … BUT not every inexplicable thing is a miracle.
a. Someone says, “It was a miracle I found my keys” or “it was an absolute
miracle I didn’t fall and break my neck.”
b. No, no, none of these. A miracle is where God overrules His own rules of
nature.
c. A great example is when Jesus turned water into pure grape juice; no, not
booze—BUT pure fresh grape juice, the fresh blood of the vine.
d. In an instant, Jesus suspended all the steps involved in making grape juice;
 The planting of the vine,
 The drawing up of water into the vine,
 The needed sunlight for photosynthesis.
 The process of growing the grape from a tiny bud to a full grown GREEN
grape and then the turning of the green grape into a bright BURGUNDY
coloured grape and then
 The development of the sour liquid into sweet juice … and other steps far
too complicated for me to understand.
e. Jesus instantly suspended all of those steps and made fresh juice on the spot.
Now folks, the same God who can do that; the same God who can bring Lazarus from the
dead; the same God who MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE … can easily cause a virgin to
be with child.
What is impossible for man – is EASY for God.
B. And so Gabriel answers the HOW in Luke 1:35
1. That’s how and don’t let the liberals talk you out of the miracle of the virgin
birth.
2. And Mary believed it. Luke 1:38 – “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”
3. Oh such glorious resignation to the divine will – “… be it unto me according to thy
word…” Mary said.
4. IF YOU take that attitude with God, He can FAVOUR you, for sure.
The first key thing we looked at in the relationship with GABRIEL and the GIRL Mary
was: 1 – THE ANGEL; then it was 2. THE ACCOLADE; 3 – THE ANGST; 4 – THE
ANNOUNCEMENT; 5 – THE ACCEPTANCE and lastly…

VI. THE ALLY – LUKE 1:39-40

A. Mary just needed someone to talk too who would understand
1. Someone who would understand somewhat of what she was going through …
and encourages her.
2. She couldn’t even share this with her own beloved Joseph.
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a. Besides, she knew Joseph would not accept her explanation. She knew their
wedlock would become deadlocked.
b. And bear in mind that Miriam, i.e. Mary lived in a community whose moral
standards were the highest among the nations of the world.
c. In those days, adultery was punished, by being stoned to death.
B. What a predicament to be in … and so God, in His grace, placed someone in
her life to support her and encourage her, at this time.
1. That someone was a lady named Elizabeth … an elderly, childless woman who
was past menopause, as she and her husband were elderly – both had given up
hoping for children … but now when Mary came … she was with child. WHAT!?
2. Oh yes, if anyone could understand SHE would! And she did!
3. Isn’t God good to put into our lives the support base we need to do His will?
4. When Mary arrived; she and Elizabeth talked it over; just the two of them.
No men allowed in the discussion, at this point.
5. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s testimony, she became so excited, she caused her
Baptist baby to get excited and John the Baptist jumped to his feet, and bounced
his head on the ceiling … and said AMEN!
6. YES’R RE Folks, JESUS can and should stir us!
7. Now, what you believe determines your very DESTINY. READ what Elizabeth
said to Mary in Luke 1:45
a. Mary believed against everything that seemed rational, natural or humanly
possible.
b. She had a great example in the case of Abraham of whom the Word of God
says in Romans 4:3 – “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for
righteousness.”
1) “Counted” = is a bookkeepers term; it means to put to the account of in
credit!
2) God accepts FAITH in the blood of Christ as CREDIT and it’s the only
thing He accepts. NOT VISA, MasterCard nor your bankcard—BUT only
FAITH in the substitutionary death of Christ!

INVITATION:

27 Dec. `15, Eve – River Valley BC – Leixlip, Co. Kildare