Original Christmas Carols - "Strength for the Holidays" - Luke 1:26-56 - Tim Nay

LifeSpring Christian Church Sermons

Strength for the Holidays
Luke 1:26-56
Tim Nay

Part of Original Christmas Carols
Strength for the Holidays

December 3, 2023

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” —Luke 1:39-4556 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. —Luke 1:56

We can find spiritual strength in honest friendships

Christian Friendships
-Is God in your together times?
-Are your conversations beneficial and building up?
-Are your relationships without dissimulation?

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. —Romans 12:9 (NIV)Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. —Romans 12:9 (KJV)

Dissimulation = “concealment of one’s thoughts, feelings, or character”

26 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?” —Luke 1:26-34

We can have faith in spite of fear and doubt

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. —Luke 1:2934 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” —Luke 1:34

We grow in faith when we outwardly express our inner spiritual life.

46 And Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name. —Luke 1:46-4950 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” —Luke 1:50-55

We can increase our faith as we look to the past

—1 Kings 17:4

Takeaway: Speak life into your soul.