Luke 1:39-45

Luke chapter 1 verses 39 to 45. And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste onto a city of Judah and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she spake with a loud voice and said, Blessed are thou among women. Blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for Jesus. joy. And blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And God blessed to us his sacred and holy word. This morning, there was a little girl that once cried out in the night and awakened her mother, and at the child’s request, she was permitted to crawl into bed with her mother. and spend a night. Our mother inquired, what’s the matter? And the child said, it was dark in my room, to which the mother said, well, it’s dark in this room too. But the little girl said, I know, mother, but you’re here. Friends, there are dark and scary times in life, and you’ll find yourself uncomfortable being alone. And this is why Christian Fellowship is important. Not that Christian fellowship lifts all the darkness because it doesn’t, but it makes it more bearer. It’s good to know that you’re not all alone. Others care about you, desire to help, and encourage you as you go through your Christian life. Now, Mary and Elizabeth are both believers. they both have had an experience of a miraculous event in their lives. They’re going to have a child here in a miraculous manner. One in her old age, one as a virgin birth. So it’s not an unusual thing to find a desire for these two women to communicate with one another. Since they have a similar circumstance. and they got together to talk about what God was doing in their lives. I want to speak on the topic of Christian Fellowship from this passage of Scripture this morning. Let me begin by saying this. You learn the benefit of Christian fellowship. Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste into a city of Judah and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth. We see here, Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth, her cousin. She decides to visit Elizabeth upon learning from the angel that she is with child in her old age. The one that was called barren is now going to bear a child. God was working miraculously in her life, just as God was working miraculously. in Mary’s life. In such a visit, then, would be deemed spiritually profitable, and both the women would benefit from such a visit. Indeed, as the passage reveals, both women were cheered. Both women’s hearts were aroused by their fellowship. And without this visit, Elizabeth would never have been so filled with the whole, Holy Ghost, as we see here. And Mary might never have uttered her magnificent song that later comes in this following section. It’s well known to the people of God. Now, we don’t know exactly which city in Judah, and which Elizabeth lived. People guessed Hebron, because it’s one of the one of the those special cities that was given to the Levites, a city of refuge. But we really don’t know. We’re told, and not told, so therefore, it’s really not of any significance where she was living. But being away from Nazareth may not be bad for Mary either, so that there were not any harmful accusations thrown at her character. So she’s away. She leaves her hometown area, and she, and she, goes to be with Elizabeth. A Mary stayed with Elizabeth, we’re told for three months, until John the Baptist was going to be born. And there’s every indication here from what we first see that their fellowship with one another was a delightful fellowship. Now, the example of these two godly women deserves to be carefully, I think, considered and imitated. It always proves useful for you to. to cultivate Christian fellowship. This is the prudent thing to do. Like David, you should say, I’m a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. Psalm 119, verse 63. Christians know that the lips of the wise, of the wise, disperse knowledge, as the book of proverbs says. So that if we spend time, with those who are spiritually wise, it’s got to be beneficial to us. Religious conversation with other believers should prove to be edifying. Such conversation will operate as a check upon evil in our life and a motivator with regard to good in our life. You know, the Bible talks about in Proverbs 2717, an iron sharpens iron. So a man sharpeneth the countenance. of his friend. By dealing with one another, conversations with one another, we can help one another in a spiritual way. Your whole Christian conduct can be invigorated by spiritual conversation with Christian friends. You can gain valuable insight. You can perhaps be stimulated to study something more carefully because of your conversation with other Christians. You know, in the book of Romans, if you look at chapter one of Romans, when Paul speaks about coming to visit them, he’s never visited Rome, and he plans to come, he hopes to see them. And I like what he says here in chapter 1, verses 11 and 12. He says, for I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift to the end that you may be established. That is, that I may be comforted together with you. by the mutual faith of both you and me. Now, he’s saying here, I want to come because I want to be a blessing to you. Now, I don’t think we should take spiritual gifts here in its most narrow sense, but in its broader sense. He’s not saying I want to impart like tongues and maybe prophecy to you, but I think the idea is some gift of the spirit, some fruit of the spirit, some spiritual benefit to you if I could come. and you can be a benefit to me. Our faith would be mutually beneficial. That’s what he’s saying here. Now, he could say that as an apostle. He can say that as the stronger of the Christians. And yet he sees the benefit of being with other Christians who perhaps are not on his maturity level, but at the same time, he sees something that he can gain from them. And that’s how we should look at our fellowship with Christian. and our believers, fellow believers. The key point here is that Paul expects to be spiritually benefited. And he expects that when he comes to them and he meets with them. He converses with them. And this is what we should see. The strongest can be benefited even by the weakest. You remember when David was fleeing for his life from King Saul and God had anointed David to be given. king, but he finds himself a fugitive for quite a period of time. And Saul’s searching for his life day after day, we’re told. And he can’t even go to the temple. He can’t even worship God like he would like to. So he’s out here in the middle of the wilderness, hiding out in caves and like a wild animal. He’s out there hiding in the woods. It had to be very discouraging to David to have that occur in his life. But the Bible tells us that Jonathan, Saul’s son, goes off and he hunts him down, finds him. And what does he do when he gets there? The Bible says that Jonathan strengthened his hand in God. He encouraged David. And how did he encourage him? He said unto him, fear not, for the hand of Saul, my father shall not find thee, and thou shalt be king. king over Israel. Jonathan simply reaffirms what God promised David. It will come to pass, David. My father will not kill you. You will be king. He encouraged him. Comfort him, strengthened him. This is Christian fellowship, but it’s best, you see. It’s not a matter of being all cuddly and merely supportive. We should certainly try to be loving and supportive. But it reminds other believers of the true and certain promises of God that he gives us. Encouragement should be based upon the word of God. That’s far superior to any emotional closeness. So when you’re down and discouraged, you know, people are saying, I was down to discouraged, I couldn’t come to church. Really? If you’re down and discouraged, that’s the very place you ought to be. How are you going to get encouraged? Being on your own somewhere. You got to be where they’re, somebody can encourage you. There are many who fear the Lord and think on his name, but they don’t do what Malachi 316 says. They forget to speak one to another. Saints of God are speak to one another to encourage one another. So, Mary journeys to visit Elizabeth, and we see that there’s some type of mutual Christian fellowship they’re having. Now, you find that divine revelation is the basis of Christian fellowship. In verse, is 40 through 42 here. We see what they’re talking about. And what are they talking about here? The Bible says when she got to the house and saluted Elizabeth, verse 41, it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and she spake out with a loud voice and said, blessed art thou among women. Blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Elizabeth, it seems to me, is given a divine revelation. As soon as Mary comes, she arrives at the house, she enters the door, she greets Elizabeth, and it appears to be a normal greeting. We’re not told that she, hey, it says, hey, I had an angel visit me, and this is, we find immediately, Elizabeth expresses something concerning Mary. The mother of my Lord has come. How did she know that? It was revealed to her. It was revealed to her. The babe leaped in her womb. That wasn’t natural. But supernatural. A special action by the Holy Spirit. I have to agree with Kelvin. He said, no good purpose would be served by involving ourselves in the intricate questions. If the child was of the presence of Christ or felt an emotion of piety, it’s enough for us that the babes started by a secret movement of the spirit. And I’ll leave it at that. I can’t understand all the aspects connected with that. But Elizabeth here was immediately filled with the Holy Ghost. And this endowed her, evidently, with the gift of prophecy that she states here, about the mother of her Lord coming. Now, Joel 2 says about the times when the Messiah is going to come that the women as well as the men will young men and young women will prophesy. Well, here’s an older woman, but she’s prophesied. Under the influence of Holy Spirit, she cries out with a loud voice and what was revealed to her is revealed to hear in verse 42. It’s exactly what was spoken to Mary in verse 28. For the angel’s said, hail thou that art highly favored. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women. Isn’t that what she says here? Doubtless, you know, Mary was highly honored to be the mother of the Messiah. However, she was far more blessed that she was one of Christ’s disciples, that she was a believer. You know, some of the Jews were crying out to Jesus about what blessed is the one who gave birth to you, your mother. And now it’s far better that you heed the word of God and believe on the one that God has set. That’s what’s more important. But isn’t the truth of the matter is that Christ is blessed above all. Or Psalm 7217 says His name shall endure forever. His name shall be continued as long as the son, and all men shall be blessed in him. All nations shall call him blessed. Now what I want you to note here, is that this revelation, as well as the one that’s given to Mary, form the basis of their Christian fellowship. What are they going to talk about? What are they all excited about? What God is doing? This divine revelation was what they spent time discussing and pondering. It took up their time. What God was doing at this point. in Israel’s history. Through them, one was going to be the four, one was going to have the forerner, and one was going to bear the Christ. Christians should discuss what God has revealed in his word. Mr. Hone wrote a book entitled Everyday book in which he revealed himself as a skeptic when it came to religion. He tells us that one day he was traveling through Wales, being thirsty, he stopped at a college along the road. He thought he could get something to drink. He went up to the cottage door, knocked on, and a little girl came, and answered the door. And he asked for a drink. She invited him in and said, Oh, yes, sir. I have no doubt my mother will give you some milk. So he went in and sat down, and the little girl was reading her Bible. Mr. Holm, not realizing this, said, well, little girl, are you doing your school work? The little girl said, no, sir, I’m not. I’m reading my Bible. Mr. Hone said, yes, but you’re getting your school task out of the Bible, aren’t you? To which the little girl said, oh no, it’s no task to read the Bible. I love the Bible. Mr. Hone said, and why do you love the Bible? And the little girl’s response took him back completely, I thought everybody loved the Bible. Her own love for this precious volume had made her believe that everybody would be delighted in reading the scriptures. Mr. Hone was said he was so touched by this little girl’s love for the Bible. They started to read the Bible himself, and it was true. This means that he came. God used it to convert him. He became a friend of Divine Truth. I thought everybody loved the Bible. All Christians should love the Bible. Listen to Psalmist in Psalm 11997, Oh, how love I thy law, it’s my meditation all the day. The godly delight in God’s revelation. They’re unable to restrain the joy and the pleasure of what they find in God’s work. It causes them to want to share it. Many people are able to restrain the joy. read and acknowledge the truth that’s found in God’s word, but the believer loves it. Because he loves God’s law, he wants to meditate in it. He wants to, he’s thinking about it, constantly. You dwell upon every feature of it with intense enjoyment, it’s speciality. When you’re reading the history and you read about David, you love it. When you’re reading the law, and you see what God says there, you love that too. When you’re reading the prophets or the minor prophets, it doesn’t matter. Or any of the, poetry of scripture. You love it. You find yourself, love it. I find this every time I study a book, I say, I really like that book. That’s one of my favorite books. Well, eventually, you’re going to have them all of your favorite book, right? Because the more you understand, the more you appreciate what it says about Christ in these books of Scripture, it gives you joy. It causes joy. When it comes to the scriptures, you talk. of them when you sit down your house. When you walk by the way, when you lie down, when you rise up, it’s something, it’s with you all the time. So when you have Christian fellowship, what should dominate your conversation? God’s revelation. Right? Friends, why should earthly things dominate our conversation we get together? Nothing stimulates your faith, encourages you, enlightens your mind like spiritual conversation with other believers. How often you find Christ’s disciples asking him questions after he has taught or preached on something. When he’s done finished speaking, for example in Matthew 18, when he speaks there about what do you do if your brother trespasses against you? Well, you go to your brother alone. You tell him his fault. If he repents, you forgive. If he doesn’t, well, you get one or two others, and you go and try to reason with the man, repent. If that doesn’t work, then you get the church involved, the whole church involved, with the idea of bringing this person to repentance. Now, when he’s done teaching, Peter asked him a very pertinent question. In verse 21 of Matthew 18, he says this, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times? Is seven times enough to do it? Now, that’s a good question. How many times I have to forgive him? When he comes to me and says, hey, will you forgive me? It relates to what Jesus has just taught. He’s engaging him in a conversation about the teaching of forgiveness. This leads to further discussion about what forgiveness is, how God forgives, and if you want forgiven, then you have to forgive others, and so forth. It’s a good example for the church today after sermon conversation. Isn’t it? So you find divine revelation is the basis of Christian fellowship. Notice something else here. The third thought this morning. Spiritual conversations center on Christ, your Lord, during Christian fellowship. You’ll notice that the focus here in verse 42 be, Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, and whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me. Elizabeth here speaks of her Lord. Now she calls Mary the mother of her Lord, just as David called the Messiah His Lord, in Psalm 110, verse 1. Notice the view Elizabeth takes of Christ. Elizabeth sees both the divine and the human nature, I think, of Christ here. She acknowledges the divine nature, his exalted dignity and power by calling him her Lord. She acknowledges his human nature by speaking of the mother of her Lord and speaking to Mary. Jesus Christ is indeed, Lord of all. He possesses the power to save and the rule. Elizabeth calls him, my Lord, thereby testifying to her submission to Christ, to His grace and to his government. This speaks of her personal faith. She was a believer in Jesus Christ, in the Messiah for the salvation of her soul. Every one of us needs to be able to speak of Christ as my Lord and my God. We all need to have that kind of statement. Every one of us needs to be submissive to Christ rule. For what did Jesus say? Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say? A rebellious spirit. spirit is an indication of unbelief. In respect to outward position, we have every reason to believe that Elizabeth was superior to Mary because she was the wife of a priest. However, Elizabeth deems herself highly honored by Mary’s visit. Why? Because her lord was in the womb of Mary. She thought herself unworthy of such a high esteem. that I honor that her Lord and King is visiting her. She acquaints Mary with the response of John when Mary’s voice was heard an unusual circumstance. This divine sign would help to strengthen the faith of Mary with regard to her virgin birth. The whole conversation then is about Christ, isn’t it? It’s focused on Christ. It’s the center of it. Yes, you know, John the Baptist is going to be a great man. No greater on earth. No prophet greater, as Jesus said, but what’s more important? My Lord’s here. In your womb. The whole conversation then focuses on Christ. Look at the place Christ then should have in our conversations with one another. The key thing about divine revelation is that it reveals to you the person and work of Jesus Christ. Whether you start in Genesis or where you go to the book of Revelation, really, that’s what it’s all about. If Christ is your Lord and King, you’ll think highly of him. And he will dominate your attention. Look at the bride, the church, in the book of Song of Solomon. What is she always talking about? Who is always on her mind? Who is captivating her interest. The bridegroom, Jesus Christ, right? Her beloved, as she says so often. She never ceases to speak highly of Christ to those around her. She has all sorts of praise for him and calls him the most endearing terms. He’s her king. He’s an apple tree in the forest whose fruit. Whose fruit is sweet to her taste. He’s a bundle of myr between her breast. He is a row or a young heart and so forth. On and on. We get all these endearing terms. You ought to search the scriptures, as Jesus said, because they speak of me. They speak of me. Your beloved. Delight in finding him spoken of, even in remote places in scripture. Don’t you rejoice and tell others when you find something precious revealed to you from scripture about the Savior? Whether it be in the law or the prophets or the Psalms, the person to work of Jesus Christ should so fascinate you that you can’t help but speak about. Him. Spiritual conversation should center on Christ, your Lord, during Christian Fellowship. Lastly, in your Christian fellowship, acknowledge your happiness chiefly consist in being a believer. Notice Verse 45. Blessed is she that believed. For there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Let that sink in a moment. Blessed is she that believed. Faith is the key that unlocks every promise. It enables you to lay hold on Christ and the salvation that is in him. Read the scriptures. Faith is the victory that overcomes. the world. Faith enables you to live above circumstances. The just shall live by faith. Every spiritual blessing found in Christ comes through faith. By faith, you overcome the world, the devil and the flesh. Do you know anything about this faith that Mary had? The faith of God’s elect? Produced within them by the work of the Holy Spirit? The operation of God is Colossians 2 tells us. Are you able to testify of the riches of grace and the faith that you have? The believer comes to realize that above all the wealth and the riches of this world, faith is more precious. You should always count yourself as blessed because God has granted you the grace of faith. That you have been brought to know Christ and been brought to know Christ, and been blessed. have been brought in union with him. Whom having not seen you still love, and whom though you see him not, see him not yet, or though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with the joy unspeakable and full of glory. We may not see Christ right now with our physical eyes, but we have joy in knowing the Lord. Happier are those who rely on the promises of the unchanging faithful God, no good thing shall fail you of what God has spoken. Isn’t that what Elizabeth tells Mary? It’s all going to come to pass just as God has revealed it. Well, the little girl was content to sleep in the dark as long as mom was there with her. There are dark and scary moments in life. That’s why Christian fellowship is certainly important to us. We’re uncomfortable being alone. We should learn the benefit of Christian. fellowship. We should realize that divine revelation is the basis of Christian fellowship. We should see that spiritual conversation should center on Christ in Christian fellowship, and we should acknowledge your happiness chiefly consistent in being a believer when we engage in Christian fellowship with one another. Well, let us ask you.