Magnifying God: Embracing Our Divine Callings
Summary
In this Advent series, we reflect on the truly unprecedented event of God becoming flesh in Jesus Christ, a reality that surpasses any worldly turmoil we face. Today, we explore how God offers us a new vision, not by changing our circumstances, but by transforming our understanding of them. This is vividly illustrated in the life of Mary, a young woman who received an extraordinary calling. When the angel Gabriel greeted her with the words, "The Lord is with you," Mary was greatly troubled. This phrase, rooted in the Old Testament, signified a divine calling to undertake daunting tasks, as seen with figures like Moses, Joshua, and Gideon.
Mary's story teaches us that following Jesus often involves embracing difficult callings. In our modern context, we romanticize the idea of a calling, but biblical callings often come with challenges and discomfort. Embracing our calling means accepting the pain and brokenness that may accompany it, and seeking God's purpose in those moments.
Mary's response to her calling is profound. Despite her initial fear, she reflects deeply on the angel's message, leading to her famous prayer, the Magnificat. In this prayer, she magnifies the Lord, choosing to focus on God's greatness rather than her fears. This act of magnification is a powerful spiritual practice. Our minds naturally dwell on fears and uncertainties, but we are invited to shift our focus to God's presence and power.
Mary's life exemplifies courage and faithfulness. She faced societal shame, political threats, and personal loss, yet remained steadfast. Her story challenges us to magnify God in our lives, to see beyond our immediate fears and trust in His greater plan. Mary's words were so revolutionary that they were once banned in Guatemala, highlighting the transformative power of her faith.
Today, we are invited to magnify God, not our fears or the challenges of our time. By doing so, we align ourselves with the divine revolution that began with Mary's "yes" to God. Let us embrace this invitation and allow our souls to magnify the Lord.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Unprecedented Presence: The true unprecedented event is God becoming flesh in Jesus, offering us a new vision of our circumstances rather than changing them. This divine presence invites us to see our lives through a transformative lens. [00:32]
2. Embracing Difficult Callings: Biblical callings often come with challenges and discomfort. Like Mary, we are called to embrace our callings, even when they lead us through pain and brokenness, trusting that God has a purpose in these moments. [03:10]
3. The Power of Magnification: Mary's response to her calling was to magnify the Lord, focusing on God's greatness rather than her fears. This practice of magnification shifts our perspective from our problems to God's presence and power. [06:29]
4. Mary's Courageous Faith: Despite societal shame and personal loss, Mary remained steadfast in her faith. Her life challenges us to be undaunted by fear and to trust in God's greater plan, even when it seems daunting. [08:00]
5. The Revolutionary Nature of Faith: Mary's words in the Magnificat were so powerful that they were once banned in Guatemala. Her story reminds us of the transformative and revolutionary power of faith, inviting us to participate in God's divine revolution. [10:15]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:20] - Introduction to the Advent Series
- [00:45] - A New Vision Through Jesus
- [00:57] - Mary's Troubling Greeting
- [01:44] - Old Testament Background
- [02:27] - Mary's Lineage of Heroes
- [03:10] - Embracing Difficult Callings
- [04:18] - Mary's Thoughtful Reflection
- [04:49] - The Magnificat
- [05:32] - Magnifying God Over Fears
- [06:29] - The Practice of Magnification
- [07:11] - The Two Marys
- [08:00] - Mary's Courage and Faith
- [09:17] - The Great Reversal
- [10:03] - The Power of Mary's Words
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 1:26-38
- Luke 1:46-55 (The Magnificat)
- Exodus 3:10-12 (God's promise to be with Moses)
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 1:26-38, how does Mary initially react to the angel Gabriel's greeting, and what might this reveal about her understanding of the phrase "The Lord is with you"? [01:09]
2. What are some of the Old Testament figures mentioned in the sermon who received a similar divine calling as Mary? How did their experiences compare to hers? [02:04]
3. According to the sermon, what does Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) emphasize about God's character and actions? [05:05]
4. How does the sermon describe the societal and personal challenges Mary faced as a result of her calling? [08:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the phrase "The Lord is with you" signify in the context of biblical callings, and how might this understanding affect one's response to a difficult calling? [01:53]
2. How does Mary's response to her calling, as seen in the Magnificat, challenge common perceptions of faith and courage? [07:49]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that magnifying God can transform one's perspective on fear and uncertainty? [06:29]
4. How does the revolutionary nature of Mary's faith, as described in the sermon, invite believers to participate in God's divine revolution today? [10:15]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt called to a challenging task. How did you respond, and what might you learn from Mary's example of faithfulness? [03:10]
2. The sermon suggests that we often romanticize the idea of a calling. How can you discern whether a difficult situation in your life might be a calling from God? [03:19]
3. Consider the practice of magnifying God over your fears. What specific fears or uncertainties are you currently facing, and how can you shift your focus to God's presence and power? [06:29]
4. Mary's courage in the face of societal shame and personal loss is highlighted in the sermon. How can you cultivate similar courage in your own life, especially when facing criticism or adversity? [08:00]
5. The sermon mentions that Mary's words were once banned in Guatemala due to their revolutionary nature. How can you use your voice to advocate for justice and change in your community? [10:15]
6. Identify one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith. What practical steps can you take this week to say "yes" to that calling, as Mary did? [07:49]
7. How can you incorporate the practice of magnification into your daily routine to help you focus on God's greatness rather than your problems? [05:32]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Transformative Presence
God becoming flesh in Jesus Christ is an unprecedented event that offers a new vision of our circumstances. This divine presence does not necessarily change our external situations but transforms our understanding of them. By seeing our lives through this transformative lens, we are invited to perceive our challenges and experiences in a new light, recognizing God's active presence in every moment. This shift in perspective allows us to find hope and purpose, even amidst worldly turmoil. [00:32]
"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you invite God's presence to transform your understanding of a current challenge in your life today?
Day 2: Embracing the Challenge of Calling
Biblical callings often come with significant challenges and discomfort, as illustrated by Mary's story. Embracing our calling means accepting the pain and brokenness that may accompany it, trusting that God has a purpose in these moments. Like Mary, we are called to step into our roles with courage, even when they lead us through difficult paths. This requires a deep trust in God's plan and a willingness to endure hardships for a greater purpose. [03:10]
"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'" (Isaiah 6:8, ESV)
Reflection: What is a difficult calling you feel God is leading you to embrace, and how can you take a step towards it today?
Day 3: The Practice of Magnification
Mary's response to her calling was to magnify the Lord, focusing on God's greatness rather than her fears. This practice of magnification shifts our perspective from our problems to God's presence and power. By choosing to focus on God's attributes and promises, we can find peace and strength in the midst of uncertainty. This spiritual practice invites us to intentionally redirect our thoughts and emotions towards God's faithfulness and sovereignty. [06:29]
"Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!" (Psalm 34:3, ESV)
Reflection: What specific fears or uncertainties can you choose to magnify God over today, and how will you do it?
Day 4: Courageous Faith in the Face of Adversity
Mary's life exemplifies courage and faithfulness, as she faced societal shame, political threats, and personal loss, yet remained steadfast. Her story challenges us to be undaunted by fear and to trust in God's greater plan, even when it seems daunting. This kind of faith requires a deep reliance on God's promises and a willingness to endure trials with hope and perseverance. [08:00]
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to exercise courageous faith, and what step can you take today to trust in God's plan?
Day 5: The Revolutionary Power of Faith
Mary's words in the Magnificat were so powerful that they were once banned in Guatemala, highlighting the transformative and revolutionary power of faith. Her story reminds us of the impact that a life of faith can have on the world, inviting us to participate in God's divine revolution. This revolutionary nature of faith calls us to live boldly and to be agents of change in our communities, reflecting God's love and justice. [10:15]
"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:27, ESV)
Reflection: How can you participate in God's divine revolution today, using your faith to bring about change in your community?
Quotes
what's unprecedented is that the word became flesh what we remember in this advent season that god in jesus came to earth and was with us and is with us and is making everything new and what i want to talk about today is that he will give you a new vision not a new set of circumstances but a new way of understanding them [00:35:44]
when god was sending moses to pharaoh where moses did not want to go god said go there because i will be with you when god was sending joshua into the promised land where he would have to take a stubborn fearful people and fight great battles god said go because i will be with you [01:18:15]
having a difficult calling is a part of what it means to follow jesus i was talking to a friend recently he was going through a very hard time in life and we were talking about how in the bible almost nobody who hears about their calling from god is happy about it in our day we romanticize calling [03:06:15]
and knowing pain and brokenness and my own brokenness and seeking to learn what does god have for me how do i need the change being able to meet with other people often just one at a time on the field of pain and brokenness but that is my calling and to be able to embrace my calling in this season is a really good thing [03:31:44]
to consider is a thinking word it's real important when great troubles come to put on your thinking hat and to reflect and to consider and to analyze and to look at and to just sit with curiosity and calmness before god and she does that and ultimately it issues and she issues in one of the great prayers [04:29:12]
my soul magnifies the lord my spirit rejoices in god my savior for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant and then these remarkable observations he remembers the humble but he takes rulers down from their thrones he satisfies the hungry with good things but sends the rich away empty [04:55:60]
i will either magnify my problems my worries my fears they will loom ever larger or i can magnify god a book that's been very very helpful to me in this season is called you are not your brain and it talks about how the brain wants to brood and ruminate over what's going to happen [05:26:56]
and to say but that is not truth that is not prediction that is not where god is calling me to live and then in my soul i can magnify god i can understand think about reflect on his goodness and his power and how he was present with moses and present with joshua and present with gideon [06:22:40]
when big strong men that followed him fishermen tax collectors they've all ran away out of fear she follows him all the way to the cross all the way to his death and then when they meet together after the resurrection in the upper room we're told that the disciples are there and the women are there [08:43:52]
the god who is the father of jesus the god who remembers humble little teenage girls and makes them great and noble and powerful and dangerous mary's words are so dangerous no kidding that the government of guatemala outlawed back in the 1980s anybody publicly reciting the magnificat [09:48:59]
because she talked about god tearing rulers down from their thrones who would have guessed if you would have told that little teenage girl 2 000 years ago that one day 2000 years later on the other side of the world a government would be afraid of her words are you kidding me who does that only god [10:15:12]
so that's our invitation today through jesus is not to magnify 2020 not to magnify the problems not to magnify my fears or yours be aware of them know that they're there don't try to push them away by willpower accept them but then turn my attention to god [10:48:80]
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