When I was a boy, there was one
delightful ray of sunshine in my dark life, one thing which
was always sure to give me a season of pure pleasure and happiness. At least once every year, I got
to go for a week or more to the mountains of North Carolina to
visit my dad's family. My grandmother, my great aunt,
my aunts and uncles on my dad's side were always a delight to
be around. They kind of had a tendency to
spoil me and pamper me, and I didn't get much of that when I was growing
up. I remember dreaming with delightful anticipation about
going to the mountains, the hills in Spruce Pine, North Carolina.
The happiest days of my childhood were spent in those hills. Tonight
I want us to go for a visit to the hills, but we'll go with
Mary to the hill country of Judah to visit her aging cousin Elizabeth
Let's read what happened when these two godly women came together
for a visit in Luke chapter 1 verse 39. 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. And it came to pass that when
Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe, John the Baptist,
leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she spoke out with a loud
voice and said, Blessed art thou among women, and 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 my ears, The babe
leaped in my womb for joy, and blessed is she that believed,
for there shall be a performance of those things which were told
her from the Lord." Now, as we seek to worship our God and learn
of Him by this portion of Scripture, let me direct your thoughts to
three things which stand out in these verses. First, we see
here a beneficial communion between two believers. Here we see Mary
and Elizabeth, a young virgin and an old mother in Israel,
walking together in delightful, blessed fellowship and communion. They were cousins, yes, but the
fellowship was much, much more, much, much sweeter, much, much
more beneficial than the mere companionship of family. Their
fellowship with one another was the fellowship of faith. Their
communion was the communion of grace, the grace and knowledge
of God in Jesus Christ the Lord. Now, when I talk about fellowship,
when I talk about communion, I'm talking about the fellowship
of believers. There is no fellowship between
believers and unbelievers. There is no fellowship even among
believers alone themselves with one another. Fellowship exists. This fellowship in the biblical
sense of the word exists only where there is a common salvation
between men and women who walk with God. So that the believer
walking in the light cannot have fellowship with the unbeliever
who walks in darkness, even if that unbeliever is his mother,
his father, his wife, her husband, or one of their own children,
brother or sister. Believers cannot have fellowship
with unbelievers. When we talk about fellowship,
we're talking about men and women who have things in common. We
have a common salvation. You and I who were saved by the
grace of God, all of us are sinners brought from the pit of destruction
to the glorious liberty of the sons of God by free grace alone. We have a common heritage according
to the election of grace. God the Father has chosen us,
each of us who are his own. We have a common atonement. Our
sins have been paid for. We have been ransomed by the
precious blood of God's dear son. We have a common hope. We
walk together in this world, understanding the passage you
just read, the judgment of God on this world. We understand
the hand of judgment is upon the society in which we live.
And yet we have hope. We all have the same hope. And
that hope is Jesus Christ himself. We have a common family. Indeed,
this is our family. Our Lord Jesus, you'll remember
when he was ministering, one of his disciples came and said,
your mother is looking for you. Your brothers and sisters are
calling for you. And he said, behold, my mother, my brothers
and my sisters, these which do the will of my father, which
is in heaven. This is my mother. This is my brother. This is my
sister. And you who believe are my family. I have no real family,
but this. This is our family. All earthly
ties will soon perish. All earthly bonds will soon be
broken. The dearest and most enjoyable
will soon come to an end. I see that dear lady sitting
there. Oh, what a blessed, blessed, blessed time we've had these
30 years. But when this life is over, this life is over. And
our union with one another will not be the union of husband and
wife, but something far better. It will be that union which we
enjoy together in Christ, which we each have with one another
in our Redeemer. We have a common warfare. We
are at war continually with the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Being believers, we are heirs to a common, everlasting inheritance. So our text tells us that these
dear saints when they visited with one another, were mutually
benefited, spiritually benefited in their fellowship with one
another. Their hearts were cheered, their minds were uplifted, their
souls were refreshed, their spirits were edified. As they visited
and communed with one another, discussing the grace of God,
the promises of God, the wonders of God's providence, the excellence
of his mercy, his covenant promises, his covenant goodness, his covenant
faithfulness, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. As I read
that in preparing this message, I thought what a delightful,
delightful, delightful outcome of two believers walking together
in fellowship. Elizabeth was filled with the
Holy Spirit in the company of Mary and in some measure, Merle,
because of Mary's company. I'd sure like to have that influence
on you. I'd sure like to so influence your life that you are brought
suddenly under the blessed influence of God's spirit to rejoice in
his grace. Mary, as she walked with Elizabeth
and they communed together about the things of God, was inspired
to sing a new song. of praise to our God. We'll look
at it, the Lord willing, next week. In fact, we'll probably
read it in just a few minutes. But as they walked together,
as they discussed the things of God, their hearts were moved
Godward. Oh, now that ought to be our
goal as we fellowship one with another. We should always regard
the fellowship of God's saints as one of our greatest privileges
in this world. J.C. Ryle said there are many
who fear the Lord and think upon his name and yet forget to speak
often one to another. That ought not be. Listen to
these words of the prophet Malachi. Then they that feared the Lord
spoke often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard
it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them
that feared the Lord and thought upon his name. Now what am I
saying? Children of God, let us as we
walk together seek to influence one another for good, speak often
to one another of the Lord. Speak often to one another of
the things of God. We ought always to be like that
one described in Proverbs 27. The wise man says, iron sharpeneth
iron, so does the countenance of a man his friend. We ought
always to be sharpening to one another. As water, in water,
faith enters the faith. Sow the heart of man to a man. What a refreshing break in our
pilgrimage. What an oasis in this desert.
What a resting place in this troubled world is a season of
fellowship with God's saints. Let's never take the privilege
lightly. Hold your hands here in Luke
1 and turn to Hebrews 13. Hebrews chapter 13. Do you remember how that Abraham
when he was in the wilderness, saw three men coming to his door. And he called Sarah and he said,
Honey, heat up the oven, we got some company. And he understood
those three men were the angels of God come to minister to him.
Now listen to what the wise man here tells us by divine inspiration
in Hebrews 13. Let brotherly love continue.
You who believe God love one another and show one another
your love for one another. Be not forgetful to entertain
strangers. I have looked at this a good
bit and I don't have any doubt there is a proper application
that we entertain those who meet us by the way who are in need.
But we who are believers are strangers and pilgrims in this
world. We are mutual strangers in this
world. Let us be careful to use our
homes and our livelihood to entertain our fellow strangers. Look at
this. For thereby some have entertained angels. And they didn't even
know it at the time. What a blessing. What a blessing.
Fellowship with God's saints is as near as we come to heaven
on this earth. Private company, yes. When believers
come together, and fellowship with one another, not just when
we come together, not just when we get together and visit, but
when we come together in the blessed fellowship of Christ
so that our company with one another is mutually edifying. Oh, what a blessed time that
is, especially when we come together in the house of God in public
worship. And here we fellowship together
in the worship of our God. We ought always to take care
that our company is helpful and not harmful, edifying, not a
hindrance to our brothers and sisters in Christ. When Mary and Elizabeth got together,
they didn't discuss the latest events on the soap operas going
on on television. They didn't get together and
discuss which fellow looked the best in his jeans, all that silly
nonsense. They didn't get together and
discuss all of the frivolity and the ungodliness so common
in the language of many who profess faith in Christ. What did they
do? They discussed the blessedness of faith. They discussed the
blessedness of God's promises. They discussed the blessedness
of God's providence. They discussed the blessedness
of God's Word. And thus, they edified one another. Thus, they uplifted one another. Let us then follow their example,
speak to one another as Mary and Elizabeth did about the things
of God. In the house of God, when God's
messenger has delivered God's message, as this angel had brought
the message of grace both to Elizabeth and then to Mary, once
the message has been delivered to your soul, be wise and speak
to one another often concerning the message of God's grace to
you. Let's not be the instrument by which Satan would steal the
seed. from the heart before it brings
forth fruit in the life. But rather, let us be the instrument
by which God the Spirit waters the seed and causes the seed
to take root and bring forth fruit in one another. Our chosen
companions in this world, children of God, are always to be our
companions in the grace of God. Let me just ask you to turn to
one text, 2 Corinthians chapter 6 for a moment. And while you're
turning, listen carefully. You who know me well know that
I do not suggest, nor do I imagine for a moment, that we ought to
live as hermits in this world, that we ought to isolate ourselves
from society. That would be irresponsible.
I do not suggest by any means that we treat unbelieving men
and women contemptuously. That would be horribly wicked.
But I am saying this. Believers ought never choose
unbelievers for their companions in any sphere of life. I'm always
concerned. I'm always concerned when I see
one who professes to be a child of God choosing to spend his
or her leisure time with unbelievers. I don't understand it. I just
don't understand it. Such a choice. Such a choice.
Should I choose to spend my leisure hours, what few I have, with
unbelieving men and women? Should I choose to spend my leisure
hours with folks who don't know God, who have no regard for God?
I'm taking to my bosom fire and must expect to be burned. I'm
taking to my bosom poison and must expect to be affected by
it. Such action is like inviting a traitor into your camp. It's
bringing a thief into your home. No good can come of it. Can't
do it. Can't do it. So a preacher, we
work with folks. I know. We got neighbors. I know.
Deal with them as graciously and kindly as you want. But don't
choose for your companions folks who are walking to hell. Don't
do it. You're going to choose misery
for yourself. And I'll guarantee you the influence will be them
influencing you for evil, not you influencing them for good.
I guarantee it. Read the book of God and find
me an example otherwise. Listen to this. Know ye not that
a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Be not deceived,
Paul says, evil communications corrupt good manners. Never,
never do we find an example of good communications influencing
for good corrupt manners. It just doesn't happen. Awake
to righteousness, therefore, and sin not, for some have not
the knowledge of God. All right, look here in 2 Corinthians
chapter 6. Without question, the apostle
is primarily speaking here concerning the association of men and women
in religion. But this association of men and
women in religion certainly applies to the union of a man and a woman
in marriage. It certainly applies to the choice
of companions in this world. 2 Corinthians 6 verse 14. Be not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers. Now that, that, but that just
makes such good sense. How come? For what fellowship
hath righteousness with unrighteousness? What's that in common? What,
what is there to draw you together? What communion hath light with
darkness? And what concord, what agreement,
what harmony can be found between Christ and Belial? What part
hath he that believeth with an infidel? What part do you have with the
infidel? What is it about the infidel that appeals to you?
What is it about the infidel that draws out your interest?
I'm concerned for you if there's anything. I'm concerned for you.
All right, secondly, in verses 43 and 44, we see a believer's
confession. And whence is this to me, Elizabeth
says, 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 joy. Now, often we think about saints
and days gone by. as being very much ignorant concerning
the person and work of Christ. Like us, many of them were indeed
weak and ignorant about many things. They often expressed
themselves poorly. They often behaved in a way that
was contrary to the gospel and contrary to faith in Christ.
They were, after all, like us, weak, frail, sinful men and women. And yet, those men and women
in days of old who knew God We're also given the mind of Christ
just as we are. Elizabeth's language in verse
43, where she calls Mary the mother of my Lord, is the language
of remarkable faith. Rex, we stop and consider this.
This is every bit as remarkable as Peter's statement when he
said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. We must
not put words in her mouth, but you stop and think about what's
involved. when Elizabeth makes this declaration. She made a
confession concerning that baby who was in Mary's womb at the
time and acknowledged that that child conceived in Mary's virgin
womb was the long-expected Messiah prophesied in all the Old Testament
scriptures. She understood that that one
about to be born from her cousin's womb was indeed the son of David,
the promised king of Israel who would sit upon the throne of
God as a man forever. She understood that that baby
in the womb of Mary was himself God Almighty in human flesh. She understood that. She says
this woman is the mother of my Lord. What a word. What a testimony. She understood
that this one who's in Mary's womb is indeed the savior of
the world, spoken of in Genesis 3.15. That one of whom Abraham
spoke on Mount Moriah when he said, my son, God will provide
himself a lamb for a burnt offering. He is that one of whom David
spoke in Psalm 22, who cried, my God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me? This is the one of whom all the
paschal lambs offered on the day of atonement represented
in type and in picture. This is the Lamb of God by whom
justice has been satisfied, by whom the sins of his people must
be put away. Elizabeth indeed understood what
Mary sang in the next verse. Let's look at it. So, Brother
Don, how do you know that this confession involved all that?
Because Mary put it in words. She put it in words. Look at
verse 46. Mary said, when Elizabeth said, this woman, she's the mother
of my Lord. Mary said, my soul doth magnify
the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced, look at it, in God my Savior. She's talking now about that
one who's in her womb. She says, my spirit has rejoiced
in God my Savior. Verse 49. He that is mighty hath
done to me great things. Holy is his name. His mercy is
on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath, verse
54, hoping or helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his
mercy. How come? As he spoke to our
fathers, to Abraham, and to us his seed forever. What a confession. Elizabeth's confession. was an
acknowledgment of voluntary surrender to and confident faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ as her Lord. Turn over to 1 Corinthians chapter
12. Let me show you. She wasn't just using words. When Elizabeth spoke the name
of the Lord, she spoke it with reference, and she spoke it with
confidence, and she spoke it with faith. Would to God I could
persuade folks who reverence his name, folks I know who reverence
his name, to speak his name with reverence. Here in 1 Corinthians
12, 3, Wherefore, I give you to understand that no man speaking
by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed. And that no man
can say that Jesus, this child in Mary's womb, This man, this
real man, this man tempted in all points like as we are, this
man who was a man put to death upon the cursed tree as our substitute,
no man can say that Jesus is Lord. That is, no man can bow
to him, confess him, and own him as his Lord, but by the Holy
Ghost. He's not talking about just forming
the words by the He's talking about what goes on when a sinner
is born of God's Spirit. No man will bow to the God-man,
Christ Jesus, as his Lord, but by the Holy Spirit. This dear
old woman had learned and gladly acknowledged what all men soon
must acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord, and that every tongue
in heaven, earth, and hell will soon confess. That every knee
in heaven, earth, and hell will soon bow to Him and say, He's
Lord, to the glory of God the Father. All right, now look at
verse 45. Here is a blessed confidence. And blessed is she that believed,
for there shall be a performance of those things which were told
her from the Lord. Here we see an old, old woman,
an old woman who had learned the folly of both vanity and
flattery. She wasn't interested in either.
Young folks spend a lot of time in flattering the vain opinions
men and women have of themselves. Elizabeth was too old for such
nonsense, but she speaks in glowing about the blessedness of faith.
The blessedness of faith in Christ. The blessedness of believing
God. It is indeed a blessed thing
to believe God. Faith has always been the grace
by which God's saints in this world have obtained a good report
as they walked in this world. We can't read it now, but at
your leisure, read the 11th chapter of Hebrews. I encourage you to
read it before you go to bed tonight. that blessed, blessed
chapter describing the great triumph of faith in this world. The scripture says in that passage,
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen. By it, the elders obtained a
good report. Through faith, we understand
that the worlds were framed by the word of God. Abel offered
unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by faith. Enoch walked
with God by faith. Noah built an ark for the saving
of his house by faith. Abraham was called to go out
to a place he knew nothing about and he went out by faith believing
God. Sarah conceived in her womb by
faith and brought forth a son and these all died in faith. The story of God's saints in
this world has always been and is now the
story of faith. That's right. The just shall
what? Live by faith. All of them. All of them. All of them. There's no such
thing as a justified sinner who does not live by faith. There's
no such thing as a sinner just in the sight of God, a sinner
who's experienced God's free grace in Christ, who does not
walk with God in the Spirit, believing God, walking by faith. That's what it is to walk in
the Spirit. The story of God's saints, the narrative of chosen
redeemed sinners who, believing God, is a narrative of men and
women blessed of God, or by faith. They embrace the promises of
God. By faith, they walk with God. By faith, they endure hardships. By faith, they look to Christ. By faith, they endure temptation. By faith, they triumph over the
world, the flesh, and the devil. By faith, they live. In faith,
they die. They have entered into glory,
who have entered into glory. Our brother John Housen walked
into glory this past week by faith. And if you and I walk
into glory, we will walk into glory by faith. By faith. I do not understand the great
dread, fear, and terror that men and women have in the prospect
of faith, of dying, if they believe God. I flat don't understand
it. I do not understand it. Believers
are people who believe. They live, they walk, they die
by faith. There is a great volume of instruction
contained in these words. Blessed is she that believes. Oh, blessed indeed in every detail
of life are you who believe. Faith, you see, is nothing less
than confidence in God. Look at Elizabeth's words again.
Blessed is she that believeth, for there shall be, not we hope
there shall be, maybe there shall be, we trust the Lord, well,
no, no, there shall be a performance of those things which were told
her from the Lord. You see, faith is confidence
in God. That's what it is, my love. It's
confidence in God. It is confidence that God will
accomplish all His Word, that God will perform all His promises,
that God will fulfill all His purpose, all His decree, and
all His will. It's confidence in the Word,
the purpose, the will, the providence, and the promise of God. It is
confidence in the Son of God, confidence in the grace of God,
confidence in God Almighty in all things. And this faith? Well, it's the gift of God. It's
the gift of God. It can't be conjured up. It can't
be something that you give to your sons and daughters. It's
not something you can give to yourself. is the operation of
God in the soul of a man. Do you believe God? If you believe
God then unto you it was given in the behalf of Christ to be
revealed. Oh gift of gifts, oh grace of
faith, my God how can it be that thou who hast discerning love
should give that gift to me? Ah grace into unlikeliest hearts
it is thy boast to come, the glory of thy light to find in
darkest spots to hold. Thy choice, O God of goodness,
then I lovingly adore. O give me grace to keep thy grace,
and grace to long for more. Amen. All right, Lindsay, if
you will, let's sing Let's Be the Time, number 187. I think
that'd be good here. Let's Be the Time.