How is your soul? Luke 1:39-56

Sunday message from Pastor Donnie Aldana 02.02.2020

How’s your Soul? LUKE 1:39-56

1. Sometimes we need to see to believe

2. Speak life into each other.

3. We ALL have a legacy.

4. Are you hungry for Gods provision?

Let’s review what we’ve discussed in the past 3 weeks. Zacharias was mute as a result of his lack of faith following his encounter with the Angel Gabriel. Elizabeth is now expecting as is Mary who was also met by the Angel Gabriel.

Now, we get into our reading…Luke 1:39

39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

After Mary heard from the Angel that her cousin who was barren for a long time was now pregnant, Mary was all about this. Look, an angel appeared to her and she wanted to be a part of the Holy Gossip with her cousin. Mary would have wanted to go quickly and meet with Elizabeth. The sweetest fellowship occurs when we talk about Jesus doesn’t it? It is so beautiful to see the rhythm of ReFresh being birthed. We are learning to move to our own beat even though many of us have been part of different churches. Isn’t it awesome what God is doing here? Its surely is not from me, I can tell you that.

1. Sometimes we need to see to believe. As we are being birthed here at Refresh it is a very similar account. Don’t you want to see what God’s doing? That’s why we have these invite cards for you guys. Do you love your church? Do you love your church family? We get to see what God’s doing as we grow together in this new season. It’s supernaturally natural. Many of the stories of how people came here are amazing. From people following us on social media to our neighbors coming who we sung Christmas carols to; It’s just so awesome.

Let’s continue reading…

41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who ]believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

2. Speak life into each other.

How beautiful! With a loud voice they spoke blessings into one another. You know the other day we had our Refresh Team meeting. Pastor Eddie came a little late but he personally went down the rows of everyone who was at the meeting and said hello with hand pump, shake and greeting. It was so sweet to see how that personal touch was refreshing. Don’t we just love personal touch? We love being hugged and a good hand shake when people look you in the eyes. That’s what’s being done here. Elizabeth is speaking life into Mary and speaking grace and love and power into her. Do we know how much love and power we have when we do this? We show and speak love into each other.

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Are you eating this fruit today? I want us all to love it. I desire that everyone at Refresh would be the biggest Holy gossipers ever. What? Yes, I mean it, we gossip about how awesome each other is. How blessed we are to have such friends and family here. That people would think we are funny because we love each other so much.

The baby leapt, all 4 people in this story are touched and filled with the Holy Spirit. The word used here for the baby leaping is the same word that you would use in the Greek for describing a long hard hike to the top of a hill and you get there. You’re so excited that you climbed that mountain. For those of you who are older, it’s even more awesome. Toyota trucks used to have a commercial of when someone purchased a truck and they leapt at the end. I did say all 4 people. Jesus was inside Mary at this time. The Spirit moved on them because Jesus was already in the womb when she got to see Elizabeth. That’s what we call a sweet invasion of space.

As we speak life into each other. I want to share with you my heart about a topic that ties into this teaching today. I want to share about abortion; abortion and the Christian. Before we get into the song of Mary there are many sad songs that are sung by women who have had abortions. Its sometimes a life of guilt and regret and quite frankly, hurt. I want to share that we at Refresh want to be a part of coming alongside of the women who had abortions. There is lifelong pain and hurt that many women genuinely don’t how to handle. Our church wants to help those women and families. I know and love a couple of women in my life who had abortions. They can help women and families and of course we have our connections with Choice Pregnancy Centers and the resources there. I want us at Refresh to be willing to help all people in all avenues of hurt and healing. Does this make sense? Look church, the church is famous for everyone knowing what we are against, there are many instances that would stop people from coming to a church because of the stance of church. That’s not us, sure we stand for the rights of babies but we also stand for the life of a woman who chose something at the time and did not know the options and love she may need. She needs to know that now she can have forgiveness with Jesus. If you know someone who has had this choice as part of their life and they are struggling, we want to help. Amen.

Now let’s look into

The Song of Mary

46 And Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

When you magnify something it literally doesn’t become bigger it just appears bigger. Do you make God bigger in your life? Is Jesus the first thing you call on or is it something else? Make Him bigger; He’s already bigger than we can imagine.

48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

3. We all have a legacy.

We at Refresh have a Pastoral care specifically for those who are what we call Legends. That’s the Saints 55 years and up. We wanted that from the beginning at Refresh. There is massive need for care but a massive need to encourage and get those people who are retired to get going onto something for the kingdom. There is no retirement in the Bible. You’re just doing something new for the kingdom. My heart for the legends in the room would be that you legends would want to be a part of all age groups and that we would have Legends represented in all our Refresh ministry opportunities, from young adults, to the Champions, the c2, and to the Baby G’s. We need you and your wisdom in our church. We also want to develop a culture of respect for our Legends. My grandpa was one of the single greatest men in my life. I miss him. He was a legend and someone who I respected and valued. One of the greatest reasons why I loved him is because he made time for me and let me into his world. He wanted me to be a part of what his hobbies were and his interests. Legends here at Refresh, maybe some you ladies know how to crochet. Why can’t we teach the young girls how to do that? Guys, maybe some of you know how fix things, why can’t we teach the young men these things? Are you with me Legends?

I had an amazing friend and mentor and confidant who passed on to be with the Lord a few years ago. I miss that Legend. His legacy is still with me. He would purposely pray for all my kids and anything else that I told him. He would do it and ask me all the time. That’s a legacy I want. I was praying and talking with someone about him and I started to think about why I miss him so much. For me, I realized that I did not tell him how much I loved him. How important he was to me. How awesome he was and sad I was for not being a better friend at the end of his life. I never got that closure I needed. That’s why, my church family as we get to know each other I am not hesitant to tell you I love you and mean it. That’s’ a legacy I want for me and I want for us. We want people to know that they are loved and it’s real.

49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.

4. Are you hungry for Gods provision?

ILLUSTRATION OF JESUS FILLING THE HUNGRY - George Muller records the following in his journal - "One morning, all the plates and cups and bowls on the table were empty. There was no food in the larder and no money to buy food. The children (IN THE ORPHANAGE) were standing, waiting for their morning meal, when Müller said, “Children, you know we must be in time for school.” Then lifting up his hands he prayed, “Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.” There was a knock at the door. The baker stood there, and said, “Mr. Müller, I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So, I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it.” Mr. Müller thanked the baker, and no sooner had he left, when there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it."

How many of us can speak on this truth? The birthing of this church started by me once I gave into God. I was broken this last summer. Was in bad accident arm did not work. Depression and anxiety and self-defeat were always right in the front of my mind and feelings. I was not in a good place. But when God gave me hunger again on July 4th by being able to raise my arm then my Spiritual man began to be fed. I was told to talk to Pastor Mike about Church planting. I told Coby to pray about something that God spoke to me, however I did not tell her. 2 days later she tells me that we need to talk to Mike about church planting. The next day Mike emails me asking if we are ready to church plant. God fed our hungry souls. Isn’t it exciting to be hungry for Jesus and for him to feed us?

54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

Let’s think about this amazing thought.

Have you seen this prayer in your life?

Have you spoken in your prayer like verse 49? God you have done great things for me personally. I am so undone and so humbled that do so much for me. Have you done an account in your life of all the blessing and all the thanksgivings you have in your life? Please, please think about it and reflect on all the good things.

Well what good things has he done. How about your health for those of you who are healthy? How about If you have 2 legs to walk on? It’s hard but he knows God allowed it so he has to keep going.

Going back to Mary who was betrothed to Joseph.

THOUGHT - Let me suggest you take a few moments from your busy day and sing praise to your Lord from the depths of your soul. When’s the last time you got lost in just singing your favorite worship song? For me it’s Overflow by Chris Tomlin. I get lost in that song and it moves me Spiritually. Don’t worry if you sing bad, you’re singing to God, if it’s really bad just make sure you’re alone then. Get lost in singing to Jesus one day this week please. That’s your homework and let me know how it worked out for you next week.

56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

She was 6 months and then 3 months. She might have been there for the birth?

She would have been starting to show her pregnancy around 3 months. Remember her betrothed husband would not have known anything about this. Joseph had to talk to an Angel also to avoid a divorce. Mary needed to get back to her home town before her pregnancy was exposed to the whole world.

For many of us we know that we have physical home and house but this is not our home. Our home is with Jesus.

We all have heard about the passing of basketball great Kobe Bryant. So sad, there are other families also involved. We have friends and family tied into OCC head baseball coach from our time in Orange County. It’s so sad. Praying comfort over them and the whole family.

I have a friend who passed away as I wrote this study. One of the things she said was that she wanted to come to church this weekend and see the Spiritual home that God has allowed us to build for Him. I am so undone that someone in their last moment wants to be with us and see What God is doing at Refresh.

So as asked before in the beginning; how’s your soul? This person I love has promoted to see Jesus and was ready. Is your soul ready?

Are you needing to see more of Jesus, get plugged in?

Do you need someone to speak life into you? Get together with some Refresh friends.

Are you thinking about the past? Remember you can restart your Legacy now.

Are you hungry for God? HE will provide. Get plugged in and sit at His feet and worship and read.