Reclaiming a Proper view of God in Your Life - Chad Phelps

Have you ever had a “wow” moment in your life?  Perhaps you’ve stood directly beneath the Empire State Building looked down the Grand Canyon or gazed across Niagara Falls. There are times in our human lives where the only reaction that we have is… “Wow!” 

In Luke 1, there is a story in God’s Word about a woman who experienced a “wow” moment, perhaps greater than any in the history of the world.  Her name was Mary. Luke 1 opens with the story of an angel coming to Zechariah and proclaiming that his wife, Elizabeth would make a way for the Lord. In v. 26 another angel, Gabriel, comes to Nazareth to a 17 year old girl named Mary and tells her that she would be the mother of the Son of God. 

This was a “wow” moment in Mary’s life!

• For thousands of years people had been waiting for this Messiah.
• She now had to tell her promised husband, Joseph.
•  She was only 17 years old!

Naturally, she went to confide in her cousin, Elizabeth, and as she drew near, the babe, recognizing deity, leaped in her womb. This was too much for Mary. She reacted with an outpouring of song that is one of the most beautiful texts in all of Scripture. It is a text that embodies the essence of what it means to have a proper view of God.  Mary, overcome with emotion says…

And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is upon generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him."
Luke 1:46-50

Mary, at this moment in her life, demonstrates the epitome of what it means to have a proper view of God, and it leaves us reeling, thousands of years later. You see, it is my contention that every sin that takes place in the Christian life happens because the Christian is overcome by temptation as a result of an improper view of God. What happens when we have that proper view of God? What happens when we see God for who he is?  It is vital that Christians everywhere have, and maintain a proper view of God.

Having a proper view of God will cause Christians to react in three distinct ways, just as Mary did in this passage.  You see, those with a Proper View of God Respond in Immediate Glorification (v. 46-47) As Mary went to meet Elizabeth that day, she had every reason to be excited. She was going to have her first child! She was called “blessed” among women! She was with child of the Holy Ghost! She also had every reason to be afraid What would people think? What would Joseph think? As she enters her cousin’s house, all of her fears should have been put aside when there was an immediate recognition of deity! Now Mary has the opportunity to respond to all of this, and her immediate reaction is to say in verse 46. “My soul magnifies the Lord!” Mary responded this way despite having every earthly right to feel proud! She had visited with God! She was mother of the promised Messiah! All generations would call her blessed! Yet she responded in humility. 

It’s interesting to consider the heartbeat of men of old to worship their God.

• Paul is healed on the Damascus road, and immediately he glorifies God!
• David comes back from battle, and can’t contain himself!
• The comforter comes in Acts, and all the people praise God!
• At long last, the boy Samuel is born to Hannah and she responds by glorifying God!
• Now Mary, praises God!

It has been well said that “when all other actions that we can perform here on earth cease, the worship of God will continue!” Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was present at the Vienna Music Hall, where his oratorio The Creation was being performed.  Weakened by age, the great composer was confined to a wheelchair.  As the majestic work moved along, the audience was caught up with tremendous emotion. When the passage "And there was light!" was reached, the chorus and orchestra burst forth in such power that the crowd could no longer restrain its enthusiasm.

The vast assembly rose in spontaneous applause.  Haydn struggled to stand and motioned for silence. With his hand pointed toward heaven, he said, "No, no, not from me, but from thence comes all!" Having given the glory and praise to the Creator, he fell back into his chair exhausted.

Mary had every right to glorify herself, and yet she decided to glorify God. The pronouns used to refer to God occur 16x in this passage. God gets all the glory! How about you?  Where does the glory go in your life? When men praise you for your accomplishments, what’s your first reaction?

You will never get the proper view of God that you need to defeat sin until you first learn to react by responding in immediate glorification. It’s not me, God - - - It’s you! It is vital that Christians everywhere have, and maintain a proper view of God.

In order for us to have that proper view we must see that those with a proper view of God realize that they are nothing. (v. 48) As Mary responds with that immediate glorification, she also makes it clear that next to God, she is nothing.

In some of the most picturesque, base terms in all of the New Testament, she refers to herself as God’s “doulhV,” or literally, “slave-girl.” This women from whom the Messiah would come, redemption for all would come, and hope for eternity would come She has just been selected as the one who would carry the Lion of Judah, and the Hope of Israel. Yet she looks into the face of an Almighty God and whispers“doulhV”…. I’m a slave-girl of God. I am nothing. Yet, so often in our lives we think that we are something.  We think that we can accomplish something for God.

The Bible recounts for us the story of a man who was rushed into the throne room of God. He saw his splendor, majesty, and glory.  His name was Isaiah, and in chapter 6 of his book when he sees God for who He is, he responds by saying,“Woe is me! For I am undone!” He was broken, and contrite in the sight of the God of eternity, because he saw God for who He was. And then, when God asked for someone to go for Him, His immediate response was,“Here am I, send me!” He saw God for who He was. He was immediately humbled. Then God was able to use him.

So many of us have the desire to serve God, but we lack the genuine humility that is necessary. In order to see God for who He is you must realize that. When you wake…. You are nothing. When you sleep…. You are nothing. When you lead a soul to the Lord… You are nothing. When you have Spiritual success… You are nothing. You are a doulhV to El-Shaddai! And such a realization is not depressing.  For if I am nothing… God must be everything! Isaiah says that all of our righteousness is as filthy rags. But, when we plead the blood of Christ, he says… “That’s what I’m talking about” Mary reacted to her view of God by realizing that she was nothing… How about you?

It is vital that Christians everywhere have, and maintain a proper view of God. A proper view of God is cultivated by glorifying Him, realizing that you are nothing, and finally those with a Proper View of God Realize that He is Sovereign. (v. 49-55)

God’s Sovereignty means that He is “the supreme, successful ruler of the Universe.” Mary uses the second half of her tremendous song of praise to highlight the fact that she believes with all of her heart that God is Sovereign.Without time tonight to unpack all of the doctrinal nuances found in this portion of the magnificent, let’s pause to consider this wonderfully comforting thought. What did Mary mean when she said that God was sovereign?

• To Mary, God’s sovereignty meant that He was merciful. (v. 50)
• To Mary, God’s sovereignty meant that He was a just judge. (v. 51-52)
• To Mary, God’s sovereignty meant that He was a comforter. (v. 53)
• To Mary, God’s sovereignty meant that He was faithful. (v. 54-55)

One of the greatest examples of faithfulness and trust in my life is my grandfather. He broke into the ministry while still in college, with a zeal for souls, and a new bride at his side. Soon, God took his first bride home. Later, he remarried, and enjoyed years of ministry marked by joy and heartache of inner struggles within churches and souls saved. In 1983 God took my grandmother home. 26 years later, my grandfather is married again, and he gives testimony to over 60 years in service to the king. I think that if you were to ask my grandfather what got him through he would respond by saying, “God is sovereign.”

What a comforting thought!  That God is in control of every aspect of life! That he’s merciful, just, comforting, and faithful! He rules over his creation! Those who would have a correct view of God must learn, like Mary, that God is sovereign!

It is vital that Christians everywhere have, and maintain a proper view of God. As you stand at the foot of the cross tonight, you should have a “wow” experience of grasping the gospel, and getting a view of your God like Mary did. Such a view will cause you to…

• Glorify Him.
• Realize you are nothing.
• Praise him for his eternal sovereignty.

God give us men and women with a correct view of Him!

Posted by Caleb