Skip to content Silent No More: God Speaks in You Dec 22 · 37 min ...more
Silent No More: God Speaks in You
December 22, 2025 · 37 min
Drawing from the Song of Mary, John Mark shows how God's work in our hearts makes joy visible, praise natural, and purpose clear—all while keeping us grounded in humility.
Series "Pastor Talks" with John Mark Caton December 22, 2025 · 37 min · "Pastor Talks" with John Mark Caton
Drawing from the Song of Mary, John Mark shows how God's work in our hearts makes joy visible, praise natural, and purpose clear—all while keeping us grounded in humility. ...more Show the full description Show less Drawing from the Song of Mary, John Mark shows how God's work in our hearts makes joy visible, praise natural, and purpose clear—all while keeping us grounded in humility.
Series "Pastor Talks" with John Mark Caton Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Support this leader
Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Give
Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
101K followers
John Mark is the Senior Pastor of the thriving Cottonwood Creek Church in Allen, Texas, where he has served since 1995.
101K followers
God Speaks To You and In You 0:00 You know, we took the, title of this, series Silent No More, God still has something to say. As we looked at 700 years before the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, prophecy, told us where he0:12 would be born, when he would be born, and how he would be born. And we just celebrate those 700 years from the prophecy to that first cry of that wonderful baby Jesus there in the manger. So, our our series we started0:23 last week is, Silent No More. God still has something to say, he had something to say then, but I also want you to know we believe here God has something to say to you today. Last week we talked0:35 about the first idea, is God wants to say something to you, today we're gonna look at this idea that God wants to say something in you. And they are different. Last week we looked at Gabriel when0:47 he showed up to Mary, and surprised her. When he said something to her, He says, Mary, you're highly favored, you will be with child. Remember her response? I don't think that can0:58 happen. We've got a biology problem, why? She says, because I am a virgin. But I want you to know, God never says anything to you without intending to do something in you. And so last week we talked1:10 about the idea that God sometimes shows up and speaks to us. You say pastor, how does God speak to us? Through his word. Through God's word, that's why every time we do a series when we start in the new1:22 year, our new series pray, how to talk to God when you don't know what to say, we're gonna have a a daily bible reading plan for us just to go through and journey through God's word. Why? Because God speaks to us through1:33 his word, God speaks to us through his church, God speaks to us through other people, God speaks to us through his holy spirit, sometimes God speaks to1:45 us in circumstances, God speaks to us in a lot of different ways. But listen, when God speaks to us, it's because He wants to do something in us. And so last week, we saw1:57 Gabriel spoke to Mary, now today we're gonna see what God does in Mary's heart so that she could then turn around and share what he had done in their life. Alright? So, here's what we're gonna look at today.2:09 We're really gonna pick up from Luke chapter 1, where we stopped last week about verse 36. We're gonna go all the way through the end of Luke chapter 1 through Mary's song. Now I want you to know, if you want to write2:20 this down so you'll have a Bible trivia, what is her song's name? It's called Magnifica. And you say why does it say Magnifica? Because when they translated, this New Testament book of2:32 Luke into Latin, the first word is magnificent. That she starts after hearing what God said to her, understanding what God did2:44 in her and the first word they said she said was magnificent. And so when we think about the words of this song, they're magnificent. It is Mary's song celebrating the fact that she2:55 has the Christ child in her womb, that she has been chosen by God, she has been favored by God, and now she also wants to favor others through what God has done. Now if you read this song,3:07 there are a lot of other songs in the Bible. I'll share a few of them here in a few seconds, I won't read them to you. This is 1 of the shorter ones. She just gets to the point but she gives us 4 important thoughts about3:19 how you and I need to respond when God speaks to us, how we allow him to work in us. And there are 4 thoughts she gives us from this song, and I'm gonna show you verse by verse, word by word where they came from. So3:31 let's go back to last week. Gabriel was speaking to Mary, and here's what he said. He says, you will be with child. She says, how can this be? And she goes, since I am a virgin. And remember, we talked3:43 last week that when God tells you something, He oftentimes gives you proof and people to go on the journey with. The proof for her is she said, hey how can this be since I'm a3:54 virgin? The proof was, Gabriel said Elizabeth, who is now old in years beyond childbearing, they had been barren all of their life, she's with child, there's your proof.4:06 God can do a miracle in any season, in any situation, I want you to know today, I still believe that same God can do a miracle in your life and in your family and in your heart, at your office, in your neighborhood, just4:18 like he did then. So he says the proof is, Elizabeth is with child and the people are you need to go spend time with her. And so notice Mary's response, we looked at this last week.4:30 At that time, Mary got ready and she hurried to a town in the country of Judea, a a young country of Judea and she entered, there it is, she just showed up. She didn't announce, she just showed up.4:42 She entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth, alright? And she says, I just heard something, that I am with child. But the proof that was given to me was that you are with4:54 child. And so she shows up, says, Elizabeth are you with child? The answer answer is absolutely. And so what is the difference between what we saw Gabriel do in Mary's life last5:06 week, he spoke to her, to what we see in Mary's life today, that God is speaking in her and doing something special. Here here's just kind of the difference between last week's message and this week's message. The5:18 idea of to verse in. Number 1, when God is speaking to us, he's oftentimes given direction. He's telling you which way to go. When God speaks in us, he is trying5:29 to transform us, to change us, to make us more conformed to the image of his son. When God speaks to us, he's not just given directions, sometimes he's given specific instructions.5:41 We see this over and over through scripture, that God says I want you to do this, and then I want you to do this, and then I want you to do this. When God speaks in us, he is wanting to form our character and shape us5:53 more and more into the person he wants us to be. When God speaks to us, often times it's external. It's like the pastor sharing a message, a life group teacher teaching, someone else saying,6:05 maybe you hear a song. When God speaks to you, it is often external. When God is speaking in you, it is internal. You just sense that God is drawing you and his spirit is talking to you and6:17 shaping you. When God speaks to you, a decision is required to accept or reject what God has told you to do. And6:29 God gives us that opportunity. And if God says something to you in this message, you have the decision to make. Am I gonna say yes to God or am I gonna say no to God? When God speaks in us,6:40 it's not a direction change, it's a disposition change. That he wants to change our heart and our mind and our soul, and it really changes from what God does for us to what6:52 God wants to do in us. If you think about the message today, compared to last week's, last week's God speaks to you. This7:04 week God speaks in you. Here's the thought, if I was to summarize this whole message and stop preaching right now, which I will not do, it would be this phrase,7:17 God never speaks to you without intending to do something in you. Do you get it? And so maybe there's some people here today and you're wondering,7:29 can God still use me? Is he still speaking to you? Then he absolutely intends to use you. Wherever you are, whatever shape you're in, whatever your last week has been, I want7:41 you to know I believe that God wants to speak to you because I still believe that God wants to do a work in you. We see it throughout scripture, that God goes from an external direction to an internal heart7:53 change. How many of you remember David in the Old Testament? A man after God's own heart, slayed Goliath, did so many things right, then all of a sudden he had that moment where he looked and he lusted after Bathsheba,8:04 took her in, committed adultery with her, compounded the problem by having her husband murdered. Then since he was the king, he thought he could hide it away.8:16 Until Nathan the prophet showed up and told David a story. This is God speaking to David through Nathan the prophet. Remember, often times God speaking to us is external. Just like Gabriel to8:28 Mary. Nathan to to David. And so once David heard what God said about him, you are the man, then what happened is David had to make a decision, am I8:40 going to change myself from the inside out? And if you've ever read it, Psalm 51 tells us the heart change that took place in David's life. Here's what David said. See, when when when the prophet8:51 spoke to David, David could have said he was the king, David could have said off with your head. David could have said, you're not gonna talk to me like that. And you get the same choice today.9:04 When God's word is spoken to you, you get to say, yea or nay. But I love what David does, he follows the pattern that God has spoken to me, called my sin out, now God wants to do something in9:16 me and that's to create a pure and a steadfast spirit. So here it is, Psalm 51 verse 10, this is God doing something in David, not just speaking to David. And so David says, this is his internal work,9:28 create in me a pure heart, oh God. And renew a steadfast spirit within me, Lord. So I want you to know, when God speaks to you, what he's after is heart9:40 change. He's after transformation. Sometimes it comes in the form of the preacher, the prophet, or speaker, somebody, or a song, that God is speaking through you in a powerful and real9:51 way. You ever just been driving down the road and a worship song comes on and you have tears in your eyes? That never happens in my car because I think you all would think I was weak, but I've heard that that happened.10:04 Haven't you all been there? Haven't we all been there? Where all of a sudden you are just rolling through life And a song comes on and you look down and you got goosebumps on your arm, you got tears about to leak out of10:15 your eyes, it doesn't happen. But it can happen to people. And you're just like, man, God, I've heard this song 1000 times. This ever happened to you? I've heard this song 1000 times. I've never heard that10:27 line before. And it's like God has just shown up and he said something to you and, man, I want you If God says something to you, it's because he wants to do something in you because he's knowing or not through10:39 with you. Here's another, Jeremiah 30 one:three, here's another way God speaks in us. Notice what God says, I will put, this is Jeremiah. Jeremiah prophesied when the children of Israel were lost. They were10:51 disobedient to God. And here's what God says, Jeremiah, I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. So here's why we read God's11:03 word and share God's word and worship through God's word all the time is because we want God to write his law on your minds and in your heart. I will be their God and they will be my people. Now11:15 listen, God is talking about a people right there, Israel, Who is about as far away from him as he could possibly be. But God says, I'm gonna put my words in their heart and on their mind11:26 and they will be my people and I will be their God. So maybe you're here today and you're thinking, Pastor, I'm about as far away from God as you can ever imagine. Maybe you're sitting here in your own line and if you11:37 say, you know what, if anyone in this room knew what I did, they would reject me outright. Let me tell you who won't reject you, God. Doesn't matter where you are, or how far11:49 you've gone, or you're like the prodigal, you're way away from God. I want you to know God wants to put today, starting today, his word and his law in your heart and in your mind so he could be your God.12:02 Fast forward to the new testament, love Philippians chapter 1 verse 6. This is what Paul says. He says, I'm confident in this or be confident in this, that he who began a good work in you, everybody say me.12:14 God began a work in you. He will carry it on to completion until what? Until the day of Christ Jesus. Listen, God started the12:26 work. God wants to finish the work. Your decision is am I going to say yes to God or am I going to reject God and say no to God? Am I going to say yes Lord, work in me? Because if God12:38 started it in you, he wants to finish it in you. Go to Colossians chapter 1 verse 27. Here's what he says about doing a work in our heart. He says, to them, God has chosen to make known among12:50 the gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery. What is this mystery? It is Christ in you, the hope of glory. I love the13:02 Christmas season, I know y'all do. I I love, the trees. I love the lights. I love the message. I love the season. I love the gifts, the receiving and giving. I love all of those things. And a lot13:14 of times when we really focus on Christmas, we understand that Christmas is all about Christ for you. That God loves you and13:25 God loved me so much that in spite of our sinfulness, our separation and our brokenness, that God sent Christ for you. And that is true.13:38 But remember what Paul just said, not only is it Christ for you, it's Christ in you that is the hope of glory. So if you've accepted Jesus Christ as savior and lord,13:50 it's no longer about Christ for you, that's just half the story. Once it's Christ for you, it's gotta be Christ in you. Why? Because it's Christ in you that is ultimately the hope of glory. And so when you roll14:01 through this Christmas season, don't just think that that baby was sent for me. But instead, as a believer, understand that baby is now living in me and the fact that that14:13 baby lives in me, that's the hope of glory. Go back to the old testament, Isaiah. I love what Isaiah the prophet talking about, this internal work that God does. It's not just Christ in you, it's not just Christ for you,14:25 it's Christ in you. Here's what he says in Isaiah chapter 12 verse 2 and 3. Says, surely God is my salvation and I will trust and not be afraid. I I love this idea that14:37 when when we have God's presence, panic leaves, praise sets up shop. That here we are in a place where he says, listen, surely the God is my salvation. I14:49 will trust and not be afraid. If you go back to Isaiah in those moment, those seasons, there was a lot for them to be afraid of. But he understood that God's word in his life15:01 was going to do something in him which drove out panic and allowed praise to set up shout. Now continue reading. And the Lord, the Lord himself is with us. He is my strength and15:12 he is my defense. He has become my salvation. Then look at verse 3. And with joy, he says, everybody say joy. With joy you will draw water from the wells of15:24 salvation. Man, I I love this idea. That when you and I understand God is doing a work in us, the volume of fear and panic in our life goes way down and the volume of15:36 praise goes way up. That all of a sudden people begin to look at us and understand, you know, there's no longer panic, there's no longer fear, it's no longer worry, it is praise that I don't know what God is15:47 doing in this season or this situation or this circumstance, but I believe God's doing something powerful. Maybe the last 1, talking about God working in you. Maybe there is someone here in person or15:59 online that it just seems like this year, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. And you think, you know what, God? If you would just fix a bunch of this stuff in my16:11 life, then I will praise you. My guess is, no 1 in here has it worse than Habakkuk did in his season. Listen how16:23 bad it was and how the fact that he still praised God. And he praised God before God changes the circumstances. And so maybe there's someone here that you're saying, you know what,16:35 my prayer is in 20 26. God will fix all this brokenness in my life. God will fix all this stuff that is going on in my life, and then I will praise him. Look at16:46 Habakkuk, he's our model. That if God wants to do something in us, he will do it in spite of circumstances. And sometimes God just simply wants us to learn to praise him before he changes the circumstances.16:58 Listen to Habakkuk. Notice what he says. He says, though the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines, Though the olive crops fails17:11 and the fields produce no food. Everybody say that's bad. I mean, if you're an agrarian society, this is not a good look, alright? I mean, just think. The fig tree didn't bud, there's no grapes on17:23 the the vines, the olive crops fell, the fields produced no food, and it gets worse. Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, if there was ever someone that17:35 should have said, I am not praising God, it was Habakkuk. But notice what Habakkuk did, yet I will rejoice. Everybody say, I will rejoice. I will. Regardless17:47 of how things have been, I am going to choose. Whether the figs are there, the olives are there, the cattle are there, the land produces crops, he says, still I will rejoice in the Lord and I will be joyful in17:59 the God my savior. What an incredible thought. Is that you and I, when God speaks to us, he can do something through us that makes 0 sense. That he wants to move in such a way that you and18:10 I learn to respond to him. And as you look through God's word, there are a lot of song, there are a lot of songs, you can see, there's several there. But go over to Exodus chapter 15, the children of Israel hadBiblical Songs of Praise and Mary's Magnificat 18:22 had had been taken out of slavery. They've just gone through the Red Sea. They've celebrated going through on dry ground. The water has closed up, swallowed up the Egyptian army. And what does Moses immediately18:34 do? It says Moses paused and sang a song. He paused and sang a song. And you can go read it in Exodus chapter 15, where he talks about God is great and God is good and God did this and18:46 God did that. He sang a song. And so child of God, you get ready, if 20 25 has been your Habakkuk experience, circumstances are bad, you better get ready for the song that you're gonna18:58 sing after things get good, right? Remember Deborah in Judges chapter 4 and chapter 5, remember the children of Israel went over, went into the promised land? They were in this cycle of sin, they would worship19:10 God and serve Him only, they would repent of their sins, God would bless them, God would protect them from their enemy, but then all of a sudden they'd go into that cycle, they would slip into disobedience, they would19:19 walk away from God, they would stop worshiping the 1 true God, God would remove his hand of protection and blessing on them, and then what would happen? An enemy would show up, a judge would rise up, God would deliver19:29 them through the judge. In Deborah's day, there wasn't a man up for the job. And they came to Deborah. And they said, Deborah, we can't find a dude19:41 that'll lead us to victory. And all the women said, I heard 1 come on now. Ladies, that was your shot, alright? I19:53 don't give you a lot of them, but that was your opportunity right there. And so Deborah leads the children of Israel to overthrow their enemy, restore themselves, they begin to worship. What is the first thing Deborah20:05 does? Go read in Judges chapter 4 and 5. She writes a song. Not about how awesome she is, but how awesome God is. Maybe some of you this season of the year, you can identify with this. Remember Hannah in20:16 first Samuel chapter 1 and chapter 2? She was childless and barren. And back in those seasons, in those days, people looked down on people that were barren saying you're not loved by God, you're not blessed by God.20:28 She went and she cried out to God. And then she said, if you will give me a child, I will turn this child back over to you. Go read it. God shows up, gives her a child. What's the first thing she does? She didn't forget.20:39 She remembers. She sings a song of praise, not about how awesome she is, but how awesome God is. You go look in the Old Testament, King Hezekiah, pretty good king.20:51 But there was a time that basically the prophet walked in, looked at him and said, yeah, you're gonna die. Anybody ever been in that doctor's office? Said, you're gonna die. Hezekiah responded exactly the way you and21:03 I would respond. Fell on his knees, cried out to God, asked for God to preserve him, and sure enough, the prophet comes back in and says, you know what, God's gonna give you a few more years. So what did Hezekiah do?21:14 Forgot about God? No, it says he paused and he sang a song. We already saw David in repentance, I want you to know over and over and over again, people would see God21:26 move and they would sing a song. And so as we come to this song right here, it's about Mary. Mary has been spoken to by Gabriel, delivered a message she didn't want to hear, certainly didn't21:38 expect to hear, and all of a sudden she pauses and she begins to sing a song. It's a song about how amazing and how awesome God is, not about how amazing she is. So as we21:50 just walk through this song, Magnifica, okay, that is the Latin word, the first word, we're going to read it. When we walk through this, let me give you 4 thoughts about God when God wants to speak22:01 in you, not just to you. Alright? Thought number 1, when God speaks in you, joy becomes visible to others. Joy becomes visible to others. You say, where do you see22:13 this? Right there, verse 41, pick it up. Not only is it visible, it's contagious. It says when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, so here you have it, last week Gabriel tells Mary, you're with child. She22:25 goes, how can this be since I'm a virgin? He goes, here's your proof. Elizabeth is also pregnant. Go see her. Go be with your people. So now she immediately hurried, went off, and when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,22:37 the baby leaped in leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Now listen to this, joy, when you truly have joy, you can't hide it. Let me tell you what, real22:49 joy, God honoring you, it's gonna leak out. It's gonna come out of your eyes, it's gonna come out of your ears, it's gonna be on your smile, it's gonna be your body language. Man, when you truly have joy, it is going to23:00 come out, it says in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. This is in a loud voice, notice what she she exclaimed, Elizabeth, blessed are you among women.23:12 Remember the proof? Elizabeth is pregnant. But now you get a praise that Mary shows up trusting God and Elizabeth immediately says blessed are you among women. That's23:24 why it's so important. We talked about it last week. That listen, when God asks me to do something in my life, I want to surround myself with others who will encourage me to say yes to God's will for my life. So the23:34 first thing she said, blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear. And then she then she says, but why am I so favored? If you remember last week, I said Mary23:46 was favored, Mary is favored, Mary is favored. Now Mary shows up, and guess who's favored now, Elizabeth. Shawna got it. If you sense God has favored you, do everything you can23:58 to transfer that favor to others. Show up in somebody else's life. Encourage them the way others have encouraged you. Love them the way others have loved you. Care for them the way God has cared for you. So he24:10 says men, but why am I so favored? That the mother of the Lord should come to me, and as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, she says, the baby in my24:21 womb leaped for joy. See, Elizabeth didn't need a sonogram to know if John was starting to praise. If you want to put anything, I was like, what is it? I would say, this is the first event of24:33 prenatal praise. Right there. There it is. Then all of a sudden she shows up, John the Baptist in the womb of Elizabeth said, well let's sing. Seems like when Jesus is in the house, we ought24:45 to sing a little bit. And so it says left in the womb, leaped for joy. Look at verse 45, blessed is she who has believed, now remember, earlier in the chapter, she didn't believe.24:59 God spoke to her through Gabriel, you are with child, she didn't believe, now it's totally different. She's gotten proof, Elizabeth's pregnant, she's surrounded herself with God's people, and now she's gone25:10 from unbelief to belief. And so here it is, blessed is she who has believed that the Lord will fulfill his promises to her.25:23 So I think what you see is joy is visible. I I ran across an article this week. It actually was released December first, 20 24 from Harvard. And so here's25:34 here's what it says. If you want to know if your joy can change, research links increased happiness with greater health. According to Harvard Medical School. How25:46 many of you would like to be healthier in 20 26? There's a clear link between you being happier and you being healthier. So then your next question is, this25:58 is what caught my attention in this article. We all say, well that's great, what if I'm just not a happy person? Does that mean I'm unhealthy? So their next question is, but can you make yourself a26:10 happier person? So if happy people are healthy people, what if I'm an unhappy person, can I become happier so I can be healthier? I'm glad you asked the question because that's why I read the26:21 article. They said there are 8 specific things you and I could do to make ourselves happier. You ready? You want me to give them to you? Here's number 1, write these down.26:33 Stay connected with other people. Don't isolate yourself. That's when we look at a generation that is anxious and worried. Why? Because a lot of times they're on the screen. A lot of times, even the relationships they're26:45 in, they're in a dark room, they're playing something, somebody else on a game that is in another room. So if you want to be happier in 20 26, stay connected and meet new people. Here's number26:57 2, everybody say 2. Raise your hand. Seriously, raise your hand. How many of you feel happier? That's actually not27:09 the point, but I just wanted to make you laugh. I wanted to make you laugh. Raise your hand and volunteer more to serve others. They found those people that27:21 serve others more than they're constantly selfish and focusing on themselves, they are happier people. So they said, just raise your hand. Man, every once in a while, not every once in a while, every week, we say, text27:32 serve, 7 7 9 Find a place to serve other people. When you come to church, man, I'm gonna serve here, I'm gonna get up and mega worship, I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna do that. Find a place to serve, here's number 3,27:42 everybody say 3. 3. I love this 1. Find your inner child. The problem with my inner child is he never stays there.27:54 Gina says, you got this 15 year old boy that is always clanking around in your noggin, and every once in a while he gets out. What does it mean, find your inner child? I don't want to go too crazy on Here it is.28:07 Stay young with hobbies and activities that you like. What do you like? Hey, anybody? There's this new game I've heard about, apparently some people like it. You ever heard of pickleball? How many of you play28:18 pickleball? You got, don't clap for pickleball. That's a ridiculous sport, that's a ridiculous game. I don't even get it. No, I'm kidding. It's been neat just to watch the number of people that,28:30 now I will tell you, orthopedic surgeons are loving it. Because everybody who's been sitting on their lazy bar for the last 15 years thinks, I can do that. And28:42 the orthopedic surgeon says, nope, you can't. But we can fix that Achilles. So say young, what do you like to do? Keep doing that. You'll be happier. Here's number 4,28:54 invest in experiences and things that will outlast you. In other words, don't spend all your time, all your money, all your resources for you. Invest in things that are for the next generation29:06 that will ultimately outlast you. Here's number 6, or number 5, see green. Anybody know what that means? Just get outside more. Just the way they stated it, see green, just get outside more.29:18 Here's number 6, break routines. What are routines that you have that really bring no benefit to you? Break those routines. How many of you remember29:30 it's Christmas? Remember growing up when you would have Christmas and then Christmas would be over and it seemed like it was a decade before Christmas came back around? How many of you remember those days? Or your29:42 birthday. 1, 4 more months, 3 more months, whatever. Why does it seem like and now it seems like they're flying by like speed limit signs. It's because we've developed29:54 these neuropaths in our brain that are routine that we don't have to think about. See, when you and I were kids growing up, we had to think about navigating every day in life. Does that make sense? Now, we have about30:06 80 percent of our day that we can do on autopilot. And so they said, the more you can break a routine, choose to take a different path, instead of going to the same work every day, go this way. Instead of30:17 ordering the same thing at the restaurant, order something different. Break routines, you will be happier. Here's number 7, you ready? Embrace gratitude, we talked about this last week. Be30:29 more grateful for what you do have instead of being more ungrateful for what you don't have. And here's number 8, just smile more. They actually show that if30:41 you smile more, you will be a happier person, even though it might feel like you're lying at the beginning. Why? Because here's what they say, go read the research, when I walk up and I30:53 smile at you, what is your propensity to do back to me? Smile. You'll give it back. And then all of a sudden, I'm gonna be encouraged because I've encouraged you. So thought number 1 is if you and I are gonna be who God31:05 wants us to be, joy becomes visible. Here's number 2, praise becomes natural. When joy is visible, my praise becomes natural. You say, Pastor, where do you see this?31:17 Let's just continue to read this amazing song, short song. And Mary said, here's the magnifica, here's the Latin word, my soul glorifies. There's the word,31:28 magnifica. It says my soul glorifies, that's the Latin word. The Lord and my spirit, notice, rejoices. When joy is visible, praise becomes natural. My spirit rejoices31:40 in God my savior. I love that idea. I love a quote I found this week from A. W. Tozer talking about praise should be natural. Said this several decades ago. He says, worship31:52 today is the missing jewel of the evangelical church. That's why we pour so much time and so much energy into our amazing worship32:03 season and worship team here at Cottonwood Creek. Because, listen, praise should be natural for the person who's God's working in your life. That's when we always encourage. Man, you32:15 got some Christmas Eve services coming up? If you're gonna go to the first 1, be in your seat ready to go a minute before the bell goes off. Because that's when praise starts right there. Praise doesn't start when I32:27 start speaking. And everybody said amen, right? It starts with the first downbeat of the first song, so come in here saying I'm gonna show up, I'm gonna be ready, and when that song goes I32:39 am up because a natural response to God working in you, transforming your life, is that joy will become visible and praise will become natural. Here's number 3. Once God is working32:51 in your life, joy is visible, praise becomes natural, and your purpose becomes clear. That now I begin to understand why has God let me go through some of the stuff he's letting me go33:03 through. Because he's got a plan for your life that you don't see yet. And that's where we go go go back to Mary. Let's just read it as we move on. Look at verse 48. Here's how our purposes become come clear, for he33:14 has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. She's saying, listen, God God chose me, I didn't deserve it. That's humility. And she says, from now on, generations will call me blessed.33:26 Here's the point, she had no idea when Gabriel showed up to her, she had no idea why she was the 1 with child. But now all of a sudden, after joy has become visible in her life,33:38 she surrounded herself with proof in people, then all of a sudden praise becomes natural. Now she figures out that her purpose is very clear. I am going to be the mother of the child33:50 who will be born in Bethlehem, live a perfect life, die on the cross, be buried in the tomb, rise again the third day, so anyone who believes in his name should be saved. Mary has34:02 figured it out. That is my purpose. So child of God, I want you to know, when you and I hear God speak to me, and I want to say this today, if there's someone here today and you feel like something I said or34:13 something they sang has spoken to you today, it's because God's not done with you today. Does that make sense? Now I don't necessarily know what your purpose is right now, but if God is speaking to you or something we34:25 say or some scripture hits you, it's because God not only wants to speak to you, he wants to speak in you. And here's number 4, humility becomes essential. Mary could have said,34:37 boy just look at me. Mary could have said, hey, God got a good 1. But that's not what she says.34:50 Notice what she says in verse 40 51, his mercy. Everybody say his mercy. His mercy. You want to know why he loves you and he loves35:02 me? His mercy. You want to know why God wants to look over your past and look beyond your past and do something special in your future? His mercy. You want35:13 to know why, even though you've walked away from God over and over and over again and you've messed up over and over again and you now are sitting here right now, either in person or online, and you feel like God is35:24 speaking to you? His mercy. See, it's all about his mercy. And when it's about his mercy, humility becomes essential. Here's what she says, his mercy extends to those who fear him35:36 from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm. He has scattered those who are proud into their in their innermost souls. He's shipped them away. Look at verse 52. He has brought down35:47 rulers from their thrones, but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, but to the rich, he sent them away empty. Not talking about financially rich.36:00 About those who are proud. So child of God, as you think about journeying out here, let your joy be visible. Let praise36:13 be natural. Man, let humility be essential. Let's pray. God, thank you so much for choosing that36:25 little virgin girl named Mary. Because you knew in that moment and that season even more than she did, the plans that you had for her. God, my prayer in36:37 this season, this time is that we would be people that not only hear from you, but we allow you to speak in us. God, my prayer for every person in this room or36:49 watching online that that that in this season we call Christmas, that every 1 of us would be reintroduced to that high calling on our life to be more37:01 than we ever thought possible. Not because of who we are, but because of the God we serve. In Jesus name we pray. Amen and amen.In this video 0:00 God Speaks To You and In You18:13 Biblical Songs of Praise and Mary's Magnificat32:14
Blessed: Choose Mercy John Mark Caton Oct 15
Comments No comments yet. Start the conversation.
Comments
Keep it kind. Comments are public.