Baby Leaped Luke 1:30-45: Celebrating God’s Work in the Womb video audio notes. Predestined for Greatness: Unpack the biblical concept of predestination in light of John the Baptist’s leap. Find comfort in God’s sovereign plan for your life. (Baby Leaped, Luke 1:39-45)
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and then the baby leaped in her womb. The baby leaped and was alive. He was already named. His name was John, given by God. He already had an important destiny in life. Luke didn’t write about how the “mass” leaped or the “fetus” leaped. God saw a person created in his image and likeness, named, destined, and with all the dignity and rights any and every human being possessed and possesses. Every baby in every womb is known by God as was John known, named by God, predestined by God, and hopefully, a man or woman of God as was John.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE CHAPTER 1
by Delbert Young
Baby Leaped Luke 1:30-45: Celebrating God’s Work in the Womb
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Scriptures: Luke 1:36, Luke 1:39, Luke 1:24-25, Luke 1:40-41, Luke 2:12, Luke 18:15, 2 Timothy 3:15, 1 Peter 2:2, Luke 1:41, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Luke 1:42-45, Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:11, John 15:16, John 15:19, John 6:44, Luke 1:43-45
Baby Leaped Luke 1:30-45: Celebrating God’s Work in the Womb
Today, we will take a look at two amazing women – Mary and Elizabeth. God chose them for amazing purposes. In the cultural days of the Bible, women were marginalized – pushed off to the side and unimportant. This was especially true if old or young and more so if unable to have children (barren), or having a child when not married. The women we look at today, of course, fit all those criteria. Add to this the small-town fundamentalism and we can relate to both Mary and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist, the forerunner for the Messiah. Mary was pregnant with Jesus (Emmanuel). Both John and Jesus will be great, making Elizabeth and Mary maximum, not marginal women. I want you moms to know you are of maximum importance. God chose you to give birth and raise your children. That makes you amazing. As Elizabeth and Mary were primary to the success of the kingdom, you are primary to the success of the kingdom of God.
The angel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary, telling her she would miraculously conceive and be the mother of Immanuel. During the explanation to Mary, Gabriel added an important part.
Luke 1:36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. [NIV]
That wasn’t a casual conversation. Gabriel was telling Mary something she needed to know. Mary heard it and took off to see Elizabeth.
Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and HURRIED to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. [NIV]
Mary hurried to see Elizabeth. The word means “speed”, i.e. dispatch, eagerness, earnestness. Mary couldn’t wait to see Elizabeth. Obviously, Elizabeth was special to Mary and was somehow connected with Emmanuel. Do you remember this about Elizabeth?
Luke 1:24-25 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for FIVE MONTHS REMAINED IN SECLUSION. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” [NIV]
I’m certain Elizabeth was preparing her nursery and making ready for her baby who later leaped, but she was doing more than this. She knew her pregnancy was exceedingly special. For five months, she stayed away from people and spent time with God, thanking God, and rejoicing in God. No internet, telephones, or Facebook, and her husband Zechariah couldn’t talk, so for five months, all Elizabeth heard was the Lord’s voice. Mary waited for the baby and imagined how it would be when her baby leaped in her womb.
Think about that. What if you spent five months in seclusion with God (and a muted spouse)? What if all you did was talk to God, thank God, sing to God, and listen to God? Imagine what state of spirituality you would be in. This is the emphasis. Elizabeth was full of God’s presence. Do you have any relatives like that? You get around them, and you can’t help but experience God.
Elizabeth was not just around the corner. Mary was in Nazareth of Galilee, and Elizabeth was in the hill country of Judea. (Map) It was around seventy miles (more if avoiding Samaria), and there were no automobiles, taxis, trains, or buses. How long would it take to get there? A young, healthy person accustomed to walking can walk around twenty miles a day. That being the case, it took Mary three to four days. She was strongly impressed to see Elizabeth.
Mary was serious about what God was birthing in her life.
How serious are people today? If it rains, people won’t come to church. God forbid snow. We allow the least little ache or pain or problem to hinder what God is trying to birth in our lives. What have we missed? How do you feel God thinks about our lame excuses?
Luke 1:40-41 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, THE BABY LEAPED IN HER WOMB, and ELIZABETH WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Two important things took place here. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and THE BABY LEAPED IN HER WOMB. The baby leaped and is alive. He’s already named John by God (Luk 1:13). He already has an important destiny in life (Luk 1:14-17).
What does it mean The BABY leaped in her womb? Luke didn’t write the “mass” leaped or the “fetus” leaped. Here’s what the word baby leaped means in Greek.
baby – brephos (bref-os)– an infant
Luke 2:12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a BABY [brephos] wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” [NIV]
Luke 18:15 People were also bringing BABIES [brephos] to Jesus to have him touch them. [NIV]
2 Timothy 3:15 and how from INFANCY [brephos] you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [NIV]
1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn BABIES [brephos], crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, [NIV]
God sees no difference between a baby leaping outside the womb and a baby leaping inside the womb. He saw baby John alive and jumping in his mom’s womb, exactly as he would see a baby outside the womb who leaped and played. Our society attempts to make us see a difference. God saw a person created in God’s image and likeness, named, destined, and with all the dignity and rights any and every human being has.
Every baby who leaped in every womb is known by God as was John, named by God as was John, predestined by God as was John, who leaped by God, hopefully, a man or woman of God as was John. So, when it comes to abortion, are you politically and socially correct or correct with God? With which do you align? What is your position on abortion? It’s vital you know.
Many of us know people who have aborted. Some here may have. This is not to condemn anyone. God’s not in the condemning business. He’s in the saving and forgiving business (Joh3:16-18). If you aborted, I’m sure you’ve talked to God about it, repented, and received counseling if necessary. If not, I pray you will.
Delbert, why are you talking to us about abortion?
We’re Christians. “According to the survey, 18% of women having abortions are born-again or Evangelical Christians. Many of these women are pro-life. The survey showed Catholic women have an abortion rate 29% higher than Protestant women.”(1) That’s why I’m talking to you about it.
Out of a hundred abortions, nearly 20 are by Christian women. You personally know people who will wrestle with this. I want to help you help them. “But, Delbert, what about rape and incest?” Those cases are minuscule. Likely, you do not personally know one case of rape or incest, but you probably do personally know an aborted case.
Let’s stick with the primary reason for abortion, which is to terminate an UNWANTED pregnancy caused by a WANTED sexual experience. Let’s not quibble about tiny details, personal views, or even experiences. You come here to learn God’s ways and what God says. I’m here to tell you.
Here’s a bottom line. I honestly don’t think anyone wants to stand before God and say, “I’m pro-choice.” Pro-choice means pro-abortion, and abortion is not a “procedure.” It means an aborted life, someone’s child, someone’s grandchild, and a living soul with a heavenly name and destiny who never leaped in or out of their mother’s womb.
What God wants us to do is help people with truth and give others biblical understanding.
You will, one day, be faced with this issue. Your belief on this topic is important. How you believe determines how you stand and vote, the society in which you live, and your value of life. It could determine what you one day do. It could be you. Or, it could be your daughter or a girl your son impregnated. How will you respond? What you believe will determine what you do.
I have to ask, how can anyone argue with the personage of John the Baptist who had a name, a destiny, was filled with the Spirit from, and leaped in his mother’s womb? He was alive.
Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and ELIZABETH WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Elizabeth spent five months with the Lord and was in a very spiritual place. Something happens when a person is filled with the Spirit. We will look more at this in a few weeks, but gifts of the Spirit come forth when a person is filled with the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 But the MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the WORD OF WISDOM; to another the WORD OF KNOWLEDGE by the same Spirit, To another FAITH by the same Spirit, to another the GIFTS OF HEALING by the same Spirit, To another the WORKING OF MIRACLES, to another Prophecy, to another DISCERNING OF SPIRITS, to another divers kinds of TONGUES, to another the INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Delbert, do you believe in all that? Absolutely! Of course I do. It’s in the Bible and we believe the Bible – all of it. Not only do I believe in the gifts, but I’ve functioned in every one of them as the Spirit brought the gifts forth. Well, Delbert, I don’t see any of those gifts on Sunday. You just told me two things: first, you are not attending a Life Group. Gifts happen frequently in Life Groups; two, you haven’t come down for prayer much. You will be ministered to with gifts; you may not realize it’s the gifts, but it’s the gifts listed prior.
The reason you don’t see gifts “displayed” in our corporate worship is we are instructed in the Bible to make the service decent and in order (1Co 14:40). Again, we will talk about this more in a few weeks, but for now, the Spirit manifests when someone is filled with the Spirit, and Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit. She operated in prophecy.
God gave Mary a personal word from him through Elizabeth. Mary had a prophetic moment. Have you ever had a prophetic moment? It will change your life. This church and my ministry were and are prophetically spoken.
Luke 1:42-45 IN A LOUD VOICE SHE EXCLAIMED: Blessed are you among women, and BLESSED IS THE CHILD YOU WILLBEAR!
Elizabeth prophesied loudly! Mary was blessed among women. The child she would bear IS BLESSED. Children are a blessing. We have two children and five grandchildren – four living and one miscarried grandchild. We call her “Peanut.” Though we never got to see her or hold her, she was real.
Peanut made her mommy’s tummy swell. I want to ask you a question. Where is my miscarried grandbaby who leaped? Is she in heaven or in hell? Your response is most likely “heaven,” but doctrine is most likely “hell.” I’ve tossed out the theological terms of Arminianism versus Calvinism. Arminianism says it’s all about a person’s will to choose Jesus.
A person must, of their own free will, make a conscientious decision to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Calvinism says God chooses us and predestines us. It says it’s all about God’s will and predestination. Most Christians have been taught and believe in Arminianism. So, if my grandchild didn’t have the opportunity to receive Jesus, where is our Peanut?
Let’s put some scriptures with this.
Romans 8:29-30 FOR THOSE GOD FOREKNEW he also PREDESTINED to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he PREDESTINED, he also CALLED; those he called, he also Justified; those he justified, he also GLORIFIED.
Notice the process—foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified. Before God called us, he already foreknew and predestined us.
Ephesians 1:5 He PREDESTINED us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with HIS PLEASURE AND WILL
When God calls us, it’s special. It’s according to his pleasure in us and his will.
Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having BEEN PREDESTINED according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity WITH THE PURPOSE OF HIS WILL
It’s about his will. Like it or not, predestination is a biblical doctrine and one you should attempt to understand. What happens to aborted babies, miscarried babies, infants, and children who pass away? If you believe it’s all about our “free will” to receive Jesus and eternity with him, then those babies and children are in hell. Or, did God foreknow those babies, know what would happen to them, predestine them, and glorify them?
” God’s choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response or obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God’s choice.
Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God’s choice of the sinner, not the sinner’s choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.”
Delbert, what do you believe? What do you teach at Life Gate? I am far more Calvinistic than Arminianistic, but not because of a theological argument. It’s because I believe the Bible and Jesus.
YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME, BUT I CHOSE YOU AND APPOINTED YOU to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:16 [NIV]
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I HAVE CHOSEN YOU OUT OF THE WORLD. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19 [NIV]
“NO ONE can come to me UNLESS the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44 [NIV]
Jesus said let’s get this right. I chose you. You did not choose me. In fact, no one can come to me unless the Father draws him. It’s those I will resurrect. We can be certain God knew that baby who leaped in the womb, the infant, the child. I think it’s amazingly wonderful to know our Peanut is in heaven. How cool is that!
Luke 1:43-45 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, THE BABY IN MY WOMB LEAPED FOR JOY. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
The baby leaped for joy! Interestingly, the first person in the Bible to call Jesus “Lord” was Elizabeth. Jesus was at best newly conceived, but Lord! He wasn’t a tissue, a mass, or a fetus. He was Lord then, and he is Lord now! Elizabeth would probably not live to see her relative Jesus’ ministry or his atoning death, but still, he was her Lord.
The baby leaped for joy! Mary and Jesus walked in. BOOM, John leaped for joy in the womb of his mother. What was he doing – leaping, singing, dancing, who knows? We do know it was good. Women, your children worship while in your womb. Make sure they are around Jesus and they will leap for joy. Both Elizabeth’s and John’s response to Jesus was he is Lord and I worship him.
Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished! Mary was blessed because she believed. Mary believed what the Lord said would be accomplished. How about you? It’s easy to look back on Mary and believe what God said to her was accomplished, but what about what God has said to you? That’s what makes you blessed.
Baby Leaped Luke 1:30-45: Celebrating God’s Work in the Womb
Baby Leaped Luke 1:30-45: Celebrating God’s Work in the Womb
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