West Side Baptist Church

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED”

Luke 1:26-38; 46-55

At Christmas time we hear this a lot! Buy this or that and it comes “satisfaction guaranteed.”  If you not satisfied you get another one or your money back.

How many times have not we all thought “if only I could get that” or “If only I had that man or woman” (or get rid of that man or woman) or “If I could only experience this or that,” “If only I had this kind of job” or “If only I had more money or a larger paycheck” then I would be happy, then I would be satisfied.

Being the earth-bound people we are we usually tie our satisfaction to the people, things, or circumstances in our life. Our emotions are positive or negative according to how well we think our “needs” or “desires” are being met. We place our expectations out in front of us and as we travel down the road of life we think something or someone is good or bad, positive or negative by how they meet or fail to meet our expectations.

We all have this image of “the good life” and if things live up to that image we are happy, we are satisfied. But even in the best of times things happen that cause us emotional pain, disappointment, or mental stress.

The unexpected situations that we view as negative can cause great emotional upheaval and mental stress. But does it have to? Is it true that the only way to find “stress relief” or emotional stability is to have our situations or relationships perfect? Or if they are not, then is the way to handle these emotional and mental issues to go to a psychologist or psychiatrist and get some drugs and counseling? Get a divorce? Change jobs? Move?

If we are satisfied then we will have emotional and mental stability. But how do we become satisfied? Do we have to fix the people and circumstances in our life or is there another something we are missing? Is it possible to be emotionally stable, mentally strong, and internally satisfied in spite of the people and circumstances? Is it possible to have "satisfaction guaranteed?"

We just went through Thanksgiving and everybody greeted one another with “Happy Thanksgiving.” We should have been wishing a “satisfied Thanksgiving.” The word “happy” is from the Greek would “hap” which is mostly related to a positive emotional response to circumstances. Probably many people did not have a happy, positive emotional response to the situation at Thanksgiving.

As a matter of fact, the holiday season is known for an increase in depression and even suicide – even among Christian believers.

What is it going to take this Christmas season for your to be “happy” – maybe a better word is “satisfied.” Buying gifts? Receiving gifts? Family? Extra money?

Luke 1:26-38, 46-55

Mary was faced with a pregnancy outside of marriage in a time when God’s Word was honored and as a result she would have been ostracized. More than that the pregnancy could not be explained by any natural means: this increased suspicion. Her fiance knew the baby was not his. Her family certainly would not understand (except by God’s grace). Her friends would have rejected her. Most people probably felt the father was a Roman soldier which would have made her even more of an outcast in a society that hated Roman totalitarian rule.

She could have rebelled at the beginning, she could have argued, but instead she trusted the Lord:

1:38

The reason she could trust was she had doctrinal orientation – she knew what the Bible said, she believed it, and she built her life around its teachings and commands. In the “Magnificat” she quotes the Old Testament either directly or indirectly throughout her song.

1:46

“Exalts”  = to make great, to enlarge – because of her doctrinal orientation and her trust in God, her understanding of God was enlarged. Her spiritual capacity was expanded.

Note: she had to be faced with a terrible situation before she faced the choice of how she would respond. When she exercised positive volition to the Word of God and the will of God, she advanced spiritually and her understanding of her God was expanded.

“rejoiced” = leaps for joy, excessive ecstatic joy – strong positive emotional response that brought her emotional satisfaction. Not bitterness, not worry, not anger, not “why me, God,” not depression – extreme joy!

How is this possible?

“Blessed” = to be indwelt by God; to be fully satisfied. “To be indwelt by God and thereby to be fully satisfied”

She was the one future generations would know was the one selected to be indwelt by God not only spiritually (as all believers are) but physically. And in spite of the circumstances she was satisfied with that.

James 5:11 (NASB) We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

Better translation: “Behold we recognize those who endure as blessed.” That is, they have been indwelt by God and find full satisfaction in Him in spite of their suffering.

Zodhiates: “These prophets who suffered for the faith all died. But their memory is alive with us as people in whom God dwelt. Their hardships and their death did not obliterate their blessed memory. Yet we do not go around saying of Job over and over again, ‘Blessed job, hail Job,’ but we recall his life and admire him because in spite of his unfavorable circumstances – the loss of all his possessions and family – he gave evidence of the fact that God dwelt within him. ‘Happy’ or ‘prosperous’ (neither Greek word appears in the New Testament) is the person who has good luck, favorable circumstances, but blessed (Greek word is repeatedly used in the N.T.) is the person who has God within and remains faithful and spiritually unaffected by his circumstances, whether good or bad.”

Mary is remembered not for her favorable circumstances – she did not have many! But she is remembered for her special visitation from God. And with that she was fully satisfied.

Back to Luke 1:48

The Lord has never, ever promised health, wealth, happiness, favorable circumstances or favorable relationships. He has promised us a blessedness that is ours if we accept it by faith. This means His indwelling and the peace of mind and emotional satisfaction that he offers to the believer is not dependent on circumstances.

Blessedness is having an inner quality of satisfaction because we are born again, we have eternal life, and we are indwelt by God our Savior. Our emotional rest, peace, and mental stability comes as we rest in the Lord knowing He is doing mighty things even when – like Mary and Job – they are not what we might have planned for our life at this time (or maybe never!).

We have to rest and be satisfied with where He has us now and refuse to be influenced and controlled by people and circumstances. The choice is ours and the power to make the right choice comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit.

It all comes down to resting in the promises and character of God. It is because we: Colossians 3:2 (NASB) Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" that we know mental peace and find emotional satisfaction.

Doctrinal orientation!

Mary fully satisfied in spite of the following:

• Unexpected pregnancy
• Family and social rejection
• Conflict with fiance
• Home disruption (Herod; Egypt)
• Family life (brother’s reject)
• As an adult people called Jesus insane
• The cross

Luke 2:34-35 (NASB) ³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— ³⁵ and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

Our loving Lord wants us to be fully satisfied in spite of:

• Suffering

James 5:11 (NASB) We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

• Health

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NASB) ⁷ Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

• Poverty

Philippians 4:11-13 (NASB) ¹¹ Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

• Lack of possessions

Hebrews 13:5 (NASB) Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,"

• Loneliness

2 Timothy 4:16-18 (NASB) ¹⁶ At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion's mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

• The unexpected – Examples: Mary the mother of Jesus; Job

• Circumstances

Job 1:20-22 (NASB) ²⁰ Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. ²¹ He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." ²² Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

• Tiredness and weariness

Galatians 6:9 (NASB) Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

• Opposition because of Christ

Matthew 5:10-12 (NASB) ¹⁰ "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of

¹² "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Hebrews 12:2-3 (NASB) ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

• Feelings of inadequacy

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (NASB) ⁵ Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, ⁶ who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The mature believer learns to be satisfied with what:

• God has done
• God is doing
• God is going to do!

Satisfaction = endurance; Dissatisfaction = dropping out of the race for Christian victory and reward.

1Timothy 6:6-12 (NASB) ⁶ But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. ⁷ For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. ⁸ If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. ⁹ But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. ¹¹ But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Philippians 4:4-7 (NASB) ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

If we let Him, the Lord will guard our heart (the center of who we are including our emotions) and minds (get the thoughts corralled into the trust fence!) when we rest in His promises and character.

This Christmas and this New Year – I hope it will be our most earnest desire to be fully satisfied with our life in Christ and Christ’s life in us. That we will so trust in the will of God, His promises and character, that we will experience a new level of spiritual advancement and satisfaction. May at the end of the year may we say with Mary, "My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” and may we know we are “blessed”!

See additional teaching notes here