12/08/24 - Pastor Kelly Baker - Is This Highly Favored

Is this Highly Favored?

 

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

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28 The angel went to her (Mary) and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.  

30  the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.

1. So Mary was favored by God!
2. So, even though Mary was favored she still endured hardship and pain.

 

Psalm 84:4 - Blessed and greatly favored are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; They will be singing Your praises all the day long.

 

Ephesians 1:6 - reads

As a child of God, you are greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved.

 

The miracle endured

 

3. When you are favored you still have a job to do!

 

When you are favored you have to surrender to God’s will and get to work. 

 

1 Peter 5:8-11

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8nC-RnETd0

 

But, also remember this doesn’t exempt you from heartache and hard times, but it does guarantee you victory if you know him and surrender to him.