God's Favor CANNOT Be Over Stated

Scripture: Luke 1:28-30

And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

Insights: Last week we learned about the favor of the Lord which was on Zacharias and Elizabeth.  Today, we see the same favor is being dispensed on Mary.  John 15:5 tells us “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”  In other words, without the favor of the Lord on your life you are going to be able to accomplish NOTHING!  Yet if His abiding presence is in your life and His favor is being bestowed on you, then you will bear much fruit for His kingdom.  We must grow and understand that it is all about Him and His power.  We are just not going to be able to minister effectively in this world without Him.  Here is another thing I want you to understand about the favor of the Lord.  When His favor is on you, Satan, our adversary, is not happy.  He will do everything he can to prevent you from obediently serving the Lord.  I mention this to make you aware of the spiritual dynamics regarding warfare in the spiritual realm.  Let’s make it a little more personal for First Baptist Church Bowling Green.  The Lord has been working tremendously over the past several months.  Hearts are beginning to soften and lives are beginning to change.  Situations are beginning to happen in some of our lives to take our focus off of the Lord Jesus and onto the circumstances surrounding us.  We now have the choice to run to Jesus or run from Jesus.  He is extending His favor and wants us to run to Him so that we know the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering (Phil. 3:10).  Beloved, it is my prayer that no matter what this world and our enemy throws at us that we will remain faithful to our first love, Jesus Christ.  That we will draw near to Him and let the body of Christ help bear our burdens in love (Gal. 6:2).  Pray for the Lord’s favor to fall on us as the body of Christ and do not be caught unaware when the fiery darts of the enemy come closing in on us.

Questions:

1. Are you facing any opposition from the adversary as God is opening opportunity of ministry in your life?
2. What specific areas of ministry engagement has the Lord placed on you lately?

Prayer: Father, please let Your favor fall on me.  Increase my ministry environment and help me to become sensitive to Your Holy Spirit’s promptings in my life as I serve You to expand Your kingdom by Your grace and power.  Amen.

God is Sovereign

Scripture: Luke 1:26-27

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

Insights: I want us to focus on the first word of today’s verses, “Now.”  This one word declares the sovereign nature of our Lord and God.  For four hundred years it had appeared to the Jewish people that God had been silent, but NOW in His sovereign timing and purposes, He spoke again to the world.  In this world we have trouble and problems.  We experience pain and suffering.  We want the Lord to intervene in our situations in our ways and in our time table.  The problem with this kind of mentality is God is not a Genie in the bottle.  He does not act on our whims and fancies.  He sees and knows what the entire picture looks like and what must come to pass to bring about His glory.  Paul writing to the church of Galatia stated, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary (6:7-9).”  As we are traversing through this world we must not grow wearying in our service and obedience to the Lord.  The key phrase in Paul’s admonishing was “in due time.”  In other words, in God’s due time He will work and move in whatever fashion He deems necessary for Him to receive the appropriate glory and praise.  Our job in understanding God’s sovereign activity is found in the last phrase of these three verses, “if we do not grow weary.”  Beloved, I know it is hard in this world.  I know we face some very painful circumstances.  I know we often times want to throw our hands up in the air and quit.  In spite of all those emotions and feelings, I want to encourage you to not grow weary.  I encourage you to not give in and quit, but rather to trust in the Lord with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength.  Remain faithful, Beloved!

Questions:

1. What in your life has caused you to grow impatient with the Lord and His sovereignty?
2. What are the ways in which you can develop and grow in your trust of the Lord and His timing?

Prayer: Father, I am often times a very impatient person.  Forgive me for attempting to solve my problems before going to You first and trusting You for the best plan.  Give me your peace and increase my faith as I surrender to Your Sovereign authority and will.  Amen.

Pray for the Favor of the Lord to be on You

Scripture: Luke 1:24-25

After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men."

Insights: If there was one subject I have been learning about this year, it is the subject with which my last point Sunday dealt.  I am growing in the knowledge of the grace and admonition of the Lord in regards to His favor, presence and power.  Elizabeth rightly declared that what had happened to her was a result of God’s favor upon her.  Zacharias and she were absolutely one hundred percent incapable of conceiving a child apart from the miraculous work of the Lord.  I am convinced they tried to have children for years (see today’s verses).  Then, at the perfect time in history, God graced them with His favor and they were able to conceive and have a son who would bring them great joy.  Jesus in His final night of teaching before His arrest and crucifixion said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:5).”  It is my opinion the church of America, holistically, not unanimously, has tried for decades now to “bear much fruit” in their own power and strength.  We have preached the power of Jesus, but without actually believing He was going to work.  As a result, we attempted to do on our own what only He could do.  As this downward spiral has continued we are now, years later, recognizing the failure of our self-aggrandizement.  If the Lord’s favor is not on us, we are incapable of doing anything for His kingdom and glory.  We must get on our knees and begin crying out to the Lord to forgive us of our self-sufficiency and beg Him for His favor.  Beloved, if we are going to truly see revival fall down on us it will only occur when we have humbled ourselves enough to recognize our sinful reliance in our systems and plans.  We must fervently and passionately pray for God’s favor of blessing to reign down on us as His people and we must obey Him without reservation or doubt.  Cry out to the Lord this moment for His favor to be on your conversations and actions!

  

Questions:

1. Are you experiencing the favor of the Lord?
2. Are you praying for the favor of the Lord to be on you?

Prayer: Father, I can do absolutely nothing to bring You glory without Your favor on my life.  Forgive me for the times I attempted to serve You in my own power.  Grant me, I pray, Your favor and may my life bring glory to Your name as a result.  Amen.

Do Not Doubt the Proclamations of God & When God Works, Others will Notice

Scripture: Luke 1:18-23

Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years." The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time." The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

Insights: The fifth and sixth points this past Sunday were very short in explanation.  The fifth point was do not doubt the proclamations of God.  There are consequences to our disobedience and refusal to believe God and His plans.  Now, I am not even going to presume I know what those consequences are in my or your life, but for Zacharias, it was his silence for at least nine months.  I also will not presume that it is always easy to trust God and His plan.  We face all kinds of difficult things in this world (loss of loved ones, diseases, relationship difficulties, addictions, etc.) and sometimes it is very hard to trust the Lord.  I promise you, however, if you will, then your life will be better for it in the end.  When you do trust and have an encounter with the Lord, the sixth point comes into play, which is when God works, others will notice.  The Lord does not always cause the painful events or challenges to occur in our lives, but He will use those events to bring Himself glory.  As we obediently follow after God’s plans, others will notice how our lives are lived out differently from the rest of the world.  They will recognize our peace and comfort in the midst of the situation and they will start asking questions.  They will wonder what you have that they do not and if you are mindful of what is going on around you, it will open up doors for your to share Jesus with them.

Questions:

1. Have you recently doubted the power and plan of God?
2. In what ways are others noticing God’s activity in your life?

Prayer: Father, I know Your plans are perfect, but I do not always understand them.  Increase my faith to hold on tight to Your love and Your will.  As I trust, let my life point to You and allow others to notice Your activity in my life.  Amen.

The Forerunners Mission: Reconciliation

Scripture: Luke 1:15-17

"For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Insights: The third point in my sermon this past Sunday was joy is extended to the righteous and the verses focusing on this thought were verses eleven through fourteen.  The gist of the point was that God desires to give us His joy and in a very real sense John the Baptist served as that kind of joyful gift from the Lord.  The point I wish to focus on today, however, was the fourth point which is found in today’s verses.  The world is at enmity with God and its fellow human beings.  The whole reason Jesus came to this earth was to make it possible for humanity and the Lord to be restored relationally.  John the Baptist had the same mission of reconciliation that the Lord God has called us.  Because of the work of Jesus, we are all called to be ambassadors of reconciliation to a world in desperate need for a Savior.  When humanity is properly reconciled to the Lord, it is amazing what kind of healing work the Lord can do in the family.  Because Satan knows how import fathers are to the health and future of a family, he targets them.  He does everything he can to trip them up and make them fall in their walk with the Lord.  John the Baptist was sent to help strengthen fathers and bring healing to their family relationships.  It is amazing how if we get reconciled to the Father, that then there is a possibility for the family to be reconciled and from this reconciliation the obedient actions follow naturally.  If the first one is messed up, however, then the second one is easily destroyed.  When that takes place, then disobedience is the natural end product.  Beloved, let us turn our face toward the Lord and be reconciled to Him.  Let us then watch Him miraculously work in our families and begin living lives of obedience to Him and His great name.

Questions:

1. Are you in need of being reconciled with the Lord God?
2. Are there any people with whom you need to be reconciled?

Prayer: Father, You have called us to a ministry of reconciliation because of the desperate need humanity has for restoration and fulfillment.  May I, like John the Baptist, help people come to a saving relationship with You and help restore families.  Amen.

God Orders Events in HIS Time

Scripture: Luke 1:8-10

Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

Insights: I believe we as a people are very impatient.  Maybe better stated, I am very impatient.  I blame all of this on the microwave and Burger King.  We want it now and we want it our way.  God, however, is not going to work like that.  He is going to do it His way and in His timing.  The Old Testament ends and for 400 years it is as if God were silent.  Then, in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies concerning the Messiah, God speaks in dramatic fashion by sending an angel to Zacharias to tell of the birth of his son, the forerunner to the Messiah.  Now in order for this vision to come to pass, God had to orchestrate the event at the time in which Zacharias’ division was appointed to serve.  God had to have the lots fall on Zacharias in order for him to enter the temple to burn the incense.  All of this had to happen at the right time in order to have His Son, Jesus, born at the time in which He had determined was the perfect point in history for His Son to come on the scene.  Here is the point: God’s timing is perfect and He is going to do things in the proper time.  We go through life and we face all kinds of challenges and we want and desire for God to work right now and in our way.  He, however, is not a genie in a bottle for us to command with our whims.  He is the Sovereign Lord of Creation and He knows what is best and when it is best.  We also have a mistaken understanding of good.  We go through tragedy and think it is bad, but in God’s economy it may be the very best thing that could happen to us if it draws us into a relationship with Him.  I did not say it was easy to trust God in these difficult and trying times, but it is best.  Beloved, let us have our faith increased as we trust our Father to do what is best in our lives.

Questions:

1. Do you ever feel like things are not happening when you think they ought to happen?
2. Are you content trusting that God is working in His time and for His glory?

Prayer: Father, I am so often impatient.  Forgive me for not trusting You and believing that Your plans are perfect.  Grow me in Your grace and let my worrisome heart be transformed into one of peace and contentment in You.  Amen.

We Must Be Light in a Dark World

Scripture: Luke 1:5-7

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

Insights: The first line in verse five tells us that Herod was king.  You need to understand that Herod was not a good king to the Jewish people.  He was self-absorbed and cared only about his comfort, reputation, and power.  Remember, this is the same king who after hearing about the birth of Jesus killed every male child two years old and younger in the area of Bethlehem.  His oppression on the people was horrific at times.  In other words, he created a very dark world in which the people of Israel lived.  We, today, also live in a dark world.  All you have to do is watch the news or read a newspaper and you will quickly find out that there is a great deal of darkness pervading this world.  Notice, however, the type of people Zacharias and Elizabeth were in the midst of this darkness.  They both were righteous in the sight of God.  Even though Jesus had not come on the scene yet and the Holy Spirit was not permanently dwelling inside those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, it was still His working in their lives that made them righteous people.  The next part of the verse tells us the guiding principle in their lives which equipped them to live this righteous life out before the Lord God.  They walked blamelessly in all the commands and requirements of the Lord.  In modern day vernacular, they lived by the truths found in the Bible.  The Scriptures were their authority for how to live life.  As a result of this righteous and blameless lifestyle, they were shining lights in the midst of a very dark world.  Their lives were a testimony to God’s faithfulness and love.  They were a beacon of hope to a world in desperate need of a Savior, which ultimately was to be found in Jesus Christ, their second cousin.  Beloved, we need to be that very same light in the dark world we presently live.  If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, then let your light, which is found in Him, shine brilliantly!

Questions:

1. What are some of the examples in this world that help you recognize its darkness?
2. In what ways are you letting the light of Jesus Christ shine forth from your life?

Prayer: Father, the world in which I live is fallen, sinful and dark.  Yet, Your Son is in my heart and helps me shine a light of hopeful righteousness to those desperately needing a Savior.  Let me courageously point people to Jesus.  Amen.