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.