Favored with Hope

“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out, and your dog would go in.” — Mark Twain

Luke 1:30–33 ESV

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

We Have No Need for Fear!

Luke 1:30 (ESV)

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

Our context is the angel, Gabriel, speaking to Mary about what is taking place in her life…but also what is about to happen in the world.

Gabriel is dealing with the struggle of Zechariah back in vs. 12 and the fear of Mary in vs. 28-29.

Luke 1:12 (ESV)

12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

Luke 1:28–29 (ESV)

28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

So Zechariah was gripped with fear when Elizabeth was about to bare John and Mary was perplexed at what was taking place in her life at the proclamation of the coming Christ.

Notice she was greatly troubled… she was trying to be discerning, but the passage implies a level of struggle.

But she needed to realize that this fear or struggle was not the intention or purpose of the Lord.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

You see the N.T. is full of verses speaking of the idea of the Lord removing fear and giving us the understanding of soundness of mind — PEACE.

1 John 4:17–18 ESV

17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

We may even think of John 14:1 here.

John 14:1 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

The Good News Brings Favor Over Fear!

Luke 1:30 (ESV)

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

χάρις — (charis) Favor or Grace

The “Good News” is the story of Grace.

God gives us what we don’t deserve.

This is the first Sunday of Advent and we are preparing for the arrival.

As we prepare for the second coming of Christ we look back at the first.

We stare into history as we learn of the O.T. Prophecies coming to fruition in the Coming Christ.

For Mary, she was given an immediate understanding of what was about to take place.

She did Know, but only in part.

She did hear the angel, Gabriel, say: Mary you have found favor with God.

God’s Purposes & Favor Comfort.

Luke 1:31 ESV

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Luke 1:32 (ESV)

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

Isaiah 9:7 (ESV)

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Luke 1:33 (ESV)

33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Walking Away, But In...

Don’t Fear!

Walk in the Grace/Favor of God.

Receive His Favor.