Highly Favoured - LBC

Introduction - Attending a church visiting some relatives many years ago around Christmas time, my wife and I heard a great message on the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But during this message a particular phrase shot right to my heart as the preacher gave a little emphasis to it.

By the way, that is how important it is to hear the preaching of the Word of God. Had I not been in church that night I would have never been so blessed by this particular phrase as I was at that moment.

Turn with me please to the book of Luke chapter 1.

Once you get there, lets look in the 28th verse for just a moment.

Lets stand for the reading od God’s Word/

Luke 1:28 Notice what the Word of God says, “28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”

Please pay particular attention to this phrase, Highly Favoured.

I want to bring to you a message entitled, “Highly Favoured” and I want us to take some time tonight and in the midst of our moans and groans perhaps, in the midst of our hallelujah's, in the midst of our “Im just here” attitudes, consider this blessed truth, “Thou Art Highly Favoured.”

Let’s Pray

Amen you may be seated.

There is a so called scientific term that in our day has gained some resurgence among scientists and particularly Astrologers, called the Copernecian Principle. Many perhaps have not heard of the Copernecian Principle, but it was named after Nicolas Cepernicus an individual who lived in the 15th Century and basically states, that our earth is of no significance in light of the vast cosmos around us, as a matter of fact, we are just a speck of dirt, that contains nothing significant or stellar, because certainly with the vastness of all the cosmos, were just a statistical happenstance.

And so when you think about and dwell on thayt, boy you could really get depressed, basically we are of no importance or nothing special in the universe. It is true, the earth is small in relation to planets in our galaxy etc…

As a matter of fact anyone who has ever had a chance to look into the sky away from the lights of the city and see all of the stars before you—- it makes you seem small and insignificant.

Can you imagine Mary for a moment, here in Nazareth, though thousands of years removed, looking out at the same night sky that you and I would see on a clear night, and perhaps it was this night and angel by the name of Gabriel declared unto Mary, “You are highly favoured…”

Of course in the context of our passage , Mary was highly blessed among women with the privilege of birthing our Savior, Jesus Christ. And I certainly am not dimishing her role in our Lord’s life, but I want you to understand this phrase this morning, that you and I, particularly if you are saved are Highly Favoured.

Deuteronomy 7:6–9 tells us concerning the nation of Israel, “6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7 The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;”

This quote from Deuteronomy illustrates the fact that even Israel, God’s special peculiar nation was not chosen because of their merit but rather God’s Divine love that he has for us.

So if you are taking notes tonight I want to give you three major truths that we can see from God’s Word about being Highly Favored:

And I say this, as we realize how truly blessed we are, we ought to give glory to God and honor Him for who He is and all that He has done:

Would you notice first of all with me:

I. Man In General Is Highly Favored

Psalm 8:4 “4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

A. Earth Obviously Was Created To Sustain Life:

The earth’s distance from the sun is just right.

The earth’s position in our solar system is just right.

The characteristics of our planet, like it’s ability to reflect light, called the Albedo, is just right.

The gravitational properties of our planet, what allows us to have atmosphere, and this thing called oxygen that we need to breath is exactly where it needs to be.

Other planets in our solar system, like Jupiter (the solar systems vacuum cleaner) is exactly where it needs to be.

The moons size and distance from earth is exactly where it needs to be.

Friends, any of these factors not being just right, would cause to not exist!

God’s creation of the earth we find is in support of not just sustaining life, but Human life!

B. Man Has A Favoured Position In God’s Creation

Think about the Gospel message, the good news that you and I find our comfort and assured hope in:

Romans 5:8 declares, “8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

DO you realize that that wonderful truth is so signifcant and amazing that the Bible tells us there

According to 1 Peter 1:12 “… things the angels desire to look into.”

And according to 1 Corinthians 6:3 and Psalm 8:5b those who are Saints- saved though we are made a little lower than the angels the Bible declares we who are Saints will judge even angels.

I know it doesnt make any sense whatsoever, we have done nothing to earn a fafoured prosition and according to Romans 5:8 and Isaiah 64:6 there is nothing favourable in us whatsoever. As a matter of fact, One of the very conditions for someone to be saved is to recognize that very fact, that there is nothing in me that would grant God to say to me in an insaved state you are righteous before me. And yet God has given us a favoured position in God’s creation!

I want you to meditate on that for a few minutes and consider how truly blessed you are! Imagine if God has caused you or I to cease to exist the very first time we sinned against Him!

Oh you see Man in General Is Highly Favoured! We are highly favoured in Earth’s creation and we are high favoured as God’s Special Creation!

II. Man Who Is Saved Is Highly Favoured

Do you realize that if you are sitting here a saved, born-again Christian that God has highly favoured you?

I think sometimes that may get the idea that God is obligated to save us, because of who we are.

The truth is that the only obligation that the Lord has toward us, it that He loves us. This is a choice of His Diving choice, that blessed verse in John 3:16 spells out “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Realize that because God loves you and love me:

A. He Drew You Unto Himself.

John 6:44 “44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

There is a miraculous thing that occurs when the Holy Spirit God enlightens the sinner and draws Him to the cross of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said in John 12:32 “32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Not only did God draw you to Himself but :

B. We Realize That God Revealed the Gospel To You.

It is a truth, that you did not come to an understanding of who the Lord Jesus Christ is on your own.

1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that “14 …natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

There is not one here that can clain they walked outside one day looked up into the sky and discerned who the Savoir Jesus is by looking at the stars.

It is a fact that God sent someone to preach the Gospel to you, whether it came in the form of a tract, or by somone you knew, or perhaps by a preacher in a church service.

And then, the Holy Spirit of God enlightened your carnal mind to understand your sinfulness and need of a Savior.

John 16:8 illustrates this when Jesus revealed to His disciples the ministry of the Holy Spirit.. He stated, “8 And when he [meaning the Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

The Holy Spirit of God reveals our sinfulness, Jesus’ righteousness, and the impending judgment one day because of sin.

We could say this also thirdly,

C. Realize That God Protected You

We understand that God holds life and death in his hands.

1 Samuel 2:6 “6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.”

Ecclesiastes 8:8 “8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.”

Paul in speaking to the religous crowd in Athens stated in Acts 17:28 “28 For in him [God] we live [ Has Our Very Breath], and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

How many times could you have lost your physical life, and yet God protected you, before you got saved?

Lastly consider this,

D. Realize That God Had Mercy On You

We can look around and see many today, who have yet to receive Christ, just like you were at one time. And yet God shows His mercy.

Before we trusted in Christ, the Bible declares we existed in a state of enmity.

That Bible word enmity means we were enemies with God, full of ill will hatred and in an unfriendly state.

The Bible tells us “7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7

You see God had mercy on you, He did not give you what you deserved.

I am reminded of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5, who were struck dead before Peter after lying to Holy Spirit of God.

I am further reminded of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10 who were struck dead for offering strange fire before the Lord.

And then we think of Achan in Joshua chapter 7 who took of the accursed thing and was stoned before the children of Israel.

And if that was not enough— consider the man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day who was stoned to death.

The Bible tells us in Romans 11:22 “22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”

Paul in Romans 11 was giving the example of what happened to the children of Israel because of their rejection of the Messiah and the goodness that was extended to the Gentiles because of it.

Up until this point you and i should be very encouraged and uplifted realizing that we are highly favoured in the sight of God…. But now I want you to realize that you and I can continue to dwell in the favour of the Lord.

You see Mary in this passage was highly favoured in the sight of God. I believed that Mary was in a position to blessed of God for several reasons:

A. Mary was a virgin- meaning she was pure.

Purity friend means to be free from foreign substance. In simplest terms, is there a mixture of light and darkness in your life?

2. 2 Corinthians 6:15–16 “15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

3. Could I say, that it is clear from the Word of God that a lack of purity certainly does not place us in a position to be highly favoured by God, but rather results in instability and a lack of fellowship with the Lord.

4. James 4:8 tells us, “8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Perhaps today your wonderful were all the bountiful blessings of God have gone in your life? Maybe there are some here today that need to cleanse thier hearts from any foreign mixture.

Ask the Lord to reveal if there is any impurity in your life.

B. Mary was Humble.

As Matthew Henry commented based on the text, Mary is confounded as to why God would look at her and call her highly favoured.

When is the last time you thanked God for being so good to you because you realize you do not deserve it.

The truth is that most of our grumblings in life have to do with our pride. We look at our situation and think we deserve something different. And while we play that game in our mind, we forget about God’s sovereignty and instead of being humble we are filled with pride.

A lack of humility is a sure way to remove yourself from being highly favoured.

James 4:6 “6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

This very truth is repeated by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:5 “5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

The Lord Jesus Christ told us in Matthew 18:4 “4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Humility means to be brought low. It means seeing yourself as you truly are in the presence of our Holy God.

My friend, when you realize your own sinfulness, your baseness, your own limitations and see our God and Savior, high, holy and lifted up then your attitude just as it was for Isaiah will be one of lowliness before God.

Not only was Mary highly favoured because she was pure and humble, but notice now:

C. May was submissive.

What a tremendous example the Lord has given to us through this young lady.

Luke 1:38 “38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”

That word Mary used, handmaid literally means female slave.

May says in effect “God— I’m yours” no restrictions, no lines in the sand, as a matter of fact I am dead to self!

As we see Mary’s humilty and submissive attitude toward God — we realize that Mary understood it was not all about her, but rather it was all about Him.

1 Corinthians 6:20 reminds us, “20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

As we close, I pray you realize that you are highly favoured.

We saw that Man in General is Highly Favoured.

Certainly Man Who Is Saved Is Highly Favoured.

But lasly we discovered, that Mary was in a position to be Highly Favoured because she was

Pure

She was Humble and Lastly Mary Was Submissive to the Lord.

Every year around this time, Christians all over the world read this blessed truth. God blessed Mary in an unusual way.

We are told that this Gospel message which includes this passage concerning Mary is the everlasting Gospel. That means for all of eternity— this story of redemption will forever be recounted—

Revelation 14:6 “6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,”

I think we would all have to agree— Mary certainly is Highly Favoured of the Lord.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be found in the way of purity, humility and submission as well.

Lets Pray

Amen —

Perhaps you are here today and you have not thought twice about how God has so richly blessed you.

Friend when is the last time you thanked the Lord for saving your soul.