Favor Ain't Fair

Welcome

Welcome to Church family. My name is Keith and I want to thank you for joining us today. If you are joining us online, welcome, we are glad that you are here.

Advent…In Expectation

We have entered my favorite time of year. Christmas. What are some of the images that come to mind when you think about Christmas? I think about lists, shopping for deals. I think about hot chocolate, comfy pj’s, and a well decorated Christmas tree with presents under it. Truth is, Christmas isn’t about presents under the tree, it’s about God’s presence on the tree; God’s presence on the cross.

This is truly a sacred time for all of us and some of the things you can do to demonstrate your anticipation and preparation for the return of Christ is fasting, praying, scripture engagement, sabbath along with other Christmas traditions. It’s the way we experience this season together. Our faith is meant to be demonstrated and experienced.

Please consider this my personal invitation to join us for one of our Christmas Eve services. You have 2 options: 2 or 4 and it will an amazing experience for you and your family.

21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

We are excited that we will be starting the year off with 21 days of prayer and fasting. Fasting helps us to prioritize God and put things in order. This can be your best year ever, if it is your best year spiritually. We will have some amazing fasting resources available to you.

Celebration App is where you can find tips, Bible study, etc.

We will also be out in courtyard after service to answer any questions

Context

Gabriel is 1 of only a couple of angels the Bible mentions by name. He brings messages to Daniel, Zechariah, and now Mary. He describes himself as one who stands in the presence of God. 6 months earlier he delivered a message to Zechariah that he and his wife were set to give birth to a son, John the Baptist.

This set into motion what the Jewish community; what the whole world had been waiting for. The arrival of the Messiah. It was overwhelming to think they had a part to play in God’s plan. Not only does God invite us to be a part of His family but He graciously chooses us to part of His plan.

Gabriel is now sent to Nazareth to inform Mary of the part she is invited to play in God’s redemptive plan.

Scripture

Luke 1:26–38 CSB

26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Prayer

Today I want to talk to you about favor; I have entitled today’s message, Favor Ain’t Fair.

Heavenly Father, I ask that you speak to us. We invite your Spirit to disrupt our normal and encourage us, challenge us, inspire us. Give us open eyes, open ears, and open hearts. In the name of Jesus, amen!

Illustration

When you hear the word favor, what comes to mind? I often think about a person who is incredibly fortunate. I am on a text thread with friends from the church and one of the guys always wins when it comes to getting new shoes. I have concluded, God loves him more than me.

We have had those moments when things just worked out. Discounts. Upgrades. Good parking spot. Getting more than you asked for. We often equate that to favor.

A few years ago, my family was invited to go on vacation with friends of ours. They paid for everything. I was completely surprised. We were overwhelmed with gratitude. I remember mentioning to Maegan, we are so blessed and highly favored. While we were on that trip, we found out that De’Nira was sick and I was juggling a lot of drama in church.

Transition

As I sat trying to reconcile being in a wooded paradise and dealing with a voice in my head telling me, maybe I am not so favored after all. It occured to me, I didn’t have a healthy outlook because I reduced favor being about an outcome.

Definition

When we think of the word favor we often think it means favorite. We think it means to be preferred. We think it means promotion. It means tranquility.

The Biblical definition paints a different picture.

The presence of problems is not the absence of favor

In the face of chaos and confusion, favor was there. David brilliantly says in my favorite Psalm, even in the valley of death, God is with him; favor is there.

Psalm 30:5–7 CSB

5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning. 6 When I was secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” 7 Lord, when you showed your favor, you made me stand like a strong mountain; when you hid your face, I was terrified.

Favor is directly connected to other potent words in the Christian lexicon:

Joy/Rejoice

Grace

Gift

Thankfulness

Kindness

Privilege

Favor is kingdom privilege; we can rejoice and be thankful because we inherited the gift of grace, which is the kindness of God. Looking kindly upon someone or treating someone with special regard. Favor is outlook, not outcome.

If favor is circumstantial, then we won’t praise in every circumstance

Scripture stresses the kindness, graciousness, and mercy of God in Jesus Christ, which is not the result of human merit or achievement.

Favor is the intersection where grace and mercy meet. (grace is getting what you didn’t earn; mercy is not getting what you deserve)

You are not favored because of what you have, you are favored because of who you have.

John 3:16 CSB

16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

You are favored because you have Jesus.

You are favored because you have grace and mercy personified

Observations

Consider the Source

The angel Gabriel appears before Mary and says to her, “Rejoice, you are favored, The Lord is with you”. Mary is understandably confused by this statement. She was greeted the way rich, royalty was. Mary was between 13-17. She is in Nazareth and based on the offering she and Joseph give in the next chapter, they are poor. What do you do when what you hear doesn’t match reality, consider the source.

As a father, I do my best to affirm my family. I consistently tell them they are smart, I am proud them, etc. I know that it is inevitable that someone will say something contrary and I want them to have enough esteem built up to battle negative words. I always tell them, consider the source.

The source determines credibility

This is significant because Gabriel literally stands in the presence of God, so if anyone could sense the activity and presence of God, it is Gabriel. This messenger showed up and took one look at Mary and said, oh, I know this atmosphere, this is favor.

Favor isn’t an outcome, it is an outlook. I am here on an assignment to let you know, you are favored! Rejoice, give Him praise!

The source determines credibility

My sheep know my voice

You are the head, not the tail

God has plans to prosper you

You are forgiven

Loved...

Rejoice, give Him praise!

The Lord is With You

Often, we lose sight of who we have and what we have access to. One of the most common assurances that God provides to His people is, fear not, I am with you. Why is it so easy for us to forget this? Could it be, conflict distracts us from truth?

When I was a freshmen in high school, my brother was a senior. He was a popular football player. I ran into an incident where this random guy was bullying me. A friend of mine said, why haven’t you mentioned this to your brother? It honestly didn’t even consider it. I lost sight of the family I belong to. My friend told my brother on my behalf and he showed up with overwhelming strength. It was then I understood the privilege that comes with being in a family with a reputation.

I am here to let you know that you have favor. You belong to the family of God and you have favor. You don’t have to fight on your own, you have favor.

Open your eyes and see, those who are with you are more than those against you

You Will Conceive and Give Birth

Gabriel tells Mary, you will conceive and give birth to a son, Jesus. He will be great and have eternal Kingdom. In other words, there is something on the inside of you that is going to change the world. Something inside of you that will provide hope and healing.

Mary was confused because she hasn’t had relations with a man. Mary understood that in order to reproduce, she needed to go through man. We often think in order for us to fulfill our calling, it will require us to go through man. Problem is, when man gets involved, he can confuse input with outcomes.

1 Corinthians 3:6 CSB

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

Gabriel tells Mary, what God is going to do in you will not be confused with man. The Holy Spirit is going to overshadow you. (cover, walk in the shadow of Christ)

Psalm 91:1 CSB

1 The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.

God uses man but doesn’t need him. We have been convinced that our growth has to go through a person. God holds the hearts of kings in His hands. What God has for you, is for you.

Nothing Will Be Impossible With God!

Closing

Amen

Mary said, “may it happen to me as you have said it”. In other words, Amen…let it be done!

This entire passage is a case study on how we should respond when Jesus enters our space. Zachariah responded with prove it; Mary responded with do it. There is a difference between clarity and convincing. God can handle our questions and call for clarity, but at some point, we will have to arrive at the conclusion that Jesus is the answer. At some point, the questions lead us to Jesus; lead us to faith.

We can use doubt as a crutch to keep us from walking in faith. Chose life. Chose Jesus. Chose to respond…I am the Lord’s servant, may it happen to me as you have said!