Fear Not! - You are Highly Favored “I’m blessed and highly favored”
Luke 1:26-38
*26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then 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 bring forth a Son and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give 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.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
He KNOWS you
Psalm 139: 1-6
O LORD, You have searched me and known me.2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.
He is THERE for you
Psalm 139:7-12
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in ]hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
He will CARRY you
Psalm 139:13-18
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.
He not only LOVES you…. He LIKES you!
Psalm 139:17, 18
How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me! (Living Bible)
You ARE “blessed, and highly favored… BUT… then “Life” happens…
Mary’s response:
“Let it be to me according to your word…” (Luke 1:38)
Back to Psalm 139:19-24
Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
20 For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
“Let it be to me according to Your Word”
- Search me (but He already thoroughly KNOWS you!)
- Let ME see Me as YOU do!!!
- Try me (test me – let life happen)
- Any “wicked” way - synonyms with “unbelief”
- It is hard to miss the will of God (Dr. Helms)
Take-aways:
Fear Not – You ARE Highly Favored – The LORD not only LOVES you – He LIKES you!
Fear Not – He KNOWS you
Fear Not – He is THERE for you
Fear Not – He will CARRY you when needed
Fear Not – when life “happens” – it is up to YOU to come into alignment with His plan
“be it unto me, according to Your Word