Living in God’s Favor
Luke 2:7-14 7 and she [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Intro: Many of you have read or watched The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. The Grinch hated Christmas and went down to Whoville, in an attempt to steal Christmas. He took every gift, every ornament, everything he could get his hands on, thinking that if the Who’s lost all their stuff then they would cry instead of sing and Christmas wouldn’t come. But high up on the mountain he heard all the Who’s in Whoville singing and Christmas came anyhow. Now here is one of the most famous quotes in the book and movie that helps point to the meaning of Christmas.
And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?
It came without ribbons. It came without tags.
It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store.
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.
—Dr. Seuss
-Well, most of us would be quick to agree (at least in theory), Christmas does mean a whole lot more than what comes from a store. The word Christmas literally means Christ’s Mass (coined in A.D. 1038), and carries a very detailed history going as far back in church history as the 2nd century. There is little evidence to suggest that the first century church celebrated the birth of Christ as a feast day or festival, although the virgin birth of Jesus was an important part of their creed and doctrine. Christians have viewed Christmas in various ways from all extremes. Some outright reject Christmas calling it a pagan holiday, while others insist that Jesus was conceived in Mary during the Spring Equinox (March 25- 9 months prior to the Winter Solstice- Dec. 25). Others suggest that early Christians utilized the culture in which they lived to introduce the Savior of the world to the pagans around them. The winter solstice was referred to by John Chrysostom, an early Church Father. He said, "They call it the ’Birthday of the Unconquered’. Who indeed is so unconquered as Our Lord . . .?"
-I’m not here to set the record straight about Christmas, however. What I’d like to accomplish today as we look at what we call the Christmas story, is to remind us that God has offered us His favor. Favor is defined as friendly or kind regard; good will; approval; liking; acceptance. When God’s favor rests on someone, they are accepted by Him and are free to become His friend. Rather than painting a picture of an angry, brooding God, the Christmas story reminds us that God actually likes us and wants what is best for us. Let’s look at some facts about God’s favor.
I. God’s favor is good news to all (10-12)
-Instead of fear of God’s anger and judgment, the news that God wants us to be friends with Him is good news indeed! The angel brought good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
-Is God’s favor available to all people? To the rich? Upper class? Middle class? Blue collar? White collar? Poor? To the down and outers? To sinners? To people living in immorality? To people addicted to painkillers? To people who are suffering from depression? To people who have been tossed aside and feel worthless?
-God says to the person who comes to the end of himself or herself: I accept you. I like you. I want to help you. I have sent you Someone who can help you.
-Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:19 “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.” God is not our accuser. Satan tries to do that. Romans 8:31-32 “If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
-God is for us, not against us! He offers His good will; approval; liking; acceptance. He offers His love. “…a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
-God’s favor rests on you! What difference does it make? How should we respond to such an amazing gesture from someone so greater? One response is found in this next point.
II. God’s favor ignites praise (13-14)
-This must have been an incredible sight! Who knows how things like this work. I like to think that heaven just couldn’t help itself at this point and broke out into spontaneous praise to the God to whom all glory belongs. “Glory to God in the highest heaven!”
-Verses 11-12 tell about a Savior, Jesus the Messiah, the Lord. The One who lived in the highest heaven became small. He entered this world and became an earth dweller so that we could one day enter the highest heaven with Him. As this was announced by the one angel who appeared to the shepherds, all of heaven broke loose with praise to God for focusing His favor on the little people on the little blue planet.
-I just can’t see this thing being rehearsed. Gabriel says to the multitude of the armies of heaven, “Okay guys. This is your cue. As soon as I say “lying in a manger,” I want you to appear suddenly and start praising God. We really want to put on a good show for those shepherds. On the count of 3, let’s recite our lines: Glory to God in the highest….”
-Maybe it’s just me, but I think that all of heaven was so ecstatic over God’s amazing love for the little people that they burst onto the scene shouting praise to God! Maybe there were so many angels leaning over the balcony of heaven that it broke and down they went – enter stage up! 1 Peter 1:12 Even angels long to look into these things [the things of salvation].
-Praise is the right response to the favor of God. Last week we talked about the wise men who were seeking the Savior, and when they found Him they worshiped Him. It was right and it was fitting to worship God’s Son, the ultimate expression of His favor to the inhabitants of earth. What was the response of the shepherds? The believed and acted and spread the word, and then in v.20 they “returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”
-Why is it that new Christians are so filled with excitement and praise to the Lord? Because they have just received the best news of their lives and have found favor with God. God has accepted them, forgiving, cleaning, transforming them. And what is the response to such an amazing God? Praise, adoration, worship, exuberance, singing, expressing gratitude, obedience, trust, passion.
-When we live in God’s favor, praise is ignited and comes out of our mouths and out of our lives! And finally…
III. God’s favor brings peace (14)
“…on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
-When we were studying Ephesians 6 we talked about the armor of God. Putting on God’s armor included having your feet fitted securely with the good news of peace. The good news of peace is what the angel brought to the shepherds when he told them about Jesus the Messiah being born.
-Isaiah had spoken 700 years earlier about the Messiah, calling Him the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6-7 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
-We can have peace with God because God loves us and favored us enough to send Jesus to earth to live and die for us. Being at peace with God means that we have trusted in Jesus and His work on the cross. In Ephesians 2, Paul said that Jesus Himself is our peace, who has broken down the wall of division between us. We have peace because we have been forgiven and set free from the bondage that sin brings. We have peace because the Holy Spirit lives within us and brings us peace. We have peace because regardless of where we’ve been, we know where we are going.
-Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Conclusion: As we wrap this up, God has offered His kindness and good will to all mankind. He wants to accept you as His own, offering close friendship and approval. If and when we accept his favor, our response will be one of praise to Him for who He is – God in the highest heaven! And where once there was turmoil and restlessness we find peace, calm tranquility, wholeness and blessing.
-Let me just say that God’s favor does us no good unless we respond to Him. We can admire His gift to us from afar, but until we reach out to receive it, it remains as what could have been ours, but was never accepted.
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Let’s bow our heads for a moment. If you need to receive the gift of God’s favor, would you lift your hand so I can pray for you? God likes you! He wants to be close to you and help you in every way.
