When we look at the idea of being “blessed and highly favored” we see that it comes from the Gospel of St. Luke.
If we were to look closely, we will notice the exchange that happens here:
the Bible says "Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.
One of the first things I want you to know is that this declaration, this proclamation, this decree was not one that Mary spoke over her own life. This was not a self-proclaimed blessing over her life, but instead it was Gabriel the angel who spoke this blessing over her life.
Mary was blessed, but not because she said so, not because of her friends or family members, but it was because God said so.
In other words, we aren’t blessed because we say it. We are blessed because God says it. And we are blessed because of God’s grace.
The word grace used here in the Greek is “Kecharitomene” (pronounced key-car-it-oh-may-nay). If we were to translate it the in English language it literally means, “you who have been graced.” And can I tell you that this is the only time that this form of the word is used in scripture.
There are other forms of the word grace in scripture, but none of them are used in this exact form. This lets us know that while God has called many people blessed throughout scripture, and has even called people favored, only one person has he ever called highly favored.
To further understand this passage and statement we need to keep reading. The first thing we need to pay attention to is Mary’s response to this greeting. The bible says “But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Luke 1:29.
But wait a minute, i have a question. Why wasn’t Mary shouting? Why didn’t she go running through the streets of Nazareth declaring I am blessed and highly favored? Why is she no lifting her hands in adoration unto the Lord?
It seems like to me that Her response was too subdued and guarded. The New Living Translation uses the words ‘confused’ and ‘disturbed.’ in other words, Mary was confused and disturb by the statement that the angel delivers. This alone tells us that, this greeting was strange and unusual to Mary, and Mary was not expecting it. But this still doesn’t answer the question why was Mary highly favored?
The answer is found in the next few verses: The bible says that the angel says to her. Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most-High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”– Luke 1:30-33.
What we can glean from this? I believe it is very simple. Mary was highly favored because God chose her to be the one to give birth to Jesus. In other words, God picked her, so that he could prepare her. God process Mary’s life just so that she could give birth the Savior from her womb.
Some of you don’t know why you have been lied on, or why you had to hear the whispering going on behind your back, the disgruntled people on your job back-stabbing you, but it was all because you were being process. we were being picked out so that we could be prepared for what God is about to birth in our lives.
Notice this, what was done private, it was personal, she was processed so that she could be prepared for what was to come.
This was the favor she had been graced with. It doesn’t mean that Mary was more special, or better than anyone else, because she too would need to put her trust in Jesus for salvation.
This favor that she received didn’t mean that she did make any mistakes. But, it meant that God had given her special grace or high favor to carry out this particular assignment. Can I tell somebody this morning that we can all receive favor from God, and we often do.
We have every right to claim the blessings, and promises of God, on and for our lives, as long as we meet the conditions, because many of the promises and blessings are conditional. However, this statement of “blessed and highly favored” was neither a promise nor a blessing.
It was a proclamation made by God to a woman named Mary. But allow me to emphasize that you can experience the blessings of God and be blessed. Yes, you can see and experience the favor of God in your life.
So, how do we claim the promises and the blessings of God?
The answer to this question is very straightforward. We must meet the conditions. Most of the promises of God are conditional. They require something from you in exchange for receiving from God. That something could be faith, obedience, sacrifice, giving, seeking, knocking, or it could be just asking—but it is something that is given in exchange.
Let me give you an example. The greatest promise we have from God is salvation and eternal life. However, to receive this gift or promise of salvation and eternal life, it requires confession, belief in your heart, and repentance from sin.
God is willing to give it freely, but we have to be willing to ask for it. Therefore, if you don’t meet the condition, you don’t receive the promise.
Unfortunately, too many people want to experience God’s blessings but have no real interest in following God’s conditions.
If you want to experience all God has for you in this life, then we have to be willing to do it his way.
Let me be clear: if you are in Christ you are blessed. Ephesians 1:3 reminds us:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Where we sometimes go wrong is, we too often equate the blessing of God with only the material things. The blessings of God that matter most are not food, clothing, and money. They are important, but God has far more better blessing in store.
However, the blessings that aren’t always seen are the most important, are the ones that matter most. How important is peace, joy, hope, and confidence in a God who will never leave you or forsake you?
When we grab hold of these spiritual blessings you truly begin to experience God’s favor that shines regardless of the situations we are facing.
So, it is said in verse 30 that the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and he shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
And let me tell you P.T.M.C, Fear Not, the Lord has been hearing what you have been asking for, he has been hearing, what you have been pleading for, and we must know that we are blessed and highly favored.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, wait a minute How shall this be, how is it that I’m going to have a child. seeing that I know not a man? And I don’t have a man or a boo on the side. I’ve never laid with a man, I’ve never played with a man, yeah I know that Joseph and I having been holding hands and smiling at we other, but that’s as far as it’s gone.
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore, also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
But verse 37 says, For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
So can I tell somebody this morning that the Lord is looking for some more Mary’s to bless, the Lord is looking for those who will follow his Word and follow his instructions and he will bless you.
God is looking for some people that will Praise him for what he has done.
And that reminds me of a story.
About a church ran into difficult situation when the elders of the church decided that one man was shouting too much in church.
Because they thought he might disturb the distinguished guests that they had invited.
So, the elders called the pastor aside and notified him that this shouter must be refrained. This man was doing too much. This man was doing the most, so they said to the Pastor you must speak to him, but the pastor told them "I’m not going to tell him to stop shouting, but I will go with you if you wish to tell him". And we know how bold some people are. Some of them said I don’t have a problem telling him to stop all of that noise. So, they went to visit this man.
As they drove down the dusty road to his house, they found him plowing his huge field with his mule near the fence line. One of elder spoke for all of them, stating how they had voted to ask him to hold the shouting down while they are in the worship service, because of the potential problems it would cause.
The old farmer quickly stated, "See that beautiful wife standing over there? God gave her to me. See that beautiful farmhouse? God gave us that house. "See those beautiful children playing in the yard? God gave us those children. See all of this beautiful land? God gave me this land. And since I’m on my own land I think I’ll just shout some more. And Saints you need to shout because you are blessed and favored.
Now I know why the song writer wrote:
He brought me through hard trials
He brought me through tribulations
Never let a day go by and not realize
Had not been for the Lord who was on my side
Back was against the wall
He looked out for me
He heard my cry and rescued me
Never let a day go by and not realize
We are blessed
Don't take it for granted that we are here today
Just know that we're blessed and highly favored
Just know that we're blessed and highly favored
