WHEN FAVOR BRINGS RESPONSIBILITY

Luke 1:26 - 38

HOW DID MARY FIND FAVOR WITH GOD?

•V 1:30. “you have found favor …•Same Greek word: •Matthew 7:7 (NASB) "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

HOW DID MARY FIND FAVOR WITH GOD?

•Daniel 9:13 (NASB) "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity [70 years captivity] has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth.

•Exodus 33:12-15 (NASB) Moreover, You have said, 'I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.' 13  "Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people."

GOD’S FAVOR IS FOUND BY:

1. Believing there is such a thing2. Looking/seeking for it

1. Turning from our way2. Turning to the Truth of God’s word.

3. Proclaiming God’s favor, verbalizing it.

GOD’S FAVOR IS A GIFT; BUT IT OFTEN COMES WITH A

RESPONSIBILITY•Noah – Gen 6:8, Ark•Moses – Ex 33:12-13; asked to lead the Jews out of slavery into promised land•Nehemiah 2:5, 18; Rebuilt walls of Jerusalem.•Daniel 9:23; prophet of exile for 70 years; •Elizabeth – Luke 1:25; parented JB; serving to encourage Mary.

MARY’S RESPONSIBILITY

Luke 1:31 – 33:•Conceive a child called the Son of God•Raise a child who fulfills God’s promise to David. 2 Samuel 7:16

WHY IS CHRIST CALLED THE “SON OF GOD”?

•1:35, For that reason.•Spirit “overshadowed” - Episkiazô• Acts 5:15. Shadow might “fall”• Mark 9:7

• 1:31, conceive in your womb (cf 1:36)• Jesus is born of a virgin. Luke 1:27, 33;

Matt 1:25

TO OVERSHADOW DOES NOT INVOLVE PHYSICAL CONTACT

•Act 5:15 NASB 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.

QUR’AN CHANGES “OVERSHADOW” TO SPOKEN CREATION

•Qur’an 3:47, “She said: ‘How can I have a son, O Lord when no man has touched me?” That is how God creates what He wills. When He decrees a thing, He says, “Be” and it “is.”

•Qur’an 4:171, O people of the Book [Christians], do not be fanatical in your faith and say nothing but the truth about God [Allah]. The Messiah who is Jesus, son of Mary, was only an apostle of God, ... Abstain from this for your own good; for God [Allah] is only one God, and far from His glory is it to beget a Son.”

QUR’AN’S TREATMENT OF JESUS

1. Born of a virgin, Mary2. Calls him Messiah (but not savior)3. Calls him a prophet (like Muhammad)4. Denies that he is son of God5. Since Muhammad is a later prophet,

he is greater.

WITH GOD’S FAVOR COMES EVIDENCE

•Elizabeth was God’s evidence to Mary.