Sermon Summary: This Christmas season sermon explores the account of the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would bear the Messiah, focusing on the concept of being "highly favored" by God. The pastor emphasizes that just as Mary was highly favored to carry the Christ child, all believers are considered highly favored in God's sight through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:6). These are the only two uses of "highly favored" throughout scripture. The message encourages Christians to understand that God's favor rests upon their lives and that they can also find favor with men by embodying both mercy and truth . The sermon calls believers to recognize their special assignments from God, particularly in sharing the gospel during the holiday season when family gatherings provide opportunities for witness. Throughout the message, there is an emphasis on trusting God's sovereignty, recognizing that His plans are always better than our own, and believing that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).

Description:

Prophecy About the Savior Fulfilled | God is Sovereign | We Can Do Our Best | Yet All Is in God's Hands | Angel Gabriel Sent by God Appeared to a Virgin Mary | 6 Months After Elizabeth Conceived | Gabriel Bears Good Messages | May God Send Us on a Special Mission | Go to the World and Preach the Gospel | Be Open to God's Assignment | Pastor Joe Shared the Gospel with His Dying Father | God Put on Pastor Joe's Heart Just to Love on His Dad | Don't Be Ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ | Share the Good News | Pray for and with Unbelievers | Lord Transformed Anger to Joy | Rejoice Highly Favored One Blessed Among Women | Mary Troubled Over Angel's Greeting | Highly Favored = Divine Grace or God's Glorious Favor Mentioned Only 2x in the Bible | Blessed to Carry Christ Child | God Has Made Us Accepted in the Beloved = Highly Favored | God's Favor is Upon Our Life as He Set Us Apart | Each One of Us Is Unique | God Gives Us Favor with Men | Don't Hesitate to Ask God for It | Church Being Blessed with Thoughtful Financial Institutions Regarding Purchase of the Property | Let Not Mercy & Truth Forsake You | Wear Them Visibly & Extend Them to Others | Love Unlovable & Be Kind to Those Who Don't Deserve It | Speak Truth in Love with Gentleness | Brutally Honest Are Merciless Beating People Up | Those Merciful Without Truth Let People Believe Lies | Who Pleases the Lord God Makes Even His Enemies in Peace with Him | Left Behind 12 Years-old Jesus Was Teaching the Teachers in the Temple | Jesus Increased in Wisdom & Stature & in Favor with God and Men | Name Jesus = the Lord Is Salvation | Name Speaks about His Mission of Coming to the Earth to Save the Lost | Mary was Probably 15 or 16 Years Old when the Angel Appeared to Her | Prophecy About the Child to Be Called Son of the Highest | To Be Given the Throne of David & Reign Over the House of Jacob Forever | His Kingdom Will Have No End | No One is Higher Stronger or Greater than Our God | The Almighty God Creator of Everything to Come to Rule & Reign with Righteousness & Peace | His Plans Are Better & His Ways Are Higher | God Has Prepared Far Greater Plan for Us than We Can Imagine | God Does Whatever He Pleases | Mary Wondering How Can This Be, Yet Not Doubting | Holy Spirit to Come Upon Her | Power of the Highest Overshadow Her - Cloud of God's Shekinah Glory | Even Barren Cousin Elizabeth Conceived in her Old Age | With God Nothing Will Be Impossible | God Asked: "Is There Anything Too Hard for Me?" | Mary Accepted Lord's Will Believing His Word | May We Have Both Mercy & Truth in Our Lives | Submit to God's Will |

Key Points:

- Believers are "highly favored" in God's sight, just as Mary was, because Christ dwells in us through the Holy Spirit
- The Greek word for "highly favored" appears only twice in Scripture: once for Mary and once for all believers in Ephesians 1:6
- Christians have special assignments from God, particularly to share the gospel with those who don't know Christ
- The combination of mercy and truth (Proverbs 3:3-4) is essential for finding favor with both God and men
- Mercy means showing kindness and goodness to others even when undeserved; truth must be spoken in love
- When our ways please the Lord, He can make even our enemies at peace with us (Proverbs 16:7)
- God's plans are always better than our own, even when He doesn't answer prayers the way we want
- With God, nothing is impossible - He is sovereign and does whatever He pleases
- The church experienced God's favor in their building purchase process, with favorable loan terms and divine appointments
- Mary's response of faith - "let it be to me according to your word" - exemplifies trusting God's word completely

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