Blessed Through Faith | Week 4 | Chosen Series
28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” ~ Luke 1:28-33 NIV
Qualifications:
- from the line of Jacob
- through the tribe of Judah specifically a descendant to King David
- All God – All Man – Sinless
- Establish and sustain a Never-Ending Kingdom
Lee Strobel – Stanch Atheist – Investigative Journalist in the early 80’s for the Chicago Tribune –set out to resurrection of Chri st false. He failed miserably in his endeavored, and ended up giving his life to Christ…and then wrote a book called “The Case for Christ”! (The Case for Christ! Lee Strobel)
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. ~ Luke 1:34-38 NIV
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.~ Luke 1:45 KJV
Our ability to believe gives God the ability to perform!
1.Believing in God is the way to a Blessed Life. Faith is not a passive exercise, but an active, courageous response to God’s promises.
3 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. ~ Ephesians 1:3 NIV
2. Believing in God’s Word is the foundation for Blessing. When God speaks, He does not lie, and His promises are sure.
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. ~ Psalm 1:1-3 NIV
3. Believing in God’s Timing/Purpose bring Blessings that are operational, even beyond the most difficult Circumstances! The fulfillment of God’s promises is not just about believing, but about understanding that God will bring about His word in His perfect timing. God is the one who “performs” His promises; He does the work.
4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” ~ Jeremiah 29:4-7 NIV
10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ~ Jeremiah 29:10-13 NIV
4. God’s blessings are available to all who Believe. God’s promises are not exclusive to Mary or a select few; they are for all believers. When we believe and trust in God’s word, we too are recipients of His blessings.
God invites ALL of us into his family
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16 NIV
28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ~ Galatians 3:28 NIV
What you lack doesn’t disqualify you!
8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world. ~ 1 Samuel 2:8 NIV
No matter what circumstance or situation you might find yourself in…He forgives and loves those who chose to believe.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
5. Believing is a matter of Receiving. When God speaks, there is a call to action, not just contemplation.
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ~ Romans 10:9-13 NIV
Words of Knowledge
- We believe the Lord wants to heal someone suffering with fibromyalgia.
- We believe the Lord wants to heal someone dealing with chronic migraines.
- We believe the Lord wants to heal someone suffering with angina.
- We believe the Lord wants to heal someone of cirrhosis of the liver today.
- We believe the Lord wants to heal someone dealing with heart palpitations.
- We believe the Lord wants to heal someone suffering from chronic constipation.