Embracing God's Favor: A Christmas Reflection

Devotional

Day 1: Grace Defines Our Worthiness

God's favor is not earned by status or achievements but is a gift of grace, as exemplified by Mary's story. Her humble acceptance of God's plan, despite her own uncertainties, teaches that worthiness of God's favor is based on His grace, not our qualifications. This understanding liberates from the pressure to perform and invites to rest in the assurance of His unconditional love. [49:21]

Luke 1:52-53 - "He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty."
Reflection: How can you practice humility this week to better receive the grace that God freely offers?

Day 2: The Imperative of Prompt Obedience

Obedience is the key to unlocking God's favor, and delayed obedience is akin to disobedience. By promptly following God's directives, one opens up to His blessings in every aspect of life, including financial stewardship and personal relationships. This principle calls for immediate action in response to God's guidance. [59:10]

James 1:22-24 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."
Reflection: What is one area where you have delayed obeying God, and how can you take a step towards obedience today?

Day 3: Proclaiming Favor as a Creative Act

The power of spoken words to declare God's favor is profound. Believers are encouraged to actively speak favor into every area of their lives, trusting that their words align with God's will and can set the stage for miracles and blessings. This practice is rooted in the biblical tradition of proclamation and the creative power of speech. [01:01:55]

Proverbs 18:21 - "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
Reflection: What are three areas of your life where you need to start declaring God's favor, and how can you begin to do so today?

Day 4: Humility in Receiving God's Favor

Recognizing and accepting God's favor through others is an act of humility and acknowledgment of His work in our lives. When one receives compliments or appreciation, it is an opportunity to affirm the favor God has placed upon them. Rejecting such favor is a denial of God's craftsmanship. [53:12]

1 Peter 5:5 - "In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"
Reflection: Can you recall a recent time when someone extended favor to you? How did you respond, and how can you better recognize God's favor in such moments?

Day 5: Blessing Others Through Divine Favor

The favor of God in our lives is meant to extend beyond us and bless others. As recipients of divine favor, we become conduits through which God's blessings can flow to those around us. This perspective encourages a mission-oriented life, where blessings serve the greater good of God's kingdom. [46:43]

2 Corinthians 9:8 - "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
Reflection: Who in your life could use a touch of God's favor today, and how can you be a vessel for that blessing?

Sermon Summary

In the sermon titled "Sunday, December 24, 2023 | True Story | Receive Christmas Favor," the speaker, whose name is not discernible from the title, delivers a message centered on the theme of God's favor, using the biblical account of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a primary example. The sermon underscores the significance of acknowledging and expressing gratitude for God's blessings in our lives. The speaker cites Jeremiah 29:11 to remind the congregation that God has plans for peace and a hopeful future for each person. The congregation is encouraged to declare favor over various aspects of their lives, such as their children, businesses, and marriages, to align themselves with God's divine plan.

The concept of favor is further explored as a means through which God's blessings flow to others. The speaker stresses that God's favor distinguishes individuals and sets them apart. The narrative of Mary in Luke 1:31-38 is highlighted, where her willingness to accept God's plan without regard to her own background or status exemplifies the proper response to divine favor. The speaker advises against self-comparison and encourages acceptance of God's favor.

The importance of humility and obedience is emphasized, contrasting the behavior of some Christians who boast on social media with Mary's humble acceptance of her role. The speaker warns against delayed obedience, equating it with disobedience, and suggests that actions such as tithing and offering position one for blessings. The sermon also touches on the need for forgiveness and honoring one's spouse to remain open to God's favor.

The speaker reminds the congregation that miracles in the Bible are often accompanied by acts of obedience and encourages them to see themselves as God sees them. The impact of God's work through individuals on others is also discussed, with the example of Mary's response to God's favor leading her to praise Him and declare her blessedness.

The congregation is led in a song of adoration to Jesus, acknowledging His various attributes. The speaker expresses gratitude for the congregation's generosity in the previous year's Legacy offering and sets a new goal for the current year. The importance of effective signage for the church and the upcoming Christmas service, which will feature backstage characters in the Christmas story, is also mentioned.

The sermon addresses the concept of Christmas favor, emphasizing that God's favor is undeserved and always present, as illustrated by Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel. The speaker clarifies that Mary was not immaculately conceived but found favor with God through her faith. The congregation is reminded that they are blessed and highly favored because of Jesus in their lives.

The speaker encourages the audience to accept favor and blessings from others as an acknowledgment of God's favor within them. The concept of being favored by God is explained as receiving kindness beyond what is due, and the speaker asserts that believers should have God's favor, which brings joy and manifests in various ways in their lives. The sermon concludes with a story about a girl named Mary who, despite her challenges, receives a whisper of love and favor from her teacher, illustrating the transformative power of favor.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was Mary's initial reaction to the angel's message in Luke 1:31-38? How did she respond to the angel's explanation? [49:21]
According to Jeremiah 29:11, what are God's plans for us? How does this verse relate to the theme of favor discussed in the sermon?
In Luke 1:46-49, how does Mary describe her feelings and thoughts about being chosen by God? What does she say about her future generations?

Interpretation Questions

How does Mary's humble acceptance of God's plan in Luke 1:31-38 serve as an example for us in receiving God's favor? [50:03]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between obedience and receiving God's favor? How does this principle apply to practical aspects of life such as financial stewardship and personal relationships? [59:10]
How can declaring God's favor over our lives, as suggested in the sermon, impact our daily experiences and interactions with others? [56:55]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy of God's favor. How can Mary's story encourage you to accept God's blessings despite your background or status? [50:43]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of prompt obedience to God's commands. Is there an area in your life where you have been delaying obedience? What steps can you take to align yourself with God's directives? [58:34]
How can you actively declare God's favor over different aspects of your life, such as your family, work, and relationships? What specific declarations can you make this week? [56:55]
Think about a recent compliment or act of kindness you received. How did you respond? How can you better recognize and accept God's favor through others in the future? [53:12]
The sermon suggests that God's favor is meant to bless others through us. Identify one way you can be a conduit of God's blessings to someone in your community this week. [48:01]
How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude and humility like Mary, especially in a world that often encourages self-promotion? What practical steps can you take to focus on God's work in your life rather than seeking personal recognition? [57:57]
The sermon mentions the importance of forgiveness and honoring one's spouse to remain open to God's favor. Is there someone you need to forgive or a way you can better honor your spouse? How will you take action on this? [59:35]

Sermon Clips

"Through you God has a plan and we can be sure that God has a plan for us. In fact, the scripture in Jeremiah 29:11 says I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord." [55:03 ] (Download)

"When I realize that favor is on me and that God has a plan through my life because I'm a conduit of His blessings, then I walk in that and realize that in my own life there's something for me to look forward to." [55:38 ] (Download)

"Mary responded, 'I'm the Lord's servant. May everything you've said about me come true.' In other words, what she did, she declared the favor of God on her life." [56:55 ] (Download)

"It's not all about what you do, it's who you are because of who He is, and the favor of God is flowing through your life." [58:34 ] (Download)

"Delayed obedience is really disobedience. What does God ask you to do and you keep delaying it? Maybe He said I want you to bring the tithe... you need to quit being delayed obedience." [59:10 ] (Download)

"You need to get in God's favor and simply say to that person I'm sorry I've carried an offense on you, forgive me for that, and then you say to God okay God I'm open now for a blessing and a favor because I'm getting in position for what you want to do in my life." [59:35 ] (Download)

"I believe if you could see into heaven you'd see God pulling out his wallet showing a picture of you and showing it to an angel and simply saying I'm crazy about them." [53:12 ] (Download)

"Do you have a hard time when someone says thank you and they point out something good in your life? Do you just kick the dust and say oh you know I'm nothing, or do you realize what they're pointing out is something that's on the inside of you and it's the favor of God?" [52:27 ] (Download)

"Favor and blessing is a conduit. God wants to bless a lot of people but they're out of relationship and they don't know how that is but because of you, because you are favored, then God has a divine plan that flows through you out to other people." [48:37 ] (Download)

"Christmas favor is I don't get what I deserve but I receive what I don't deserve. Christmas favor is when the Lord puts you to the head of the line and there was nothing you did about getting to the head of the line." [46:11 ] (Download)

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