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Big Apple Chapel is a New Testament based church in New York City, modeled after the pattern of the early church, with a strong emphasis on following Christ as a community of His disciples.

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    New York, NY
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Why Do Some Find Favor With God Part 3

2023-01-15

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Lk 1 Why Do Some Find FAVOR with God? Pt A-B-C

©2022/2023 WF Cobb Truthbase.net DailyTruthbase.blog

Lk 1:6 They (Zac & Liz) were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all commands and requirements of Lord. cf Joe &Mary :23


7 But they had no child {APP: righteous, blameless, godly OT/NT believers have favor & trials}

17b {Angel re Jn the B:} “to turn the hearts of...the disobedient to the wisdom* of the righteous,

 *cf :40 below

 so as to make ready a people prepared/equipped for the Lord."

{Repent-Kgdm coming 3;10* change mind, values/objectives/ambitions, choices, actions}

 

 *Stop living as if this world is all there is, {all destroyed Pt 3:7 esp ungodly,11}

 and start living to be blessed in the world to come {radical transformation -Rm 12:1-2}

 where God rewards righteousness

 

25 {Eliz:} He looked with favor upon me... cf :25, 9 {acc Word} Simeon; v 36 Anna

Lk 1:26 Gabriel was sent from God to Galilee-Nazareth

 

Isa 9:1...in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles...will be filled with glory.

2 people who walk in darkness will see a great Light...live in a land of deep darkness, a Light will shine

 

6 For a child is born to us, a Son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders. and he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

7 His government and its peace will never end.

He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.

The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! NLT

 

Lk 1:27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David;

 and the virgin's name was Mary.

 

28 Greetings, favored one! {T: honored with blessings cz receptive WH} pft; Eph 1:6 aor The Lord is with you.

 Rejoice! 30 Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

 APP: God has favorites (choice ones)

 

Lk 1:31 And Behold...conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

 

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High;

 and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; Ps 89

 

33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,

 and His Kingdom will have no end."

 

 

34 How can this be, since I am a virgin?

 The Holy Spirit will come upon you cf Acts 1:8,

 and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;

 and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

 36 Elizabeth 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.

 

38 Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord;

 may it be done to me acc to your word. Ps 138:2 below

 

 

41 Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit:

42 Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

 

45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.

 

 

APP: What promises of God have you believed and were/are being fulfilled? For what are you still trusting Him acc to His will (why do you think those things are acc to His will)?

Lk :10 Glad tidings (vb of gospel) of great joy for all the people

 v32 (Simeon) For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

 31 which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

 32 a Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel

 

11 today born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord suddenly there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

 

14 Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace to/among men with whom He is pleased/favor rests!

 

APP: How pleasing are you to God? What do you do that pleases/displeases Him (Col 1; 3; 1Jn 3:22)

1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one ...his works were evil and his brother's righteous.

14 not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 He laid down His life for us...we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 Whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Lk :40 The Child continued to grow

 and become strong/attain mastery in spirit, cf Eph 3:16

 increasing in wisdom* *cf 1:17 above wisdom of the righteous

 and the favor/grace/good will of God was upon Him.

 

 

2:50 Jesus continued in subjection/submission...

52 Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

 

 

Lk 1:80 And the child John the Baptist grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

 

1Sam :26 And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men.

 

APP: How are you attaining mastery in spirit, growing in wisdom, and favor with God?

 

God is pleased with and favors with Blessings those who are:

 

Righteous – doing what is right in His sight

 

Blameless – obediently doing & being all that He commands and requires

 

Disciplined and Wholeheartedly Running to win on the narrow path (Mt 7; 1Cor 9; Phil 3; Tim 4)

 

Humble - (not My will but Thine be done) 1:38 Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord;

 may it be done to me acc to your word.

 

Full of Faith & Faithful – 1:45 blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord Heb 11:6

 

cx Zac 1:18 how know for sure? 0 cz you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time

 

Treasure1-Think2-Teach3 – :19 1closely/sun guard/treasure – ponder/suncombine/consider

 1:29 perplexed & pondering/reasoning/????????????

 31:46 Magnificat (out of heart-speak) :49 Father's business

 

 

God is not pleased with most “forgiven believers” {Mt 7:14 narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.}

 

1Cor 9:24 run to win 7 not be undisciplined and disqualified

 

10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, (carnal 3:1,4) brethren, our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed thru the sea (Ex 14:31);  and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual Rock which accompanied them; and the Rock was Christ.

 

5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased {written as example for NT believers!}

 for they were laid low in the wilderness. (Num 14:20 pardoned & punished – cx v24 Joshua & Caleb -wholehearted)

 

Heb 10:37 in a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.

 

38 But My righteous one will live by faith;

 

 and if he shrinks back lit=under prepare-equip; hold back; withdraw Thess 3:6; Peter

 

 I will take no pleasure in him.

 Phil 3:18 enemies of the cross

 39 we are not of those who shrink back eis destroyed, Mt 7:13 broad way Phil 3:19 god=belly; earthly

 but of those who have faith eis preserve their soul cf Thess :13-15 (at end of this sermon)

 

Noah also found favor with God based upon his righteous & blameless walking with God!

 

Gen 6:3 LORD said: My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, his days shall be 120 years.

5 LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thot or imagined was consistently and totally evil NLT every intent of the thots of his heart was only evil continually.NKJV

 

6 LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved/pained hith in His heart

7 The LORD said: I will blot-wipe out/cancel/exterminate/obliterate man whom I have created

 ? owns

8 But Noah found/acquired/gained favor in the eyes of the LORD.

 

9 Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. Cf Enoch 5:22,24

 

14 Make for yourself an ark...everything that is on the earth shall perish.

18 But I will establish My covenant with you... {7:1 come...seen righteous before Me}

22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.

http://biblehub.com/genesis/6-5.htm

 

The Magnificat (from a mind saturated with Scripture)

 

Lk 1:46 And Mary said: My soul {m,w,e} exalts/magnifies the Lord,

 

 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. (cx RmCath: if no original sin why need Savior?)

 

48 For He has had regard/looked with favor upon the humble state of His bondslave;

 For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

 

49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and Holy is His name.

 

 

Lk 1:50 His hesed/mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who FEAR Him

 

51 He has done mighty deeds with His arm;

 He has scattered those who were proud in the thots of their heart.

 

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble.

 

Ps 138:1 I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You.

2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your hesed and Your faithfulness/Truth; for You have magnified Your Word above all Your name.

 

6 Tho the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.

 

Isa 57:15 High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: " I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite

 

7 Tho I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.

 

8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;

Your hesed, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Lk 1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things; and sent away the rich empty-handed.

 Mt 5:6

54 He has given help to Israel His servant, remembering His hesed/mercy,

55 as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.

 

 

Ps 98:1 Sing a new song to LORD, for He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have caused Him to gain hiphil the victory for Him.

 

2 LORD has made His salvation known hiphil;

 He has revealed piel His righteousness in the sight of the nations.

 

3 He has remembered His hesed/graciousness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;

 All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

 

8 joyful 9 Before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth;

 He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with eauity.

 

 

 

Mt 3:1 John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

 

2 Repent, for The Kingdom of the HeavenS genitive=source is at hand/near.

3 Isaiah 40:3, 10

 the voice crying in wilderness: Prepare/make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight

 10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, wth His arm ruling for Him.

 Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense/pay-back before Him.

 

6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

 

7 who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 bear fruit in keeping with repentance;

10 axe already...every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

 Cf Jn 15:6

11...He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and

 He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

 

{Repent-Kgdm coming 3;10* change mind, values/objectives/ambitions, choices, actions}

 

 *Stop living as if this world is all there is, {all destroyed Pt 3:7 esp ungodly,11}

 and start living to be blessed in the world to come {radical transformation -Rm 12:1-2}

 where God rewards righteousness

 

Mt 3:13 Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.

15 But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time;

 for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.

16 After being baptized, Jesus came up...heavens were opened,

 and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,

 17 and a voice out of the heavens said:

 "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."

 

Mt 12:12 So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. 13...it was restored to normal.

14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

15 But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all,

 

16 and warned them not to tell who He was. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by Isaiah

 

18 Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased/delights;

I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

 

 Isa 42:3 He will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not falter or be discouraged

 till he establishes justice on earth. In His teaching the islands will put their hope.”

 

20 And a smoldering wick He will not put out, until He leads forth justice/judgment to victory.

21 And in His name the Gentiles will hope."

22 a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him,

 

 

Mt 17:15 {Transfiguration}While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them;

 and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying,

 “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” cf Pt :17

 

 

Heb 10:37 in a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.

38 But My righteous one will live by faith; Hab :4 How long?{} just will live by faith

 and if any shrinks back {lit=under prepare/equip},

 I will take no pleasure in them.

39 we are not of those who shrink back eis destroyed,

 but of those who have faith eis preserve/acquire/obtain* their soul

 

 

2Th :13 we should always thank God for you, who are loved by the Lord, cz God

 chosen aor mid you from the beginning eis salvation by the sanctification of the Spirit

 and by faith in the truth. Heb 11:6 reward seekers

14 To this He called you thru our gospel, so that you may *obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, by speech/letter

 

God is pleased with and favors with Blessings those who are:

 

Righteous – doing what is right in His sight {basis of blessing Ps 1; 4:1; 7:8, 11:7; 15:2; 18:20,24}

 

Blameless – obediently doing & being all that He commands and requires {rooted in fear 119:38,39,120}

 

Ps 119:1 Blessed are those whose ways are BLAMELESS, who walk/live acc to the law of the LORD.

Blessed are those who keep his statutes & SEEK him with all their heart 3 they do no wrong but follow His ways 4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. 5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! 6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. 8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. NIV Mt 8:20

 

Disciplined and Wholeheartedly Running to win on the narrow path (Mt 7; 1Cor 9; Phil 3; Tim 4)

 

Humble - (not My will but Thine be done) 1:38 Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord;

 may it be done to me acc to your word.”

 

Full of Faith & Faithful – 1:45 blessed is she who believed that there would be

 a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord Heb 11:6

 

cx Zac 1:18 how know for sure? 0 cz you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time

 

Treasure1-Think2-Teach3 – :19 1closely/sun guard/treasure – ponder/sun-combine/consider

 1:29 perplexed & pondering/reasoning/????????????

 31:46 Magnificat (out of heart-speak) :49 Father's business