"THE LORD IS WITH YOU!"

Luke 1:26-33                                     (ESV)
"26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from GOD to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, "THE LORD IS WITH YOU!"
29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOR with GOD.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a SON, and you shall call his name JESUS.
32 HE will be great and will be called the SON of the MOST HIGH. And the LORD GOD will give to HIM the throne of his father David,
33 and HE will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of HIS kingdom there will be no end."



There is no greater experience than getting a Word from GOD.  To understand that the Creator of the Universes, Who simply spoke the heavens and earth into existence, would speak to, and through, a mortal being is humbling, yet extremely comforting.  GOD is Spirit (John 4:24), and being a Spirit HIS method of communication is not heard by those of "this world" (1 Corinthians 2:14), only by those who are "of the Spirit".

Mary was a young woman, many say between 13 and 15 years of age. But she favored by GOD (Luke 1:28), and she was used by GOD to deliver HIS SON to mankind.  Now being so young Mary hadn't had the opportunity to build her resume for GOD.  She couldn't prove her worthiness to be a vessel to incubate GOD in the flesh.  The word FAVORED literally means "to receive grace"!  She was just FAVORED because of WHO GOD is, not because of who she was!

Many times throughout scripture GOD reveals HIS PLAN.  Remember that GOD is Spirit, and in verse 28 above scripture reveals "THE LORD IS WITH YOU"!  GOD has been "in our midst" (Zephaniah 3:17) for a long time, but mankind has failed to recognize HIM when HIS presence was revealed to them.  HE chose to come as a baby to a humble family of meager means RATHER than royalty and grandeur. Had JESUS been exalted with royalty then I might have thought I had to have wealth to please HIM?  But HE came as a lowly carpenter and let HIS Spirit elevate HIM as needed.

There is a misconception that we must have the best buildings, drive the best cars, wear the finest clothes, basically accumulate THINGS for the KINGDOM.  GOD is "still" Spirit (HE hasn't changed) and HE isn't impressed with our offerings, but our obedience!  What we need to do is make sure "THE LORD IS WITH YOU" and leave the rest to HIM!!