Angelic Visitation and the Favor of God

Have you ever seen an angel? We don’t talk about these things in the church very often. I wonder why? Looking through the gospels and Acts, angelic activity and interaction seemed part of Jesus’ and the disciple’s experience. In the book of Revelation, there is also a description of angelic activity everywhere.

Perhaps like the power gifts of the Spirit, angelic visitation is about being open to receive and operate in them.

We do not seek to interact with angels, but we should not be surprised if God chooses to speak in this way. It is very biblical.

Two important people in the Christmas story received angelic visits. Read these passages slowly and let their message sink in. Read them once again and take a few minutes to meditate on these scriptures.

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 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, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

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. 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. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:26-38‬ ‭NIV‬‬.

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1:18-25‬ ‭NIV‬.

Jot down your observations about these angelic visitations in a journal or notepad. What is God speaking to you from these?

• What are you learning about God or angels?
• About people?
• How will you obey or apply what the Lord is speaking to you?
• Is there someone you could share this passage/story with this week?

Willing to Receive His Word

What an incredible message! It was followed by an amazing response of trust and submission from Mary and Joseph.

Imagine if an angel appeared and told you something impossible was going to happen to you. That impossible thing could cause you the loss of everything- your reputation, your marriage, your life.

Would you be willing to receive the message and yield to God in it?

Think about the ramifications of being pregnant as a woman and unmarried at that time. The punishment could have been to stone her as an immoral woman. What about the impact of accepting God’s call? How that would affect her marriage and relationship with Joseph?

The angel greets Mary as one “highly favored.”

The Favor of God

Do you see yourself as someone who experiences the favor of God?

We want His favor and blessing on our lives and ministries. There is a cost involved.

What was it that made Mary favored? Not her circumstances, her background, or position. She was favored because of her internal choices and posture. Before the message ever came, she’d positioned herself to receive it. Her attitude toward God was one of absolute trust. She said “yes” to Him, and surrendered to His Lordship before He asked her to do anything for Him.

Any of us can be highly favored because of how we relate to God.

Do you willingly embrace His call no matter the personal cost?

If God can trust you to care for, carry, and birth what He wants to entrust you with, He will give you dreams that are close to His heart.

How do you see yourself as highly favoured by God?

Share your answers in the comments below or on the Missionary Life Facebook group.

*This advent blog was adapted from a message by my friend and colleague R.M.