Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 199

July 18;    Luke 1:45;    45/260(III);    ‘Blessed When You Believe’

Luke 1:45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

Possibly the greatest example of faith was displayed by Mary, the mother of Jesus.   The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary and told her that she had found favor with the Lord and that she was going to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God.  Why was Mary selected?  The Bible tells us that we cannot please the Lord without faith (Hebrews 11:6).  I believe that part of the favor Mary had was her great faith.  The Bible never tells us that Mary was divine.  Her incredible faith is what makes her so special.  After Gabriel explained how this would happen, Mary humbly accepted what was told her.  Mary’s relative Elizabeth, who was barren, was now pregnant with John the Baptist.  Mary went to the home of Zacharias, the husband of Elizabeth.  When Mary entered their home and greeted Elizabeth, the Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth and she prophesied about Mary and Jesus.  One of the things Elizabeth prophesied was that Mary was blessed because she had faith to believe what the angel Gabriel told her.  Faith pleases God.  This is a powerful truth, we are blessed when we believe what the Lord tells us.  Mary had an open vision.  Gabriel, a spirit being, appeared to Mary in the natural realm.  Mary was wide awake.  God’s Word also, is the Lord speaking to us.  The Word is just as real as if an angel or Jesus Himself appeared to us and spoke to us.  The Word builds our faith, and just like Mary, we are blessed when we believe what God says