APPROACH QUESTION:
When you meet people to interact with them, what do you do?

OBSERVATIONS/INTERPRETATION:
How is your response similar or different from what the Angel Gabriel did?

1. “The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored!
2.  The Lord is with you.'
3.  "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what can I learn about Mary?

1. Mary was not just troubled but greatly troubled at his words.

2. Mary wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

3. Mary found favor with God

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself why Mary was greatly troubled?
We do not know what Mary was doing at the time the angel went to her. Angels do not always give a warning before they appear but just appear. The Angel Gabriel had appeared to the Virgin Mary, greeted her and told her that she is highly favored and the Lord is with her. To be met by an angel who spoke certain greetings to her, she now wondered what kind of greeting this might be. Angels were sent with different greetings to different people. Not knowing the meaning of the greeting alone troubled her. The angel knew she was troubled and acted to alleviate the trouble.

I asked myself what is the significance of the angel’s statements?
It is very significant that when Mary was afraid, the angel told her not to be afraid but goes a step further. This is the first time we hear the angel call Mary by name. Before that the angel had just appeared and given a message. Mary never introduced herself to the angel but the angel already knew her name. Now the angel calls her by name and imparts the blessings upon her with the greetings. One of the blessings is to call her by name to let her know she has found favor with God. There is something special about calling people by their name, greeting them, and blessing them.

IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life that I can take away from this passage to apply?
I saw important implications for my own life. I learned the importance of greeting people and calling them by name. The purpose of today's study was for me to understand the importance of calling people by name when they are greeted.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING G.R.E.E.T.I.N.G:
Wherever I am, I try to greet people by their name if I know their name instead of just saying, 'Hi'. We do not know what people are going through always but the Lord does. Greeting someone by their name adds that personal touch in their life and makes a person know they are recognized, special, loved, and not forgotten. Even when we forget someone, they are always remembered by the Lord and He gives them His special name. Even though I do not do full-time ministry as a profession, I try to know as many students names as possible when they come to eat in our dining facilities and call them by name.  Calling people by name is not just for the angels and God but for us too.

Parents have been blessed with the opportunity to name us. There is something special about calling people by their name in a greeting. When I was in full-time campus ministry, I made it a habit to know everyone’s name so when I greeted them it won’t just be ‘Hi,” but ‘Hi Sara, Hi Jonathan, Hi Becky, Hi Brad, Hi Loretta, Hi Leonard, etc. I made it personal and that is what the angel decided to do. 

I see my job as a ministry opportunity to reach as many people as possible with the love of Christ but for starters I do that by calling people by name when I greet them. The past few summers, I have taken it as a blessing to serve 100+ Pennsylvania Governor's School of International Studies students and call them by their name.

There is something special about knowing people's names and greeting them by name. Anything God does, He usually sets an example for us.  It is a great example to call people by name to let them know they are special, recognized, and have value.

For me it is so special to know that the Lord Jesus loves me and calls me by name and that I am special and precious in His sight. He loves you so much too and calls you by name. His greeting to you is a greeting of love this Christmas season and onwards because the Gospel is all about greeting with a greeting of Salvation. That is what the Lord Jesus has offered me letting me know that I belong to Him when I accept all He has done for me at the Cross of Calvary. He paid the price that I could not pay so that I can be redeemed and always called by name. Thank you Jesus. He will do that for you too. All we need to do is give our lives to the Lord and accept His free gift of grace so we will be greeted with the presence of the Lord everyday. His free gift of grace frees us from the bondage of sin and death. We can accept Jesus as our Lord and Personal Savior and experience that each day. But our experience of knowing Christ will also permeate into the rest of our lives when it concerns greetings. I want that for me and want it for you too.

So, I ask you now dear friend, what do your greetings do in life?
Dear friend, when Mary was greeted she was frightened at first but the angel did not leave her at her frightened stage. Instead, the angel Gabriel called her by name giving the message.

You have an opportunity when you greet people to make them feel loved, special, and cared for. Every greeting you give someone, it can be to acknowledge they are special and remembered. You can do that this Christmas season and always.

Remember we may not always know what a person is going through but we can be there to bring a smile to them by being a person who is willing to pray, care, and share with them what they are going through. It usually starts with a greeting.

Try to remember people’s name and greet them by name. Let your greeting bring a smile to the one you greet. If they are troubled, ask them why they are troubled and if they care to share, listen to them, and take the opportunity to tell them about the Lord Jesus and what He has done for them and what He wants to do.

Remember, the angel Gabriel did not just greet Mary but spoke to the Virgin Mary about the Lord and assured her everything will be ok in the Lord. So can you! You can be a blessing in someone’s life.

No matter what someone is going through this Christmas season whether it is the death of a loved one, a broken relationship, a lost job, etc, you can assure them that Jesus will be there for them to strengthen them. His love can be seen through each one of you as you live your life exemplifying Christ to those around you.

Remember for unto us a Savior has been born and His names are Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6, NIV)

BIBLE ACADEMY IV: NAMES OF JESUS
By Ramesh C. Reddy

Bible Academy's Instructor is so awesome and our Wonderful Counselor.
Who takes all our burdens and cares upon Himself.
Who is there for us always to counsel us and fill us with love.
When we surrender our lives to Him, we can see His miracles.
When we turn to Him, He will soothe all our worries.
Wherever there is sorrow, He can fill it with such Joy
Wherever there is trouble in you life, He will be there for You.
Why? Because even in our sorrow, He has a plan for our life.
Why? His personality's counseling and guiding troubled Souls.
Whatever your pain, sorrow is, His Joy lies ahead.
Whatever your problems are, spiritual, etc He will counsel You.
PSALM 37:5, PSALM 73:23-25, JEREMIAH 29:11, MT 11:27:30
PSALM 23, MARK 10:21, JOHN 14:1, PSALM 37:7

Bible Academy's Instructor is our Mighty God
Who's mightier than our problems, filling us with spiritual might.
When we depend on Him, no situation will be impossible.
Wherever you're headed, no need to fear, God's might shall sustain you!.
Why? Because He wants to instruct you on the best pathway of life.
Whatever you are faced with, put your faith in the Lord.
JOHN 6:18-19, MARK 9:23, PSALM 32:8, MARK 4:30-32

Bible Academy's Instructor is our Everlasting Father.
Who will always care for us, who we can pray to anytime.
When we seek Him with our whole heart, void in us will be filled.
Wherever we have been, new life comes with God, our Loving Father.
Why? Because He loves us so much, He wants what is best for us.
Whatever asked in prayer, will get according to His loving will.
MT 6:31-34, MT 7:7,8, ROM 6:3-11, GAL 2:11

Bible Academy's Instructor is the Prince of Peace
Who teaches his students, the value of peace
When we learn from Him, our lives will be full of peace
Wherever we are, whatever trials we face
Why? His Peace He gives you surpasses all understanding
What are the trials you face? Turn to the Prince of Peace!
JN 14:27, ROM 5:1, 1 COR 1:3, PHIL 4:7

KEY VERSE FOR THIS ACADEMY: ISAIAH 9:6

May you always bless someone as you come their path way. More than anything may the Lord Jesus bless you with His abundant grace and blessings this Christmas season 2009 as you come to know God reveals Eternal emancipation truly imparting nurturing gracious Salvation! Amen!

“God Reveals Eternal Emancipation Truly Imparting Nurturing, Gracious Salvation!” (G.R.E.E.T.I.N.G.S)/"What do your G.R.E.E.T.I.N.G.S do in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us so much and dying for our sin. Thank you for coming back to life to save us. Father God, thank you for sending Jesus to save us. Thank you for sending the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary and blessing her to have Jesus. We love you Father God. Thank you for your love. Thank you for calling us by name and we are special and precious in your sight. You tell us that we belong to you when we turn to you. Help us to be your voice, hands, and feet as we walk this earth and be a blessing to those around us. Help us Lord Jesus to make others feel loved, special, and precious. Thank you for the names you let us have. Thank you Jesus for Your Names and the power behind those Names of yours we can experience. May we bring you joy this season Oh Lord by the way we live our lives and bring others joy Oh Lord. Thank you so much Jesus. I pray right now for the one who feels abandoned Oh Lord for you know what that person is going through. They need your special touch in their lives to know that you call them by name, that they are precious and special in your sight no matter what they are going through. Help them know that you take all sin and cleanse them by your precious Blood. Thank you for greeting us by name and help us do the same to others.  Hear us and answer us Oh Lord please. Thank you so much for hearing us and answering us Oh Lord. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!