Pastor Deb speaks on God's favor.
Does God like you? That may sound like an odd question to ask but there are reasons for asking it.
The bible says that all good and pleasing gifts come from God. It is God's desire to give us gifts. The most wonderful gift that He has ever given mankind is salvation; NO MAN can earn it… it is a free gift that we can accept if we so desire. But there are other gifts that God would like to give us too but they don't necessarily come free - these gifts come with the price tag of obedience. When we become obedient to God and we begin to seek His will, He will offer to us those things that will help us in our walk of faith which are wisdom, favor and blessings.
Last week we spoke about wisdom. I spoke to you about how God's word describes it as a beautiful woman. God tells us to avoid the woman named Folly who will only get us into trouble, and leads us nowhere but to the depths of hell.
The gift of wisdom; we learned comes with the price tag of beginning to fear the Lord.
This week we are going to discuss favor. Favor is a word that is spoken about in the bible over and over again, but still is misunderstood and overlooked.
But what is this favor about? Well I'm sure all of you have heard the word favor being spoken of in such ways as… "Will you do me a favor?"Or "I have a favor to ask of you."
The definition of Favor:
Actually when we look at the 1st definition we can see of what I spoke earlier - that God obviously gave all mankind favor when He offered His Son to die in our place to save us from our sins. He offered us this gift out of goodwill because justice would have been death. All of us are sinners…there's not a one of us who is not bent to evil.
But God also offers up to us favor as in definition 2. We can be looked at by God as: Approved of or held in high regard.
God speaks of this word favor right off the bat in the beginning of the bible in Genesis 4:4, 5 Adam lay with his wife Eve and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, with the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man. Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock, The Lord looked with FAVOR on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with FAVOR. This scripture goes on to point out why it is that God did not look with favor upon Cain's offering. It says that "Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?"
Whereas the key to wisdom is fear of the Lord, the key for favor is obedience.
God tells us that obedience is the answer to most of the struggles we will have in our faith…but if we do continue to be obedient to God's will then we can surely receive so much, much more than what we've known.
Now something big that I want you to understand…God gives people favor but that doesn't mean that He has favorites. Because His word tells us that He shows no partiality to man, He loves all mankind equally; but He definitely isn't pleased with all people in the same way. He may love you, but does He like you? Obviously, this happens. It is possible to love someone but not like them. How many of you out there have loved someone but really don't like them?
So, my opinion is that God loves everyone which is why He was willing to offer His Son to die for them but that when He likes you and is pleased with you that He will give us favor.
Don't believe me; how about all these scripture references where God says that He was pleased with someone?
Psalm 41:11 I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.
And of course Jesus….Matthew 3:17 and a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
In the lives that we live, we like those people who are kind, listen, are fair to us and help us out. God too, likes us when we show kindness, listen to others, and are fair with the people that we come into contact with.
How do you get favor?
· By following the commandments.
· By seeking after God's will.
· By imitating Jesus and following after Him in all things. What are your dreams for your life? I can tell you right now that you can have them if you begin to do those things that would make Christ like you. You can receive favor to receive those dreams. I am a big proponent of asking God for favor – I can tell you truthfully that I have prayed for favor for me and my family and I can tell you that I have been given opportunities where I shouldn't have ever had opportunities, but they've come because God made it happen; He gave me favor.
If you have a call to accomplish anything for God, anything at all, you can receive favor to accomplish it.
Moses himself asked God for favor…Exodus 32:11, But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God.
Gideon spoke to the angel of the Lord and said to him… in Judges 6:17 if now I have found favor in your eyes give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.
Luke 1:30 the angel said to Mary – "do not be afraid, you have found favor with God."
Throughout the bible you can see over and over again that anyone who had a mission from God also received His favor to accomplish it.
Noah had a big task set for Him but Noah had favor. Genesis 6:8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
The Favor comes not only from Him, but also from man who is around us; so that we can accomplish the things that God has set before us.
Genesis 39:2-4 The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.
Ruth 2:10 she exclaimed to Boaz "why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me – a foreigner?"
1 Samuel 2:26 and the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and men.
2 Samuel 14:22 Joab said, "today your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his servants' request.
When you seek favor from God – He can also give you favor with man. Favor is an awesome thing because those who have favor bless themselves and God's Kingdom but they also bless those other people who are around them. Believe me, I want those people who are working side by side with me to receive favor because they I too can get some of the benefits.
This is why Potiphar wanted Joseph to be in charge of everything… When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Potiphar put him in charge of his household and let everything that he owned be in his care.
What shouldn't you do if you want favor?
Don't speak evil for evil! …you need to handle trials well. Favor comes to those who do what's right even in the midst of trials and troubles. Gods' word tells us that how we handle things when we are being treated unfairly or poorly will make all the difference as to whether or not we will receive favor. Ex: Joseph with his brothers and Potiphar
Don't lie! God hates a liar. Speaking the truth finds favor. Deceit stops favor from being poured out on your life.
Don't flatter anyone… Proverbs 28:23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.
Don't lose your way. Don't fall victim to the seductress Folly.
Why want favor?
Psalm 5:12 for surely O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Righteous living leads to favor and then favor acts as a shield.
When we receive favor we can have protection. Who wouldn't want this amazing gift? I guess those who just don't want to be obedient; for them it might difficult to ask themselves …
Does God like me?
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