FOUNDATIONS OF FAVOR Lesson 3 Intro. Tonight we re concluding our series on the favor of God Psalm 30:5 (NKJV) For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. 1. We get stuck on the first part of the verse; God's anger a. The Bible does talk about God s anger over sin b. But we need to understand His anger and wrath were satisfied by Christ s death Isaiah 53:11 (NKJV) He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. ex. This is describing what God felt as Jesus died for our sins. His sense of justice for sin was satisfied when Jesus died. c. Because Jesus died God isn t mad at us anymore! d. Now, His favor is for life! e. We can expect to receive God s favor every day of our lives 2. We need to become more favor-minded We have to think more and more about God s favor on our lives; I am favored by God! Ephesians 2:4-7 (NKJV) 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 1
I. IN THE BIBLE THE WORD FAVOR CAN BE USED SYNONOMOUSLY WITH In other words wherever you read the word grace in the Bible it means favor God s favor is all over the Bible and hopefully we ll recognize that it s all over us! Psalm 84:11 (NKJV) For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace (favor) and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace (favor) to help in time of need. God s grace and favor are available for whatever need we have ex. Favor is there to help us overcome in our personal lives when we re struggling with an issue; a temptation, a financial problem, a family need. Wherever the need is God s favor is available to help us. We are never helpless! God has promised His favor over our lives. The seal of God s favor was the blood of Jesus Romans 5:17 (NKJV) For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace (favor) and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. ex. Because of Jesus death we are guaranteed a life with God s abundant grace and favor. When we understand this it will help us reign in life, or in other words, we will live with a greater sense of victory! A. IF WE ARE FAVOR-MINDED, IF WE THINK ABOUT GOD S FAVOR ON OUR LIVES, WE LL WHEN IT HAPPENS Through the day we should think, God s favor is on my life. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 2
1. If we ll think about it more (being favor-minded), we ll recognize it more when God is God s favor is always manifesting in our lives and families but sometimes we just fail to recognize it; the big or small things. ex. Discounts at stores, treatment by servers at restaurants, etc. In the next portion of scripture the Psalmist is calling attention to God s favor and how it demonstrates itself in our lives Psalms 91:1-16 (NIV) 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the LORD, who is my refuge-- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 3
There are several phrases here that are important v.2, I will say of the Lord, v.14, I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name., v.15, He will call upon me, and I will answer him These verses point out the importance of our recognizing God and His favor over our lives 2. We should make a habit of to God s favor when we see it; That s the favor of God! ex. We have a tendency of calling attention to the bad stuff; like gas prices, food prices, etc. We have it so good and sometimes can t even see it! Psalm 103:2 (NKJV) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. We should recognize all His benefits; big and small It will make a difference in how we see God moving in our lives! Psalm 145:1-5 (NIV) 1 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. 2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 4 One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. 5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. 3. for God s favor will help up see it more when it happens ex. In 1674 a guy named Thomas Ken wrote what anyone who ever went to a traditional church will recognize called the Doxology. Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 4
When he wrote this, it was considered blasphemous to sing anything other than the OT Psalms in church. But Thomas Ken wanted to impress the importance of how good God is to the students at Winchester College in England so he wrote the Doxology and other similar songs but the students were given strict instructions only to sing them in their rooms for private devotions. Whether we sing it or not we need to know it; Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!!! If we ll be thankful for God s favor, we ll recognize it when it happens more and more in our lives We should become more favor-minded! II. ONE OF THE GREATEST EXAMPLES OF FAVOR IN THE BIBLE WAS Most of us know Joseph s story ex. He was his father s favorite son (coat of many colors). He had dreams that he was going to be their leader and they didn t particularly like that idea. They sold him into slavery and told their dad wild animals killed him. But when Joseph got to Egypt, God s favor was on his life. He was sold to Potiphar. Genesis 39:4 (NKJV) So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. Things were good for Joseph until Potiphar s wife lied and said he tried to attack her. Joseph was thrown into prison. In prison, God s favor was on his life and he became the head prisoner. Then after years of being a slave and then a prisoner, he interpreted a dream for Pharaoh and became the most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 5
He rescued his family from a famine and just like the dreams he had as a young man, he became their leader. It all happened because of God s favor!!! Acts 7:9 (TEV) "Jacob's sons became jealous of their brother Joseph and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him. ex. It s a great story but it s easy for us to read over his life in several chapters of the Bible. It s believed that he spent 13 years as a slave and prisoner before he ruled in Egypt. In all that time he never abandoned his belief that he was favored by God even when things weren t all that favorable! I don t know how many of us would feel favored if we were a slave or prisoner. We might have a hard time feeling very favored if that was our life. But it was true for Joseph and even as a slave or a prisoner, he wouldn t allow his confidence in God s favor to wane. A. GOD S FAVOR IS ON OUR LIVES EVEN WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES MAY NOT ex. I think this is where we may miss it. When we re going through a difficult time it s easy to live in that moment. This job really stinks. Why am I stuck in this dirty rotten place? I think about Joseph as a slave in Potiphar s house. It would have been easy to complain. God promised me that I was going to be a leader in my family and here I am a slave. I guess I ll have to settle for where I am. 1. Being favor-minded means we never ex. Things may not be great now but I know the favor of God is on my life and He can and will help me up and out of this. We don t have to settle for where we are. Jesus paid too great a price for us to settle with being worried, afraid, broke, or sick. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 6
a. Favor-mindedness is an expectation of something better b. It helps us towards better believing Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. ex. I have the favor of God on my life and I believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. God is my rewarder! God s favor is on our lives and will ultimately help us overcome any problem or difficulty we face! Prayer and confession: Thank You Jesus, for Your favor in my life. Help me to be more favorminded. Help me to recognize and call attention to the times it is demonstrated in my life. I believe that Your favor is on my life even when circumstances don t look favorable. I believe that ultimately Your favor will help me overcome all obstacles, in Your name, Jesus, amen. FILL IN THE BLANKS FROM LESSON #3 I. IN THE BIBLE THE WORD FAVOR CAN BE USED SYNONOMOUSLY WITH _(GRACE) A. IF WE ARE FAVOR-MINDED, IF WE THINK ABOUT GOD S FAVOR ON OUR LIVES, WE LL _(RECOGNIZE IT MORE) WHEN IT HAPPENS 1. If we ll think about it more (being favor-minded), we ll recognize it more when God is _(helping us) 2. We should make a habit of _(calling attention) to God s favor when we see it; That s the favor of God! 3. _(Being thankful) for God s favor will help up see it more when it happens Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 7
II. ONE OF THE GREATEST EXAMPLES OF FAVOR IN THE BIBLE WAS _(JOSEPH) A. GOD S FAVOR IS ON OUR LIVES EVEN WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES MAY NOT _(LOOK FAVORABLE) 1. Being favor-minded means we never _(have to settle) Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 8