Experiencing God's Favor And Freedom

Intro:

Experiencing Gods favor is what every Christian wants.

People will go to any length to get favor from someone.

Children can spend a life time trying to earn the favor of a parent. Employees can obsess with trying to please a boss of colleague. We all want favor.

When we don’t have it we feel depressed and anxious

We take these feelings into our Christian experience.

We feel we never measure up. – Does anyone in this room feel like they never measure up !

Or we feel we have the full favor with God.

Some say;

Favor is like a delicate crystal glass that can shatter at the slightest touch

I very rarely quote Mark Twain but he said

Mark Twain “Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in”

I want to be in Gods favor not his disfavor.

It makes a difference in how you pursue your faith, and how you live out your Christian walk.

Motivated by love is better than being motivated by obligation.

Scripture says Godly favor is obtainable.

Proverbs 12:2 NASB95

2 A good man will obtain favor from the Lord, But He will condemn a man who devises evil.

Life and strength are for those who are obedient and submissive to God.

The ultimate in Gods Favor is found in Hebrews 11:5 with Enoch

Hebrews 11:5 NASB95

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

He was relocated into God’s presence.

So you can see a correlation between Enoch’s faith and favor

Favor – if you pull this word out and look at the Hebrew root this is what It says

to be pleased with; specifically, to satisfy a debt:

In the KJV of the Bible

KJV - (be) accept (-able), accomplish, set affection, approve, consent with, delight (self), enjoy, (be, have a) favour (-able), like, observe, pardon, (be, have, take) please (-ure), in you.

It is more than God is happy with you - He delights in you he is pleased with you.

Do you know God is pleased with you. Can you sense it?

With God we get more than just favor –Its deeper than that.

Who else in Scripture was favored.

In the Gospel of Luke – It speaks of Mary – She is God’s highly favored one

Lk 1:28 - favor was bestowed upon her. Out of shear love and kindness. Was Mary a flawed human being like everyone else, YES.

But she was favored.

It has many other definitions in scripture as well.

Another has to do with Mercy

Mercy – Ps 21:7

Psalm 21:7 NASB95

7 For the king trusts in the Lord, And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.

Another aspect of favor is God’s grace

God’s Goodwill- His Grace - Grace is a free gift

Back to our opening Scripture

A good man (woman) obtains favor from the Lord

Good man – Let be read it again – A good, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fair, fine, glad, good, graciously, joyful, kindly, likable (best), loving, merry, , pleasant,, precious, prosperity, sweet, man obtains (gets or draws out) favor with the Lord.

Children have Gods favor

Child like faith - Mark 10:13-16

Mark 10:13–16 NASB95

13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” 16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.

Obedience brings about Gods favor – 1 John 3:21-22

21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. NIV

Generosity to the poor brings Gods favor- Deut 15:7-10

7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

Humility brings about God’s favor - Ps 5:11-12

11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. 12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. NIV

Faithfulness brings about God’s favor – Ps 101:6

6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.

God knows your weaknesses and your frailties

Proverbs 8:35 NASB95

35 “For he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the Lord.

David had favor because he was a man after gods own heart

What brings Gods disfavor?

So what is not favorable? Think of it as you would in a family, that might help

1. Disobedience – Adam & Eve- Gen

2. Murmuring & Complaining - Num 11:1

3. When you don’t’ invest in what God Gives You – story of the talents

4. Wickedness or SIN

5. Irreverence to Gods Command and ordinances 2 chron 26:18

Its not rewarded.

Part 2

Gods Favor turns into Freedom

Acts 16:25–28 MSG

25 Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. 26 Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose. 27 Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway, 28 when Paul stopped him: “Don’t do that! We’re all still here! Nobody’s run away!”

When you have Gods favor you live a life of freedom. Even if your outside circumstances seem like your in prison.

Look at the disciples. Sure life was tough but the lived as if they were really free, even in prison.

Paul and SIlas in Prison were singing. How many of us would be doing that?

Galations 5 says for freedom, Christ has set us free. Get out from under neath the yoke of slavery.

It means you are no longer under the confinement or the oppression of someone. You have been set free.

That’s the key !!