“Do Or Die” Moments Of Our Faith, Part 4: Favor Of God

Introduction- Walking In God’s Favor

There-is nothing that’s-more precious

Nothing-that’s-worth more than the favor of God

There-is nothing that’s-more precious

Nothing-that’s-worth more than the favor of God

I know his favor follows

As his Spirit leads me

So

I know, I’ll accomplish in His will

In His favor there in lies an abundance

And he fills my need

Before I even need it

Walking in His favor constantly

Grateful that His favor rest on me

Favor of God by Angie Stone, released October 25, 2010

Transition To Body- Favor Of God Upon Joseph

Favor- a favorable attitude toward someone or something—‘favor, good will.

Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, in Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996) 298.

Luke 1:30 ESV

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Matthew 1:20 ESV

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 2:13 ESV

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

Body

Favor Of God In Unexpected Places

Matthew 2:19–20 ESV

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”

The LORD God protecting and providing in unexpected places even in our exile to Egypt

Illustrious: The LORD God providing in desert & wilderness places

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Favor Of God With Frightening Assignments

Matthew 2:21–22 ESV

21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.

afraid- to be in an apprehensive state, be afraid, the aor. oft. in the sense become frightened

William Arndt et al., in A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 1060.

Illustration: Joshua succeeding Moses @ end of Deuteronomy

Joshua 1:1–3 ESV

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.

The LORD Will Not Leave Or Forsake You!

Joshua 1:5–9 ESV

5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Revelation/Word from God

Psalm 34:6–8 ESV

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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Favor Of God After Humble Beginnings

Matthew 2:23 ESV

23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Illustration: Nathaniel saying what good can come from Nazareth

John 1:43–47 ESV

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

pert. to meeting a high standard of worth and merit, good

ⓐ as adj.

α. of humans and deities (the primary focus is on usefulness to humans and society in general,

Nazareth was despised in biblical times because it was considered a small, insignificant village with a poor political reputation, leading to the common belief that "nothing good could come out of Nazareth," as seen in the Bible where Nathanael asks, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?".This negative perception stemmed from its obscurity, lack of major political influence, and likely association with Roman rule.

Anonymous: Jesus’ Hidden Years..And Yours by Alicia Brit Chole

If you asked devout Judean Jews in Jesus’ day what they thought of Nazareth, you would probably receive a collection of less than favorable adjectives including small, insignificant, scorned, and spiritually suspect. Nazareth certainly was not the town of kings and prophets. In fact, whereas Jerusalem is mentioned more than 650 times in the Old Testament alone, Nazareth entirely escapes the attention of all biblical writers until the New Testament. Yet this is where God sent his Son for his first three hidden decades of life.

Chole, Alicia Britt. Anonymous: Jesus' hidden years...and yours (p. 23). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Of the Gospels’ eighty-nine total chapters, only four offer any information about Jesus’ life before the beginning of his public ministry. Mark and John skip the subject entirely. From this fraction of information about Jesus’ early life provided in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we glean the following:

-Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a smelly animal pen- Luke 2:6 (followed by hidden days).

-He was circumcised in the temple on his eighth day - Luke 2:21-24 (followed by hidden months).

-Before turning two, Jesus received a visit from Eastern wise men- Matthew 2:1-12 (followed by hidden years).

-At the age of twelve, Jesus got in trouble for staying in the temple, listening and asking questions when he was supposed to be with his parents’ family headed back home- Luke 2:41-52 (followed by almost two entirely hidden decades).

Jesus Came To Nazareth, submitting to his parents- increasing in wisdom & stature & favor with God and man

Luke 2:49–52 ESV

49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

-Eighteen years after the temple incident, Jesus emerged from hiddenness, and his adult ministry commenced by the Jordan River at a wild man’s baptismal service!

However, when we state our desire to “be like Jesus,” we are not referring to Jesus’ anonymous years. “I want to walk like Jesus walked and live like Jesus lived!” is generally not equated in our hearts with, “I want to live 90 percent of my life in absolute obscurity!” Our enthusiastic declarations that we want to “be like Jesus” reference Jesus’ visible years . . .

As with a child in the womb and a seed in the ground, God’s unanticipated move of hiding Jesus granted him protected, undisturbed room to be and become. From God’s perspective, anonymous seasons are sacred spaces. They are quite literally formative; to be rested in, not rushed through—and most definitely never to be regretted. Unapplauded, but not unproductive: hidden years are the surprising birthplace of true spiritual greatness.

Chole, Alicia Britt. Anonymous: Jesus' hidden years...and yours (p. 13). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

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Favor Of God In Unexpected Places

Favor Of God With Frightening Assignments

Favor Of God After Humble Beginnings

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Transition To Close- Nikki Giovanni (June 7, 1943 – December 9, 2024) & The Rose That Grew From Concrete (Autobiographical)

Illustration: The Rose That Grew from Concrete is a posthumous album based on the poetry/writings of Tupac Shakur, released on November 21, 2000. This album features a large cast of celebrities reading Shakur's poetry and writing, much in the spirit of a traditional spoken-word album. 2Pac is featured on the song "The Rose That Grew from Concrete".

Track 12- “The Rose That Grew from Concrete" (featuring Nikki Giovanni)

Did you hear.. Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Provin' nature's laws wrong It learned to walk without having feet Funny it seems but by keeping its dreams It learned to breathe FRESH air Long live the rose that grew from concrete When no one else, even cared

You see you wouldn't ask why the rose that grew from the concrete Had damaged petals. On the contrary, we would all celebrate its Tenacity. We would all love it's will to reach the sun Well, we are the roses - this is the concrete - and these are My damaged petals. Don't ask me why, thank God nigga, ask me how! Hahahaha..

Joseph Never Stopped Dreaming!

Matthew 2:19 ESV

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Matthew 2:22 ESV

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.

Don’t Stop Dreaming!

Because The LORD Cares

So Clothe Yourself With Humility Towards One Another

1 Peter 5:5–7 ESV

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Close- The All Surpassing Power Belongs To God & Not To Us

God’s Favor Is For A Lifetime

Psalm Of David For The Dedication Of The Temple

Psalm 30:1–5 ESV

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. 3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. 4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

2 Corinthians 4:7–12 ESV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Outcome of God’s Comfort from Love & Fellowship of the Holy Spirit

Philippians 2:1–11 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.